East End music pub backed by stars ‘faces new threat from flats’

Hundreds have signed a petition in support of the venue
Campaigners are hoping to keep the George Tavern in Stepney from developers
Elly Blake18 February 2022

A pub and music venue in East London embroiled in a 14-year battle with developers is facing fresh plans to build flats next door, which its owner says threaten it with closure.

The George Tavern in Stepney — which dates back to the 1600s and is mentioned in the writings of Samuel Pepys and Charles Dickens — fears it could be forced to shut over plans to redevelop an estate behind the pub.

The Grade II listed venue holds regular gigs and its supporters include Sir Ian McKellen, Grace Jones, Kate Moss and Tom Daley. It was also featured in the music video for Clean Bandit and Sean Paul’s hit song Rockabye.

Famous friends: Landlady Pauline Forster with Justin Timberlake

Its owner, Pauline Forster, said plans to build about 230 flats on the Exmouth Estate would leave the pub vulnerable to noise complaints from new residents, which could result in the loss of its music licence and eventual closure.

She won a 2015 court of appeal hearing to block a similar development but Swan Housing Association has returned with fresh plans it has submitted to Tower Hamlets Council.

Support: Kate Moss wearing a Save The George Tavern T-shirt

Ms Forster said: “We have just been through two years of the pandemic, we’ve had all these restrictions and without a break, to get this news straight away is quite hard. You can’t ignore it, you’ve got to deal with it.”

She described the loss of so many pubs in the area, including the recent closure of The Peacock, as “shocking”, adding that The George is “not only a pub, a music venue, it’s an important bit of heritage. I’ve been fighting this since 2008, it’s been battle after battle and it’s not right”.

Tom Daley and his partner Dustin Lance Black supported the campaign to save The George Tavern
Pauline Forster

Hundreds have signed a petition in support of the venue.

A council spokesperson said it had consulted with the pub and would ensure the scheme is consistent with the “agent of change” principle, which ensures new developments “are compatible and ongoing activities within existing businesses are safeguarded”.

Landlady Pauline Forster
Alex Lentati

A Swan Housing Association spokesperson said it had “deliberately designed our plans for Exmouth to include a community arts centre adjacent to The George, which has been designed to co-exist without affecting activities in the pub.”

They added that an independent acoustic consultant had confirmed that “new homes will be screened from activities in The George”.

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