The lead singer of the band Ocean Colour Scene has thrown his support behind a campaign to preserve Putney’s iconic Halfmoon pub as a music venue.

Musician Simon Fowler has urged readers to rail against potential plans to turn the legendary music venue into a gastropub.

He has also appealed to owners, Young’s brewery, to consider the musical history of the pub.

Last month it emerged the famous building could call time on its 50-year tradition of hosting live music - a period which has seen The Rolling Stones, U2, Ralph McTell and Kasabian grace its stage.

Since news of the potential closure broke, a campaign to keep the pub going as a live music venue has gained overwhelming support, and Simon Fowler is the latest big name to lend his backing.

As soon as the Ocean Colour Scene frontman heard the news he organised a gig at the venue and will now play an acoustic set there with drummer Oscar Harrison on December 22.

"Like West London needs another gastro pub," he said.

"From what I can gather the photographs of the acts on the walls are all people that have played there and that is a really impressive list of names.

"Young's is one of the oldest breweries in London and a company with such a rich heritage itself.

"They should send someone down and look at the walls and see the heritage that is there, then maybe they might understand.

"The first time I played there was about five years ago when I was living in Richmond so it was just up the road and since then I have played the Halfmoon two or three times on my own or with Oscar.

"It's a really good place to play and there are not many places like it now.

"If they are going to change it why don't they just sell it to Weatherspoons then we can have cheap beer."

Custom has been in decline since the recession hit and the pub’s current landlord has been told he must leave by January 31 unless he can pay rent arrears to the building’s owner, Young’s brewery.

Rumours of the pub being turned into a gastropub have been widely circulating, but Young’s claims it will be up to the next landlord - not the brewery - to decide what its future use will be.

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