The Capitol up for sale

[Tockerty]

Not strictly Se26, but close enough to be of interest. Could it become something other than a pub, maybe a cinema again? From Time Out

http://www.timeout.com/london/blog/weth ... tes-052016

[Eagle]

Sad. I know not perfect but I recall with dread the years between the Cinema closing in 70's and the arrival of Wetherspoon.

From Bingo Establishment to various wrecks it was an eyesore

Possibly will become one of the imitation chains that copy Wetherspoons , but usually fail.

Cannot see it becoming a Cinema.

[parker]

Why are Wetherspoon selling these locations? Do they even actually own them all? I can imagine selling up in Putney would earn them an eye watering fortune but not so much in Forest Hill. We've heard about the Capitol being sold off before, umpteen times, I'll believe it when I see it. I just hope it doesn't become another Windmill or ex Harvester - Grove Tavern type disaster.

[Rachael]

Why are Wetherspoon selling these locations? Do they even actually own them all? I can imagine selling up in Putney would earn them an eye watering fortune but not so much in Forest Hill. We've heard about the Capitol being sold off before, umpteen times, I'll believe it when I see it. I just hope it doesn't become another Windmill or ex Harvester - Grove Tavern type disaster.

It's not just about realising the value of the property, though, is it? It's about winnowing out the parts of the business that are least profitable.

[Eagle]

Rachael

Well said , what we do not want is an imitation Wetherspoon. If JDW insist on closing hope they sell to another type of business.

Worse scenario is the site goes back to being an eyesore , like it was for 30 years odd.

Bird in the Hand and Windmill ex Wetherspoon's . One closed and one , least said the better.

[leenewham]

It would be great for it to be a cinema again. I can see it happening.

[Eagle]

Lee
I would think unlikely to go back being a one screen cinema and surely it has a preservation order on destroying the Circle etc.

I have been in three times this year and always fairly busy. Problem does not seem to be volume of customers but perhaps problem is profit per customer.
Some people sit there for couple of hours with very cheap pint. Their prices so much lower than the pubs in the area . They could afford a 50 p increase per drink and still be a lot cheaper than local pubs.

To retain a decent pub they must increase the prices.

[parker]

I wouldn't imagine the footfall in The Capitol to be anything like their locations in Penge or Bromley for example, and they're both smaller properties. The Capitol building is far too large for the kind of demand there is for a cheap pint in an up and coming area like Forest Hill where most people are prepared to pay a little more. If The Capitol attracted the amount the Sylvan Post does per sq foot it probably wouldn't be written off by Wetherspoon. But knowing the luck of the Lewisham it'll be boarded up for years despite being in one of the more salubrious parts of the borough.

[leenewham]

Any building must be viable for a business. Even if it was listed, if a business case can be made and the original fabric preserved, other screens can be added (see the Odeon in Beckenham and virtually every other cinema in the UK for his it's done).

In sort, they can add extra screens, it's not a problem.They don't even have t destroy the circle.

Having a cinema/theatre/bar/restaurant with various spaces, some to hire out, multi use, would make a lot of sense. There is a wide catchment, economically it would be a boon to the town.

Although it's possibly not too good for Sydenham though as it would probably such trade and night time economy away from Sydenham unless SE26 up's it's game to compete.

[Rachael]

Any building must be viable for a business. Even if it was listed, if a business case can be made and the original fabric preserved, other screens can be added (see the Odeon in Beckenham and virtually every other cinema in the UK for his it's done).

In sort, they can add extra screens, it's not a problem.They don't even have t destroy the circle.

Having a cinema/theatre/bar/restaurant with various spaces, some to hire out, multi use, would make a lot of sense. There is a wide catchment, economically it would be a boon to the town.

Although it's possibly not too good for Sydenham though as it would probably such trade and night time economy away from Sydenham unless SE26 up's it's game to compete.

I think FH is a MUCH more attractive option for such businesses than it was back when the Capitol was empty and then leased to Weatherspoons. With some well targeted marketing I think just such a business could be found to take it on.

[Eagle]

True Rachael a cinema complex is possible , but Wetherspoon could try first to increase prices.

Strange I seem to recall about two years ago 20 year lease came up for renewal and there was talk then of a cinema but JDW seem to have negotiated a new extension.

[Rachael]

True Rachael a cinema complex is possible , but Wetherspoon could try first to increase prices.

Strange I seem to recall about two years ago 20 year lease came up for renewal and there was talk then of a cinema but JDW seem to have negotiated a new extension.

I wasn't talking about a cinema complex, Eagle. As Lee said, it could be a great mixed used space: single screen cinema or theatre space combined with a restaurant, cafe and / or exhibition space. With people passing on their way to the Horniman, a venture like that could really attract footfall in the daytime as well as at night.

V2 are already doing something similar with Louise House by the pools, but with a more art house bent. Something more commercially driven could work exceptionally well in the Capitol.

[parker]

What if nobody wants to buy it? ...as the case will probably be. Are Wetherspoon likely to just lock the doors or keep running it until someone buys it from them?

[Eagle]

Parker

No idea.

All I know that after the ABC Cinema closed in 70's it went though a Bingo Parlour to years of dereliction

JDW spent a lot of money on it. Would be terrible if went back to being an eyesore.

Unfortunately they seem to have decided that they must charge rock bottom prices in Capitol. Prices a lot higher in Greyhound , Bromley.
They should improve Ale choice , increase tariffs , and go up market.
At present all day drinkers hardly encourage the more discerning clientele .

[parker]

There isn't really much else to do in Forest Hill but drink though! Raising prices will just deter the day time drinkers but not necessarily attract patrons from the other pubs nearby in the evenings.

I wouldn't be too happy purchasing one of those expensive houses they've perched on the side of the beer garden, Capitol Walk. Surely the residents will go apesh!t should it become derelict.

[Eagle]

Beer garden. Not sure you can call it that.

Not a Pub for outdoor drinking.

I am sure many people who are reluctant to go there because of the all day drinkers. Most of
whom drink the cheapest ale available.

I am sure there is a niche for a more upmarket wetherspoon in the Capitol.

[Rachael]

There isn't really much else to do in Forest Hill but drink though! Raising prices will just deter the day time drinkers but not necessarily attract patrons from the other pubs nearby in the evenings.

I wouldn't be too happy purchasing one of those expensive houses they've perched on the side of the beer garden, Capitol Walk. Surely the residents will go apesh!t should it become derelict.

As a resident of FH, I take umbrage at that statement! Plenty of places to eat as well as drink. Destination restaurants such as The Perryvale mean you can have a very civilised eveing in FH without setting foot in a pub. Most of the pubs offer a variety of evening entertainment along with the drinking. Once Louise House is up and running fully we'll have an arts centre to compliment the artists' studios in Havelock Walk. Canvas and Cream has regular evening performance events along with its art exhibitions and the Horniman has some very interesting things on at night.

[leenewham]

I agree. There is far more to do in Forest Hill than Sydenham. Great places to eat, drink, socialise, shop, swim and the Horniman.

[parker]

If Forest Hill had something like the number of restaurants as Dulwich, shops as Penge, I'd probably say there's more to Forest Hill than just pubs. Having 2 or 3 decent restaurants such as Canvas & Cream, Bona Pizza The Perry Vale and a few cafes isn't enough to make me think there's all that much choice. Yes there's plenty hairstylists, a Sainsbury's that rips the soul out of me every time, and a museum, if that's your sort of thing but I think it's more of an evening/pub destination than anything else. Not asking anyone to agree it's just how I kind of see the area. It is why I find it a crying shame that if Wetherspoon leave - the premises may not have much chance of it becoming anything else, or God forbid (excuse the pun) it becomes one of 'those' churches like in Crystal Palace and Catford.

[leenewham]

The shops you use depend on what you like and your circumstance. I have a young son. The Arts Festival seems to do less and less family stuff easy year. Last year we didn't go to any Arts Festival event. There just wan't anything we found interesting. It's not the same since Jonathan hasn't been involved.

In Sydenham I like Sugahill, KIrkdale Books, The Beer Rebellion, Mayow Park, Brown and Green, Trattoria, the Dolphin, On The Hoof and the best fish and chips around down near the Golden Lion and Wellbeing are the places we use the most in Sydenham. There are various places I haven't tried which I want to like the Sushi place and 161, but they are more evening places and we don't get nights off.

We rarely go out in Sydenham, partly because there is less choice than other places for family friendly places.

My son goes to school in Forest Hill, Bona is good, Sylvian Post, Dartmouth Arms, I take my son swimming, Perry Vale, The Montage, Canvas & Cream, The Signal, The Tea Pot, Horniman, the market, St Davids, Dapper, Bunka, plus the charity shops are all places we go to more than in Sydenham.

Plus there are now really good places to eat in Crystal Palace and Beckenham with it's cinema (and amazing new Indian Street food restaurant which is always packed) and East Dulwich for treats, not to mention Penge which is really on the up (especially love the Alexandra Nurseries and Himalayan Kitchen).

I consider all these places 'local'. I find that there is more for us to do, as a family, in Forest Hill than Sydenham. For others that may be different. If the Capital became a cinema, I'd definitely use it and it may mean I spend a bit more time in FH instead of Beckenham (if they do family viewings).