Hammersmith and Fulham Council has launched an investigation into the former Hammersmith Ram pub on King Street, which has been converted into a discount store without the required planning permission. The pub, sold by Young & Co.'s Brewery in July, reopened in the last week as a shop selling items from pots and pans to suitcases.
Investigation into change of use
The council confirmed it is probing a potential breach of planning regulations at the site. A spokesperson said: "Hammersmith and Fulham Council is investigating a potential breach in planning regulations at the former Hammersmith Ram site as a change of use application is required to create a commercial shop in place of a public house."
The freehold was bought by Hammersmith Realty Ltd, an arm of the Ealing-based Arora Family. A spokesperson for Arora Family told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) the premises is intended to remain as a pub and that it is in the process of identifying a new hospitality provider.
The spokesperson said the current occupier was introduced on a temporary basis after squatters moved into the building, but that by turning it into a commercial shop, they may have acted outside the terms of the agreement. Arora Family is "urgently reviewing the situation" with professional advisers, including steps to bring the temporary occupation to an end.
Historic pub's transformation
The former Hammersmith Ram began life in the 18th century as The Great Angel. The existing building dates back to 1930, with Young's purchasing the pub in 1966. Its name was changed to The Builders Arms that year, before becoming the Hammersmith Ram in 1996 after the brewery's logo.
Located opposite the Livat shopping centre on King Street, it shut as a pub on July 26, with Young's thanking the community for its support in a Facebook post the following day. In the last week or so it has reopened under the name "Discount Store".
Residents have mixed views on the change. Donna Jackson, 62, said she would have preferred a different outfit, such as a pound shop, though she felt bad for the pub having shut down. "I think that's been there for years," she said. "I feel sorry for them."
Anne Zahran, 73, was more supportive. Asked if she backed the new discount store, she said: "Yeah. Because they are making it too upmarket. For a lot of people there's nowhere to shop…they are gentrifying, I think it's called."
Squatters and illegal rave reports
Arora Family said that shortly after buying the former pub, the property was unlawfully occupied by squatters. The spokesperson added: "The police and local council became involved, and we received reports that the upper parts of the building were being used for suspected drug-related activity and that hundreds of people were being organised to attend an illegal rave party on the premises, according to information provided by the council's representative."
They said they were concerned that leaving the building vacant and unsecured could lead to significant damage to the property and its historic character. As an interim security measure, while searching for a suitable long-term pub operator, permission was granted for a temporary occupier to operate from the premises as a pub.
The arrangement was intended to allow the premises to trade as a pub following the initial three-month period after completion of the purchase, during which the seller had restricted its reopening as a pub. The LDRS asked who the current occupier is but did not receive a response.
Local councillors respond
Councillors Callum Nimmo and Molly Mantle, Labour representatives of the Hammersmith Broadway ward, said in a joint statement: "The Hammersmith Ram has been a fixture on King Street since before 1786 - generations have marked occasions there. It is extremely disappointing to see it close and then, seemingly without any public notice or consultation, quickly open as a shop.
"Residents and the many well-run businesses along King Street are expected to follow the rules, and this shouldn't be any different. We're glad that an investigation is underway, and we have raised the need for a swift decision."
They noted that the Labour Party has made saving pubs a national priority, cutting business rates for pubs, clubs and music venues. "It would be a shame for Hammersmith to lose a pub with this much history just as the government is trying to reverse the trend of closures," they added.
