Key Points
- Sir Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves were photographed at a pub in north London just hours after leaving Downing Street.
- The photos were obtained by The Sun and published in a report by the Standard.
- The pub is understood to be The Pineapple in Kentish Town, north London.
- Sir Keir was seen taking a phone call with a bitter in hand, while Ms Reeves drank a glass of white wine on the pavement.
- The pair appeared in good spirits after their departure from No 10.
- The photos were taken shortly after Sir Keir handed over the keys to No 10 to Andy Burnham.
- Sir Keir’s farewell speech said he would “close the book” on his tenure and that his “work is done.”
- The Standard report said Mr Burnham later made sweeping cabinet changes, including sacking Ms Reeves and replacing her with John Healey.
Kentish Town (North London News) July 22, 2026 – Sir Keir Starmer was pictured going for drinks in north London shortly after leaving Downing Street, in scenes that captured the immediate aftermath of his departure from office.As reported by the Standard, the photographs were obtained by The Sun and showed Sir Keir and Rachel Reeves outside what is understood to be The Pineapple pub in Kentish Town. The pair were described as looking relaxed and in good spirits after their exit from No 10. Sir Keir was seen on a phone call while holding a bitter, while Ms Reeves was photographed with a glass of white wine on the pavement. The report placed the outing only hours after Sir Keir formally handed over the keys to Downing Street.
How did the handover unfold?
The Standard reported that Sir Keir delivered his farewell speech outside Downing Street on Monday morning before travelling to Buckingham Palace to formally resign. In that speech, he said he would “close the book” on his time in office and added that his “work is done.”
The same report said the handover marked the end of his tenure and the beginning of Andy Burnham’s premiership. The publication also said Mr Burnham is now Britain’s seventh prime minister in a decade.
Who was with Sir Keir Starmer?
The article focused on Sir Keir and Rachel Reeves, who were both described as being among his loyalists. The Standard also said the scene included other supporters around the former leader, although the main published details highlighted the pair outside the pub.
The report did not suggest any formal political event at the venue, but instead presented the outing as a post-departure gathering. The emphasis of the story was on the contrast between the seriousness of the resignation process and the casual pub setting.
What happened after Andy Burnham took office?
According to the Standard, Mr Burnham moved quickly once in office and began a sweeping reshuffle of the Cabinet. The report said Ms Reeves was among the first to be sacked. It added that she was replaced by John Healey, the former defence secretary.
That detail underlined how fast the transition from Mr Starmer’s administration to Mr Burnham’s new government took place.
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Why does this matter politically?
The scene in north London came at a moment of major political change, because the photos were taken just after a transfer of power at the heart of government. The report connected the pub outing to the wider story of Sir Keir’s resignation and Mr Burnham’s arrival in office.
It also showed the public-facing side of a leadership transition that had already led to immediate staffing changes. For readers, the story is less about the drink itself and more about the symbolism of a former prime minister leaving office and appearing relaxed within hours.
Background of the development
Sir Keir Starmer’s departure followed his farewell speech outside Downing Street and his formal resignation at Buckingham Palace. The Standard reported that Andy Burnham had already taken over as prime minister and begun reshaping the Cabinet, including removing Rachel Reeves from her post.
The wider political context, as described in other coverage, is that Mr Burnham became Labour leader and then replaced Sir Keir as prime minister, marking another rapid change in British leadership. This pub appearance therefore sits inside a broader leadership transition rather than as an isolated social moment.
Prediction
For Labour supporters, the images may be read as a sign that Sir Keir is moving into a post-office phase quickly, while for opponents they may become a symbol used to frame his exit from power.
For the public, the more important effect is likely to be continued focus on Mr Burnham’s early decisions, especially cabinet appointments and policy direction. If the new government moves quickly on staffing and priorities, the attention on this pub outing is likely to fade into a footnote in the wider handover story.
