Uncertainty Looms Over Future of The Carpenter's Arms

No explanation given for closure of Black Lion Lane pub

The Carpenters Arm's was acquired by Wren Pubs in 2024

July 17, 2026

The Carpenter's Arms, the historic pub on Black Lion Lane near St Peter ’s Square, has closed its doors “until further notice, ” according to a notice posted on its website. The message reads: “We apologise for any inconvenience, please email office@wrenpubs.co.uk for further information. Thank you, The Carpenter’s Management Team.”

Staff told regular customers last Sunday that the pub would be closing for a major refurbishment which would see the venue extended up to the first floor. However, Google listings now mark the pub as being permanently closed, and Wren Pubs — the independent London hospitality group that owns the site — has not responded to our requests for an update.

The closure comes only months after Wren Pubs, founded by Jack Greenall, announced that it had acquired the freehold of The Carpenters Arms and its sister pub, The Walmer Castle in Notting Hill. The company described the purchase as a “significant milestone ” in its long-term investment strategy, saying it reflected confidence in the London pub market and a commitment to “exceptional hospitality, community spirit and thoughtful design. ”

At the time, Wren Pubs said both venues were trading strongly and had loyal local followings. The group ’s three pubs — The Carpenter's Arms, The Walmer Castle and The Surprise in Chelsea — were reported to be generating turnover in excess of £10 million, with like-for-like revenue up 20 per cent year-on-year in December.

Greenall, a descendant of the Greenall Whitley brewing family, said then: “Buying the freehold of both pubs gives us long-term security and flexibility and allows us to invest with confidence. These are sites we believe in — they ’re rooted in their neighbourhoods, trading well and have real potential for the future. ”

Despite that optimism, The Carpenter's Arms has now fallen silent. The pub, which dates back to 1871 and was once frequented by musicians from nearby Island Records, had been refurbished under Wren Pubs with a focus on “unfussy modern British ” dining. It was previously owned by broadcaster Andrea Catherwood before being taken over by Wren Pubs in 2024.