Chesham Arms: council confronts owner Mukund Patel over ‘unauthorised use’

Cheers!: Save The Chesham Arms supporters enjoy a celebratory pint outside the closed pub. Credit: CAMRA/Flickr

Campaigners believe they are a step closer to saving an historic former pub after Hackney Council confronted its owner over his alleged unauthorised use of the building.

The council today confirmed it has served Mukund Patel, owner of the building that was formerly the Chesham Arms pub, with a planning enforcement notice, adding that he had “been told to cease use of the first floor as residential space”.

The pub, in Mehetabel Road, Homerton, closed a year ago but was given protected status when Hackney Council listed it as an Asset of Community Value (ACV) earlier this year.

Mr Patel wants to convert the building into flats and unsuccessfully challenged the awarding of ACV status at a tribunal hearing last month.

Campaigners say he is already renting out a flat in the building without permission.

A spokesman for Mr Patel said: “We are very disappointed to receive the enforcement notice and we are considering appealing it.”

He said a decision would be made after he meets with his counsel later this week.