The publican of Dundee’s Charleston Bar fears unrepaired damage from Storm Arwen last year could cause the venue to be torn down.
The once popular pub, known as the Charlie Bar, has been shut since the powerful storm ripped through the UK in November 2021.
Publican Brian Pugh said 75% of the bar’s roof was destroyed by the gale force winds that battered Dundee and other parts of the country.
He says no repairs have been carried out and is awaiting the outcome of a legal case between the building’s owner and an insurance company.
Mr Pugh said he’s been told the case could take “anything from six months to a year” to resolve.
He spoke at an online meeting of Dundee City Council’s licensing board on Thursday to ask for deferred payment of an annual £280 premises licence fee.
This was granted until January after board members heard Mr Pugh’s account of the building’s state of disrepair and his current, uncertain circumstances.
The Charleston Bar was among a number of popular “scheme pubs”; community watering-holes for generations of Dundonians living on the city’s housing estates.
The bar opened in 1967. Mr Pugh told the board he has been publican for “more than 20 years.”
‘Roof ripped off’
Mr Pugh said: “On November 26 last year…the pub…suffered catastrophic storm damage from Storm Arwen, when 75% of the roof was ripped off.
“It will soon be a year that the pub has now been closed. It’s looking increasingly likely that the pub may not ever open again.”
The pub owner said discussions are ongoing between the building’s owner and an insurance firm meaning he cannot move back in until this is resolved and repairs are carried out.
‘May need demolished’
He continued: “I’ve been in that building for 20 years…the state of the building in its current form, I would assume that the building may need demolished.
“It’s now in a current state of probably, what I would call, dereliction. It’s very close (whether) the building could be saved at all.”
Mr Pugh said if it can be saved, it would be years before all the work is completed.
‘Sympathy for the situation’
Before agreeing with board members to defer Mr Pugh’s payment, licencing board convener, SNP Councillor Stewart Hunter said: “Certainly, a lot of sympathy for the situation that you find yourself in.”
After the decision, Mr Pugh commented: “If I’ve not got any further information in January, I won’t have any problem paying the fee if there’s no clear way forward.”
During questions, Labour Councillor Pete Shears commented: “I actually live round the corner from the ‘Charlie Bar’ and watched the roof come off when that storm was coming on.
“It was quite a sight to see.”
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