Islington pub character saved by lawyer buyout

09/07/2009 11:00:35

Pub jobs have been saved at the Marquess Tavern in Islington, north London, after a group of lawyers clubbed together to buy their local.

Five friends who enjoyed drinking in the regency-style building were concerned it could lose its unique character if taken over by a new owner, so their lodged the highest bid to secure the licence for £175,000.

The Daily Mail reports that the project has been a success, with food and beer sales up and 18 employees now working in bar, kitchen, waiting-on and pub manager jobs.

Lawyer Andrew Thornton, one of the new co-owners, said the Marquess Tavern was one of the best real ale pubs in the area and needed to be preserved.

He claimed the only way to keep it a community pub was to take it over, even if it meant waiting a few years to get their money back.

Mr Thornton added: "We're not out to personally make a profit out of this. We just want to keep the pub in the community."

David Morton, pubs officer for the Redditch and Bromsgrove branch of the Campaign for Real Ale, recently told the Bromsgrove Advertiser that pubs which sell a range of popular real ales are more likely to survive the recession.

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