Antic plans pubs for Grove Park, Deptford and Woolwich (From News Shopper)

Antic plans pubs for Grove Park, Deptford and Woolwich

4:57pm Tuesday 22nd January 2013 in Greenwich news By Mark Chandler

A GROVE PARK pub which was saved from demolition is due to be reopened by the Antic chain - which is also taking over two more boozers in the area.

The Baring Hall Hotel had been subject to several planning applications which would have seen it demolished and redeveloped before a community group and councillors stepped in to save it in 2011.

Now investment agent Kingsbury have arranged the sale of the pub to Antic, which hopes to reopen the 131-year-old building and start again trading later this year.

Ward councillor Cllr Suzannah Clarke said: "I'm very keen if this is a viable option.

"I've always believed that it's a beautiful building and an asset to Grove Park.

"It would reinforce the position of Grove Park Community Group and the whole community when they said this is a workable business."

Keir Goldstein from Kingsbury said: "This is a case where the local community has had its views listened to and accepted, and they will get back their much-loved pub."

The news comes despite a subsidiary of Antic, Antic Ltd, which runs Brockley's Jam Circus - currently closed due to fire - and New Cross's Royal Albert, going into administration this month.

Operations manager Max Alderman said those pubs would remain open while parent company Antic London - which runs the majority of the its businesses, including places like the Catford Bridge Tavern and Lewisham's Ravensbourne Arms - was completely unaffected.

He said: "It doesn't really affect any of the pubs to be honest. We're hoping that we can bring them out the other side. They're all still trading."

Antic has also applied for a licence to open the old Deptford Job Centre as a pub, while Greenwich Council officers have approved its licensing application for a boozer at Equitable House, Woolwich, with the deal currently being finalised and an opening planned later this year.