New Hope for Stafford's Derelict Tavern Pub After Auction Sale

The former Tavern pub on Greengate Street, a long-derelict building at a key town centre location, has been sold at auction, bringing fresh hope that the site will finally be brought back into use. The prominent building was bought by two business partners for a price understood to be around the guide of £280,000.

The sale is a significant step forward for the property, which has been closed since approximately 2014 and has become a magnet for antisocial behaviour. Its state of neglect was highlighted earlier this year when fire crews were called to a fire at the empty building on 10th June 2025.

What Are the Plans for the Site? While the new owners have a ready-made plan to work with, they have revealed they may have slightly different ideas for the ground floor.

A planning application was approved by Stafford Borough Council in August 2023 which allows for a major transformation of the building. That permission includes:

• Transforming the ground floor into a single restaurant or café.

• Creating five self-contained flats on the upper floors.

• Building a three-storey side extension and a two-storey rear extension.

  
  

The Tavern

However, speaking to The Staffordshire Spotter, the new owners confirmed they are hoping to explore the possibility of splitting the ground floor into smaller commercial units, though this may be subject to a new planning application.

The existing approved plans include no on-site car parking, with documents arguing its town centre location makes it sustainable. They do, however, include storage for five bicycles, which was requested by the highway authority.

The sale is a positive step for a prominent town centre building, with residents hopeful that the new owners will bring life back to a neglected corner of Greengate Street.