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Regulars fight plans to turn 250-year-old pub into synagogue
Laura Clout15.09.08
An East End community has launched a campaign to save a 250-year-old pub, which is could be turned into a synagogue.
The Swan, on Clapton Common, has been part of life in Stamford Hill since the 18th century and is facing closure after a local Jewish group offered to buy it for £1 million.
The group, from the orthodox Bobov community, plans to turn the historic building into a synagogue and meeting rooms for 150 people.
But locals are angry that neither they nor the landlady were told about the purchase and say the few pubs remaining in the area must be saved.
Sasha Johnson, co-founder of the Save The Swan campaign, said: "The Swan is a vital part of the community for many. It's where they meet, where they celebrate births and marriages, or just relax.
"Everyone is welcome and among the regular clients are members of all the different communities - white, black, straight, gay, born Londoners and new arrivals. It's also home to the Hackney Rugby Club.
"In short, it's a proper London pub, serving the people on its doorstep and that's more important than just about anything else."
There are already about 50 synagogues in Stamford Hill, including the Grade II-listed new synagogue in Egerton Road.
Campaigners insist they are not attacking the Jewish community but simply want to keep their pub. Miss Johnson added: "There's been no consultation. Understandably people feel angry and ignored."
The capital's drinking spots are already under threat from developers and the credit crunch as well as the effects of the smoking ban and cutprice alcohol in supermarkets.
More than 100 regulars attended a meeting in The Swan last week. Ellen McLean, the landlady for seven years, said: "People are aggravated. It's hard for some, especially the elderly customers who have been coming here for years. It's all very sad."
The pub's owners, Punch Taverns, who run more than 8,000 other establishments, confirmed they had received an offer to buy The Swan.
"No deal has been completed, and we are listening to the concerns regarding the closure of the pub," a spokesman said.
Solomon Goldman, from the Bobov community, said: "We are willing to negotiate."
Reader views (21)
An update - the pub has been sold by Punch Taverns but the new owner Rabbi Goldman ( see above post) has promised to the Jewish Chronicle that after seeing the depth of support for this pub, that he is prepared to lease again, as a pub. The campaign await a meeting with him. We have a series of events planned to which all are welcome
- Glyn H, stamford hill
As a frequent user of that amazing pub, i must comment that - for some unknown reason, in the last years our people have stopped making use out of its pub, and instead they more likely use the ravensdale corner. So things got quieter and if its on the stage of being sold im totaly unsurprised. Im glad for still having it in the past few years, as its near my flat. Its a big shame, but at least make use of a brilliant historic property.....
- Andrey, Hackney, London
The Swan public house is in a very Jewish area so it is hardly surprising that it has be sold to a Jewish group wishing to convert it into a synagogue.
- Ezzy Elliott, London
Ok people, I'm the one actually that made the deal to buy it off, we have a temp shul in Lampard Grove, we were supposed to buy 2 houses in Ravensdale Road and convert it into one big one, but all we want is to build our own small community called KARTCHEEN, sorry but its not called bobov, we are not allowed to steal that name.
- Chaim Shlomo Goldman, Egerton Road -Stamford Hill
At some stage In British history, taverns were converted in to churches.
In cities, pubs are converted to office blocks or shopping centres. here in Scotland taverns have paved way for new developments.
in Tower Hamlets, or Newham, pubs are converted to mosques. and in Stamford Hill pubs are converted to synagogues. This is due to supply and demand of local community life.
Punch taverns have seen a decline in demand through the Swans performance and its revenues, there has been an increase in demand for more community space & facilities, of course there is always the few upset locals, but then by giving in to locals would also see us travelling down to London on B roads!. The rule of the game is simple, majority demand rides higher, so what's then the is burning issue? is it the no pub or the yes synagogue?
- Jacob,, Stirling, Scotland.
I live around the corner from The Swan on Clapton Common, although I go to another pub on the Hill. I just want to ask what right the Pub had last night to cause such a noise last night at the BBQ. They had signs posted in middle of the street "HONK TO SAVE THE SWAN" after midnight. Of course the Pub is a great place but they should honour the neighbours as well.
This is just one occurrence - to try and save the swan. But on a regular basis, it's not a safe place for kids to pass and the noise and disturbance coming from there is unfair.
- Paul Ferdskopf, N London
I would like to say it would be such a shame to see this establishment demolished its a very friendly pub and when you are in there you are welcomed with a nice atmosphere. I live just on Amhurst Park. I noticed that not 5 minutes away from The Swan is some open land that is not in use so can they not use this to build their synagogue on?
I don't agree with Sam's comment when you live in the area where The Swan is situated you notice that there is more than one place where they can pray actually there are 2 just across the common from where The Swan is.
- Jackie, london stamford hill
In response to Charles...
If as you say the pub is not up to standard, then you also could benefit from this campaign. If the local community show enough support it may well encourage the current owners to put back some money into doing the pub up, therefore making it into a viable business again.
It could even lead to new interest from others who wants to keep this 250 year old pub as a pub!
As I have said before in reply to the same post you have made elsewhere, I'm pretty sure that nobody is seriously suggesting the pub stay open as a charity.
But like I say if enough people are interested in keeping the pub, it is a beautiful building, it has survived for this long, who's to say that with a new facelift it couldn't be turned around....
Wouldn't you rather see that than an end to it?
- Sue, N.London (sometimes)
once again they are not bobov although they are a minority which broke away from the real bobov they are illegaly using the name bobov.all they are trying to do is establish their own community when in reality they already have one, they just broke away.
- Chris Kentsmichzeigen, stamford hill london
I'd rather have a synagogue than a pub any day of the week.
- Sam, London UK
It's a great pub. It will be a shame if it goes. Whether it becomes a synagogue, a mosque or a chuch doesn't matter. All of those scenarios are bad for me and all the other locals that use the pub. The Bobovs will hopefully pick another location. Punch Taverns should see sense and respect their customers.
There's a barbeque this Saturday to support the pub.
In fairness, more than 150 people use the place. That is more than will be able to use the building if it becomes a synagogue.
- Ant, The hills of Stamford
As being a local resident I do understand the feeling of the people who are upset on the sad news of what is happening to our lovely pub, however I must admit that I have not visited this pub for quite some time [as many others have told me the same]as this pub is rather in a derelict state, ie. chairs/benches unclean, toilets out of order for a long time and they seem to have no intensions of repairing it.. therfore i changed and no longer go to The Swan for my cup of beer, and now going to Turnpike House or down the road to the Crooked Billet, both of these pubs are minutes to walk from The Swan and are looked after and therfore you now find The Swan to be empty at most times, I seriously dont think its worth the campaign to save it as in the end of the day what will we gain, when there are so many other pubs in Stamford Hill, The Birdcage, The Royal Sovereign, Anchor & Hope, The Wheatsheaf, The Moll, The Criketers, Turnpike House, The Crooked Billet, and many more on Church street, and we all know that there are over 30 pubs closing down every week across the country, It is a real shame to see another pub close down, but i assume it had its day, as long as we have where to drink why should we be so upset and campaign to save it when the seller is totaly right and surely not a charity to keep it open for our benefit.
- Charles, North London
Solomon Goldman, and Moshe stern the brother in law of Rabbi Benzion Dunner, are trying to buy the pub for the people that broke away from the bobover community and are trying to establish their own small community
- Fred, Israel Jerusalem
Windsor, just wondered why, with you living in Southampton this story has any affect on your life? It is a local issues for the local community to resolve.
- Adam, Harrow, UK
I was at outraged and shocked I thought it said a Mosque.Its a shame to lose a pub but at least the area wont fall into decline if it is just a synagogue
- Jason Bierce, Richmond Surrey
Where does our community go when they take over, there are over 130 Synagogue's in Stamford Hill already,there and many derelict buildings in the borough that could be bought and converted into a Synagogue, why take away the only community hall that we have and destroy and existing business.
- Rachel Mcdonagh, London
What is "aninflamation"? What is "secratism"? What it is a "mosk"? Is all the criticism coming from the illiterate?
- Ganzer Shmendrik, Stockport, UK
We already have sufficent synagogues in Stamford Hill.
A further influx of thse religous buildings will only cause aninflamation within the community. Thus causing a secratism and unrest. NO! NO MORE RELIGIOUS BUILDINGS!!
- Winsor, Southampton England
how long before we have to change the national flag !!!!
- Peter Killick, Hartlepool United Kingdom
Much much better that turning it into a mosk.
- Frank, England.
There go the pork scratchings!
- Paul, London
