A BRIXTON pub built in the inter-war years has been saved for future generations of drinkers after it was awarded listed status.

Ferndale Road’s Duke of Edinburgh pub has been given a Grade II listing by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, a status which means it cannot be redeveloped without permission.

It was one of a string of pubs listed thanks to a project by Historic England aiming to protect some of England’s finest pubs built between 1918 and 1939.

During that period, breweries rebuilt about 3,000 pubs, attempting to expand their appeal beyond the stereotype of being havens for drunken men.

But Historic England says they are now under threat from developers, with very few surviving today.

The original Brixton building dated back to about 1860, but was improved by architect A E Sewell and reopened by the Truman, Hanbury, Buxton Co brewery in 1937.

Now it has been praised by statutory body Historic England for its “handsome and stylistically restrained” architecture, which has been only minimally altered over the years.

Its layout of public rooms arranged around a continuous bar has also been highlighted as typical of the inter-war pub style.

Duty manager Kristian Durrant said it was still packing in the punters, decades after opening.

He said: “There’s lots of things that make this pub so special. It’s been here a very long time and we have a very strong history.

“There’s a lovely beer garden and it’s a wonderful place to relax and have a break from busy London life.”

Heritage Minister Tracey Crouch said: “These inter-war pubs are more than a slice of living history, they play an intrinsic role in English culture and our local communities.

“I’m delighted that these pubs and their fascinating history have been protected for generations to enjoy for years to come.”

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