London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Thursday, Jul 10, 2025

The historic London pubs that could close for good after Tier 4 restrictions

The historic London pubs that could close for good after Tier 4 restrictions

One of them includes a nearly 400 year old pub that can't afford to pay rent

London is famous for its old pubs, many that date back hundreds of years and can name famous historical figures as regular punters.

However, a combination of plummeting sales and unclear guidance from the government is driving the increased risk of permanent closure for many of London's oldest pubs, according to an industry campaign group.

A lot of London's history is tied up in its pubs that have served communities for centuries but their owners say their futures are now at risk because of Tier 4 restrictions.

Gary Murphy, who runs the nearly 400 year old Mitre Inn pub in Barnet, said he did not know whether they would be able to open when the latest restrictions are lifted.


The Mitre Inn in Barnet has been boarded up

"It couldn't be much worse," Gary said. "I've lost 50 per cent of trade and I've got loads of stock I will have to pour down the drain.

"I've had no earnings since March and the government grants are only a fraction of what we need to pay rent and overheads.

"We pay £12,000 a month in overheads and the government grant is £2,000 a month. If we don't open in January around £4,000 of stock will have to be chucked out."

The Mitre Inn was built in 1633 and served as a coach house, and now the original building is Grade II listed and is a popular pub.

A similarly bleak forecast was given by Dave Law who runs The Eagle in Battersea, famed for having been restored in 1890 by the Holloway brothers who restored Trafalgar Square.

"The government just don't seem to have a plan," said Dave. "An average person looks at what they've done and says 'that's batsh*t crazy'.

"They have turned their back on businesses and the people they are supposed to serve. We qualify for a £3,000 grant but we've only received £2,000 which leaves us £1,500 short each month on rent.

"This pub has a lot of history. It's hard to say whether we will survive."

The Eagle was built around 1860 and started at as a group of cottages that home-brewed beer to sell on what was Battersea's first road.

The Campaign for Pubs has called for the government to provide pubs with an urgent support package to save them from permanent closure.

Greg Mulholland, Campaign Director for the Campaign for Pubs said: "The Government has strung people along with the prospect of opening for Christmas, then changed the goalposts yet again and at the same time, closed thousands of other pubs a week before Christmas.

“The Government either doesn’t understand or doesn’t care that their failing strategy is destroying livelihoods and consigning many pubs to history.

"They must now come up with an urgent and meaningful package of support or they, not Covid, will be responsible for the loss of thousand of pubs and for hardship faced by many families."

MyLondon has approached the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy for comment.

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Severe Heatwave Claims 2,300 Lives Across Europe
NVIDIA Achieves Historic Milestone as First Company Valued at $4 Trillion
Declining Beer Consumption Signals Cultural Shift in Germany
Linda Yaccarino Steps Down as CEO of X After Two Years
US Imposes New Tariffs on Brazilian Exports Amid Political Tensions
Azerbaijan and Armenia are on the brink of a historic peace deal.
Emails Leaked: How Passenger Luggage Became a Side Income for Airport Workers
Polish MEP: “Dear Leftists - China is laughing at you, Russia is laughing, India is laughing”
BRICS Expands Membership with Indonesia and Ten New Partner Countries
Weinstein Victim’s Lawyer Says MeToo Movement Still Strong
U.S. Enacts Sweeping Tax and Spending Legislation Amid Trade Policy Shifts
Football Mourns as Diogo Jota and Brother André Silva Laid to Rest in Portugal
Labour Expected to Withdraw Support for Special Needs Funding Model
Leaked Audio Reveals Tory Aide Defending DEI Record
Elon Musk Founds a Party Following a Poll on X: "You Wanted It – You Got It!"
London Stock Exchange Faces Historic Low in Initial Public Offerings
A new online platform has emerged in the United Kingdom, specifically targeting Muslim men seeking virgin brides
Trump Celebrates Independence Day with B-2 Flyover and Signs Controversial Legislation
Boris Johnson Urges Conservatives to Ignore Farage
SNP Ordered to Update Single-Sex Space Guidance Within Days
Starmer Set to Reject Calls for Wealth Taxes
Stolen Century-Old Rolls-Royce Recovered After Hotel Theft
Macron Presses Starmer to Recognise Palestinian State
Labour Delayed Palestine Action Ban Over Riot Concerns
Swinney’s Tax Comments ‘Offensive to Scots’, Say Tories
High Street Retailers to Enforce Bans on Serial Shoplifters
Music Banned by Henry VIII to Be Performed After 500 Years
Steve Coogan Says Working Class Is Being ‘Ethnically Cleansed’
Home Office Admits Uncertainty Over Visa Overstayer Numbers
JD Vance Questions Mandelson Over Reform Party’s Rising Popularity
Macron to Receive Windsor Carriage Ride in Royal Gesture
Labour Accused of ‘Hammering’ Scots During First Year in Power
BBC Head of Music Stood Down Amid Bob Vylan Controversy
Corbyn Eyes Hard-Left Challenge to Starmer’s Leadership
London Tube Trains Suspended After Major Fire Erupts Nearby
Richard Kemp: I Felt Safer in Israel Under Attack Than in the UK
Cyclist Says Police Cited Human Rights Act for Riding No-Handed
China’s Central Bank Consults European Peers on Low-Rate Strategies
AI Raises Alarms Over Long-Term Job Security
Saudi Arabia Maintains Ties with Iran Despite Israel Conflict
Musk Battles to Protect Tesla Amid Trump Policy Threats
Air France-KLM Acquires Majority Stake in Scandinavian Airlines
UK Educators Sound Alarm on Declining Child Literacy
Shein Fined €40 Million in France Over Misleading Discounts
Brazil’s Lula Visits Kirchner During Argentina House Arrest
Trump Scores Legislative Win as House Passes Tax Reform Bill
Keir Starmer Faces Criticism After Rocky First Year in Power
DJI Launches Heavy-Duty Coaxial Quadcopter with 80 kg Lift Capacity
U.S. Senate Approves Major Legislation Dubbed the 'Big Beautiful Bill'
Largest Healthcare Fraud Takedown in U.S. History Announced by DOJ
×