It’s a sad time for the watering holes of London as the COVID-19 pandemic battered them badly. While some are struggling to survive, others are nearing shut down situation. Now, six pubs in London are up for sale, only to be converted into residential apartments. This list includes the iconic The Baring in Islington.
6 Pubs In London Are Up For Sale
According to a report by TimeOut, six pubs in London owned by DN Private Equity Canary Wharf Limited are going up for sale on May 16 and 17. Despite being in 23rd place in the 50 Gastropubs in the UK Guide, The Baring in Islington will be shuttered soon. The unfortunate list also includes The Lord Southampton, The Duke of Clarence, The Royal Oak and Victoria which recently underwent a £20,000 revamp, alas it’s out to be sold.
The vendor revealed to The Evening Standard that they believe the six pubs could be converted into residential apartments or luxury accommodations. Further adding that they’ve seen many similar opportunities converted into self-contained apartments or even undergoing demolition to build large-scale residential complexes.
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COVID-19 Pandemic Left Land Owners Struggling
The traditional boozer, The Baring in Islington will be sold with a 15-year lease with the starting bid being £1.3million. The Victoria’s opening bid is £1.2 million. This mass-sell off of pubs is not a rarity. It’s been a trend in London from 2021 onwards as pub landlords are struggling to make ends meet ever since the COVID-19 pandemic. The number of pubs in London has gone down significantly from 3604 in the year 2021 to 3563 in 2022.
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41 pubs kicked the bucket in a span of a year. So, London has 25 per cent lesser pubs since the last 20 years ago. And this trend is predicted to continue as 2023 doesn’t seem to bring in a silver lining. Many public houses are facing rising energy costs and cost-of-living issues.
Charlotte Metcalf stated to Homes & Property that it’s time Londoners see pubs as refuges of loneliness and isolation. She wants pub-goers to frequent these pubs and view them as dispensers of hope and comfort. Apart from food and drinks. She seriously says that if London loses its pubs, Londoners could get poorer.
Well, what do you think about London’s six pubs shutting down? Will traditional pubs bidding goodbye strip London off its charm?