Key Points
- Date of Closure Stated: The temporary retail occupant Retail 11, which is running as a discount store in the former Hammersmith Ram pub in King Street, West London, will leave the premises on 15th October 2026.
- Non-compliance with Planning Permission: The retailer entered the premises without the required planning permission after the sale of the freehold from Young & Co.’s Brewery to Hammersmith Realty Ltd (subsidiary of the Arora Family based out of Ealing).
- Rationale behind Squatter Prevention Measure: According to Ben Lynch for MyLondon, the representative of the Arora Family said that the company introduced Retail 11 as a temporary measure to ensure that squatting, drug abuse, and anti-social activity did not happen again.
- Alternative Plan Proposed: The realty company LCE Property is making a planning submission to develop the premises as a Bingo Hall with a public consultation period till 14th October 2026.
- Public Opposition: Councillors of Hammersmith Broadway, Callum Nimmo and Molly Mantle, have started a petition with over 600 signatures against the establishment of the discount store as well as the Bingo Hall proposal.
uk/local/hammersmith-and-fulham/hammersmith/">Hammersmith (West London Times) October 8, 2026 — A controversial discount store that occupied a historic West London pub without the required planning permission has announced that it will vacate the premises within days. As reported by Ben Lynch of MyLondon, Retail 11—which set up shop in the former Hammersmith Ram building over the summer—is due to leave the site on October 15, 2026, with a 50 per cent off closing-down sale currently being advertised to local shoppers.
Why Did A Historic Pub Become A Discount Store?
The King Street site ceased operating as a traditional pub in July when Young & Co.’s Brewery sold the freehold to Hammersmith Realty Ltd, a subsidiary of the Ealing-based property firm Arora Family. Within weeks of the sale, the building reopened under the name ‘Discount Store’ operated by Retail 11, though it did so without obtaining the necessary planning permissions from Hammersmith and Fulham Council.
As reported by Ben Lynch of MyLondon, the Arora Family previously informed the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) that Retail 11 was brought in as a temporary occupier after squatters broke into the premises following the freehold sale. An Arora Family spokesperson elaborated on the security dilemma, stating:
“When the property was previously vacant, squatters gained access despite security measures being in place. This created serious concerns around drug misuse and anti-social behaviour. Retail 11 was introduced as a short-term occupier in an effort to keep the premises active and secure while a longer-term solution was considered.”
However, the spokesperson conceded that Retail 11 operated outside the terms of its agreement by running a retail shop rather than adhering to the property’s permitted use. As reported by Ben Lynch of MyLondon, the spokesperson stated:
“We recognise that its use did not comply with the relevant planning position or the terms of that agreement, which led to significant local concern. In those circumstances, the decision was taken to bring the temporary occupation to an end.”
The property company confirmed that it has officially given notice to Retail 11, notified Hammersmith and Fulham Council, and flagged the situation to the police. The Arora Family added that they will take all reasonable steps to secure the property once it is empty to prevent future unauthorised occupation.
What Are The Plans For A Bingo Hall At The Site?
The property’s future took another turn when LCE Property, a real estate firm, submitted a planning proposal to the local council to convert the historic pub into a bingo hall.
Discussing the application, Mohan Sidhu, a Director at LCE Property, told Ben Lynch of MyLondon that the proposal is designed to preserve the exterior look and feel of the building, although he acknowledged that the interior will transition into “more of a leisure thing”.
The public consultation regarding LCE Property’s bingo hall application is scheduled to run until October 14, 2026. Following this, the local authority will undergo a review period before making a final determination, meaning the former pub is likely to sit vacant once again before any new permanent occupier takes over.
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How Have Local Councillors And Residents Responded?
The changes at the historic King Street site have met fierce resistance from local representatives and residents alike. Hammersmith Broadway councillors Callum Nimmo and Molly Mantle have publicly condemned both the unauthorised discount store and the subsequent bingo hall application.
Last month, the councillors launched a petition aimed at saving the Hammersmith Ram, which has already surpassed 600 signatures from local residents. Expressing their strong opposition, Councillors Nimmo and Mantle told Ben Lynch of MyLondon:
“The Hammersmith Ram should never have been turned into a discount store. Now there’s an application to turn it into a gambling venue. We’ve strongly objected because Hammersmith needs fewer gambling premises, not more. If this application is refused, the Hammersmith Ram can only be used as a pub, so we’re asking everyone who feels the same to object too. More than 600 local people have signed our petition to save the Hammersmith Ram. We’ll keep fighting until it reopens as the pub it should be.”
Background of the Development
The Hammersmith Ram is a long-standing, centuries-old watering hole situated on King Street in Hammersmith, West London. For generations, it functioned as a prominent community hub and traditional pub managed by Young & Co.’s Brewery. The site’s trajectory shifted dramatically in the summer of 2026 when Young’s sold the freehold to Hammersmith Realty Ltd, part of the Arora Family property portfolio.
The immediate vacancy of the property triggered security vulnerabilities, leading to unauthorized squatting that sparked local concerns regarding drug misuse and anti-social behaviour. In an effort to keep the building active and deter intruders, the temporary occupier Retail 11 was installed, but the unauthorized transition into a discount store triggered immediate friction with local planning regulations and borough councillors, culminating in the current closure notice and the competing leisure venue proposals.
This ongoing property dispute and the impending closure of Retail 11 will directly impact local residents, heritage preservation groups, and patrons of the Hammersmith high street. For the local community and the 600-plus signatories of the councillors’ petition, the departure of the discount store represents a critical milestone in the fight to restore a traditional community asset.
However, because LCE Property’s application to establish a bingo hall remains under active consideration by Hammersmith and Fulham Council—with the public consultation closing on October 14, 2026—the outcome will set a precedent for commercial development versus community amenity preservation along King Street. If the council rejects the leisure venue application, planning restrictions will likely compel the freehold owners to seek a tenant aligned with the building’s historic pub classification. Conversely, approval of the bingo hall could accelerate a broader shift in the high street’s commercial landscape, replacing traditional drinking establishments with alternative leisure formats and sparking further debate over neighbourhood character and gambling venues in West London.
