Campaigners fighting to save a beloved Borough boozer from demolition received a blow last week when an application for listed status was turned down.
The rejection notice from Historic England acknowledged that, while the pub did boast “local architectural and historic interest”, it was not unique enough to become Grade II listed, which could have protected it against future development plans.
The Lant Street watering hole is currently in danger of being demolished after developers put forward plans to replace it with a ten-storey block of flats.
The rejection notice from Historic England said that unfortunately the building was of “standard construction” for its era, the portraits “do not appear original”, the windows “modern replacements” and the fixtures and fittings “standard.”
Walworth Society chair Jeremy Leach, who nominated the pub for listing, said: “We are disappointed, because it really is a characterful inter-war public house with a great live music scene. The bar for getting listed just keeps getting higher and higher.
“Gone are the days when a pretty building can just get listed. It’s about being really special these days. Nobody goes in confident anymore but we were hopeful because a whole load of inter-war pubs were listed a little while back.”
Campaigners are still urging punters and residents to object to the planning application, on the council’s planning portal.
Already nearly 350 people have submitted comments – you can add your own by visiting www.southwark.gov.uk/planning and searching the portal using 15/AP/3137