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The Kentish Drovers on Peckham High Street has served its final pint.
The Drovers has been a public house for 50 years, and was a Wetherspoons for half of that time. After being put up for sale last July, a spokesperson for JD Wetherspoon has confirmed that the property has now been sold. The sale went through on Friday September 11 and the Kentish Drovers closed for good.
What’s next for the building? A bingo hall, it seems. In August, a company called LCE Property Ltd submitted a planning application to turn the ground floor and the basement of 71-79 Peckham High Street into a bingo venue. A planning statement says that the aim is for the new venue to ‘attract patrons of all ages’ and for it to be ‘community orientated’.
It adds: ‘Beyond the gambling aspect, these venues act as vital social hubs that encourage local interaction, build relationships, and help reduce loneliness for participants.
‘It reuses commercial floorspace, causes no unacceptable amenity impacts and enhances vitality and viability in our ever declining high streets.’
Proposals show a 62-capacity open plan bingo hall and a lounge area ‘designated for social interaction
where participants can wait for specific bingo games and related spot competitions’ on the ground floor, but no stage for a traditional bingo caller. The basement will be for toilets, staff areas and storage. The application also clarifies that no alcohol would be served or permitted on the premises.
The application is now under consideration by Southwark Council’s planning team. So far, there have been three public objections submitted by locals, all of which take issue with the gambling aspect of the venue. One alleges that the venue is in fact ‘a high-density electronic slot machine arcade (Adult Gaming Centre) in disguise’.
Another states: ‘This Wetherspoons is one of Peckham's most inclusive, accessible, and affordable community hubs. It welcomes people of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities – including those who don’t gamble. It fills a massive gap for affordable, all-inclusive social space. Converting it to a gambling-focused venue removes a safe, welcoming space for everyone in our community [...] Local residents have repeatedly said we want LESS gambling, not more.’
A decision on the change of use application is expected by October 14.
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