Losing close to three public houses a day demonstrates the rapid erosion of our culture and in most cases once a pub closes it never reopens. This robs the community of a vital amenity and for many their de facto community centre and for those living alone their only social arena. In many areas of London the pub is still the anchor and main hub of the community and the closing of a pubs doors goes one step further to isolating people that live cheek by jowl yet hardly know their neighbours.

The London Boroughs of Tower Hamlets (LBTH) & Newham (LBN) have seen the most closures since the turn of the millennium. Between 2001 and 2018 75 pubs (36%) closed in LBTH and in LBN 57% of pubs (60) have rung the time bell for the final time.

Reasons for the volume of closures are many and there is not one overriding factor as many have contributed. For detailed LPE analysis on the root causes see the ‘Why do pubs close?’ tab in pub musing.

However, it is not all doom and gloom. Some boroughs have (finally) got hot on protection and along with the power of the community often securing Asset of Community Value (ACVs) pubs in the boroughs of Waltham Forest and Hackney are now reopening, some after years rotting on street corners.

I’m always humbled and honoured when invited into pubs mid-transition and being taken around to capture and document the changes is a wonderful experience. It’s also galvanising hearing the plans from zealous new proprietors for these gems that are brought back to life and how they will benefit the community. once more. The pub fire inside them gives me hope that we can to continue to at least halt the tide and keep seeing more come back from the dead.

Some of the before and after picture changes are night and day and a credit to the people who have poured in so much love and investment to revive these old ghosts.

Mostly independent I hope you will go and patronise some of them.