An east London council has claimed a local listing record after agreeing to grant protected status to 37 pubs in one go.

Tower Hamlets said it had taken the step to safeguard its “most historically and culturally significant venues” and that all of the boozers approved for locally listed status – one level below grade II – were currently located outside the borough’s conservation areas.

Elected mayor John Biggs said the borough’s decision, taken at a cabinet meeting earlier this month, was believed to be the largest number of pubs any council had moved to protect in one go.

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