Great Sell-off Means Uncertain Future for Fulham's Pubs
But Eel Brook on New King's Road is set to become neighbourhood restaurant
Pubs across Fulham are facing an uncertain future, with a number of well known premises being put up for sale by their owners or already sold to developers.
Leisure property specialist Fleurets, which recently sold Brogan's in Fulham Broadway to Irish chain McGettigan's says it is now bringing the Kona Kai on Fulham Road to the market.
Fleurets says this leasehold opportunity is available off a guide price of £250,000.
Alongside a dual aspect open plan bar, the property also has a seven bedroom domestic accommodation, whilst being within walking distance of Fulham Broadway station.
The Kona Kai, a cocktail bar which describes itself as 'an exotic Tiki paradise' is opposite the main Britannia Gate entrance to Stamford Bridge, and Fleurets says demand is expected to be strong.
In Fulham Broadway meanwhile, the Oyster Rooms is among 20 pubs which were put on the market last year by owners JD Wetherspoon, and on King's Road the Hand and Flower has been sold by the Metropolitan Pub Company, part of Greene King.
There are now plans to redevelop the building, with retail space on the ground floor and the rest becoming flats. The Hand and Flower is just across King's Road from another casualty, The Morrison which is also being developed into luxury flats.
Two other well known pubs are also sitting empty are closing their doors- The Barrow Boy on North End Road, and the Hurlingham at the foot of Wandsworth Bridge Road which suddenly closed its doors last March. No announcements have yet been made about their futures, though sales details produced by specialist agent AG&F described it as "a pivotal corner site containing a large ground floor bar with outdoor trade area and potential for redevelopment/conversion."
You can see a full list of the many local pubs which have closed their doors over the years at The Lost Pubs Project.
There is good news however, for local people concerned about the future of the Eel Brook pub on New King's Road which closed its doors in January when it was put up for sale by Greene King.
There was another blow when the London Theatre Workshop, the company using the 60 seat theatre above the pub, announced it was moving to a new home in Leadenhall Square in the City.
Concerned local people began a campaign to Save the Eel Brook, launching a petition which gathered almost 800 signatures.
In response, Caroline Marston of new owners Marston Properties wrote to the campaigners saying: " The Company I run, Marston Properties purchased the building last Friday. Green King Pubs sold the building on the condition that it will not be run as a pub so our hands our tied .
" It was on their list of properties to sell as it was not considered viable. HOWEVER our intention is that it will still be a local venue, a restaurant ,a bar we don't know yet but IT IS DEFINITELY NOT going to be a supermarket and never will be.
" The upper floors will be converted in to flats for rent. Whilst they will be lovely they won't be what a developer would consider as 'luxury' . We shall be keeping the property whole and will run it from our Fulham HQ. The theatre is still running and has been given a more central London venue by Greene King.
" I too am a local and have lived next to Eel Brook Common for over 20 years. Marstons have been established in Fulham for over 120 years and we are in to preserving and enhancing Fulham not destroying it. We love the building and we love Fulham."
This week Caroline confirmed the company's intentions for the property to become a neighbourhood restaurant, and added that they would love the theatre to continue, if it could be viable. And she promised once again: " It will NOT beccome a supermarket!"
February 26, 2016
