Unique Bowes Park pub reopening after successful campaign

The pub previously known as The Step is finally ready to reopen after a four-year community campaign

A community-run pub that was forced to close four years ago is now ready to reopen with a new name.

The Step in Myddleton Road closed in March 2020 and was purchased by property developers who gutted the interior, with the intention of turning it into flats. However, the planning application received more than 500 objections and community benefit society (CBS) status was later established in 2021 as part of a campaign to buy the building from its current owners, renovate the premises, and ultimately reopen it as a pub.

In December 2022, the CBS secured £300,000 from the government’s Community Ownership Fund and the remainder of the £200,000 needed to renovate and reopen the venue was raised through a successful local fundraising campaign dubbed ‘Save the Step’.

The new venue, named ‘Hillbilly Social 101’, is being run on behalf of the community by Muswell Hillbilly Brewers. Two events are taking place next week to relaunch it, with Bowes Park Folk Club performing on Tuesday (23rd) and Homebrew Poetry hosting an evening on Wednesday (24th).

The new venue will be opening six days per week, serve both food and drink, and host community events and workshops, as well as live music and quiz nights. It also aims to provide a base for local community groups to meet, at low or no cost.

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