The building 'forgotten' by years of regeneration
A LANDMARK pub in the heart of Devonport is struggling to stay afloat – its owners saying they have been "left behind" by a decade of regeneration.
The Leaves family have had to remortgage their home to keep the Ker Street Social Club in business.
Unable to tap into grant funding, they have watched enviously as £2.5million has been splashed on revamping neighbouring buildings in the street.
Workmen have just arrived at the Devonport Column, where a £685,000 project aims to restore the 124ft tower to its former glory.
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The work follows the much-needed £1.75million facelift given to Devonport Guildhall last year.
Husband-and-wife team Ann and Allan Leaves have been behind the bar at the Ker Street Social Club since selling their house to buy the striking Egyptian-themed Odd Fellows Hall 23 years ago.
"It hadn't been used for 15 years and it seemed like a good idea at the time," said Allan. "It's turned out to be the worst thing I've ever done."
Only after exchanging keys, the couple say, were they told it was a Grade I-listed building.
That means "bureaucratic red tape" prevents them from modifying the building, living there, or even giving parts of it a fresh lick of paint.
The couple, who run the social club alongside daughter Mandi, say they have spent tens of thousands of pounds battling maintenance costs.
But a new roof is still needed and the historic former school building, which was built in 1823, remains on the official English Heritage 'at risk' register.
The Guildhall and Column – both also designed by city architect John Foulston in the 1820s, but owned by Plymouth City Council – were also on the list until social enterprise the Real Ideas Organisation (RIO) secured restoration funding.
That door is closed to the Ker Street Social Club because, despite remaining a community hub that boasts a children's club, sports teams and even adult reading classes, it is privately-owned.
"We get so annoyed," said 67-year-old Ann. "We've tried so hard to make this work and to get funding.
"Everything around us is getting restored, refurbished or rebuilt, and we've just been left behind.
"They've spent millions on the other buildings but we can't even get funding to install wheelchair access."
Membership at the social club has plunged from 760 in 1995 to fewer than 250 today.
Custom has continued to fall despite Ker Street's run-down flats being bulldozed to make way for smart new townhouses in recent years.
"The redevelopment hasn't helped us at all," Ann said. "At one stage we were the only ones here, and not many people from the past moved back in to the area after the flats were knocked down."
Allan, who is now 70, spends every single evening driving across the city picking up members of the club's teams – such as darts, pool and football.
He said: "The people of Devonport used to run the Ker Street Social Club themselves, really. This was a real community place. It belonged to Devonport.
"But that's all gone now. Our old regulars are scattered all over Plymouth and the new people they've moved in either don't know we're here or don't come in.
"How are we supposed to carry on like that?"
Mandi, 46, added: "We're lucky that we're still here. All we can do at the moment is take it week by week.
"This place needs a complete overhaul, like they've had next door.
"We're losing customers because it's not looking like it should do, but our hands are tied – we can't do anything about it.
"We can't get funding because we actually own the building. But we would never have bought it if we'd have known it was Grade I-listed."
Despite their struggles, the family has recently spruced up the upstairs function room – and pumps all other cash into maintaining the building's costly original features.
Meanwhile, only the elements have delayed scaffolding from going up around the adjacent Devonport Column.
Workmen arrived at the site on Wednesday ready to start work, which is scheduled for completion by the end of the year.
Access to the column, built to commemorate the renaming of Plymouth Dock to Devonport, has been restricted since its railings were deemed dangerous in 1958.
It was fully closed to the public in 1992 and the entrance has been padlocked, overgrown and strewn with rubbish ever since.
RIO lead developer Ed Whitelaw said city students would be working with restoration crews as part of the project.
"It is very exciting," he said. "With the Guildhall as well we are flying the flag for change in the area.
"But there is more to do here and we're always looking forward at other things and other buildings."
Comment – Page 11
Comments
by laurenm
Tuesday, December 18 2012, 6:51PM
“I actually live in Mutley, but I come over to KSSC weekly and I would be in much more often if it were closer to me.
Ann, Allan and their staff are all so welcoming, even to non-locals such as myself, and I find it so sad that more isn't available to help to preserve this unique building. The Leaves' work so hard and deserve some help to keep the place maintained.
I would urge more people to go to the club and see what a lovely group of people there are there... you'll soon find yourself making it a your "local" as I have.
I'm looking into possible funding opportunities through charitable groups etc to see if I can find anyone to help with the upkeep of the building. It should be irrelevent that the building is privately owned - it's still an historic building which deserves respect.”
by TheWayWeLive
Wednesday, June 13 2012, 10:13PM
“I wish the owners of KSSC all the best in their efforts to sustain the club and hope that they can find some way of accessing a small scrap of the many millions that have been pumped into Devonport in recent years. It's a cruel kind of "regeneration" that threatens the livelihoods of people who've put heart and soul into the social life of the area for decades, first by removing their customer base and then by failing to provide any support to help them negotiate the dramatic changes that have taken place around them. In the circumstances it's understandable that KSSC feel aggrieved.
Let's hope that the new cohort of residents, RIO and others, all rally round to support the club as it faces up to the challenges ahead. Good luck KSSC!”
by annplymouth
Wednesday, June 13 2012, 6:49PM
“thank you all for your comments, some are very helpfull we have taken note, and will work on them ,again thank you . some are petty,even laughable, coming from people who dont know us , the club ,or area, DEVONPORT. MY point is that no one has offered any help to restore our building in any way, Its taken TEN YEARS to rebuild Devonport, decanting did not help any club,shops ,or pubs in our area, Help from someone would be a start. AS TO MY STAFF BEING RUDE, I DONT THINK SO.”
by PL1Plym
Wednesday, June 13 2012, 4:02AM
“What to people of Devonport (and thus the KSSC) have to realise is that the area historically has a stigma attached to it. A "no go" area, cars burning in the streets, drink, drugs, crime etc etc. Anyone that has actually set foot in the area, particularly in the last 10 years or so,knows this is 99% rubbish and Devonport is now no worse or better than many other areas of Plymouth.
I have moved to an area (in another city) that would have been the same as Devonport many moons ago. It had a bad reputation etc etc but like Devonport it has undergone massive redevelopment so what the area was like 15/10/5 years ago is no consequence to me. I don't care too much for what it WAS like. I live here now and it's a great place to live. The same I'm sure can be said to those that have moved into Devonport from further a field in recent years I'm sure.
I have family in the area still and when I lived in Plymouth I worked in Devonport. It does have an amazing community feel and buzz about it. That sometimes is part of the problem to those from other parts of the city who don't get it. It can be a little intimidating if you don't know or understand it. It is a big plus for the area but locals have to be aware it does "scare" people off.
Hopefully the KSSC will take all the comments on here and use them in a constructive way. Would be strange that they have not tried to attract new customers over recent years by tapping into all the new people moving in? Maybe an odd morning knocking on doors introducing yourselves to locals? Open coffee mornings etc.
I hope this is a turning point for the club and wish it and all the punters well!”
by trudie2010
Tuesday, June 12 2012, 8:44PM
“thanks for that magical123, I genuinely forgot about that.”
by Magical123
Tuesday, June 12 2012, 8:36PM
“@ trudie2010 , I just clicked on your name and saw your surname :(”
by trudie2010
Tuesday, June 12 2012, 7:54PM
“I know they live there, everybody KNOWS they live there. especially when more than one van parks up, it would appear after the last two days that they are a little petty too, you will know what I mean. As for the Herald, I do hope they are not giving out our surnames to people!! (that would be illegal)”
by Magical123
Tuesday, June 12 2012, 3:23PM
“I intend to visit this fabulous building soon and look forward to a warm Devonport welcome , a social club is a reflection of its membership, if you don't use it you will lose it . This building is worth supporting and saving , get behind it and support it Devonport and Plymouth .”
by Kobybill
Tuesday, June 12 2012, 12:58PM
“Dear all!!
Over the past 30 years i have visited the Kerr St Social at least once a year, be it for receptions, award ceremonies, darts, euchre or just for a quick pint. It is a place which is NOT intimidating nor have i ever seen any trouble there! I`m not saying that they have never had problems there but it is no different than any other club/drinking venue. the building is very unique and has always fascinated me as part of Plymouth`s history. It would be a shame to let it rot and decay as what has happened to the Palace Theatre on Union St. All i can say is try it, and if you dont like it, dont go back!! You never know, you might just LOVE it!!”
by Enraged_
Tuesday, June 12 2012, 11:44AM
“I live in revamped Devonport and have been in the Ker St Social club on only a few occasions and was made to feel VERY UNWELCOME, so I never returned. Perhaps you need to discuss with your bar staff the essentials of attracting new custom to their jobs.”