Lego fan creates model of iconic New Cross Inn pub

Craig Nicholas Darran, 34, was challenged by a friend to design the New Cross Inn, after he learnt to use a Lego software (Studio 2.0) which enables you to mock-up structures before building them.

Over six painstaking weeks he recreated the famous boozer inside-out, which he plans to bring to life after re-locating to a bigger house in the autumn.

Mr Darran, an account manager currently living in Hackney, said: "I do artwork for lots of the gigs that they put on at the pub and see live music there pretty regularly, easily two or three times a month.

"It's a bit like a home away from home.

"I've always had Lego for as long as I can remember, so that's nothing new.

"I usually collect the Lego Star Wars sets, but since I moved in with my girlfriend at the start of Lockdown I've been trying to find models we both can enjoy.

"I'd never used Studio 2.0 before although I've known about it for a long time.

"It was my first go at using the program. It turned out to be a little bit addictive."

The New Cross Inn is a stalwart music venue, which put on seven gigs a week prior to lockdown.

Craig said the biggest challenge when it came to replicating the structure was capturing the curvature in the entrance to the building and tower above it.

"Building curved windows in a relatively small area was quite challenging," he added.

"The program didn't include the parts that I'd used on some real models that would have made it easier.

"When I build the real thing I'll definitely make some alterations there."

The software exports the virtual design to a website, from which the individual bricks needed can be purchased along with building instructions.