• Those who visited or worked at the Great British Beer Festival in the last few years will be sad to hear that the Beaconsfield next to Olympia has closed. The operators said that this was ‘following an incredibly tough three year struggle’. The redevelopment work at Olympia, which has included road closures, cannot have helped. The pub, which dates from 1900 and was originally built for Lacons Brewery, becoming in 1989 the Frigate & Firkin, one of the David Bruce chain. At present, the pub’s future is uncertain.
• Change has come to the Dog & Bull, the historic market pub in Croydon’s Surrey Street (CR0 1RG). Now owned by Punch Pubs following Young’s sale of their tenanted estate (the Ram Pub Company) in 2021, it is being operated by Laine Pubs, a Punch group company. There has been a refurbishment, said to have cost £125,000, most of which has been spent on the garden area, now known as ‘the Wilderness’. Laines have also changed the name to simply ‘The Dog’ (quite unnecessarily in the view of many) and they have altered the front signage. Questions were raised as to whether this infringed the pub’s Grade II-listed status but apparently not. It seems that the pub will now focus on the younger end of the trade, which will be a shame if it means that it is no longer welcoming to all, as it traditionally has been. The garden is now equipped with a sound system and Laines have suggested that they might use this until 2am on Fridays and 3am on Saturdays. There is a lot of residential accommodation in the immediate area, so this has not been well received locally. It is understood that no formal application has so far been submitted. CAMRA’s Croydon & Sutton branch are monitoring the situation.
• On the subject of Croydon pubs, two have recently changed hands. The Two Brewers in Selhurst was sold by Shepherd Neame in January and there was concern that the site would be developed. It is now reported however that it has been taken over by the former operator of the Royal Standard and will reopen shortly. The Royal Standard, sold by Fuller’s to Admiral Taverns in June 2024, has, in turn, been taken over by Esther Sutton, a much respected local publican who has run the Oval Tavern since 2013. Ms Sutton will continue to run the Oval Tavern and both pubs will remain much as they are.
• News of another pub reopening. The Flowerhouse, formerly the Wallace Head, in Marylebone closed in November 2024. It has now been acquired by the Public House Group who also operate the Pelican in Notting Hill and the Hero in Maida Vale and it will be similarly food-led. A substantial renovation is in progress, which includes converting the second floor into a restaurant and installing new toilets in the basement. It is reported that the name will be changed to the Hart.
• The Gun in Homerton, said to be one of the most famous pubs in Hackney and certainly one of the most attractive, has closed, with operators Locals Club finding it impossible to keep trading in the current financial climate. It is also a serious loss as a music venue. It is expected to reopen under new management but it is not known when.
• Sad news from the Long Pond micropub in Eltham (SE9 1UT0). The owner, Mike Wren, passed away unexpectedly in early April. We send our condolences to his family and colleagues. Mike opened the pub in 2014 and it has proved to be a very successful venture, being CAMRA South East London branch’s Pub of the Year in 2017 and runner up twice. The pub remains open but, if you are travelling any distance, it may be best to check on its Facebook site first. Mike was involved in a local campaign to install defibrillators, so anyone wishing to remember him might like to consider making a donation at https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/mike-wren-elthamparksouthdefib.
• The Grade II-listed McGlynns in St Pancras, closed since the passing of publican Gerry Dolan in September 2023, has been sold. The price paid has been reported as £3,150,000. The identity of the new owner has yet to be revealed but the agents who acted in the sale say that the site will ‘continue to be used as a public house and the new owner intends to keep the traditional style that patrons have enjoyed for many years, even down to the name, retaining the family legacy after 40 years of ownership’. We await developments.
• Readers may recall that in 2020, despite a local campaign, the Marquis of Lansdowne in Haggerston (E2 8HD) was incorporated into the Museum of the Home (previously the Geffrye Museum) as a cafe called Mollys. It is reported that the café is now closing. Whether or not the site will become available as a pub again is not yet known.
• What was previously the Roxie Steak & Tap (originally the Black Dog until 1975) in London Road, Twickenham will be reopening shortly as the Rose & Lion. The pub, which closed in 2019, is owned by Star Pubs & Bars (Heineken) who have invested £520,000 in its new design. It will be sports and food led but also promises craft, cask and premium draught beers and ciders.
• We reported the reopening after refurbishment of the Westminster Arms in our April/May edition. Our cover photo for this edition shows its very smart new paintwork. We thank owners Shepherd Neame for the photograph. At the official reopening, that well known man about pubs, Alasdair Boyd, was able to take this photo of the recently retired manager, Gerry Dolan (left), along with Sheps’ chief executive Jonathan Neame.
• News of the William the Fourth in High Road Leyton. Many readers will no doubt remember this fine Victorian building as the original home of Brodies Brewery. I’m pleased to say that it is once again owned by a brewery and is due to reopen after refurbishment on 12 June. See the item on Exale Brewery in the Brewery News column for more details.
