A BRITISH artist whose paintings sell for millions of dollars has reportedly taken over a legendary pub.
The “boozer”, known as “the best kept secret”, is set to reopen after closing two years ago.
McGlynn’s in Whidborne Street, King’s Cross, London, was famous for its cat, carpet and cask ales but closed in August 2023 following the death of pub boss Gerry Dolan.
Dolan had been the backstreet bar’s long-serving landlord since the early 90s.
The pub was put up for sale in January 2025 for £3.15 million and was reportedly bought in April by artist Peter Doig and his partner Parinaz Mogadassi.
Parinaz, who founded Tramps legendary gallery in New York, is the co-director of Tramps International.
The firm, based in Angel, posted an update on renovations at the pub on Instagram.
Part of the pub reopened last week but only as a venue to host two art shows.
Its official opening date as “a boozer” has yet to be confirmed.
However. Peter, who used to live next door to the pub in the 80s, promised pubgoers they would not be disappointed when it does reopen.
“I think when you first walk in, you’re going to feel like you’re in the same place,” he told The Art Newspaper. “I don’t want to give too much away, but it’s going to feel familiar.”
Listed earlier this year on Zoopla as a “substantial three-storey public house”, the property price included the pub’s open plan bar, nine former letting bedrooms and a two-bedroom manager’s flat.
It also boasts “a large cellar with potential for commercial kitchen”.
A new licensing application has also been made.
It stated: ‘By reinstating original elements where possible and carefully managing modern interventions, the works will preserve the building’s special architectural and historic interest while ensuring it can continue to function as a viable public house.”
Peter Doig’s latest exhibition, “House of Music”, opened at The Serpentine Gallery in Hyde Park last week.
The reopening of McGlynn’s is being seen as a brief sign of hope for an industry that has been plagued by grim news for years.
Eight pubs are closing down every week in Britain amid crippling running costs and tax hikes, figures show.
Pub bosses have blamed Labour policies for the “heartbreaking” rate of closures.
Government figures show 209 pubs were shut in the first half of 2025.
That brings the total number of pubs calling a permanent last orders in the past five years to 2,283.
Industry chiefs said the employer National Insurance rise and increasing staff costs were responsible.
Hospitality venues have also seen their business rates discount slashed, which has saddled the sector with an extra £215million of tax.
‘It is devastating’ – what pub bosses told us
Our Political Editor Jack Elsom spoke to pub bosses to find out what is going on in the industry.
Here’s what they had to say, starting with Alex Probyn, practice leader at tax services firm Ryan, who warned the squeeze on pubs is intensifying.
Alex added:: “Slashing business rates relief for pubs from 75 per cent to 40 this year has landed the sector with an extra £215million in tax bills.
“For a small pub, that’s a leap in the average bill from £3,938 to £9,451.”
Megha Khanna, UK Spirits Alliance Spokesperson and Co-owner of The Gladstone Pub, London, told us: “It is devastating that we have seen dozens of pubs in London and the South East close in the last few months.
“Pubs are so much more than pints; a third of all alcoholic drinks sold in pubs and bars are spirits which also generate higher profit margins – helping us to stay afloat.
“It simply isn’t sustainable that 70 per cent of a bottle of gin is taken in tax.”
