Darryl Chamberlain

Pelton Arms and East Greenwich Pleasaunce café appeal for funds to survive

Pelton Arms A-board advertising takeaway
The Pelton Arms has been offering takeaways during the lockdown

Two of Greenwich’s best-loved venues – the Pelton Arms pub and Pistachios café in East Greenwich Pleasaunce – have launched crowdfunding appeals to help them survive the coronavirus crisis.

Over the past 11 years, the Pelton Arms has built up a reputation as one of south-east London’s best music venues as well as being a community local. It has been selling drinks to take away as well as offering food deliveries during the lockdown.

“Our overheads remain the same and have now reached a point where realistically, we could be facing a long closure with minimal trading,” it says on its Crowdfunder page. “This isn’t something that we could have prepared for and we need help to cover our existing costs to survive the shutdown.”

Other cherished locals have also tried to keep going by offering takeaways and deliveries during the pandemic – they include the Dog & Bell in Deptford, which is offering deliveries; the River Ale House in east Greenwich, which is offering takeaways; and The Rusty Bucket in Eltham which is offering both deliveries and takeaways. The Morden Arms in Greenwich has been broadcasting gigs online during the closure.

The Pelton is hoping to raise £20,000 to keep going and is accepting donations via Crowdfunder.

Meanwhile, the Pistachios café in East Greenwich Pleasaunce, which says it has been ineligible for government support, is trying to raise £8,000 to keep going and to redecorate the space for when it reopens.

Lizzie Cooper, who runs the café, is promising a pizza and prosecco party for all who donate money. She is accepting money via Crowdfunder.

853 produces public interest journalism for Greenwich and SE London and is part-funded by its readers. If you would like to help keep it running, become a member:

  • Join us on Steady at steadyhq.com/853 – donate monthly amounts in pounds

  • Find us on PressPatron at presspatron.com/853 – donate monthly or annual amounts in pounds, or make a one-off donation
  • We’re also on Patreon at patreon.com/853 – donate monthly amounts in dollars
  • Buy the site editor a coffee (or other beverage) at ko-fi.com.

Thank you for your support – the site would not exist without it.