Urgent repair work is being carried out to secure the future of a historic Salford pub.
The Crescent Pub, which fell into disrepair after closing in 2017, is set to be given a new lease of life through upgrades now underway.
In October, Salford City Council served an Urgent Works Notice on the owners to protect the Grade II building from further decay and the owners have since begun to undertake the necessary repairs.
According to local legend, the popular boozer was the haunt of Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels and was a regular meeting place for the two to discuss ideas that would later shape their co-authored Communist Manifesto.
It was also a favourite of university students and lecturers due to its location on the A6 corridor.
The owner’s compliance in carrying out the repairs meant the council did not have to intervene or recover any costs.
Their help was praised by Councillor Hannah Robinson-Smith, Lead Member for Culture, Heritage, Equalities, Sports and Leisure at Salford City Council.
She said: “After serving the notice, we built up a constructive dialogue with the owners of the building and we approved their plans to carry out the works. We must thank them for their efforts in doing this.
“Our priority has always been to protect this city’s heritage and we will continue to use all our powers to protect this unique landmark.”
Historic England’s Catherine Dewar hailed the move to preserve the iconic Salford pub.
She added: “It’s really encouraging to see Salford City Council stepping up to protect this special building, and then working closely with the owners to find a way forward.
“We’re delighted this has resulted in the owners starting work on the much-needed repairs themselves.”
