Woolwich pub dream is over: Shop plans submitted
Plans to open a pub on Hare Street in Woolwich are officially over after a planning application went in to convert a long derelict building into a shop.
This finally draws a line under some frankly silly ideas by Antic to open a pub beside the old art deco co-op department store.
That end of town is improving but a lot of housing is yet to be built.
The building in question is an older Victorian structure that was also once owned by the Royal Arsenal Co-operative Society.
The old department store next door (as a kid I was oddly transfixed by the grand staircase) and adjacent building have long been closed. The 1990s killed them off – and that’s a time Woolwich really was in the gutter. It’s improving but nowhere near enough for a pub.
Plans came and went for the site, as covered on this site for more than a decade, but ultimately it was never a going concern. Antic have recently sold up.
Hare Street between Powis Street and the river has improved a lot since the 1990s and 2000s but never had the footfall to sustain such a place.
In recent weeks scaffolding has been applied to the structure which has been rotting away for many a year.
It’s a shame but realistically a pub was never going to work.
Maybe in 10-20 years when the Waterfront centre is redeveloped and Mortgramit Square finally begins its long awaited development, but not now, as anyone who knows Woolwich could tell you.
As for Antic, their other former Woolwich pub at the Woolwich Equitable is now a Nepali restaurant. Which is great by the way. Go check it out.
In such a tough time for hospitality it’s wonderful some are willing to take on units.
Death of an idea
It’s a bittersweet moment. Antic tried in Woolwich where no one else did.
Sure the likes of Youngs open places but few others try in the “old” Woolwich. And Youngs are often so very boring.
I admired Antic for that, and the Equitable was the best pub in Woolwich bar none aside from the corporate dreariness seen nearby.
Decent DJs, live music, events; they had a clue.
But they always seemed to be operating on a wing and a prayer.
That’s now gone.
I have been watching these building
(in Powis Street) for many years now. It’s a shame both buildings couldn’t be a pub/restaurant. I guess it’s all about timing but with the clear and obvious future influx of students (see student accommodation plans in Woolwich) to my mind development like the original plan would encourage these young people to stay in Woolwich of an evening and spend money in our local economy. As opposed to jumping on the Lizzie line and spending their money elsewhere.
Do we know what type of shop will be introduced on this site?
I do think with so.many residents moving in to new developments in and around Wookwich Yown Centre along with hundreds of students moving in to student blocks. Woolwich could do with a low cost store like Aldi or farm foods fot example to helo students and people on lower incomes. along with more pubs and restaurants to help improve the night time economy. To encourage more people in to the area at night But to achieve this the Council and police will need to tackle the anti social behaviour and crime in the area..
I think the bottom end of Powis Street and Hate Street need to see upgrades to improve the pavements. Insrall.new brighter Street lighting, clean up the front of the buildings and get empty buildings refurbished and brought back To generally improve the area
Like the rest of Powis Street and Beresford Square.
I do agree with so many students moving into the hundreds of student rooms in new student blocks around Woolwich and with many students residents on lower to moderate incomes Woolwich would benefit from an Aldi Storec to compliment the existing stores. I also agree Woolwich could do with some more pubs and restaurants to help improve the night tine economy.
However. I have to agree the biggest problem that blights Woolwich is the anti social behaviour and crime in the area since Woolwich was left to go in to decline over many years.
Woolwich used to be a thriving town centre and could be again with the right management working more closely with business owners and tackling the issues that have blighted Woolwich for so many years including anti social behaviour.and crime.