The Duke of Edinburgh pub on Ferndale Road came under new ownership on Wednesday after the previous landlord and tenants were forced to leave.
A company called Solitaire, which owns Shacklewell Arms in Dalston, The Chequers (Walthamstow), The Three Crowns (Stoke Newington) and Pub on the Park (London Fields), bought the pub earlier this summer and opened as new owners on Wednesday.
The previous owners Pubs ‘n’ Bars went into administration in 2009 and the ownership of the building was taken over by a bank. But instead of selling the building outright, the bank kept it on as a pub.
Anthony Zee, landlord of the Duke of Edinburgh since that time, told the Brixton Blog last night: “we have been there four years and built the business since then. Then the building went up for sale this year, which wasn’t a surprise because we always knew they would sell it at some point.”
The sale of the popular pub was put to sealed bids with a bid from Solitaire coming in above Zee’s own attempt to buy the pub he had been landlord of since 2009. Zee said: “I wanted to try to buy it myself. But I couldn’t stop Solitaire from buying it – he bid he won.”
Zee received a letter in July saying he would remain tenant until Solitaire took over on August 14. He also lived above the pub along with several other tenants.
Zee said: “It was shell shock for everybody. This is my work – I built and paid for all this stuff…It was a massive shock. We’ve had amazing support from people on facebook and Twitter.”
In response, Adie Nunn from Solitaire told the Blog: “he was given five weeks notice.”
Zee wrote on the Duke of Edinburgh Facebook page on Wednesday:
“We were told 24 hours in advance to clear out, they wanted to buy all the fixtures and fittings that made the pub great, and we refused to sell it to them. People were treated very badly here but what can you do when banks and people with a lot of money want you out! So it’s the end of the duke as you knew it…… But we are looking around to do other things so maybe not! We will you let you know. Just a massive shout out to all you lovely people who made this pub great and thanks so much for all the support you gave us over the last four years we will miss you and hope you miss us. We are also are looking for venues to continue our ciderfest elsewhere so watch this space! Xxxxxxx”
Adie Nunn from Solitaire said: “We will be installing more ale pumps and cask beers from micro breweries and classic brewers, such as Five Points, Lagunitas, Sam Adams, Redemption, Dark Star and more.
“Other than improvements to the booze and food selections you shouldn’t expect much to change about this fantastic boozer.”
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Brixton Resident is wrong because the pub was sold as a vacant possession in early July. The tenant was given plenty of written warning that him and the other residents needed to move out.
The facts are slightly wrong here..
The pub was owned by the banks and was being run by the previous landlord WHILST it was in administration… It was not sold by them, it was sold by the banks to the highest bidder. Unfortunately it was not the “tenants who ran the popular boozer” who won this bid. Everyone at the pub knew it had been sold but It is a shame that the new owners implied that things would stay the same and peoples homes and jobs would be safe until the VERY last minute.
However the reality is that the pub will go on, it will just not be the same Duke that I knew and loved. It is a shame that it is becoming increasingly difficult for independent businesses, and sadly they can be swallowed up whole by corporations that have the money to do it.
Thanks @BrixtonResident – I interviewed Anthony from the Duke last night so was about to update the article to include all this! Best Zoe