No clarity on future as contracts yet to be exchanged with new owner

JD Wetherspoon have confirmed to PutneySW15.com this week that they have sold The Railway pub.

The landmark establishment on the Upper Richmond Road continues to be operated by them as contracts have not yet been exchanged on the sale. They were unable to confirm the identity of the new owner nor their plans for the pub.

The Railway is on the site of the former Railway Hotel opposite the station and was built in 1886. It is popular with commuters partly because of the relatively low beer prices it offers. It was one of 33 pubs in the company’s estate of over 1,000 that was put up for sale last year.

According to the sale prospectus the agents believe that the properties will: "Appeal to existing operators looking to expand, to new entrants looking for a major platform which can be used to build a successful managed house estate and to investors keen to gain further representation in the sector."

In August of last year Wandsworth Council has removed permitted development rights from 120 of the borough's bars and taverns including the Railway. This ‘Article 4’ listing means that if the new owners wanted to use the building for any other purpose than running a pub they would have to request planning permission.

In recent years a significant number of local pubs have been quietly converted into other uses. Councils were powerless to stop them, as owners have ‘permitted development rights’ allowing them to make the change without the need for planning permission.

March 30, 2017