High Court grants injunction against the owners of demolished Kilburn pub

Carlton Tavern pub was demolished without permission by CLTX who must now rebuild a replica (Image: Archant)

Westminster Council requested the injunction to secure the future of the Carlton Tavern pub in Carlton Vale, after CLTX unlawfully reduced the building to rubble days before it was due to be given a grade II listing by England Heritage.

The pub, which dates back to 1920, was demolished in April and last week the council also served CLTX with an enforcement order requiring the pub to be rebuilt back to its original state in the next 18 months.

Cllr Tom Crockett, councillor for Maida Vale, praised the council for the “significant trouble they had undertaken to obtain a High Court injunction”.

He added: “It’s very, very welcome indeed. It prevents any other works on the site. “The pub’s half demolished and it looks like the developer wants to demolish the other half.

The pub before it was demolished (Pic credit: Flickr/Ewan Munro) (Image: Archant)

“This means the site is protected so when the pub is rebuilt brick-by-brick, it is as far as possible indeed the original bricks.”

CLTX, which is owned by Ori Calif and registered in Israel, carried out the demolition after the council rejected a planning application to knock it down and replace it with a new pub with flats.

Two weeks after the demolition, CLTX lodged an appeal against the council’s decision and have requested it be dealt with in private, by written representation.

CLTX told the council it planned to clear the site last week, but following intervention by the town hall the work was suspended.

Cllr Crockett said: “Now there can’t be any skull drudgery without them (CLTX) being in contempt of court.”

Campaigners who have been calling for the pub to be rebuilt have vowed to hold vigils on the site to prevent it being cleared.