Turner, Whistler and Sargent used to drink there. Agatha Christie, Dylan Thomas, Bob Marley and the Rolling Stones were regulars. In recent years the upstairs function room has hosted the engagement parties of the Duchess of Cambridge’s set and fundraisers for the Guardsmen of the Household Division.
But a few weeks ago, Andrew Bourne, the owner of the Cross Keys, Chelsea’s oldest pub, closed its doors and boarded up the windows. He claims that the pub loses money, and has applied for permission to turn it into a mansion with basement swimming pool. If he is successful, the property will be worth more than £10 million.
It is just one example of a problem endemic throughout Britain. Since 2008, 4,500 pubs have been lost. They have struggled to compete with cheap alcohol from supermarkets, while other uses for the land look increasingly attractive. The smoking ban has not helped, either. The buildings are being turned into houses, restaurants and – in almost a quarter of cases in south-west London – a Tesco Express or Sainsbury’s Local.
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