'New chapter' as 15th Century building up for sale

The sale of a disused 15th Century building is the start of a new chapter, preservation groups have said.

The Cooperage, in Newcastle, is up on the market for an undisclosed price, having been vacant for more than a decade.

Historic England said it hoped the sale would lead to a "long-term solution" for The Cooperage and urged potential buyers to contact the body.

Tim Wickens, chair of the Northumberland and Newcastle Society, welcomed the news, but added "innovative" action was needed to secure the site's future.

Owners Apartment Group said there had been "significant interest" in the building already.

CEO Stuart Bailey said it was being sold as it was no longer part of the company's "long-term strategy".

"The unique building is surrounded by available land for potential expansion or redevelopment and has already attracted significant interest from investors and developers across London and international markets," Mr Bailey added.

Originally a merchant's house, The Cooperage dates back to about 1430 and was also a barrel-maker's shop and a grocer's before becoming a pub in 1974.

The timber-framed structure, which closed in 2009, is currently covered in scaffolding.

The Grade II*-listed building has been on Historic England's at-risk register since 2017.

"It's probably one of the most loved buildings in Newcastle," Mr Wickens said.

"It's an enduring, loveable building that people would love to see back in use.

"If you talk about the history of Newcastle over the last 500 years, The Cooperage is there front and centre."

Back in 2021, Newcastle MP Chi Onwurah had called on the owners to either renovate the building or sell it after concerns over its condition.

Save The Cooperage group co-ordinator Phil Clarke said he had been shown around inside the former pub last year and it did not look derelict or have signs of damp.

Mr Clarke, who added he had many happy memories from nights out there in the past, said he hoped the site could go to a trust, rather than a private owner.

"It's about time," he said of the sale.

"I really hope it's a genuine effort. I sincerely hope this is the beginning of a new chapter."

Mr Wickens said The Cooperage had "enormous potential", but it had also faced some challenges, including making it commercially viable and the building's condition.

"To get a building like The Cooperage to work in a practical way, that's where the innovation is going to have to come in, but it's been done many times before," he said.

"Perhaps it will come out of the blue or it will be a really brilliant idea that no-one's thought of before.

"It could be just a combination of different ambitions that come together in one place."

A Historic England spokesperson said it had been working with the city council and the owner to prevent further deterioration.

"The Cooperage has had a number of lives over the years since its original construction as a merchant's house and could accommodate a range of sensitive future uses," they added.

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