The Wheatsheaf, on High Street in West Wickham, has had its final day under its outgoing operators, bringing an end to their chapter at the pub.
The pub’s last day under the old ownership was yesterday, 1 November. The change comes after the leasehold interest in the pub was put on the market earlier this year with an asking price of £85,000.
Property agent Sidney Phillips announced in January that the leasehold interest was available, describing the pub as a “warm and welcoming” venue serving the local community.
In a farewell message, the outgoing team said: “After many wonderful years, the time has come for us to turn the page and say goodbye to this chapter.”
“We want to say a huge thank you to every single one of you who has walked through our doors, for your support, laughter, loyalty, and love,” they added. “You’ve helped make this pub so much more than just a place to eat and drink… you’ve made it a community, full of memories we’ll always treasure.”
The team said they were grateful for the memories made at the pub, from busy weekends and celebrations to quiet midweek catch-ups.
The pub includes a 75-cover bar and restaurant as well as front and rear trade gardens with seating for more than 150 customers, according to the sale listing. Its website describes The Wheatsheaf as a recently refurbished pub offering drinks and home-cooked food using locally sourced produce. It has also hosted regular live music and catered for functions including christenings, wakes and other celebrations.
The owners added: “While it’s never easy to say goodbye, we’re excited to see what the future holds for the pub and wish the new owners every success.”
The farewell is a handover rather than a closure: the outgoing team’s message looks forward to what comes next for the pub under new owners, and the listing’s description of a recently refurbished venue with gardens for more than 150 customers shows the scale of the business changing hands.
Other pubs are also changing: The Hand & Racquet on Wimbledon Hill will reopen later this month after a six-figure revamp, while Lewisham’s business awards celebrated the borough’s best venues.
