Blyth, Cowpen, Windmill Inn

[cowpenexile]

Last weeks News Post has just landed on my doormat down hear in the High Peak sent by a Blyth relative, and the Mill definitely about to close to be replaced by a convenience store no less.Petition in the pub so all you Blyth lot get in there have a pint and sign.Its been there since 1840s so deserves some support. Got me to thinking about Cowpen road hostlerys.Bebside Inn -open Sydney- gone Cowpen Club- gone Kings ? Mill- going Duke- gone North  Farm -gone Thoronton ? Top Hoose?
 Spent my teenage years watching Tex Leon and the Tynesiders Rue and the Rockets at Duke and Bandroom. Leads on to the Roxy Saw Gene Vincent there. Thats right folks Gene Vincent who toured with Eddie Cochran who new Buddy Holly who met Elvis breathed Blyth air WOW

[blythian]

Current Rumor RE: Windmill Demolition is that it won't be pulled down but will be converted much like the Black Diamond in Newsham (and pretty much any pub on the outskirts of towns these days). If true, the building will remain...

cowpenexile: Kings Arms is still open, Kings Head however isn't lol, Kitty being converted into a Butchers as i type, Thoroton is now a half way house for homeless and the law-abidingly challenged and the Top Hoose is still open along with the Percy (Red Hoose)

Theres a post somewhere on here which lists all the pubs in Blyth, past and present

[TriciaK]

I've really enjoyed reading this thread, though I can see now why my Dad banned me from going in the local pubs in my teen years 
I would have enjoyed the music though. You lads were lucky!
ps re Blythian's list of pubs - search the forum using Pineapple Inn - that was my friend's Dad's pub.
Phil Hodgetts gives a link on this page of another thread:
http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=538497.20

[AlisdairGB]

Latest ... there is a move to have the Windmill recognised as an "asset of community value", so that a community group can bid for it to run it as ( presumably ) a community pub  such as the Rose and Crown at Slaley.

If the application to have it so listed is succesful, then the community have ( I think ) 5 years to get the finance together to bid for the building

( The Community right to bid was introduced by the Localism Act 2011 )

[AlisdairGB]

PPS ... The Thoroton is up for sale at present , and rumour , I stress rumour, is that there's a chance for it to return as a pub and hotel .. rather than the hostel it has become.

[Yossarian]

cowpenexile - I remember you being at our house several times (me dad told us to ask you questions on football). I've heard many tales of the Mill crew, some of which are hilarious. If I remember rightly I last spoke to you in the Flying Horse quite a few years ago.

It would be nice to see the Mill stay open, but it's such a struggle to run a pub these days. It might end up like the Black Diamond at Newsham and the Black Swan at Morpeth, as a convenience store which, ironically, would probably sell beer an awful lot cheaper than the Mill ever could. A sign of the times, sadly.

[AlisdairGB]

Latest ... there is a move to have the Windmill recognised as an "asset of community value", so that a community group can bid for it to run it as ( presumably ) a community pub  such as the Rose and Crown at Slaley.

If the application to have it so listed is succesful, then the community have ( I think ) 5 years to get the finance together to bid for the building

( The Community right to bid was introduced by the Localism Act 2011 )

I have just been informed that the Windmill has been listed as an Asset of Community Value, and it will remain on the list for 5 years.

[emmadog]

Just been past the Windmill today(on way to crem.)and it has a for sale sign up.

Batbara

[winshipstreetlad]

  8)I went past the Windmill last week and there are a few new houses built where the pub used to be. Not sure if pub is incorporated into a new house or not as I had to watch the road.

Other pop singers included at the Roxy. Joe Brown, Billy Fury, and a very tall lad well 6ft 6ins but his name has gone.