Jack Straw's Castle wins reprieve

The future of London's highest landmark, Jack Straw's Castle, as a pub has been secured in spite of its sale to a housebuilder.

Albany Homes of Highgate originally wanted to convert the famous Hampstead pub, once frequented by the likes of Karl Marx, Frederick Engels and Charles Darwin, into eight luxury flats and 16 serviced apartments.

However, Albany has now agreed to keep the reastaurant and bar, and settle for 12 flats.

There has been a pub on the site since 1713 - but, although the present timber- framed building looks as if it has been around for nearly 300 years, it is in fact a 1962 replica designed by classical architect Raymond Erith after the original was destroyed by fire.