Sophie Nordlund and Paul Michelmore at The Harrison pub in King’s Cross

A “PROPER community pub” and pioneering folk venue with performances broadcasted on the virtual online Metaverse world is at risk of closure due to rent payments during lockdown.

The Harrison in King’s Cross hosts more than 300 folk, roots and world music concerts, work­shops and quizzes every year.

International folk superstar Peggy Seeger has sung on its stage, DJ Bonobo has played on its decks and hundreds of people across the world have visited their venue in the virtual platform Decentraland on the Metaverse.

Owner Paul Michelmore, who set up the pub 18 years ago, told the New Journal: “We operate in a unique way in which the musicians and the promoters keep the door money so we just survive on the bar money. It’s the cheapest place to put on a proper quality gig in London.

“It’s a popular and beautiful place and I’ve got a lot of love for it.”

He added: “We’re a proper community pub and we pride ourselves in working for everybody. So you can have an 18-year-old student sitting next to an 80-year-old. We take the time to talk to people.”

A few weeks ago, The Harrison was delivered a crushing blow when they were told they had to pay their landlords £99,000, the full rent for the entire Covid period, in 19 months’ time.

The monthly payments are “roughly double” the most profit the business has ever made and are “unachievable”.

Six months before the pandemic started their rent nearly doubled, jumping from £34,000 to £65,000.
During lockdown The Harrison was forced to close and was unable to pay its rent.

“We had insurance in place to cover any occurrence where we couldn’t pay the rent,” said Mr Michelmore.

“Unfortunately the government allowed the insurance companies to get away with reneging on that agreement and not pay out any rent insurance cover when we were closed.”

In desperation to overturn the “devastating” arbitration judgment, which Mr Michelmore said would bankrupt both the pub and himself as he is a sole trader, he has hired a solicitor to appeal the decision.

Pub manager Hugh Somerville said: “Working at the Harrison for 17 years has turned it from being just a job into something integral to my beliefs and philosophy of life, that life is better if one treats everyone as if they are part of one big family.”

Sophie Nordlund, another manager, added: “The Harrison is my home away from home and it’s been a really important part of my life the last 15 years. I truly love this pub.”

A fundraiser hopes to raise enough to cover legal fees.

The landlords were approached for comment.