{"id":6532,"date":"2026-07-28T16:24:30","date_gmt":"2026-07-28T16:24:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/londondrinker.camra.org.uk\/wordpress\/?p=6532"},"modified":"2026-07-28T16:29:53","modified_gmt":"2026-07-28T16:29:53","slug":"pub-news-july-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/londondrinker.camra.org.uk\/wordpress\/index.php\/2026\/07\/28\/pub-news-july-2026\/","title":{"rendered":"Pub news – July 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

\u25ca<\/strong> Ever since Wetherspoons sold the site in 2019, it has been likely that the Crown & Sceptre<\/strong> <\/a>on Streatham Hill would be a target for development because of its sizeable car park and garden.\u00a0 It is a purpose-built pub, still with much of its decorative Trumans tiling intact.\u00a0 Over the last few years It has drifted on, with a spell as a Portuguese bar, but now plans have been filed with Lambeth Council for a substantial redevelopment.\u00a0 The developers say that the plan is intended to \u2018enhance the existing pub\u2019 but, in fact, it sees part of it being demolished and the remainder surrounded by blocks containing what the developers describe as \u2018117 high quality non-self-contained co-living units\u2019<\/em>.\u00a0 Comments closed on 13 July, having been extended from 18 June.\u00a0 CAMRA\u2019s South West London branch has objected.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25ca<\/strong> Some sites seem never to be able to find a permanent identity.\u00a0 What was the South End Green Social and previously the Cork & Bottle in Hampstead has now reopened as the Fleet Tavern<\/a><\/strong>.\u00a0 It has been taken on by the Stanley Pubs group who operate several pubs in the area, including the Tufnell Park Tavern.\u00a0 They say that they have always wanted a pub near the Heath.\u00a0 The pub will feature rotating cask ales and an affordable menu of Mediterranean style food. \u00a0It will be music free.\u00a0 There have been some alterations but most of the pub\u2019s historic fixtures have been preserved.\u00a0 There has been a pub on this site since 1721 with the current wedge-shaped building dating from 1904.\u00a0 We wish them well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25ca <\/strong>One of the benefits of a pub being owned by its community is that they can do something constructive with their profits.\u00a0 The shareholders in the Ivy House<\/a><\/strong> in Nunhead set up a charitable foundation in 2025 and this now manages their fundraising activities and their support of local charities.\u00a0 Their latest donation was of \u00a31,000 to the Southwark branch of Little Village baby banks, which help young children living in poverty by providing clothes, toys and baby equipment.\u00a0 It is one of the Mayor of Southwark\u2019s charities and the Mayor, Councillor Claire Sheppard, was present when the cheque was handed over.\u00a0 That wouldn\u2019t have happened if the pub had been turned into a block of flats.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25ca <\/strong>The Kenley Hotel<\/a><\/strong> dates from the 19th century and has several attractive features, including curved window glass, an original stained-glass window and decorative pillars.\u00a0 It closed in July 2025 while owners Star Pubs & Bars (Heineken UK) looked for a new licensee.\u00a0 It was also reported that they had put the pub up for sale.\u00a0 Given the uncertainty, local residents, led by KENDRA (the Kenley & District Residents\u2019 Association), became concerned for the future of the pub and so successfully petitioned the Borough of Croydon to list it as an Asset of Community Value.\u00a0 KENDRA are also setting up a community benefit society with a view to buying the freehold of the pub, although they fully realise that this will not be simple or quick.\u00a0 They are starting by holding public meetings over the summer to raise support.\u00a0 They have approached Star Pubs & Bars but still await a reply.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25ca <\/strong>The Orchard<\/a><\/strong> in Ruislip, a former Beefeater that closed at the end of 2023 is a handsome \u2018brewer\u2019s Tudor\u2019 building that, during the war, was used as accommodation for Polish aircrew stationed nearby.\u00a0 Last year, the supermarket chain Lidl submitted a planning application to Hillingdon Council for it to be demolished and replaced with a supermarket.\u00a0 This met with considerable opposition from local residents and the application was rejected.\u00a0 Lidl are now trying again.\u00a0 This time they are trying to meet with the Ruislip Residents\u2019 Association to discuss their plans prior to submitting a new application.\u00a0 It\u2019s good of them to consult first but I suspect that it won\u2019t change the residents\u2019 feelings on the matter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25ca <\/strong>Another pub that appears to be having problems establishing itself is the White Hart<\/a><\/strong> in Stoke Newington.\u00a0 It operated as an Antic pub until February 2025 when it was repossessed, then reopened under new operators a month later but has now been repossessed again and the building has been secured.\u00a0 It is understood that Stonegate hold the head lease and were responsible for both closures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25ca <\/strong>I am pleased to report that an out-of-court settlement has been reached in the Whitewebbs Toby Carvery<\/a><\/strong> case.\u00a0 Readers will recall that owners Mitchell & Butlers felled a 500-year-old oak tree without permission.\u00a0 The resulting row led to Enfield Council starting legal action to terminate M&B\u2019s lease on the site.\u00a0 Now M&B have agreed to pay compensation.\u00a0 The amount has not been divulged but it will sufficient to support the council\u2019s Enfield Chase Landscape Restoration scheme, which is London\u2019s largest tree-planting project.\u00a0 This will include the re-establishment of a community orchard on the Ridgeway.\u00a0 M&B said, \u201cWe recognise that the felling of a well-loved veteran tree within the grounds of the Toby Carvery, Whitewebbs, has upset many local people, and we fully understand the strength of feeling this has caused. \u00a0Mitchells & Butlers again, sincerely apologises for the upset this has caused<\/em>.\u201d\u00a0 M&B and the Council have agreed to work together to ensure the health and safety of the public.\u00a0 Both parties now consider the matter closed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u25ca<\/strong> Rather disappointingly, Thornbridge & Co have admitted that they only installed six handpumps instead of the usual ten at the Wild Swan<\/strong> in Holborn (EC4A 1ES) because they thought that London was \u2018not really a cask ale city\u2019.\u00a0 They expected cask ale to be 10% of sales but instead sales have exceeded 25%.\u00a0 Well done, you London drinkers!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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