Locals crying in their beer... regulars’ fury as Lion and Unicorn becomes a gastropub

Published: 24 February 2011
by PAVAN AMARA

A KENTISH Town pub known for hosting popular theatre productions is being turned into a gastropub despite fierce opposition from regulars. 

Owner Pubs ’n’ Bars has sold the Lion and Unicorn in Gaisford Street to Geronimo Inns for an undisclosed sum. The pub, closed for refurbishment since early this month, is due to reopen as a bistro in April. 

Regular Paddy Call­aghan, 57, said: “We don’t want some little wine bar round here. I’ve been drinking there since the 1970s and 1980s. For those of us who live very close by, that pub was like an extension of our homes. 

“We had some great times, and while there were a few sad people who complained about the noise, most of us were making the noise.”

The pub was owned by the family of Scottish singer Lena Zavaroni for a brief period during the 1980s, when it was called The Royal. 

Now, displaced regulars have transferred to O’Reilly’s pub in nearby Holmes Road, run by the Lion and Unicorn’s former owner, Pubs ’n’ Bars. 

The Lion and Unicorn’s former DJ, Marco Greenfeld, known locally as DJ Marco, said: “It was a real community pub. We used to have barbecues in the summer and all the children used to play together. We even had a pool team that came second in the Chalk Farm Pool Premier League, and now that’s disbanded too, which is another blow.” 

Mr Greenfeld, who has lived in the same street as the Lion and Unicorn for 25 years, added: “No one thinks this new bistro idea is going to work. Most of us didn’t even know what on earth a bistro was before they told us about it. 

“The regulars are what made the money because we were spending in there day and night. But I’m not going to sit in some restaurant for my pint now. 

“There will be theatre lovers for the shows they’ll have upstairs, but that will only be during the evenings and the weekends. Apart from that, it’s going to be deserted.”

But at Gardens To Enjoy, opposite the Lion and Unicorn, landscape gardener John Cichorski hoped the makeover would attract a quieter clientele. 

“The pub’s Friday night spillover was horrible for a lot of the council residents that live on the street,” he said. “If you were a single young woman who walked in there it’s unlikely you would stick around for too long. 

“The theatre shows will start up again when it reopens. The shows, combined with a restaurant, might attract a different type of person to the area.”

The Giant Olive company, the pub’s resident theatre company since October 2008, has 700 followers on the social network internet site Facebook. 

The company’s artistic associate Tamzin Paskins said: “We are really delighted about this change. Geronimo are excellent managers, and they always buy up places in residential areas because they know how to improve the vibe. 

“I think all our fans can look forward to an even lovelier atmosphere.”