Owner of pub believed to be linked to Kirsty Allsopp’s husband withdraws planning application
By Adrian Zorzut, Local Democracy Reporter
The owner of a West London pub believed to be linked to Kirsty Allsopp’s husband has withdrawn plans to refurbish the historic Kensington site.
Wentworth Andersen, a property development company the Location, Location, Location star’s husband Ben Andersen is believed to be involved in, pulled an application for The Volunteer, in Latimer Road, a day before Kensington and Chelsea council was due to decide whether to let the refurbishment go ahead.
The application, which was received on December 4, included the replacement of cellar cooling and kitchen extract systems and alterations to the rear flue. Kensington and Chelsea council’s planning portal shows the application was ‘withdrawn by applicant’ on February 4.
The council was set to make a decision by February 5. It is not clear why the application was withdrawn. Kensington and Chelsea council said applicants do not need to provide a reason for a withdrawal.
It is also not clear whether Wentworth Andersen will submit another application. The company has been contacted for comment.
A planning statement on behalf of Wentworth Andersen said it wanted to bring the pub ‘up to modern standards’.
The statement said: “The existing equipment is old, inefficient, noisy, as it is unattenuated, and is not fit for purpose. As part of the refurbishment works, the equipment will be replaced with a new plant that meets modern standards and will operate efficiently and more quietly than the existing.”
The application shows works were meant to start and complete by February this year. The Latimer Road premises, previously known as Ariadne’s Nectar Bar, was purchased by property management firm Wentworth Andersen in May 2023 and renamed The Volunteer.
In its licensing application, approved by Kensington and Chelsea council in August 2024, Wentworth Andersen requested opening hours from 10am to 11.30pm Sunday to Wednesday, and midnight Thursday to Saturday.
The council’s Licensing Sub-Committee resolved to grant the requested opening hours, with alcohol to be sold both on and off the premises between 10am and 11am Sunday to Wednesday, and to 11.30pm the remainder of the week. The use of the private forecourt however is to end at 10pm. It is thought the pub was going to reopen after the refurbishment was carried out this month.
Last year, Wentworth Andersen angered locals when it put a huge sign on the building with Allsopp’s on it, leading people to believe the pub was being named after TV star Kirstie Allsopp.
A source close to the Allsopp family told the Daily Mail the sign was in fact put up to advertise a beer brand which was established by Kirstie’s great great grandfather and is now being revived by her cousin Jamie.
In July, the Local Democracy Reporting Service discovered the only person to throw their support behind the application to reopen the pub appeared to be a Wentworth Andersen employee.
Pictured top: Last year, Wentworth Andersen angered locals when it put a huge sign on the building with Allsopp’s on it (Picture: LDRS)