Works underway to restore former Catford Constitutional Club
The locally listed Victorian building previously operated as a pub but was forced to close in 2019 due to structural and safety concerns. The historic local landmark will now be refurbished and reopened as a pub, with a community kitchen and space for performance, music and arts.
The adjoining Georgian farmhouse, the oldest building in Catford and the only remaining part of the original farm dating back to 1736, will also be brought back into use, having remained derelict for more than 20 years.
The project is being delivered by Lewisham Council, supported by £1.65m in funding from the Mayor of London’s Good Growth Fund.
Hayatsu Architects have designed proposals for the refurbished building, as part of a team led by Turner Works. The Council have commissioned Claremont Refurbishment to carry out the works.
The operators of the new pub are set to be announced later this year, along with further information about the pub’s offer to the local community. Works are expected to finish in 2024.
The restoration of the former Catford Constitutional Club is one of the first major projects to come forward since the adoption of the Catford Town Centre Framework in 2021. Developed by Lewisham Council and shaped by over 3,000 comments from local residents, the Catford Town Centre Framework sets out a shared vision for the future of Catford over the coming decades. It aims to create the greenest town centre in London, improve Catford's night-time economy and deliver much-needed homes, more space for shops and businesses, improved public space and better walking and cycling infrastructure.
Cllr Brenda Dacres, Cabinet Member for Housing Development and Planning, said: “This is an important milestone in our plans to bring this historic building back into public use. Community and culture are at the heart of our vision for the future of Catford Town Centre, so I’m delighted that the new pub will have a focus on both. Despite the challenges the last few years have presented, we are pushing on with our plans to transform Catford Town Centre, so that it continues to grow into a vibrant place for local residents to live, work and visit.”
Takeshi Hayatsu, Director of Hayatsu Architects, said: “We are excited to start the refurbishment and transformation of the former Catford Constitutional Club building. The new interventions will ensure the longevity of the historic building fabric and open up new spaces for the future sustainable use of a much-loved community asset.”
Raphael Arthur, Lead Architect and Masterplanner at Turner Works, said: “We are delighted to be leading the first phase of work for a revitalised town centre working with Lewisham and partners to bring this vision to life. The sensitive and creative restoration of the Catford Constitutional Club represents the first building block in an exciting broader vision to reimagine Catford town centre as an inclusive, sustainable, and vibrant neighbourhood.”