A Coventry pub has been given listed status as part of a national drive to protect historic venues that pre-date World War Two.

The Biggin Hall Hotel, in Binley Road, was awarded Grade II listed status by the Department of Culture, Media and Sport following a project led by Historic England to protect pubs built between World War One and Two.

The pub, built in 1923, was created in a style called Brewer’s Tudor-style.

Architects and breweries hoped to invoked memorise on “Merrie England” through features such as a wood-panelled inglenook fireplace in the bar.

Between 1918 and 1939 breweries rebuilt thousands of pubs, spurred on by the need to appeal beyond their usual male clientele and leave behind the image of drunkenness associated with Victorian and Edwardian pubs.

By creating bigger, better pubs with restaurants, gardens and community meeting spaces, breweries aimed to attract more respectable customers, to appeal to families and particularly women.

Around 5,000 pubs were built during the inter-war years, however few have survived today as they are often overlooked.

Many inter-war year pubs were demolished before Historic England could list them.

Emily Gee, head of listing at Historic England, said: “This national project, the first of its kind, has surveyed the increasingly threatened and much loved inter-war public house, allowing us to identify, understand and protect the most special examples.”

Heritage minister Tracey Crouch added: “These inter-war pubs are more than a slice of living history, they play an intrinsic role in English culture and our local communities.

“I’m delighted that these pubs and their fascinating history have been protected for generations to enjoy for years to come.”

Over the years, the industry has struggled due to new government regulations banning smoking indoors and increasing the taxes on alcohol.

In 1980 there was an estimated 69,000 pubs around the UK which has shrunk now to just 48,000.