Popular 600-year-old pub could ‘shut forever’ if 200 flats built next door

Londoners are fighting to save one of capital’s oldest and best-loved pubs from being closed by plans to build more than 200 flats next door.

Stepney’s George Tavern has been a London institution for over 600 years and a staple of the city’s music scene for decades, playing host to such artists as Amy Winehouse.

The pub’s current building was built in the Victorian era, and is even mentioned in the works of Charles Dickens.

However, the pub’s staff and customers are concerned about a proposal to knock down the old nightclub next to the bar and build 230 new flats.

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The George Tavern say that having flats so close to the pub, where live music is played most nights, will lead to new neighbours making noise complaints, threatening the future of the historic bar.

The pub has been fighting such proposals for years, and has launched the ‘Save The George Tavern’ campaign to encourage locals to write to Tower Hamlets Council and object to the development.

The Tavern also expressed its desire to reopen the old nightclub as a second bar and music venue rather than see it knocked down.
Tom Walston, who has been a manager at the Tavern for a year and a half, said that noise from the pub came with the territory of being a famous live music venue.

He said: “We have live music here most nights… sometimes it feels like there’s 5,000 people in here.

“90 per cent of people come for the music. The issue would be if there’s residents there.”

Barman Helder Rodrigues first visited The George Tavern three months ago and loved it so much he started working there within a week.

He said: “It’s a nice place! You can listen to music, meet new people – it makes me remember when I was a kid.

“Three months ago my friend said ‘let’s go [there]’ – I said ‘No, it’s an English pub, it’s just old men fighting.

“But in a week I started working here. This is part of society, people appreciate it – kids, dads, grandparents.”

The George Tavern is run by landlady Pauline Forster, who handmakes ‘Save The George Tavern’ t-shirts for sale at £10 each behind the bar.

Pauline’s nephew, Tomoya Forster, works on sound at the pub’s frequent gigs and met his own band at one of the shows.

Tomoya argued that venues like the George are a key part of London’s thriving music scene.

He said: “I’ve played here before and met my bandmates here – we’ve toured around the world together.

“I probably got more out of this place than I got out of university.”

Tomoya added that if the pub closed: “It would just be sh*t – there’s not a huge amount of places where people can play live music.

“There’s so much culture and music coming out of the city because of places like this.”

Lauren, frontwoman of rock band Lori, who played the first gig of their European Tour at the Tavern, agreed that grassroots venues were essential for up-and-coming artists.

She said: “It’s hard enough if you’re an underground band as it is.

“It does piss me off – especially with Covid when venues have been shut for so long, the developers are coming in.

“If you want to build a flat that’s next to a music venue then don’t build it or put up with the music.”

East Enders also voiced their support for the historic pub. One regular said: “Everyone loves The George – The George is the place to be.

“I feel bad now. I might buy one of the t-shirts.”

Another added any noise restrictions would be “annoying definitely – it’s quite a unique spot, it’s classic.”

Staff member Max said that the pub’s heritage meant a lot to the East London neighbourhood.

He said: “A lot of locals went to the old nightclub when they were younger and they just don’t want to see it gone.

“They feel strongly about local pubs – back in the day you could walk into each of the pubs on the strip, now they’re all closed.

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“There are other pubs, but they don’t have the same atmosphere.”

A spokesperson for flat developers Swan Housing said: “The proposed regeneration scheme on the Exmouth Estate, will deliver 230 much-needed new homes alongside new shops and community spaces.

“We have purposefully designed the scheme to ensure The George Tavern pub is not affected. A new community arts centre will be located adjacent to the pub, which an independent acoustic consultant has confirmed will have no impact and has been designed to co-exist without affecting any activities in the pub.

“We want the new residents to be able to enjoy The George Tavern along with the regulars.”

A spokesperson for Tower Hamlets Council said: “The local planning authority have consulted with The George Tavern regarding the housing planning application on Exmouth Estate and continue to asses the current proposal to ensure the scheme is consistent to the ‘agent of change’ principle.

“This principle ensures new residential and other forms of new development are compatible and ongoing activities within existing businesses are safeguarded.

“Further discussions are scheduled to take place to provide another opportunity for representatives of the George Tavern to raise any concerns.”