Outcry as listed pub’s interior altered

Heritage enthusiasts with the Campaign for Real Ale (Camra) are angry and frustrated that some internal features of the Cock & Bottle in Bradford have been ripped out.

It is understood that a bar counter and an internal wall have been removed, although it is not clear when the work was carried out.

The owner has submitted plans to carry out internal alterations to turn the vacant building into a restaurant.

Camra members have contacted English Heritage and Bradford Council to express their disgust that work has been carried out without permission.

Kerr Kennedy, campaigns officer with Camra in Bradford, called on the city council to take tough action “before it’s too late” to save the pub’s Victorian interior.

A council spokesman said the authority’s officers have warned the owner to stop work.

Chris Eaton, development manager with Bradford Council, said: “We are continuing to investigate the issues raised by Camra with regard to the Cock and Bottle pub.

“We have received a planning application for alterations as part of a proposal to convert the pub in to a restaurant.

“We have written to the owners to tell them that no further work is to take place pending the outcome of this application. “We have reminded the owners of the regulations around making alterations to listed buildings and made them aware that it is a criminal offence to make these changes.”

Zeshan Khawaja, an architectural technician acting for owner, Aftab Ali, said “certain parts” of the internal fixtures had been removed but “the majority of it is still there”.

Work was now on hold pending the outcome of the application, he said.

A bar had been removed but he did not know who had done the work. “Any work not authorised is illegal,” he said.