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Brady's, Brixton (Railway Hotel): history, chat and plans

So I learnt a bit more about Antic and Bradys last night. Apparently, they put in a competitive bid where they offered to refurb the upper floors and give them up to social/community use, opening a pub/restaurant on the ground floor. They were keen to take it over because they're fully aware of the history of the place.

The council elected to go for the Golfrate bid, that was slightly higher but included no social provision. Antic are still desperate to get the pub.
 
editor said:
Fuck. Nice one Lambeth. Thanks for listening. :facepalm:

Oh, and good luck to the new residents living with the house-shaking rumble of the trains going overhead. Better nail down your crockery.
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Rushy said:
Are you sure? Still says 'pending decision'.
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We've had a letter through from the council today and it has now been approved for Change of use from A4 (pub) to A1 (retail) on ground floor and basement plus 7 flats upstairs. There's loads of caveats re things that may change the appearance of the building and getting approval so it doesn't fall foul of the conservation area, but I think it would be fair to say it's not going to be a pub ever again :(
 
So it's all over? Because a Brewdog chain person just told me, via Twitter, that South London is on the 2013 target list and 'Brixton does feel right'.
 
There's work of some sort happening in there. I think they're knocking down the section in the yard that was tacked on at a later date. There's been drilling and stuff happening during the day for the past couple of weeks.
 
I just passed it now and there doesn't seem to be any work done on the top floor - at least nothing I could see.
 
editor said:
I just passed it now and there doesn't seem to be any work done on the top floor - at least nothing I could see.
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They'd put in some covering to protect part of the inside where the roof was exposing it. Unfortunately it got completely ripped to shreds during the hailstorm last week and as yet hasn't been replaced :facepalm:
 
Below is the response to a Freedom of Info request made to Lambeth and received on the 7th December 2011.

Dear Mr Wisdom
Thank you for your Freedom of Information Request.
Following the same sequence the Council responses are:
  • Completion of the sale is scheduled for 15 December.
  • The buyer is Mendoza Ltd - affiliated to the Golfrate Group.
  • The sale price remains confidential until completion of the sale has occurred after which it will be available from HM Land Registry
    • The purchaser is obliged to put the property into beneficial use within 18 months of the completion of the sale.
    • A2 use is excluded for 5 years from the date of sale.
    • During the first 18 month after completion the upper floors of the property are to be marketed for use of small businesses or community uses at a market rent.
I trust that you will find the Council's responses satisfactory but please let me know if you require further clarification.

Rgds

Tunde Ogbe
Corporate Property Manager
Valuation and Asset Management Services
Housing, Regeneration and Environment
phone: 020 7926 9370
fax: 020 7926 9357
email: togbe@lambeth.gov.uk
website: http://www.lambeth.gov.uk
_________________________________________
June this year was the deadline for the building to be put back into use, one of those uses being for small businesses or community groups
 
So they are in breach of their contract, given that 18 months has passed and the building has still not been put to any use, let alone 'beneficial' use?
 
Yes they are and Lambeth says it'll take quite a time to investigate.

Meanwhile a watch is being kept out for any demolition crew and photographs are being taken day by day.

It would greatly help this cause if people some contributors to this forum would write in to Mr Ogbe (above) telling him what's happening.
Then there's always the possibility that Lambeth's Chief Exec (£250,000/yr) Derek Anderson might also draw benefit from some reminders of his responsibilities.
 
If it is remembered how Lambeth is asking the Heritage Lottery Fund for some 2 point some million ostensibly to tart up Elecrtric Avenue and that fully one third of the amount asked for, some £700,000, will be given to the new owner thus, in effect giving him a free building - the net result of all this chicanery is that Lambeth will have spent and tens of £000s of so-called "taxpayers' money" (sic) just to enable it to give away Bradys on the sole condition that the lucky new owner spends at least £700,000 on the refurbishment of the original, 1880's, Bradys.

In contrast to this, the Brixton Community Trust, paying the same amount to buy the building in the first place, would, with no further involvement or expense to the Council, have invested double that amount (circa £1.5+ million) in refurbing to the highest Heritage standards and refurbed or rebuilt a public hall at the back. And all done for real Brixton and not for the benefit of some dodgy offshore speculator.

Ain't democracy great!
 
The Brixton Community Trust would have been by far the better choice, or failing that, Antic, who would have at least committed to reopening a working pub. Instead we've got a hugely dubious bunch sitting on the place for God knows how long.

Great work Lambeth!
 
Why is this so opaque? I demand clarity. But can't be bothered to dig around myself. Why are people allowed to sit on sites like this? They should be forfeited in 12 months if no development takes place.
 
"Opaque" is certainly the word.

'Why?' you ask, 'are people are allowed to sit on sites like this without doing what they said they would.'

Well that's because sometimes, sitting and doing nothing makes actually more money than doing something. The Council could have done something if it had really wanted to, but then that point itself poses the question; 'Why has the Council stood by and watched while the new owner has sat on the building and done absolutely nothing with it for nearly two years?'
 
Paul Hill said:
Meanwhile a watch is being kept out for any demolition crew and photographs are being taken day by day.
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I've seen builders in and out of there on occasions over the past few months. Last time I looked in through the door a month or two ago it looked like they'd divided up the ground floor into smaller spaces using crude breeze-block walls :hmm:
 
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