Fuller's Accused of Forcing Out Popular Landlord

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Brewery took over management of The Plough in East Sheen

The Plough In East Sheen. Picture: Google Street View

A furious landlord of a popular pub has stripped the building and kitchens after being forced out by Chiswick-based Brewer Fuller’s.

The Plough in East Sheen was leased to a landlord for 10 years but has now been taken over by the brewery, leaving some locals furious.

The landlord had to handover the pub to owners Fuller’s this week but the chain has revealed it was not a “quick and smooth handover”.

The landlord is believed to have taken on a new pub and the staff from The Plough have gone with him.

Local Conservative councillor Brian Marcel has started a petition for Fuller’s to extend the lease for the landlord. It currently has over 1,600 signatures.

Cllr Marcel told The Local Democracy Reporting Service, “[He] really built up this pub from pretty much a disaster 10-15 years ago and made it a fantastic pub.

“He must have spent thousands buying up the land outside the pub, making it into a garden place, especially with Covid, where one could drink when it was legal to do so.

“He’s really spent a lot of money on it and he’s really made it into a community, everybody knows each other.”

Resident Paul Maher said on Twitter, “A big fat raspberry to Fuller’s for shuttering the nicest pub in their estate. With no explanation or proper warning to punters. Hope they are not hoping for any support from locals for planning applications.”

A spokesperson for Fuller’s said, “When Fuller’s acquired The Plough in East Sheen just over a decade ago, we did so with the stated intention of taking it into our managed estate when the current lease came to an end.

“We’ve waited patiently and that day has now arrived. It is an outstanding pub and we look forward to seeing it flourish under our tenure in the future.

“We were hoping for a quick and smooth handover, but as the pub has been totally stripped, we have a lot of work to do and that is going to take some time.

“We are excited about getting the pub reopened in due course and delivering an outstanding customer experience to the great and good of East Sheen and beyond, and interested parties can monitor our progress and register for updates at www.plougheastsheen.co.uk.

“We understand that the previous tenant has taken on a new pub and the team from The Plough have gone with him and we would like to take this opportunity to wish them every success in the future.

“We look forward to being part of the East Sheen community and if anyone has questions or concerns about an existing booking at The Plough, please contact Inns.CustomerService@fullers.co.uk and we will do everything possible to accommodate the booking in another Fuller’s pub.”

James Mayer - Local Democracy Reporter

November 4, 2021