{"id":2263,"date":"2021-11-25T10:38:48","date_gmt":"2021-11-25T10:38:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/londondrinker.camra.org.uk\/wordpress\/?p=2263"},"modified":"2021-11-25T18:27:11","modified_gmt":"2021-11-25T18:27:11","slug":"pub-news-november-2021","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/londondrinker.camra.org.uk\/wordpress\/index.php\/2021\/11\/25\/pub-news-november-2021\/","title":{"rendered":"Pub news – November 2021"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The former Cork & Bottle in Fleet Road, Hampstead (NW3 2QX) has been reopened by the East London Pub Company as the Bell of Hampstead<\/strong>. The pub now has two distinct areas, a traditional pub section and a dining lounge, plus an outdoor area. ELPC was founded in 2014 by Patrick Frawley and this is their fifth London pub. They also have pubs Ireland. Mr Frawley told the Ham & High that he intends to restore the Bell \u2018to its former glory and inject a new lease of life with some cool east London vibes\u2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Progress, albeit slow. In October, members of the Black Cap Community, the campaign group hoping to reopen the Black Cap<\/strong> in Camden Town, were allowed in to see the state of the interior. Alex Green, a member of the campaign, told the Camden New Journal, \u201cThis week, we at Black Cap Community were thrilled to set foot inside our beloved pub once more. We hope it takes us one step closer to reopening the Cap for the community. Mother Black Cap\u2019s spirit is still there for sure, alive and kicking, and eager to fling those doors open again.\u201d It is reported that there are no major problems with the site and the Community have held \u2018constructive\u2019 talks with the current freeholders, Kicking Horse Three, who are willing to see the pub reopen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There has been a major change at BrewDog Old Street<\/strong>, the former Draft House outlet (EC1V 9NR). It is no longer exclusively alcohol free and has not been since April when it reopened after lockdown.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Young\u2019s have failed in their plan to turn the flat roof at the front of the Bull & Gate<\/strong> in Kentish Town into a terrace area. Camden Council refused planning permission for the proposed works to the Grade II-listed building because of the effect that it would have on the pub\u2019s appearance. Both CAMRA\u2019s North London branch and the Kentish Town Neighbourhood Forum had supported the proposal. The Forum told the Camden New Journal that they were happy with the consultation exercise that Young\u2019s held before applying for planning permission and were satisfied that local views had been taken into account. A spokesman for the company told the paper, \u201cYoung\u2019s is disappointed with the decision, especially given all the positive support they received for the roof terrace. They will be appealing the decision.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Islington Council refused the application for retrospective planning permission to regularise the turning of the upper floors of the Duchess of Kent<\/strong> in Islington into an \u2018apart-hotel\u2019. One of the grounds for refusal was to do with access for those with restricted mobility. This consideration would most likely affect any alternative plans. We await the owner\u2019s next move.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The Duchess of Kent (taken by Roy Tunstall in 2018)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Anyone visiting the breweries in the Hackney Wick area will have passed by the Lord Napier<\/strong> pub, covered in graffiti and looking beyond hope. Amazingly, after a 26 year closure, it has been reopened by the Electric Star pub company. Electric\u2019s owner, Rob Star, told the Hackney Gazette, \u201cI was really excited to finally get the doors open at The Napier. I have spent the past six years trying to re-open this historic building, so pouring that first pint and drinking it on the sun-soaked roof terrace felt extra special.\u201d The pub will be retaining its recent tradition of street art. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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With thanks to Colin Price for the photo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Further to the report in the last edition, the King Charles I<\/strong> in Kings Cross (N1 9BL) celebrated its listing as an Asset of Community Value by unveiling a plaque declaring that it was now ACV listed and adding \u2018community owned since 2016\u2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The honours were performed by the Mayor of Islington, Councillor Troy Gallagher, seen here with Colin Coyne, the chairman of CAMRA\u2019s North London branch, who were there to join in the celebrations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It has been reported that a lot of the woodwork for which the Lord Nelson<\/strong> in the Old Kent Road (SE1 5AA) is included on CAMRA\u2019s National Inventory of Historic Pub Interiors has been painted over in what was described as \u2018gastro grey\u2019. The pub is Grade II-listed and listed building consent is required for such work. The issue has been drawn to the attention of Southwark Council.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Laine Pub Company are hoping to reopen the former Rose and Crown<\/strong> in Highgate High Street under the name the Outsider. The Grade II-listed pub closed in 2012 and until recently had been a branch of the Le Pain Quotidien cafe chain. The project has however not been welcomed by some local residents. Comments made to the local newspaper, the Ham & High, included \u2018You might as well stick a nightclub in between all our gardens\u2019 and that the pub\u2019s garden could encourage \u2018large numbers\u2019 and result in an \u2018intensification\u2019 of disruption. Laine\u2019s however maintained that the proposals would enhance the character of the area through the creation of a new community facility which had no harmful impact. A decision is pending.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another year has passed in the saga of the Porcupine<\/strong> in Mottingham (SE9 4QW). The revised application that owners, Lidl Supermarkets, submitted in May 2019 was refused by Bromley Council last November. Disappointingly, however, this was only because they considered the scheme to be an \u2018overdevelopment\u2019 and would be \u2018detrimental to road safety\u2019. In spite of their own pub protection policies and the London Plan, they had no objections to the loss of the pub itself. They appear to have accepted the applicant\u2019s argument that the pub would not be viable, something which CAMRA\u2019s Bromley branch would dispute. Inevitably, Lidl have appealed against the decision but the Planning Inspectorate only started their consideration in September. Their decision is awaited with interest, especially as there is no residential accommodation included in the proposal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

More good news from CAMRA\u2019s North London branch. At their instigation, the award winning Tapping the Admiral<\/strong> in Kentish Town (NW1 8SU) has had its Asset of Community Value listing renewed by Camden Council.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Earlier this year there were concerns that the Tollington Arms<\/strong> in Holloway (N7 6DN) was under threat but, as reported in the Islington Tribune, the pub has received help from Arsenal Football Club. The Tolly, as it is known, is very popular with the club\u2019s fans. Arsenal have a policy of helping local businesses recover from the pandemic and the disruption of lockdowns. As part of this, for the match against Norwich in September, the Tolly was advertised on pitchside hoardings and included in a promotional video. The club also invited publicans Martin and Louise Whelan and their daughter to watch the game from the directors\u2019 lounge. Mr Whelan commented that it was the first time that the couple had been away from the pub on a matchday for fifteen years! The thrust of the adverts was that, now fans are allowed back into the ground, a visit to the pub is an essential part of the matchday experience. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Mr Whelan also expressed his thanks to his local MP, Jeremy Corbyn, for his help in obtaining government grants etc. Mr Corbyn commented, \u201cAs well as being beneficial in increasing revenue for the borough, especially during football games, the Tollington has enormous support and affection from many people in the community, including myself, Arsenal and many across the country. I was very pleased to learn that it\u2019s now been listed as an Asset of Community Value and look forward to visiting soon<\/em>.\u201d No doubt the vegetarian sandwiches that Mr Whelan makes for him when he visits will be listed in the Register of Members\u2019 Interests.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

HERITAGE AT RISK<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In November, Historic England updated their list of heritage sites as risk. In London, overall, it was positive news with 32 sites being removed and only 18 being added, although 18 is still too many. For pubs, it was \u2018one in, one out\u2019. Enderby House in Greenwich has been removed, courtesy of Young\u2019s who have turned it into a pub. The Grade II-listed Baring Hall Hotel and its stable block in Grove Park (SE12 0DU) has however been added. A community group was set up several years ago to help campaign to bring the building back into use as a pub. The Antic pubco had some involvement with the property several years ago but it is not clear as to whether this continues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Just a thought. . . Another site added to the list is the Streatham Hill Theatre in SW2. This might make an interesting project for an enterprising pub company.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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