Les Dennis and Judith Chalmers launch new Nell Gwynn IPA fundraising beer at Lauderdale House

Comedian Les Dennis and TV presenter Judith Chalmers helped to launch a specially brewed beer as part of a campaign to save Highgate’s Lauderdale House yesterday.

The first few pints of the new citrus infused Nell Gwynn beer - named after the former orange-seller and mistress of King Charles II, who lived at Lauderdale in the mid-1600s - were served at the Grade-II listed arts and education centre in Waterlow Park.

Mr Dennis made a speech before guests sampled the new orange IPA.

A donation of 10p from every pint sold at The Bull pub, which brewed the beer, will go towards the £1.8million Lauderdale Transformed project to restore parts the historic house and create a new glass-fronted workshop with views across the park.

Director at Lauderdale House, Katherine Ives, said: “It was a lovely evening and, as well as having fun, we were able to tell people about Lauderdale Transformed.

“Les Dennis was charming and made a speech.

“We worked out we’d need to sell 5.5million pints of the beer to hit our remaining target of £550,000 - which the Bull said they are happy to brew!”

About 60 people attended the event, including former Wish You Were Here? TV presenter Judith Chalmers, whose husband is friends with one of the staff members at the centre.