Churchill Arms landlord steps down after 32 years running London's most colourful pub

He's pulled about two million pints of London Pride, served visitors from Alan Titchmarsh to Prince Edward and says his regulars are like family.

But after more than three decades, Gerry O’Brien, 66, the landlord of The Churchill Arms in Notting Hill, is calling time and stepping down.

“It has been 32 years, my goodness me,” he told the Standard. “I had to make the decision as my knees and feet are no longer what they used to be. You get the feeling that maybe it is time to stop. It is terribly sad.”

Mr O’Brien was born in Co Clare, Ireland, and came to London aged 17. He took up the post in July 1985 and has made the pub, in Kensington Church Street, famous for its colourful exterior: it has some 100 flower tubs, 42 baskets and 48 window boxes. Last December, it was adorned with 21,000 lights and 90 Christmas trees.

The Fuller’s pub was built in 1750 and given its name after the Second World War. Under Mr O’Brien, it opened a Thai restaurant and has won awards including the 1999 Evening Standard pub of the year. Simon Emeny, Fuller’s chief executive, said: “They just don’t make people like Gerry any more.”

On Friday, Mr O’Brien will hand over to general manager James Keogh, who has worked there for 25 years. Mr O’Brien will then have a send-off on August 3 before flying to Ireland. One regular, Terry Bird, who comes to the pub from Kent almost every day, said: “I’m not sure it will ever be the same without him.”

Mr O’Brien said: “I will take away so many memories. So much has happened, I think I could write a book on every year — I’m not joking. But sometimes you can’t go on for ever.”