{"id":6233,"date":"2026-03-25T11:14:37","date_gmt":"2026-03-25T11:14:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/londondrinker.camra.org.uk\/wordpress\/?p=6233"},"modified":"2026-03-25T11:21:46","modified_gmt":"2026-03-25T11:21:46","slug":"pub-news-8","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/londondrinker.camra.org.uk\/wordpress\/index.php\/2026\/03\/25\/pub-news-8\/","title":{"rendered":"Pub news – March 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

National Pub of the Year<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Just as we went to print with the previous edition, it was announced that the Tamworth Tap<\/a><\/strong> in Tamworth, Staffordshire had been voted CAMRA\u2019s National Pub of the Year for 2025.\u00a0 This is the first time since the competition began in 1988 that a pub has won the award for a third time.\u00a0 The building dates from Tudor times and its courtyard beer terrace has views of the town\u2019s Norman castle.\u00a0 The pub is also the home of the Tamworth Brewing Company.\u00a0 The runners up were the Blackfriars Tavern<\/a><\/strong> in Great Yarmouth, the Pelican Inn<\/a><\/strong> in Gloucester (GL1 2QR) and the Volunteer Arms<\/a><\/strong> (Staggs) in Musselburgh.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Black Cap<\/a><\/strong> in Camden High Street closed in 2015.\u00a0 Since then, a determined group of campaigners have battled to have this iconic LGBTQ+ venue reopened.\u00a0 I am pleased to report that they have succeeded and, after a \u00a32 million renovation, the venue was due to reopen on 21 March.\u00a0 It will feature a bar, a performance space and B&B rooms.\u00a0 Our congratulations to the campaigners accordingly.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Photo (c) Joanne Scott<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Worrying news about the Coronet<\/a> <\/strong>in Holloway.\u00a0 Formerly a cinema called the Savoy, it was converted into a pub by Wetherspoons in 1983.\u00a0 CAMRA regarded it as \u2018an exceptional and sympathetic conversion of an Art Deco cinema, retaining much of its original interior\u2019.\u00a0 JDW disposed of it 2023 and it passed to a company called The Tollgate TPL ltd.\u00a0 In February the freeholder served notice on them to forfeit the lease and the pub closed.\u00a0 The freeholder now has complete control of the site.\u00a0 Despite its distinction, the building is not statutorily listed, unlike the Coronet cinemas in Eltham and Notting Hill Gate that are.\u00a0 It was registered as an Asset of Community Value by Islington Council on 2 August 2016 but that listing was not renewed.\u00a0 I have seen no reports as to its future.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Photo (c) Joanne Scott<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

A collaboration between the East London Brewing Company and the pub company Taverns East Ltd sees the reopening of the Empire Tavern<\/a>, <\/strong>formerly the Samuel Pepys,<\/strong> in Mare Street, Hackney (E8 1EJ).\u00a0 The site is next to the Hackney Empire.\u00a0 As well as ELB\u2019s own beers, there will be guests from other local independent brewers.\u00a0 Howling Hops and Saint Monday have been mentioned.\u00a0 There will also be a substantial food offering.\u00a0 Taverns East already operate the Leytonstone Tavern and the Tavern on the Hill, the former Wild Card pub, in Higham Hill.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Closed since 2018 and still vacant, the Grapes<\/a><\/strong> in Sutton, a former Wetherspoons pub, is reported to be available for lease.\u00a0 An article in a local paper quotes a figure of \u00a355,000 per annum.\u00a0 There is a problem however in that planning permission has been granted to add additional floors to the Victorian building for a residential development.\u00a0 This impinges on the ground floor trading area.\u00a0 Planning permission was originally granted in 2019 and the most recent application was in July 2024.\u00a0 Work must start within three years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25ca There has been an interesting development at the former Paxton in West Norwood, which has been closed for over two years.\u00a0 Owners Greene King have joined with the MOBO Group to open this imposing building as the House of MOBO<\/a><\/strong>.\u00a0 MOBO is the organisation behind the Music of Black Origin awards and their intention is that the pub will become \u2018a hub for culture, creativity and connection\u2019. \u00a0This will involve live music, creative showcases and community-led events.\u00a0 There will also be a food offering of African and Caribbean fusion dishes.\u00a0 This is MOBO\u2019s first venture of this type.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25ca Here is another example of a pub apparently just being abandoned.\u00a0 L\u2019Affaire<\/a><\/strong>, in Wandsworth, at the Putney end of the infamous one-way system, was the original Wetherspoons in Wandsworth.\u00a0 It went through several short-term iterations after that, until it closed in 2019.\u00a0 The freehold is owned by Transport for London.\u00a0 There is hope, however.\u00a0 In a recent press release about their Neighbourhood Renewal Fund, Wandsworth Council specifically mention the site and say that they will work with the Wandsworth Town Partnership to bring the pub \u2018back to life\u2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another reopening.\u00a0 The Store<\/strong> in Croydon (CR0 1BF), once a branch of Sainsbury\u2019s, closed last August.\u00a0 Freeholder Brakspear Pub Company are looking for a new tenant. The sales brochure states “The Store is a visually stunning venue, located in South Croydon\u2019s vibrant restaurant quarter. The Store combines the relaxed charm of a neighborhood pub with the polish of a modern eatery. Think concrete bar, potted greenery, and soft, low lighting. It would not be out of place in Greenwich Village, New York, or any other cosmopolitan city. It\u2019s a stylish space that suits everything from laid-back brunches to big celebrations<\/em>.” Brakspear\u2019s beers, incidentally, are currently brewed by Carlsberg Britvic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There have been interesting recent developments at the White Horse<\/a><\/strong> in Parsons Green.\u00a0 The pub has been refurbished by Mitchells & Butlers with some changes to the internal layout and the installation of an outside bar to serve the seating area.\u00a0 What was unusual was that, rather than amend the existing licence, M&B applied for a completely new one.\u00a0 They explained that this procedure was \u2018cleaner\u2019 and allowed for flexibility.\u00a0 Hammersmith & Fulham Council\u2019s Licensing Sub-Committee approved the application in full, saying that this was a \u2018well-established pub of long standing\u2019.\u00a0 This was despite some objections from local residents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As originally announced in 2024, by the time that you read this, London should have its first Thornbridge Brewery outlet.\u00a0 The Wild Swan<\/strong> in Fetter Lane, Holborn is, as are many of their pubs, a joint venture with beer importers Pivovar.\u00a0 Curiously, it is said to be a replacement for the White Swan, which stood nearby, but the Closed Pubs<\/em> website says that this was the site of the Printers Devil, previously the Vintners Arms, that closed in 2008 and was demolished in 2013.\u00a0 It isn’t. It has the same address. The White Swan, nicknamed the Mucky Duck, stood at 108 Fetter Lane and has disappeared under an office development which includes the Wild Swan.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Taken by Joanne Scott last July<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Many pubs have resident cats and dogs but the Royal Oak<\/a><\/strong> in Brockham, Surrey is different.\u00a0 It has a resident family of seven meercats, two adults and five pups.\u00a0 They live in an enclosure in the garden.\u00a0 The nearest station is Dorking, then a walk.\u00a0 Simples, as they say\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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