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Wasn't There A Pub Around Here?
by John Cryne
The recent decision by the Mitchells and Butlers pub company to close
and sell-off over twenty of their central London pubs provides a salutary
reminder that no pub is safe when the developer's cash tills ring large,
with seven figure numbers. Included amongst the package disposed of were
many well-loved heritage pubs that had once been a part of the regarded
Nicholson chain.
It is hard to see how pubs such as The Intrepid Fox and The Polar Bear
in Soho could not have been run successfully, indeed one suspects their
managers probably thought that they were. It is hard to fathom how pubs
such as The Red Lion in W1, first licensed in 1718, and the Globe Tavern
in WC2, with fittings going back to 1897, can be allowed to disappear
forever. But disappear they will, taking with them what we might have
imagined to be indelible roots to our past.
The reason for mentioning these historic, centrally located outlets is
that it indicates the step change taking place in the mindset of the
owners of a part of this country’s fabric – in a nutshell, they don’t
care what we might think.
Thankfully, local newspapers are beginning to cotton on that something is
wrong, that what we see disappearing from our doorsteps is something we
need to be very concerned about. In the recent month, the Islington Gazette,
the Ham and High and the Camden New Journal have all run stories focussing
on pub losses across North London.
Whether it is the Old Parrs Head in Islington (converted to a shop), the
Heath Street Bar in Hampstead (now estate agents) or the Tally Ho in
Fortess Road, NW5 (to be demolished and replaced by flats and shops), the
same story can be found – pubs everywhere are being lost. CAMRA research
in 2005 showed that 26 pubs a month are lost in Britain. However early
indications from further research suggests that current figures may actually
be much higher - and it is not theme pubs or chain bars that are under threat
but pubs at the heart of the local community.
Frequently, either through connivance or lack of concern by local authorities
or ultimately the weakness in planning legislation, which seems to be
toothless against change of use, the users of a pub, the local community,
seem absolutely powerless in preventing losses of their amenity to the
so-called forces of development.
Why is it that the last one to have a say in this matter is you, the person
who uses the pub, you who is a member of the darts team, you who watches
their footie there, you who enjoys the conviviality and the company, why are
you not consulted? Because, at the end of the day, nobody really has to.
Well that can change. The Sustainable Communities Bill is a proposed law
that could help save pubs by giving communities a say when pubs are in danger
of closure, by giving councils power to stop developers demolishing pubs to
make way for “development”, by empowering local people to make their own
decisions to reverse this ongoing decline.
But we need to get it through Parliament, so it needs your support. As local
people – constituents – can most influence MPs – please lobby your MP to
support the Bill. For further detail of how you can help go to
www.localworks.org – it will matter
what we do, things won’t just happen by moaning into our pints. And if you
can tear yourself away from Pigs Ear for one night, there’s a public meeting
at Hackey Central (the former railway station), Amhurst Road, E8 1LL at
8.00pm on 6th December. Go along and have your say. Pubs matter – lets do
something about it.
Reproduced from the Full Pint, Issue 38.
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