A historic pub in East Finchley, London, that played a key role in the early days of The Kinks is set to be demolished to make way for luxury housing. The Alexandra, a Victorian-era pub, was a regular haunt for Kinks founders Dave and Ray Davies during their youth, where they held New Year's parties and enjoyed singalongs around the piano.
The pub has been closed since 2012 and has fallen into disrepair, suffering from vandalism. Its current owners, STO Capital, have plans to knock it down and build homes on the site. Local campaigners, however, have fought to preserve the building, arguing it holds significant cultural value.
Guitarist Dave Davies publicly supported the campaign, stating that the music he and his brother listened to at the pub influenced the band's sound. The Save the Alexandra Action Committee sought to have the pub designated as an “asset of community value,” which would have given locals the chance to purchase it.
However, Judge Peter Lane of the First-Tier Tribunal ruled against the campaign, allowing the developer's appeal to strip the pub of its special status. He concluded that no community group had demonstrated sufficient interest or financial capacity to save the pub, clearing the path for demolition.
