Lord Southampton pub in Kentish Town reopens as cosy local

The Lord Southampton, in Southampton Road, on the border of Chalk Farm and Kentish Town, was listed for sale at auction in May 2023 after having been boarded up since 2022.

It reopened on Tuesday (November 26) after a full refurbishment.

The pub is licensees Chris Harrington and Aimee Brown's first venture after the pair worked in different pubs around the city "for years".

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"We were looking for an old traditional pub and we found this nice corner one," said Chris.

"We started working on it in July, fitting it out and getting back old bits of the pub. It was really run down when we got here."

Before and after - the bar at the Lord Southampton (Image: Aimee Brown)

A pub has stood on the site since 1752, but the current building is believed to date to the mid-19th century.

The couple spent several months fitting it out. It now has varnished panelling, fresh wallpaper, a new ceiling and a keeps its central bar surrounded by wooden furniture.

Aimee added: "It feels like it's 300 years old. There were a lot more layers than we expected when we were stripping back so we had to be careful."

The pub was previously run by landlady Martha McGrath for some 4O years until she retired in 2016 having served regulars including actors Peter O'Toole, Bill Nighy and Pete Postlethwaite, DJ Chris Moyles and 1980s pop group Bananarama.

It was then bought by pub company Stonegate, with the top floors used as a backpackers' hostel until its closure during the Covid lockdown.

Neighbours objected to the new pub when the licence was approved in January, fearing noise and misogynist language,

Chris said: "Before it was a hostel so it had a different feel. We are turning it back into a traditional pub with no gimmicks, just a cosy atmosphere.

"Most people we spoke to are relieved it's a traditional pub."

Next year they will add a kitchen, which they plan to run themselves.

Aimee said: "Everyone has been so lovely, it feels very welcoming and an easy transition moving forward. I'm excited about the next phase getting some food in."

Fergus Cribbin said The Lord Southampton is 'amazing' and particularly liked the 1920s panelling (Image: Nathalie Raffray)

Jo Siedlecka, who lives nearby in Southampton Road, said: "I'm so glad to see the pub open again. It's a beautiful building. There was a lot of talks about turning into flats so I'm glad it's remained a pub.

"It has such a history. Karl Marx used to live at number 41 and before he had any money he used to come here."

Fergus Cribbin, who works for London Pubs, said: "It's amazing. It's a great place. It's a pub that's been brought back from the dead and I'm enjoying the 1920s decor. It's fantastic."