Developers ordered to rebuild demolished London pub brick by brick

Employees were told to take the day off. When they returned, the pub had been destroyed

Developers who tore down an historic London pub to make way for a residential development have been ordered to rebuild the entire pub brick by brick.

The council is believed to be set to issue the firm which owns the Carlton Tavern in Maida Vale, with a demand to “recreate in facsimile the building as it stood immediately prior to its demolition”.

Westminster council, which rejected a planning application in January to replace the popular pub with a block of flats, has said it will move to protect the pub by listing it as a non-designated heritage asset, according to the Evening Standard. This means it will be protected from future demolition.

The owners, Tel Aviv-based developers CLTX Ltd, will also be prevented from selling the property until the restoration is complete.

Last month CLTX Ltd told the staff working at the pub to stay at home for the day while an “inventory” was being taken. When the manager returned the next day, the pub had been reduced to a pile of rubble.

Robert Davis, deputy leader of Westminster council, described the demolition as “scandalous”, and said he had been “absolutely horrified” by the turn of events.

It’s thought to be the first time a local council has demanded that a destroyed building be completely be reconstructed.

The move follows a protest and petition to have the pub rebuilt.