Regulars win bar fight

A group of actors and newscasters, including Jon Snow and Roger Lloyd Pack, are celebrating the spot-listing of their favourite local pub.

The pub's regular users, including actors Ken Stott and Michael Garner from London's Burning, now expect the listing will prevent the famous Pineapple Pub in Kentish Town from being closed down and converted into flats and offices.

The Pineapple opened in 1868 and still has many of its original 19th century fittings, including the decorative glass area behind the bar. When they learned that proposals to close the pub were being considered by developer Crossier Properties, local campaigners lobbied English Heritage to spot-list the historic Victorian pub.

A planning application was made to Camden council in November, and the campaign went into high gear - culminating in the listing last week. The listing means that the developers will have to get a special "listed building consent" for any major works. Buildings recently listed rarely get this consent. The planning system also encourages listed buildings to remain in their original use.

Campaign leader Dr Jonty Boyce said: "The Pineapple is now a Grade-II listed building and the developers are not allowed to make any changes to the exterior or specified parts of the interior without permission. If they do, it's a criminal offence and they could go to jail. It's great news but we are not going to get complacent."

Dr Boyce said the pub was currently closed, adding: "We will be setting up surveillance patrols over Christmas to make sure nothing about the pub is changed."

Another campaigner, Gill Scott, said: "A number of celebrities regularly come to the pub for a quiet drink and were happy to support our campaign to keep it open.

Ms Scott added: "Prince Charles recently spoke about how important the village pub was as a centre of life in a rural community. This is just like a village pub, only it is in London."