I bought Britain’s wonkiest pub for £186,000 and have big plans on what to do with it next

• Its new owner Ian Riaar said he is proud to take over the 200-year-old boozer

The owner of the latest ‘wonkiest pub in Britain’ has bought the site for £186,000 and says he’s keen to make it the new ‘Crooked House’. 

The Tilted Barrel in Tipton, West Midlands, took the title from its demolished counterpart just five miles away after the Crooked House burnt down in a suspected arson attack in August. 

Its new owner Ian Riaar said he is proud to take over the 200-year-old boozer, describing it as ‘special with heritage value’. 

‘It was very sad to hear about the Crooked House,’ he said. ‘Once we knew that was gone it gave me the idea to buy this and make it a ‘second Crooked House’.

The Grade II listed building on High Street had gone up for auction in October but after it failed to sell Mr Riaar stepped in, according to the Express and Star. 

He told the newspaper he wanted to make it a family pub and had already ‘met locals who were keen for it to be open’.

The owner of the new ‘wonkiest pub’ in Britain has bought the site for £186,000

Its new owner Ian Riaar said he is proud to take over the 200-year-old boozer

The Grade II listed building on High Street had gone up for auction in October but after it failed to sell Mr Riaar stepped in, reports said 

The Tilted Barrel in Tipton, West Midlands, took the ‘wonkiest pub’ title from its demolished counterpart just five miles away

The pub boasts 1,315 square foot of space inside which includes two beer cellars and three store rooms

The Crooked House burnt down in a suspected arson attack in August

Mr Riaar, who hopes to open the pub before Christmas, said the bar and tables will be made of barrels – and confirmed everything would still be tilted. 

The slanted pub is wonky due to mining subsidence in the 1800s and also boasts the illusion of pool balls seemingly rolling uphill.

It was taken on by new landlady Haych Mann in February this year and she spent months refurbishing the inside of the historic building.

However, the pub’s future was thrown into doubt after it was suddenly listed for sale last month by Birmingham-based auctioneers Cottons.

The agents description had read: ‘An opportunity to purchase a famous Black Country Public House, known as The Tilted Barrel comprising of a Grade II Listed two storey detached premises of brick construction surmounted by a pitched slate clad roof, prominently situated at the junction of High Street and Parkes Lane.

‘The property was constructed circa mid 1800s and was affected by mining subsidence at an early stage, resulting in the pub’s recognisable crooked appearance and it is well documented in the media that since the recent demise of The Crooked House pub at Himley, the Tilted Barrel is regarded as the most crooked public house in the UK.’

The slanted pub is wonky due to mining subsidence in the 1800s

It also boasts the illusion of pool balls seemingly rolling uphill

Mr Riaar hopes to open the pub before Christmasand said the bar and tables will be made of barrels 

Landlady Haych, 38, who took over The Tilted Barrel in February, previously admitted there had been teething problems with her new venture.

Speaking after the Tilted Barrel took over the title of ‘Britain’s wonkiest pub, ‘she said: ‘It’s a bitter sweet moment.

‘Most of our regulars drank in the Crooked House too. I’m a local girl so I knew the pub well and we have lost an iconic pub in the Crooked House.

‘So I’m both sad and proud at the same time to learn we might now have that title.

‘It’s certainly not something I’m celebrating as the Crooked House was a landmark and a piece of Black Country history.’

Due to the Grade II listing status on the Tilted Barrel, it is unlikely its new owner will be allowed to alter the building’s appearance.

The pub boasts 1,315 square foot of space inside which includes two beer cellars and three store rooms.

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