Express & Star

Black Country pub dubbed 'Britain's wonkiest' fails to sell at auction

The Black Country establishment now dubbed Britain's wonkiest pub has failed to sell at auction after its reserve price was not met.

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The Tilted Barrel, High Street, Princes End, Tipton. Photo: Cottons, Auctions

The Tilted Barrel on High Street, Princes End, Tipton, was available via auction today with a guide price of £178,000, but after the auctioneer went through bids, nobody met the required amount and it failed to sell.

The auction began with the auctioneer asking to start with a bid of £180,000, but after pure silence he reduced it to £170,000. This also failed to entice any interest but once the starting point was knocked down to £160,000, someone did raise their hand.

Bidding then went up to £165,000 and £170,000 but, when the auctioneer asked for £172,000, interest ceased and the property was categorised at unsold.

The Tilted Barrel, High Street, Princes End, Tipton. Photo: Cottons, Auctions

The Tilted Barrel was described as freehold vacant public house known as the Tilted Barrel, and it is a Grade II listed building.

The auctioneer also made a note with the likeness to the Crooked House pub, which was burned down in an arson attack.

The Tilted Barrel, High Street, Princes End, Tipton. Photo: Cottons, Auctions

Before beginning the auction, the auctioneer mentioned that the first floor of the property is used as accommodation, and that there are stairs leading to a second floor but it is boarded, but it has potential to be developed.

Photos on the auction listing show that the inside has been almost ripped out with only few bits of furniture remaining that likens it to a pub.

It comes following the unfortunate loss of The Crooked House, and The Greyhound - both pubs that were victims of suspected arson attacks.

The Tilted Barrel, High Street, Princes End, Tipton. Photo: Cottons, Auctions

Following the tragic blaze which saw The Crooked House reduced to rubble, The Tilted Barrel was then dubbed as Britain's wonkiest pub.

The Tilted Barrel stands proudly at a slant, after being hit by mining subsidence and consequently tilting not long after being built, leaving it with a "particularly obvious lean". The last subsidence to hit the pub was in 1896.

Built in the 1800s, the watering hole on High Street in Princes End is just five miles away from the site of The Crooked House.

The Tilted Barrel is a Grade II listed building, meaning it is designated as a "building of special interest" by Historic England. As a result, it is given extra protections so the pub can be "protected for future generations".