300-year-old pub in village near Dudley reopens six weeks after car ploughs into its side, leaving 'big hole'

A 300-year-old pub forced to close when a car drove into the side of it has now reopened.

The Old Bush in Swindon, near Dudley, suffered severe damage when a car ploughed into the side of the building on October 30. 

The wrecked car outside the Old Bush, Swindon, near Dudleyplaceholder image
The wrecked car outside the Old Bush, Swindon, near Dudley

Landlady Clare Marsh said: "It's been a rough six weeks for all of us at the Old Bush, but we got there."

Miss Marsh, 45, thanked emergency services for their quick response.  

The Old Bush Pub in Swindon, in the aftermath of the crash following a visit by structural engineersplaceholder image
The Old Bush Pub in Swindon, in the aftermath of the crash following a visit by structural engineers
The Old Bush Pub in Swindon, in the aftermath of the crash following a visit by structural engineersplaceholder image
The Old Bush Pub in Swindon, in the aftermath of the crash following a visit by structural engineers
The Old Bush Pub in Swindon, in the aftermath of the crash following a visit by structural engineersplaceholder image
The Old Bush Pub in Swindon, in the aftermath of the crash following a visit by structural engineers
The Old Bush suffered severe damage when a car smashed into it. Photo: Steve Leathplaceholder image
The Old Bush suffered severe damage when a car smashed into it. Photo: Steve Leath
The scene after a car crashed into The Old Bush pub in Swindon, near Dudley.placeholder image
The scene after a car crashed into The Old Bush pub in Swindon, near Dudley.

A security cordon had to be created around the pub, on the corner of High Street and Hinksford Lane while structural engineers made the area safe from the damage caused by the Vauxhall Astra.

Miss Marsh said the crash had left a 'big hole' in the side of the pub, and also caused extensive damage inside. Structural engineers had to be called to see if the chimney was at risk of collapse. 

But the damage had since been repaired, and Miss Marsh said she was glad the pub was now back to normal.

Paramedics were sent to the scene, but the car was found to be unoccupied by the time they arrived.

Comment Guidelines

Iconic Media encourages reader discussion on our stories. User feedback, insights and back-and-forth exchanges add a rich layer of context to reporting. Please review our Community Guidelines before commenting.

Local news you can trust
Follow us
© 2026 Iconic Media Group Ltd. All rights reserved.Cookie SettingsTerms and ConditionsPrivacy notice