For more than three years, the doors of The Old Jail in Biggin Hill have stayed firmly shut. Now one of south-east London’s most characterful old pubs could be heading for a comeback, after plans to restore the Grade II-listed building and bring it back into use were submitted to Bromley Council.
The application seeks listed building consent for a sweeping overhaul of the Jail Lane site. Later additions and outbuildings would be demolished, the historic building itself would see internal and external alterations, and a new extension would be built alongside a dedicated car park and landscaped grounds.
Because the pub is listed, the works need heritage consent — the extra layer of permission designed to protect the character of historic buildings. If councillors give the nod, it would be the first real step towards welcoming one of the area’s oldest pubs back into use.
Two centuries of history behind the bar
The Old Jail is believed to date back more than 200 years, thought to have been created from a pair of 18th-century Kent cottages. Its age and architectural character saw it granted Grade II listed status in 1973.
Despite the evocative name, the building is not thought to have ever actually served as a prison. Instead, local history suggests it may have been a stopping point for prisoners being transported through the area on their way to London — a tale that has only added to its charm. London has seen historic pubs brought back to life before: Stratford’s King Edward VII reopened its doors after a major refurbishment.
Closed since 2023 — and put up for sale
The pub closed its doors in February 2023 and was later put up for sale by Star Pubs, the company that owned and ran the site. Star Pubs said The Old Jail no longer fitted its leased-and-tenanted business model, and that it was looking for a buyer with the means to invest in the property. The company talked up the pub’s promise, saying new owners could breathe fresh life into it for the benefit of the whole community.
Since then the building has sat empty, its shutters a familiar sight on Jail Lane while regulars have had to find their pints elsewhere.
What the restoration would involve
If the plans are approved, the more modern additions tacked onto the building over the years would be swept away. Parts of the original listed structure would be restored, a new extension would go up, and the site would gain proper parking and landscaped areas around it.
For Biggin Hill — a town on the capital’s south-eastern edge, best known for its Battle of Britain airfield heritage — the return of a historic local would be a genuine boost. Pubs like this are about more than beer; they are meeting places, and losing one leaves a hole in a community. The borough has form when it comes to fighting for its historic venues: more than 8,000 people backed a petition to save Beckenham’s historic ODEON cinema.
What happens next
The application was validated on 17 September, and the public consultation is due to run until 16 October. A decision is expected later this year, with the proposals now under consideration by Bromley Council.
Getting around the area remains a live local issue — TfL recently rejected extending the Superloop SL4 bus route to Bromley North. But for now, all eyes are on Jail Lane.
After three quiet years, there is finally a plan on the table that could see the lights come back on at The Old Jail. For Biggin Hill, that would be something worth raising a glass to.
