A historic West London pub is fighting to reopen after it was shut down at the end of last year.
Around £100,000 would need to be spent on refurbishing the Richmond venue due to its “very poor” state, according to the freeholder who recently took possession of the pub.
Hand & Flower on Upper Ham Road lost its licence in November 2021 following complaints from the police.
Freeholder Ei Group Ltd took back possession of the pub in April following the eviction of their former tenant and licence holder, and wants to make the venue a “benefit to the community rather than a burden”.
The pub company has applied to Richmond Council for a new premises licence for the venue, which would include selling booze and playing music. Richmond Council’s licensing sub-committee heard on Wednesday morning that many locals wanted to see the pub back in action but had fears about the hours initially proposed, which have now been changed.
One local wrote to Richmond Council before the meeting: “Without substantial investment it is difficult to see how the continuing downward spiral of this historic pub can be prevented.
"Lengthy licensing hours may provide an answer in some inner city areas but are not the answer to commercial success in this case.”
Solicitor Richard Taylor, speaking on behalf of Ei Group Ltd, said the company had since reduced the hours as a “gesture of goodwill”.
The pub is proposing to have regulated entertainment from 10am to 11pm on Sundays to Thursdays, and 10am to 12am on Fridays and Saturdays.
It hopes to sell booze until 11pm on Sundays to Thursdays, and until 12am on Fridays and Saturdays.
Mr Taylor said: “What we are seeking to do now is get the licence back. We will find a new tenant about whom we will liaise with the police to ensure that new tenant is suitable, that new tenant will be a proven operator and we will retain the premises licence and the way we see this pub moving forward is effectively a food-led public house with premium drinks – effectively to reflect and complement the area in which it sits.
“We want these premises to be a benefit to the community rather than a burden upon it, and we fully acknowledge that things went wrong before.”
Members also heard the pub, which dates back to the 1800s, is in a “very poor condition” and requires expensive refurbishment which would take around two months to complete.
Mr Taylor said: “We need to invest significantly. There’s about £100,000 we think needs spending on the refurbishment.”
Councillor Andrée Frieze said, “Local people are very, very keen to see this pub brought back into use”, but warned there was “not a lot of demand in a very quiet residential area for late night opening”.
She said: “I don’t think there is the demand for it or the clientele and any clientele that it will be will be disruptive, and I am concerned for the local community about that late licence still at that time.”
Mr Taylor said the company had “worked hard to agree conditions with the police and the licensing authority”.
He said the proposed conditions are “much more robust” than before and later added: “Let us give this premises back to the community.”
The pub would open around September if the licence is granted.
Richmond Council’s licensing sub-committee will make its decision in the coming days.
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