Latest news with #RedRedWine
Metro
05-05-2025
- Business
- Metro
How a 128-year-old pub has survived a £570,000,000 train station upgrade
It's the last of three 19th Century pubs left standing in the vicinity of a sprawling HS2 building site. The construction work to build the Curzon Street intercity terminus in Birmingham is so close to the 128-year-old Woodman that the barriers are now just 10ft from its side wall. The 'backstreet boozer' is hemmed in on three sides by the £570 million project and stands as an island in the development area. Originally opened in 1897, the pub seemed to have served its last pint three years ago as it closed with the owners citing pressures including the 'encroaching' HS2 works. Yet the ale is still following at the Woodman. A reprieve came when pub restoration specialists Union Inns stepped in and reopened the Victorian-era premises at the end of last year after a 'sensitive' £300,000 refurbishment. Supervisor Garry Bird told Metro: 'They wanted to pull us down, but we're a Grade-II listed building. 'They found they couldn't touch us, and we've since become a weird stakeholder in it all. If HS2 want to do anything around here now, they have to get our permission. 'There were two pubs nearby which were pulled down because they weren't protected to be part of the development, but we've survived. 'We're even in the projections of how HS2 is supposed to look and we'll eventually have the depot behind us and shops and a hotel nearby. 'We're like the movie Up, where the man refuses to move out.' The Woodman is the last of three pubs in close proximity to survive. Fellow Victorian pub Eagle and Tun, where UB40 shot the video for their Red Red Wine hit, and the derelict, Georgian-era Fox and Grapes have been pulled down to make way for the infrastructure project. The sole survivor is now flush on the boundary of the project and due to a road closure as part of the works is 'totally segregated' from Digbeth, an independent nightlife hotspot, Mr Bird said. A redundant traffic light at the side of the pub is a sign of the upheaval. On the other side is the original Curzon Street railway station, a Grade I- listed building opened in 1838 which HS2 has said will be restored. The Woodman's own history will be reflected in the 'enhanced setting' facing the pub, according to plans for the site. 'We're classed as Digbeth and because of HS2 closing down the road you won't get from here to there now,' Mr Bird explained. 'You'll have to walk all the way round past Moor Street or vice versa. 'At the minute we're totally segregated from Digbeth. 'They change their minds every five minutes as to what's going on, it's a bit of a pain.' But the pub worker believes that the red brick and terracotta pub will be part of a bustling area once the bullet trains begin running between the station and London, possibly in around eight years' time. 'It's a heritage pub with a rich history and the only pub in Birmingham to serve Bass, because the owner is a massive enthusiast,' he said. 'When it got refurbished it was stripped back to the original tiles and the old floors which were part of the original Grade II-listed building. 'We get a lot people who come back and say it's great to see us open again because it's opened and closed a few times over the years. 'The owner has got the pub for at least 25 years and he loves this place, so the pub will still be around when all of the HS2 work is completed in eight to nine years. He's 100% behind it. When HS2 eventually happens we'll be right on their doorstep. 'It should help the area because it will bring a lot of people to this end of the city, other than to the university and to the ThinkTank museum. The Woodman is described as a 'historic backstreet boozer' which has had a 'sensitive refurbishment' by CAMRA. The campaign describes the pub as originally belonging to Ansell's Brewery but now 'proudly' serving Draught Bass. HS2 said three years ago that The Woodman would not be demolished and the company had been 'liaising regularly' with the owners 'to help them stay open to minimise impact on their business.' More Trending The company added that this included rescheduling works to outside of opening times, providing new outside benches and temporarily relocating outdoor seating 'to maximise customer numbers.' The station is part of a £724 million regeneration for the area expected to create new public spaces, homes and tens of thousands of jobs. Metro has approached HS2 for further comment. Do you have a story you would like to share? Contact MORE: 'It all started from us': 50 years of sound system history at recreated family home MORE: We live yards from Manchester United's planned 100,000-seater stadium – here's what we really think MORE: We live yards from colossal HS2 building work – here's what we really think
Yahoo
23-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
UB40 headline Poole Harbour Festival
Bringing the sunshine whatever the weather, British reggae superstars UB40 are set to make it a summer to remember when they headline Poole Harbour Festival – their first local show for more than five years. The festival, which runs from 25th to 27th July in Baiter Park, boasts a stellar line up with co-headliners including pop punk heroes Feeder, indie dance survivors Happy Mondays, influential American art rockers We Are Scientists, British dance originals Dub Pistols, and Europe's number one party band The Vengaboys; as well as a very welcome return for chart toppers The Hoosiers and N-Trance. Feeder co-headline 2025 Poole Harbour Festival (Image: Steve Gulick) 'It's going to be a dream festival this year with UB40 regularly topping our polls of bands festival goers would most like to see in Poole, and the band have let us know how much they are looking forward to playing here – it'll be a real moment to remember,' says festival organiser Ben Dyas. 'Ever since Poole Harbour Festival started nine years ago we have listened to what the people who come here have told us. We love hearing what a great time people have, but perhaps even more importantly, we also take on board their suggestions and observations. 'People feel very attached to Poole Harbour Festival; it's their festival, they make it what it is. That fantastic family-friendly feeling and the good time atmosphere are what people bring with them – and that's really special.' Happy Mondays co-headline 2025 Poole Harbour Festival (Image: Paul Hudson) With more than 70 million record sales UB40 are one of the most commercially successful reggae acts of all time and it's now 45 years since their first hit, Food For Thought, paved the way for three chart topping cover versions – Red Red Wine, Can't Help Falling In Love and I Got You Babe. Up to 15,000 music fans are expect to visit Poole Harbour Festival this year with more than 60 acts across five stages, including the new Smugglers Inn venue. Rising Star Woody Cook DJ's at 2025 Poole Harbour Festival (Image: Poole Harbour Festival) And it's not just live music – the dance tent hosts a DJ bill featuring household names like Judge Jules and Dave Pearce, as well as rising star Woody Cook, son of Fatboy Slim and Zoe Ball, the multi-million selling DJ Sash!, pioneering trance act Thrillseekers and hard house duo Tidy Boys. For more information and to book tickets visit Tickets are selling extremely fast, with 70 per cent now sold! However, second release tickets are available until 26th April, when prices go up, so save yourself some pennies today, with tickets from - Adult Day £28 | Family Day £67 | Weekend Adult £87.
Yahoo
22-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
UB40 fans only just learning what band name actually means after 47 years
They've sold more than 70 million records worldwide - but some UB40 fans still have no idea what the band's name actually stands for. The pop and reggae group, formed in Birmingham, has been creating hits since 1978 - and have celebrated worldwide success thanks to their catchy tunes. Their most popular songs include Red Red Wine, Kingston Town, Falling In Love With You, The Way You Do the Things You Do, Bring Me Your Cup, Here I am, Homely Girl, Cherry Oh Baby, and Groovin'. The band currently has 11 members after seven notable names left the group for various reasons. But despite being a household name worldwide, many fans still have no idea what their band name actually means, especially those living outside of the UK. Explaining their stage name, a statement on UB40 Global reads: "The story of UB40, and how this group of young friends from Birmingham transcended their working-class origins to become the world's most successful reggae band, selling over 100 million records and spending over a combined 11 years in the UK album charts, is not the stuff of fairy tales as might be imagined. "The group's led a charmed life in many respects it's true, but it's been a long haul since the days they'd meet up in the bars and clubs around Moseley, and some of them had to scrape by on less than £8 a week unemployment benefit. The choice was simple if you'd left school early. You could either work in one of the local factories, like Robin Campbell did, or scuffle along aimlessly whilst waiting for something else to happen." READ MORE: Maroon 5 fans think they know what name means despite Adam Levine keeping it secret The original eight musicians decided to name the band after their shared unemployment status - creating UB40, which stands for unemployment Benefit, Form 40. In the UK, a UB40 acts as an attendance card issued to those claiming unemployment benefits from the government. Commenting on this revelation, one Reddit user said: "Okay, that's pretty good. I absolutely love UB40." Another user added: "The cover of their first Album, Signing Off, was an image of the the UB40 form - the 'Unemployment Benefits Attendance Form'. It's their best album. I have probably listened to it 1,000 times. Pure and simple Brit Reggae." A third user said: "They also had a song called One in Ten in reference to the near 10% unemployment at the time." One more user added: "To people of my generation, growing up in Britain it was well known. I really like the cover of 'Strange Fruit' too. The album had a bonus record with a couple of extended mixes which I loved. Played 'Signing Off' to death. At college I used to take my boombox into the shower and play it there for the reverb."
