A St John’s Wood premises which was shut after being fire-bombed and targeted by gunmen is potentially to reopen as a pub.
Formerly operating as Monak, an up-market sushi restaurant, the Abbey Road venue had its licence revoked in 2023 following the firebombing, having been hit by a drive-by shooting the year before.
Westminster City Council pulled the licence with the Met Police saying at the time it was “sheer luck” no customers were killed or seriously injured.
The application for The Salt House, a revision of the pub’s name under a previous guise before its sale by Greene King in 2017, requests permission to reopen as a “traditional public house”.
Submitted by Calaviation Ltd, the application states: “The Salt House in St. John’s Wood will be undergoing a loving restoration to turn it back into a traditional public house including a significant food offering – think seasonal roast dinners, proper pies, and comforting food, done well.”
It adds the pub will present a “welcoming atmosphere” with the applicant having experience managing venues such as The Newman Arms in Fitzrovia and The White Bear in Knutsford.
The Met Police had initially objected to the submission though withdrew following the addition of a number of conditions.
The St John’s Wood Society had also written in requesting a number of conditions be added, such as a direct telephone number for the manager at the premises to be publicly available and for a meeting to be held with residents every six months.
The Society’s objection was however withdrawn after mediation and conditions being accepted with the Met Police.
Other concerns raised by residents included the requested closing hours and the impacts on antisocial behaviour (ASB).
The submission did receive a number of letters backing the plans, with one person writing they “warmly support their application for a premises licence”.
At a Westminster City Council Licensing Sub-Committee meeting on Thursday (August 14), the applicant’s legal counsel Nathaniel Gadsby of TV Edwards said: “My clients are very grateful for the considerable support expressed in many of the representations. My clients have spoken with many local residents who are delighted The Salt House will be restored into a thriving local pub run by an experienced and professional team with a track record of success.”
The meeting proceeded with few questions asked of the applicant, with the primary focus on finalising some of the conditions.
Cllr Patrick Lilley said: “I think it’s very constructive your engagement with local residents and your willingness to listen and I think that’s the foundation of a very healthy relationship in the area.”
A decision is to be issued within five days.
Following the closure of the Monak in April 2023, the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) spoke to one resident who said there had been a “day and night” difference to the area since it had been shut.
“We are able to sleep again, we are able to open our windows again and not breathe something that is not sickly toxic, dangerous shisha,” they said.
Ben Lynch is a Local Democracy Reporter covering the City of London, Hammersmith & Fulham, Westminster, and Kensington and Chelsea. A former contributor to Harrow Online, he reports on local government, housing, planning, transport and issues affecting communities across London.
