Lewisham pub to turn into four flats Pic: Sister Midnight

A Lewisham pub, which shut down in 2016, is seeking planning permission to turn its bar area into flats.

Ravensbourne Arms, owned by the pub group Antic, closed almost a decade ago after permission to turn the floors above the bar into flats was granted.

The pub, located on Lewisham High Street, now has flats on the floors above, but the bar area remains empty even today.

The pub had also been subject to a campaign to turn it into a community music venue. In 2021, Sister Midnight, a Deptford record shop, launched a crowdfunding campaign for the same reason.

Documents show that the pub’s owners had put it on offer for £3.2 million. Sister Midnight made an offer at £1.8-1.9 million, which was rejected.

Since then, Lewisham Council offered Sister Midnight the Brookdale Club, to open a community music venue.

All the proceedings raised by crowdfunding went into developing the ruined site.

No decision made

Ravensbourne Arms Ltd has now applied to Lewisham Council to convert the bar space into four flats instead.

Formerly known as Coach and Horses, the pub was taken over by Antic in 2011, which then changed the name to Ravensbourne Arms.

However, the Planning Statement provided shows that the building of flats within the property of the pub will help Lewisham reach its housing goals faster, as this building will accommodate four more flats. According to the statement, all the plans are in agreement with government regulations and policies, and the council is urged that “the application is approved without delay”.

Each of the flats is also guaranteed to be high-end apartments that meet the quality of accommodation in Lewisham.

The council said: “People are welcome to view it and leave their comments on our website as per the normal planning application process, and the Council will consider it in due course.”