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From the
https://theisleofthanetnews.com 27 March, 2025 By Kathy Bailes.
Plans for a return to ‘traditional’ pub roots under new owners of
The London Tavern in Margate.
Mat and Vickie are the new owners of The London Tavern in Margate.
The London Tavern in Margate is in new hands and set for a return to
its ‘traditional’ roots.
The Addington Street pub shut in October 2022 just nine months after
opening as the latest addition to Emma Piggott and Jonathan Mercer’s
small pub group, Tiny Dancer, which bought the property at auction
in December 2021 for £475,000.
The pub went back on the market in October 2022 and then was put up
for auction last year.
Now, work is taking place with the hope of getting the doors open
for August after couple Mat and Vickie Stevens bought the site last
June for £362k.
The duo already operate two pubs in Gravesend, with the second
premises bought in 2016 needing a full refurb.
As a former builder Mat has been using his skills to undertake the
enormous amount of work need at The London Tavern, including
installing new roofing and building a complete new bar for the main
pub area.
The parents-of-four moved to Margate some nine years ago and had
been keeping an eye out for a pub to take on.
Vickie, 50, said: “Mat said let’s go and have a look and when we
went in we both said ‘what a lovely little pub.’ We want to make it
a proper locals, traditional pub.”
The plan was to be up and running by the April but extensive repair
and refurb works have been needed with Mat undertaking much of the
work himself.
The 51-year-old said: “We are investing a ballpark figure of
£100-£140k so it is a big commitment.
“We are fond of old buildings like this that need a bit of TLC so we
have put in the extra investment as it is what customers deserve
when they come in.”
The couple are carrying out a complete refurb and will be getting
rid of the brown décor and exterior to be replaced with a navy blue
and gold lettering.
Inside there will be the main bar, the snug, a restaurant area in
the back bar, with a garden space, to serve around 30 to 40 covers.
The new bar built by Mat.
There will also be a downstairs bar with DJs and live music. Vickie,
who is a DJ running her Good Vibrations business with soul, funk and
disco vibes, has plenty of contacts in the industry and hopes to get
in a good variety of performers.
Mat said: “The restaurant area will be family friendly. We do food
in our other outlets and the main food offering is smash burgers so
we’ll start off with that and develop the menu as the customer base
develops.”
The plan will be to eventually open at 8am to offer coffees and
pastries with the alcohol licence starting from 11am.
Mat says there will be employment for two or three staff initially
but expects that to build to around nine during the busy season. He
also hopes the eventual reopening of the Theatre Royal may be a
boost to custom.
There will also be a variety of drinks on offer, from a cheap pint
to high end spirits and quality wines.
Talks are for local ales to be stocked from businesses such as Floc
and Northdown Brewery.
Vickie picking a colour scheme.
Mat said: “We will offer a good value price drink and something
that’s a little bit more.
“Not everyone can afford expensive drinks and looking at pubs in
Thanet, many have high end beer but there is not so much choice of
you just want a cheap pint.
“We’ll have three cask ales and are putting the pumps back in, there
will be 10 kegs, a good selection of quality wines and lots of
spirits.”
The couple cited Nancy and Carl Hilliard, who ran The London Tavern
from 2016-2021, as an example of a good traditional model for local
pubs.
The various areas in the pub will be available to hire for functions
and events.
It is hoped the works, which include new slates and repair to five
roof areas, new windows and a complete overhaul inside, will allow
for the August opening. If this is not possible then the doors will
open next Spring. |
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