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The Lincoln Imp: Hopes beloved pub can be saved for second time

Councillors and regulars of a cherished former pub and music venue hope for its return to life.

Opened in the 1950s, The Lincoln Imp in Gloucester Avenue, Scunthorpe, was boarded up at the end of August 2022. It was a week after a moment of triumph for campaigners as a planning application to demolish it in favour of 20 homes was rejected.

A year on, the 20 homes application is back. “We certainly don’t want to see a Crooked House,” said Labour Cllr Tony Gosling, in the sense of it disappearing forever.

Read more: New bid to demolish Scunthorpe music venue a year after original flats plan was rejected

How The Lincoln Imp got to this current situation is disputed, with campaigners largely blaming site owners Admiral Taverns. But the brewery company had said it was unsustainable, and has not ruled out options other than demolition.

Cllr Gosling called the 20 homes application in last year to ensure councillors decided and has done so again, “very disappointed” to see it back. He said it was refused last year because the pub was open and the homes were an overdevelopment.

“We also wanted to retain the asset which was a vital community facility and was a major player in the production of talent in the music industry.”

Connor Barker, 26, chairs mental health awareness and fundraising group Break The Stigma. They held monthly meetings with at least 30 people turning up at The Lincoln Imp, and drop-ins.

“It’s been a vast difference. The only places that we’ve been able to find, a lot of people have felt uncomfortable. It has had an impact on ourselves and what we’re trying to do.”

“It beggars belief,” said Lorraine Briggs, the pub’s landlady from February 2014 until its closure, of the renewed housing application. She said it was not of her, or the leaseholders’ – she ran it for a holding company – choosing to close it.



Lorraine Briggs, when she was landlady of The Lincoln Imp last year.
Lorraine Briggs, when she was landlady of The Lincoln Imp last year.

Visiting again last week, she was dismayed by its condition. “I couldn’t believe the state of it, people have fly tipped all over,” she said, adding it was vandalised in the past year. “They’ve let it go to rack and ruin,” she said, blaming Admiral Taverns.

Chantelle Middleton, 24, was bar staff under Lorraine in 2017-18, in her first job. “I am very disappointed and angry because the last thing Scunthorpe needs is more homes, every good thing that we have in this town is always inevitably stripped away for more ‘homes’.”

“It was the one place where people from any background, who was out there, or just dressed differently felt accepted, I definitely did.”

Lorraine took pride in the pub’s ranking as the third best small music venue in the UK in a 2017 poll. “Even now, I get emails from bands all over the world who still want to play there.”

It attracted all kinds of Scunthorpe musicians for regular jamming sessions, and Wednesday karaoke nights were packed.

The 300 capacity venue was not just a local musicians’ hub. For example, one part became ‘Jordan’s Corner’, with pictures and a football shirt tribute to a customer who took his own life. Connor poetically said: “It was used for so many things, it was not just a pub, it was a community hub.”



Visuals of the proposed apartments at the former site of The Lincoln Imp.
Visuals of the proposed apartments at the former site of The Lincoln Imp.

“I don’t think Admiral Taverns really knew what they got,” Lorraine said. The company took over site ownership not long before the pandemic. She claimed: “It was paying for itself.”

An Admiral Taverns spokesperson said: “At Admiral, we take great pride in helping our licensees run sustainable businesses. In the case of the Lincoln Imp, we are reviewing all options, including speaking with relevant community stakeholders, however we are struggling to find a solution that will ensure a long-term future for this pub under our ownership or an external party.

“Talks with various stakeholders are still ongoing and it is important to add that no final decisions have been made at this time.”

North Lincolnshire Council leader Cllr Rob Waltham spoke out against the 20 homes last year and will again. He views it as too dense for the housing proposed.

“Admiral Taverns have been fair,” he argued, saying they had marketed it for the past year. But he was told there was no interest.

He and council officers had multiple conversations with Admiral Taverns since its closure, though only “once or twice” this year.

“Our arguments are weakened unless somebody can come forward and say I want to run it and here’s my business plan,” he said of the latest application.

“Anybody who does show an interest we will work with and help try to raise the funds.” Scunthorpe MP Holly Mumby-Croft spoke out in opposition last time to the 20 homes. While she has no formal role in the planning process, she has promised to represent constituents’ views.

“On this specific proposal, I will back what the majority of residents want. I would encourage residents, should they wish, to contact me so that I can ensure that the planning officials are aware of their views and take these into account.”



Former landlady Lorraine Briggs in front of 'Jordan's Corner' in the pub in summer 2022.
Former landlady Lorraine Briggs in front of ‘Jordan’s Corner’ in the pub in summer 2022.

The pub was made an asset of community value in July 2022, to allow for a potential community bid to take it over. Lorraine indicated the community did enquire about buying it.

“Why don’t the council put their hands in their pockets, do the pub up and get it to what it was,” she said, pointing to the Baths Hall’s 2011 resurrection.

Cllr Gosling suggested even with housing, some smaller version of The Lincoln Imp as a community facility could still exist, a “best of both worlds for both the community and the developer”.

“I would give anything to see Imp restore its former glory and reopen its doors,” concluded Chantelle.

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Original artice: https://www.grimsbytelegraph.co.uk/all-about/scunthorpe

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