Abandoned south London pub wins £3.8 million lottery windfall

27-Aug-2015 - Last updated on 28-Aug-2015 at 10:59 GMT

The multi million pound win will transform the pub

A semi-derelict south London pub will go from abandoned shell to thriving community hub after landing a multi-million pound grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund.

Social landlord Phoenix Community Housing has been awarded £3.8 million to develop the Fellowship Inn, Lewisham, which will include a cinema, café, live music venue and a bakery.

Developing the pub will create more than 70 jobs in Bellingham, one of the most deprived areas in the UK.

Phoenix Community Housing chief executive Jim Ripley said: “Over the past few decades pub after pub in our area has closed its doors. That reflects the general trend in our area over many years – lack of investment, lower than average educational attainment and high unemployment.

“The Fellowship was created as part of a ‘Homes for Heroes’ cottage estate development for First World War veterans. We want to turn around the fortunes of our community and restore that sense of pride from almost 100 years ago.”

The pub was built in the 1920s as part of development to ease over-crowding following the First World War and was used by returning soldiers.

Heavyweight boxer Henry Cooper used the pub to train ahead of his fight with Muhammed Ali.