Condemned historic pub to be revived in new venue

An historic pub which had to be vacated after it was earmarked for demolishment is set to be restored to its former glory in a new venue.

The Wheatsheaf, in South East London's Borough market, which was built in 1772, had to be abandoned in January in order to make way for the Thameslink railway project.

But now licensee Tony Barry is set to take over the Balls Brothers Bar in the nearby Hop Exchange Building, which he will rename the Wheatsheaf.

Tony is also planning to restore the hoardings of the pub onto the new one and put up the same pictures in the bar in order to replicate the Wheatsheaf's atmosphere.

"It is an interesting challenge because it is a different space and the bar is a lot bigger," he said.

"But we will have the same management and the same staff. We always said when we were leaving the Wheatsheaf that it was the people who made it and not the building."

Tony added he had spent the year before he had to leave the Wheatsheaf desperately trying to find a venue to replace it but had been unable to find anywhere suitable until the day it shut.

"On the day we handed our keys back, the lease of the Balls Brothers Bar ended. The managment rang us up an hour after we had left to see if we are interested in taking it over. It was a bit like magic."

Last October, the Wheatsheaf's regulars united to create a book "Portrait of a Pub" to commemorate its history and spirit.

It was published in November and all the proceeds will be donated to Southwark based Kids Company Charity, which helps underprivileged children in the area.

So far the book has raised £8,000 and Tony plans to present a cheque to the charity on the Wheatsheaf's re-opening.

According to Tony, who is now negotiating the lease, the new pub is due to open in four weeks time.