Former Wetherspoons pub to reopen with new name and new owner

A former Wetherspoon pub in central London is set to reopen with a new name, a new owner and a rebrand.

The former Union Bank building in Chancery Lane was until earlier this year called the Knights Templar, but JD Wetherspoon’s lease ran out after more than 20 years. The chain last year put dozens of pubs up for sale across the country.

A 25-year lease has been acquired by Berkeley Inns and the pub will reopen on May 15 as The Last Judgment, named for the legal heritage of the area, with the Royal Courts of Justice and Lincoln’s Inn Fields nearby.

Berkeley Inns is an expanding, Midlands-based, high-end, pub-restaurant group, which said the pub has been “rebranded following an extensive interior transformation”.

Alan Grant, Berkeley Inns general manager, said: “We are thrilled to open our first establishment in London, starting with The Last Judgment.

“Our fabulous, newly recruited team of London based professional hospitality people are committed and passionate. They will elevate the levels of service way beyond the norm.

“We can’t wait to see what Londoners think of the new Last Judgment.”

The Last Judgment will be at 95 Chancery Lane, which is near Chancery Lane station on the Central line and Temple station on the District and Circle lines.

The Knights Templar took its name from the order of Warrior Knights across whose land Chancery Lane was built in the 12th century. The order featured in The Da Vinci Code, and the pub can be briefly spotted, during the scene featuring Middle Temple Church in the movie adaptation.

A spokesperson for Berkeley Inns said: “The Last Judgment will offer a casual fine dining experience of carefully crafted dishes, as well as a bar menu for those seeking a simpler meal. The pub will feature an extensive selection of draft beers, bespoke cocktails, and fine wines to complement any social occasion.”

They added: “You be the judge.”