A thousand meals served on opening day. Can you believe it? This is The Fellowship Inn in Bellingham southeast London. Right here before you stands a remarkable building a true survivor.
The Fellowship Inn wasn’t just any pub. It was the first pub built on a council estate. This was a big deal in the 1920s. Pubs were often associated with slums. Builders wanted to leave that image behind. Enterprising breweries like Barclay Perkins saw an opportunity. They aimed to create a more respectable pub experience.
Barclay Perkins partnered with the Trust Houses. They worked with Alexander Part a legendary licensee and rumored spy. This helped them present a more refined image. They secured approval from the London County Council. The council’s minutes detail the plan a large refreshment room a smoke room a lounge a dining hall. Even a roof garden was planned. Notably drinking bars were specifically omitted from the initial design.
The architect F G Newnham designed it in a glorious mock-Tudor style. The grand opening in 1924 was a huge success. Over a thousand meals were served. The Fellowship Inn quickly became the heart of the community.
The pub’s history is rich and varied. It wasn’t just a place for a drink. The large function room hosted many events. Boxing champion Henry Cooper trained there. Famous bands like Fleetwood Mac and Eric Clapton even graced its stage. It even housed a cinema. The Bellingham Film Palace ran for a time.
Unfortunately the Fellowship Inn fell into disrepair. By 2017 it was closed. A significant restoration began in 2019. A £4 million National Lottery grant funded the renovation. It reopened as The Fellowship & Star. A 56-seat cinema a cinema-cafe a microbrewery and more were planned.
Today you see the result of that effort. The original wooden paneling remains. The building’s history is preserved. The Fellowship Inn serves a new generation while honoring its past. While some might call it gentrified the pub’s essence is intact. Children are welcome. Football matches play on screens. The Fellowship Inn truly has returned to its original purpose. A place for the community to gather and connect.