Key Points
- Petition Launch: A community-led petition launched by local East Putney ward councillor Jasmin Glynne calling on Star Pubs & Bars to let the managers stay has amassed more than 1,000 signatures.
- Significant Investment: The current leaseholder, MFM Pub Group—represented by Amir Matinahmadi—stated they invested upwards of £150,000 to overhaul and restore the historic Park Tavern in Southfields back into a functional community hub after it deteriorated under prior management.
- Dispute Over Tenancy: Star Pubs (part of Heineken UK) served a section 25 notice and demanded the venue be vacated by August 5, 2026, claiming “serious issues” during MFM’s tenure that made it impossible for them to remain.
- Operational Friction: Mr Matinahmadi claimed that Star Pubs withheld beer orders when rent fell into arrears and imposed heavy fines—including a recent £3,500 penalty—for sourcing alternative stock to keep trading.
- Public Backing: Around 50 local residents packed into a packed backroom meeting of the Park Tavern, vowing to fight the corporate decision to the bitter end alongside local political representatives.
London (The Londoner News) July 31, 2026 — Community members, regular patrons, and local politicians have mobilized in fierce defense of the management team behind a historic South London drinking establishment, who have been ordered to vacate the premises by Heineken’s pub division.
Why are locals rallying around the Park Tavern managers?
As reported by Charlotte Lillywhite of MyLondon, local residents and community stakeholders have rallied around the managers of the Park Tavern in Southfields after the operators were instructed to leave by Star Pubs & Bars, the pub arm of Heineken UK. The backlash follows substantial financial investments made by the current tenants to salvage the historic building, which dates back to 1902 with extensions added in 1926.
Adding context to the community uproar, local reporting by Putney.news detailed that a campaign petition was rapidly initiated by East Putney ward councillor Jasmin Glynne after management warned patrons they faced imminent eviction. Writing for Putney.news, the senior reporter outlined that the petition specifically challenges Star Pubs & Bars over threats of possession proceedings demanding the venue be vacated.
The petition quickly gathered momentum, surging past 1,000 signatures as regulars fight to save a vital local asset known for its weekly quiz nights, sports screenings, and extensive beer garden.
What role did MFM Pub Group play in restoring the venue?
As reported by Charlotte Lillywhite of MyLondon, Amir Matinahmadi of the pub’s leaseholder, MFM Pub Group, stated that they carried out extensive refurbishment works totalling more than £150,000. Mr Matinahmadi explained that these funds were deployed to rescue the building and restore the historic structure into a functional community hub after it fell into deep disrepair under previous management.
Expounding on the operational complexities, Putney.news noted via Land Registry records that the Park Tavern’s original 30-year lease reached its natural conclusion recently, with MFM Pub Group having taken over the remaining 18 months of the lease term in November 2024.
Commenting on taking such a major financial gamble without a long-term guarantee, Mr Matinahmadi acknowledged during a packed public meeting covered by Putney.news that informal lease renewal talks ran concurrently with operational missteps, noting:
“We made a slight mistake on our end, where we maybe should have legally announced that we wanted the lease to be renewed”.
Despite this, MFM confirmed they formally served a request for a new ten-year lease under section 26 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954.
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What difficulties did the managers face with Star Pubs?
As reported by Charlotte Lillywhite of MyLondon, Mr Matinahmadi stated that conditions deteriorated sharply after Star Pubs assumed control of the site in October 2024 under a tied tenancy agreement.
Under this arrangement, the tenant is contractually obligated to buy stock directly from the landlord company, a system Mr Matinahmadi claimed severely hampered their ability to trade profitably.
As detailed further by MyLondon, Mr Matinahmadi alleged that Star Pubs repeatedly withheld the pub’s beer deliveries when accounts fell behind on rent.
He further claimed that the corporate landlord penalized management with heavy fines for purchasing alternative stock externally merely to keep the venue operational, citing a recent penalty amounting to £3,500. Expressing the toll of these corporate measures, Mr Matinahmadi stated to the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS), as highlighted by MyLondon:
“It’s just constantly fighting, in an environment where you’re already struggling, and you have to deal with this”.
How has Heineken’s Star Pubs responded to the backlash?
As reported by Charlotte Lillywhite of MyLondon, a spokesperson for Star Pubs defended the company’s stance to the LDRS, stating that it was simply not possible for MFM to remain at the property due to “serious issues” encountered during their tenure. The corporate landlord added that it had already registered strong interest from alternative operators eager to take over the site.
Furthermore, as outlined in investigations by Putney.news, Star Pubs issued a section 25 notice opposing the renewal of the lease. When pressed by Putney.news reporters with detailed inquiries regarding the legal status of the tenancy and why renewal was rejected, a company representative maintained that MFM
“cannot remain at the pub due to serious issues that cannot be ignored during their tenure,”
choosing to withhold granular specifics by citing legal confidentiality surrounding operator business arrangements.
What is next for the campaign to save the Park Tavern?
As reported by Putney.news, public resistance reached a fever pitch when roughly 50 local residents packed tightly into the back room of the Park Tavern to hear leaseholders pledge an uncompromising legal and community defense. Addressing the gathered crowd defiantly, Amir Matinahmadi stated:
“We are still open and we’re staying open. We’re gonna fight this and we’re gonna fight this to the very end”.
With support spearheaded by local figures such as Cllr Jasmin Glynne—who confirmed petition numbers skyrocketed past 750 within a week before crossing the 1,000 threshold—campaigners are urging residents to formally contact ward representatives and petition Wandsworth Council to register the building as an Asset of Community Value.
While legal interpretations surrounding the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954 remain heavily contested between corporate filings and tenant claims, the local community remains resolute in protecting a cornerstone of Southfields’ social fabric.
