‘I lost my life savings when the Coronet pub closed’
Former manager says rising rents forced him to abandon iconic venue
Tuesday, 5th May — By Isabel Loubser
Saeed Farsi outside the Coronet pub in Holloway Road
THE former manager of the Coronet pub has told the Tribune how rising rents forced him to abandon the iconic venue in Holloway Road.
There has been much speculation over why bailiffs seized the former cinema in February, but Saeed Farsi, who had run the pub for two years, has now said that increased costs meant he could not keep up.
Mr Farsi said he had been operating the Coronet for two-and-a-half years, after taking it over from Wetherspoons.
He said that the landlord – DN Property London via Milegate Ltd – had increased the rent, forcing him out.
Mr Farsi said he had been an Arsenal fan since his childhood, which he spent in Iran, and had loved the atmosphere on matchday at the Coronet.
He added: “In the years that I worked there, I got to know all the fans, people are so happy there, and there were never any problems because everyone are fans and want to watch the games. I put my life savings into that pub, and now it’s all gone. I feel like they put the rent up to force me out and to be able to sell it.”
Milegate Ltd declined to comment.
