Well-known London pub closes its doors

The Gowlett Arms in London's Peckham Rye has closed after the team behind the business was unable to implement a rescue package in time.

The traditional pub, which was known as a music venue, closed earlier this week.

Announcing the move on Facebook, licensee Jonathan Henfrey said: "It is with a heavy heart that today we have had to take the decision to close the Gowlett. We have been working for some time on a package to allow Jack and the team to continue in place, but alas, time has today run out. It is still hoped that this will happen sooner rather than later, but that was taken out of my hands this morning.

"I can't even begin to apologise to the staff, customers, DJs, friends, suppliers and everyone else who have been involved in this being such an amazing place to be, enough. I've tagged a few of you here, but can't really think… I am broken.

"Understandably, I won't be responding to stuff over the coming few days, as I have enough to deal with. My first efforts are to ensure the staff are taken care of."

The pub was already facing an uncertain future after being the subject of a noise complaint, which led to a campaign under the banner "Don't cut the Gowlett out of Peckham".

Henfrey and his regulars feared that noise restrictions could make the business "unsustainable".

The Gowlett was served with a noise abatement order in April this year after a complaint from a neighbour, but managed to have it lifted again in May.

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