A much-loved South London pub and cultural hub is facing an uncertain future after pub giant Young’s acquired the building’s freehold. Owner Clement Ogbonnaya — founder of The Village People pub group, which also operates the celebrated Prince of Peckham — first sounded the alarm on July 28 in an Instagram video that quickly went viral. In it, he revealed he had been given what he described as an “unreal” deadline to buy the freehold from an unnamed pub company.

“I’m embarrassed to ask for help,” he admitted in the video, “but this is a once-in-a-generation chance. We could own our own boozer. We could own bricks and mortar forever.”

Ogbonnaya’s call to action struck a chord. The video drew more than 300,000 views in just one week, sparking an outpouring of support — from legal advice and investment offers to passionate pleas for him to name the company involved. Many who couldn’t contribute financially still pressed for ways to help, prompting the launch of a Crowdfunder campaign.

For locals, The Queen of the South is more than just a pub. It doubles as a co-working space, regularly hosts youth programmes, and serves as a stage for South London creatives. Its closure, residents feared, would mean the loss of a vital community space.

On August 6, Ogbonnaya disclosed that Young’s — a chain known for its more upscale pubs in areas like Dulwich and Chelsea — was the buyer. While a Young’s spokesperson assured The Mirror that they were “committed” to the pub’s continued operation under his management, Ogbonnaya remained sceptical.

“If they were that committed, we wouldn’t be having this conversation,” he said, questioning whether the company truly aimed to serve Tulse Hill’s diverse community.

Initially, his final offer to buy the freehold was rejected. With a final decision looming, Ogbonnaya said he was “more at peace” with the possibility of losing the venue — not because it wasn’t worth fighting for, but because he saw this as the beginning of building lasting community-owned spaces.

By Friday afternoon, there was seemingly an update that Young's had accepted Ogbonnaya's offer. But he has since confirmed that this is not the case. If you want to support the pub, please click the link here.