On a stormy weeknight in early November, the steamy windows of a new north London pub provide comfort to the wet and weary. Inside, it’s the idyll of a bygone era: the hum of chatter, people talking to strangers; tables occupied but free from chaos. There are bar stools, a line-up of intriguing beers — many you’ve never heard of — and reasonable prices.
To say it’s a tough time for pubs is an understatement — particularly in London. As the price of a pint continues to rise, 46 pubs closed in the capital in the first half of 2023, more than anywhere in England.
