Sir Ian McKellen is buying a 300-year-old pub.
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The Lord of the Rings actor is a regular at historic east London drinking establishment The Grapes – which helped inspire 19th century English author Charles Dickens – and is in the process of purchasing it.
While he will be the owner, 72-year-old Ian – who lives close to the pub – will employ a manager to run it once the deal is finalised.
Seller Barbara Haigh – who has run the pub for the past 17 years – said: “Sir Ian is buying the pub with his own interests at heart, especially living close by.”
The pub was immortalised by Dickens – who was made to stand on the table and sing to customers – as The Six Jolly Fellowship Porters pub in Our Mutual Friend in 1864.
While Ian is a hugely successful actor and is set to be a landlord, last year he revealed he was mistaken for a beggar by a passer-by.
The veteran actor was amazed to be given money after he stepped outside a theatre in Melbourne, Australia, where he was taking a break from rehearsing his role of Estragon in Waiting for Godot.
He revealed: “During the dress rehearsal of Godot, I crouched by the stage door of the Comedy Theatre, getting some air, my bowler hat at my feet and seeing an unkempt old man down on his luck, a passer-by said, ‘Need some help, brother?’ and put a dollar in my hat. I hope the Melbourne audiences will be as generous.”
