The Director General, or “DG”, stood at 55 Wellington Street and served generations of residents until its demolition in 2008 as part of a major redevelopment of the town centre.
In its heyday, it was a favourite with workers from the printing press across the road. In later years, it became known as a gay friendly venue, valued for its welcoming atmosphere.
Named after a powerful Victorian-era gun once displayed in the nearby Royal Arsenal, the DG was not just a pub, but a piece of local history.
Campaigners had called for some of the building’s historic features to be preserved, but those efforts were ultimately unsuccessful.
Despite opposition from the local MP and heritage groups, the pub was torn down to make way for the new supermarket.
The Tesco that replaced it later went on to win the Carbuncle Cup in 2014 for the “UK’s ugliest new building”.
The story of the Director General is now featured in London’s Lost Pubs (£20 Pen and Sword), a newly released book by author Sam Cullen.
The book documents over 200 pubs that have disappeared from London in the past 25 years, drawing on decades of reviews, guides, and memories to bring their histories to life.
Cullen said: “As much as it’s sad that these pubs don’t exist any more, I wanted to make sure they are not lost to time by telling their stories, their history, and some of the quirky characters who drank in them.
“Pubs can tell you so much about social and cultural history. The book is a celebration of pubs that existed as a vehicle for looking at aspects of London life.”
Although the Director General is no longer standing, its legacy lives on in the memories of those who knew it — and now, in the pages of Cullen’s book.
