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Pub campaigning
be demolished and replaced by a four-storey block,
containing 21 homes on the upper levels, commercial units
including a pub on the ground floor and a rooftop garden.
A previous application to demolish the pub and build 36
flats and shops was rejected by the council in 2015, partially
due to concerns about the loss of the pub, which was
described as a community facility. TH
RESTRICTIVE COVENANTS
have to say that I had forgotten about this issue, especially
Ias most of the big pubcos agreed to stop using them. To
remind you, restrictive covenants are clauses included by
sellers in sale contracts for land and property which control
its future use. When selling pubs, some owners have
imposed covenants that forbid any future owner to operate
the premises as a pub. This was usually to restrict
competition in an area where the owner has other pubs.
Punch and Enterprise used to be the worst offenders but
apparently they have successfully been persuaded to stop
the practice.
Back in August 2011, the Department of Communities
and Local Government responded to pressure from CAMRA
and held a consultation exercise on their use. Nothing has
been heard since although the DCLG website states “We
are analysing your feedback”. . . CAMRA are wondering if
we should be pressing them on the matter. Do any readers
know of any instances where pub owners have used
this tactic recently? If so, please e-mail us at
ldnews.hedger@gmail.com. TH
TIME WAITS FOR NO MAN
clock that is a prominent feature of the frontage of
Tthe Prince of Wales opposite Wimbledon Station
stopped going some three years ago, putting Wimbledon
permanently at 9.50am. It has now been repaired at a cost
of £600 and came back into use on 26 February. Its location
high up made the repair complicated because it could only
be reached through the pub’s attic. General Manager Ian
Thompson told the Wimbledon Guardian, “We take pride in
preserving the unique and original features of our pub and
the clock, a centrepiece in the heart of Wimbledon, is no
exception. When I joined the business 18 months ago, one
of the key concerns the community brought to my attention
was their wish to see the clock refurbished and working again
so I’m thrilled that we’ve been able to invest in repairing the
clock and giving the town back one of its most iconic
landmarks.” Alas time may be running out for the pub which
dates from 1870. Under currently plans it will be demolished
to make way for Crossrail 2. TH
James Watson (JW) or Tony Hedger (TH)
unless otherwise stated
Letters
All readers – not just CAMRA
members – are invited to use this
column but please remember that
it is intended for debate and
constructive criticism. The editor
reserves the right not to print any
contributions that are otherwise.
Please e-mail letters to
ldnews.hedger@gmail.com. If you
do not have e-mail, hard-copy
letters may be sent to: London
Drinker Letters, 4 Arundel House,
Heathfield Road, Croydon CR0
1EZ. In both cases, please state
‘letter for publication’ so as to
avoid any misunderstandings.
THANK YOU CHIEF STEWARD
ou may be wondering why that
Ytitle?
I don’t know the Chief
Steward’s name, but could you pass on
my thanks for patching me up and
fixing my glasses last Friday (4 March)
at the Camden Centre
I had an argument with a paving slab
and it won. The gentleman also made
sure I was not concussed. I will not be
winning any beauty contests anymore!
I now have black bruising from the
54
altercation and a scar I can tell my
grandchildren about! Tell the gentleman
(maybe he reads London Drinker)
that the headache has gone, the
eyesight’s fine and I got home safely.
Thanks sir! You are a credit to the
organisation, and if I see you again,
may I buy you a beer or two?
Yours extremely gratefully,
G Durrance (aka Scarface)
Editor’s note: the Chief Steward at
London Drinker Beer Festival was Mike
Brady who hails from Bedford but often
helps out at CAMRA beer festivals
along with his other half, Elspeth. I’m
sure that Mike would simply respond
that that is what he was there for. I’d
like to thank Mr Durrance for taking the
trouble to write. Sometimes we
volunteers feel that we are taken for
granted and our motives doubted so
letters like this are a great boost to
morale.
Readers may recall that in the last
edition Andy Pirson owned up to
getting his Williams in a twist (Oh
nasty!). Reader Joseph Hand very
kindly provided chapter and verse
on an interesting period of our
history.
It was William III (of Orange) whose
horse caught its foot in a mole hole,
which caused his death. The Jacobites
(supporters of the exiled former king,
James II) used to drink a health to ‘the
little gentleman in black velvet’ - the
mole). William III was succeeded by
Queen Anne, who had no surviving
heir. Having passed over about 50
Catholics in the line of succession, the
crown was given to the first Protestant
claimant, George I, Elector of Hanover,
who could speak no English.
Princess Charlotte, the only
legitimate daughter of the Prince
Regent (later George IV), died in
childbirth and was mourned
countrywide on a scale similar to that
for Princess Diana. It was suddenly
realised that none of George III’s
surviving sons had a legitimate heir, so
they had to abandon their long
standing mistresses and marry. This
was the so-called ‘Baby Race’ which
was won by the Duke of Kent, father of
Queen Victoria.