The former Catford Constitutional Club will open this autumn as The Catford House – a new community venue operated by the Greenwich Co-operative Development Agency (GCDA).
The Catford House will offer a restored pub and garden, a new community kitchen, flexible smaller spaces and Catford’s oldest building, the original Georgian Hall, opening to the public for the first time.
Catford Constitutional Club was a popular local pub until its closure in 2019.
Its original core is a Georgian farmhouse built in 1736, the oldest building in Catford, with successive mid-19th and 20th century extensions added to it.
Due to years of neglect and lack of maintenance, the building fabric and structure deteriorated to the extent that it was eventually unsafe.
New operator, GCDA, a not-for-profit organisation with over forty years’ experience creating community hubs in southeast London, believes The Catford House should be about more than drinking and will offer a broad range of programmes – everything from casual social gatherings and private parties, food pop-ups to exercise classes, clubs, workshops, meetings, exhibitions and performances.
GCDA has partnered with Portobello Brewery, who also operate The Catford Bridge Tavern, to run The Catford House. Local businesses and community groups are encouraged to get in touch about potential collaborations and partnership opportunities.
The refurbishment has been supported by a £1.8 million contribution from the Mayor of London’s Good Growth Fund.
The project has been led by Turner Works and Hayatsu architect, and marks a big step in Phase 1 of the Catford Town Centre Framework plan which sets out the vision for the future of Catford and was adopted by the council in 2021.
Earlier this year, Thomas Lane Yard, a significant housing and mixed-use regeneration scheme, was approved by the council, transforming an underused carpark north of Catford Broadway.
The scheme will involve more than a hundred new affordable homes, green public spaces, commercial and affordable workspace.
Lewisham council approves Catford scheme for 100 new homes, workspaces, commercial units and green public space
Lewisham council has approved a major regeneration scheme in the heart of Catford which is set to provide more than 100 affordable new homes, new workspaces, commercial units and green public spaces
The scheme, Thomas’ Lane Yard, will transform a site north of Catford Broadway with two housing blocks – eight and twelve storeys – arranged around a communal public and green space which connects to a new pub garden built as part of the former Catford Constitutional Club (CCC) site. The club is expected to reopen later this year.
The development will provide 113 affordable homes – 39 for social rent and 74 shared ownership flats, as well as more than 1,000sqm of commercial and office space. The homes will be fitted with green roofs, solar panels and air source heat pumps.
Around the toweres will an area of public space to make the area greener, cleaner and more accessible. New trees will be planted and existing mature trees will kept on the site.
It is hoped to start construction in 2026 once the contractor has been chosen.
The project is part of the first phase of the Catford Town Centre Framework which was adopted by the Council in 2021. It aims to turn Catford into the greenest town centre in London, while delivering new homes, shops, improved public spaces, and enhanced walking and cycling infrastructure.
The restoration of the former constitutional club is nearly complete and set to reopen later this year with a community kitchen, pub, and areas for music and arts.
Designed as an inclusive space for residents, the revitalised club will offer employment opportunities, business support, community training programmes and a calendar of events.