Honor Oak Pub in Forest Hill to reopen Pic: Ewan Munro

A Lewisham pub that has been closed for seven months has been earmarked for a refurbishment and reopening.

The Honor Oak Public House, on St. German’s Road in Forest Hill, has been out of commission since closing last May. Punch Taverns, the largest pub and bar operator in the UK who owns the pub, announced this week that the pub will reopen in mid-March after the refurbishment, which is due to start in January.

A statement from Punch Taverns said: “With the Honor Oak currently being closed for trade, we are aware that there may be some concern regarding the future of the pub. We can re-assure the community that we see the pub very much part of the long term future of Punch Taverns and we are planning a £350,000 investment and refurbishment beginning in January with a gala reopening in mid March.”

After closing in May, The Honor Oak was the subject of a campaign by the Forest Hill Society to turn the business into a co-operative pub. The co-operative would have required Punch Taverns to consult the group on any sale, giving the community the option to take over the pub before it could be sold to another buyer.

Richard Hibbert, the chairman at the Forest Hill Society, said: “That’s excellent news. A much-loved pub by the locals and one that was very good at one stage. I’m sure it will have a bright future.”

Hibbert said the group would continue with the co-op application should Punch Taverns try to sell it in the future.

He added: “People will be very happy to see it come back to life. We’ll look forward to seeing it reopen and wish it the best success.”