London's first co-operative pub the Ivy House searches for pub manager and head chef

The Ivy House in Nunhead, south-east London, was bought by the local community in March. It is also thought to be London’s first co-operative pub.

Tessa Blunden, lead campaigner for the Save the Ivy House Campaign, said the group is looking for a pub manager “who is very experienced and can work well within a community and share our ethos” of running a co-operative pub.

“They will need to have a good knowledge of and passion for real ale,” she added.

She made it clear that the Ivy House will not be a “run of the mill pub”.

About the head chef position, Blunden said: “The Ivy House is not going to be a gastropub, but we want to serve good food that is well priced, so we really want someone with the necessary flair to set us apart from the local competition.”

She explained that once the group has a pub manager and head chef in place, it will then look to recruit further staff.

The Ivy House was closed in April 2012 by Enterprise Inns, which sold it to a property developer. Locals were concerned about the move, especially as the pub was sold within a week.

After lobbying from the steering group and the Campaign for Real Ale, as well as intervention from local MP Harriet Harman, English Heritage gave the pub a Grade II listing.

The pub was then put on the ACV list last October.