The new owners of The Royal Oak have submitted plans to transform the former pub.

After tenant Christian Arden gave up his tenancy to Stonegate, the landlord, five months ago, it sold the premises to a restaurant company.

Despite investing over £100,000 into The Royal Oak following its acquisition in 2024, Arden told The Telegraph that, due to rising costs and local competition, the pub was financially unsustainable.

Now, the new owners, The Heron Restaurant Group Ltd, have applied to change the layout of the site to make the location similar in concept to the group's restaurant, The Gosling, in Surrey.

In addition, the ex-public house would be renamed The Heron, and the applicants wish to replace the condition that requires alcohol not to be sold in glass containers on RFU event days with a restaurant condition, so that alcohol can only be sold to persons having a table meal.

Commercial estate agent Fleurets, which completed the sale of the freehold, said the Victorian corner property was sold for more than £1,000,000.

Local residents have until 11 September to make representations on the plans to Richmond Council.

READ MORE: 'The home of flame-grilled chicken' is coming to Twickenham.

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