A community-run pub in east Greenwich says it has been forced to close after its landlord called in a £52,000 debt.
The Star of Greenwich opened in April last year, replacing the old Star & Garter, which had been forced to close the year before because of a stabbing.
A community group that had hoped to buy the building came to an agreement with the building’s landlord, Greenwich Hospital, to retain it as a pub. It had aimed to become “the most inclusive pub in London” and had even been featured in a Los Angeles Times article.
But on Friday it was announced that the pub, on Old Woolwich Road, had closed because the Greenwich Hospital charity had called in the debt.
“The sudden call for repayment of a longstanding debt by our landlord Greenwich Hospital has made it financially unfeasible for us to continue operations,” James Gadsby Peet, one of the pub’s founders, wrote in a blog post. “We have closed our doors for the last time.”
“We are truly sorry that we haven’t been able to give more notice, but this has happened very quickly, over a matter of hours,” he added. “We would have loved to have a last drink with our incredible community and celebrate all we have achieved together.
“The Star has become more than a pub; it has been a thriving hub of support and community services. From playgroups to refugee support programmes, from language classes to creative workshops, the Star has fulfilled a vision of inclusivity, built on the dedication and contributions of countless local organisations, volunteers, and visitors.
“But none of these are as important as the friendships we’ve created along the way.”
A fundraiser has been launched in a last-ditch effort to save the venture.
The pub is owned by the defence secretary – currently John Healey – on behalf of Greenwich Hospital, which owns much of the town centre, including the market. The charity still owns the freehold to the original Greenwich Hospital, now the Old Royal Naval College, and the National Maritime Museum.
Its profits fund services for serving and retired members of the Royal Navy and Royal Marines, including grants and bursaries, sheltered housing in Greenwich, Plymouth and Portsmouth, and a 300-year-old private school in Suffolk.
Greenwich Hospital has been contacted for comment.
Another east Greenwich local, Hardy’s Freehouse, is expected to close in the coming months after permission for a hotel and restaurant was given in January, although it has continued trading since the decision was made.
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