Piece of Labour history lost as Blair and Brown’s Granita pact restaurant is plastered over

Date:

Share post:

The historical front of Granita restaurant being plastered over. Image: St Mary's Church
The historical front of Granita restaurant being plastered over. Image: St Mary’s Church

Political history was plastered over this week as the Upper Street restaurant that played host to the infamous Granita pact between Tony Blair and Gordon Brown was refurbished by new owners.

Former prime ministers Tony Blair and Gordon Brown had an agreement – known as the Granita pact after the restaurant it was allegedly made in – that Brown would not contest Blair for leadership after the death of former Labour leader John Smith in 1994.

In return, Blair promised Brown leadership at a later date.

Granita, at 127 Upper Street, closed in 2003 and was replaced by tex-mex restaurant Desperados. The latter moved down the road to number 67 earlier this year.

When the old Desperados sign was taken down, it revealed the Granita name etched into the stonework above the restaurant.

Islington-based estate agents Alwyne announced they were moving in at number 127 on 8 March. As part of the refurbishment the Granita front has been plastered over, leaving no sign of the historical moment that may have occurred there.

 

+ posts

3 COMMENTS

Comments are closed.

Cally revamp underway

spot_img

Related articles

Cally revamp underway

Story Street to be pedestrianised in plans to make the Cally Islington's second liveable neighbourhood

Local grocery shop provides a greener way to shop

Refill Therapy, an Islington grocery shop, aims to reduce food waste by stocking ethically sourced refillable food.

“My brand is who I am”: In conversation with Tiana Esparon

The fashion brand owner talks sustainability, womanhood and showing personality through crochet

Domestic abuse rises by 20 per cent in Islington

Finsbury Park had the highest number of reported offences in Islington between February 2025 and February 2026, totalling 244.