The (former) Old Bulls Head, Little Hucklow

After a planning application for change of use was withdrawn last year, The Old Bulls Head (Little Hucklow, Derbyshire) is currently for sale. The agents, Crosthwaite Commercial, suggest potential for a pub/restaurant. The pub was a regular Good Beer Guide entry in the 1970’s and 80’s when it sold a fine pint of Buxton-brewed Winkle Saxon Cross Bitter (3.8%). It later sold Wards Bitter. However, the building has been unused for seven years and would require substantial renovation. The Old Bulls Head has historical interest dating back to the 12th.Century with the selling agents claiming it is the 5th oldest pub in England. Little Hucklow was once the scene of much mining activity, with considerable remains of old shafts, gravel hillocks and rakes still surrounding the village. The Bull’s Head pub contained a collection of mining relics. In addition, the handpumps had Shakespearean characters carved in wood.

4 thoughts on “The (former) Old Bulls Head, Little Hucklow

  1. Drove up from Bradwell today and noticed a field sign ‘The Bull PH Re-opening in Spring’. Detoured up through little Hucklow and sure enough, building work in active progress. Earlier application may have been turned down by PDNPA but evidently one finally approved in Jan 2018. There are actually SOME people on the DDNPA who aren’t obsessed with removing all trace of man from the Park (which would mean changing the landscape entirely as the present scene derives from centuries of sheep grazing and mining, etc). Fond memories of the Bull before it closed c2005/2007, though it went ‘off’ toward the end of days.

  2. Renovation work has started on the Old Bull’s Head in Little Hucklow, the building having been unused for well over a decade. This will involve alterations to the pub building, including the addition of a glazed ‘seed room’ extension, the addition of an external stone stair, an extension to the south-west corner, removal of the porch, alterations to openings, and internal layout changes. In addition, the car park will be altered to accommodate a new building which includes six letting rooms.

    The pub was a regular Good Beer Guide entry in the 1970’s and 80’s when it sold a fine pint of Buxton-brewed Winkle Saxon Cross Bitter (3.8%). It later sold Wards Bitter. The Old Bulls Head has historical interest dating back to the 12th.Century with claims to be the 5th.oldest pub in England.

    Little Hucklow was once the scene of much mining activity, with considerable remains of old shafts, gravel hillocks and rakes still surrounding the village. The Bull’s Head pub contained a collection of mining relics. In addition, the handpumps had Shakespearean characters carved in wood. We look forward to them returning to use!

    More detail is available in the planning report which is available online.

  3. Great news! Streetview still has the derelict, depressing ‘dead Pub’ from 2011 & I thought that was the end – Such a wonderful, welcome shock to see it’s been brought back to life with a high quality sympathetic renovation! I liked the former name, but guess it might’ve got mixed up with other Pubs & it’s not very different, a quibble compared to the fact that someone invested so much love, dedication [& cash] working hard to save a historic, lovely Pub for us all to enjoy, hope to visit soon!

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