Thamesmead’s first microbrewery and craft beer pub has won planning permission – but was nearly scuppered from the start by a council mistake.
Rock Leopard Brewery applied last year for permission to open up in Cygnet Square, a new development a few minutes’ walk from Abbey Wood station. It had raised over £15,000 in crowdfunding to get the project under way.
But while Rock Leopard had asked for permission to open from 8am to 11.30pm, seven days a week, the paperwork from Bexley Council’s planning department restricted its hours to 8am to 6pm, and banned it from opening on Sundays.
One of the intended uses of the unit was as a restaurant, but Rock Leopard needed permission for it to become a bar.
The planning officer had even commented that “the applicant’s proposed opening hours” were similar to that of a restaurant and “the proposed use would contribute to the local area’s viability and vitality”. No objections had been received from locals.
The Greenwich Wire understands that Bexley’s planning department made a mistake and longer hours will be included. The bar will need a premises licence before it can open, and that will finally determine the opening hours of the bar.
Bexley Council has not responded to a request for comment.
Founded in 2017 by Stacey Ayeh, Rock Leopard has been brewing its beers at breweries around the country, including at Cloudwater in Manchester. Its beers are often found in the Green Goddess pub in Blackheath.
The aim is for the bar to become a community hub, providing jobs and skills training through an NVQ programme offered to students at Shooters Hill Sixth Form College.
Cygnet Square, which lies just over the Greenwich-Bexley border, replaced the Tavy Bridge area that was part of the original 1960s Thamesmead development.
It is already the home of a relocated Thamesmead Library, while the arts organisation Taco! opened its doors there last year. Greenwich Dance was also briefly based in The Nest building before it closed in December.
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