Kirstie Allsopp is at the centre of a row with neighbours after her partner bought a pub and named it after the TV presenter.
Angry locals fired off a series of complaints after a giant sign appeared over the door of the historic Victorian hostelry which has been rebranded as ‘Allsopp’s’.
One local accused the couple of ‘destroying local heritage and imposing their name on the area’.
Kirstie’s long-term partner Ben Andersen, who is a property developer, unveiled the new name of the former celebrity haunt in west London in an apparent romantic gesture on Valentine’s Day.
But the family could be forced to remove the hand painted sign – which features the words ‘Allsopp’s since 1730’ along with a huge, gloved hand emblazoned on a bright mustard coloured background if it was put up without planning permission.
Angry locals fired off a series of complaints after a giant sign appeared over the door of the historic Victorian hostelry which has been rebranded as ‘Allsopp’s’
Kirstie Allsopp is at the centre of a row with neighbours after her partner bought a pub and named it after the TV presenter
Most recently the pub, which was believed to have been built in the 1880s, was called the British Volunteer.
Before that it was called Ariadne’s Nectar and was popular with pop star Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Blur singer Damon Albarn and members of The Clash.
Residents in North Kensington said the new sign ‘bears no resemblance’ to plans submitted, is three times bigger and was painted before officials had a chance to consider the proposals.
Some raised concerns that part of the three-storey building has been changed from business to residential use as workmen have been busy installing flats on the top two floors.
The pub’s kitchen and restaurant have been removed from the first floor with building control applications showing plans to relocate the kitchen to the cellar.
Others fear for the future of the pub which has been closed since 2022 after the former landlord was unable to raise funds before the building was sold to Andersen’s property development company.
Last December the firm, called Wentworth Andersen, sought planning permission from the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea to put up the new sign.
Council documents show the firm submitted drawings and photos of the proposed which would feature ‘hand painted lettering’ and a ‘gilt glove motif to the high-level corner fascia of the building’.
Permission was sought to illuminate the sign as well as to put up two illuminated hanging signs and four traditional public house lanterns on the ground floor.
But this week angry residents sent in their own photographs showing the work had already been carried out and bore little resemblance to the plans which had been submitted.
One wrote: ‘Please note signage already implemented prior to approval. Does not bear any resemblance to the size and proportionality as shown on the planning application. Implemented signage is three times as big and is unsightly for the area.
‘I understand top two floors are residential. Why would the signage cover the whole block?’
Kirstie’s long-term partner Ben Andersen, who is a property developer, unveiled the new name of the former celebrity haunt in west London in an apparent romantic gesture on Valentine’s Day
Another said: ‘I note large signage has gone up saying `Allsopp’s since 1730’. This previously did not exist, please ensure this is removed.
‘Acknowledge site is under new management and the wine bar has not been open for several years.
‘It was purchased in 2023 by Wentworth Andersen, whose director is in a relationship with TV personality Kirstyie Allsopp.
‘Up until this time, there is no connection between the site and Allsopp’s. Most certainly not since 1730. Signage misleading, suggesting heritage.
‘Please see to it that this is corrected as soon as possible.’
A third complainant added: ‘Where is the planning application for conversion to flats? Is there something wrong with the planning portal? No approval exists.’
Location, Location, Location star Allsopp, 52, and Andersen, 63, have been a couple for 20 years. They have two teenage sons while Andersen has two sons from a previous relationship.
When the pub was known as Ariadne’s Nectar and owned by Greek landlord Dimitri Kotsakis it was under threat of closure in 2018 after noise complaints led to its licence coming under review.
In 2012 planning permission was turned down to turn the pub into a five-bedroom home and the pub was later officially listed as an asset of community value.
In 2022 Mr Kotsakis unsuccessfully tried to raise funds to buy the premises from previous owners said to be a Guernsey-based hedge fund specialising in property acquisition.
Andersen has told locals he wants to turn the upstairs flats into homes for their children.
The pub premises are being marketed through Knight Commercial at a rent of £45,000. They describe it as ‘a corner pub/bar and cellar ideal for a micro brewery or artisan distillery’.
Allsopp has not always had the best of luck with drinking establishments.
Last September she was forced to pull out of filming an episode of the popular show after falling down a flight of stairs in a London pub.
The family could be forced to remove the hand painted sign – which features the words ‘Allsopp’s since 1730’ along with a huge, gloved hand emblazoned on a bright mustard coloured background if it was put up without planning permission
She told how she was left ‘battered and bruised’ and ended up in hospital after the accident which happened while she was filming a chat with house hunters.
Speaking on the planning row one woman resident, who asked not to be named, told : ‘I remember last year hearing on the radio that Kirstie had pulled out of filming the new series of Location, Location, Location after falling down a flight of stairs in a London pub and thought it might have been the local that Ben Andersen had recently purchased.
‘I made some enquiries with the eastern European builders on site and asked them to send my best wishes. It was then that I learnt they were converting it to flats. I kept monitoring for planning application and nothing had been submitted.
‘It was on Valentine’s Day that I saw a huge sign saying ‘Allsopp’s’. Builders were saying Ben did it as a Valentine’s Day present.
‘They’ve destroyed local heritage and imposed their name on the area. This has made locals very angry.’
Objecting to the way the property is being developed the resident added: ‘The pub was ground, basement and first floor, with living accommodation for the landlord on the second floor.
‘They’ve repurposed the restaurant and kitchen to flats. The wine bar hasn’t been restored. They’ve been trying to sell the lease on the bar for nearly a year.
‘I wouldn’t mind affordable new homes. I hope the council makes them sell the flats to local residents.’
Author Nick Shirley, 69, who has lived in the street for 27 years, said: ‘I’m very happy with it as long as the pub is restored. I don’t mind how much money he makes out of it as long as we get our facilities back.
‘I met the guy once last summer before the work started. I had a good chat with him. He was very approachable. He said he wanted two flats for his children.
‘There have been concerns as he’s a property developer. He would get more money and quicker if he could turn it into four flats using the basement and three storeys. As it exists at the moment as a community asset you can only develop the top two storeys.
‘They are now missing the functions rooms and the kitchens upstairs. I don’t know how easy it is to get a tenant to run a pub in London to make money when you’ve only got a small basement and a small ground floor. We shall have to wait and see.
‘Giving the pub a new name I would say is a positive as it shows a commitment.
‘We want it back as a pub. When I moved in there were three pubs in the street. One is a Tesco’s and another is now a social housing thing.
‘Most people would want a pub there. If he’s going to invest in the community and lease it out to a landlord and run it as a pub then he has my support.’
A man who owns a house next door to the pub said: ‘The sign is quite large. I don’t know why they’ve called it Allsopp’s. It’s strangely put at the top of the building which is now residential so I don’t know why they put it up there.’
Kirsty’s family name is linked to the Allsopp family. Her father is Charles Allsopp, 6th Baron Hindlip. The first was Sire Henry Allsopp. He was head of the brewing firm of Samuel Allsopp & Sons of Burton upon Trent. Their slogan is ‘since 1730’.
Mr Anderson was approached for comment.