Bromley and Lewisham’s Pubs We’ve Sadly Said Goodbye To
Explore the stories behind Bromley and Lewisham’s lost pubs and their cultural impact
Bromley, Lewisham, London, Pubs, David Bowie, Music Venues
Bromley: We all know London is packed with pubs, right? There are over 3,500 of them, some dating back to the 16th century. It’s a real treasure trove of history.
But here’s the bummer: in just the last year, 55 pubs in the capital have closed their doors. That includes some beloved spots in southeast London, like The London & Rye in Catford, which served drinks for two decades.
Sam Cullen, in his new book “London’s Lost Pubs,” takes us on a journey through 200 pubs that have vanished over the years. He digs into old guides and reviews from as far back as the 1920s to share their stories.
Cullen has a soft spot for places like the Zeitgeist in Lambeth and the Sun and Dove in Camberwell. He says, “It’s sad these pubs are gone, but I want to keep their stories alive, along with the quirky folks who used to hang out there.”
He believes pubs are a window into social and cultural history. His book celebrates these spots as a way to reflect on London life.
To make the cut for his book, a pub had to close in the last 25 years and have an interesting backstory. So, let’s dive into some of Bromley and Lewisham’s lost pubs that made the list.
Bromley
The Three Tuns
This pub on Bromley High Street was a favorite of David Bowie, who played there many times. It opened in the 1830s and had that classic mock Tudor look.
Bowie was a regular on Sunday evenings from the 1960s until 1973. Sadly, it closed in 2003, and now you’ll find a Zizzi where it once stood.
The Saxon Tavern
Located on the Lewisham and Bromley border, this pub was a hotspot for live music and DJ sets. It opened in 1945, originally called The King Alfred, and lasted about 50 years before closing in the 1990s. Now, it’s a Lidl.
Back in the day, it hosted big names like Les Dawson and Bob Monkhouse, plus a mix of music acts from jazz to soul.
Lewisham
The Montague Arms
This New Cross pub opened in the 1860s and was once hailed as the top pub in The Rough Pub Guide. It became a music venue under Peter Hoyle, hosting acts like Mike Reid and Nick Cave.
Unfortunately, it closed in 2019 after being turned into a gastropub and has been left to decay since.
The White Hart Hotel
Another loss in New Cross was The White Hart Hotel, thought to be the oldest pub in the area. It opened in the 1860s and had a colorful history, even becoming a strip club for a while.
After some renovations, it hosted live music on weekends. But in 2020, plans to convert the upper floors into flats went through, despite local protests. So, it’s another chapter closed for this historic spot.