A London pub which has been the home away from home for Canaries fans for the last 25 years will soon change hands, bringing an “end to an era”.
Since 2000, a slice of Carrow Road could be found in The Old Red Lion in Angel, London, which televised Norwich City Football Club matches for the capital’s roster of homesick fans via a number of indoor screens.
From April 1, long-standing proprietor Damien Devine will hand over the reins to the yellow and green themed St John Street boozer, bringing closed more than two decades of city support.
“We are a theatre pub and the new owners are very theatre-focused, so it’s unlikely they will continue to offer NCFC matches or televised sport at all,” the 63-year-old said.
“It’s the end of an era for us but we’ve met some fantastic City fans over the years.
“I’ve spoken to the Capital Canaries group, which is the supporters’ club for Norwich City fans in and around London, who are working on finding a new venue to watch games.”
Capital Canaries – which have been contacted separately for comment – is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, with Delia Smith and her husband Michael Wynn-Jones set to meet the group’s chairwoman for a dinner in the coming months.
In 2017, Delia and Michael held a Q&A at the pub with former NCFC staff Steve Stone and Tom Smith.
City-supporting Londoners are being encouraged to turn out at the Old Red Lion this Saturday for Damien’s last day.
Dating back to 1415, the Angel’s Old Red Lion is widely acknowledged to be one of London’s oldest pubs.
It has been run as a “family business” since 1979, Damien said, when the room above the pub was transformed into a theatre space.
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