WALTHAMSTOW: Plough Inn 'will be turned into flats' (From East London and West Essex Guardian Series)
Get involved: send your pictures, video, news & views by texting WFNEWS to 80360, or email us
Waltham Forest News RSS Feed Send your news, pictures & videos
WALTHAMSTOW: Plough Inn 'will be turned into flats'
10:02am Friday 17th December 2010 in Waltham Forest News By Daniel Binns
The historic Plough Inn will be turned into flats, according to a letter sent to staff.
THE new owner of the historic Plough Inn pub and music venue intends to convert it into ten flats, according to a letter sent to staff.
The correspondence, seen by the Guardian, says that an application for the development will be made early in the new year, with the properties selling for around £210,000 each.
Regulars and much of the borough's music community have been fearing the worst about the future of the pub, in Walthamstow's Wood Street, since rumours of its closure began to circulate earlier this month.
Its new owner, developers Customhouse Properties Ltd, has been unavailable for comment to confirm the authenticity of the hand-written letter.
However the Guardian understands that none of the current staff have had any other contact from the company, and have not been asked to return to work in the new year.
The Plough, which is at least 150 years old, was sold for around £600,000 to £750,000 according to sources and already has six flats on its first floor.
The pub has gained a reputation in recent years for live music, and regularly hosts performances and music clubs on an almost daily basis.
The Guardian understands many of these groups are now looking for alternative venues to host their regular events despite the continuing uncertainty.
Graham Larkbey, who organises the monthly 'Tunnel Vision' night of live music at the Plough, said: “Too many pubs and venues are closing, and we can ill afford to lose yet another one.
“The fact that nobody seems able to tell us what's going to happen to the Plough after New Year doesn't help anyone.”
Meanwhile former co-owner Edward Sline has expressed his sadness at the sale of the pub.
He said: “We didn't want to sell but it was just non-viable.
“We bought it eight years ago and we tried building it up but as soon as you open the doors these days you're losing money.
“It was getting harder and harder. It's been very difficult with business rates getting so high, inflated beer prices and so on.”
Many are already describing New Year's Eve as the “final night” of the Plough.
The new owners will come to the pub on Saturday December 18 at 8pm to discuss the plans with staff and regulars, according to the letter.
Click here to follow the Waltham Forest Guardian on Twitter
Comments(14)
BarryTLemur
says...
11:10am Fri 17 Dec 10
daveWood
says...
11:50am Fri 17 Dec 10
Its a pity that these people could not have been given more warning of the situation.
Yet another nail in the coffin of Walthamstow.
Heartlysmum
says...
1:36pm Fri 17 Dec 10
210k!
No chance.
GirlE17
says...
2:34pm Fri 17 Dec 10
the noise of the trains.......
I expect there was there no warning about this so that local people had no
time to campaign about the loss of the pub. How long does it take to get change of use and planning permission on a grade 2 listed building I wonder ?
BarryTLemur
says...
4:03pm Fri 17 Dec 10
GirlE17 wrote:I think only the exterior is listed.
Yes for £210 K I'd like to live away from
the noise of the trains.......
I expect there was there no warning about this so that local people had no
time to campaign about the loss of the pub. How long does it take to get change of use and planning permission on a grade 2 listed building I wonder ?
Robert19
says...
8:19pm Fri 17 Dec 10
BarryTLemur wrote:There are only two pub buildings in the borough that are listed - The Bull and Crown (now Bull on the Green) E4 and the Ferry Boat N17, both Grade II. The Plough has no designation.
GirlE17 wrote:I think only the exterior is listed.
Yes for £210 K I'd like to live away from
the noise of the trains.......
I expect there was there no warning about this so that local people had no
time to campaign about the loss of the pub. How long does it take to get change of use and planning permission on a grade 2 listed building I wonder ?
A great pity though but the comments of the previous owner sums it up - many pubs are no longer viable for reasons that have been discussed for some time.
Chinwagger
says...
11:08pm Fri 17 Dec 10
Helen, Walthamstow
says...
8:43am Sat 18 Dec 10
Chinwagger wrote:At last! Proof positive that Chinwagger is rubberneck et al, who has always produced a stream of rubbish about various well-known people with local connections. No, Frank Muir did NOT drink at the Plough - he lived in Leyton for only a few years as a boy and he didn't return afterwards, with or without other celebs (see his autobiography).
This was the best pub for miles and it is so sad to see it go to the wall. however, it is probably because nobody ever supported it? Frank Muir used to drink there with other celebrities.
As far as the pub is concerned, I'm pretty disgusted that it is being turned into housing, but we need to look at the underlying problem, which is that a great many pubs struggle for survival these days with the huge increase in off-sales of alcohol.
The owners of The Plough have pulled out all the stops over the past few years to create a community venue. Clearly it wasn't enough.
I'm not a pub-user myself, nor much of a drinker, but I wonder if those who do want to keep our pubs can come with any suggestions for ways in which the owners can make their establishments more desirable to a wide range of people.
GirlE17
says...
6:09pm Sun 19 Dec 10
The Rose and Crown is doing well at that and have a host of events held there. So lets support them and build our arts community again in decent pub !
mad-dog
says...
11:37am Mon 20 Dec 10
Its simply a no brainer hence pubs are dying on their feet throughout London.
lamorna
says...
3:39pm Tue 21 Dec 10
What did you do in 2010 Grandad?
Oh, I stayed at home and played around with my computer.
lamorna
says...
3:46pm Tue 21 Dec 10
It won't make very interesting conversation for future generations.
'What was Walthamstow like in 2010, Grandad?'
'Don't know, son, I was in all the time playing computer games'.
GirlE17
says...
2:03pm Fri 24 Dec 10
Get out and talk to others in the community, dream scheme and plan for a better future.
lamorna says...
10:37am Fri 17 Dec 10
Maybe the Guardian should compile a list?