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Crocker’s Folly, which closed in 2002 and has since fallen into disrepair |
What a Crock! Victorian pub set for hotel revamp
Much-loved public house steeped in local history closed in 2002
LEGEND has it the Crocker’s Folly took its name when impetuous landlord Frank Crocker threw himself from an upstairs window upon realising he had unwittingly built the pub a quarter of a mile from his intended location, opposite the commuter honeypot of the new Marylebone Station.
Now, more than 100 years after the fabled tragedy, residents living near the derelict St John’s Wood pub are mounting a campaign that might just stir up the ghost of old Crocker.
In keeping with area’s now salubrious standing, they want to turn the one-time neighbourhood pub and sanctuary for beer-swillers into a boutique hotel complete with gluten free food and seasonal rhubarb.
The Grade II-listed building in Aberdeen Place, renowned for its vast public bar, snooker table and marble-lined walls, closed back in 2002 to the dismay of residents and cricket fans.
Labour councillors in the area have joined forces with residents to call on the overseas landlords to restore the building to its former glory, with a hotel and restaurant the preferred option.
Church Street labour councillor Barbara Grahame said: “Crocker’s has been empty and derelict for over seven years and it is gradually falling into disrepair. We are calling on the owners to refurbish and re-open this fine historic building so that local residents can enjoy it.
“Our consultations with residents suggest they want to see this building restored to its former glory and brought back into public use, perhaps as a small boutique hotel’.”
Joanna Lenihan, who lives around the corner from the building said: “I would love to see it renovated. It has a remarkable history and there aren’t many pubs with a snooker table.
“We were a bit worried about squatters and hate seeing such a beautiful building derelict.”
The campaign has also been supported by neighbourhood group, the St John’s Wood Society. Andre Mainz, chairman of the society said: “There is a remarkable lack of hotel accommodation here. I am in favour of this because it is desperately in need of attention.”
An entry on the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) website describes the pub.
It says: “The public bar is vast, the billiard room grand, but the jewel-at-the-Crown is the entrance hall saloon.
“A late Victorian feast of marble, using 50 different kinds, covering not only the counter, but almost the entire bar. The chimney-piece is marble and has marble columns. Even the walls are lined in marble. All this, beneath a rich plaster relief ceiling.”
The landlords, Abouzakki Holdings Co, were unavailable for comment but it is understood they are in conversation with property consultants Savills about developing a plan for the building.
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