It is considered one of the roughest roads in Birmingham where even the local councilor admits the murder is no surprise.
But despite begging, drug addiction, tip-offs and crime, most locals on Hunters Road in Lozells refuse to give up on the area.
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Birmingham pub owner Howard Derdar (left) with his brother Mulie Credit: Nigel Iskander
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Sophia Lawrence turned a ‘dirty’ pub into a hub for the local Caribbean community Credit: Nigel Iskander
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Mum-of-five Hayley welcomed the pub and said the last business to open was a brothelCredit: Nigel Iskander
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Inside the reopened pub Credit: Nigel Iskander
More than 5,000 crimes were reported in the area last year – about 14 a day.
In September, local councilor Waseem Zaffar said Hunters Road was a crime hotspot – saying he was “not shocked” by the killing there.
But one entrepreneur has just reopened the historic pub as a lonely business on a road that society has forgotten.
Howard Derdar, 38, said: “When I bought this closed pub, the plan was to open an unlicensed pub.
“But when I thought about it, I knew it would be the easy way out.
“What this place needs is a sense of community, a place where everyone is welcome, where people can hang out.
“But I feel the Labor councilors here don’t want this job.
“Their government talks about growth, but as a businessman I don’t feel supported, I feel targeted.”
The only thing that has opened up on Hunters Road recently is more and more Homes in Multiple Occupation (HMOs).
Their tenants, who often have drug and alcohol problems and are housed by landlords at high rents, are blamed for some of the many problems in the area.
So it came as a shock to many when Howard and his family reopened The Observatory, a 120-year-old pub.
FAMILY MARKET
Now it’s a boozer with an Eritrean flair that includes Rahya Restaurant, staffed by his brother and three sisters, including a five-star chef.
Howard said: “Financially an off-licence would make a lot more sense.”
“But I remembered being in this area as a young man who came to this country as a child, and went to the Observatory.”
He added: “They had the best food – absolutely beautiful Caribbean food.
“I used to enjoy every bit of it – the men playing dominoes, the music, the sense of community.”
In the three months since it reopened, the pub, with its fully functional CCTV system, has helped police spot a man fleeing the scene of a murder just meters away.
Howard said: “There are a lot of problems in this area. There are more and more HMOs and people being dropped and forgotten.
“We are close to Villa Road, which has always been famous.
“There are many neglected people here. They are not bad people, but the system ignores them.”
As well as all the usual draft lagers, Guinness and spirits, customers can now enjoy traditionally cooked Eritrean food.
In the back room, Abraham, Bini and Musgun are playing the Italian game of Vilado on the pool table.
It involves players throwing red and yellow balls to score points by knocking down tiny pins in the center of the table.
Bini, a taxi driver, told The Sun: “It’s becoming a community place.
“When we’re on a break from driving or washing the car, we come here. It’s great.’
The pub was previously closed following a campaign led by local Labor councilor Waseem Zaffar on behalf of some residents who complained about noise and anti-social behaviour.
This area has many problems. There are more and more HMOs and people who are discarded and forgotten. We are close to Villa Road which has always been famous
Howard Derdarpub landlord
The culture war that closed it still challenges former landlady Sophia Lawrence (58).
She took over the “grubby little pub” in October 2007 and turned it into a thriving hub for the local Caribbean community.
She said: “They took all the problems of the area and made the Observatory a scapegoat.”
“Certain people feel they own the area and they didn’t want a pub on the road so they painted a bad picture with fabricated complaints.
“Freeholder Clarendon Homes has not helped by not responding to the Council and we have lost a community resource.
“From being a pillar of the community, I became guilty of all kinds of things.
“I feel like we were victims of racial discrimination and it still hurts because that was my life.”
Sophia added: “I never thought it would come back, but kudos to Howard for trying.”
Residents admitted there was no reason to complain about the pub’s new management, but said the area was suffering.
Civil servant Mohammed, 23, has lived on the road all his life.
He said: “This road has had its ups and downs. It’s not a nice area. You find a lot of drug addicts and alcoholics.
“It’s gotten worse recently. HMOs don’t cause us problems directly, but you have gang violence and drug dealing.
“Landlords are charging £900 for a room so in a way we’re all paying for it through less money for public services.
“The pub was closed due to anti-social behavior but now they are not causing any problems.”
Another local, Maria Sanchez, 37, said: “Since I came to Birmingham in 2014 I have seen stabbings, but they are young people, not older people.
“The good thing is that when you need help there is always someone to help you. People look out for each other.”
The streets, however, are dirty with garbage and dog mess every few steps.
Nobody expects much to change after Birmingham City Council declared bankruptcy last year.
HOMELESSNESS
On Villa Road, a homeless man at the door of a shop stood up, took off his pants and defecated as customers walked by.
A housewife, who did not want to be named, said: “We need more police in action.
‘We used to have a local policeman, but you rarely see him. Our Prime Minister must wake up.
“We have people robbing shops and pensioners who are afraid of being attacked by some desperate man.”
Another 46-year-old mum said: “This used to be a real residential road.
“But now we have health facilities and a lot of drug problems. It’s not safe to go out.
The mother of seven added: “We took the car exhaust. We’d all move if we could.”
But the pub has now returned as a beacon for the community.
Mum-of-five Hayley, 37, said: “I’m really glad to see him back but I don’t think it’s going to be the same.
“It used to be a place for all of us and everyone came. We had so many laughs and parties over the years.”
She added: “Of course there were problems, but the pub didn’t cause them.
“The last thing that opened here was a brothel opposite my house.
“So it’s good to see some real work. We need something decent here.”
Owner Howard is an avid Radio 4 listener and father of a teenage girl.
He said: “When I came to this country 24 years ago, I thought it was the best, most tolerant place I had ever known.
“I’m sorry it’s being lost now. You have people here trying to shut down businesses.
“It doesn’t fit their worldview. I’ve seen what radical ideas can do in my own country. As a country you have to keep your values.
“For me this is England and the Observatory has been around for 120 years so it’s worth trying to preserve that.”
Now their challenge is to convince the council to support them and grant them longer working hours.
Howard’s brother Mulie, 32, said: “The problem is that a lot of our customers work as drivers.
“They want to go somewhere after work, but for them that means after 11 p.m.
“We’re not allowed to see alcohol after 11pm, which seems really unfair and hampers business.”
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Pub gives Brummies a taste of traditional Eritrean foodCredit: Nigel Iskander
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It was a shock to many when Howard and his family reopened The Observatory Credit: Nigel Iskander
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Three lucky punters clink glasses Credit: Nigel Iskander
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Abraham, Bini and Musgun play the Italian game Vilado on a pool table Credit: Nigel Iskander
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The drink has an Eritrean flair that includes Rahya Restaurant Credits: Nigel Iskander
Categories: Optical Illusion
Source: HIS Education