Ben Maschler buys London gastropub

Ben Maschler, son of the Evening Standard food critic Fay and former director of food at Soho House Group, has taken the reins at north London gastropub the Draper's Arms.

The pub in Islington, which closed last summer after going into receivership, has been taken over by Maschler and business partner Nick Gibson, who will reopen it on 11 May.

Maschler, who has also previously worked at pub group Geronimo Inns, will oversee the front of house and running of the Draper's Arms together with Gibson.

Head chef Karl Goward will be in charge of the kitchen and create a daily changing menu of classic British dishes focused on seasonal ingredients. He was previously head chef at Fergus Henderson's St John in London's Smithfield as well as St John Bread and Wine in Spitalfields.

The Draper's Arms will comprise a 90-seat ground floor bar area with a back garden as well as a 50-seat formal dining room on the first floor.

"Our aim is to first and foremost create a pub that will become part of the local community," Maschler told Caterersearch.

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By Kerstin Kühn

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