To begin with, some promising news. Several long closed pubs have recently reopened. These include the Cork & Bottle in Hampstead which has reverted to its previous name, the White Horse, and the Knave of Clubs in Shoreditch which has reopened after being out of use as a pub for over 30 years. It is reported that it will have cask beer from Allsopp’s. The Hand & Marigold in Bermondsey had been closed and gutted during the pandemic but reopened on 7 March, completely refurbished.
Sadly, there are also some closures or potential closures to report. The Grade II listed Cock Tavern in Somers Town, one of the area’s last traditional pubs, is up for sale. A local group has been formed to save it. The Harcourt in Marylebone is also Grade II listed and is up for sale at a reported £2.25 million. Formerly known as the Swedish pub, it closed last March. A campaign has been started to have it registered as an Asset of Community Value.
An era closed at the end of February when long standing licensee Con Riorden retired from the Blythe Hill Tavern in Forest Hill. Con had been in charge of this Grade II-listed, Stonegate-owned, traditional pub for 37 years. During his tenure the pub won many awards, including the local CAMRA branch’s Pub of the Year award four times. The pub also rates three stars on CAMRA’s register of historic pub interiors for its 1920s wood panelling. We wish Con a well deserved long and happy retirement. After closing for a couple of days for a hand over, the pub reopened under its new management on 28 February. We wish them well because they have a hard act to follow.
Apologies for the belated report but this is a significant pub. The Grade II-listed Cheshire Cheese in Little Essex Street, near Temple station reopened in October following a five month refurbishment. There has been a pub on this site since 1791. The current one dates from 1928 and is the work of the renowned pub architect T H Nowell Parr, commissioned by the Style & Winch brewery. It features much coloured glasswork and wood panelling, sufficient for it to rate three stars on CAMRA’s inventory of historic pub interiors. It is spread over three floors, with the top floor being a restaurant. It is the fourth Shepherd Neame pub under the management of Wellman Taverns (Darren and Janet Wellman, pictured below with thanks to Shepherd Neame).
There are changes in progress at the Duke of York in Fitzrovia, famous for its literary and musical connections. McMullens of Hertford have now acquired the pub and the previous long-serving tenants have left. The pub is currently closed but, according to Macs’ website, it is undergoing a refurbishment and facelift and will reopen in the spring. There is existing planning permission (from March 2024) for the conversion of the second and third floors to residential accommodation (Class C3) and it is not known whether or not McMullens intend to proceed with these works. The pub was unique in having a living member of the Royal Family portrayed on its sign. McMullens however intend changing the signage; a company spokesman commented, ‘There have been many Duke of Yorks over the years. It would be fair to say that we will choose a different signage scheme for the pub in future’. One report said that the departing landlady, Debi Sickelmore, who arranged for Prince Andrew to appear on the pub sign, has been given the sign as a retirement present.
What was once the Drum and subsequently the Spark House in Leyton was reopened on 27 February by the Remarkable Pub Company as the European. This is their seventeenth pub. It has been fully refurbished to the high standard that we have come to expect from Remarkable and cask beer is available. The new name is somewhat ironic given that, when it was the Drum, it was a JD Wetherspoon’s pub and we all know Sir Tim’s views on a certain subject. I’m sure that it is simply a coincidence…
The freehold of the much loved McGlynns in St Pancras is up for sale following the passing of long term owner Gerry Dolan in August 2023. The asking price is £3,150,000. The pub is Grade II listed, falls within the Bloomsbury Conservation Area and is an Asset of Community Value. These points would complicate any attempt at redeveloping the site.
I try to avoid using words like ‘iconic’ about pubs but how else can you describe a pub that has given its name to the local area (and tube station)? It certainly applies to the Olde Swiss Cottage in Finchley Road which, worryingly, appears to be under threat. It closed on 1 February. No notice as such was given and regulars found out from the bar staff. The pub was operated by Samuel Smiths but it appears that they were not the freeholders, so their involvement is unclear. As is their way, they have not responded to requests for information. Locals and pub enthusiasts from the wider area are campaigning to stop any unwelcome development. An on-line petition has been launched and the Belsize Society have held a meeting to kick start the campaign. Camden Council are being asked to register the pub as an Asset of Community Value and to give it local listing status. It does not have a statutory listing but, as a pub, demolition or any change of use would require full planning permission. The campaign will seek to ensure that anyone who purchases the property will ‘commit to keeping it as a pub, preserving its role as a vital community hub for generations to come’. There has been a pub on this site since the 1840s, starting with a coaching inn. The petition can be found here.
Disturbing news about the Orchard in Ruislip, which has recently operated as a Beefeater steakhouse. It is a handsome building, built in the early 1900s and popular with families because of its large garden. During the Second World War it was used by the Polish aircrew who fought alongside the Royal Air Force and were based at nearby Northolt airfield. The Polish Air Force Memorial, commemorating the 2,000 of them who gave their lives, is not far away. As with many Beefeaters, the owners, Whitbread, built a Premier Inn nearby. Recently, Whitbread have, somewhat controversially, been absorbing pubs next to Premier Inns into the hotel. In this case however, they are disposing of it. There are rumours locally that the supermarket chain, Lidl, plan to demolish this historic pub and replace it with a store.
Aficionados of the Southampton Arms in Kentish Town will be pleased to learn that the same management team, Jo and Peter Holt, are opening a second pub with the same ‘Ale Cider Meat’ ethos. It is called the Pocket and it is in Canonbury Lane in Islington. It was scheduled to open on 20 March after a full renovation. It was formerly the Four Sisters, which closed in 2021. It then had a short spell as a ‘style bar’. It is an attractive three storey Victorian building, which is locally listed.
Urban Pubs and Bars have reopened the Red Lion in Leytonstone after a refurbishment costing £750,000. This was one of the pubs previously operated by Antic and which UPB acquired in September last year. There has been a pub on this site since 1670 and this one dates from 1870. The refurbishment included the restoration of the ballroom, which has space for 350 people. There are also ten letting rooms as well as a beer garden with covered booths. The pub was previously well known as a music venue that saw appearances by the Who, Roxy Music, Genesis and Status Quo among others.
