Council blocks development to protect ‘unique' White Hart pub

The managers of craft beer pub and music venue the White Hart in New Cross, south London have won a battle with their freeholder to block the conversion of guest rooms into residential flats.

Patrick and Joseph Ryan had argued that the Wellington Pub Group's plans would have made their business "untenable" as the venue would have been forced to close at midnight and stop playing amplified music.

Lewisham Council agreed with the operators recommending the application for refusal. Officers said: "The proposal is unacceptable in terms of the loss of a public house with a unique and intrinsic character, including live music provision and a late-night venue. The loss would have consequential and harmful impacts on diversity of venues, inclusivity and harm to the wider late-night economy."

The Ryans had collected more than 3,250 signatures on a petition to block the proposal and successfully encouraged more than 300 supporters to submit letters to the local authority, which formerly rejected the plans earlier this month.

Joseph said: "We really couldn't have done it without the overwhelming support from the community. We are so thankful to everyone who supported us."

More than 3,000 sign petition to ‘save' south London pub>>