Much-loved North London pub pleads for punters' support over plans to ban outside drinking

One of North London's oldest pubs has pleaded for customers' support after receiving a notification from Islington Council that it seeks to change its licensing rules, with a ban on outside drinking after alleged noise complaints. The Sekforde is a classic watering hole in Clerkenwell that has served generations of London dwellers since it was founded it 1829.

The pub's unique architecture - a circular building on the corner of Sekforde Street, that underwent a massive three-year-refurbishment in 2015 - makes it a striking exemplar of London's few remaining pre-Victorian pubs. But the pub's future is 'under threat' following a letter from Islington Council.

Appealing for support on Instagram, the pub posted: "They [Islington Council] want to take away your right to stand outside and have a drink. They also want to halve the seating we have outside. With rising costs in national insurance, business rates, wages, food and drinks, we will not be able to survive, and we may join the rapidly growing number of pubs that will shut its doors forever.

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''This is potentially really bad for us, they want to stop anyone drinking outside except for a few tables, and impose other really difficult conditions on us. The pub will probably end up being sold and turned into flats if it goes ahead."

The pub is calling on its supporters to email licensing@islington.gov.uk, outlining objections to any proposed changes to the pub's licence, ahead of a deadline of December 17. Those wishing to email the council must include their work or home address.

The pub has received strong backing from its punters online, among them journalist Lewis Goodall - who co-presents The News Agents podcast alongside Emily Maitlis and Jon Sopel.

He wrote: 'One of the best pubs in London struggling for survival because planning is stacked in favour of some powerful (likely old) NIMBYs. Everything that’s wrong with Britain. Staff here say they have the council coming in every week monitoring the noise. At a pub. Completely absurd."

Other commenters have vowed to support the pub by contacting the council. One wrote: "Done all the way from Pershore. I lived on Sekforde Street as a child , and I drunk in there as a young adult. My mum and dad had their first date there."

Another added: "On it. Writing to the council. Why live opposite a pub if you hate it? Idiotic."

Others bemoaned the practice of noise complaints leading to pub licence changes, with one person writing "not again" and another adding: "The trend of licensing changes and noise complaints killing pubs has got to stop."

Islington Council has been approached for comment.

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