Two days following the rejection of Clement Ogbonnaya’s final bid to purchase the freehold of the Queen of the South pub, a significant development occurred. The pub group that had acquired the freehold returned to negotiations.
The iconic South London pub and event venue faced closure when Young’s Pubs took over the freehold. The founder, Clement, criticized the pub group for disregarding community interests, prompting the local South London community to rally support under the ‘Save Our Queen’ initiative.
The controversy began on July 28 when Clement Ogbonnaya, the owner of The Queen of the South, disclosed the impending closure in an Instagram video. He is a prominent figure in the South London community, known for establishing The Village People pub group, which includes Queen of the South in Tulse Hill and the popular Prince of Peckham.
Apart from its role as a pub, Queen of the South serves as a co-working space and hosts various community and youth events. It also collaborates with local artists, designers, and musicians. The news about The Queen emerged following an incident where a family of 10 left a pub without paying after a £320 meal.
In a heartfelt video plea, Clement mentioned being pressured with a tight deadline to buy the freehold from an unnamed pub group. Despite feeling reluctant to seek assistance, he encouraged individuals to invest in the pub to raise necessary funds, emphasizing the opportunity to collectively own a community space.
In an interview with The Mirror, Clement described the video as a form of therapy, highlighting the overwhelming support from the community as incredibly humbling. The video garnered over 300,000 views within a week, with messages offering legal advice and investment opportunities flooding in.
Even though some supporters couldn’t invest financially, they expressed a desire to help, leading Queen of the South to launch a Crowdfunder campaign. However, after a week of fervent efforts, Clement announced on August 6 that their final offer to the pub corporation had been turned down, revealing Young’s Pub as the acquiring group.
A spokesperson for Young’s assured that they valued the Queen of the South pub as an integral part of the local community and were engaged in negotiations with Clement to ensure its continued operation under the current management. They reiterated their commitment to keeping the pub independent.
Clement expressed skepticism, questioning Young’s true intentions and whether they would prioritize serving the Tulse Hill community or cater to a more affluent clientele. He urged pub companies to genuinely engage with communities to understand their impact.
Despite facing the possibility of losing The Queen, Clement found solace in the community’s support, emphasizing the importance of community unity and ownership. Following the publication of the story on August 8, it was confirmed that Young’s had accepted Clement’s offer to purchase the freehold.
Clement shared the exciting news on Instagram, expressing gratitude to Young’s for the resolution and clearance of debts, positioning the pub in a favorable financial situation. The group aims to raise £500,000 and has already secured 15% of the required funds privately, with plans for an investor dinner to gather additional support.
While the journey ahead may be challenging, the success story of The Queen reflects resilience and community strength. The sister venue, Prince of Peckham, continues to thrive, showcasing the enduring spirit of the community.