The owner of a historical pub from the 19th century may have to call the time on his seats on the river after the council requested its distance.
The Trafalgar Tavern in Greenwich, Southeast London, is known for its tables with a view of the Thames that have existed for three decades.
The Tavern, which is located next to the old Royal Naval College, which goes back to 1837 and was once a popular place by Charles Dickens – was recently named by Big 7 Travel in its annual list of the best beer gardens in Great Britain.
In the summer months, the tavern serves customers on wooden benches along the Thames, a curved sidewalk on the banks of the river, which is known locally as “The Knuckle”.
But Greenwich London Borough Council claims that the setup “prevents people from enjoying the view of the river”.
There were additional complaints about access for pedestrians, wheelchair users and families with strollers.
The Council also argues that the furniture of the taverns give a sensitive cultural heritage location a visual disorder.
In March, Labor’s Tavern authority announced that it had to remove the tables, even though the planning inspection received more than 2,000 letters against the move.
The tavern has lodged against the enforcement announcement and warns that it could lead to 75 job losses – a third of their workforce – including cooks, waiters and managers.
The landlord Frank Dowling said to The Standard: “The alternative will be 500 people who stand and drink. This is not the pub we operate. We would rather put people, we will take up your order and we will bring your food and drink to you.
“We will have a standing drink and the noise will crawl. And customers may have to sit on site and access will get worse.
“The advantage of the thousands of people who enjoy it, compared to those who see it as a disadvantage, is not the same.”
Mr. Dowling said the Tavern is sitting on a section of the path that he has preserved from the Greenwich Foundation, a charity that has preserved the buildings and the building of the Naval College.
In 2005 he concluded a formal agreement with the Council as part of a section 16 agreement, in which the pub paid for the resumption and landscape design in the region.
Mr. Dowling, who has headed the family -friendly venue since 2001, questioned the announcement at a time when the pubs across the UK close with one rate of six a week.
He said that the space is attracting customers from all over London and beyond and contributing to the local economy.
Mr. Dowling added: “The entire late night economy is gone. The venues close to the left, right and in the middle. Why should they be in this position at all?
“I am absolutely dead with our arguments – I think that of the council is shrill. We are only tables and chairs. If justice is right, we will win.”
A Royal Borough from Greenwich spokesman said: “We were informed that the Trafalgar tavern has made an appeal against the enforcement of the planning inspection and a hearing is planned for later this summer.
“Under the circumstances, it would not be appropriate that the Council made further comments at this time.”