MP speaks of sadness as fire rips through one of Bimringham's oldest pubs

An MP has spoken of her sadness after fire ripped through one of Birmingham's oldest pubs overnight. Dozens of firefighters tackled a blaze which broke out at Erdington's The Lad in the Lane pub, just before 11.45pm on Wednesday (November 6).

The fire at the Grade ll-listed building was extinguished within two hours. Fire crews left the scene at 1.53am following an inspection. West Midlands Fire Service said the property manager was also in attendance.

The pub closed in 2019. Erdington MP Paulette Hamilton said the pub was "cherished" by locals and she would help the recovery effort in any way she could.

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MP Hamilton said: "I was saddened when I heard about the fire at the Lad in the Lane pub, one of the oldest in Birmingham and cherished by the community. I also want to extend my gratitude to the emergency services for their swift response.

“The Lad in the Lane holds a special place in Erdington, and once an assessment can be made, I hope we can work to explore avenues to support its recovery."

The disused pub was believed to have been built towards the end of the 14th century. Scientists dated the pub back to 1400 after analysing timber frames of the public house.

The Old Crown in Digbeth is one of the few challengers to the title of Birmingham ’s oldest pub, claiming to date back to 1368, but there is no sufficient evidence to determine this.