Concerns over the future of the Lord Palmerston pub on Dartmouth Park Hill Road, in north London, were raised after a scrawled sign – reading “closed until further notice” – appeared in the pub’s window just over a week ago. However, it’s been confirmed that the pub will undergo refurbishment before reopening as part of the Young’s estate.
John Cryne, chairman of the North London Branch of CAMRA, told The Morning Advertiser that suspicions were heightened about the pub’s future after it had been “suddenly closed” with contents and anything of value moved out of sight from the pub’s windows.
The pubco responded to a photo of the closure sign posted on Twitter with the comment: “The doors are not permanently closed on the pub, it’s just temporary while there are some management changes.”
Having not initially elaborated on said “management changes”, there was widespread fear that the pub could be redeveloped amid a wave of gentrification across London.
However, Young’s released the following statement: “Popular pub Lord Palmerston in Tufnell Park, will be joining the Young’s estate later this month. From 16 October, the pub will undergo a refurbishment, reopening in early November, and will serve fresh, seasonal, British food sourced from around the south-east of England, alongside a range of premium drinks, from craft ales and beers to quality spirits.
“We look forward to welcoming locals once again, ensuring the Lord Palmerston is a pub for the whole community to enjoy.”
The Lord Palmerston lies on the border between Islington and Camden, and therefore comes under the protection of the Camden Local Plan, which offers specific protection to the area. Nonetheless, local campaigners and residents had been concerned it could have closed its doors for good and been redeveloped as residential property.
Commenting on the statement from Young’s, councillor Sian Berry said: “If true, it’s a relief because we definitely don’t trust pub companies, particularly in Highgate, after the Dartmouth Arms was closed for more than 18 months with real efforts made by that owner to turn it into flats.”
The Lord Palmerston, which hosts weekly screenings organised by the Tufnell Park Film Club, is a focal point of the local community and earned minor fame as a stop-off point on a number of London’s celebrity pub crawls, having been frequented by Homeland and Billions star Damian Lewis.
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