The lead singer of legendary British band Squeeze is lending his star power to a grassroots campaign fighting to save a historic South London pub. Glenn Tilbrook has pledged to perform an intimate VIP gig for supporters who help the community bid to purchase The White Swan in Charlton Village.
A Musical Lifeline for a Local Landmark
The 1840s pub has stood empty since 2020, but local charity White Swan Music and Arts (WSMA) is determined to bring it back to life. Their plan is to transform the derelict Victorian building into a vibrant arts space, bar, and live music venue, protecting its heritage for future generations. To make this a reality, they need to raise a £360,000 deposit to purchase the property.
WSMA has already gathered £40,000 and is launching a new music video today, December 3, to boost its crowdfunding campaign. Tilbrook, who features in the video and is a local resident, has a deep personal connection to the role pubs play in nurturing musical talent.
"Over fifty years ago, the first gig that myself and Jools Holland got was playing in the Morden Arms in Greenwich," Tilbrook recalled. "Places like this are vital for young musicians to learn their craft... I hope that The White Swan will be able to host another generation of musicians soon."
Exclusive Rewards for Community Investors
The campaign is offering unique incentives to attract donations. Anyone contributing £750 will secure two tickets to the exclusive performance by the "Up the Junction" singer. Other rewards include a personalised ceramic tankard made by a local artist, with full details available on the crowdfunding page.
The ultimate goal extends far beyond simply reopening the pub doors. WSMA aims to create a "new multi-purpose community arts space" on the building's upper floor, complete with digital creation facilities and a performance stage. The group envisions this stage as a crucial launchpad for local talent, calling it "a vital stepping stone on the road to packing out the O2 Arena, a stone's throw away."
Profits for the People
By bringing The White Swan into community ownership, all profits would be reinvested directly into supporting Charlton's creative future. Suzanne Hunt, chair of WSMA, shared her emotional ties to the venue: "To me, it's more than just a pub; it's where my family celebrated landmark anniversaries... Our plan is to restore the pub and live music venue, but also do more by investing any profits to enable young people access to the arts."
The campaign has united local artists, musicians, Charlton Athletic supporters, and residents. A launch event for the music video and crowdfunder is being held tonight at The Green Goddess pub in Blackheath from 7pm.
