Russell Brand's country pub 'locked down' with security fencing amid scandal
Russell Brand’s country pub has been ‘temporarily closed’ amid allegations of rape and sexual assault made against him.
Several women have come forward with shocking accusations against Brand, 48, detailing his alleged crimes in a Channel 4 Dispatches special which aired this weekend.
The women accusing the comedian of assault and controlling behaviour claim their incidents happened over a seven-year period, when Brand was at the height of his fame and appearing on TV programmes, radio shows, and movies galore.
One of the alleged victims was just 16 years of age when Brand is said to have ‘shoved his penis down her throat’. The Get Him to the Greek star denies all claims.
Amid the fallout of the allegations made against the disgraced star, Brand’s boozer has been fenced off.
On Sunday morning (September 17), the day after the Dispatches film premiered, locals noticed that the entrance to the Crown Inn in Pishill had been blocked by security fencing covered with a beige hessian fabric.
Pictures obtained by The Oxford Mail show exactly that, with the pub reportedly having a sign on its door now reading: ‘Pub temporarily closed’.
Speaking to the outlet, one local resident said: ‘As we drove past this morning, they were putting up a hessian covering.
‘It was like a sack covering across the front. It felt locked down.
‘When we slowed down to look, the man putting it up stopped to look at us.’
‘I saw three security men in Hi-Vis behind,’ they continued. ‘There were lots of people inside the building as well – about half a dozen.’
The woman also said she thinks Brand wanted to shield his pub from ‘prying eyes’, as she believed him to be inside.
Brand took over the pub with his wife Laura Gallacher – who is currently pregnant with their third child – in March 2020.
The sprawling 15th-century property boasts a pub garden with outdoor seating, a car park, a stable, detached barn, as well as a two-bed cottage and garage.
As per planning regulations, Brand would’ve needed permission to erect a fence over one metre high that fronts a road used by vehicles.
It is unknown whether Brand sought permission or not.
Meanwhile, the BBC has revealed it is ‘urgently looking into the issues raised’ surrounding Brand and his alleged behaviour.
Channel 4 is set to conduct its own internal investigation as well after an investigation by The Times also made several claims about Brand’s actions in the workplace, at both BBC and Big Brother, insinuating predatory behaviour.
It comes after the lengthy investigation claimed that Brand’s behaviour towards women was an ‘open secret’ in the industry.
The St Trinians star has not addressed the Dispatches film specifically since it aired, but he did appear on stage for a sold-out comedy show at Wembley on Saturday night.
Audience members told the PA news agency that Brand expressed his love for his audience and told them he hoped that they ‘appreciate’ that there were certain things that he could not talk about during the performance.
In his previous YouTube video – uploaded online before the investigation was actually revealed – Brand said the sex acts performed with the women accusing him were ‘consensual’.
He profusely denied the ‘very serious’ allegations, telling his followers that he is questioning whether ‘there is another agenda at play’ by the ‘mainstream media’.
Reps for Russell Brand have been contacted for comment.
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