Islington’s iconic Old Red Lion Theatre Pub has sold to a company run by two actors – allaying fears about the building’s survival.
The Grade II-listed pub, which had been run by its owner Damien Devine and his family for more than 25 years, was listed for sale for £450,000 last March.
The sale included the pub and its 50-seat, black box theatre, a two-bedroom flat, two bedsits and a trade kitchen, which were offered on a new 15-year lease from the freeholder, Star Pubs & Bars.
There has been a pub on the St John Street site since 1415, with the current building constructed in 1899, according to Historic England.
The theatre opened in 1979 and has provided an important platform for emerging artists since, presenting new work from playwrights, directors and performers like Kathy Burke, Joe Penhall, Penelope Skinner, Nina Raine, Abi Morgan, Simon Longman and John O’Donovan.
When the building was listed for sale, it drew concerns that this cultural legacy would be lost.
“We don’t need ‘saving’, we need security to continue doing our amazing work in this incredible and vital fringe theatre,” wrote the theatre’s artistic director Jack Robertson on X last March.
Now, though, the sale will provide some reassurance about the building’s future. After over 40 viewings and “considerable interest”, the pub sold for its asking price of £450,000 to a theatre company called Cowardly Theatre Limited, run by husband-and-wife duo Janine Duvitski and Paul Bentall.
Duvitski is a British actress best known for her roles in the British sitcom Benidorm, One Foot in the Grave, Waiting for God and Mike Leigh’s stage play Abigail’s Party. Bentall starred in Flash Gordon, The World’s End and First Knight, amongst others. Two of their four children are also performers, taking up the family trade.
The couple plan to retain the pub and theatre, which will be operated by their daughter and son-in-law.
The pub and theatre staff will transfer with the business. According to the Ham & High, Robertson will stay on as artistic director.
"They are looking at the future including plans to become more of a producing house - the theatre is definitely in safe hands,” he told the paper.
"They are keen to put their own mark on it in terms of interior design but keeping the charm of what's there - the people who love it really love it and want the pub to stay as it is."
Devine was “planning for later life” and “looking for a change of scenery” in selling the pub after 25 years, said Simon Chaplin, senior director of selling agents Christie & Co, last year.
Devine had first listed the pub in 2019, but with the previous lease coming to an end and the freehold undergoing a change of ownership, a sale had not materialised.
A new 15-year lease was negotiated —Chaplin says this is “longer than most”— and “considerable remedial works” were made to the building, including repairs to the roof and redecoration of the façade.
“The sale of The Old Red Lion has been a tale of persistence on all sides,” says Chaplin. “When we first spoke with owner Damien Devine, we could not have envisaged a change of landlord, a new lease needing to be negotiated, and a pandemic, which for an intimate theatre was devastating.
“However, we have now secured a deal with Cowardly Lion who are fitting owners for this unique London landmark.”
“We are delighted to complete the leasehold sale of the historic Old Red Lion Theatre Pub,” adds David Wilson, the company’s associate director.
“We believe the pub and theatre will flourish under the new owners, Cowardly Lion Limited, and are excited to see the new tenants of this Star Pubs lease thrive.”
