Pubs triumph over Labour council after being told to remove outside seating overlooking the River Thames 'following single complaint'

By OLIVIA DAY, ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR, AUSTRALIA Published: 13:11, 2 July 2026 | Updated: 13:13, 2 July 2026 Three pubs on a historic Thames-side stretch have forced a council backflip after a demand to remove all outdoor seating sparked a local outcry.  The Bull's Head, The City Barge and The Bell & Crown in Strand-on-the-Green were told to remove tables, chairs and sun loungers from the river path outside their venues by Monday as Hounslow Council carried out an investigation.  The issue first came to the attention of the Labour-run council when The Bull's Head applied to renew its licence, leading to the swift removal of its outdoor seating. It was then discovered the other two pubs did not have permission under the Hounslow Council's Highways Act to put furniture on the walkway either.  Under current licensing rules, pubs and restaurants are required to apply for a pavement licence to place outdoor furniture on public 'highways'. A worker at The City Barge said the pub was 'losing a lot' during the dispute, with up to 50 customers at a time no longer being able to enjoy drinks beside the river. 'Everybody wants to sit there,' he told the Daily Mail. 'It's a beautiful view'.  Impacted publicans claim council officers told them they were 'obligated' to launch an investigation following a single complaint about the decades-old furniture. Three pubs on a historic Thames-side stretch have forced a council backflip after a demand to remove all outdoor seating sparked a local outcry (pictured, The City Barge in Chiswick) A worker at The City Barge (pictured) said the pub was 'losing a lot' during the dispute, warning that up to 50 customers at a time could no longer enjoy drinks beside the river 'I want to be really clear. I back our riverside pubs,' Geeen Party councillor Rick Rowe said in a statement after an angry local accused him of sparking the outdoor furniture ban Local resident Alistair Hilton sparked a backlash after claiming in a series of social media posts that the complaint had been made by Green Party councillor Rick Rowe. Mr Hilton, a local photographer, said he was 'fuming' over the decision to block all three pubs from offering outdoor seating, warning it would 'destroy business'.  'They've had that seating forever and people love to relax outside in the sunshine by the river, but now, the council has said that must stop,' he wrote on X.  'I have no say in these pubs and they certainly haven't asked me to post, in case someone thinks that. I'm posting because I know how hard it is to run a business.' Cr Rowe issued a public statement after dozens of locals protested outside the City Barge on Wednesday evening. 'I want to be really clear. I back our riverside pubs,' he wrote.  'I did not ask the Council to remove outdoor seating from the Bell & Crown, the City Barge, the Bull's Head or any other pub on Strand-on-the-Green. 'That is not my position and never has been.' Under current licensing rules, pubs and restaurants are required to apply for a pavement licence to place outdoor furniture on public 'highways' (pictured, The Bell & Crown) The council has since agreed to allow the outdoor seating to remain in place while the three pubs submit licensing applications (pictured, The Bell & Crown) The council has since agreed to allow the outdoor seating to remain in place while the three pubs submit licensing applications.  Councillor Amy Croft, Cabinet Member for Infrastructure, Enforcement and Recycling at Hounslow Council, said applications would be processed as quickly as possible.  She said: 'We recognise the important role that riverside pubs play in the local community and appreciate their contribution to the area's economy and character.  'We are required by law to ensure that any outdoor seating and structures placed on the public highway or riverside towpath have the appropriate permissions in place and do not obstruct access for pedestrians, wheelchair users, people with pushchairs or emergency services. 'Following enquiries regarding outdoor furniture and installations at a number of premises on Strand-on-the-Green, officers reviewed the relevant permissions and licence arrangements. Where tables, chairs, shelving or other removable furniture are placed on the public highway, businesses are required to hold a pavement licence. 'We are keen to ensure that the pubs can continue trading as normal and therefore we will continue to work constructively with the affected businesses and will process any applications as quickly as possible.' It comes as London Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan vowed to take on opponents of al fresco dining in nearby Soho using sweeping new licensing powers. The move follows Westminster City Council's refusal to back an expansion of seasonal pedestrianisation schemes recently unveiled by City Hall. The £500,000 Summer Streets programme is designed to support al fresco dining, events and longer opening hours in a boost to London's night-time economy.  But critics led by influential residents' group the Soho Society argue the scheme will worsen noise, crowding and anti-social behaviour in the West End. The comments below have not been moderated. The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline. By posting your comment you agree to our house rules. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual We will automatically post your comment and a link to the news story to your Facebook timeline at the same time it is posted on MailOnline. To do this we will link your MailOnline account with your Facebook account. We’ll ask you to confirm this for your first post to Facebook. You can choose on each post whether you would like it to be posted to Facebook. Your details from Facebook will be used to provide you with tailored content, marketing and ads in line with our Privacy Policy.