10:50am Tuesday 23rd February 2010
By James Savage
ONE of Worcester’s oldest pubs, which is regarded as having one of the best historical interiors in the country, has re-opened as a restaurant – which doesn’t sell beer.
The unique Victorian features of the Paul Pry in the Butts have been gathering dust for the past two years with no prospective tenants being successful in taking over the pub.
A Polish businessman has now turned the city centre venue into a day-time family-friendly restaurant which does not serve alcohol.
We reported previously in your Worcester News how the 200-year-old pub is on the Campaign for Real Ale’s (Camra) national inventory list for having “outstanding heritage interest”. Camra spokesman Bill Ottaway said it was a shame the grade two listed property was no longer serving beer.
He said: “We would prefer to see it operating as a pub because there is something special about its interior.
“But it is better to see the building being used rather than seeing its fantastic features becoming derelict and dilapidated.”
Mr Ottaway said CAMRA would like to see a change in planning regulations to stop pubs being changed to restaurants without planning permission.
“It is something we are concerned about,” he said.
“We need to be able to challenge these decisions and are lobbying the Government to get them to change the rules.
“The Little Sauce Factory was a pub, then it changed to a restaurant and now it is going to be turned into flats.
“We have got to do all we can to ensure our historical pubs remain intact.”
New manager Jaroslaw Karczewski said his menu will give customers something different to other city centre eateries.
The 34-year-old said: “It is something that Worcester has not seen before. It is a family-friendly restaurant with its own play area and baby changing facilities.
“The food is influenced by a range of different European cooking styles.”
The Paul Pry is open Monday to Saturday from 8am to 6pm.
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