Filthy McNasty’s to Get Handmade Treatment

June 4, 2013

Filthy MacNasty’s Whiskey Cafe, once a hangout for some of the music scenes most colourful characters and formerly co-owned by The Pogues’ front man Shane McGowan, has been sold by leisure property advisors Davis Coffer Lyons to Handmade Pubs in a leasehold deal.

The character Victorian pub which is located in the attractive backstreets behind Angel Islington, was operated by the team behind The New Rose Public House on nearby Essex Road until the purchase by the company led by Bob Taylor which owns The Lansdowne in Primrose Hill and The Fox in Shoreditch with The Railway at Teddington Station opening in June 2013 and negotiations underway for a fifth.

The pub which is affectionately known as “Filthys” has been frequented by various rock ‘n’ roll heroes with Nick Cave, Johnny Depp, and Pete Doherty among its former regular drinkers. The pub is hailed to be the venue where the Libertines met and formed, whilst Doherty was a former resident of the upstairs flat. The venue also hosted readings from the likes of Irvine Welsh, Roddy Doyle and Howard Marks.

The premises comprises two bars on the ground floor, extensive external seating, and four-bedroom accommodation above.

Handmade plan a facelift at Filthy’s which will see it hosting the Meatlover southern American barbecue pop up for the rest of the summer, possible longer, eventually returning to The Fountain. Extensively researched in the US, the Meatlover menu features slow cooked brisket, smoked ribs and Jacob’s Ladder & Mr Blatchford’s buttermilk southern fried chicken together with Hush Puppies and other authentic southern treats.

Handmade Pubs is in its third year and is on track for up to 10 sites in the next 2 years.

Chris Bickle, Associate Director at Davis Coffer Lyons, said: “Operators like Handmade are experienced in the art of creating superb food led neighbourhood pubs with character, which is something Filthy’s has in abundance. “ Davis Coffer Lyons disposed of the remainder of the 25 year lease from Punch Taverns off an asking price of £135,000 and a passing rent of £43,500 per annum. This is the second pub sale in Islington in the last month after DCL disposed of Grand Union on Upper Street.