A discount store that moved into a historic West London pub without the required planning permission has announced it will vacate the premises within days. Retail 11, which set up shop in the former Hammersmith Ram this summer, is due to leave the building on October 15, with a closing-down sale currently advertised.
Background: From Pub to Discount Store
The King Street site was shut as a pub in July when Young & Co.'s Brewery sold the freehold to Hammersmith Realty Ltd, an arm of the Ealing-based property company Arora Family. Within weeks, it had reopened under the name ‘Discount Store’ though without the necessary planning permission. Hammersmith and Fulham Council wrote to Arora Family directly on the issue.
The company previously told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) that Retail 11 was introduced as a temporary occupier after squatters moved into the premises following the sale. A spokesperson added that it appeared as if Retail 11 had acted outside the terms of the agreement by running the premises as a shop, and that they were “urgently reviewing the situation”.
Bingo Hall Proposal and Public Reaction
The case underwent a further twist when LCE Property, a real estate firm, filed a proposal with the council to reimagine the premises as a bingo hall. Mohan Sidhu, a Director at LCE, said the application is intended to maintain the look and feel of the premises, though acknowledged it will become “more of a leisure thing”.
The store has since been decked out with signage announcing a 50 per cent off closing down sale, with ‘Last day 15 Oct’ painted onto the building in large white letters. Given that the public consultation into LCE Property’s plans is to run until October 14, following which there will be a period of time before a decision is made by the local authority, it seems likely the former pub will once again lie vacant before a new occupier moves in.
Arora Family's Statement and Security Concerns
An Arora Family spokesperson confirmed that Retail 11 was given notice following the planning and agreement issues which arose as a result of it being used as a discount store rather than a pub. “The decision was made despite genuine concerns that an empty building at this location may again become vulnerable to unauthorised occupation,” they said.
“When the property was previously vacant, squatters gained access despite security measures being in place. This created serious concerns around drug misuse and anti-social behaviour. Retail 11 was introduced as a short-term occupier in an effort to keep the premises active and secure while a longer-term solution was considered. However, its agreement to occupy required it to operate in accordance with the permitted use of the property.
“We recognise that its use did not comply with the relevant planning position or the terms of that agreement, which led to significant local concern. In those circumstances, the decision was taken to bring the temporary occupation to an end.”
The spokesperson said Arora Family will take “all reasonable steps” to secure the property once it is vacant. They added they have notified the council and will also flag the case to the police. “We hope the building remains secure while the planning process and its longer-term future are determined.”
Local Councillors' Petition and Next Steps
Hammersmith Broadway councillors Callum Nimmo and Molly Mantle have spoken publicly against the reopening of the premises as a discount store and the subsequent bingo hall planning application. The pair launched a petition last month in an attempt to ‘save’ the Hammersmith Ram, which they say has already received more than 600 signatures.
“The Hammersmith Ram should never have been turned into a discount store,” they said. “Now there's an application to turn it into a gambling venue. We've strongly objected because Hammersmith needs fewer gambling premises, not more. If this application is refused, the Hammersmith Ram can only be used as a pub, so we're asking everyone who feels the same to object too. More than 600 local people have signed our petition to save the Hammersmith Ram. We'll keep fighting until it reopens as the pub it should be.”
The public consultation on LCE Property’s plans is to run until October 14, after which the council will decide on the bingo hall application. The former pub is expected to remain vacant until a new occupier is found.
