The Two Chairmen, a Grade-II-listed pub on Dartmouth Street long associated with HM Treasury and often described as Westminster's oldest public house, has reopened following a short closure for refurbishment funded by pub company and brewer Greene King.
Investment and works
Greene King says it provided a six-figure investment to undertake the work. The programme included both interior and exterior redecoration and improvements to the pub's main ground-floor bar area. The venue was closed for a few weeks while the works were carried out and reopened in July.
- Location: Dartmouth Street, Westminster
- Heritage status: Grade II listed
- New management: Chloe Dabell (formerly of The Pineapple, Victoria)
Management and community connections
The pub has reopened under the management of Chloe Dabell, who previously ran The Pineapple in Victoria. The Two Chairmen is noted for its long-standing association with Chancellors of the Exchequer and Treasury staff, a tradition in which successive Chancellors have historically shared a drink there after delivering the Budget.
Relaunch event
The reopening was marked by a visit from the Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Beer Group, MP Tonia Antoniazzi, who joined in pouring a pint of Greene King’s Abbot Ale to celebrate the relaunch. Also present was Greene King’s Chief Strategy and Experience Officer, Andrew Bush, who outlined the rationale for the investment.
“The Two Chairmen is an iconic pub at the heart of Westminster and we’re delighted to have invested significantly in its refurbishment.” — Andrew Bush, Greene King
Why the investment matters locally
Greene King framed the refurbishment as part of a wider effort to ensure pubs can continue to operate, employ local staff and provide a social hub. The company pointed to the temporary business rates discount announced earlier in the year by HM Treasury as evidence of official recognition of pubs’ role in communities.
MP Tonia Antoniazzi paid tribute to the social value pubs provide, saying they bring people together and are important community spaces. The Two Chairmen’s reopening secures the future of a site with historical and civic links to Westminster’s working life.
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Investment | Six-figure sum by Greene King |
| Works | Full internal and external redecoration; main bar refurbished |
| Management | Chloe Dabell (formerly The Pineapple) |
For Westminster residents, the restored Two Chairmen represents both an ongoing element of the area's historic fabric and a functioning local amenity. The reopening should reassure local patrons and civil servants who have traditionally frequented the pub that the business is prepared to continue serving the community while preserving its character.
