Local paper identifies extreme road rage driver as SW London cafe chain owner

A local newspaper has identified a motorist who was filmed unleashing an expletive-laden rant against a cyclist near Richmond Park as a master butcher and south west London coffee shop owner – with his business now facing a backlash from cyclists on social media.

The Richmond & Twickenham Times says that the Land Rover driver featured in the YouTube video we reported on yesterday is Jason Wells, owner of the Brew café chain, with outlets in Clapham, Putney, Wandsworth and Wimbledon. His representatives are making no comment at this time.

The business is due to open new branches in Chiswick and Kew according to the newspaper, which besides accompanying its article with a still from the video filmed in March this year, also has a picture taken from his Twitter profile of Mr Wells in a calmer moment … albeit posing with a meat cleaver.

The location of the chain’s outlets means it is popular with cyclists in the south west of the capital heading to or from Richmond Park or further afield – although some are reconsidering whether they should continue to give it their custom, according to these tweets.

@brew_cafe used to be my favourite too. @annasykes @mattb80 & I used to spend ££ there every Saturday brunch. Not any more. We're cyclists

— Pablo Burt (@Pablo_Burt) June 1, 2015

@simonbromley remarkable given Brew on LRR is FULL of cyclists paying £20 a pop for brunch every day. I'm one of them. If it's him, obvs...

— Pablo Burt (@Pablo_Burt) June 1, 2015

@Pablo_Burt @brew_cafe What a plonker. Not going into any of those cafes again!!

— rogerbarr (@rogerbarr) June 1, 2015

In case you missed our story yesterday, here’s the video again – we should warn you, it contains extreme language, so not one to watch at work with the sound turned up.

The Richmond & Twickenham Times says that a spokeswoman for Samphire Communications, speaking on behalf of Mr Wells, said she was “not confirming” whether or not it was him in the video, adding “ and “There will be no comment at this time.”

The cyclist who shot the footage said that the motorist involved has been fined for committing a public order offence.