You will find most of our regular pub news in the WhatPub Update column but here are some items that merit further comment, some positive, others alas not. . .
There are various ways of campaigning to save pubs and one of the most effective is by using the planning system. To this end a number of CAMRA branches in Greater London have, sometimes with the support of CAMRA’s professional staff, lobbied and consulted with their local borough councils to have pub protection clauses included in their Local Plan, effectively the borough’s planning guidelines. On a larger scale and led by CAMRA’s Regional Director, Geoff Strawbridge, CAMRA has also been working with the Greater London Authority. Indeed Geoff will be giving evidence at the forthcoming Examination in Public on the new draft London Plan.
Unfortunately, there are disappointments to be had. CAMRA’s Enfield and Barnet branch, jointly with the Enfield Society and with help from CAMRA staff, have been negotiating with the Borough of Enfield for some time and had expected pub protection provisions to be included in their next Local Plan. When the consultation document was issued in December however, no such provisions were included. When you recall the saga of the Green Dragon in Winchmore Hill (now a Waitrose and not to be confused with the new micropub) it is hard to argue that such provisions are not desperately needed. None the less, having worked well with them up to this point, Enfield and Barnet branch want to maintain good relations with the Council. Branch members and indeed any readers who are Enfield residents are encouraged to take part in the consultation exercise to see if the situation can be changed.
Sadly the practice of selling on large tranches of pubs continues. As reported in the Morning Advertiser in early December, New River Retail has purchased 76 sites from Heineken’s Star Pubs & Bars offshoot, reportedly for £12 million. NRR’s Hawthorn Leisure operation, which it took over last May, now owns some 700 pubs.
I have mentioned previously that Ei Group (Enterprise as was) were disposing of their Commercial Property division. This contains a mixture of sites, some 400 in total, including ex-pubs now used for other purposes and pubs let on long leases to multiple operators. There was substantial interest and at least three investment funds went into a second round of bidding. The winner was a new company called Tavern Propco which is owned by an American hedge fund called Davidson Kempner Capital Management. They paid £348 million for around 370 of the sites against the original valuation of around £340 million. There is currently no indication of their plans for the properties. Ben Wilkinson, CAMRA’s national director responsible for pub campaigning, commented, “While on one level few pub tenants are likely to regret the disappearance of Ei Group from their lives, there is, of course, concern about the intentions of the new owner. It is essential these pubs are given the chance to thrive under a fair, long-term business model – not viewed simply as property assets to be converted for a quick buck. Too many times in the past we’ve seen large pub company disposals result in the closure of viable pubs, robbing communities of their locals and licensees of their livelihoods. The buyer of these properties has a responsibility to its tenants and customers to set out its intentions at the earliest opportunity.”
Another new micropub. The Ale Bar, located at 443 New Cross Road, SE14 is due to open in late February. Apart from Westerham Brewery cask ales and local cider, they will have a full scenic model railway in the bar which, as they say, is far more interesting to watch than Sky Sports. There will also be a weekly quiz night and there is an established theatre at the back of the venue. Discounts will be available for CAMRA members. Interesting to note that, what with another one opening in Hither Green as mentioned below, micropubs are starting to spread inwards.
Congratulations to the Blythe Hill Tavern, Stanstead Road, Catford, for being one of four finalists in CAMRA’s national cider pub of the year competition for 2018. The certificate was presented at a meeting of CAMRA’s South East London branch in December.
Ian White
I mentioned in the last edition that the Carlton Tavern, Maida Vale, was surrounded by a large hoarding. The photo illustrates this. As the work progresses, there are certain compromises being made, such as installing the kitchen in the basement rather than the first floor which the architects say will be more efficient. Any such changes will require a further planning application in due course. Westminster City Council’s Planning Department are monitoring the materials being used on the exterior and are acting as the approved inspector under building regulations, with regular inspections taking place.
Following a mistake with the notices, the consultation period on the plans to redevelop the Chelsfield in Bromley was extended. This is good news because it seems that plenty of people wanted to object. I looked at Bromley Council’s planning website and up to 4 January, 982 comments had been logged, ten of which were in support.
Having fought off McDonalds five years ago, the Dutch House in Eltham (SE12) is under threat again. Despite having been listed as an Asset of Community Value at the time, the owners now want to split the pub in half, with the other part being taken over by a local builders’ merchants who are being displaced. Inevitably, the plan also includes converting the upper floors into flats. The developers claim that the smaller pub will be more viable financially. They also claim that the pub is in poor condition. The plans are currently with Greenwich Council for consideration.
The Grade II-listed Fellowship in Bellingham (SE6) is moving towards reopening. To recap, the pub was purpose-built as part of the London County Council’s Bellingham Estate in 1924 by F G Newnham, the house architect for Barclay Perkins and Co, in mock Tudor style. As built, it boasted two bars, a dance and music hall and a large function room. Sadly it closed and fell into disrepair but in 2016 the local housing association, Phoenix Community Housing (PCH), were awarded a Heritage Lottery Fund grant of £4 million to restore the pub. This will include a cinema, theatre and a cafe. I have previously seen mention of a microbrewery as well. PCH have now appointed an operator for the pub. This is Rob Star’s Electric Star company which already has five pubs in east London. It is hoped that the pub will reopen fairly soon.
Although it closed as long ago as November 2016, the Glamorgan (formerly the Horse & Groom and Grouse & Claret) in Cherry Orchard Road, Croydon, the current owners have neither submitted plans for its redevelopment nor have they attempted to sell it. A ‘Save the Glamorgan’ campaign has been set up and they recently staged a demonstration outside the pub which was attended by members of CAMRA’s Croydon and Sutton branch. The pub was given Asset of Community Value listing in March 2018.
As mentioned above, the arrival of a micropub in Hither Green is imminent. It will be housed in a former taxi office in Springbank Road. Matthew Morrison and Emma Cole have had quite a struggle to get their application approved by Lewisham Council. It has taken some twenty months and has cost them around £5,000 in legal fees. Compromises have had to be made, such as not having the planned beer garden and smokers’ shelter. There were objections from some local residents who, sadly, could not appreciate that a micropub is not likely to be a source of anti-social behaviour. The last report I saw was that Matthew and Emma were asking for suggestions for a name for their venture. No doubt Beery McBeerface came into it somewhere. If anyone does know the name that was decided upon, please do let me know.
Having purchased the pub from Greene King, the new owners of the Midland Hotel in Hendon have put forward plans to demolish it and replace it with 59 flats in three blocks. The pub, built in 1889, is still a going concern, hosting regular live music and quizzes. A campaign group, the Midland Hotel Community Group, was quickly formed and they have successfully applied for the pub to be listed as an Asset of Community Value. Hundreds of objections have already been registered on Barnet Council’s planning website and the campaign has cross-party support from the local MP and London Assembly Member plus a number of local councillors.
Four years ago, the freehold of the Grade I-listed Old Bank of England in Aldwych came on market and, although Fuller’s were the sitting tenants, McMullen’s purchased it over their heads. Fuller’s lease expires in February 2019, so expect some changes in both the beer range and possibly the decoration. With thanks to CAMRA’s West London branch for the information.
Young’s are refurbishing the Park Hotel in Teddington. This Grade II-listed pub and hotel (43 bedrooms) near to Hampton Court Palace and Bushy Park is to be restored to its 19th Century splendour complete with ‘grand fireplaces and cosy corners.’ It will also have a ‘brasserie-style’ dining room. It is due to reopen in late February 2019.
The benefits of having a council with a sound pub protection policy can be seen in the case of the Pensbury Arms in Battersea (SW8). Developers submitted plans for a classic ‘Trojan Horse’ scheme extending the building upwards to create five flats but leaving the ground floor as a lock-up pub. Happily Lambeth Council have rejected the scheme for a number of reasons, not least that ‘the proposal has failed to demonstrate that the loss of specific features (including its landlord accommodation; the reduced attractiveness of the pub to customers resulting from external alterations, daylight penetration, reduced offer of outdoor space) would not render the public house unviable.’ It is so encouraging to have a planning authority who are wise to this device. There may, of course, be an appeal.
Once an upmarket local in Waverton Street, Mayfair, the Red Lion, which dates back to 1749, closed following sale in 2009 and in 2013 was converted into a luxury single dwelling which sold for £25 million. Before Christmas it was repossessed by a bank and sold on for £15 million. Someone has ‘caught a cold’. I can only hope that it was the developers.
It looks as if we have lost another live music venue. The
operators of the Ruskin Arms in High Street North, Manor Park (E12) decided to close the pub, which over the years has staged such acts as Black Sabbath, Iron Maiden and the Small Faces, following an incident. I won’t go into the gory details but faced with an appearance before Newham Borough Council’s Licensing Committee, it was decided to surrender the licence and board up the pub. There had been a previous incident in 2015. The pub was closed for major refurbishment 2008 to 2013 and reopened as a 59 bedroom hotel, although it still continued with live music. No application for transfer of the licence has been made, so anyone who takes over will need to seek a new one which, given what has happened, could be difficult. All the same, it is a handsome looking building and the hotel bedrooms must offer some sort of opportunity. Many thanks to Colin Price for alerting me to the story.
Sadly, despite it having Asset of Community Value listing (which was defended at a First Tier tribunal) the historic Still and Star in Little Somerset Street, Aldgate, is going to disappear beneath a new development. This will however include a replacement pub and, somewhat unusually, the architects have sought CAMRA’s advice in its design. This is looking promising and, thus far at least, has CAMRA’s approval.
Sad to report that the historic Telegraph on Putney Heath closed suddenly on 31 December. The story behind this is a sad reflection on today’s pub trade. The pub’s lessee, Peter Linacre, told the local news website
www.putneysw15.com that the pub was not in any financial trouble but he was faced with a rent increase that would make the pub unviable. He explained, “We have been negotiating with our landlord for months and years that he might adjust the current rent of £243,000 and rising to £275,000 in May 2020 in the light of current and recent market conditions. That negotiating door was finally closed on 28 December. We have loved owning and running the site. And it says something that we finish our time there with our highest ever levels of revenues and our highest ever levels of positive customer feedback!” It will be interesting to see if the owners, Sarela Enterprises Ltd who are registered in the British Virgin Islands, can find new tenants on these terms. Given the pub’s location, I doubt very much that Wandsworth Council would allow redevelopment. Happily, Mr Linacre has two other pubs at which he can
continue trading, the Tree House in Barnes and the Rocket in Epsom, and he has been able to relocate most of the staff from the Telegraph to them.
Compiled by Tony Hedger except where otherwise credited