The 250-year-old pub will be saved under the new development

AN HISTORIC pub frontage is being saved and becoming the centre piece of a five storey development leaving residents with mixed emotions.

The Spotted Dog pub, in High Road, Willesden, opened in 1762, and its traditional Georgian fa�ade will be incorporated into a complex that includes 44 flats and retail units.

The news that work has finally begun on the site after planning permission was given in 2008, has been meet with mixed reactions.

Cllr Gavin Sneddon, Willesden Ward, said: “Unfortunately it was never on the cards to keep the pub open. That decision was made many years ago.

“Residents have mixed feelings about that. Some are sad to see the pub go and some are happy to have the development.”

No pints have been pulled in the listed building for some years and many residents would have liked to see a return to its former glory.

Posting on the Beer in the Evening website a user called spotted_dog said: “Living in the area for 15 years I visited the Spotted Dog a few times.

“In later years it was a bit grungy, but considering there has been a pub there for 250 years it is sad that it will now be residential flats.

“I think the current building has been there for 150 years - I doubt the same will be said for anything we replace it with.”

The development, by Dexter Moran Associates, will see the face of the pub restored with rear of the site accommodating a residential block of maisonettes.

Cllr Sneddon added: “The old pub building was starting to become an eyesore and I’m sure if it had been left much longer would be become dilapidated.

“It’s great that Willesden will get a nice new building, which retains some of the historic features, as well as much needed new homes.”