The Angel Pub in Roehampton, South London, has had its licence suspended for two months after police reports of serious violence, antisocial behaviour, and drug-related activity. The pub will temporarily close and reopen under new management following a £300,000 refurbishment.
Police Request for Licence Revocation
The Metropolitan Police had requested the pub's licence be revoked entirely, citing an ongoing pattern of risk and poor control. According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, the review followed continued links between the premises and incidents including serious violence, antisocial behaviour, drug-related activity, and assaults on police officers, despite prior engagement with the licence holder and the introduction of additional voluntary conditions.
Community Support for the Pub
Despite the police concerns, some residents rallied around the venue on Roehampton High Street. A Change.org petition calling for the pub to remain open gathered 743 signatures. The petition warned that losing one of Roehampton's two surviving pubs would be devastating, impacting local social life, communal traditions, and the local economy.
Licensing Committee Decision
Wandsworth Council's Licensing Committee decided to suspend the pub's licence for two months to allow improvements, following a hearing on April 29. The committee ruled that there was not enough evidence to justify a full revocation, particularly given new management and a reduction in incidents.
The pub's licence was transferred from Young's to Punch Partnerships in 2021. In a letter to the council, PC Belinda Loizou stated that the pub had shown inadequate supervision and ineffective security arrangements. She wrote that incidents associated with the premises had placed the public, staff, and police officers at risk, with violent disorder and threatening behaviour demonstrating ongoing public safety failures. The premises also generated persistent nuisance to residents, including noise and antisocial behaviour.
Local MP and Councillors' Concerns
Labour MP Fleur Anderson and councillors Graeme Henderson, Matthew Tiller, and Jenny Yates expressed residents' complaints about noise, antisocial behaviour, and illegal drug use at the pub. However, they acknowledged that The Angel is one of only two pubs serving a community of around 18,000 people and that some residents strongly feel the pub should remain open if it can be run properly and safely.
New Management and Investment
The committee heard that the pub's designated premises supervisor had changed from Sally Cox to David Slaughter since the Met's request for a licence review. Solicitor Piers Warne, representing Punch Partnerships, stated that Mr Slaughter had turned around several struggling pubs and would do the same with The Angel, adopting a zero-tolerance approach to bad behaviour and receiving further training. Warne also revealed that the firm would invest around £300,000 to refurbish the pub as part of the management change.
Police Evidence and Defence
Barrister Horaine Henry, representing the Met, presented evidence of a history of crime and violent fights at or around the pub, along with alleged drug dealing linked to the venue. A raid in October last year found drugs and 57 empty snap bags, indicating personal use and drug dealing. However, Warne argued that the police did not find evidence of drug dealing during the raid, as the drugs were in a private bedroom and the amount suggested personal use only, while the snap bags were empty. He emphasised that the new management was not related to the previous supervisor and that Punch Partnerships and Mr Slaughter would run the pub effectively, making it an asset to the community.
Committee Ruling and Conditions
The committee decided it could not find a direct link between drugs found on the premises and alleged drug dealing outside based on the evidence presented. A report on the decision stated that Punch Partnerships had failed to properly oversee management, but members were prepared to allow the venue to stay open with the change in management and planned investment, coupled with additional licence conditions. These conditions include tighter noise, security, and safeguarding arrangements, as well as shutting all windows, doors, and the outside seating area by 10pm daily and holding monthly meetings with residents.
The report noted that the two-month suspension reflected the severity of past incidents and management failings, serving as a deterrent for future misconduct. The committee expressed sincere hope that Punch Partnerships and Mr Slaughter would turn the premises around and avoid further reviews. Punch Partnerships has been contacted for comment.
