Wansteadium can confirm the rumours which have been circulating round Wanstead on Monday that the Nightingale pub has closed.
Landlord Noel McMahon told Wansteadium: “Unfortunately, ill health has put me in the unenviable situation that I now find myself in. The only roads left open to me regretfully is closure.”
The pub has been a fixture of Wanstead life for hundreds of years and was extensively refurbished last year. Noel is known to have been in hospital recently, though the pub has maintained a busy calendar of events, including several during the Wanstead Fringe. It is sure to be sadly missed by many regulars and locals.
Matthew Hearn John Docker ð®
Ronnie Finch
Now that is really bad news. It was one of the best meeting-places in Wanstead,
Peter Smith so sad x
So sorry to hear this used to go there when I lived in Wanstead from 1975 till 2003
Chris Morgan
Simon thought you might be interested in this
Hopefully reopens as a pub again in the near future under new management. Would probably be a good idea to apply for it to be listed as an asset of community value to stop it being turned into flats.
Andrew great idea, how do we do that, do you know? I’ve heard of people doing this with other pubs elsewhere in London
http://www.camra.org.uk/list-your-local
Any idea if an existing group would be interested in doing this? If not, those interested could form a community group with 21 people. We would need to move quickly, just in case…
Happy to sign. Might be a good idea to wait a few days to see if local group interested.
Good idea to list it. It’s a lovely pub. Sad to hear Noel’s not well.
Hereâs the Redbridge acv app form. Iâve listed most of the pubs in Leyton and Leytonstone so happy to help if needed… https://www.redbridge.gov.uk/media/2951/community-right-to-buy-nomination-form.pdf
Adam
Ben Livings Adam Curtis
Colin Mitchell our favourite place to go with kids…so sad to hear that…kind regards to Noel and his family
Daphne Fordham ð³ð³ð³
Jessica Preston
Wtf
A disgrace scraps John Gentleman
Very sad news
Sara Wills
Sorry to hear that Dom Felton and I loved your quizzes!
I spray lacquered the bar when it was being refurbished
I fitted their new boiler, mind you, that was back in 1990.
John Wood
Leona Earey gila.
Cathy James Horne Corinne Wilson Jon Law
I was just reading this – very sad.
Memory after Coffee bar on Friday nights!!
Kenton Fisher That was the Duke of Edinburgh – was it not?
Think we did both
The Duke was the popular one, but I spent many a splendid evening with Ian in here. A fine pint of Directors, back in the day. They had some crazy Courage stout as well, more like Marmite than a drink!
Woah! Just span into some kind of timewarp there!
The good old days!!!!
Oooh! There it is! Imperial Russian!
http://www.charleswells.co.uk/news/revived-historic-brew-courage-imperial-russian-stout-makes-a-long-awaited-return-to-the-uk/
Yes it was Corinne!
What a pity,nice pub.
Genuinely upset, Fantastic pub anything we can do to keep it open keep lucky Noel!
Nooooooo
It looks amazing, Em ! Is it by you ?! Maybe they’ll find a solution and keep it open…
Shame hope someone else takes it over
Sue Ogilvie-Patel
I know. Sad times……
At least we got in a final fling Sue Ogilvie-Patel â¹
Diana Rogers we certainly did Fab pub and great people xx
Diana Rogers we certainly did!
Fab pub and great people x
So sorry to hear this – a smashing pub with no pretensions and lots of character
Tommy Rolt Stephen Bonnar Jeff Goy
Jonathan Lisseter James Davies
Is this where we’ve had a couple of meals ?
Darren Warbey no that is The Duke. About 100 ft down the road
Only went to the Nightingale once or twice, and have not much memory of either occasion which must mean it was good.
Close but no cigar lol
James Davies didn’t you and Jonathan Lisseter spend The Royal Wedding there falling off garden benches?
Dawn Burnett We sure did! A great day was had by all.
Wanda Jackson Gary Figg David Latto
Eton Manor
Very sad ð
Oh what a shame! Wishing Noel well!!! X
Real shame… Wishing Noel well too!
Robert Mune
That’s a real shame, used to drink in there many years ago
Jill Stock….does Dad know? ð³ x
He does now – sad for Noel, Lucy and his family – a loss for our community too.
best pub in wanstead. I hope it’ll not re-open as a “gastropub”…
Gary Lee
Marc Coleman
Rob
No not the black hole ! ð
Shaon buy this pub and save wanstead!!
Hope it’s not more bloody flats
Sad news !!! ð¢
ChrisAnd Steve. Maybe he’s moving over permanently!
Wishing Noel all the best, hope he gets better
What a shame!! I loved going to this pub when i lived in wanstead!
How sad. Judy Francis â¹ï¸â¹ï¸ xxx
So many memories. So sad that it will no longer be the Nightingale I used to loose my Christmas eves in….
Loved this pub
Berce Sezer ð
Oh no how sad Suzanne Bench Geoff Bench
Emma D’Arcy Keith D’Arcy ð
The Wanstead Crawl will never be the same again 🙁
Oh no, my Friday night second home for so many years and Noel’s famous lock in’s Scott Shillum
Best Nightingale memory was Rugby World Cup 2003, early breakfast at the bar and a famous victory.
Nooooooo. This canât be true Martin Griffiths? Someone has to buy it surely unless itâs been sold to developers!
Scott Shillum you know it’s going to be sold to developers. ð©
Cheryl Douglas thatâs really sad. X
Andrew Kuipers what a shame. I have fond memories of many a Sunday afternoon spent here with the newspapers! ð¢
I was just reading this and was going to make a similar comment.
OMG. Chris & Chloe, isn’t this your local? We certainly had a fair few good nights in there. What a shame ð
Kay Patricia O’Grady
Oh No! Noel and Lucy were our best neighbours when we lived opposite the pub 1993-2001 so many great memories. That pub cannot close! Wishing you well Noel xx
Absolutely gutted to hear this… its been my local for well over 30 years. Wish you well noel and family x
Michelle Allen
Pam Ford
Nicola Self
What a shame. Wishing Noel all the best.
Liz Calvert now what will the lads do?
Don’t know….but they aren’t coming round here……ð
Liz Calvert ð why not? You had better start brewing beer!!!
Heartbroken… as Miska said the hub of so many good times and memories.
Noel Mcmahon we wish you the best in everything. Lots of love to you all, Colin, Miska, Leila and Jack… thank you for making Wanstead feel like home. xx
So sad to hear this a lovely pub best in Wanstead wish Noel and his family all the best for the future will be missed in Wanstead ð
ð©
Sad to see a lovely pub like that close
Oh no
Oh no!! That’s sad.
Joe Bergin Katherine Bergin
Very sad. Too many pubs closing. They are the heart of the community ð¢
Nooooooo!!!
Caroline Adams ð x
Poo
The end of an era ð¢
Chris D Carr surely not?
Oh no, such a shame! Simon Montgomery
So sorry to hear this – lovely cosy pub with reasonably priced food……..always lovely hanging baskets with flowers….my favourite!
Sad news. It has been looking so good recently.
Yeah Rich Green – itâs a tenancy though, so I expect it will re/open. Sad for Noel the landlord though for sure!
Canoe takeover
What’s canoe?
Eileen Flinter
Sad wishing Noel well
Sad day for the local community where will we meet up now ?!!
Oh no we loved the nightingale ð
No!
No! First choice for lunch and excellent ale only last Saturday!
All the best noel from a previous wanstead business owner peter
sorry to hear that
The best in Wanstead and our local, so hope it reopens!! Sorry to hear you are unwell Noel Mcmahon,we wish you well and your lovely family!! âï¸âï¸âï¸
Probably missed you
Was one of my local s I must admit
Well my dad’s gonna cry ðð goes here 5 out of 7 days a week
Fae you love any pub
Such a shame, but why isn’t he selling it so that it can remain open? ð¤
I think he tried Col…last year..dont know if it’s freehold…not another block of flats please â¹â¹â¹
Noooooooo
I used to love going in there when I was little and my mum worked there! Very fond memories!
Hi Roisin I worked with mum Cathy ( The cook) Say hello
Hope he will sell it and a new Landlord I remember when I arrived in Wanstead Jock was there the I think John and Sylvia so let’s hope a new start and a new Landlord
Sounds like a good project for crowd funding !!! Leo and Jo !!
O dear.
ð¢
I am genuinely gutted. Such a brilliant locals’ pub and such a quality location. I hope somehow it keeps its doors open.
Lovely pub mate, we had a great evening there!
Poor old Peter mott gunna be upset ð¥ð¢
Tommy Rolt
Great shame, great pub but wishing you all the best Noel x
Absolutely gutted. Hope big Noel is ok. Needs to stay open.
Loved this pub. Such a shame that it’s closing. Really hope it opens up again. We need to keep our pubs open, too many are closing ☹️
Sandra Wood Joan Norton Summerbell I believe your hubbies will be upset xxx
Andy’s not got much to do now, couldn’t he take it over and make jam or something?ð
Really sad to hear this… 🙁
John Joseph Murphy Tom Byrne
ð
Sad times. Harriet Banham-Smith
Do you live In Wanstead nick? My auntie lives just up the road from this pub
Used to live there few years ago. We were just round the corner from this pub and went there from time to time.
Cousin Tony is now completely screwed
And Phil Jacobs ð±
This is very sad
What a great shame
No! We were just there on Saturday and saw Noel… is this this week?
It will be facts by the end of the year #britishculture
That’s a shame. Lovely pub. Sorry to hear
ð
Kish Tailor ð
Kathryn Bradley
ð
Annabelle Vinning
Tony not only screwed but confused
Loved this pub. Hope it gets a new owner soon – but please don’t change it into a gastro pub!
Lisa Daly
Carl Craven
Ta Fi…..xxxxx
went in it once
So sad!
Janet Dooner retirement venture?
Think its a Lease with hefty rent.
So sad hope Noel is okay known him for many a year as a customer at his various establishments and fellow licencee.
Used to be governor of ‘British Queen’ Wanstead.
Great guy.
Wagon and Horses Forest Gate before that.
Lynn Janet Smith ??
Fabulous authentic boozer
Don’t make them like this any more ððððð
Very sad . Lovely pub.
Only just saw this. Very sad, many an hour Andrew Gower and I would have a game of chess and a pint or two. Of course not during the working day. Very sad it was a decent pub indeed. The times they are a changing and sometimes not for the better.
Can’t be! This is very bad news, one of the last traditional pubs in the area…
Oh dear,I will tell Martinð
Did Noel also have the Wagon & Horses in Romford Rd, Forest Gate, just up from the police station?
Yes Philip Kendell about 1980 think he went to Golden Fleece then British Queen then Nightingale.
Same here Mav
That’s a big shame â¹ï¸ I worked there for quite a while back in the early 90s & had a lot of laughs with Noel & the other barmaids. Good luck for the future Noel, enjoy every day x
Very sad such a lovely family pub I remember working with you Angie I worked for Noel when he first took over I worked for about 14 yrs for him like you said lots of laughsð
Carla Wellings