Catford Constitutional Club

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The Former Catford Constitutional Club is soon to reopen as The Catford House pub and community centre in the autumn under Greenwich Cooperative agency management. The Big Retort did a walkby and managed to get a pre-opening invite inside to see the transformation.

The project is being delivered by Lewisham Council supported by £1.8m 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, and Claremont Refurbishment.

 

Restoring the former Catford Constitutional Club

The former Catford Constitutional Club is one of the oldest buildings in the town centre, the former Catford Constitutional Club, and bring it back into public use.

We are working to restore one of the oldest buildings in the town centre, so briini=ging it back into public use is a wonderful initiative.

The locally listed Victorian building was forced to close in August 2019 due to structural and safety issues. 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, along with the renovation of the former Catford Constitutional Club (CCC), is part of the first phase of the Catford Town Centre Framework (CTCF) adopted by the council in 2021.

The night I visited the entrance was blocked, but a couple I bumped into said I should try the Thomas Lane entrance where they were headed. It was through a set of pedestrians gates. Fortunatly for them they had invites to what was a family and friends prelaunch to iron out the wrinkles. 

And iron out the wrinkles they have. Mel Taylor, having heard how far I had walked from Brockley to get there, allowed me a sneak preview. Thanks Mel!

First off were the hall and rooms on the top floor (accessible by lift), each with a planned community function that remains seductively fluid. The place was not only extremely inviting but warm throughout.

The works and old-alongside-new design has brought this old establishment phoenix-like from the south-London ashes. Lewisham council has approved a major regeneration scheme in the heart of Catford.

The main room is cavernous. Simply fab!

 


Mel introduced me to CEO Claire Pritchard. Besides being the sister of another Mel (Melanie) who I know and bumped into there, Clair has been Director of the GCDA since 2010. It specialises in developing social enterprises and is a highly respected provider of social enterprise, public health and training programmes.  Clair developed a new strategic direction for the GCDA moving the organisation away from grant funding and focusing instead on generating its own revenue to fund its charitable objectives.

I stayed for a quiet pint in the large and relaxing bar area of the Club.  No date yet is arranged for the main opening. But check it out when it  does.

·     Address: Catford Broadway, SE6 4SP

It’s tucked down a narrow alley just off Broadway




 

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