
The pub opened way back in 1868 as a watering hole for the influx of workers on the railways. It had three entrances, an outside gents’ and an exterior sporting pineapples above every window and doorway. Its decorative glass area behind the bar was and still is exquisite: note the mahogany panels advertising wines, brandies and whiskies in gold leaf and painted glass, and two large mirrors etched with pineapples. Oh, and below, a barman who looks like he’s about to jack it all in. Noooooo!

But locals were not, repeat not, to be defeated. On Dec 7 2001 eleven of them met to set up a committee – The Pineapple Rescue Campaign. They managed to rope in stars and celebrities including Jon Snow, Rufus Sewell and Ken Livingstone, who were all ready and eager with their quotes in both the local and national press: ‘The Pineapple is my favourite pub in London,’ said Sewell, to anyone who’d listen. ‘It is the sort of pub me and my brother had to wait outside in the 1970s and be passed the occasional blackcurrant and lemonade and packet of crisps to keep us quiet.’
A public meeting was held on Dec 12: 62 attended included local councillors, writers, lawyers and more. They sent out a succession of press releases to national and local media to raise further awareness – and, accordingly, stories ran in the New Journal, Evening Standard, Sunday Times (in a brilliant piece by Al Murray) and the Daily Telegraph, which again quoted Sewell: ‘If it goes,’ he said, presumably with a sigh, ‘we’ll all end with up places called Pub-U-Like. There are enough middle-class like myself around here already.’
It took just eight – count ’em – days for English Heritage to Grade II list the building, both inside and outside, on Dec 18 2001. The listing stopped the developer in his tracks; his architects had to withdraw and the publicity about the listing also lost the developer his finance too. Yay!

Ten years later, as we all know, the pub is one of NW5’s treasures, tucked away in its semi-secret location. Always rammed, with great ales from Adnams, Redemption and of course Camden Town Brewery, it also boasts its own brand of quirky themed nights – cheese, Spanish, quizzes to name three – for the genuinely mixed bag of K-Town locals. Its bohemian, inclusive atmosphere and approach has also inspired a whole new generation of ‘craft’ and artisan-y type London boozers, including more recent NW5 institution, the wonderful Southampton Arms. Our preferred spot? Bar-left, at the counter; or if the fire’s on, gazing at the wonderful Pineapple-by-Sea etching which adorns the wall to its right. ‘The only improvement would be if there was the sea and palm trees on the other side of the road.’

Says Gill now: ‘We produced the book ten years after a successful campaign to save the Pineapple – which at that time was still a great community pub. 533 people wrote letters to the council; we are not in touch with all of them. The book will have really only a local appeal, although it might give heart to others setting out to save a community institution – that it can be done.’
We would add that its cultural relevance and impact is far greater than that.
Photography: Tom Storr
Show Comments
laura
I think the wonderful manager Simon Rennie could do with some of the credit here. He has been at The Pineapple for over 6 years now! Lovely piece though.
Kevin Cully
Lovely piece. I have very many happy memories of the Pinepapple between 1976 and 1988. It was the centre of the Leverton Street Fair and a great place on weekends. I live in Cornwall now but drop in whenever I’m in London. Well done all those locals who kept it going.