Amir Matinahmadi took over the Park Tavern in Southfields in October 2024 and described the pub as being in serious disrepair.
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He has since invested more than £200,000 of his own money restoring the site and rebuilding trade.
“Before we took it over, the pub was as close as you could consider to a derelict pub,” he told The Morning Advertiser (The MA).
“The pub shouldn’t even have been allowed to run under the previous ownership in the condition it was in.”
Matinahmadi added the pub was handed over with an agreed schedule of repair works but the dilapidations bill has increased significantly despite ongoing investment in the building.
“As soon as we went in, we realised there was considerably more work that needed to be done”, he continued.
“If you came to the pub today, you’d probably still find things that need fixing. But the difference is huge.”
On top of this, Matinahmadi alleged that on several occasions, beer orders were withheld while rent arrears remained outstanding despite an agreed payment plan, leaving the business unable to trade normally.
Immense stress
“We told them if they refused orders, we couldn’t make money to pay the rent, so they were increasing the debt rather than helping to reduce it,” he said.
“As a tied pub, if they refuse [to give us] stock, we can’t trade and we can’t generate the money needed to pay rent. It defeats the purpose.”
The operator also claimed he was later fined after purchasing stock from alternative suppliers while unable to obtain products through Star.
Matinahmadi added the dispute has placed significant pressure on both himself and his employees, some of whom live in accommodation above the pub.
“The stress has been immense,” he said. “But the worst thing for me is the hardship it has caused my team.”
Support for the pub has continued to grow, with a petition to save the Park Tavern having attracted 1,180 signatures at the time of publication
“We simply want to stay and pay a fair rent on a new lease.”
Amir Matinahmadi
A public meeting held at the venue last week also drew local residents, Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) representatives and ward councillor Jasmin Glynne, who is helping lead the campaign.
“The pub was packed with people who came out to support us,” said Matinahmadi.
“The strength of local feeling was unmistakable and it has given us and the whole team a real lift.”
MP for Putney Fleur Anderson has also backed the campaign and sought information from the PCA on the operator’s behalf.
The case comes amid heightened scrutiny of compliance with the pubs code across the tied sector.
Last month, the PCA launched a formal investigation into Stonegate, marking only the second such investigation undertaken by the regulator.
The first investigation, launched in 2019, examined Star Pubs’ compliance with the code.
Matinahmadi said his goal was to secure a new lease and continue trading, arguing the pub has improved significantly under his management.
“We simply want to stay and pay a fair rent on a new lease,” he told The MA.
David versus Goliath
“I’ve been in hospitality all my life... these businesses are a long-term commitment. You have to fight for them and accept there will be good times and bad times.
“This is essentially a David versus Goliath battle. For them, it won’t even show on their P&L but we haven’t made any money over the past two years. We’ve barely kept the pub afloat.”
However, a spokesperson for Star Pubs asserted it would not be possible for Matinahmadi to remain at the Park Tavern due to the “serious issues” raised during his tenure.
The spokesperson told The MA: “While we are not able to discuss the specific details of the operator’s business arrangements in public, we can confirm it is not possible for them to remain at the pub due to serious issues that cannot be ignored during their tenure.
“The Park Tavern is a lovely pub in a great location; we plan to reopen it as soon as possible after having undertaken some essential repairs.
“Longer term, we hope to carry out a refurbishment of the pub’s ground floor trading area and the outside of the building, which are in need of investment.”
