The Star, St John's Wood

The Star, 2012

The Star is a former pub at 38 St John's Wood Terrace, St John's Wood, in the London Borough of Westminster. It was a pub for 200 years before closing in March 2015. The next month Westminster City Council listed it as an asset of community value in order to prevent the property being converted to flats, but this did not prevent the pub being turned into estate agent offices. This left only three pubs left in St John's Wood, but 13 estate agents.

History

The building had been used as a pub since the 1820s.[1] In 1971, Egon Ronay in one of his guidebooks, commented on its barbecues on Friday and Saturday nights during the cricket season, and the Star's popularity with both players and fans, as well as its "formidable collection of drinking vessels on show".[2]

Notable customers have included Paul McCartney, Dustin Hoffman and Liam Gallagher. The video for The Housemartins' 1986 pop song hit Happy Hour was filmed there, and the Star appeared in an Arctic Monkeys' music video.[3]

Redevelopment

The Star had been owned by the pub company Punch Taverns, until it was sold to the London-based property developer West End Investments for £2.1 million in July 2013.[3]

The Star was a pub for 200 years before closing in March 2015, and becoming a branch of the estate agent chain, Champions, in April 2015.[4]

The property developer Marcus Cooper, through his company West End Investments, had sought permission to convert it into a "single family dwelling".[3] Westminster Council had listed it as an asset of community value to prevent it being converted into flats, but this ACV designation did not stop it being turned into offices.[4] Tom Stainer, head of communications for the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) commented: "This is just the latest in a long line of pubs converted due to a loophole in planning law."[4] The council received a petition from 800 people and with support from Paul Heaton of pop group The Housemartins who filmed the video for Happy Hour in The Star in 1986.[1]

Local people commented that only three pubs remain in St John's Wood, whereas there are 13 estate agents.[1]

References

  1. 1 2 3 Fielding, James (12 April 2015). "Historic pub saved from developers ... to be turned into area's 13th estate agent". Daily Express. Retrieved 23 August 2015.
  2. ↑ Egon Ronay (1971). Egon Ronay – BMC Guide. Egon Ronay Organisation. p. 177. Retrieved 24 August 2015.
  3. 1 2 3 "Unhappy hour: Backlash as two historic London inns are sold for £3.7million to become homes". Evening Standard. 10 December 2013. Retrieved 16 August 2015.
  4. 1 2 3 Blunden, Mark (13 April 2015). "St John's Wood pub The Star becomes estate agency despite protection order". Evening Standard. Retrieved 16 August 2015.
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