For every new, exciting venture that springs up, London seems to shed another favourite. Once again, it's time to cue the melancholy piano for our ever-swelling list of places that closed down in 2024. As always, though, there are one or two silver linings along the way.
KidZania, Shepherd's Bush
For eight years, children at KidZania lived out adult fantasies as firefighters, pilots and construction workers, but the Westfield-based attraction abruptly announced in early January that playtime was over. There is, for now at least, one other KidZania you could technically visit with the little tykes, although seeing as it's in Tokyo, it's not exactly a day out.
Pergola Paddington
Christmas was always a fun time to visit Pergola Paddington, the west London food/drinks place dolling itself up as a ski lodge with snow-dusted pines. Alas, there'll be no more fondue and fizz; early in 2024, the venue shuttered for good having entertained millions of guests. Grieving fans can still get their fix at sister venue, Pergola Canary Wharf, which remains very much open.
Market Village, Stratford
The sudden (and it always does seem to be sudden, doesn't it?) closure of Market Village — the collection of local vendors based inside the Stratford Centre — struck a chord with our readers. It turned out that the owner had gone into administration, and a petition was launched, with campaigners saying the market has been a cornerstone of the community for over 30 years — and must be able to continue. Whether this tale has a happy ending remains to be seen.
House of St Barnabas, Soho
A truly fascinating place, we've previously written an article about the House of St Barnabas, a members club/charity inside a handsome Georgian edifice overlooking Soho Square, and once home to sewer-designing genius Joseph Bazalgette, as well as inspiring a location in Charles Dickens' A Tale of Two Cities. More recently, the likes of Jarvis Cocker and Miranda Sawyer were members of the unique club that pumped profits into good causes for the homeless. But in mid January 2024, the House of St Barnabas revealed it was closing its doors, due to its business model being 'no longer sustainable'. We're keeping everything crossed that the next chapter in this building's history is just as interesting/philanthropic as the last.
Harringay Arms, Crouch Hill
The Harringay Arms no longer reverberates with the madness of bottomless drag bingo, since its windows and doors were boarded up in January. In 2021, the pub became home to a thriving LGBTQ+ community — a genre of venue that's really struggling in London right now. "Bloody shame. It was a great little pub and to see any long established pub closing is tragic," said one punter. We hate to say it, but this will not be the only great London pub that closes this year.
The Glory, Dalston
Another LGBTQ+ bar — this one very much god tier — the Glory in Dalston had more anecdotes than a Graham Norton Show omnibus, including a New Year's Eve lock-in with Keira Knightley and Chelsea Clinton which got a bit wild. Though the Glory passed on at the start of February, it immediately rose from the ashes as another LGBTQ+ club, the Divine, which is run by the same wonderful people, and promises the same levels of joyous debauchery as before. They even wrote an article about it for us.
Bar Elba, Waterloo
Those in the vicinity of Waterloo on a balmy summer's eve who were in the know tramped up the stairs to Bar Elba, a rooftop hangout where you could sip a cold brew while looking out over the high-rises (or just the bustle of Waterloo station below). This was a high-up haven where you could indulge in Oktoberfest brunches, or go skating at Christmas, but Bar Elba threw in the towel in February, and Waterloo's all the sadder for it.
Good Neighbour, Camberwell, Peckham and Tooting
With a former Camberwellian in the Londonist ranks, we were great admirers of the Good Neighbour wine bars, which brought non-pretentious slurps to three chic south London neighbourhoods (and served excellent food to boot). We have particularly fond memories of doing Eat Out to Help Out in the Camberwell branch — our first taste of booze not bought in Tesco for a while. At the beginning of March 2024, Good Neighbour announced the closure of all three of its branches with immediate effect. "Sadly these are not unique circumstances in hospitality right now," they wrote, "and the reasons for this no longer need explaining."
Up in the air: Beigel Shop, Brick Lane; Bethnal Green Working Men's Club; Bush Hall, Shepherd's Bush
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At time of writing (March 2024), two much-loved east London venues aren't operating as normal; Beigel Shop on Brick Lane has been closed since mid-Feb, with a writ of possession pasted on the front door, while Bethnal Green Working Men's club — known for its wild cabaret nights — has posted a call out on Instagram, requesting 'immediate legal assistance'. We're praying both these institutions pull through in the end.
As covered in this article, the Edwardian Bush Hall is currently crowdfunding to remain open too.
On the move
In case you hadn't heard... pic.twitter.com/HvWsoLbYYy
— Henry Sotheran Ltd (@Sotherans) February 29, 2024
Meantime's Greenwich brewery — one of the first modern breweries in London — is moving out from North Greenwich to Fuller's brewery in Chiswick. (Which is going to become one busy brewery.) Meanwhile, Brew By Numbers at Morden Wharf will leave London altogether, heading up to Yorkshire.
Also on the move is Sotheran's rare book and print shop, which leaves its Sackville Street home on 15 March, but reopens on Upper Brook Street in central London from 1 April.
Last call: Manze's pie and mash Shop, Deptford
You've got until March 2025 to savour one of the old delights of London — a proper plate of pie and mash. Yet another of these Edwardian establishments will bite the (saw)dust next year — namely Manze's in Deptford. Owner George Mascall is hanging up his apron for a well-earned retirement, meaning this is your last call for a thrifty serving of pie, mash and liquor in this part of town. Better make mine a double.
And finally...
This feels the right place to spare a thought for Simpson's Tavern, which has been in purgatory since November 2022, when its Bermuda-based landlord closed it down with — yes, you guessed it — no notice. We continue to think of you and your Barnsley chops, Simpson's!
