Residents in west London have opposed plans to reintroduce a lightwell at a Victorian pub, claiming it could enable upskirting. The proposals, submitted by design firm Wentworth Andersen, have drawn backlash from locals who argue the feature would be inappropriate.
One resident wrote in an objection letter to the Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea: 'Installing a 2000mm x 700mm open pavement grille with 35mm gaps is, in 2025, extraordinary—and not in the flattering sense.' They added that upskirting has been a criminal offence since 2019 and described the plans as 'wholly inappropriate' and 'wildly tone-deaf.'
The firm, led by Kirstie Allsopp's husband Ben Anderson, previously angered locals after a sign bearing Allsopp's name was put up on the building. It later emerged the sign referred to a brewery founded by her ancestor, not her personally.
Neighbours have also opposed the pub's proposed opening hours of 10am to 11.30pm Sunday to Wednesday and until midnight Thursday to Saturday, citing noise concerns. The Licensing Sub-Committee granted the hours but required an acoustic report.
The pub, formerly known as Ariadne's Nectar Bar, was purchased in May 2023 and has been frequented by celebrities including Damon Albarn. The lightwell application is still under council consideration.
