Owner Ed McIlroy at the Plimsoll [Finnegan Travers]

THE Plimsoll pub celebrated five years of service this week, despite “considerable challenges” for the hospitality industry.

The venue, just a short walk from Finsbury Park station, has become a staple for people in the N4 area, and has been celebrated across the city for is warm interior and famous smash burgers.

Plimsoll owner Ed McIlroy said that since Covid, times had been “really, really hard”.

Recognising the struggles faced by the hospitality industry, a package of business rate support was pledged by the government earlier this year.

Mr McIlroy told the Tribune: “It was during Covid when myself and a couple of others came across the pub.

We decided to risk it and signed the lease. On the back of that we did a crowdfunder, which was a great kick-starter.

The Plimsoll is celebrated for warm interiors and smash burgers

“There has been a big difference between a lot of industries pre- and post-Covid. We have to plan a lot more in advance.

“In the past, you could have a couple of bad months, but now that’s threatening.”

Mr McIlroy said that the pub was in a “well-insulated” bubble, and that despite the pressures they just wanted to remain “genuinely affordable” for their customers. A great team around helps, too.

He added: “I started off in the kitchen and was a chef for around 10 years, and I’ve found that working with people that you really really love makes a big difference. Hopefully we’ll be here for a while.

“We have a repeat booking rate of 30 per cent every month, which I’m super happy with. In terms of celebrations for this milestone, this week we are running a new menu with the older dishes we used to make when I was working in the kitchen.

“We are having lunch with regulars and friends who have helped us over the years.”