Balabam, South Tottenham. This pub, formerly the Moll Cutpurse, has recently been a music venue. Planning permission is being sought to convert it into offices. CAMRA’s North London branch has submitted an objection on the grounds that the area has very few pubs, and any further loss would go against both the National Planning Policy Framework and Haringey’s own Local Strategic Plan. Its use as a music venue may not have been successful but it has previously been a thriving pub and could be again, contributing to the night time economy of the area – unlike the proposed offices.
Carlton Tavern, Maida Vale. To recap: in 2016, having ruled that the pub had been illegally demolished, Westminster Council ordered the owners, CLTX Ltd, to rebuild it within two years, a decision upheld by the Planning Inspectorate in rejecting CLTX’s appeal. The rebuilding started in August 2017 so should be long finished by now but, as the Morning Advertiser recently pointed out, it isn’t. They quote Matthew Green, Westminster City council’s cabinet member for business and planning as saying, “We are determined the pub will be rebuilt brick by brick and although, at times progress has been slow, we are closely monitoring reconstruction and are happy with the quality of the work to date.” Keep watching this space…
Charles Holden, Colliers Wood. My congratulations to the Laine Pub Company who have removed the battleship grey paint from the exterior of the pub to reveal its original bronze-brown tiling which, presumably, dates from its origins as a Friary Meux house. Inevitably, the tiling is not in perfect condition and there are some blank sections which could possibly have originally been doors. A new picture will be added to WhatPub once it stops raining.
Doctor Johnson, Barkingside. This pub was listed in the original London Regional Inventory as being one of the most intact examples of a 1930’s estate pub in the country. Alas, having closed in 2010, it is now a Co-op. It did not deserve that.
George, Holloway. This classic street corner pub, owned by the Wellington Pub Company and once a favourite of Arsenal supporters, closed in 2018 when the licensee gave up because of falling custom and rising costs. A lease of the ground floor and basement has been on offer ever since. According to the Islington Tribune, a group called the Green Anti-Capitalist Front (GAF) have now taken over the pub as part of their protest against empty buildings in London. A spokesperson said that they saw that it was empty and the door was open. They are using it as a sort of community centre to which all are welcome. The Tribune asked Wellington for a comment but received no response. Squatting in commercial premises is a civil offence and Wellington will need a court order to recover the property.
Morden Tavern, Morden. A sad final end to a once thriving pub. This was, arguably, CAMRA’s South West London branch’s first big pub campaign. Along with a group of local activists we persuaded Merton Council to reject the application but it was approved by the Planning Inspectorate. Although we lost, we learned a lot. The original redevelopment did, at least, include a space for a bar or restaurant. Alas, as is so often the way, the A3 unit was never let and has now become flats. Once again, the developer has won by playing the waiting game.
Nags Head, Islington.
This once lovely pub on Upper Street is being converted by operator Stonegate to their ‘Be At One’ cocktail bar brand and, as such, will likely cease to be a pub under CAMRA’s definition. It was described on WhatPub as follows, ‘With a handsome, listed 18th century frontage, this is essentially a long extended narrow bar in which lots of interesting features have survived, such as the old wooden panelling and a nice window, with the pub name in prominent lettering. There are plenty of mirrors, old clocks and signs and two fine lanterns at the back to allow light and air in.’ The photograph does not encourage any optimism.
John Cryne
Old Spotted Dog, Forest Gate. This Grade II-listed timber framed pub, with parts dating back to the 15th and 19th centuries and which may once have been used by Henry VIII as a hunting lodge, has been in a very sad state since it closed in 2004. The situation has become so bad that it is on Historic England’s ‘At Risk’ register. There may be some hope however, if not necessary a perfect solution. There are plans to incorporate the pub into a new 68 room hotel being built next door. The pub will become the hotel’s bar, restaurant and coffee lounge. According to the Newham Recorder, the local ‘Save the Spotted Dog’ campaign are asking the developers to extend this to providing a ‘safe’ garden with a children’s play area and additional community space. Local opinion is mixed but one resident told the Newham Recorder, “After years of anti-social behaviour and looking at this sad and at risk building, I couldn’t be more pleased!”
Robin Hood & Little John, Bexleyheath. Congratulations to Ray and Katrina Johnson who have now held the tenancy of this award-winning pub for 40 years. It was CAMRA’s Bexley branch Pub of the Year nine years out of ten from 2004 to 2013, and Regional Pub of the Year several time. There will be celebrations later in the year which will be reported on in due course.
Roland Amos
Rose & Crown, Wimbledon Village. On Leap Year day, Nicky Green, the landlady of the Rose & Crown in Wimbledon Village, held a charity dog walk in aid of WIRES, a charity which is caring for injured and/or orphaned native wildlife caught up in the bushfires in Australia. There was a four mile walk around Wimbledon Common followed by refreshments in the pub.
Viper, Mill Green, Essex. Although outside London, I know that this is a favourite of many London drinkers. The pub closed recently, causing a certain amount of concern but CAMRA’s Historic Pub Interiors Bulletin reports that despite it falling into disrepair, the owner fully intends to reopen the pub. He commented, “I am very aware of the listed status and have no plans to do anything but preserve the historic parts. It is very difficult to confirm timing for the reopening given the mammoth task of repair.”
Ye Olde Rose & Crown, Walthamstow. May we belatedly join the pub’s owners in thanking the London Fire Brigade for keeping the pub safe when an adjoining car repair workshop was destroyed in a fire in early February. Ten fire engines from Walthamstow and four nearby stations attended.
Vulcan Hotel, Cardiff. Again, not London, but I thought that readers would like to know of this example of what can be done. The Vulcan in Adam Street, one of Cardiff’s best known historic pubs, closed in 2012 because the area in which it stood was being redeveloped. That was, however, not the end. It was considered to be such an important part of the city’s heritage that it has been carefully and expertly dismantled brick by brick and is being equally carefully rebuilt at the National Museum of History (Amgueddfa Cymru) in St Fagans, elsewhere in Cardiff. The museum have rescued quite a number of buildings in this way. The aim is to restore the pub to how it looked in 1915, which was when its distinctive tiling was added. The museum’s staff have been collecting stories from former customers and landlords of the pub, recording and filming their experiences and memories. When it reopens, it will be serving beer again. That is good news in the light of the recent announcement that Brains, the Cardiff brewers, are disposing of 40 of their pubs.
To be fair, I should mention that a number of museums around the country have completed similar projects, my particular favourites being the Bottle & Glass at the Black Country Museum and the Red Lion Hotel at the Crich Tramway Village in Derbyshire.
Compiled by Tony Hedger