The Stage

‘Great news’ as Lion and Unicorn readies for major refurb

Published Wednesday 19 January 2011 at 11:01 by Alistair Smith

London fringe theatre the Lion and Unicorn is to close next month to undergo a refurbishment, as the pub in which it is housed is taken over by a major brewery.

As part of an overall redevelopment of the pub, which will also see a restaurant installed, the theatre will close for a period of between four and six months, during which time it will have new rigging and lighting installed, as well as new sound equipment and seating.

Giant Olive Theatre will continue as the venue’s resident company, with George Sallis working as artistic director of both Giant Olive and the Lion and Unicorn. A closing gala will be held on January 22. Sallis said the refurbishment was “great news” for the theatre.

He added: “The brewery has given us a three-year rolling deal. The closing gala is going to be like a sneak preview of what our future work is going to be like.”

The brewery, which has not yet been revealed, has bought the venue from administrators that were called in after the former owner Pubs ‘n’ Bars plc went into administration in 2009.