Our locals can often be where our fondest memories are made, so it’s always a shame to hear of any that have had to close.
On our north London patches we have reported on at least three much-loved pubs that are no longer operating.
The pubs we’ve said goodbye to
The Lady Hamilton, on the corner of Holmes Road and Kentish Town Road, announced it had officially shut “on a permanent basis” in August.
In April 2020, Kentish Town Neighbourhood Forum was successful in its bid to have the watering hole listed as an ‘asset of community value’ with Camden Council.
The Lady Hamilton’s sister pubs – The Pineapple in Leverton Street and Tapping the Admiral in Castle Road – continue to operate as usual.
Further away in Islington, the famous King’s Head pub theatre said goodbye after 53 years in August.
It came ahead of the previously announced move into a purpose-built theatre in Islington Square.
Founded by Dan Crawford in 1970, the Upper Street venue is one of London’s oldest pub theatres and became a breeding ground for talent, with the likes of Maureen Lipman, Hugh Grant, Jennifer Saunders, Dawn French, Alan Rickman and Richard E Grant performing there and writers such as Steven Berkoff, Tom Stoppard and Victoria Wood premiering their work.
It was announced that it will be reborn from January 8 in Islington Square, just behind the old venue.
Legendary queer pub The Glory in Kingsland Road, Hackney, announced in December that it will be closing next month after the building was pegged for redevelopment.
It opened nine years ago and was jointly owned by drag queens Jonny Woo and John Sizzle and “legendary party-starter” Colin Rothbart.
It has become famous for hosting nightly club, cabaret and comedy nights and a basement disco at weekends.
On a less bleak note, two venues that were previously Wetherspoon pubs remain open under different management after buyers were found in February.
The Toll Gate in Turnpike Lane, Hornsey, was shut in March before it reopened months later under the same name. The Angel in Islington stopped trading at around June, but it reopened in July 2023 under the new name The Junction.
Which other pubs reopened this year?
The Crown, in Highgate High Street, returned in June at the former Rose & Crown’s location, more than a decade on from its 2012 closure.
Between 2012 and the new opening, the pub was replaced by the bakery Pain Quotidien.
The Cobden Arms pub in Camden High Street was renamed, revamped and reopened as the Brondes Age in August this year.
Historic Belsize Park pub The Washington reopened this month following an extensive five-week refurbishment.
Regulars feared the new look would spoil the Grade II listed watering hole’s unique atmosphere, but owners say the facelift has given it a warm and inviting new feel while keeping its traditional look.
The William IV in Harrow Road, Kensal Rise, began trading again in November under the management of Loci Pubs, made up of brothers Ben and Ed Robson and their childhood friend Adam Gostyn.
The new owners aimed to restore the pub to its “former glory”.
Pubs for the future
Historic pub The Constitution in St Pancras Way, Camden Town, will be serving customers once more in February 2024.
Earlier this year, scaffolding was erected around the former building, which has been closed since February 2020, just before the hospitality industry was forced to close during the Covid-19 lockdown.
The Old White Bear pub in Hampstead hopes to expand into space formerly used as a classroom.
It reopened in 2021 after a seven year closure – and now wants to make use of the upper floors above the bar.
The Captain Flinders, at Eversholt Street near Euston station, will be opening as a new Wetherspoon venue on January 9, replacing the former SophistiCats premises.
https://www.thisislocallondon.co.uk/news/24018328.north-london-pubs-seen-close-reopen-2023/
