Renovation of West London pub tied to Kirstie Allsopp faces delays. Application withdrawn just before council decision.
The pub sits on Latimer Road in Kensington. The council was going to decide on the plan, however the council’s online portal shows the withdrawal. The application arrived on December 4th and included fixing cooling and kitchen systems. They planned to alter the flue behind the pub, and it was marked ‘withdrawn’ on February 4th.
The council planned to decide by February 5th. No one knows why they withdrew it, and the council stated they don’t need a reason. Maybe Wentworth Andersen will reapply later. People contacted the company but received no comment.
The company wanted to update the old pub. They said the current gear is old and loud. It’s also inefficient, per their statement. New equipment would meet modern standards and would also operate more quietly.
Work was set to start and finish in February. Wentworth Andersen bought it in May 2023. It was once named Ariadne’s Nectar Bar before they renamed it The Volunteer.
The council approved their hours in August 2024. Sunday to Wednesday, they wanted 10 AM to 11:30 PM. Thursday to Saturday, they wanted to stay open till midnight. The council granted those hours, and they can sell drinks on and off the site. This is from 10 AM to 11 PM on some nights, yet the front area must close at 10 PM. They thought the pub would reopen this month.
Locals got mad about a large sign last year. It said “Allsopp’s,” confusing people because they thought the pub was named after Kirstie. It advertised a beer brand, actually. Kirstie’s ancestor created the beer, and her cousin is now reviving it.
Someone who works for Wentworth Andersen supported reopening. The Local Democracy Reporting Service shared this in July. The pub will sell that revived beer. Apparently, it was originally The British Volunteer and was built around the 1880s.