Madge buys her local for £2.5m

Pop icon Madonna has gone into the pub business after forking out a reported £2.5m to buy the historic Punch Bowl in Mayfair, London.

And it's a case of the singing star liking her local so much she decided to buy it.

Madge and husband Guy Ritchie are regulars at the pub in Farm Street and jumped to purchase the freehold of the building when they heard the owners had put it up for sale.

The 18th-century pub, the second oldest in Mayfair, is a popular haunt of A-list celebrities and was formerly owned by Greg Foreman, son of former Kray twins gangster Freddie Foreman.

Madonna has already been featured at the pub in her documentary I'm Gonna Tell You A Secret where she is filmed pulling a pint behind the bar.

She is said to "adore" the pub which could now become a gastro venue, according to friends of the couple.

But the pub will keep its pub charm as husband Guy is known to enjoy popping in for a pint before going to watch his beloved Arsenal.

There is already speculation that Madonna's favourite beer, Taylor's Landlord, will soon be available at the bar.

Timothy Taylor's Brewery at Keighley, West Yorkshire, has promised to knock on the Punch Bowl's door.