The Alchemist is a former pub at 225 St John's Hill, Battersea, London, that was controversially demolished in May 2015 after over 100 years in business.[1]
It was originally called The Fishmongers' Arms,[1] and was built in 1854.[2]
Planning permission was granted in 2011 for 6 flats above existing pub. The pub closed in 2013, when construction started in 2015 the existing structure was found unsafe and demolished with the intention to rebuild a facsimile which is what stands today.Wandsworth Council regarded the demolition having taken place without planning permission to demolish, and called it a "very serious breach" of council rules, and "unjustified".[1] The council ordered developer Udhyam Amim to rebuild the pub and restore it to its appearance prior to demolition, albeit that this was the stated intention. [3]
The demolition was compared to that of the Carlton Tavern in Kilburn, north London, which was demolished in April the same year.[1] The Carlton Tavern was subsequently rebuilt and re-opened following a community campaign and planning appeals.[4]
In July 2018 the building was restored and the commercial ground floor provides community nursery facilities.[5] In October that year its owners applied for planning permission to make the building into a shop, office or food establishment, but planners rejected the application, ruling that the change of use would "result in the loss of a public house of historic and community value".[6] This rejection was later appealed and the building's classification was changed to D2, "assembly and leisure".[7]