Build it up, tear it down
Published by Peter | Filed under Development, Events
I’ve been away for a little bit, so excuse me while I go back a week or so. Last Sunday was, of course, an important date in the Camberwell and South London calendar: the third annual ‘I had other plans on the day of the Carnaval del Pueblo’. Despite the fact that I couldn’t go — the wife and I were on a 30-mile round-trip by bicycle to Kingston — it seems that people enjoyed themselves anyway.
There are a <a href=“http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/events/article-23407238-details/London” onclick=“javascript:_gaq.push([’_trackEvent’,‘outbound-article’,‘www.thisislondon.co.uk’]);“s+Latin+lesson/article.do”>few reports here, and a few hundred photos here. No mention of any trouble in the reports, although anecdotal evidence says there was later in the day. A shame, but where there’s 80,000 people, there’s 8,000 idiots.
Sunshine House, the new Child Development Centre on Peckham Road, is entering the final stages of its development and is starting to look quite lovely; huge blocks of bright yellow, orange and green make it look friendly and fun, and it’s a pleasure to cycle past there every day. The only shame is that it’s so hard to get to for parents.
I definitely had something else to mention, but it’s slipped my mind; this space is reserved for when I remember.
Yesterday I saw the aftermath of a nasty accident on Camberwell New Road; the back of a car was completely concave, and the fire brigade were there to cut the lady driver from the car. Do look after yourselves, won’t you?
I also past that accident just after it had happened on my way home from work — at least 3 cars and a motorbike involved, 3 ambulances and the fire engine … struggle to understand how a multi-car pile up can have happened on the Camberwell New Road — there are some nutters on the road…
Hi P
Was the thing you forgot perhaps the call out for new committee members for Camberwell Arts?
That was actually the second accident on that part of the road, where Camberwell New Road meets Medlar St. A couple of hours earlier a motorcyclist was knocked down and taken away in an ambulance.
Redstar is being refurbished (sign painted over, etc.). Anybody know anything about it?
The Bear is excellent. Great food and the best selection of beers in Camberwell (with the exception of Hermit’s Cave). Farewell to the Fosters/Kronenbourg dictatorship!
Been away for a while so got some catching up to do… Came back from holiday to find our car-van’s hub caps have been stolen. Thought that kind of thing stopped about twenty years ago.
Don’t forget Drew’s reminder that Camberwell Arts is looking for new committee members. Now is a good time to get involved and help set the direction of this organisation for the next decade or so, and to help get Camberwell on THE LONDON MAP.
SE5 Forum will be having its agm in a month or so and there will be an opportunity for new members on that committee too. It’s remit is broader than Camberwell Arts and is looking at the regeneration of Camberwell and cross boundary communication with Southwark and Lambeth.
Know nothing about Redstar will delve and come back.
Have not had chance to Bear yet. Must make an effort.
Oh I forgot to mention the rent review; it’s going up 11K a year. only a 20% rise, I’m relieved; the last one was a 68% increase… The arbitrator obviously understands the game and has applied a fair rise somewhere in the uncontentious middle (between 54K and 82.5K which is what S&N said was a fair rent), slightly favouring the underdog — me — while not really shaking the timbers of the Tied Pub Junket at all.
I owe 21K or so back rent immediately while my day to day direct overheads have just gone up by £800 a month — more than I earn. I’m very angry.
Of course I shouldn’t be mentioning any of this to any one. It’s not professional is it.
Welcome back, Mark and Peter (sounds like something out of the Gospel).
On the contrary, tied contracts are a pub-lic issue.
It’s just occurred to me that there’s nothing in the contract to prevent you gathering evidence from potential punters that they would drink at the S&D if there were guest beers, and then presenting this as evidence at the next review. That’s probably of no consolation now.
CNR is still about 8 fatal accidents a month short of the acceptable price of human life sacrificed at the alter of the fallacy that the way we (ab)use our motor cars is crucial to the national economy.
20mph all the way on this stretch, say I.
altar
20mph works for me…
Despite the harsh reality of the figures, Mark, it looks like you have got a pretty good deal from the arbitrator. At least you now know what your projections need to be.But it’s still sad that corporate greed has the upper hand. I’ll try to contribute towards your coffers a bit more often; now that there are fewer coughers [geddit?].
Can you appeal against your back rent on the grounds that they were dragging their heels and not you? I have heard of success with that in retail — chat about it sometime if you like.
Otherwise talk to you soon
Mishmash
I’ve been away, so I don’t know if this has been mentioned before, but…
Rumeli’s fish & chips has closed down! I am shocked!!! The best fish & chips in Camberwell! Has the world gone crazy?!!!
I don,t think Rumeli’s is shutting down. Just a refirb’ me thinks.
That’s what I thought; they had signs in the window saying so — although they seem to have been taken down now.
There has been a small earthquake in Camberwell, shown by a faint flicker, a fibrillation, of the needlometer in the darkness of the ground floor of Pharoahs, once the Walmer Castle pub, on the Peckham Road — it is one of the last needlometers remaining in London, and very few people know it is there, covered in cobwebs, but still picking up the subterranean signals and relaying them telegraphically to Jodrell Bank.
yes
the Bear is fuckin’ great
shite location though
Is this a haiku competition?
Camberwell Green
Public lavatory
Still nothing done
I heave a sigh of relief with regard to Rumeli’s.
Maybe the Redstar is being developed for other purposes?
Why is The Bear in a shite location? Since Dispensary closed down there’s nothing at that end of Camberwell New Road. I can now watch the football in Black Sheep and then just have a short walk up the road for great food and great beer! All I need now is a decent Mexican restaurant and Camberwell will be like Paradise to me!
Paradise lost mate
3 — 0 that it
It rain
Today Tuesday
No more sun
No Woman No Cry
The Bear is very good. Great beers. Great food. Just no atmospshere at the moment.
it nasty there#
by wasteland#
railway arch
new road sucks too
long way 4 lazy boy
good if you live there
norm
Once was Jack Beard’s
Now The Bear
Later to be just Be?
b
Although that’s a little long winded really.
Hi Norman
I bet back in the day when the buses were a major employer of working class folks, demobbed soldiers, and newly arrived caribbeans, the pub now known as bear would be a cracking location!
The dispensary would of course have been just that — hence why it provided a poor location and layout for a pub, methinks. Too many steps, door too narrow; these things matter a lot.
Is a Camberwellonline beer meet brewing?
Mishmash
Any idea what’s going on at elephant outside the shopping centre entrance? Went past last night — there was an ambulance and the road was closed off (it still was this morning)…
I appreciate this is only vaguely Camberwell related (as we couldn’t get a bus we got the excellent train to Denmark Hill — takes about 4 mins).
TOP TIP
Whenever I walk back to Selborne from the piano seller’s flat in Loughborough Junction I always buy a beer to drink en route.
Second time I did this it dawned on me that people seemed much more inclined to stay out of my way and even the stooping “10 pence! 10 pence!” beggar passed me over as a pointless target.
I have now taken to carrying an empty Super T can with me wherever I go and I haven’t been mugged once.
Gradually, Alan, we are ascertaining more details of your MO and appearance. it’s only a matter of time you know…
BTW I saw the frat metal boy with the prosthetic left arm the other day, again.
Are there different manufacturers of such things? Are there ‘datsuns’ and ‘ferraris’? Pardon my forward nature!
Mark D is back from his hols — shall we all go to his pub for a chilled one?
Drew
There is no greater pleasure, in my view, than drinking while walking through Camberwell, especially at night. The plod plod of the feet brings the left lobe and right lobe of the brain together and the drink makes them break into song.
It is often more interesting than sitting in an alehouse.
I am interested to see that Tuborg is being relaunched in this country as a drink for the middle of the road. It is big at monster rock festivals in Denmark and Serbia.
I wonder if it is Hell’s Angels’ preferred tipple?
The Dagmar family went to the fake beach in the Dome yesterday where children play in the day and where Heart FM has middle of the road raves in the evening.
I also went for a walk downstream past the huge aggregate processing yards where the fake sand comes from. I went on a real beach by the Greenwich Yacht Club. There is a big wetland area full of deep water, reeds and fabulous lilies. Then the Barrier.
A recycling yard by the aggregates had great mountains of cullet — ground, crunched, recycled glass. I brought some home in a jamjar for further examination. It is fascinating, like jewel-gravel, with the occasional glint of blue glass. I must tell you that there are many traces of paper and plastic in cullet, which float to the top of the jar under hot running water and can then be decanted.
The whole situationist day was a meditation on raw reality versus synthetic leisure, both of which have their merits. Lack of drink meant my brain did not come to a conclusion.
I’m not going to elaborate about my limb in the vain hope of adding credence to my online alter ego.
Do you drive a Golf Drew?
How are the books?
I’ve been buying more little workmates. I’m going to corner the market for Truckdriver Tom– he’s £24 on Amazon right now and I have two copies. What do you think?
As I was saying, on the north bank opposite the Dome is a new factory building with a strange name, Akzo Nobel. This Dutch company is about to buy the rump of ICI, almost the last remaining British company, who coined the term “plastics” in 1927.
Tizer and White’s have long gone from Camberwell. How fine it is that Kennedy’s still fly the flag… sausage.
i have come to the (somewhat sad) conclusion that the character on this site are entirely the alteregos of two, possibly three people, sitting in your camberwell/east dulwich border studio flats, bathed in the milky light of your laptops and custard cream complexions.
Mrs Dotcom will be helping towards Mark’s rent payments tobnight with a couple of friends, I would be joining them only I’m delayed in town by the Arsenal Sparta Prague game …
Anyone know how to go about setting up a residents association?
We want to set one up in the street I live in (Elmington Road) so we can work with the Council to address some local issues.
I just looked up on the BBC site for the score of that game and it said they were 0–0 in 1945. Talk about boring boring Arsenal!
wookie, that milky light and custard cream scenario was good. Are you sure we’re not you or the other way round?
Let us remember, though, that this is the silly season. Most Camberwell people are in Cannes or whatever for the whole of August, innit.
The Dagmar family is holidaying in Camberwell and places within reach of a toddling but not yet talking girl, pourquoi pas!
sg — try these two links they may be of help
http://www.civictrust.org.uk/csocs/index.shtml
and
http://www.alan.shrank.freeuk.com/
@Dagmar
The thought had crossed our minds
Did anyone else have trouble finding a local drinking establishment with Setanta for the Arsenal game. I eventually found the Cambria was showing it. Also on Wednesday evenings their main courses are only £3. Bargain !
The Cadeleigh Arms shows all the Setanta games. The Cadeleigh is the best, although it doesn’t serve food.
What about Real Ale?
Black Sheep shows the games as well.
I think they only serve Greene King IPA; I don’t know, I just drink Guinness there.
I like the way the Cadleigh keeps old-fashioned pub hours. It is an intimate, proper local frequented by real people. Strange.
Guiness eh? Well they ae good adverts I suppose bu tI thought the ad mass had moved on to Magners…
IPa is good. I will check out the Cadleigh in the not too distant future.
Re message 29 The Poo
Published 16 August 2007 at 11:33
Falling glass panel lends weight to Elephant and Castle demolition plans
A glass panel from the Elephant and Castle shopping centre in south-east London has fallen and shattered on the pavement – bringing the major transport hub to a standstill.
The incident, yesterday, adds more credence to bringing forward the demolition of the ageing 10-storey Hannibal House office building, already earmarked for the wrecking ball under the Rogers, Stirk, Harbour + Partners (RSHP) masterplan.
The shopping centre, originally designed by Boissevain and Osmond Architects, was taped off by police, and pedestrians were prohibited from using the subways. The underground station and a nearby road were also closed.
Shopping centre manager Mike Knell said: ‘A glass panel from the curtain walling high up on Hannibal House was broken, causing the glass to shatter.
‘For health and safety reasons the borough surveyor asked police to close the road while maintenance teams abseiled over the top of the building to ensure that the remaining glass was safe.’
The site lies at the centre of the planned £1.5 billion transformation of Elephant and Castle, by a consortium led by developer Lend Lease, which, as well as RSHP, will also include Allies and Morrison and Glenn Howells Architects.
The building, which sits opposite Ernö Goldfinger’s Alexander Fleming House, was described by Pevsner as ‘an early depressing example of the species [of shopping centres], unsuccessful, no doubt partly because of the uncivilised access’.
A dad of 2 was killed during the demolition of Castle House on 2nd August. Beam fell on him, killed instantly.
Con woman alert!
No, not the junkie-looking white woman from last year. This is a black woman, aged around thirty, well dressed. She had her keys and her mobile phone in her hand. (Why do they all do that?)
She began by saying, “Hi, I’m one of your neighbours. I live at the end of the street.” (They always live “at the end of the street”. Never at a number.) She continued, “I know this is a bit cheeky, but could I–”
At which point I laughed and said, “Now you’re not going to ask me for money, are you?”
At which point she paused, and half-smiled.
At which point I slowly closed the door in her face.
Hope this warning comes in handy to all you good people.
That would be the lady who asks for money to charge her electricity key, as she has a sick son on dialysis or something. First posted here a couple of years ago, if I’m not mistaken. You would probably be the only person who’s not given her any money yet.
No, the woman who asks for money for the kid on dialysis is the white junkie-looking woman I mentioned at the beginning of my post. She’s been to my house as well.
Unless this black woman was about to launch into a “sick-kid-on-dialysis-spiel”? Maybe they pass their scams on to each other? If they do, this latest one needs to brush up on her technique, it was woeful. I hate unprofessionalism.
The only people knocking on our door these days seem to be Jehova’s witnesses.
I like to have a chat with them about how a universe and world came about without a creator’s involvement.
Come to think about it I’ve never asked what it is about Jehova they witnessed.
When I was at junior school a friend called Brian came into class one morning and told us YOU (everyone apart from him) are all going to die; on a particular day a couple of weeks hence. 1963 I think it was. I remember thinking when I woke up that fateless morning, ‘I wonder how Brian’s going to explain why he bothered coming in to school today’.
He never did.
He was a Jehova’s witness.
I stopped going to church weh I was ten. My parents let me.
Now I’m trying to find god.
There he is!
No dammit
That was the hamster
I meant to say that Brian’s parents were Jehova’s witnesses.
Brian was just a boy.
The hamster’s called Patrick.
There is definitely alot of religious fervour around us in SE5. I was brought up a Catholic (which is enough to thrash every last straw of faith out of anyone) and decided that I didn’t believe in God when I was 14-15ish. It was my Mum that insisted that I go to a Catholic school, though she wasn’t observant herself. These things have a way of biting you on the bum, all you parents out there! From 10 until 13 I was filled with the Divine Being and would drag my Mum to church every Sunday morning, much to her chagrin. Is that the smell of chickens coming home to roost, I hear you ask? Most definitely.
Allegedly, white Europeans brought Christianity to the heathen African continent and then, a mere couple of centuries later, most of the churches in this area are literally being kept alive by first and second generation African migrants. Ironic, eh? The CofE would have shut up shop ages ago, but for this.
Alan 33 above — greetings!
No I don’t drive a Golf — in fact I don’t take part in the personal petrol economy at all.
Nor do I drive at golf, which is a sore lack in a professional Scotsman.
My recent bookselling plans have been scotched by a soon-to-be-bankrupt arse of a landlord. He will never get an offer as good as the one I made him; and the sub-prime repossessors will be round before his alternative plans come to fruition. No spine you see; not that I’m bitter…
Still, plans are afoot to open a new shop during the autumn, somewhere in South London. If you have successfully cornered the R and A [that’s rare and antiquarian, having stopped the golf analogy] in a particular kids author Alan then I wish you well with it — it’s better than I have managed, but I’m not in the R and A game really.
Drew Mishmash
No easy way to say this but I was in the Sun and Doves this afternoon and the place was deserted. Five attentive staff on duty and not many over a dozen customers.
I know it’s the weekend that starts the last extendable fortinghts hols of the summer; I know about the smoking ban; but one of our major contributors needs us to drop in a bit more often for a bacon sarnie…
I hope that by having three coffees and a glass of wine, my chum and I didn’t donate to the greedy landlord. The Sun and Doves is a uniquely special bar; don’t be one of those people who only notices it when it’s gone.
Sycophancy session over!
Drew
Speaking of professional Scotsmen, I have heard that that Hobgoblin in Effra Road is to become Hootenanny, a scottish pub themed pub.
They apparently will have scottish beer, music, and ceilidh dancing too. Perhaps some glaswegian religious/football bigots in the corner ready to put the heid on you. And at the end of every night, a good stramash…
I, for one, can’t wait!
Have you been to Albannach in Trafalgar Square? Very upmarket Scots establishment. By contrast, I was up the Caledonian Road the other day, which has come up in the world a bit, until you get to the top, by Pentonville Prison, where the pub opposite is boarded up.
No. I’ve been to Scotland though. Pretty good. 7/10.
Only lost marks for bad weather, midges and the scarcity of decent ale.
I like in Scotland that no one bats an eyelid when you have pints of lager with your dinner. Yummy!
Went to the pub quiz at The Bear last night, good fun. Questions just the right level, for a thicko like me, and the food looked grand too. Great to have another fine pub within walking distance of red5 towers.
Walked past the Bear last night on my way to the arches to see Ricky the mechanic.
Looks really good.
Mark, it could have been 1963 or 1962. One of our teachers drove to school as per usual but over his suit he wore a life jacket which he wore — religiously — till lunch time when it was clear that the flood was not going to happen.
That was a cold winter, though 1963.
This is a dull silly season, too. The Dagmar family was at the Dome fake beach yesterday. The Anchor & Hope riverside pub SE7 7NS is a brilliant vestige — I was told they were going to knock it down to make way for flats which are going up round there big time. There is a real beach nearby, by the Greenwich Yacht club. There is an extensive wetlands area. The tide starts to come in and there are suddenly loads of boats and barges. The estuary birds are very lively.
Sounds good.
Yes, for those of us who crave the North Sea, it’s a good perch. The pub is a real local, with wooden tables outside overlooking the river, three levels with two restaurants and an industrial base of clientele from the local aggregate works. They stand outside smoking, a bit self-consciously. The pub is in a row of old workshops. The Barrier is not far away. It’s a good place for people with small children to walk, hang out and watch the scrap mountains of Silvertown become towered over by the new Olympic buildings behind them.
Is it near North Greenwich Jubilee line station then…
Apologies in advance: irritating thread hijack alert…
Anyone feel confident in recommending a garage in (or around) SE5?
My elderly Bedford camper van has a relatively minor mechanical fault which, sadly 1/ I can’t fix and 2/ means it’s not starting.
It usually gets done at a garage in Hackney — the previous owner took it there for years and they cherish it like an old friend. However, it’s probably not worth the towing fee for what should be a quick fix.
See post 63.
The arches on Camberwell Station Road provide all imaginable motor related services.
Just head down there and ask around. That’s how I found Ricky. Not sure he does vans but I’m sure he’ll know someone who does..
Thanks Alan — I did use someone down there once and it was all a bit of a pain. They were so amazingly busy I had to drop the van off something ridiculous like 7.30am and it wasn’t ready till about 7pm. Most of the places seem to specialise in modern cars — a few of them looked horrified when asked to work on a 1977 engine.
Correct. They are very busy because they are very cheap.
If you are looking for high levels of client service then there must be better options.
I am only interested in keeping my car on the road for as long as possible at minimum expense.
Hmm, yes, I know what you mean. But since the van has managed to survive 30 years on the roads, I always feel I owe it good mechanical treatment — plus, as I said, it scares garages more used to modern cars.
I guess I’ll stump up the cash and get it towed to the usual place, if only so the mechanics can gently tap it on the bonnet and mutter “lovely van, this” before I drive off.
Peter#
try Evolution autos — Empress st off Fielding st off the Camberwell Rd.
not only do they look after my 1971 Lancia flavia coupe , but they are honest too!!
call Neil on 020 7703 2225
I’ll do that — thanks a lot.
There is also Bruce in Vanguard Court on the Peckham Road opposite the petrol station and Spar shop — he is the only motor mechanic in Vanguard Court, the rest are textile designers. His number is either 701 or 703 — 1066. He will know what to do.
Tudor Garage next door to S&D are excellent. Really. Billy and Ian 77332270 I think, the number in my ‘phone seems a little corrupted
Thanks everyone.
Hi guys,
quick question..can anyone recomend someone in or around Camberwell that will fit a bathroom/tiling/shower to a really high spec? I’m looking for someone to get to work ASAP.
People have mentioned the George Canning as a good football pub. Went there last night for the England match, settled in with drinks and then ordered some food. So far, so good. When we asked for the volume to be turned up we were met with blank stares from the bar staff, when the manager eventually came and the question was repeated, we were told that they show the football but don’t have the sound on during the week. We were refunded our money for the food and promptly left to find another watering hole in time for kick off. It seems rather strange to turn away 8 people and a spend of over £100. Several other people left as well. It wasn’t exactly busy
I went to the Cadeleigh; a proper football pub. In fact, if it weren’t for the football crowd they’d probably have closed down by now.
Football; Canning; irony. Camberwell pubs; The Bear. Home alone.
I don’t follow football at all, a serious Achilles’ heel in the competitive pub business since I never know when an important game is going to be on and never get round to overcoming this bit. Not even got round to seriously having customers who are inclined to follow the beautiful game to tell us when we should be broadcasting the stuff for their delectation.
Still. Last night I was in the George Canning after a Camberwell Arts meeting which I had to leave early when the football was on in the background (the commentary was on actually so maybe the eight people leaving stimulated a belated response from the staff. I had chicken Kiev and was very satisfied. Delicious it was with thin fries and a lovely bearnaise dip and a balsamic dressed leaf salad, good and crunchy and succulent and garlicky and soothing.
Wednesday is our quiz night and it was so quiet in the bar when I left the bar just before 8 o’clock that I was in despair, Iheard as I was leaving “the footy is on”. “is it Sky or terrestrial?” I asked. “Don’t know” I got back.
I knew the Canning’s Tuesday quiz had been called off due to under attendance which consoled me as I had my rather delicious Kiev, thinking ‘I wonder how bloody desolate it must be down at The Sun and Doves in this Autumnal summer gloom, competing with torrential rain, last minute holidays, rising interest rates, wobbly international markets, religious wars and East Dulwich’. ‘There’s no point in our Wednesday quiz happening either’. ‘Where are they all? The punters’?
As I walked up to the Canning from the meeting at Camberwell Baths at 9.20pm I noticed Funly Munly was quiet and just seven customers in the Dark Horse. I though ‘f*** me. Wednesday night in the middle of summer, this is a ghost town’.
So, the Canning was quite busy by comparison.
The people who run the Cadleigh own the bricks and mortar. Granted they have to pay the mortgage but they don’t apply rocket science to their trade. They just run a nice old fashioned neighbourhood bar. Which is not to many people’s taste now. That’s why they’re not generally really busy. But they have an asset. If the business fails they could get a job outside and keep their home. And probably make a good case for conversion of the whole to residential and increase the freehold value five times and retire somewhere a little less taxing.
SO. I found out that back at The Sun and Doves someone on the staff had capitulated, cancelled the quiz and found the television feed for football and did it large on our fairly good quality projector. Which somehow at short notice brought people in and made the bar clock tick over a bot more than it would have otherwise. Hurrah!
THE BEAR.
Been meaning to visit since before the refurbishment ended. Went there tonight. Service good and friendly, well informed, fair recommendations on wine to accompany food. Menu short, fairly confident and competently presented. Got there about 9.15pm. They aren’t in 118500 yet, which I mentioned. Should have got the number come to think of it and posted it here. Kitchen closes at 10pm.
Confit duck on lentils, roast lamb on minted peas with lettuce, French flank steak with sauteed fries. Very good simple presentation. All arrived in good time, served well and with enthusiasm. All dishes were under seasoned — but no crime since can be altered to taste, we three all added pepper and salt — we were recommended a Gavi by Alex, our initial waiter ess. This unfortunately was too inoffensive to be really enjoyable but the girl among us liked it. The men, dissatisfied with suave white Italian swerved got a couple of glasses of red. A Malbec and a Tempranillo. Both gutsy and much more satisfying the purpose.
The atmosphere was good and calm, the customers civilised and friendly (there’s a little smoking courtyard at the back which is helps automatic friendly introductions). They’ve done a good job. They’ve opened right at the start of the smoking ban in the middle of the worst summer in living memory and deserve patronage. I wish them good success, they deserve it. I just hope Camberwell and the part of Camberwell New Road they are on treats them well.
Have a look here if you have a moment: food pics and a little interiors
http://www.flickr.com/photos/markdodds/sets/72157601615987158/
I will definitely visit the Bear again by the way.
Clearly the culinary outlay at the Bear has stimulated your literary muse…
I’m getting round there sharpish!
likewise visited the Bear for some grub last night. THe steak and kidney pie was lovely — good chunks of meat and kidney, top pastry and really pleasant bar staff. good lager selection too — not many round here have peroni on tap, and chimay bleu and Duvel in the fridge. top stuff
On another note, exited my flat this morning to see three cop cars, lots of police tape and a fair splattering of blood on the street 3 doors down. I guess it was too much to hope for a whole year without a serious crime outside my front door.
Anyone got the skinny?
Good post– generous of you to praise the competition too.
Maybe the Canning is weathering the storm because they advertise themselves as being in East Dulwich on the ED forum.
Glad to hear the S+D is having a rethink about football coverage. Why don’t you shamelessly rebrand as a sports pub in the Elbow Room mould?
greetings and forgive my ignorance but where is the bear? can’t find it on beerintheevening. it was called something else til recently no?
oh and re plumbers (Kia Blue above)
i have heard good things about Damian of Aplomb plumbers — 02077377540. no personal experience mind you.
I was in the Spar shop on Vestry Road two nights ago and a kid on a bike, maybe 11, at the entrance was taking a call on his mobile, saying that he didn’t deliver and needed tenners. His two young mates on their bikes were very impressed. This was brazen, I thought. The blood on the pavement, Wookie, is bound to be something to do with such culture, embedded in our community, country.
This and the overcast and rainy weather, coupled with a read of the Southwark News or SLP, plus Germany beating England in a “friendly” at the new Wembley just like they did at the old Wembley, all make for a dull outlook.
Therefore let us take heart from the mushrooms which now appear at the foot of the trees on Camberwell Grove, rise to 5″ from a penile stub overnight and burst the next day, on their slender white stalks, with a delicate grey-green crown.
The beech tree, is it, in Lucas Gardens that was set fire to at the base and then keeled over in the last big winds has had all its branches lopped off, the trunk now lying on the tarmac, but is now sprouting new leaves everywhere.
jozza
hi the bear is on the corner of camberwell station road and camberwell new road hope to see you soon
Dagmar, did you call the police and report the drug dealer?
went to Safa for a feed tonite. I’m sorry Safa lovers but this is a f***ing shit restaurant, surly waiters that only want to bump the bill up with extra poppodums, nans etc. The food is very ordinary for all its pan indian pretensions, greasy , underseasoned, with mutton( alledged lamb) well undercooked. At least they don’t offer Madras curry originaly from Goa!!!
as they used to. The only positive thing is they have removed the obligatory service charge from the menu — deeply insulting i think.
I don’t know why this place is popular
perhaps the patrons are ignorant about food, and indian food in particular, or maybe it is the lack of viable choice for Indian food in Camberwell?
certainly better to forgo it altogether
or make a trip to Tooting, Southall, Wembley or Whitechapel to at least be offered real Indian food.
Ouch! Famille Mishmash love the Dewaniam on Cam New Road for both sit-in and take-out. 99% great and the 1% mistakes get quickly and cheerily sorted.
I went to Safa last night as well. My first time.
Bumped into two friends who use Safa often (and complain about S&D food being crap all the time by the way (consistency is S&D’s problem)). The friends full of praise for the place. I found the menu a bit jazzy and ordered the chicken bhona; I pronounced it ‘boner’ and the waiter said it was .Bhuna’. When the food arrived there was far too much of it, my problem here is that the waiter should have advised, when the order was made — ‘you’re ordering too much’ -. Their plates are jazzy too, all twisted and tipping at a jaunty angles. So the rim of a bowl is at a pronounced angle and looks like the bowl’s been put down on a fork or something, tipping over. I found that disconcerting.
The food was, I’m inclined to agree with bunbohue, wet and bland. The poppadoms were crisp though.
It’s popular because it looks smart and is on the main drag. And people aren’t critical and don’t know about what they’re eating.
I’ve had far, far better Indian food in East End cafes where it’s just unceremoniously ladled out of steel bains maries and plonked on your plate.
Kastoori in Tooting is the other end of the scale. Vegetarian and totally remarkable.
Agree about Tooting — you could eat out there all month and never get bored. A friend of mine took me to a full strength halal place off drummond street a couple of years ago. everyone looked like a taleban warrior, low ceilings, mecca cola from the can. i was the white boy asking for cutlery; but the food was fantastic, and just kept rolling. couldn’t tell you exactly where i’m afraid…
Come on white boy gimme sum
Gimme some what, Bisto? Hasta tha Bisto? Is that what t’food needs?
Where’d you all go? Carnival?
@Kia Blue — post number 80 — I’ve just had my bathroom re-fitted by a guy called Richard Gravitt. He’s a friend of a friend of mine. Not a professional plumber but did a good job, didn’t charge silly money, and is a nice bloke to boot. I was pleased. His number’s 07951 868 374. Tell him you got the number from Mel.
Surprised some folk have been so disappointed with Safa. I reckon the chicken xacutti, lemon rice and cheesy-chilli-naan are all top flight. And the sag aloo’s got an unexpected fresh ginger taste, which I like. I think the food’s flavoursome without starting life as half a pot of ghee — the easy way to make a curry more smooth and rich. Fair-dos though to anyone who doesn’t like it.
And safa’s not up there with Tooting’s remarkably cheap and delicious Vadha krishna Java (spelling?), that’s for sure.
Best restaurant in Camberwell? No contest, it’s Hoa Viet. Just look past the decor, which someone here memorably described as a minicab office.
I thought that Hoa Viet was notorious for being shut down by Food Hygiene for being ‘the dirtiest restaurant in London’
a fairly incredible accomplishment.….
try the Eastern Tree on Coldharbour Lane
if you want to try real Vietnamese food,
not a rip off joint for westerners who don’t know any better
Sorry to hijack the thread, but can anyone receommend a good, reliable electrician? I have a few jobs that need doing and have been let down by two sparks already.
Revisit The Bear:
Bumped into Olly, owner/chef today. The telephone number (for booking a table)is 020 7274 7037.
Call, reserve a table and try them out!
Jazz Jam at The Sun and Doves with Nick Rixon Quartet in the driving seat this Sunday from about 8pm onwards.
By the way last Sunday we had Chik Budo (www.chikbudo.com) playing the garden at S&D. They were brilliant. Had to tone down early though because of neighbours.
Forgot to mention the Bear’s beers:
Draught: Peroni; Budvar; Carlsberg; Leffe Blond; Guinness and three cask ales which change — currently Horizon; Ruddles’ Orchard and Blacksheep
Good selection bottled as well: Peroni Grand Reserve; Castel Cru; Duvel; Chimay; Negro Mondello.
Back to school soon.
Hoa Viet was shut down a few years back, then it re-opened, at which point I tried it out and it was very good. However, when I tried it again, I found the food a bit greasy. I always go to Buddha Jazz now, which I think has the best food in Camberwell (or did, until The Bear opened).
Anyone got an update as to when Angels and Gypsies Tapas y Cerveceria is going to open in the Church Street Hotel?
Rumeli’s is open again. With a new sign underneath the old one: ‘GRILLS Etc. The healthier option’. Interesting. If they’ll do me a grease-free chicken shish, rice and salad I might become a regular.
Has Fusion’s sign always been that pink? It seemed really really pink when I went past earlier.
The lack of movement at Angels and Gypsies makes me sad.
I guess they are out of cash. I’m sure they deserve a loan.
There are loads of people waiting with baited breath for a boutique hotel bar to open. They could charge £10 for a cocktail and they’d still be busy.
I know what I meant to ask you lot. My home laptop has died. When I turn it on it tells me there is no operating system. Even in my ignorance I know this is a very bad thing. Anyone got any suggestions? Or recommendations for computer-menders in the area?
My computer died at the weekend. My bike got stolen at the weekend. It wasn’t a great weekend.
Lots of local recommendations for IT help on ED forum…
http://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/forum/read.php?9,38034
Mel R said…
“I know what I meant to ask you lot. My home laptop has died. When I turn it on it tells me there is no operating system. Even in my ignorance I know this is a very bad thing. Anyone got any suggestions? Or recommendations for computer-menders in the area?”
Rockit, above Iceland should see you right.
Laptops are very expensive to repair for some reason so prepare yourself for a shock.
When it comes down to the Pepsi challenge, Hoa Viet make their food and to me it tastes authentic. And yes I have tried the real thing afar. Bhudda Jazz is a nice looking place but the food seems to me to come out of a catering pack in the deep freeze. But bless everyone who goes there.
Each to their own restaurant.
Eat to their own cat, rat or fox.
some flippin fox ‘as bit thru the wires
Mel R — I am sure Fusion’s sign was black before. Although, now I can’t be sure.
I like both Hoa viet and Buddha Jazz.
I also like the Silver Buckle though.
You might call it undiscerning I just call it a positive outlook.
Open house weekend on Sept 14th.
Anyone going to climb up the tower at William Booth?
Anyone done it before willing to give me the lowdown on how the whole thing works?
I’ve been waiting all year to go up the Bill Booth tower, now I’ll be away for it.
I like Hoa Viet. But I have had to experiment until I’ve found a couple of dishes that are good, and now I always have those. It is limited I suppose. And their coffee is instant, which is a crime. I’m curious to try Eastern Eye after the recommendation above now.
I did the Saly Army HQ one Open Weekend many years ago. I’m ashamed to say I can’t remember much about it now. We had a tour and a talk I think. I’ve got a niggling feeling that there was some reason we couldn’t go up the tower. How crap that I can’t remember. Do you need to book for it, Alan Dale?
Thanks for computer tips. I’m going to try Rockit…
Don’t think so but don’t know for sure.
The open house site just says:-
Sat 2pm-4.30pm.
Entry to Tower 2pm-4.30pm. Talk on building in Assembly Hall 2pm, 3pm, 4pm.
http://www.londonopenhouse.org/london/find/
I went one year about 2001, I think.
Not for people who have vertigo or impaired mobility. The tower seems to be empty after about the thrid floor and has double/triple height internal spaces within.
The view from the top is spectacular as you would expect.
The same year Southwark Council opened Peckham Neighbourhood Housing Office (housed within the North Peckham Estate before it was demolished). I didn’t go to that.
The view from Booth is brill, Alan et al. You get the leaflet from libraries or go to the website for details. Anyway, you just turn up — the iron spirals stairs are narrow and covered in pigeon poo — but you can see Windsor Castle.
I went up the tower in 2001 (i think). Not for vertigo sufferers or mobility impaired. Seems to be empty above the third floor and you climb up through huge triple height spaces on a fire escape style staircase. Slots are not glazed so wind whistles through and everything is covered in pigeon droppings. Amazing views from the top though.
Fusion was closed for about a week in which time the sign has had a lick of paint and gone from purple (or was it black?) to cerese.
Talking of colour…is ‘Sunshine House’ really an appropriate name for the huge black monstrosity that is the new Child Development Centre on the Peckham Rd. I couldn’t help but laugh at the irony of the name when the sign outside was revealed.