City seeks pubs revamp to win back crowds

THE City of London Corporation is urging developers to revamp pubs in order to win back after-work drinkers.

Officials in the Square Mile have said investment in restoring local pubs will help reinvigorate the district and boost planning permission for projects.

They have singled out a string of pubs that could be restored, one of which is The Still and Star in Aldgate, which has a history dating back to the 1800s but closed last year. The City wants to preserve the pub’s heritage by redesigning it to mirror its original decor. A renewed focus on pubs in the City comes as they close at a record rate.

About 46 London pubs closed in the first six months of the year, according to data from real estate experts Altus, higher than any other city in England.

Attracting workers and tourists is a key priority of the City, as office vacancy rates hover at 11pc and footfall remains 80pc of pre-pandemic levels.

Shravan Joshi, chairman of the City of London’s planning and transport committee, said: “The pub has always been a vital part of the City’s fabric and it continues to play an important role in making the Square Mile an attractive place to work, socialise and collaborate.

“Protection of existing pubs, particularly those which are assets of community value and those of heritage and historic significance, is a key priority.”

Emma McClarkin, chief executive of the British Beer and Pub Association added: “The pubs in the City of London provide a vital space for both conducting work, and socialising after it.”