Peckham operator doubles up with Tulse Hill acquisition

Clement Ogbonnaya, operator of the Prince of Peckham, has taken on a second pub and unveiled plans to acquire five more in the next five years. Ogbonnaya, who launched the Prince of Peckham in 2017, will open Queen of the South, in Tulse Hill, later this year. It will feature co-working spaces by day, and by night will host live events, complete with a games room and karaoke booth. Ogbonnaya plans to follow this with five more openings through a new pub group he has created, The Village People. He intends to acquire old and disused pubs and regenerate them into “stylish, welcoming and inclusive multi-functional community hubs”. Ogbonnaya said: “I’ve worked in hospitality for 13 years and I’ve seen how the industry has changed throughout this time, both for the better and for the worse. While people are searching for a sense of belonging and community now more than ever, many British boozers have gone from being area hubs to laying empty and derelict, which is a tragedy. I think there’s a massive opportunity to rejuvenate the pub scene and bring them back to the heart of the community. The Village People pub group will focus on hospitality over service, and I’m excited to bring this ethos to my second pub in Tulse Hill.”