The Cleveland Arms is not just a pub. It is part of Wolverhampton’s soul. A venue with a national reputation, local roots, and a long-standing tradition of bringing sports people and supporters together. To many, it’s more than a watering hole—it’s a second home.
Yet today, its future is under threat.
Mitchells & Butlers, the pub chain that owns the Cleveland Arms, has decided to convert it into a Toby Carvery. On the surface, that may sound like investment. But in truth, it’s erasure. The community hub that Wolverhampton has cherished for decades will be replaced with another identikit chain outlet.
Let’s be honest: Toby Carveries have their place. But the Cleveland Arms already has one—its place is as a sports-led, bar-focused pub with identity and heritage. That’s what the people of Wolverhampton want. Over 1,500 residents have signed a petition inits defence. I’ve spoken to them. They care deeply. And yet Mitchells & Butlers won’t meet me, or even acknowledge that a public meeting might be appropriate. They’ve ignored a Member of Parliament, and they’ve ignored a city councillor. Most troubling of all, they’ve ignored the public. That’s not community engagement. That’s corporate bulldozing.
In their responses, Mitchells & Butlers repeatedly say the pub is ‘not viable’ in its current format — yet they provide no evidence. They say some social media comments support the change — but what of the signed petitions, emails, and letters opposing it?
The irony is thick: they claim this is a community investment, while stripping away the very thing the community values. You cannot slap the word ‘community’ on a rebrand and hope people don’t notice what you’ve taken from them.
This is not just about one pub. It’s about the principle of listening to local voices. That’s why I will now be pressing the council to explore the option of listing the Cleveland Arms as an Asset of Community Value, giving residents a formal say in its future.
I am once again calling on Mitchells & Butlers to pause, meet with us, and hear from the very people who made the Cleveland Arms what it is. We are not asking for charity—we are asking to be heard.
This is Wolverhampton. We don’t give up without a fight.