A social club in Thamesmead has reopened after more than 15 years.

The Moorings Sociable Club opened its doors to the public on March 12 after undergoing extensive refurbishment.

The club’s facilities include a large performance space, a training room, a shared workspace, local business displays, an alcove museum, a community café and an IT suite.

The Moorings Sociable Club will offer a range of services to support local people with issues such as housing, jobs and training, immigration and money management.

The Moorings Sociable Club is located in the heart of the Moorings neighbourhood.

The refurbishment project was headed up by Peabody.

Peabody is the organisation leading the long-term regeneration of Thamesmead.

Peabody spent the last three years working alongside a group of local residents to ensure the space meets the needs of Thamesmead’s community.

It strives to offer a warm and welcoming environment where people can socialise, work and learn, access support services, and take part in family activities.

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IT services available at the social club are run by Peabody’s expert team.

The London Refugee and Migrant Network, Greenwich Housing Rights, and the Her Centre are also project partners, helping to make sure visitors make the most of the club’s services.

The Moorings Sociable Club’s renovation mixed elements from its 1970s design with new fixtures and fittings.

It has kept its original layout but benefited from colourful new paintwork, brand new glazing and a painted roof to ensure the building stands out.

The result is a blend of old and new which Peabody hopes will “conjure up feelings of nostalgia for those familiar with the building before its closure, while appealing to residents who’ll be visiting for the first time”.

Kate Batchelor, Peabody’s Head of Landscape & Placemaking in Thamesmead, said: “After 15 years of lying empty, we’re reopening the doors to a place that locals can call their own.

“A place created for the community by the community, who will shape the way it’s used now and for many years to come.

“This is a chance to celebrate the three years of hard work by local people, Peabody and our partners to create a very special place.

“It’s brilliant to finally open the doors to residents and show all that the club has to offer. Residents will find a multi-use space that covers all bases.

“So while people can pop in for a coffee and a chat with a friend, or use it as also on hand to offer vital support and advice to those who need it.”

Deborah Frimpong, chair of the Moorings Neighbourhood Forum, added: “We are so proud to be a part of the development of the Moorings Sociable Club.

“I took my sons on several of the tours that Peabody offered for us to see other buildings and architectural structures in order for us to get some ideas and envision what we’d like to see for the building in Thamesmead.

“It was amazing to walk into the club and see a lot of the things that we’d hoped for become a reality.

“The community now has something that they can hold onto that represents the past, present and future of Thamesmead because the club includes all of these features.

“On top of that, we finally have a cafe in the Moorings!”

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