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@BobbyBriggs
The old Chesham was great, I used to run the pub quiz with a friend of mine, and I can't think why anyone wouldn't have wanted to go there on security grounds, so I'm somewhat puzzled by the accusations of it being 'dodgy' upthread. It certainly wasn't anything like the old Windsor Castle or Cricketers.
It had a pool table, TV with the sport on if you wanted, or tables away form the telly if you didn't. The garden was huge and the landlord (Mario) was a charming and welcoming family man. It also had extremely good value food and booze, which was a welcome change from £12-£15 roasts at all the gastropubs that were cropping up in the area. There was a splendid mix of folk who went there from old time locals propping up the bar to teachers from the local school to hipsters etc etc. In other words it was the kind of pub that you'd get in any other town and I loved it for that very reason.
Laudable as the 'save the Chesham' campaign was - and don't get me wrong I'm delighted the pub has reopened - the people behind the campaign never showed much interest in the pub when it was open!
I've yet to go to the new Chesham but look forward to sampling its lovely looking beer. I really hope they've managed to get in touch with some of the old locals and get them back in the bar, without pricing them out. Hackney is far too full of poncey gastropubs already so I hope they will manage to be a happy median. I hope there's a pool table too - where else in Hackney can you drink a nice pint and play pool, apart from the Pembury?