Sinister puppets of the military-industrial complex most likely orchestrating it all

It might not be the biggest issue on his mind, Russell Brand has lost his bid to turn his local pub into offices and a recording studio.

The comic - who last week reiterated his innocence in the face of multiple rape and sexual assault accusations – bought a village pub in Oxfordshire four years ago.

At the time he assured villagers he intended to keep the 17th century Crown in Pishill open – but planned to make it a vegan cafe and wellness centre.

However it has remained closed since Covid and he turned it into a studio where he makes lucrative online videos attacking the ‘mainstream media narrative’. It is believed to have been from there were he first denied the ‘very serious criminal allegations’ made against him last year. 

Brand has since been questioned by police twice in relation to a total of nine alleged offences  and inquiries are ongoing. He has always maintained that his relationships were consensual and last week told right-wing host Tucker Carlson on his X show 'deliberate profound attempt to shut down any dissent in an astonishingly aggressive way’.

He sought retrospective planning permission to make the pub a permanent recording studio and offices, but South Oxfordshire District Council refused the move after more than 50 objections were lodged.

Most feared the loss of an essential community resource, and said Brand could not demonstrate that a pub was unviable as he he had not tried. 

One neighbour, Michael Barton, said he had ‘concerns about the disingenuous nature of the applicant and the way he has dealt with the proposals’.

He added: ‘ When the applicant first bought the pub, he hosted villagers and confirmed he was planning on opening a pub, presumably to get people onside and prevent people from complaining about the currently unauthorised use as a recording studio. 

‘The applicant has shown total disregard for planning already - through the unauthorised use as a recording studio plus illegal fencing [put up after the allegations were made public by the Times and Channel 4’s Dispatches last year]… and total disregard for the heritage of the building.’

Another neighbour, Mrs R Walmsley told the planners: ‘The applicant purchased The Crown as a viable business and has not opened the pub for even one day since purchase. It cannot be said it is not viable as it has not been tested’

Nicholas Percy-Davis pointed out a pub on had stood on the site the 1400s, saying: ‘The village pub has long been the focal point of Pishill, serving as a gathering place for residents to socialise….Changing its usage to a commercial property will result in the loss of this invaluable social hub, negatively impacting the sense of community that our village has cherished.’ 

Tim and Leigh Walton said: ‘If permission was granted it would result in the loss of the last public house in the parish and with it the loss of an important and cherished community facility.

Brand’s planning agents JPC had said that converting the pub would ‘deliver and maintain significant economic benefits’.

Last month MailOnline reported that Brand, despite his consistent claims that he has been canceled, makes nearly £5 million a year from the controversial content he broadcasts from the pub.

On last week’s Tucker Carlson show, Brand praised Alex Jones – who claimed the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting  was a hoax – and David Icke – who linked Covid to 5G and has been banned from the Netherlands for being an antisemite (which he denies) – for being ‘ahead of the curve’

Published: 8 Feb 2024