Russell Brand's Oxfordshire pub closed amid rape and sexual assault claims

Harriet Sinclair
Updated
The Crown Inn pub owned by British comedian and actor Russell Brand's company is surrounded by a temporary screen. (Reuters/Hollie Adams)
The Crown Inn pub owned by British comedian and actor Russell Brand's company is surrounded by a temporary screen. (Reuters/Hollie Adams) (REUTERS)

An Oxfordshire pub owned by Russell Brand has been fenced off and temporarily closed in the wake of allegations of rape and sexual assault by the comedian.

In investigations by Dispatches and The Times, four women accused the comedian of a number of sexual crimes from assault and abusive behaviour to one women's allegation of rape.

Brand has denied the claims, stating: "Amidst this litany of astonishing, rather baroque attacks are some very serious allegations that I refute."

The day after the Dispatches episode featuring Brand's accusers was aired, the comedian's pub, the Crown Inn in Pishill, was fenced off with hessian fabric - with one local commenting to The Oxford Mail that she believes Brand may be holed up inside.

A sign said the pub was temporarily closed. The Crown Inn pub, owned by Russell Brand's company, has been fenced off in the wake of sexual assault and rape allegations. (Reuters/Hollie Adams)
A sign said the pub was temporarily closed. The Crown Inn pub, owned by Russell Brand's company, has been fenced off in the wake of sexual assault and rape allegations. (Reuters/Hollie Adams) (REUTERS)
A general view outside The Crown Inn pub owned by Russell Brand's company. (Reuters)
A general view outside The Crown Inn pub owned by Russell Brand's company. (Reuters) (REUTERS)

As well as fencing preventing people from getting in, there is also a sign outside of the pub informing people that it is "temporarily closed".

"As we drove past this morning, they were putting up a hessian covering," one resident told the Mail. "It was like a sack covering across the front. It felt locked down."

Brand and his wife Laura Gallacher, the sister of sports pundit Kirsty Gallacher, have run the pub since 2020. The pair share two daughters, and Gallacher is currently pregnant with their third child.

Russell Brand marries partner Laura Gallacher
Russell Brand and his partner Laura Gallacher have not commented following the documentary. (Providers)

Neither Brand nor Gallacher have officially commented since the documentary was aired - although Brand appeared at his sell-out show Russell Brand: Bipolarisation on Saturday ahead of the 9pm Dispatches programme.

"I really appreciate your support, I love you, and I want to do a fantastic show for you," he said at the gig at the Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre on Saturday, after releasing a video statement refuting the claims.

"I've got a lot of things to talk to you about. There are obviously some things that I absolutely cannot talk about, and I appreciate that you will understand," he added.

Internal investigations over Brand assault claims

Both the BBC and Channel 4 have announced internal investigations following claims of sexual assault and rape against Brand, with the BBC saying it was "urgently looking into the issues raised" and Channel 4 stating it is conducting an investigation and urging anyone “who is aware of such behaviour to contact us directly.”

Brand held positions as a radio presenter at the BBC between 2006-2008, and as a presenter for Channel 4's Big Brother's Big Mouth from 2004-2006 - also appearing on the channels in various iterations in following years.

The Dispatches investigation described a culture of fear around Brand that saw one runner claim Brand flashed his penis at her and asked for oral sex while at work. She said she was too scared to complain to TV bosses.

Another instance saw Brand accused of exposing himself and urinating in a bottle during a radio show in front of a guest and staff members.

Russell Brand leaves the Troubabour Wembley Park theatre in north-west London after performing a comedy set. He faces claims about his sexual behaviour at the height of his fame. He has vehemently denied the allegations. Picture date: Saturday September 16, 2023.
Russell Brand leaves the Troubabour Wembley Park theatre in north-west London after performing a comedy set after assault and rape allegations were made public. (Alamy) (James Manning, PA Images)

Charity and talent agency cut ties with Brand

A women's charity and a talent agency have severed ties with the comedian in the wake of the assault and rape allegations.

Agency Tavistock Wood and the Trevi Women & Children’s Charity both made the announcements after the Dispatches show was aired on Saturday evening.

In a statement to PA, Tavistock Wood said: “Russell Brand categorically and vehemently denied the allegation made in 2020, but we now believe we were horribly misled by him. TW has terminated all professional ties to Brand.”

Meanwhile the charity detailed its decision in an Instagram post, writing: "We have ended our association with Russell Brand and the Stay Free Foundation.

"As a charity whose values put women's voices at the heart of what we do, we always prioritise supporting women affected by violence and abuse and empower them to live without violence and fear."

Another charity supported by Brand's Stay Free foundation, which focuses on addiction, said: "We can’t make an opinion on what has come out right now. We just know him for the good that he does now.”

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