Woolwich bar opens at proposed Antic pub site
Two Woolwich town centre buildings which saw many plans but no action from Antic over the years has seen new signs go up.
Classic Lounge will operate on site at the western end of Powis Street beside the former co-op department store.
Upper floors at both units have been renovated. The site saw both buildings sit vacant for many years. Antic first saw an application to open a pub on site approved more than 12 years ago with others following. none ever went anywhere, with the last being in 2020 as covered on this site.
Since then numerous pubs close including another the Woolwich Equitable on General Gordon Square.
Antic operate a somewhat complex financial structure for its sites. The Powis Street proposal was to named Powis Arms and then The Volunteer, before Babel Silk Ltd entered liquidation.
Classic Lounge doesn’t look open from the outside (click the image and see the windows) but online they have advertised events with an opening back in July.
Upper floors previously had approved plans for conversion into four flats.
Nearby changes
Next door sits the former co-op department store. Once threatened with demolition, the art deco building has seen upper floors converted into residential use.
Recently plans went in to convert ground floor units into commercial space and shops.
Heading further west again and plans for new homes are still awaiting a decision.
That’s the Mortgrammit site. Shops here have been shut for years in advance of redevelopment, though little progress has been seen for a decade.
I am always pleased to see and hear of empty buildings being brougjt back in to use to provide new retail space other commercial spaces or new homes. As mixed developments can work well in and around town centres and local shopping parades etc. Providing more amenities and much needed new homes.
Both parts of this building were also once part of the RACS (Co-op) complex, 132 Powis Street (red brick building) is listed in 1950 phone book as housing pharmacy and optician.
136 is listed as chief office of the funeral furnishing department, and has ‘Each for all and all for each” (RACS motto) in the circular plaque above the first floor windows.
1950s OS map shows 132/134 as being part of the same building as the ‘department store’ building (and 29-31 Hare Street) – https://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/#zoom=18.9&lat=51.49281&lon=0.06302&layers=173&b=ESRIWorld&o=100