The Talbot, Tyrwhitt Road

Finally, we can bring you official confirmation that The Talbot pub on Tyrwhitt Road is to be redeveloped by the people who brought us the excellent Prince Regent in Herne Hill.

A magnificent but badly neglected pub, its fate is something we have agonised over, ever since Brockley Central began. Its potential, in an area starved of high-quality pubs, has always been clear. Many great pub managers have tried to raise the funds to redevelop it, but have fallen just short. Now, we are delighted to bring you this letter from Felix Pearce, new owner of The Talbot:

We have just completed on the purchase of the freehold of the Talbot today at 10am. As you can imagine, these things take time to sort out, but we can now confirm that we are the very proud new owners of the Talbot SE4.

We will be starting a complete refurb of the pub next Monday 3rd. There will be a team of builders beginning a 3 month schedule of work that will include a new layout in the bar downstairs, a new trade kitchen, new loos and opening up the upstairs room. We are planning to have the pub up and running at the beginning of November 2009.

The Talbot will be keeping its name and will remain a local pub. We aim to turn the Talbot into a pub of exceptional quality for everyone. For anyone wishing to get a feel of what the new Talbot might be like, please pop down to the Prince Regent in Herne Hill where you will be most welcome. Come in for a bite to eat, try one of our real ales, try your luck at the weekly pub quiz, bring the whole family (and the dog!) for a Sunday lunch or come and check out the rooms upstairs. Alternatively you can have a look at our website – theprinceregent.co.uk.

It is our intention to create a pub that everyone in Brockley will be proud of and use regularly. I know that it has been a long time coming for all of you and that the three months extra wait will be like an eternity, but we hope that the wait will be worthwhile. I will update you as we go along.

Thanks for your patience.

We wish him the best of luck.