Developers want to knock down the 19th-century pub and replace it with flats and a smaller bar, but Oli Carter-Esdale insists the Trafalgar’s “intangible magic” cannot simply be rebuilt on the ground floor of a new flat block.
Oli told Newsquest London: “The pub has been here that we know of since at least 1868.
“It’s a community asset and I know lots of people kind of throw those words around, but I think people forget what that really can mean.
“We’ve got people who have been drinking here since the 1950s.
Trafalgar Freehouse (Image: Jack Brent)
“One gentlemen remembers stories from his grandmother about how she was sitting on the street outside while her father played the piano in the pub in the late 1890s.
“It’s not the prettiest building in the world but the value of the place is in this intangible magic.”
The Trafalgar, on High Path in south Wimbledon, is the last surviving building of its era on the street.
The High Path Estate is currently under going extensive regeneration.
Oli said: “Everything else has been flattened. Why would you knock down the last bit of social history in an area already undergoing massive upheaval?
“We have these beautiful old Edwardian fireplaces. They are visually quite arresting and worth preserving.
“The bar has some of the oldest engines still running.
“The brass taps are super old school.
“There is a unique way of dispense here. It is part of the character of the building.”
Not all of the heritage has survived, as Oli said: “One of the really sad things is we lost the original Bass Charrington sign that was on the back of the pub.
“It had been sat there since the 1960s and it was stolen two weeks before we opened. I was furious.”
When he got the keys in June 2023, the building was in a poor state and Oli spent good money and effort bringing the venue back to life.
Since reopening, the Trafalgar has built a reputation for its broad craft beer and cider selection and a diverse mix of clientele.
Oli said: “We’ve probably had 500 different beers come through the building in the last just under two years.
“We are able to celebrate and push the niche producers who are making experimental things, who are bringing back heritage traditions to this country.
“Places like this champion independent products at reasonable prices.
“We are not making millions. The point is to provide variety and pay staff properly.
“We also have a wonderful community of people from all walks of life.
“We have a demographic split that is probably matched only by somewhere like Wetherspoons
“During its open hours the pub is one long and very open conversation and anyone is welcome to join.
“The alchemy of society sits in this wonderful melting pot.”
That atmosphere is what Oli believes is most at risk.
In June, Merton Council rejected a plan to demolish the Trafalgar and replace it with a four-storey block of six flats and a smaller bar.
Councillors said it would cause “substantial harm” to the area’s heritage and social fabric.
Developer Adenbuild Construction has now appealed, taking the case to the Planning Inspectorate.
Members of the public have until August 22 to submit comments via the Planning Inspectorate website. The case reference is APP/T5720/W/25/3368173.
Oli said: “Their argument is that you could transfer the socio-cultural assets.
“I think that is just nonsense. It [the plans] doesn’t look like a pub. It won’t have the same feel. People will have been denied that space yet again.
“I would challenge someone to tell me why it deserves to get knocked down.
“I’d ask them to tell me why the pub would be better with six flats, a couple of balconies and no outdoor space.
“If you come in of an evening or an afternoon on the weekend and you see the thriving community hub that this place is, it is obvious why it should stay.”
On September 12 and 13 the Trafalgar will celebrate two years since reopening with a festival of beer, cider and Morris dancers spilling onto the street.
Oli said: “We have these folk and heritage traditions. It is silly and fun and a celebration of what pub culture is. That is what we do.”
In response, a spokesperson for Linea Homes, representing Adenbuild, said: “Linea Homes is proud to reaffirm our commitment to bringing a brand-new Trafalgar Pub back to the heart of the community.
“We understand the current building holds memories for many, but it clearly requires significant investment to secure its future.
“Our vision is to breathe new life into the site, with a high-quality pub at ground level and six thoughtfully designed flats above, helping meet local housing needs while ensuring long-term sustainability.
“The new building has been carefully designed by an award-winning architect, inspired by the area’s heritage, including the historic Tri-ang toy factory. It blends tradition with something fresh for the future.
“We look forward to welcoming both familiar and new faces to a reimagined Trafalgar Pub, built to serve the community for generations to come.”
