Lewisham town hall trying to find new landlord for Catford club after evicting previous tenants at short notice
Want to run a pub from next spring?
Lewisham Council is looking for an operator to run the new pub, art, performance and music space at the former Catford Constitutional Club.
The venue, part of plans for Thomas Lane Yard, a new development aiming to deliver new affordable homes and bring more people to the town centre.
But a note on the club’s website from the previous landlord still says: “We are hugely disappointed to have only been given seven days’ notice to vacate a building that we had resurrected after it having been derelict for over ten years.”
Refurbishment of the former Catford Constitutional Club is set to begin in summer next year, ahead of a planned opening in spring 2023.
Catford Regeneration Partnership Limited, the Council’s own company is seeking an operator to run the new pub as well as new art, performance and music activities planned for the new building.
The Georgian part of the building started life as a farmhouse and is the oldest remaining building in Catford.
Once refurbished, the new pub and cultural space will create new jobs as well as apprenticeships and training
opportunities.
A selection process has been launched which welcomes creative bids from established pub operators, community-led organisations or social enterprises to create a welcoming meeting place.
Alongside plans for a new pub in the refurbished Catford Constitutional building, a new pedestrianised space will be created with flexible workspace for local businesses, small shops and food and drink kiosks.
Up to 100 new homes will be built, of which over 50% will be affordable with 40 homes for social rent for those on the Council’s housing register.
Thomas Lane Yard will be one of the first projects to come forward as part of the Council’s vision for the future of Catford, which has been informed by over 3,000 comments from local residents.
A new largely car-free public space will be planted with new trees and greenery with a children’s play area.
Supporting the Council’s ambition for Catford to be the greenest town centre in London, this will help encourage local people to walk or cycle local journeys.
Cllr Paul Bell, Cabinet Member for Housing and Planning said:
“Refurbishment of the former Catford Constitutional Club brings an opportunity for new jobs and skills development for local people as well as new cultural activities that will support Catford’s economy.
We’ve set the bar high in our search for a socially-minded operator that can manage this creative space in the town centre.
“Thomas Lane Yard will also deliver genuinely affordable homes that local people need. Over half of the homes will be affordable with 40% for social rent, helping to address Lewisham’s housing crisis.
“We want Catford to be the greenest town centre in London and a generous, largely car-free public square will create a great space for local people. Sustainable urban drainage, planting with large tree canopies, green roofs and low carbon heating systems in the new buildings will help improve air quality and reduce the environmental impact of the surrounding buildings.”
“I encourage anyone interested in finding out more about our plans to sign up for one of our five drop-in consultation events either in person or online.”
The site covers the area currently used as Thomas Lane car park, to the rear of Catford Broadway accessed from Thomas Lane and incorporates the Thomas Lane depot, currently occupied under a meanwhile-use arrangement by Supersets.
A planning application for Thomas Lane Yard will be submitted later this year and a public consultation on the proposals will launch next week.
Anyone interested in finding out more about the Thomas Lane Yard proposals can join a drop-in consultation event:
- Tuesday 14th September, 6-7pm via Zoom
- Thursday 16th September, 3pm – 7pm at 17/18 Catford Broadway
- Saturday 18th September, 10am – 2pm at 17/18 Catford Broadway
- Tuesday 21st September, 6-7pm via Zoom
- Sunday 26th September, 10am – 4pm at the Catford Food Market
Find out more about the operator’s brief for the former Catford Constitutional Club and register for Zoom events to learn about plans for Thomas Lane Yard at www.beyondbroadwaycatford.co.uk.
Main Pic: Catford Constitutional Club
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