Morden Tavern, Morden

UPDATE SEPTEMBER 2020. SWL CAMRA RAISED WITH MERTON COUNCIL APPARENT LACK OF PLANNING PERMISSION FOR THIS CHANGE IN OCTOBER 2019. REPLY NOT RECEIVED AND AFTER REMINDERS AND RAISING A COMPLAINT RESPONSE SEPTEMBER 2020 STATED PLANNING PERMISSION (ref 18/P3320) HAD BEEN GIVEN FOR 150 CENTRAL ROAD AND APOLOGISED FOR THE CONFUSION GIVEN THE PUB’S ADDRESS IS 144. (HAD WE BEEN AWARE OF THE APPLICATION SWL CAMRA WOULD HAVE OBJECTED TO THE CHANGE.)

UPDATE FEBRUARY 2020. UNIT 1 INCORPOATED INTO NEW FLATS WHICH ALSO OCCUPY THE LAND WHICH WAS AT THE FRONT OF THE UNIT.

UPDATE OCTOBER 2019. SMALLER SHOP UNIT (UNIT 1) NOW BEING CONVERTED TO FLATS.

UPDATE NOVEMBER 2018. SMALLER SHOP UNIT (UNIT 1) STILL EMPTY AND SIGNED AS AVAILABLE TO LET.

UPDATE NOVEMBER 2017. SMALLER SHOP UNIT (UNIT 1) STILL EMPTY AND SIGNED AS AVAILABLE TO LET. HOWEVER LICENCE GRANTED 20 JUNE 2017 TO TERRAZZINO CAFE LIMITED IN THE CONTEXT OF A RESTAURANT.

UPDATE NOVEMBER 2016. SMALLER SHOP UNIT STILL AVAILABLE TO LET. UPDATE NOVEMBER 2015. SMALLER SHOP UNIT STILL AVAILABLE TO LET. UPDATE FEBRUARY 2015. SAINSBURY'S OPEN - OTHER SHOP UNIT APPEARS UNOCCUPIED. UPDATE NOVEMBER 2014. BUILDING WORK STILL IN PROGRESS. SIGN ON SITE SAYING ‘SHOP TO LET NEXT TO NEW SAINSBURY’S’. AGENT’S WEBSITE MAKES CLEAR A4 (PUB USE) INCLUDED. Photo from 26 September 2011. Site fenced off. CLOSED since August 2010, when some 40 social events in the function rooms that had been due to take place before the end of that year had to be cancelled. The building had been admirably serving the purpose for which it was originally designed and as intended by the then Greater London Council, whose own brief was that the community should have easily-accessible and multi-functional social spaces within easy reach to serve their communal needs, but Enterprise had sold their lease to developers to whom Merton Council was seemingly intent on selling the freehold. Locally listed nonetheless by Merton's chief executive in December 2010, this pub is the work of important inter-war pub architect, Sir Harry Redfern, the surviving seven of whose 14 pubs for Carlisle under the State Management System are recognised by statutory listing. Alas, unless the law changes to restrict supermarket acquisitions, it seems unlikely that a pub will reopen in the shell of the building when the site is eventually redeveloped now that Reef Estates' appeal against Councillors' rejection of their plans has been allowed and Sainsbury's have been granted a premises licence there. The St Helier Pub Group, previously the Campaign for the Morden Tavern, had rallied impressive support for the preservation of the pub in its original setting, and has more recently applied, so far unsuccessfully, for its registration as an Asset of Community Value.