Former 007 actor [www.GlynLowe.com] is taking on the historic pub in Clerkenwell

A HISTORIC Clerkenwell boozer that closed last week will be reopened by former James Bond actor Daniel Craig.

The Horseshoe, described by regulars as the “mecca” of London darts pubs, closed its doors for the last time on Friday as teary-eyed darts players checked out for the last time.

Licensees Richard and Pauline Tucker had a lease on the pub for 36 years but have decided to retire, inspiring owners Stonegate Brewery to sell up. It has now been revealed that none other than agent 007 has bought the pub, in partnership with Nick Jones of Soho House and Flat Iron steakhouse founder Justin O’Shea.

The pub will undergo a refurbishment project that will see the iconic upstairs darts space converted into a restaurant, ushering in a new era.

Mr Tucker told the Tribune that he had had assurances from the new ownership that they would be keeping the pub’s “proper boozer” status.

Councillor James Potts, the Town Hall’s planning chief, popped into the pub on its final day and said he caught the publican giving a speech to his regulars.

He told the Tribune he “hoped” Mr Craig and the other owners kept the identity of the pub true to its “proper boozer” status.

“This is an exciting thing, and the fact that we now have a pub run by Daniel Craig in the borough is a good thing for Islington’s culture and status,” he said.

“If the alternative was the pub closing down, and us losing a historic community place that has been around for hundreds of years, then having a famous new owner is great, and writes a new chapter for the pub.

“Hopefully, we can expect to see Daniel in there from time to time having a pint with the locals.”

Mr Craig signed off his five-movie spell as James Bond with the cliffhanger ending to No Time To Die in 2021.

He told The Times newspaper this week about his childhood in a family running pubs.

“As a kid I’d get to go down and talk to the locals, especially at lunchtime, and it was always about the day, what’s going on. It’s an outlet for people to come and talk about stuff, maybe their problems.

“I know the ups and downs of a pub, I know the good and the bad of it.”