According to dismal hysteria-sheet the
Waltham Forest Guardian, Leytonstone's best-known deceased pub Zulus will indeed reopen as the Red Lion, as I
speculated a few weeks back. A bit later than expected, though - "february at the earliest" according to Max Alderman of developers Antic Ltd. This is due to squatters taking roost, something that seems to have become a bit popular round our way lately - this pic shows the old police station further down the High Road from Zulus, recently occupied by (according to my neighbour) 'crusties'. Now, there's an adjective seldom heard since the late 90s. The building is due to be sold for £1.5m, and they, their dogs and their henna may have been evicted by the time you read this.
“It is a little bit annoying" say Max with no little understatement "but hopefully the process won't take too long. We can't wait to get started. Our plan is to take The Red Lion back to being an old-fashioned style local pub with home made food."
Great news for our bit of East London - and gratifying to know that Antic think Leytonstone is "slightly up and coming". It won't turn the area into Marylebone overnight, but it's a start.
3 comments:
"Pubs are dying" - now where have I heard that one before? So it is really great to see someone investing in the resurrection of a proper pub. I don't think it's too difficult: just great beer and decent, simple pub food. It seems to bring in the 'right' people by magic!
That seems to be the Antic formula, and it's working for them. I'm sure this will do well in Leytonstone. At the moment for a range of ales we've only got the excellent North Star (excellent by London standards anyway) and the Wetherspoon which varies between marvellous and bloody horrible.
Ahh, the return of the Leon Rouge... I shall be looking forward to it.
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