Former Captain Cook Pub in Teesside, Middlesbrough

Grade II-listed– 1893 – Robert Moore

The former Captain Cook Pub has stood boarded up and empty for ten years. The sorry state of the building today is a far cry from when it featured on English comedy-drama Auf Wiedersehen, Pet. The Jacobean style building has vast potential, although plans in 2017 for Python Properties to convert it into a high-end gastropub fell through. Coving and ceiling roses remain - the building also features the Vaux Breweries blackbird motif. Vaux Brewery was a major brewer based in Sunderland. A plaque on the pub explains that it is named after the famous explorer Captain Cook, who was born in Marton on the outskirts of Middlesbrough.

Griff said:‘This pub has a huge amount of potential. Once lockdown is over people will be looking for places to meet. In an area with few historic pubs left, a sympathetic restoration of this listed establishment would surely be popular. Let’s hope it is Auf Wiedersehen and not adieu for the Captain Cook.

Update - July 2023:

Major work to stabilise the former pub, including a completely new roof, was completed in 2021. This became possible after Middleborough Council secured over £0.5m from the Town Fund, earlier that year.

The building is now available for sale or rent, although the new tenant will be responsible for an internal re-fit as the walls have been taken back to brick and services need to be installed throughout. The council will consider any suitable proposals for the use of the building read more here


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