Pub-goers in west London have celebrated a "victory for common sense" after Hounslow Council agreed to pause enforcement orders that would have forced three riverside pubs to remove all outdoor seating along the Thames in Chiswick. The council had originally ordered The Bull's Head, The City Barge, and The Bell & Crown to clear all street furniture from the river path by Monday, sparking a major backlash from landlords and regulars.
Council U-Turn After Public Pressure
The row began when The Bull's Head applied to renew its license, triggering an investigation that revealed none of the three pubs had the required permissions for their outdoor seating. Although the tables and chairs had been a fixture on the towpath for decades, technically the establishments did not have permission under the Highways Act. Following public pressure, the council reached an agreement with the pubs allowing them to keep their seating in place while formal licensing applications are being assessed.
A staff member at The Bell & Crown said: "They're back. It's been quite a story with those chairs but they're back. We're waiting on a licensing application then they'll be back for good hopefully."
Economic Impact on Pubs
Alastair Hilton, a regular at The Bell & Crown, told The Telegraph: "In the summer you've got to make every tenner you can, you've got to. Every seat that vanishes, it's another £50, £100. It's very, very hard to run a business as it is, very hard to run a pub. You can't have a council coming along and going 'well I don't like this.'"
Another resident who has lived in the area for over 20 years described the U-turn as a "victory for freedom and a victory for common sense." Gabriella Giles, Conservative councillor for Chiswick Riverside, called the council's original decision to remove the seating an "abuse of power."
Single Complaint Sparked Investigation
The pub landlords claimed that council officials told them the investigation was launched following a single complaint, which many pinned on local Green Party councillor Rick Rowe. Mr Rowe told The Telegraph: "I did not ask for outdoor seating to be removed, for pubs to be penalised or for the council to take enforcement action. I have been working hard to ensure the council allows seating to remain while the licensing applications are reviewed."
Amy Croft, cabinet member for infrastructure at Hounslow Council, said: "We recognise the important role that riverside pubs play in the local community and appreciate their contribution to the area's economy and character. We are required by law to ensure that any outdoor seating and structures placed on the public highway or riverside towpath have the appropriate permissions in place and do not obstruct access for pedestrians, wheelchair users, people with pushchairs or emergency services. Following inquiries regarding outdoor furniture and installations at a number of premises on Strand-on-the-Green, officers reviewed the relevant permissions and licence arrangements. Where tables, chairs, shelving or other removable furniture are placed on the public highway, businesses are required to hold a pavement licence."
