Originally published on Manchester Evening News

13:13, 23 MAR 2021

Link: https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/salfords-historic-crescent-pub-karl-20229580

How The Crescent pub in Salford would look if it became The Red Dragon. Its Chinese owners are planning to restore the historic Grade II listed building which closed four years ago.

The Salford's historic Crescent pub is set roar back to life as The Red Dragon.

And two former customers would definitely approve.

Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels are believed to have drunk there together as they formulated the ideas of communism in the 19th century.

The Grade II listed pub closed in 2017 and is in a poor state. There were fears it would go the same way as the nearby Black Horse Hotel and be demolished to make way for apartments.

But now its Chinese owners have revealed plans to restore the pub; give it back its original name; and construct a new building at the rear of the premises.

They aim to bring live music back to the venue which was once a favourite haunt of undergraduates and life-long students of ale, getting regular mentions in good beer guides.

Boarded up : The Crescent pub in Salford - closed since August 2017 (Image: ABNM Photography)

The pub stands on The Crescent on the A6 corridor - the location for part of a masterplan to create a new ‘city’ district on 244 acres.

The revamp of the The Crescent is one part of what is billed as a £800m ‘investment opportunity’.

There are plans for five different development zones; 2,500 new apartments and houses; a new school; a 2,000-space multi-storey car park; and 700 new accommodation flats.

The magnificent red brick Peel Building, dating from 1896, on the University campus, will remain.

But others, including the Newton Building and the derelict old Salford police headquarters, will soon disappear.

The aim is to preserve listed buildings such as The Old Fire Station, Joule House, Salford Museum and Art Gallery, and the Working Class Movement Library, while building new facilities.

The Crescent pub - set to re-open as The Red Dragon - its original name. (Image: ABNM Photography)

The owners of the pub hope their plans will fit with the regeneration plans. It was sold in 2016 to Chinese investors for £325,000.

A spokesman for the owners said: "Plans are moving forward to restore the Crescent Pub as a public house. Although initial suggestions were for a Chinese Cultural Centre which would have been open to the general public, the owner has decided to create a traditional pub, with a lot old features restored to inherit the local rich culture and history. This will include serving traditional ales.

"The traditional bars and traditional beer enliven and enrich the life of local people, and promote exchanges and economic activities, especially for the students of Salford University.

"The pub would be at the heart of the local community and would provide a bar and food offer. It is intended to return the pub’s use as a venue for local bands as a platform for local musicians as well.

"On the upper floors will be meeting rooms providing conference facilities which will be used as a base for the development of links between Salford University and China building upon existing relationships."

They intend to make the most of its reputation for being a footnote in the rise of communism.

The Chinese-owned Crescent pub in Salford, a Grade II listed building (Image: ABNM Photography)

“The historic links the pub has been assumed to have with Marx and Engels the founders of Communism, will be emphasised as will the buildings long history, having first ben built to provide merchants houses for the expanding conurbation of Manchester and Salford.

"The celebration of this history is considered to be key to attracting tourists especially from China to visit the area to appreciate the role of Manchester and Salford in the Industrial Revolution.

"The owner is currently finalising plans for an application for Listed Building consent which will be submitted in the next few weeks with an application for a second phase to follow."

The aim is to remove modern changes to the pub and return it to its "original design and feel".

The pub was created from three early 19th century buildings - 18-21 The Crescent and 1 Massey Street.

Restoration of the pub is the priority for the owners but a second phase of the development is for a building at the back of the pub "which will provide more services for local communities, Salford university, other organizations in Salford. For activities like conferences, culture exchange, academic exchange, also for local use."

The Crescent pub in Salford - in need of urgent repairs (Image: ABNM Photography)

Veteran Salford councillor, and lover a real ale, John Warmisham, said: "I look forward to seeing the plans and hope that with The Crescent pub being an historic Grade II listed building it's kept pretty much in tact and that its not modernised too much.

"It still needs to be a traditional pub serving real ale that is also a small music venue, something we don't have enough of in Salford. I hope this great part of Salford's history can be saved because at the moment its a travesty that it is lying empty and being left to deteriorate.

"In relation to the other aspect of the proposals they need to fit in with the ambitious Crescent Masterplan, which is an exciting set of proposals on this main corridor through Salford.