Campaigners are demanding developers rebuild a pub ‘brick by brick’ if it is demolished to make way for luxury flats.
The Mitre in Crystal Palace has been one of the most famous watering holes in south-east London for over 150 years but wrecking crews have been called in to tear it down this week.
The owners of the historic building were granted permission to build ten flats as long as the ground floor was retained as a pub.
But work on the project was stopped after the building was deemed structurally unsafe.
Bromley Council has closed part of the busy Croydon Road over fears The Mitre and neighbouring shops, including a pharmacy and barbers, would collapse too.
Residents living above the shopping parade have also been moved out of their homes to allow for demolition.
Now, campaigners tell Metro they want their beloved Mitre to be rebuilt, the ‘lifeline’ pharmacy reopened and compensation paid back by developers.
It was built in 1867 and was one of the last pubs in London to feature a heated rail along the bottom of the bar so that weary Londoners could prop up the bar and keep their feet warm on a winter’s night.
demolition ordered by them was the ‘last resort.’
The pub building had been vacant since 2022 with famous graffiti artist Nathan Bowen tagging the venue’s shutters with one of his trademark designs.
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Lucy Pearce, who lives on the road opposite the beloved boozer, told Metro: ‘We want the pub rebuilt brick by brick.
‘We are very disappointed with the demolition and want the council to force the developer to rebuild our little piece of London history.
‘This pub was so special. We have lived here for decades and brought our children up here. The Mitre is part of the history of the area.’
Her partner Julian added: ‘We love the place. It should be retained for the community, it’s a hub for local people and should be rebuilt.’
Ella McCarthy has children with complex medical needs and relies on the local pharmacy, which has been closed while the demolition work takes place, for medication.
She said: ‘I rely on the pharmacy I really need the medication for the kids. The closure is a nightmare. We need a timeline as to when it can reopen.’
Chris Shaw, 38, a not-for-profit company director, is trying to sell one of the evacuated flats on the parade.
He told Metro: ‘The uncertainty is a nightmare, I have just one buyer because of this. There has been no agreement or offer of compensation from the owner.’
It is understood that after the demolition, the owner of the pub building will have to reapply for planning permission to construct flats.
Bromley Council will assess any new application and have said the demolition ordered by them was the ‘last resort.’
A Bromley Council spokesperson told Metro: ‘This demolition work is an absolute last resort, with our structural engineers advising that the building has become even more unstable and is now dangerous.
‘The road is closed to allow for preparation work, with a hoarding being erected around the building, with demolition work then getting underway.
‘Croydon Road will partially re-open once the hoarding is constructed and only fully re-open once the demolition work is complete.
‘We apologise for any inconvenience, with this work unavoidable from a safety perspective.”
In February 2024, South Staffordshire Council served an enforcement notice ordering the owners of the Crooked House in Himley to rebuild the iconic pub following its ‘unlawful demolition’.
