The former Mordens bar at 7-9 Montpelier Vale, in Blackheath Village, could become a veterinary practice. An application to change its use from bar and restaurant to a vet is now on Lewisham Council's planning register, with no public comments and no decision yet.
The local blog From the Murky Depths names the applicant as Virtue Petco Blackheath Ltd. It also quotes a statement that there was "zero meaningful appetite or realistic commercial interest" from nightclub or wine bar operators. We have not seen that wording in the council documents.
A clinic is a quieter neighbour than a bar, and a lit, occupied unit beats a shuttered one. The question for Lewisham is whether the applicant has shown that hospitality demand for this corner has gone, or only that it has not yet found it. Anyone with a view should put it to the council while the application is open.
- Change-of-use application for 7-9 Montpelier Vale, SE3, is registered with Lewisham Council
- Proposal: from sui generis and restaurant (Class E(b)) to a veterinary practice (Class E) with associated works
- Register status: Registered, Blackheath ward, 11 documents, no public comments and no decision at time of checking
- The premises was Mordens, a bar, now closed
- Murky Depths names the applicant as Virtue Petco Blackheath Ltd
- Murky Depths reports rent of £95,000 plus VAT a year and a 2024 consent for a different scheme; both unverified
Every factual claim in this story is linked to the evidence behind it. Where the newsroom has added judgement or framing, it is listed separately. Sources accessed 5 November 2026.
- Lewisham planning register, DC/26/145852 (council)
- Murky Depths: Former Blackheath bar to see new occupant (media)
- All Things Greenwich: Mordens (other)
- CDG Leisure listing (business)
Claim by claim (7 facts, 5 editorial judgements)
- A change-of-use application for 7-9 Montpelier Vale SE3 is registered with Lewisham Council, seeking change from sui generis and restaurant (Class E(b)) to a veterinary practice (Class E) and associated works. — council, 2026-11-05“Schedule 2 application for the change of use from sui generis and restaurant (Use Class E(b) to a veterinary practice (Use Class E) and all associated works at 7-9 Montpelier Vale SE3.”
- The register lists it as a small full planning application in Blackheath ward with status Registered, 11 documents, no public comments and no decision. — council, 2026-11-05“Full Planning Permission (Small), status Registered, Blackheath ward”
- Sources disagree on the validation date: 22 October or 2 November. — council, 2026-11-05“Validated: 2026-10-22 (pack); register summary gave validated 2 November”
- Murky Depths reports the applicant is Virtue Petco Blackheath Ltd. — media, 2026-11-04“Virtue Petco Blackheath Ltd has submitted plans to convert the space into a veterinary practice.”
- The premises was Mordens, a bar, now closed. — other“Mordens | 7 - 9 Montpelier Vale”
- A statement, reported by Murky Depths, says there was zero meaningful appetite or realistic commercial interest from sui generis nightclub or wine bar operators; reported rent is £95,000 plus VAT a year including upper floors. — media, 2026-11-04“zero meaningful appetite or realistic commercial interest from Sui Generis nightclub or wine bar operators.”
- Murky Depths reports consent was granted in October 2024 for restaurant use, flats above and a rear mews office, and that another vet recently opened in the former Lloyds bank building nearby; neither is verified. — media, 2026-11-04“Murky Depths: consent granted October 2024; follows another recently opened vet in former Lloyds bank (per research memo)”
- Judgement: A vet would not remove a trading restaurant because the unit is already vacant; whether it suits the Village is a judgement.
- Judgement: A clinic is a quieter neighbour than a bar, and a lit, occupied unit beats a shuttered one.
- Judgement: The question for Lewisham is whether the landlord has shown hospitality demand has gone or only that it has not yet found it.
- Judgement: The consultation period is the time to ask.
- Judgement: Montpelier Vale is one of the larger units on the Village's main street.
