Comments on: The Disappearing Pubs Of Marylebone

By: andrew stuart breckill

andrew stuart breckill — Fri, 28 Apr 2023 11:07:06 +0000

I used to frequent a few pubs in Marylebone in the 80’s I think the Prince of Wales was the name of one of them. There were another two but I cannot remember their names. Times have moved on.

By: David Ryan

David Ryan — Tue, 08 Sep 2020 17:09:11 +0000

Sad sad days all these old pubs with character & characters in them gone or going, being replaced with offices or upmarket flats that the people who drank in these places will never be able to afford, our way of life is being eroded away. So sad.

By: Allan Smith

Allan Smith — Wed, 10 Jun 2020 13:48:37 +0000

Unfortunately not a new thing as pubs have been closing for years, but sadly at a much faster rate these days. I was born and brought up in Macready House, Crawford Street during the 50s and 60s. The Olive Branch (now The Bricole) and Laurie Arms (now the Larrick) were just across the road and both the Windsor Castle and Beehive (Homer Street) were both within staggering distance. The Windsor Castle was run into the ground by it’s last landlord/manager which was such a shame as it was a fantastic place. At the north end of Seymour Place on the corner of Walmer Place stands what was The Dover Castle. Built in 1873 it was for a time the home of Emma Cons (1838-1912) a social reformer and LCC Alderman who was instrumental in reopening the Old Vic. Not sure when it closed as a pub but it must have been sometime ago as I don’t even remember it, anyone know of it’s history? Incidentally the Tudor Rose was called the The Lincoln during the 60s and 70s. It would be good to see the Duke of Wellington in Crawford Street reopen, but in the current climate and with a diminishing ‘local London born’ population I think it is unlikely. If I win the Lottery I may consider reopening it and getting back to my roots!

By: David Gordon

David Gordon — Mon, 11 Mar 2019 13:48:23 +0000

I know, depressing stuff indeed! But hope springs, etc…

The Dover Castle in Weymouth Mews has now reopened as The Jackalope, in much the same, if not improved, form and serving a very nice drinks selection.

The George in Gt Portland St, although still closed, has been refurbished inside and has been granted planning consent to reopen as a ground floor pub, upstairs restaurant, with accommodation on the upper floors.

The Gunmakers on Aybrook St is undergoing major work and is due to reopen Summer 2019 as a pub with restaurant on the lower floor plus accommodation on the upper floors.

By: Mark Allday

Mark Allday — Thu, 23 Feb 2017 11:25:57 +0000

Update! Happy to say that the Beehive on Crawford Street re-opened at the end of January, also the Duke Of York on Brendon Street has now been granted a new license with new management and will re-open this weekend apparently.

By: Barbara murtha

Barbara murtha — Thu, 12 Jan 2017 05:26:44 +0000

I’m shocked at all our old heritage pubs going. Especially the TUDOR ROSE, why wasn’t this building made grade 2 listed.. It was certainly old enough, the same with many of the others.. This will stop developers coming in and pulling them apart and turning them into quick fix money making flats for landlords abroad..

By: Mark Allday

Mark Allday — Wed, 11 Jan 2017 10:46:15 +0000

As a Marylebone resident on Crawford Street I have to say what a total disgrace this is, the local council seems to be totally powerless or uninterested to stop this and there has been little contribution from the Marylebone Society either to try and galvanize local residents. Pathetic! When I moved into the area in 1988 between Edgware Road & Baker Street along Crawford Place/Street alone there used to be in the region of 10 pubs. Today there are 2 (if you count the Wargrave & the Larrik as pubs, which I do not!). Shameful state of affairs.

By: Gregory Hubbard

Gregory Hubbard — Tue, 10 Jan 2017 08:55:20 +0000

It is sad that London becomes more like New York every year. The loss of these pubs is very upsetting. It could be worse. In New York, entire neighborhoods have vanished, replaced by speculative development. Consider yourselves fortunate that you do not have Donald Trump as Lord Mayor.

By: Suzy

Suzy — Thu, 29 Dec 2016 13:46:27 +0000

Oh isn’t this so sad! The Beehive too! :o(

By: Jim McDermott

Jim McDermott — Thu, 29 Dec 2016 06:31:43 +0000

It’s an extremely sad trend but inevitable, given the various and often contradictory pressures – the growth of home-drinking/entertaining, the rising dining pub culture, the ever-decreasing popularity of ales and beers, the smoking ban (for which I was heartily grateful, I have to say), the brewers’ realisation that, in an insane property market, their properties are far more valuable sold off than kept on, and – unfortunately – the fact that too many pubs were/are run by people who don’t care to try to attract new customers or even retain the old ones (I call them the ‘Sticky Carpet Pubs’).

Hopefully, the best of them will survive and fashions turn again.