I think it's great that they replied to a web form enquiry but a shame to hear confirmation of this news.

'thought and debate' - with the local community??
'facilities within the locality (other Wetherspoon pubs and others)' - they have closed their other pub down the road in Kirkdale.

However, my conversation with bar staff during the week indicated that the lease had been sold and this was the reason for the pub closing - it was a pretty confident statement of fact - rather than a considered decision by Wetherspoons.

My view is that Wetherspoons in the Capitol is fantastic and it will be a very sad loss to Forest Hill to see it go. I never tire of showing the place off to new visitors who are invariably impressed. Good value beer and food at all times of day and night. The atmosphere is a matter of subjective opinion - I think it's fantastic. A giant eating and drinking hall, pleasantly reminiscent of some massive dining rooms I remember in China - albeit a few decades ago. I chatted a couple of times with Bean about running a single screen cinema inside the existing pub (cinema seating in the balcony with a screen suspended above the bar) but I think there were H&S issues preventing use of the balcony for public use.

If it should become a cinema, that would be just - and wonderful - but the pub era will be missed by me at least.

If it should become something else (flats or, god forbid, a church), then I will be forever saddened at the loss of a beautiful 'public space'.