The property has struggled to attract new operators who would continue running the premises as a nightclub or bar
A former nightclub and wine bar in Blackheath could be turned into a vets after planning documents were submitted to Lewisham Council.
Virtue Petco Blackheath Ltd has submitted plans to open a new veterinary practice at 7-9 Montpelier Vale, which is located in the heart of Blackheath.
The plans involve a change of use from ‘sui generis and restaurant’ to a vets. Several documents, including an application form, a location plan and a site plan, appeared on the planning portal on October 23.
The site was last home to Mordens, which featured a wine bar, a cocktail lounge, a nightclub, and a restaurant, but it has reportedly been vacant since 2020.
The property has struggled to attract new operators who would continue running the premises as a nightclub and/or bar establishment.
According to a design and access statement which was submitted on November 2, the veterinary practice would open seven days a week from 8am to 7pm. There would also be an out-of-hours service for emergencies from 7pm to 8am.
In March 2022, property agents CDG Leisure spent 26 months trying to find a suitable operator who would trade under the existing use as a nightclub and bar operator.
However, CDG Leisure said the property generated no operators who completed a deal or even showed “serious interest” in the premises.
Morris Greenberg, Managing Director at CDG Leisure, said: “This level of response is highly unusual, particularly given the breadth of marketing undertaken and the extensive database of occupiers and agents to whom the opportunity was promoted.
“In our opinion, the principal factor affecting demand is the fact that leisure and hospitality has become less appealing to take on new leases of large premises such as these as the costs related have just got too high for operators.”
After Acorn Estate Agents was appointed as the third agent to market the property, they also found there was “zero meaningful appetite or realistic commercial interest” to re-establish the site as a nightclub or wine bar.
So far, 11 documents have been submitted on to Lewisham Council’s planning portal under the planning code ‘DC/26/145852’.
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