A Pub with No Swearing
With Gambling a No No, there was only ever going to be 1 winner
Location: 59 Essex Road, Islington, N1 2SF
Description: If nothing else, this London pub is sure to go down in Public House history and be a talking point for may a pub frequenter.
Of all the careers available to a devout Christian couple, revamping an urban pub and winning over its hardcore regulars was always going to be a gamble.
Sure enough, Krista and John Fleming found they were preaching to the unconverted - and the regulars had every intention of staying that way.
Now the Flemings, who banned swearing and gambling on horseracing, have been sacked after takings plunged.
Locals at the 'Kings Head', in Islington, North London, claim the couple, who have two young sons, have forced out 50 regulars since last September.
George Whipps, 67, said: 'Those two were almost the ruin of this place. They told everyone who swore once they would be banned. They barred people who had been coming here for 30-odd years.'
Another regular, who only gave her name as Rose, 57, says was barred when she swore at Mrs Fleming for refusing to serve her more than half a pint.
'They took down the dart board... and now there's some kind of calligraphy up there.
But Mr and Mrs Fleming, who describe themselves as devout Church of England Christians, said they acted out of 'common decency and the pub struggled because the owners let them down'.
She added: 'We have a very strong faith and we have good family values. What we were trying to do was fulfil a remit.'
Mr Fleming, 44, who has managed several pubs, said they had sunk their savings into running the Kings Head.
New managers took over but the Flemings refuse to leave the flat above the pub. The dispute went to the county court with Oakfield Taverns saying the pub was now 'doing very well'.
Takings are said to have significantly increased.
And a blackboard has been put up in the pub reading: 'Swearing now allowed'.
With Gambling a No No, there was only ever going to be 1 winner |
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