Skip to content

1720s pub nearly runs out of beer after reopening

Harry LowLondon
News imageBlack Horse Black and white photo shows brick building with garden and ivy growing on exteriorBlack Horse
The Black Horse is one of the oldest pubs in the borough of Barnet
Wendy HurrellBarnet

A north London pub dating back to the 1720s has reopened after being saved by three former regulars who all live within a five-minute walk.

The Black Horse, at the junction of Wood Street and Union Street in Barnet, closed suddenly last September and is now being run by Simon Anderson, Martin Taylor and Danny Daly after they secured the lease from Heineken-owned Star Pubs.

A petition to save the former coaching inn attracted 4,000 signatures - and the pub nearly ran out of beer on its third weekend back.

Martin Taylor, director of Barnet Community Pubs, said: "People thought they would lose this pub and to be fair they have been getting back and supporting it. I can't thank them enough."

News imageThree men in blue, pink and navy shirts smile at camera in front of Black Horse sign
Simon Anderson, Martin Taylor and Danny Daly all live within five minutes' walk of the pub

He added: "We had just over two weeks to mobilise, to turn a building site in here into a pub where we could sell some beer.

"We were very lucky because we've got a lot of friends and connections who all pulled together, so most of the people that did the work here were all local.

"Walking down the street people coming out and shaking your hand and being so complimentary, it's been absolutely brilliant."

News imageBooth Collection Black and white photo shows pub with windows and chimneys next to a sign for ale and stoutBooth Collection
The Black Horse name is a nod to the area's stagecoaching history

Anderson said: "Barnet has a really interesting history when it comes to pubs and taverns because, if you were stagecoaching into London, this was pretty much where you'd get your last change of horses and your last stagecoach before you'd finish your trip.

"Dickens described Barnet as the town of taverns so it has amazing history. Oliver [Twist] was actually based around here and met the Artful Dodger on Barnet High Street, so pubs and the history of pubs are really important to the town."

News imageBlack Horse Black Horse pub sign on yellow brick building with metal shutters over door and windowBlack Horse
The pub closed suddenly last September

He added: "We need to start thinking of pubs and our hospitality and elements of our High Street as more than just businesses.

"They're actually intrinsic to what it means for a lot of British society so we really need to be investing in trying to keep them open and supporting them."

One customer seemingly summed up the thoughts of many: "The fact that three local guys that live within a couple of hundred metres of this place are reopening a pub as a community pub: that's the difference.

"It's not just a brand or anything: it is a proper community pub, and that's very special."

Listen to the best of BBC Radio London on Sounds and follow BBC London on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to hello.bbclondon@bbc.co.uk