‘Schnitzel & Spritz’ duo to reopen much-loved pub saved from development

An iconic north London pub saved from development by campaigning locals is to reopen as a gastropub next month.

The Clifton, St John’s Wood, was last year bought by Ed and Ben Robson, who ran popular London schnitzel and Prosecco restaurant Boopshi’s.

Ben Robson said: “The local support has been fantastic. [We] really can’t wait to get the doors open to celebrate with all the supporters.”

Menu highlights

Robson said: "Head chef Karl Calvert, who previously worked at the Providores and Tapa Room, Marylebone, will oversee the kitchen."

The menu is set to include haggis sausage rolls with Famous Grouse ketchup, mutton rendang croquettes with banana raita, roast cod with arrocina beans and sweetcorn jalapeno fritters.

The drinks offer will showcase local and craft brewers, as well as a house beer. TV sommelier Raul Diaz is understood to have helped compile the site’s wine list.

Development battle

The pub, previously the Clifton Hotel, was closed in 2013 and its owner submitted to plans to turn it into a mansion.

However, more than 1,800 people signed a petition to keep the historic site as a pub and Westminster Council rejected the application.

The petition read: “[The pub] must never be allowed to get into the hands of developers and it must never be changed into anything other than what it has been to so many people, our historical pub.”