Anne Monghan and Vince Heavey at the Elephants Head

THE owners of a Camden Town pub on the market for the first time in 50 years are appealing to potential buyers to protect its illustrious history.

The Elephants Head, on the corner of Camden High Street and Hawley Crescent, boasts the same title it had when it first opened 190 years ago.

Named after the Elephants Brewery, on the same road, it is now on the market for £600,000. Vince Heavey, who runs it with his sister Anne Monaghan, said: “Whoever comes in should not tear it apart. We have seen that happen a lot to pubs in Camden – but the Head should say the same because people love the character.

“We have seen pubs where the wrong people have taken them on and pulled the places apart. It is very important to us that the same does not happen to the Head. I don’t think it will – there is no reason to change a winning formula.”

Ms Monaghan first ran the pub with her partner, John Nolan, in the 1970s.

Mr Heavey then joined her over a decade ago and they have watched Camden Town become the cultural mecca it is today. Mr Heavey said: “We have seen major changes. When we first started the area was full of Irish people. In the 1970s and 1980s, our pub custom was around 90 per cent Irish people. That’s not the case here any more.”

He added: “When we first served pints, the market was also radically different – a few stalls here and there, selling traditional market products. We saw how the area was changing and we were welcoming to rock’n’rollers as well as market staff and the traditional customers. It was a good move – Camden has changed a lot down the years but we have been a constant.”

Ms Monaghan plans to stay in London but Mr Heavey has yet to decide where retirement would take him.

“We have great years here and met some marvellous people,” he added. “Camden to me is the best part of London and the Elephants Head is a genuine institution, known all over the world.

“People come from around the globe – its loved by Londoners and on the wish list of tourists heading to Camden. People come here to experience a proper pub.

“That is valuable, and it should remain so. Above all, we have done Camden Town proud.”

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