Jobs have been saved after a pub dating back 300 years was bought by a new owner.

Clapton Hart, in Lower Clapton Road, Hackney, has been acquired by Urban Pubs & Bars, which has snapped up a further 10 pubs across London.

The Clapton Hart pub dates back to 1722 when it was known as The White Hart.

In the 1890s it was a Reid’s Brewery pub, and by the 1980s it was tied to Bass Charrington.

It closed in 2008 then reopened 2012 under Antic management.

Urban Pubs & Bars (UPB), founded in 2014 by Malc Heap & Nick Pring, has announced the acquisition of eight trading leasehold businesses and three vacant freehold sites from Interpath, the administrator of Elflock Limited, Babel Silk Limited, Brocade Limited and De Gremio Limited. 

The group, which already runs 44 pubs, bars and restaurants across London has assumed control of these sites with immediate effect, taking its total to 52. 

As part of the transfer, 150 employees will transfer to UPB.

The London pubs are spread across the capital and include The Red Lion in Ilford, The Antelope in Tooting and The Sun in Camberwell. 

UPB's major deal makes it London’s fastest growing pub business, having already doubled the size of its estate since Covid.

It announced the acquisition of two new sites last month, including The Herne Tavern in East Dulwich and The Gun in Spitalfields. 

Managing director Chris Hill said: "We are delighted to be acquiring these fantastic pubs - and we can’t wait to bring them into the Urban family.

"Like so many existing corners of UPB, these newly acquired sites are iconic in so many individual ways - and we can’t wait to work with our new colleagues to realise the full potential of them, and their brilliant businesses".

Steve Absolom, managing director at Interpath and joint administrator, said: “This eclectic group of popular pubs and bars have traded well since our appointment just over seven weeks ago and buyer interest has been extremely strong.  

"We are delighted that we have been able to secure this transaction with Urban Pubs and Bars and importantly safeguard the jobs for their loyal and hard working employees.”