A local history society is rallying the troops to protect The Elephant and Castle pub after news broke that plans were being developed for the site by estate agents Foxtons.
The Walworth Society has submitted an application to have the pub registered as an Asset of Community Value. This could mean the community would be offered the chance to purchase the pub or could help to retain the use of the site as a public house.
Chair of the Walworth Society, Jeremy Leach, says there has been a public house on the roundabout site, at the junction of Newington Causeway and New Kent Road, since 1765 and it is the origin of the name of the area.
Southwark Council’s cabinet member for regeneration and new homes, Mark Williams, said the Foxton’s proposal to take over the venue was not “part of our plan and we will work with the local community to stop this from happening.”
Earlier this year the owners of the Elephant and Castle pub had their licence revoked following two violent incidents at the end of January. A late-night brawl on January 29 saw a man stabbed “in the eye with a pen, which remained there until it was removed by staff at hospital,” according to Southwark Council’s licensing committee. Two days later, another “serious assault” occurred at the venue, in which one customer accused another of inappropriately touching his girlfriend and struck him, causing facial injuries. The pub’s licence was temporarily suspended as an interim measure, but this suspension has now been made permanent following the committee’s meeting on March 2.
If you would like to support the Walworth Society in their bid to retain the site as a public house, email jeremydhleach@compuserve.com