The old Market Tavern on Lewisham High Street is finally returning to use with a brand new pub – with free mulled cider on opening day.

The once derelict and graffiti-covered building is being transformed by pub company Antic to become the new Suttons Radio.

The name originates from an old hand-painted advertising ghost sign found by builders during the preliminary works, belonging to the E & H Hadley Lewisham business which traded on the site for more than half a century.

Suttons Radio will open its doors on November 23 at 6pm and stay open until midnight and anyone visiting in the first hour will be able to enjoy a free Naughty George mulled cider and one of Antic’s signature sausage rolls.

The bar will sell a selections of wins, real ale and craft beers, including from local brewery favourites like Villages, Hop Stuff and Gipsy Hill.

Anthony Thomas, founder of Antic, said: “We are delighted to announce the opening of Sutton’s Radio, the name we discovered stained into the original stone façade of the building.

“We gave up the Ravensbourne under duress but in the knowledge that we had managed to secure a better situated replacement, the former Market Tavern in the central of Lewisham town, a pub that had been closed for many years and a very poor 1990’s throwback.

“We very much look forward to welcoming you on November 23 to this the first part of the plan.”