Plans have been submitted for the demolition of a former pub in Dulwich that has been derelict for years, after it was deemed not viable to renovate. The Grove Tavern pub has been left unused since 2012 after suffering a fire. Located on a junction on Lordship Lane, Dulwich, the pub was once a popular spot for locals in the area.
Structural Issues and Viability Concerns
Dulwich Estate, which recently took back the pub's lease, is keen to secure the site's future. After a structural survey showed that the timber structures of the first and second floors, as well as the roof, were not salvageable, the fire-damaged areas were found to be similarly unsalvageable. They also conducted a viability study that indicated that attempting to restore or repair the roof would not be economically viable, leading to the decision to earmark the building for demolition.
History of The Grove Tavern
The building was taken over as a Harvester Inn in the 1980s before being taken over by the Stonegate Pub Company. In 2012, a kitchen fire caused significant damage to the building. Since then, the building has been vacant and in disrepair. Stonegate's lease on the pub recently ended, returning it to the ownership of Dulwich Estate.
Community Use and Planning Application
In recent years, a skate park was erected in the car park, and the public house's garden was used by the community as a growing space, with planted beds and pathways. In the planning application submitted to Southwark Council, The Dulwich Estate proposes dedicating the space to a community garden until 2029, while the building is demolished.
As the site has remained derelict for many years, The Dulwich Estate believes this is the best course of action for the site. Even though some people have claimed the building has a significant status in the area and on Lordship Lane, the planning application states that the damage and vacant status of the building for over a decade has meant that it is now in a state of substantial disrepair, with the majority of the windows being broken, graffiti across all elevations, and unsightly security fencing to the west.
Resident Reactions
Residents reacting to the news of the planned demolition on London Pubs Facebook page expressed their feelings about the news. One person wrote: "Loved this pub in the 1970’s, they used to have a cooked turkey and beef on the bar and cut you fresh turkey sandwiches, they were to die for." Another person wrote: "What a waste of a wonderful building (built 1923) left to rot by its last owners. If it wasn't to be taken over by another brewery, then at least convert it to domestic use."
The planning application is now under consideration by Southwark Council, and the future of the site hangs in the balance as the community awaits a decision.
