'This isn't just about a pub': Historic Birmingham pub with legendary link to Black Sabbath 'at risk' amid row

The Crown Inn, widely regarded as the birthplace of Black Sabbath, has sat empty for years. Now, its owners say restoration is on the horizon. But a new request has reignited scepticism.

Toyoko Inn, the company behind the site, wants to extend use of a temporary car park at the rear for another three years. They argue the revenue will help fund a major redevelopment—including a 300-bed hotel and the long-promised revival of The Crown as a live music venue.

Critics aren't buying it.

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Campaigners from Save Station Street say it's another stalling tactic. They accuse Toyoko of stringing the city along while the building decays, calling it a symptom of a wider erosion of Birmingham’s cultural fabric.

With the Electric Cinema recently closed and local arts budgets slashed, many see The Crown’s fate as part of a troubling pattern: creative spaces giving way to slow-moving commercial ventures.

Toyoko claims plans are progressing behind the scenes and that the full project could bring £4 million to the local economy. But without a clear, enforceable timeline, campaigners say there's no guarantee anything will change.

“This isn't just about a pub,” said one protester. “It’s about who this city is for—and whether its culture is being sacrificed for convenience.”

As Birmingham navigates a financial crunch, the battle over The Crown has become a flashpoint in a broader debate: can a city rebuild without losing what makes it matter?