THE KINGS HEAD and HEINS & CO., HEREFORD

For some period of time now, careful VBCW researchers have been logging "architectural losses" from Hereford's 1930s townscape - see, for example, THIS POST on the Imperial Cafe of St Peter Street, a gathering place for many HM Government loyalists during the VBCW.

Contemporary photographs of HM Queen Mary's 1937 drive through the City showed a view of the Kings Head Public House (and Hotel) on the corner of Broad Street and West Street, together with the shop premises of Heins & Co., a well known retailer. Some better views here:

The Kings Head (on the left, with interesting late Victorian corner tower),
nestled next to Heins & Co. (also on the left, with patriotic flags). A classic
Edwardian gentleman - in boater and three piece suit - stares down the
 cameraman - behind him, All Saint's Church.

Another view of the King's Head, looking down the West Street facade (on the left)

Sadly, the King's Head (and Heins) have now disappeared from Hereford's townscape, and - most would agree - not to the City's architectural advantage:

The same corner of Broad Street and West Street, January 2023.
Replacement of late Victorian elegance with ghastly 1960s pre fab concrete.
The premises of Heins & Co. (on right) have received the same treatment.

A reverse view from the corner of High Town and Broad Street. This is pretty much the same
angle (but from the ground rather than the first floor) captured by the 1937 photographer HERE
Gone are the King's Head and Heins & Co (Greggs now occupy their former retail space) -
Pleasance & Harper and the newsagents still occupy original buildings as per the 1937 townscape.

Clearly, it is unimaginable that a local planning authority would allow the destruction of a fine building like the King's Head and its replacement (or vandalisation) by pre-fab concrete. On this basis, the argument rages, it is much more likely that the King's Head (and Heins) were the victims of some awful passage of arms during the Hereford VBCW....

It is some architectural consolation that All Saints stills stands, unchanged
However, no three piece suits and boaters in this present day photograph!

Add edit: A charabanc with day trippers outside the Kings Head, 1925: