Tom Meighan Gig at Putney Pub Sparks Backlash; Putney 2026

Key Points

• The Half Moon pub in Putney, South London, will host former Kasabian frontman Tom Meighan for a sold-out gig on 26 June 2026
• Local residents contacted Putney MP Fleur Anderson to raise concerns about booking a singer convicted of domestic assault
• Meighan was convicted in July 2020 of assaulting his then-partner Vikki Ager in April 2020 and received an 18-month community order, 200 hours of unpaid work, and five days of rehabilitation
• A child witnessed the attack and called 999; Ager suffered bruising to her knees, elbow, ankle, toe and reddening around her neck
• Meighan pleaded guilty at Leicester Magistrates’ Court and later posted on X: “I am very sorry and deeply regret my recent behaviour… I am completely to blame and accept all responsibility”
• Kasabian expelled Meighan from the band after his conviction; he has since launched a solo career and released a second album, Roadrunner, in 2024
• MP Fleur Anderson wrote to Young’s CEO Simon Dodd stating the gig is “providing a platform to an individual with a conviction for domestic abuse” and warned it sends a damaging message to survivors
• Young’s spokesperson told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) the venue does not condone domestic abuse but respects the principle that people can move forward after showing accountability and change
• The spokesperson confirmed Meighan accepted responsibility in court, served his sentence in the community, issued a public apology, and took steps toward rehabilitation
• The Half Moon, operated by Young’s, reopened in April 2026 after a major refurbishment and has hosted live music every night since 1963, including early performances by Kate Bush, The Rolling Stones and Ed Sheeran
• The gig is sold out despite the controversy
• The UK government has recently strengthened its domestic abuse strategy, with a new Domestic Abuse Strategy 2025–2029 and a proposed “domestic abuse flag” in sentencing to ensure offences are clearly identified

Putney (South London News) 30 May 2026 – A sold-out concert by former Kasabian frontman Tom Meighan at The Half Moon pub in Putney is proceeding on 26 June 2026 despite strong backlash from local residents and their MP over Meighan’s domestic assault conviction. Residents raised concerns with Putney MP Fleur Anderson, arguing that hosting a performer convicted of assaulting his partner sends the wrong message to domestic abuse survivors in the community.

Why has Fleur Anderson MP written to Young’s CEO about the gig?

As reported by the Evening Standard, Labour MP Fleur Anderson told constituents’ concerns and wrote to Young’s CEO Simon Dodd stating that hosting the show is

“providing a platform to an individual with a conviction for domestic abuse”.

Anderson emphasised the national focus on victims of abuse and said the gig raises

“serious concerns about the message this sends to survivors in the community”.

She also asked Young’s to consider whether further action is appropriate.

What exactly did Tom Meighan do and what sentence did he receive?

According to court reporting by the Independent and BBC, Meighan pleaded guilty at Leicester Magistrates’ Court to assaulting his then-fiancée Vikki Ager on 9 April 2020.

The court heard Meighan “smelt heavily of intoxicants” during a sustained attack in which he pushed Ager into a hamster cage and threatened her with a wooden pallet in front of a child. A child witnessed the assault and called 999 to report a domestic incident.

Ager suffered bruising to her knees, left elbow, outer ankle and big toe, as well as reddening around her neck, which she confirmed to police was caused by the assault. In July 2020, Meighan was given an 18-month community order, ordered to complete 200 hours of unpaid work and undertake five days of rehabilitation.

What did Tom Meighan say after his conviction and what happened to Kasabian?

As reported by the Independent, following his conviction Meighan posted on X:

“I am very sorry and deeply regret my recent behaviour. In no way am I trying to condone my actions or make excuses. I am completely to blame and accept all responsibility”.

Kasabian issued a statement saying they were left with “no choice” but to ask Meighan to leave the band after he admitted assaulting his former fiancée. Meighan has since launched a solo career and released a second solo album, Roadrunner, in November 2024, with a 20-date UK tour including Wolverhampton, Liverpool, Glasgow and London.

Why does Young’s say the gig will go ahead despite the backlash?

A Young’s spokesperson told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) that while the company recognises the seriousness of Meighan’s past actions, it respects the principle that individuals should be able to move forward after showing accountability and change. The spokesperson said:

“Young’s does not in any way condone domestic abuse, and we fully acknowledge the seriousness of Mr Meighan’s past actions”.

“In reaching our decision to proceed with the event, we have considered the fact that he accepted responsibility for his actions in a court of law and served his sentence in the community. He has also issued a public apology and has taken steps towards rehabilitation,”

the spokesperson added. The company stated it took the decision that the performance should go ahead as planned after reflecting on these factors and the views of customers and colleagues.

“We understand that some people may disagree with this decision and we have heard and respect those views,”

they said.

How significant is The Half Moon as a music venue in South London?

The Half Moon on Lower Richmond Road has hosted live music every night since 1963 and is considered a landmark in Putney’s music scene. It has been described as

“the beating heart of the local social and music scene”,

hosting icons including The Rolling Stones, Kate Bush and Ed Sheeran. The venue closed in January 2026 for a major refurbishment, including a new glass-fronted orangery bar with retractable roof and spiral staircase, and reopened in April 2026. It is operated by brewery Young’s, which runs a network of pubs across the UK.

What is the broader context of domestic abuse policy and rehabilitation in the UK?

The UK government has recently launched a new Domestic Abuse Strategy 2025–2029 aimed at ensuring every resident can live free from fear and harm. The Sentencing Bill 2025 proposes a “domestic abuse flag” at sentencing to ensure offences involving domestic abuse are clearly identified and appropriately considered by judges or magistrates.

The Bill also includes a presumption to suspend prison sentences of 12 months or less, except in cases involving domestic abuse or violence against women and girls.

Recent data indicates that in the past year nearly 4 million people in the UK have been victims of some sort of domestic violence, which has been described as a national crisis.

At the same time, sentencing policy increasingly emphasises rehabilitation, community orders and intensive supervision for offenders who accept responsibility and engage with rehabilitation programmes.

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Background: How this development arose

This controversy stems from Tom Meighan’s 2020 domestic assault conviction and his subsequent solo career revival. Meighan, the former frontman of rock band Kasabian, was convicted in July 2020 after assaulting his then-partner Vikki Ager in April 2020.

He pleaded guilty at Leicester Magistrates’ Court, received an 18-month community order, 200 hours of unpaid work and five days of rehabilitation, and issued a public apology accepting full responsibility. Kasabian expelled him from the band shortly after.

Years later, Meighan relaunched his career as a solo artist, releasing a second album, Roadrunner, in November 2024 and touring the UK. The Half Moon in Putney, operated by Young’s, booked him for a gig on 26 June 2026, which quickly sold out.

Local residents, concerned about booking a performer with a domestic abuse conviction, contacted Putney MP Fleur Anderson, who wrote to Young’s CEO Simon Dodd raising objections. Young’s responded by stating the gig would proceed, citing Meighan’s accountability, rehabilitation and the principle that people can move forward after serving their sentence.

Prediction: How this development can affect Putney residents, domestic abuse survivors and the local music scene

This development is likely to affect several groups in distinct ways. For Putney residents and local domestic abuse survivors, the gig may be perceived as normalising or minimising the seriousness of domestic abuse, potentially undermining trust in local venues’ commitment to survivor safety and community values.

MP Fleur Anderson explicitly warned that hosting Meighan sends a damaging message to survivors at a time of strong national focus on victims of abuse. With nearly 4 million people in the UK affected by domestic violence in the past year, the decision could heighten anxiety and distress among survivors in the Putney area.

For the local music scene and The Half Moon’s audience, the controversy may polarise opinion. While the gig is sold out, suggesting strong demand for Meighan’s solo performances, the backlash could deter some attendees from future events at the venue if they perceive Young’s as insensitive to domestic abuse issues. Conversely, the venue’s stance on rehabilitation and second chances may attract supporters who believe in giving offenders who have shown accountability an opportunity to reintegrate into public life.

For Young’s and The Half Moon, the decision sets a precedent for how the pub chain handles bookings involving performers with serious criminal convictions. If the company proceeds with similar bookings in the future, it may face repeated community objections, negative publicity and potential pressure from MPs and advocacy groups.

At the same time, the decision aligns with broader UK sentencing trends that emphasise rehabilitation and intensive supervision for offenders who accept responsibility and engage with rehabilitation programmes.