The Plough

kittygal

Anybody know what's happening to the old Plough pub on corner Hornsey Road/Tollington Park? Could do with a decent pub in that part of the area. Or maybe it's going to be more trendy flats.

djmattyoung

The owner of the front room cafe told my girlfriend it's going to turned into a gastro pub. I do hope that's true as the plough was awful and there's already been too many flats built around that area. <div>I think it would do quite well if it was a decent pub as the other decent pubs like The Swimmers, Landseer, N19 & Shaftsbury are all a bit of walk from there. </div>

Peter Crumb

I've heard that rumour before, Matt. We'll see!

djmattyoung

Yeah last time I heard that rumour was when it was shut before (couple of years ago) but all they did was give the place a lick of paint and put in a wooden floor. We'll see... 

quince

A gastro pub would be a bold play for that stretch of the Hornsey Road.  Any stretch of it, arguably.<div><br></div><div>They used to sell a pint of Guinness for £3.  Value.  It's a shame the place is closed.</div>

miss annie

There are plenty of lovely houses on the roads immediately behind Hornsey Rd. There are the creative/artists studios on Marlborougn Rd too. I lived on Hornsey Rd, next to the Spiritualist church, and the flats and houses along that stretch are mostly rented by youngish professionals with cash to spare. I think people see the big estate and think it's all horrible.

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TheMimsy

I lived off Hornsey Road for 9 years, moved 5 years ago, but not too far away.<div>I agree with you both (Miss Annie and Misscara)...people tend to see the negatives, but actually it's OK and it has got better. I have always had great neighbours, too...</div><div>Ajani,  Organic Stall and the music shop are all great (hope they last) and though I am not a Tesco fan, the cashpoint is handy. The Belgravia Studios on Marlborough Road are great and a creative hub: I have used the services of some of the  companies people based there,  and I can only rave about them!</div><div>There seems to be something new coming up at the junction of Tollington Way, where the old betting shop was and I hope it's not going to be another betting shop...</div><div> </div><div><br></div>

Mirandola

Sarah Beeny did the Hornsey Road?

ChangN4N6

She is so sexy ...and very polite to vets on her visit Chang

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Thomas

Bad news for those hoping for a gastro pub...planning application for change of use to a "shop for the sale of second hand books and general merchandise". Cites the pub use being unviable.<div><br></div><div><a href="http://planning.islington.gov.uk/Northgate/PlanningExplorer/Generic/StdDetails.aspx?PT=Planning Applications On-Line&amp;TYPE=PL/PlanningPK.xml&amp;PARAM0=359252&amp;XSLT=/Northgate/PlanningExplorer/SiteFiles/Skins/Islington/xslt/PL/PLDetails.xslt&amp;FT=Planning Application Details&amp;PUBLIC=Y&amp;XMLSIDE=&amp;DAURI=PLANNING">http://planning.islington.gov.uk/Northgate/PlanningExplorer/Generic/StdDetails.aspx?PT=Planning Applications On-Line&amp;TYPE=PL/PlanningPK.xml&amp;PARAM0=359252&amp;XSLT=/Northgate/PlanningExplorer/SiteFiles/Skins/Islington/xslt/PL/PLDetails.xslt&amp;FT=Planning Application Details&amp;PUBLIC=Y&amp;XMLSIDE=&amp;DAURI=PLANNING&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/div&gt;

kittygal

Shame, sounds like another crash & burn venture.

Papa

I was told by a reliable source the plan is to turn it into flats, this may be a first step to at least free up the upstairs for that.<br>

Mirandola

This is spooky. I was walking past it earlier today and thought how lovely it would be if the Plough were to become a bookshop/cafe. Right. Universe, I'll have a proper swimming pool too. 25m is fine, natural light and not too hot.

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Papa

Hypothetically speaking and not suggesting this is the case, but if this is to free up the upstairs for non-pub disturbed flats, property prices being what they are, the success or not of a bookshop won't be a concern.<br>

Mirandola

So they'd be happy to run the bookshop at a loss as long as they could rent out the flats above?

mikep

"Second hand books and general merchandise" sounds like a charity shop to me. Changing the license to A1 from A4 would indicate it won't have a cafe element, as I think you need an A3 license for that.

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vetski

It might be vintage-y rather than charity, like that place on Mountgrove Road. Is there enough passing trade there for a charity shop?<div><br></div>

Papa

@Mirandola the cold hard economics of it says yes, or you just don't even bother opening the shop.<br><br>I hope I am cynically wrong and someone is opening Black Books though - I'd prefer it remained a pub though. <br><br>That's a lot of pubs Hornsey Road has lost over the years, shame the Plough would go just when it is attracting more disposable income in.<br><br><br>

Mirandola

@PapaL, Wine lollies for all. The nice shop subsidised by flats trick works in Mayfair, Marylebone & Lamb Conduit Street but those are slightly different areas. Pretty sure it's not a charity shop though, because the applicant is named and it's random-business-name-ltd. If it were, say, Shelter, why would they hide?

miss annie

Lamb's Conduit St shops make a lot of money. It's the menswear hotspot for the discerning chap, lots of lovely bespoke tailoring and traditional pieces. J.Crew are opening a menswear shop there shortly.

Mirandola

@miss annie, I'll have to tell my other half that - he's very keen on Folk clothes. I'd heard that there was one freeholder on the street and they'd a policy of letting to interesting businesses even when they might make more money going for the chains. Relatedly, I'm amazed that the people behind the fancy new block near the tube decided to let the ground floor to a chippy.

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kittygal

They converted the space above the Tesco opposite into trendy new flats, thought they'd do the same with Plough. Even a decent coffee shop would have been nice. Re the chippy under the new flats near the station there's never anyone in that place, not a good sign!

miss annie

The chief exec of J Crew talked about why they wanted to go there, they are very aware of the feel of the street and existing businesses. They are one of the better American imports in my opinion.

Stella

Personally, I don't think we need another gastro pub, neither a charity shop. Although charity shops are normally doing quite well and I like them. It's really difficult in that area. If I had the money, I'd open a bike shop, just repairs and second hand bikes/custom build bikes. Luckily I don't have the dosh as it would properly not survive in that corner either.<br>

Papa

This is not meant as a cynical or cruel comment and I actually quite like shopping in them, but the last thing any High Street needs is more charity shops.<br><br>Stella, so like<a href="http://thehornseyroad.blogspot.co.uk/2013/05/clever-mikes-hidden-bikes.html"> Clever Mike's bike place further up the road?</a><br>

yagamuffin

From the application I see they are not planning to make many physical changes, keeping the existing entrances and "bar furniture". Should make a quirky little shop