I am one of the three friends who have applied to change the use of 66 Honor Oak Park from a minimart to a local neighbourhood bar.
Our planning application was refused by the council in December last year; however, we have had our appeal validated and we’re hoping that the final decision will be one to celebrate in the near future.
Thank you to everyone who is supporting us and the time and energy you have given throughout the whole process, we are truly so grateful.
Many Thanks,
Kate
As a HOP local I am really excited about the idea of a new bar in our high street. I liked the original plans and was one of those that wrote to the council to question their refusal. With the arrival of Sainsbury there’s no need for the minimarts anymore, and a smart new bar will be so much better for the look and feel of the high street.
Best of luck Kate.
For those interested in the application, here it is on the council website:
… and some excerpts of the proposed layout and frontage:
I really hope the council see sense & grant you change of use Kate, I think you guys would be a great asset to HOP.
Very best of luck & I’ve got my fingers crossed for you x
I think it is good that the council try to protect A1 retail on high streets and local shopping areas such as Honor Oak Park.
There is a danger of high streets dying if there is too much A2, A5, B1, B2 or residential conversions. Even A3/A4 can lead to a dead high street during the day.
However, Honor Oak has relatively recently seen the conversion of the Honor Oak Tandoori into Sainsburys so there is more A1 than previously. And if anybody thought that the new Sainsburys would not lead to the loss of some smaller A1 units, they were kidding themselves.
I also wrote in your favour - we really need a nice watering hole and it would be a distinctive addition to the high street. Good luck!
We agree that it’s important to have a mix of uses to promote a vibrant high street but as you say @ArthurPint, things have changed since the arrival of Sainsburys. There is no way that we would have gone as far as to appeal if it hadn’t been for the positive response from local people at the idea of a new neighbourhood bar in HOP. We are particularly grateful to the current owners who have been incredibly patient throughout the entire process and we feel we have built a good relationship with over the past year.
Hi Kate,
I’d gladly support a bar in HOP. A wine bar would be especially nice 
. Do you plan to open during the day or just in the evenings?
Thanks Liz,
Our plan is to open from Monday to Thursday 4pm to 11pm, Friday 4pm to 12am, Saturday 12pm to 12am, Sunday 12pm to 11pm. We won’t have a kitchen so we will be plan to offer an assortment of nibbles.
Offering a choice of wine is definitely part of our plan 
We would like to host regular wine tastings with a different focus each time so people can try wine they may not have had before. Thanks so much for the suggestion, it is so great to hear what people would like.
you’re speaking my language now - still a bit further from home for me than I’d ideally like, but looking forward to hearing more 
@thirstforwine Thanks so much 
we will definitely let you know as soon as we hear any news from the inspectors. Thanks to everyone for all the lovely comments. We’re really enjoying this new forum @anon5422159 thanks so much for inviting us to post
This sounds like a very exciting project and would be a welcome addition to the high-street. Fingers crossed for you!
Sarah
Sounds great! Would you ever consider opening in the daytime though as I think HOP is majorly missing a place to hang out and have a decent coffee/ glass of wine at lunch?
Thank you so much for asking about our opening hours @Emily_Rich. Initially we plan to open at 4pm from Monday to Friday and from 12pm on Saturdays, Sundays and bank holidays. We decided on these opening hours, taking into account the hours and offerings of other local businesses, however, once we are open and if there is a demand to, we will consider opening earlier. We will be offering a variety of drinks, which will include coffee, tea and hot chocolate as well as a selection of soft drinks, wines, beers and spirits. We have ideas about the specific products we will have available and we gratefully welcome any suggestions.
I know @Kate personally & can vouch that her plans for this new place will be totally amazing for #HOP I’d love to have her & the gang in #FH But you have all the pleasure #HOP so get supporting her on her fantastic venture!
Got everything crossed for you @Kate. Xx
Thank you @Pauline you’ve helped us so much and we’re ever so grateful. We have all our fingers crossed for you guys too. Been thinking of you lots and keep checking for any updates. So looking forward to working with you in the future
No worries @Kate thank you xx incase anyone doesn’t know what Kate is supporting me in, it’s our library & they are willing to pitch in & get involved! @Kate I’l let you know about all updates as soon as I get them x
Looks like the Appeal Inspector just dismissed the appeal on the basis of:
Really sorry to see this news, @Kate 
There were many of us that supported your plans for the bar, and who felt that a bar would bring more vitality and viability than a dwindling mini-mart opposite Sainsbury.
I wonder what will replace the mini-mart now, if/when it closes down?
Indeed, though it is the Appeal Inspector not Lewisham Planning who have reached this latest decision. Part of the reason for failure is that there was insufficient evidence of attempts to market it as anything else:
http://planning.lewisham.gov.uk/online-applications/files/57C7C91F89354BD653A02ED52FE259B6/pdf/DC_15_92715--465889.pdf
Am intrigued, though by the following paragraph, and actually wonder whether the inspector really visited the site:
"10. However, between the appeal site and Grierson Road nos. 68-70, 72 and 76-78
are all in Class A3/A4 use. The proposal would therefore create a cluster of
non-retail uses on the northern side of the parade. Whilst bars and night-time
uses can add to the vibrancy of a parade, the adjacent ‘Stonebar’ only opens
during the evenings and is closed on Sundays and Mondays. The ‘Old Bank’
also remains shut until midday. When bearing in mind that the appeal proposal
would not open until 16:00 hours either, the concentration of non-retail uses
on this part of the parade would create an inactive frontage into the late
afternoon. In doing so, I agree with the Council that it would lead to an
imbalance of uses, and that the cumulative effect of nos. 66-70 being closed
for large parts of the day would have a detrimental effect on the vitality and
vibrancy of the local shopping parade. "
@Brett That is slightly odd. Apart from school kids returning home what goes on a 4pm during the week?
