In 2012 the Grade II-listed Rose & Crown in Highgate closed its doors to the drinking community for what most of us assumed was the last time. It became a branch of the bakery cum restaurant chain Le Pain Quotidien and that seemed to be that. In October 2021 however, the brewer/pub company Laines came onto the scene with a plan to reopen the premises as a pub called the Outsider. The head lease was still held by Stonegate (ex EI Group) while the freehold is owned by a property development company. Laine’s proposal met with considerable objections from local residents because the site is in a conservation area and they felt that it would create ‘unbearable’ noise. Looking at the plans that Laines had, you have to have some sympathy with the objectors. The plan included a free-standing garden pergola with a retractable roof and noise from music was of clear concern. Faced with the challenges, Laines moved aside. Northern Union Pubs then stepped forward as operators and in December 2022 permission (including listed building consent) was granted to convert the building back to a pub. Northern Union’s plans were far more aligned with creating a pub more akin to the old Rose & Crown so, hopefully, local residents could stop being worried.
On 22 June the pub reopened as the Crown, with four cask beers available. When you enter it looks like a pub should; it is not a huge space but there is plenty more room in the lovely garden at the rear. The garden does however have to close at 9pm as part of the licensing conditions. Northern Union are hopeful that this can be extended once they have demonstrated responsible use of the garden.
Northern Union pubs have experience in this field; taking pubs that have been closed, often for a significant time, and bringing them back to life as good traditional, community pubs. This will be covered in a later article. For now, let’s congratulate them on their bringing this pub back into life and adding value to the Highgate pub experience.
John Cryne