An application to demolish a Forest Hill pub in order to build a hotel has been met with fury.
All Inn One, on 53 Perry Vale, described as "one of the jewels in Forest Hill’s Crown", would be replaced with a 65-roomed hotel if plans are accepted.
1, This is terrible news! I've a bit of an emotional connection to this place, every Tuesday afternoon back in the late 80s to mid-90s I used to meet up with my much missed grandad and the rest of the regulars..
— Tony Yardley (@LordAlwold) November 17, 2018
Councillor Liam Curran told News Shopper the proposal was "mad" and he was "utterly upset" by it.
He added: "I have been going there since I was a teenager. It has been a permanent feature of my life. It’s such a great pub and it would be a terrible loss.
"To lose a busy and successful pub would be unthinkable. If this pub goes then no pub is safe.
"Julia and her husband Richard have done a brilliant job, they serve good food and beer."
Vanquish Iconic Developments has submitted the proposals to Lewisham Council who will now decide whether to grant the application.
A public house and a restaurant are included in the plans to construct the new six-storey hotel.
Utterly gobsmacked at an application to demolish the fantastic All Inn One pub in Forest Hill (formerly the Forresters) to build a hotel. Unbelievable cultural & social vandalism. *Rolls up sleeves* If you care please join those of us who are fighting this please get in touch. pic.twitter.com/VU7M8c3XtY
— Cllr Liam Curran (@CllrCurran) November 17, 2018
Cllr Curran said he is not against a hotel in Forest Hill but stressed that demolishing a pub was not the answer.
He said: "You can’t create something nice by smashing up something nice that is already functioning.
"Let’s hope there is a hotel here one day, but don’t knock down a very good pub."
In a passionate tweet, Cllr Curran described the proposal as cultural and social vandalism.
He said it was one of the biggest responses he has had to a tweet, which he believes highlights the popularity of the pub once known as the Forresters Arms.
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