Losing London pubs would be an "absolute disgrace", claims senior CAMRA member

Chairman of the north London branch of CAMRA, John Cryne, reacted to the news the Old White Bear in Hampstead and the Clifton in St John’s could potentially be changed into residential property.

He said: “People are concerned, very concerned. To me it’s an absolute disgrace. We will end up with huge areas of London with nothing but housing and nowhere to enjoy ourselves. The big businesses will all end up in one place. These smaller pubs are in danger of disappearing.

“These pubs seemed to be doing everything right, providing good quality beer, full range of wines and food.”

Clifton petition​

The closure of the Clifton prompted more than 2,000 people to sign a petition to keep it as a pub. That petition has been handed into Downing Street.

An application to list the pub as an Asset of Community Value (ACV) has also been put forward. This will give it greater protection from being sold off for redevelopment.

St John’s resident Grazyna Green: “We were completely dumbfounded to find out we were the first to do this in Westminster. I was absolutely ecstatic with the response we got in just a month.

“We have now got our ears to the ground so let’s see what happens from now.”

Old White Bear​

More than 2,000 people signed an online petition to keep the Old White Bear as a pub. It learned this week that it has been listed as an ACV by Camden Council.

The 310-year-old pub is currently still trading but is due to close in February.

On the online petition, a group called Save the Old White Bear said: “The Old White Bear plays an important and active community role, and is accessible to all members of the community, including the disabled.

“The pub fulfills many functions for local residents and visitors including meetings of local interest groups, school parents and residents that cannot be provided elsewhere.”