Outcry over plans to bulldoze ‘community pub’ London Tavern to build luxury flats
At risk: London Tavern. Photograph: Google Streetview
Residents have poured cold water on plans to tear down a 150-year-old Clapton pub and build luxury flats in its place.
The owner wants to replace the London Tavern on Rendlesham Road with a five storey “clean and contemporary” development, with commercial space downstairs and nine “high end” flats above, including a rooftop penthouse.
But objections are rolling in from residents who want to protect the Victorian corner-shaped pub, which has served up pints since 1866.
Tavern regular Catherine Maguire lives opposite the London Tavern and has sent her complaints to the council.
“The proposed development is a grey, soulless design, of an excessive scale and height, totally incompatible with the surrounding area – no substitute for the quirky 150-year-old building it would replace,” she said. “Clapton has enough shops – local businesses that I wouldn’t want to be driven out by a supermarket – and we certainly don’t need another betting shop!”
Heritage: London Tavern circa 1940. Photograph: Charrington Surveyors
“The London Tavern serves a different community to other pubs,” she added.”It provides for wakes and christenings celebrated at the neighbouring church and has important links to the Irish and Traveller communities. It really is a community asset.
For now the pub remains open, with its 10 bedists above it.
Nick Perry of campaign group The Hackney Society said: “The London Tavern is the very definition of a community pub, and important street landmark. The developer makes no bones about his ambition to replace this fine corner building with ‘high-end’ flats and an unspecified commercial unit.
“While the flats are certainly going to provide better accommodation than the ten bedsits shoehorned above the pub currently, neither the flats nor any replacement bar have any pretensions to serve the same local community.”
In 2011 the council threw out an application to extend and transform the existing pub building into flats and office space. Planning officers said losing the pub “would result in a detrimental impact on the accessibility of services” and “fail to support a lifetime neighbourhood.”
Hackney Council’s consultation on the plans will run until 18 February.
Needless destruction of our heritage.
The best way to launder criminal money is through this type of building, why do councils allow this to happen ? is there some sort of corruption going on ?
I went in to this pub for The Hackney Pool League to get them to join there league. Since then I have started a group trying to get people involved in Snooker and Pool. I gave 10,028 members at present and a few come from Hackney or were from there. http://www.facebook.com/groups/354597864614603/?fref=ts please either join my group or voice your concern at knocking yet other pub down please
Come on Sarah join my group and lets start doing something to save this pub http://www.facebook.com/groups/354597864614603/?fref=ts
Come on Vondreassen join my group and lets get something started at saving this pub. http://www.facebook.com/groups/354597864614603/?fref=ts
If there isn’t already an A.C.V. on the pub I strongly suggest you all get together with your local CAMRA members and apply immediately.Too many pubs are being pulled down because councillors are in league(it would seem) with the developers ..brown envelopes anyone??
Just so you all know there is a brand new pub being put back and flats busy bodies wouldn’t mind none of you even drink in the pub !!!! Owner of the taven
Nobody would be bothered by a development that kept the character of the building and kept the ground floor as a pub. The plans are really vague – pub, retail or office – which carries a massive risk of the pub going as potential buyers know that they’ll make quick money out of a supermarket or bookies using the space. Local residents do pop in from time to time too.
Should be Heritage Listed
Agree with you David should be HERITAGE LISTED