A dilapidated social club in Catford could be transformed into a community music venue under plans submitted to Lewisham Council.

The Brookdale Club, next to the Catford Centre, was a private members’ club dating back to the 1880s, but has sat empty since 2017.

Sister Midnight, which ran a record shop and venue in Deptford that closed during the pandemic, has so far raised over £300,000 from community shareholders — three fifths of its £500,000 target — to revamp the building after being given a ten-year rent-free lease from the council.

As well as a music, comedy and theatre venue, Sister Midnight plans to host breakfast clubs, children’s activities and co-working facilities in the building, along with rehearsal and recording spaces.

The yard outside would be used for record fairs and arts and crafts markets, while the kitchen would be used by local food pop-ups. 

Catford Centre
Lewisham Council plans to eventually demolish and redevelop the Catford Centre. Image: The Greenwich Wire

Sister Midnight started its drive to create a community venue in 2021 and had hoped to buy the former Ravensbourne Arms in Lewisham, the bar area of which has been empty after being sold by Antic in 2016.

But after the Ravensbourne’s owner refused to entertain the idea, Lewisham offered the Brookdale for “meanwhile use”. The building was bought by the council as part of its plans to revamp Catford town centre and is earmarked for demolition in the future.

The Catford Mews cinema is already operating on a similar basis, with the council eventually hoping to knock down and redevelop the 1970s Catford Centre. 

Catford cat
The Catford Centre already hosts a cinema on a “meanwhile” use. Image: The Greenwich Wire

Chronic Love Foundation, which at the time operated the Bussey Building in Peckham, had originally been in line to take over the Brookdale Club and won planning permission in 2019, but its plans fell through.

Sister Midnight’s plans will “champion local artists and celebrate the diversity of southeast London’s music culture”, according to documents submitted to the council.

The plans were first submitted last October but are back out for public consultation after a noise impact assessment was published.

The documents can be seen on Lewisham Council’s planning website while details of Sister Midnight’s plans and share offer can be found at sistermidnight.org.