A historic Bexleyheath pub that was heading for closure could soon be serving customers again, after a new team announced plans to take over the tenancy.
The Prince Albert, at 2 Broadway, had said it would be shutting down, citing rising operating costs as the reason. Now there is fresh hope for the venue, with incoming operators Marc and Danielle revealing they are preparing to take it on.
In a post shared on the Prince Albert Bexleyheath Facebook page, the pair introduced themselves to residents and set out what they have in mind for the pub. They described themselves as a family team with many years of experience working in the pub and bar industry, including traditional pubs and cocktail bars.
They said they hope to reopen the doors as soon as possible, although an official opening date has not yet been confirmed. “We are looking forward to meeting you all,” the announcement concluded.
Among the plans are entertainment nights featuring local musicians, DJs and karaoke. The new operators are already appealing for local performers interested in taking part, saying they are looking for musical artists, DJs and karaoke acts for different nights of the week.
Some of their ideas will be shared on social media in the coming weeks, they said, while others will only be revealed to customers who come in and ask. Residents have been encouraged to visit once the pub reopens, meet the new team and follow its Facebook page for updates.
Why the pub was closing
The takeover announcement follows the previous operators’ decision to leave. They announced in June that they were stepping away after nearly seven years, pointing to mounting financial pressures including rent increases, energy bills, staffing costs and National Insurance contributions.
Rent had doubled during their time at the pub, they revealed, while energy bills had reached as much as £4,500 a month at one stage. It is a picture familiar to many pubs across London, where rising costs have put long-standing venues under severe strain.
The pub’s official website currently still describes the venue as temporarily closed and advertises for new tenants, suggesting its online information has not yet been updated to reflect the latest announcement. Further updates are expected to be shared through the pub’s Facebook page.
A long-standing local
The Prince Albert is one of Bexleyheath’s historic pubs, with its building said to date back to 1851. Its position on Broadway puts it at the heart of the town centre, and its survival will be welcome news for regulars who feared losing another established venue.
Bexleyheath’s food and drink scene has had reasons to celebrate recently, with a local Indian street food restaurant named the best curry in London at a national awards ceremony. You can read more about that here.
The wider borough has also been in the spotlight for affordability, with Bexley named the cheapest borough in London for homebuyers — more on that here.
Broadway sits at the centre of Bexleyheath town centre, and the Prince Albert’s future matters beyond its own four walls. When a high street pub closes, the town loses not just a place to drink but a meeting point and a draw for evening footfall — one reason news of a takeover tends to travel fast among regulars.
For now, the key question for Prince Albert regulars is when the doors will reopen. No date has been set, and the new operators have said there is a lot to do before they can welcome customers back. But after months of uncertainty, the pub has a new team, new plans — and a future.
