Le Petit Parisien respond to criticism
Written by Peter | Filed under Eating & Drinking
Note: This was left as a comment for the previous post, but I thought it deserved a post of its own. — Peter
Hello all.
My name is Matthew, and I am the FoH Supervisor at Le Petit Parisien.
I’ve been reading with horror some of the stories on this post, and would like to address some of the points raised, if I may.
Firstly, to Peter, the writer of this popular blog, you were correct that when we first opened, just over two weeks ago, we did not have any French or Belgian beer on tap.
Sadly, we are tied to Punch Taverns on our beers and ciders, and Punch’s only French beer is Kronenbourg, which we now stock in place of Carlsberg.
We also have (this morning in fact) installed Leffe Blonde, and Hoegarden, much to our excitement.
We are hoping to start a revolving selection of Real Ales (I am an enormous Real Ale fan), on our single beer engine, and some interesting Ciders on draft from the fridge. This will hopefully be ready by this weekend!
Thankyou for your well wishes, it does mean a lot to hear reserved judgement and constructive criticism! I am very glad that you enjoyed your steak baguette, we are very proud of the meat that our butcher provides– we have worked with him for many years.
Monkeycat: I am sorry that your Mixed Grill didn’t live up to your expectations.. The Parisien owner has assured me that it is something that one does see in authentic Parisien brasseries, and *I* can assure you that the grill is cleaned every evening, but I apologise if you way you were spoken to upset you– you’re quite right about us needing to listen to our customers!
Yak: Oh dear! There are only three staff members Front of House, including myself and the Owner, so it seems as though you
must have asked about the crepe to our young trainee barman.. I will arrange a staff meeting to discuss the menu in detail again. Also– I really do believe that our food does represent good value for money.. Everything we produce is fresh, made on the premises, and never frozen (well apart from the frites and the ice cream 
!).
Our Nicoise Salad has a fresh tuna steak on top, our Cote de Boeuf is over 1kg for sharing between two people and can be cut with a butter knife! I do hope you try us again soon, and haven’t been put off completely!
Copeywolf: I don’t really know what you mean by saying that we’re a gimmick.. We’re owned by a Frenchman (the ’small
parisien’ himself), and our Chefs are both French, one from Paris and the other from Algeria. I assure you they all speak French! I do not speak much French, but the Owner is teaching me slowly! We do now have Punch’s only French beer, as discussed above, and I can whole heartedly assure you that none of our food is ‘plain crepe’, unless you ask for one .
Vix: I’m so sorry! You seem to have had a dreadful experience! I suppose your feelings about the painting, interior design, and the staff are subjective, but I’m sorry that you hate it so much.. I am confused about how you could have waited an hour for an omelette(!), and have been told there was no sparkling water when we have cases and cases of it downstairs. This is all a mystery to me. However, it is entirely likely that our barman hadn’t heard of a St Clements, or even bitter lemon. He is young and has not worked anywhere before in his life. However, what he might have lacked two weeks ago in knowledge he makes up for in enthusiasm and hard work. We are giving him a chance and training him up; ‘Employ enthusiasm and teach skills!’, my father used to say!
Just a couple more things before I go (for fear of monopolising this post!!): I think Mark Dodds is right about hitting the ground running. We have experienced teething problems, and we are ironing them out. We are planning on rolling out some new menu items (FISH!!), a cocktail list and NHS discounts. We are also going to start opening our upstairs room for private hire, doing live Jazz on Sunday evenings, and getting our Algerian Head Chef to prepare delicious Cous Cous nights.
One last thing: It is very easy to read and write bad reviews of a place online. I speak to as many customers as I can, and as far as I can tell, nearly all of them are very happy.. I really am sorry for the bad experiences that some of you have had, and appreciate that some people won’t like that way we have decorated the place, but we DO care about what people think, and WILL respond to your feedback, so come in and see me (I’m the ‘non-french’ speaking guy with red hair) and we can have a a glass of wine and a chat.
Thanks for your feedback, hopefully I will have the time to be a regular visitor to the Camberwell blogosphere (I have lived in Camberwell myself for almost 4 years).
Sorry for taking up so much room!
Bye!
Hi Matthew,
Thanks for taking the time to respond; it’s very honest of you to face up to the somewhat harsh criticism. I look forward to trying LPP out for dinner soon.
I was a big fan of the Dark Horse and a big fan of food in general. Its good to hear such an honest response and I look forward to giving Le Petit Parisien a visit in the near future.
Top marks on the response Matthew. I’m a Camberwell Grove resident and after reading this, I’ll head in soon and reserve judgement for myself.
Good luck with the place and no doubt see you soon.
WELL done Matthew, good call. It’s really good for you to have such an upfront grip so soon and is really the sort of thing Camberwell needs. Everyone reading this blog will appreciate your frankness and come back for more. Errr especially in my case, for le cote de boeuf.
So keep it up and make sure you deliver — we want/need you to be good!
Look closely at your tie contract and see if there’s any mileage in taking advantage of a clause which states that they may allow out of tie purchases in instances when they are not able to supply products you can prove a demand for among your customers. Worht a shot. AND, believe me, they need you as much as Camberwell does, so you have some bargaining power. Believe me — you really do.
Good on you Matthew for the measured response. You clearly know your onions and care enough to steer the bateau safely into open water.
Teething problems are inevitable and most people are fine with that. But in my honest opinion you compromised on too much to begin with. Maybe you underestimated how fussy and fickle some of the target audience can be?
The fact the chefs are French does not mean they can cook, nor does the fact that the owner is French mean they can recreate the brasserie experience. For me, the best things you could do would be:
Make the formal dining area less formal and so more versatile. Haphazard even? Good for just some drinks and small plates as well as the full cote de boeuf.
Try to make some, if not all of it, more romantic. Vague, even silly, I know. Just what I think. A table or two that are snuggle-friendly, spacing of tables, lighting (inside and out) etc. Was there any female input in the choice of layout/decor? And do you have any dangly lights? Got to have dangly lights somewhere!
Address the range of drinks as previously mentioned.
Don’t let the chefs send food out that you or they wouldn’t appreciate being served yourselves.
Sort out the paint job at some point.
I look forward to giving Le PP another try soon and will rant/heap praise accordingly!
I agree — top response Matthew and I look forward to trying LPP soon!
Yes, ‘top response’, Matthew. Wasn’t going to visit LePP. Will now.
Matthew — what a refreshing and frank post! Thanks so much for a measured and balanced response which I can imagine would have been very easy not to do. Good luck with training up your staff and sorting out the teething issues.
Wow! Loads of bad reviews (crap food, rude service), yet all the supervisor of LPP has to do is write one vaguely conciliatory e-mail and now everyone’s rushing back. Hilarious.
Peter is clearly abusing his position by angling for a free dinner.
Typically disgraceful antics of a limousine liberal.
@Norman: I think it’s commendable of Matthew to address the critics, and of the critics to agree to try it out again; certainly better than LPP ignoring the issue, and the critics never going back again after one bad experience.
@Alan: I make no effort to disguise my pursuit of dining free throughout Camberwell; to no avail as of yet, unfortunately. Local restaurateurs: a free meal (and wine) guarantees a good review. Contact me at the usual address.
I’ve always admired Peter’s abuse of his power. And would do exactly the same in his place.
LPP? — Watch this space.
Did I mention Camberwell is responsible for the start of a movement which will bring down pubcos (ask Matthew about the absence of French beers on his bar).
http://www.fairpint.org.uk
Perhaps grumpy-old-men, Muppet-Show grumbling syndrome is a suitably fumbling, bumbling methane-powered method of de-girling this website. Until NOW, my fine, hairy-arsed friends!
Let’s have a simper! Battersea Park is a joy at this time of year. Chelsea Flower Show is on, so the car parks are crammed with Cayennes. Their owners pay dear for the day’s park up. Clearly, the crunch has not affected the critical mass of the systemically thickened middle class for whom the Flower Show is a must-go bore, by the looks of their cardiac faces.
One of them dropped a business card for “Class Chandeliers”, who have a website under that name. This amused me and a Dagmarette, as we shambled around like McKellen and his mate in the play. Maybe Branston’s Virgin Airlines should introduce a Chandelier Class.
If every other car parked is a Cayenne, every other one is a Range Rover and not just some diesel but a recently registered HSE Sport. Speaker Martin may have been scapegoated today like some shot-dead wildlife critter in the Highlands, but boy does the agricultural show go on in the shires. Oh, bring on the Bullingdon Club boys! Bully for them! Tally ho! We deserve to be whipped by the Moseley brigade after deserting Labour and what they have done for 10 years. We are in for a spanking. Yoicks!
It is a relief to come back to old Camberwell after a day in heavy-bourgeois Battersea. We have a lot to be grateful for — there is a light-heartedness here that is rare and a mixedness that is the spice of life. Bonne chance au Petit Pain! Let them live and let live, thrive and change. Laissez-faire! Bring on the Django Reinhardt and Anais Nin-themed waitresses. I may volunteer there myself! The frill of everyfing French! The guillotine has fallen on mediocrity! Snap! CLUNK! Avanti popolo! Viva! Arriba! Hee-hah!
Mark, are you off to the Houses of Parliament this lunchtime?
Sorry for the change of topic, but unfortunately, just learned of the following:
The Licensing Sub-Committee having considered the application by Power Leisure Bookmarkers Limited in respect of non-track betting premises licence at Paddy Powers, 2 Coldharbour Lane, London, SE5 have made the following decision:
The application to be granted.”
Interesting reading about LPP — we walked past it the other day and thought it a little incongruous. Maybe I shall pop by for a drink and a steak-frites before long.
Has anyone checked out the new Turkish place on Church Street, FM Mangal? I had a menu thrust into my hands and it looks more restaurant than kebab shop — I’m looking forward to trying it out.
@Jason: There’s obviously a need for it; the market is driven by customer demand, remember?
@Rob: Was put off going in there by the dirty great kebab skewer in the window, but the reports have left me curious; I’ll try it out one day.
@southmark Yes, at Parliament yesterday for the Fair Pint Lobby Day. Great day, lots of publicans and lots of MPs. Some photographs of it soon.
From what I can see they are reopening a bookies. Better an open bookies than a boarded up bookies.
THe Sun and Doves is mentioned in a novel called Long Lost, by Harlan Coben. Let’s hope they make it into a film.
http://www.harlancoben.com/static/novels/ll.htm
Oh Great!
Another Cunt of a betting shop…
That’s progress!
No apologies for the fruity language either…
Intriguingly, near the mysterious Selborne village enclave, the Gnostic Movement has established a new centre at 59B Denmark Hill Road. Here, they lead sessions in astral flying, positive dreaming, retrospective meditation and out of body experiences. No, this is not a pub! This is the meeting place of an esoteric sect. We should be flattered that this non-betting-shop organisation has chosen Camberwell for its location in the scheme of things. Perhaps the ley lines are right and the Camberwell well well positioned and zinging with reviving negative ions. The Gnostics were persecuted from the first century onwards and even accused of ceremonial sex-magic practices. Then, in the 1970s, the scrolls of the Gospel of Judas were discovered, bearing witness to the fact that Judas agreed with Jesus to shop him to the fascist Romans, without which there could undeniably be no execution and resurrection — indeed, Judas knew Christ better than any of the apostles, they say, and is far from being some FIFA-briefed dodgy referee. Ah, the mist thickens. Ethereal lute strings are plucked, harps trill, gnostics fly over Camberwell at night in diaphanous garments. The spell of midsummer night will surely lure us like moths to its flame…
Indeed, Eusebiomate, the lush, juicy lure of the fig, the pomegranate, ah, the tang of sea salt in the shell, the rushing river of Lethe sweeping us to ecstasy and beyond…
@peter — no point getting a free meal (or free anything) if you are in the media game. Better to pay your way and say what you mean.
@eusebiomate — know what you mean, but that word is best avoided.
@dagmarmate — you are a pleasure to read.
@no-one-in-particular — i am loving how its summer. Isnt this part of town a great place to live and hang out in summer?
@Gabe: To have journalistic integrity, you need to be a journalist. I’m just a blogger, with the needs and desires of every other blogger. Free meals, drinks, cash, book tokens, milk coupons, all gratefully accepted.
Summer beckons. Get planning for Carnaval del Pueblo inburgess Park and Lambeth Country Show in Brockwell Park.
Other highlights include Jerk Chicken Cook Off in Horniman Gardens and something in Lucas Gardens. What is the Lucas Gardens thing?
@Dagmar — ceremonial sex-magic, eh? Fenella Fielding in Carry On Screaming comes to mind!
Have just returned from the bank and thought I’d walk across the green.
Dog shit all over, beer cans on the newly laid rose garden and a parking cone on the memorial.
It is a bloody disgace, people who do this should have their genitalia removed.
RE Acorn on corner of Coldharbour Lane and Denmark Hill — opposite GX Gallery and Nandos, diagonally opposite payday loans and next door to Subway.
I objected to it becoming a betting shop so I got a letter from Southwark planning saying it’s going to be a betting shop. It’s Paddy Power by the way.
Taking a leaf out of Chunters lexicon ” It’s a bloody disgrace etc balls cut off”
By the way there is no quiz next Wednesday at Sun and Doves because of Barcelona and Manchester United which we’re showing instead. Apologies.
I saw a white squirrel in St Giles Churchyard yesterday. It seemed quite at home and not that scared of people. Perhaps it’s a resident. Have any SE5 nature lovers seen it too and taken any pictures?
@peter fair point, you need an angle
Re. camberwell green — dare you to walk on the grass! There was a cleaning squad there this morning carting off sacks of bottles and take-away cartons, so it was ok. Play area strewn with broken glass though.
Picked up stuff for a pic nic from Cruzon and Sophlocles. Now waiting for the kids outside the Leisure center and catching some serious rays. Wicked sun trap.
I’ve seen the white squirrel too. Bit to quick for my phone camera though.
@Matt
I haven’t seen the white squirrel you refer to, but there was another in the neighbourhood a little time ago. We saw it in our garden and the surrounding area over a period of a few years. (We live quite close to St Giles.) I also recall that a few years ago a baby white squirrel was found in a drey in Peckham, and was nick-named Persil.
I saw a white squirrel about ten years ago, and another about four years ago. Squirrels live for quite a long time, so it could even have been the same one.
White squirrels are surprisingly uncommon apparently.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/southerncounties/content/articles/2005/11/24/about_white_squirrels.shtml
We popped into PP today with Layla’s parents for lunch and were very impressed. Since our first visit, which we reviewed on the Gay Camberwell website, there has been a huge improvement. The food was excellent (the breakfast was especially well received) and the service was impeccable. At this rate, PP could turn into one of Camberwell’s best food options. We’ve blogged about it today: http://www.gaycamberwell.com/gc-blog.html and will be returning for dinner to revise our review.
Went to FM Mangal on Saturday night, and was very impressed. It is now my new favourite Camberwell eatery.
Tarama and hellim were both excellent, although only duff note was a spring-roll sized boregi (borek) which was nuclear hot and four of them were too big for a starter — even as a sharer.
Lamb beyti was very good, with nicely-flavoured meat and plenty of yoghurt. Came with rice, in the traditional way, which was cooked just right.
Baklava a bit drier than I liked, but went well with Turkish coffee.
And all for a very reasonable £35 for two with beers and soft drinks.
Mangals is nice. I posted on the wrong thread.
Tadim remake is too stark. Food nowhere near as good as Mangals.
Keen to support Spice of Life but every time I try to we’d be the only people in there.
By the time we left FM Mangal, about 3/4 of all the upstairs tables were taken, which I think is good considering it was a warm evening for dining indoors.
We went to le Petit Parisien on Saturday and were very impressed.
Although we werent unimpressed on the opening night it did seem a bit disorganised.
On Saturday however it was much more slick with attentive waiters and the food was excellent. Only problem was the seating in the bar area which I find rather uncomfortable — I think they inherited from the Dark Horse. This is only a minor problem however.
I, too, have recently been to FM Mangal and I’m pleased to say I had a delicious and authentic meal. Do give it a try.
I know what you mean about Spice of Life, Phil G. I havn’t tried it yet, despite the fact that the food has to be better than Safa these days.
With all the restaurant & pub talk on here, Peter should definitely be eating & drinking for free in Camberwell.
I’m holding out for the alleged vegetarian, wholefood cafe to open on Bellenden Road.
I’m not a fan of Safa. It’s passable but it’s a shame it gets so much trade when other places are quieter.
We went to spice of life when it first opened (a year-ish ago I guess).
Food was good, (very) slightly above average.
Ridiculously expensive though — especially with wine. I think it came to about 80 quid — I can eat in the west end for that.
Possibly that’s why it’s always empty! Haven’t been back since.
*Still* waiting for the tapas y cerveza place to open. 2.5 years and waiting …
@Robp: Agreed food ok, but very much lacking in atmosphere, and expensive for what you get. If you want good Indian jump on the bus and go to Mela in Herne Hill. Not as good as the 3 Monkeys was, but still very good.
Ganapati is surely the best Indian food for many miles, no?
No.
It’s JJ’s on Southampton Way.
JJ’s is good and less expensive, but for food Ganapati is better.
More quality, refinement, invention.
Ganapati rules!
If you want some fine and well priced curry canteen fare then Chatkhara near Elephant is good, though hygiene isn’t the greatest.
where’s ganapati?
@liliana: Holly Grove.
Safa was always my favourite, but does seem to have slipped recently. Tried JJ Caterer’s once, found it over-spiced.
http://tinyurl.com/ojzt82
Sounds fab. Shame it’s in SE15, but close enough for many Camberfellas though. Beats what I’m having for dinner! Look forward to giving it a whirl.
Why are the 10 or so we’ve got so rubbish? It’s not fair! And I include JJ’s amongst them. In my own recent experience they’ve not so much gone downhill as fallen off a cliff. Hope it’s just me.
Like Safa’s neons. Their only redeeming feature.
Unrelated to curry, but Healing waters of original Camber Well found in a back garden
Perhaps the well, or just the Eyechild’s news of the well from the groovy new Standard, will cure us of the titivating, niggling pettifogging about whose curried langoustines are better than whose steamed langoustines. After all, curried langoustines get so hot and drink so much water that they get steamed anyway in their own daftness.
Catalan langoustines are obviously the finest, anyway. They are known as the “Route One” langoustine, no messing.
Had JJs (delivery) last night. No sign of lost form.
Ganapati is ‘nice’ but they are rubbish with kids
Going to try JJs soon… The website looks like it’s an industrial caterers but there are takeaways and a restaurant. http://www.jjcaterers.co.uk/
Two I can highly recommend are Zest and New Diwarnian — been getting take aways from them for years now.
Zest is owned by the guys who used to run Paprika, which was one of the best Indians in Camberwell I can remember.
I had a doner takeaway from Mangals last night. That place is the best. Wrap style bab and very good, not a pitta affair with loads of acrid salad spilling out. “Real” lamb as opposed to elephant leg strips — though the latter has its place of course.
Best bit was that they have the S London Press and Southwark News in the waiting area, so one can catch up on local matters while waiting for the grill master to do his thang.
Apologies for being thick. Where on Church St is this Mangals of which you all speak…?
Curry-wise, I’d go for JJ Caterers for home delivery, and Ganapati for dinner out(though no experience of going there with ankle biters — but the tables and benches are quite high and its probably difficult to get prams etc in).
I keep forgetting about the Angels and Gypsies Tapas Bar. I shall look longingly for any sign that the newspapers masking the windows have been changed next time I pass…
The JJ’s website shows they do bulk curry for the NHS and Holiday Inn. Mmmm.
The food is OK though. Limited for vegetarians. Half the price of Ganapti.
Hmmm am sure they’ve never catered for any hospital I’ve worked in! We would have been disturbed to find such decent food in the canteen…
JJ’s are so distinguished, they cater for Hilton. Finest curried sausage you could ever get your lips around.
Come on the langoustines of Everton! Tim Cahill earned his scars at Millwall. May he shine today.
I’m with Yak: JJs for quick n easy takeout. Their nans and onion bhaji are fab. But Ganapati wins hands down for sit-down meal out.
Re JJ’s over spiced if you like less spicy they’ll do it if it’s not pre prepared.
NOW a bit of shameless self publicity:
This week THE PUB TRADE’S Morning Advertiser published Britain’s:
Top 50 most influential pub people
Your very own local licensees, ME (The Sun and Doves), Steve Corbett (The George Canning) and Nicky Francey (The Sun and Doves as well) are at number 16.
Now in its 8th year — The Morning Advertiser ranks the trade’s movers and shakers on the impact they’ve had on the industry in the past 12 months — and how they’re likely to affect it in the year ahead.
1. Tim Martin chairman, JD Wetherspoon (3)
2. Giles Thorley, chief executive, Punch Taverns (1)
3. Ted Tuppen, chief executive, Enterprise Inns (2)
4. Gordon Brown, Prime Minister (new entry), Alistair Darling, Chancellor of the Exchequer (6)
5. Rooney Anand, chief executive, Greene King (5), Ralph Findlay, chief executive, Marston’s (5)
6. Gary Landesberg, owner, Admiral Taverns (7)
7. Michael Turner, chief executive, Fuller’s (35)
8. John Hutson, chief executive, JD Wetherspoon (10)
9. Adam Fowle, acting chief executive, Mitchells & Butlers (17)
10. Simon Townsend, chief operations officer, Enterprise Inns (11)
11. Willie Crawshay, managing director, Scottish & Newcastle Pub Enterprises (new entry)
12. Jonathan Neame, chief executive, Shepherd Neame (13)
13. Roger Whiteside, managing director, Punch leased division, Mike Tye, managing director, Spirit
14. David Elliott, managing director, Greene King Pub Partners (15), Alistair Darby, managing director, Marston’s Pub Co (40)
15. Nick Bish, chief executive, Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers, Paul Smith, executive director, Noctis, Mark Hastings communications director, British Beer & Pub Association, Jon Collins chief executive, CGA Strategy (19)
16. The Fair Pint Group Stephen Corbett, Mark Dodds, Nicola Francey, David Morgan, Brian Jacobs, Vince Power, Karl Harrison plus Greg Mulholland MP (new entry)
17. Alan Parker, chief executive, Whitbread (new entry)
18. Derek Andrew, managing director, Marston’s Inns & Taverns (20)
19. Tim Sykes, chairman, Interpub, chairman, ALMR (25)
20. John Grogan, chairman, All-Party Parliamentary Beer Group (27)
21. Phil Dixon, Trade consultant (37)
22. Paul Wells, chairman, Wells & Young’s (23)
23. Lynne D’Arcy joint managing director, Admiral Taverns (21) Andy Clifford joint managing director, Admiral Taverns (21)
24. Iain Holden. managing director, Sky Business (24)
25. Prince Charles heir to the throne, Pub is the Hub patron (26) John Longden director, Pub is the Hub (26)
26. Ian Payne chairman, Town & City Pubs and Bay Restaurants (30)
27. Brian King. managing director, Trust Inns (28)
28. Tony Payne, Roger Protz, Peter Coulson Trade, brewing and legal consultants (37)
29. Mike Benner chief executive, Campaign for Real Ale (42)
30. Clive Rayden chief executive, County Estate Management (29)
31. The analysts Geof Collyer Deutsche Bank Jamie Rollo Morgan Stanley Mark Brumby, Blue Oar Securities Douglas Jack Numis Securities Paul Hickman KBC Peel Hunt (33)
32. Jonathan Webster managing director, Greene King (GK) destination pubs (34), Jonathan Lawson managing director, GK local pubs (34) Mark Derry managing director, Loch Fyne Restaurants (34)
33. Neil Robertson chief executive, British Institute of Innkeeping (new entry)
34. Stuart McFarlane president A-B InBev UK (36) Mark Hunter chief executive Molson Coors UK (new entry) Isaac Sheps chief executive, Carlsberg UK (new entry)
35. Peter Hansen partner, Sapient Corporate Finance (31)
36. Paul Nunny director, Cask Marque (38)
37. Rufus Hall chief executive, Orchid Group (22) Mark McQuater chief executive, Barracuda Group (18)
38. Justin Adams managing director, Greene King Brewing Company (40) Stephen Oliver managing director, Marston’s Beer Co (15) Nigel McNally managing director, Wells & Young’s (23)
39. Billy Buchanan chief executive, London Town (new entry)
40. Peter Morris managing director, Daniel Thwaites (new entry)
41. Ann Elliott managing director, Elliott People (new entry)
43. Oliver Robinson director, Frederic Robinson Chris Hopkins managing director, Hydes Brewery William Lees-Jones managing director, JW Lees Richard Kershaw, chief executive, Joseph Holt (new entries)
44. Up and coming multiples Rupert Cleveley, Lee Cash, Mark Butler, Chris Gerard, Brian Whiting, Nigel Haworth smaller managed pub operators (46)
45. Stephen Gould chief executive, Everards (47) Stuart Bateman managing director, George Bateman & Son (49)
46. Jim Dickson chief executive, Brulines (48)
47. Keith Bott past chairman, Society of Independent Brewers (new entry) Julian Grocock chief executive, Society of Independent Brewers (new entry)
48. Steve Baker chairman, National Pubwatch (45)
49. Jonathan Adnam chairman, Adnams (41)
50. Feargal Sharkey chairman, UK Music (new entry)
Feargal Sharkey?
A good pint these days is hard to find.
I know– a drink a little every day…
Well done Mark. Again. Getting boring.
Went of FM Mangal. Thanks all for a great recommendation.
Thanks Alan and sorry it’s boring but we are working for the good of pubs everywhere as well as for ourselves.
The new cask beer is due at S&D soon. And this Thursday is Magnificent Sevens.
You are indeed. Pubs and customers alike.
You have my full support.
Top tip from your friend Phil G. The show at GX Gallery is really worth seeing. Ed Gray has done some superb stuff of S London and now he’s back from global travels.
I went to Silk Road for the first time in a while. Not as good as last time but still interesting. It’s becoming even more of a niche place for Chinese 20 somethings, and one big group in particular made one hell of a racket. Still, it could’ve been worse — could’ve been a stag. I do like the Xinjiang fried noodles.
Alan — Feargal Sharkey is one of a few punk musicians who realised it wasn’t going to last forever, and got himself into a managerial trade in the music biz; in his case the organisation that collects and distributes fees for recorded music licences for commercial premises, “mechanicals” as they are known in the trade. you wouldn’t cross him…
Down on Church Street, people are sayin’
The prawns are quakin’ an’ the langoustines prayin’
Reachin’ out with their pincers long
I am Bob Dylan an’ this is my song
CHORUS
Love walk and pub crawl
They still drinkin’ lager down Milllwall
Take me home to Camberwell
Where I was bore, that’s all, what th’ hell.
Thanks Drew. I’ve heard a lot of stories, I suppose they could be true.
What mullarkey you heard, Alan? The langoustines dead scared of the sharkey?
All about love, and what it can do to you…
Now I’m going to pack my bags and leave, tainted love, tainted love…
There was an enjoyable bicycle-themed demon on, demo rather, on Westminster Bridge tonight that closed the bridge to motor traffic. Climate Rush was the organisation, climate change was the theme. One of the Milibands is off to Bonn for a summit soon.
The assembled vegan bipeds must have put the wind up the fat cats who returned to parliament today. Various Nordic tourist girls in their tiny denim minis, who probably live on rotting shark meat and whale steaks, looked on hungrily and healthily at the lithe creatures bobbing about to an excellent bike-pulled sound system.
Now Dagmar’s in her painted wagon taking her tainted love to the limit (I know a lot about painted wagons having just spent a half term week in the midge infested but incredibly beautiful North Yorkshire Moors) I point out that if any sons or daughters of the Camberwell online fraternite are into ‘Runescape’ a close associate of mine, errrr my eldest son, is interested and has set up: http://realrunescapecheats.webs.com to help facilitate forward movement for beginners and ‘Noobs’ alike!
Also tried FM Mangal’s at the weekend and was very positively surprised — their outside signage gives away no clue as to the rather lovely little restaurant within. Enjoyed greatly.
On another note, we are planning to run Gay Cam Film Festival in November. Open to submissions now, so if any budding LGBT film makers are reading this, please visit http://www.gaycamberwell.com/filmfestival.html for details!
(and if anyone wants to be a sponsor, let me know!)
Has anyone seen any convincing evidence that mankind is responsible for climate change? If so then please post the link.
I have seen lots of evidence that it is happening but none that proves we are responsible.
I am concerned that causation and correlation are being confused.
Alan — just go to Sainsburys or Morrisons on a weekend. All the proof you need. Too many people buying too many things, waddling out to their cars with bag after bag, and breeding, all the time breeding more and more. Me me me! Me and my kids dammit! One day it’ll be: I’ll fight you for that loaf of bread. How much longer can it go on?
@Alan — the point is, we have already seen enough to know that Tom and Tina Tesco won’t alter their convenience routine one iota no matter what the consequences for the human race.
Whether it means taking fewer flights, abandoning car ownership this close to the centre, reducing energy consumption or welcoming pedestrianisation/cycling initiatives which interfere with their concept of leisure.
But since you ask, the precautionary principle applies.
Alan, we don’t need convincing evidence we just need to apply logic.
Earth is a self contained unit with an ecosystem currently in a state of self sustaining equilibrium following four billion years of volcanism, erosion, tectnic shifts and
Alan, we don’t need convincing evidence we just need to look at the exponential growth of human interaction on the planet since the industrial revolution, the advent of steam power and electricity generation over what was going on before human activity.
Earth is a self contained unit with an ecosystem which currently and for the past 10,000 years or so since the last ice age has been in a state of self sustaining more or less stable equilibrium following four billion years of volcanism, tectonic plate movement, subduction, eruption, erosion and gas exchange.
Natural dynamically interacting geophysical planetary tensions have stabilised over unimaginably vast expanses of time to create an environment and ecosystems ideally suited to the sustenance and evolution of diverse organisms on this planet.
Obviously we humans are part of this process but we are not a natural evolutionary progression of the planet in a geophysical sense.
In the past century particularly we have abruptly interrupted any ‘natural’ progress of planetary evolution simply by our pumping ever increasing volumes of carbon into the biosphere. Because of our combustion of fossil fuels and our well established traits of land clearance for our use (errr, that’s global deforestation), the concentration of atmospheric carbon dioxide has increased by about 35% since industrialisation.
The logically inescapable consequence of humans being on this planet is that we are increasing atmospheric carbon. This traps heat and increases atmospheric temperatures globally.
Increased temperatures melt ice. Melting icecaps and glaciers increase sea level. It’s like we’re in a bath with the plug in and the taps running. It’s all been there before, 40 million years ago sea levels were a lot higher than they are now. We’re all, well most of us, living within about fifteen metres of current sea level in already overcrowded conditions.
There’s no getting away from it. The bath is going to overflow unless we stop pouring more water in. That means cutting carbon emissions.
@Alan, we don’t need convincing evidence we just need to look at the exponential growth of human interaction on the planet since the industrial revolution, the advent of steam power and electricity generation over what was going on before human activity.
Earth is a self contained unit with an ecosystem which currently and for the past 10,000 years or so since the last ice age has been in a state of self sustaining more or less stable equilibrium following four billion years of volcanism, tectonic plate movement, subduction, eruption, erosion and gas exchange.
Natural dynamically interacting geophysical planetary tensions have stabilised over unimaginably vast expanses of time to create an environment and ecosystems ideally suited to the sustenance and evolution of diverse organisms on this planet.
Obviously we humans are part of this process but we are not a natural evolutionary progression of the planet in a geophysical sense.
In the past century particularly we have abruptly interrupted any ‘natural’ progress of planetary evolution simply by our pumping ever increasing volumes of carbon into the biosphere. Because of our combustion of fossil fuels and our well established traits of land clearance for our use (errr, that’s global deforestation), the concentration of atmospheric carbon dioxide has increased by about 35% since industrialisation.
The logically inescapable consequence of humans being on this planet is that we are increasing atmospheric carbon. This traps heat and increases atmospheric temperatures globally.
Increased temperatures melt ice. Melting icecaps and glaciers increase sea level. It’s like we’re in a bath with the plug in and the taps running. It’s all been there before, 40 million years ago sea levels were a lot higher than they are now. We’re all, well most of us, living within about fifteen metres of current sea level in already overcrowded conditions.
There’s no getting away from it. The bath is going to overflow unless we stop pouring more water in. That means slashing carbon emissions.
On the other hand it’s probably far too late already so who cares. We missed our chance to be a civilisation that did not eradicate itself. We’re on the way out.
Hot today.
Can it be anything to do with the methane, carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulphide spontaneously and voluminously produced here at the crafty behest of a naughty, faux-naif garden gnome in Selborne Village, in the hope that it will waft sniftingly as a foul cloud of brown-to-yellow flatus over the Surrey homes of those haughty horticultural high-ups who snootily banned him from the Chelsea Flower Show?
Pwoar!
So that’s a no then.
What a relief.
There’s a good overview of scientific opinion (in various directions) here
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scientific_opinion_on_climate_change
The links might cough-up some of the evidence you crave.
I made my first visit to Petit Parisien the other day. It was great. I really liked the way it has been decorated and the food and service were great. Big improvement on the Dark Horse in my opinion.
So events in Westminster carry on apace — will we be seeing Prime Minister Harman (at least in a caretaker role) by the weekend?
Harriet was a bit weak on the “Today” show this morning. But then all the top types speak that funny box-ticking, say-nothing lingo these days. Cameron has a weak chin. The global waters are rising around us, we’d better start swimmin’ else we’ll sink like a stone…
I sat outside the Hermits Cave,
David Bellamy came by, and,
Walking through the little waves
That break upon the sand,
Said. “Don’t say I didn’t tell you so.
Whose fault is it? The cows fart,
The big whales blow, I don’t know,
But politicans have puff down to an art.”
Alan, you need to get ready. Stay fit, stay lean, learn to fight. If you have kids start training them like John Connor in Terminator.
Wake up, man. Do you think we can keep on burying half-used goods in the ground forever? If you can afford it, buy a plot of country land and build a stash house of food and water.
One things for sure, when it all starts to go wrong in a few years, SE5 will be one of the worst places to be.
Good kebabs at Mangals til then though.
Regeneguru — I look to you as a man who understands these things. Why did our council not allow room for a bike lane, or at least another 50cm, when they overly narrowed Walworth Rd? Do they seriously expect everyone will go to the TfL website and use their circuitous, though more pleasant, London bike routes?
@PhilG
For background, we see that Walworth Road planners did not neglect to protect local resident parking in side streets, with the result that visitor parking was embarrassingly “added on” to the pedestrianisation element of Walworth Road itself. This caused several cycle racks to be damaged by vans, tree branches to be ripped out and the place to continue to look like a dump. With the honourable exception of Baldwins, which would look as spectacular in a Sao Paulo Shantytown as in Marylebone.
There are two schools of thought for catering for cyclists: (1) complete segregation and (2) planning for safely and effectively sharing space with other vehicles. The London Cycling Campaign goes for (2). Evidence shows that most cycling accidents occur at junctions or where cyclists join in main traffic from segregated areas, so there is some logic to this. But effective planning is key.
You would expect Walworth Road to continue a similar logic to the Elephant & Castle plans. At E&C, acres of space are to be designated as shared between pedestrian and cyclist, which has been shown to work well elsewhere in the UK. E&C will become a buffer zone where pedestrians and cyclists can feel completely safe from the motorist threat that drives most shoppers to centres such as Westfield and Bluewater.
However.
Walworth Road cyclists are expected to share reduced road space with a constant stream of heavy goods traffic. The danger point zenith is doubtless the approach south with Liverpool Grove coming up on the left. Here, there is not even space for a cyclist and a Smart Car in the same lane, yet there is no discouragement to overtake in the form of signage, or cameras. At this point a 45mph Brewery-Landlord truck came close to taking me out of the business of life, much as their masters have come close to taking many an honest local publican out of the business of hospitality.
Put simply, the needs of cyclists were not taken into account. Hold the front page.
VOTE LABOUR. The cycle routes to the Elephant are excellent. There is no need for cyclists to wander up the Walworth Road talking to themselves and cursing the lorries. The new Walworth Road is teeming with all human life on the wide pavements. There is every kind of human confectionery there to enjoy.
VOTE LABOUR. That will give a boot up the jacksy to the Daily Maily, why-oh-why, isn’t it awful, moral panickers who are treating the country like it is some tv talent contest. LABOUR and dem Libs should forge ahead together.
[Sao Paulo, Reg, not Sau Paulo — you are thinking of T’ Pau the pop group or maybe dem Mau-Mau.]
Dagmar wrote…
VOTE LABOUR.
No.
Yes. VOTE LABOUR. It’s good! A vote for Labour in tomorrow’s elections will be a shock to the system for everyone. No-one will be expecting it. The last thing the country needs at the moment is the slithering of Conservatives or the barking of UKIP.
Dagmar wrote..“VOTE LABOUR. It’s good! A vote for Labour in tomorrow’s elections will be a shock to the system for everyone.”
It’ll be a shock to the system of your kids when they realise they have to live for thirty years in poverty so as to pay back the money this total band of inepts has borrowed and waisted.
VOTE GREEN
We got a flier through. Idea is to plant fruit and nut trees around the place. Nice one.
Fruit and nut trees are an excellent idea and incredibly appropriate for Camberwell, but we also need down to earth people. VOTE LABOUR AND WE’LL GET THINGS DONE.
Local politicians from all local political parties were invited by the SE5 Forum to explain how the European Elections were relevant to Camberwell, and what their party offers.
So far only Labour has responded. You can read the questions and responses here. Details of how other party representatives can respond are at the same location.
I understand that SE5 Forum stickers will be placed at various points in central Camberwell to direct locals to the website, to debate why they should vote and who for.
Get out and vote for Libertas!
Voted on my way into work. Suprisingly busy at the polling station. Maybe a dozen voters there at the same time as me.
Dagmar has a point, voting Labour is worthwhile if only to annoy the Dail Mail types and uptight whingers. That didn’t overide my GREEN VOTE.
Go Green!
For Alan on link above re global warming: “Since 2007 no scientific body of national or international standing has maintained a dissenting opinion. A few organisations hold non-committal positions.”
Harriet was a heavy wet blanket on the Today programme. David was a chinless self serving wonder as usual.
VOTE LABOUR!
@ Gabe, I don’t know whether you know this already, but there’s actually a Camberwell community orchard that has all sorts of fruit trees and nut bushes. It’s between the green and the courts. It’s not really looked after that well and is often used as a litter dump for the residents of the Green but the blossom was nice a few weeks back.
I say fuck the old party alliances, and everyone vote according to their conscience.
Anyone yet to vote may find this useful:
http://www.votematch.co.uk/europe/
Answer some questions on policy, see who most closely aligns with your views.
@Matt, I think the community orchard is due for a face lift with some cleaner greener safer money, which would be great. That patch of ground between the Courts and the Green could certainly do with a makeover. Not sure on the details though.
@everyone: vote vote vote!
Thanks Peter — was looking for just such a website and Google wasn’t revealing it!
Was surprised at the number of interesting and wonderful parties on offer this time. Peace Party anyone? Also a whole list of independents. Must have been some 25 potential boxes to put an X in.
Those shouting vote Labour, why not back one of the “real” socialist groups on the list? There are a few.
Was at a dinner party last night with smug civil servants, some of whom have worked with our Harriet. The general view was quite nice, but bats, and not that impressive. These people are quite harsh though…
“When they say they are going to change their lives now and spend more time with their families, that’s not a code for jumping ship.”
- Harriet Harman, speaking yesterday on Tuesdays departures of Jacqui Smith, Beverley Hughes, Patricia Hewitt and Tom Watson. Shortly after this interview was posted on the BBC website, Hazel Blears resigned and more resignations are rumoured to be imminent.
If that is NOT a code for jumping ship what the uck is?
Sarf East London in the news and for once without any teen gang violence.
Peckham bloke one of a pair convicted for the shocking New Cross attacks on the students.
And the pregnant girl in Laos on the drugs charge lived in Camberwell for a period.
Voted Conservative down the line. A lone voice in these parts no doubt. At least do vote Labour if you still can’t go centre right…the silly parties further left and towards socialism/communism* are the last thing we need now.
Good news on the lady in Laos. Any country with ‘Peoples Republic of…’ in the title are bad news*
Whilst I am rightly sceptical about the link between man’s actions and global warming I do believe that our fear of global warming has positive by-products like encouraging sparing use of resources and limiting pollution.
I voted green.
Worried that the Libertas guy is a crank. I do think the EU is a waste of money though. And corrupt.
Yeah if you thought the MPs expenses thing is a bad joke on us then check out MEPs. You’ll puke.
I read this website daily and love it. However, it seems that function has outgrown form? Is there any way to make it a bit more (*shudder*) web 2.0? ie can we have something more like se5forum where there are proper discussion boards?
It just seems that everything goes off on a tangent under a heading from a month ago.
Perhaps (after parsing the last few months’ usage), there should be a more generic header — like — 4th June — or something? Ideas anyone? I do like the feel of this forum but would like it if it had a more structured feel. (call me old-fashioned .. go on).
Please take this as positive feedback
I think this forum is the most important for camberwell (se5 is a bit more generic, regardless).
Anyone agree? Or am I (again) mad?
RobP
@peacock_house I certainly take your point. I did try to introduce more structured commenting before, but it wasn’t really popular. I might have another go in the near future.
As for the month between updates, I’m afraid that’s solely down to me; I’d love to have more regular updates, but I think I’ll need other people’s help to make that a reality.
What does everyone else think?
Could not agree more Rob.
Sometimes you’d think it was the buyers guide to eating in Camberwell.
A politics only slot would be greatly welcomed.
THERE IS STILL TIME TO GO AND VOTE LABOUR. The tangents on this site are good. Boxes would just get ticked instead of scribbled and doodled in. Beware ideas or imagineering. They are false gods. Anyway, there is still time to go and vote Labour and kick the bum of the chintz-and-tonic folk in the distant suburbs with their “Ooh-er” and “I say”. IN THE NAME OF GOD, GO!
Ok now I am annoyed. (That doesn’t happen very often trust me!)
I really do suggest that if you think that the EU parliament is a waste of time you haven’t a clue what it is it actually does.
Everything from crime to trade relations and at the other end of the scale, the hugely successful Erasmus scheme and an end to frontiers across most of Europe.
If you like cheap wine and much improved employment rights amongst other things I cannot see how you can complain about the EU as a concept.
As I have said before, I do wish people in Britain would stop being so negative and whiny all the time, stop putting everyone and everything down, and start looking at the positives in life. Of which there are many…including some very good policies that have come to fruition as a result of the EU.
Of course some EU politicians are corrupt. But some are not. Some are good some are exceptional some are incompetent. So, all in all they are a pretty good spread to represent society as a whole. Ditto, the UK and all parliaments really. What is more important? That someone is corrupt? Or that he or she is doing a good job. To me, that is a no brainer. That is not to say that I want them to be corrupt, I just prioritise it differently.
Sorry Peacock House. A case in point. This has nothing to do with Camberwell!
I voted Green
It’s 4 years and counting now…and I am sticking with them — lets see where it goes
@Monkeycat; I am, and have always been since a nipper, completely pro European. Perhaps because I was brought up in Nigeria and when I came back to this fair isle I was utterly culture shocked forever, Little seemed sensible to me. And have never been able to understand the way we work in England particularly as opposed to, say, Scotland where I’m from ancestrally.
As for the blog I think there needs to be some kind of heavenly union between this and SE5 Forum. I’m always amazed at the activity on ED forum which is boring to look at but very lively in its doings.
You caught me in the middle of trying something out.
Something interesting has just taken place on this blog… I think:
Guest DISQUS Register with DisqusWhy?
Erasmus is a joke. It’s three months out from your degree to get drunk and go on holiday.
Being anti Europe is not the same as being anti cheap wine and employment rights. That said I am against the working time directive.
I used to be very pro European but then I worked there. Some of the European working cultures (and they are all different) are not compatible with ours. I’d prefer to see a union with the USA.
Erasmus was the best thing I ever did, and I managed to stretch mine to an entire academic year in Madrid. Studying at a spanish university, working as a nanny and yes, going out and getting drunk with my multinational group of friends, I was 21, working part time and spending my earnings, I’m not going to apologise to anyone.
@peter, @peacock_house, I like the comments how they are. Imagine a thread dedicated to local politics.
Disqus works OK some places. Best thing about it is you can delete your comment history. Everything we’ve written here is archived for as long as Peter wants to keep it.
Erasmus was good to me. I had a lot of fun and got an education that’s now supporting my tax-paying habit.
I like working with Europeans. At a meeting in Munich once (during Oktoberfest) they offered us wheat beer at the 11:00am coffee break.
I like Americans too. Obama had it right in Cairo.
I enjoy a chat about local politic(ian)s as much as the reviews of local food. Although to me the latter is more satisfying, interesting, and is something I can exert choice on much more regularly.
Some sort of discussion stranding may be helpful but the danger is lots of threads with few replies. I found the Erasmus comments interesting but if you’d titled a thread Erasmus then who’d have looked at it, and what’s SE5 about it?
The stream of consciousness approach here is quite unique nowadays and also ‘forces’ you to read everything, which is good.
That said, the format could do with a change. Great job though Peter.
Nobody has mentioned my GX Gallery recommendation for the current show. Do it tomorrow. It’s good.
A planning application dropped through my door this week. 116 to 120 Coldharbour Lane, next to All Stars food and wine convenience store (and of course pet supplies — a fantastically bizarre combination).
It’s currently a meat supplier to catering firms called ‘Wilson’s (Sloane Street)’ — I love the idea that somewhere along the line someone would confuse dear Coldharbour Lane with Knightsbridge!
Application is for 108 flats, in two buildings 5 to 8 storeys high, by the Notting Hill Housing Group. 100% affordable housing, but only a mention of 8 extra disabled parking bays and some cycle racks, so potentially loads more cars in the area.
Plans available at Tate Library by the Ritzy. What do you all think?
No need to change this website.
The individual recipients of Erasmus windfalls think it was fun! Great use of public funds. I’m sure Hazel Blears enjoyed her Kit Kats.
Back to local politics (well, Bellingham). Here’s a link to a video of Boris Johnson falling into a river:
@Phil G, what’s the GX show like… painting, sculpture, film, ?
Hi, they’re enchanting paintings of travels round the world which concentrate on the variety and bustle of the human zoo.
He’s done similar stuff about Elephant and other spots in S London.
Love it, but not sure my budget stretches to a print.
I don’t think you should change the structure of the blog. At present discussions are pleasantly random, as they are in real life. Discussions on the SE5 Forum are dead by comparison.
@blog type. Agree there is nothing to fix — the unstructured flow of conversation works well. Although there are tumbleweed moments they are few and far between compared to the Forum — Carole is right there.
In fairness the Forum site really needs a dedicated team providing regular updated content, for the type of site it purports to be. For that to happen, the Board needs new members, as there is a lack of capacity currently.
Apply here to put yourself at the centre of diplomacy between and scrutiny of decision makers from various local authorities in Camberwell. It could do something for your portfolio, with minimal time commitments.
http://www.se5forum.org gets a fair few visitors, as does Peter’s blog — both would benefit from improved links.
Gabe wrote “well, Bellingham”
That has nothing to do with Cambewrwell.
It has a lot to do with Boris our mayor but of course he’s Tory.
Ken would never have got that involved.
My problem is that I have tried the Petit Parisien by phone over and over again to reserve a table but no-one answers the phone. Nor is there an answer service. Not great for a nascent business.
UHuhh? I thought Bellingham is a town in remote mid south west Northumberland — not far from Allendale.
This blog is great.
Off topic:
The next general meeting of the Brunswick Park TandRA will be held on Monday 15th June from 7pm at Southwark Town Hall.
Two interesting topics being discussed:
- Camberwell Baths — an update from Councillor Lewis Robertson on current situation, plans and so on
- Brunswick Park — an update from the Council on anti social measures, lighting, possibility of reopening the cafe and so on
Meeting open to all local tenants and residents of the area
(And early notice of our forthcoming fete, on 19th September!)
The Brunswick Park fete last year was great. That’s a nice village community feel round there.
Gabe, in his defence, has mentioned Bellenden in this thread as well as Bellingham. Bellend we know about. Bellingham is an interesting 1920s social housing area — interesting for its colloquial style of domestic architecture and street patterns — vernacular, maybe, not colloquial.
The Quaggy River revival project is great — the wetland reserve they’ve made in the middle of the suburban wilderness is quite something. The river runs through Manor Park, a great place in the middle of Camberwellish streets. That area and Ladywell, the uplifting Hilly Fields, round there, make Penge look as weird as it is. Round the Cray River has the air of Kent, too, and Bexley old town — with its ancient signpost pointing nervously towards “THE CRAYS” — is quite postcardy. The folks there are so genteel they’re postcardy, i.e. wear big patterned jumpers instead and take post-cardiac catherization medicine.
Penge. The very name is redolent of an Orwellian nightmare — aspidistras, triffids — that makes one feel quite unwellingham.
Lynda Bellingham is a national treasure. She was the Oxo mum in the adverts and is as saucy as you like.
What this has to do with Camberwell is this: there is Boris Johnson photo-opportuning when he should be adminning, pen-pushing and meeting-wonking, like Ken did. Harriet Harman is our local MP, ergo, er…
Maybe ‘er go.
Look what was going on down at the Baths recently:
http://www.geocities.com/samdive/dreamweaversaltfree/cambcomp.htm
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jayhem/sets/72157605007040063/
http://www.britishfreediving.org/
Very impressive! Anyone have a go?
@Matt, nice one on the community orchard – I didn’t know that’s what it was, but cool. Like the concept.
Spent quite a bit of time hanging around Camberwell Green on Sunday morning. It was great. The rainstorm gave it a clean and fresh feel. Some fantastic trees and landscaping. No broken bottles or drink cans in the playground, either. Then we went to Lucas Gardens. Fantastic.
Went to South London Gallery. The kids started whispering as soon as we got inside. The idea (I think) is the artist does stuff in/around the installation as though you are not there watching her. Impressive that she pulls this off. Kids were impressed with her long, red, hair.
Bellingham is 12 minutes from Denmark Hill by train. You could probably bike it in under half an hour. It makes Camberwell look like Paris.
Heard about the diving. Someone was going for a world record hold-your-breath attempt. Did she pull it off?
Dagmar wrote…
“What this has to do with Camberwell is this: there is Boris Johnson photo-opportuning when he should be adminning, pen-pushing and meeting-wonking, like Ken did. Harriet Harman is our local MP, ergo, er…
Maybe ‘er go.”
Firstly if ‘er goes I shall ask Mark to put some Champs on ice so I can get *issed on the demise of a countess.
If Boris was to spend all his time in THE OFFICE you’d all be saying he never gets involved simply because he’s a Tory.
I was really hoping to hear a bottle of scotch being busted open and a single pistol shot ringing out from Ten Downing Street last evening but of course the Prime Mentalist couldn’t make that desistion for him self.
The Labour Party is dead. Live with it.
“I’d like to see Harriet Harman as Labour’s candidate for PM at the next election.
She’d be just like Margaret Thatcher -
a female party leader who convinces millions to vote Tory.”
Guardian Commenter
UKIP if you want to.
Course, a lot of people are blaming Harriet for not doing enough to stop the landslide. Someone in her role should’ve been doing more, they say (Prescott, other Labour figures, analysts etc).
I don’t blame her though. I blame Bliar.
I blame Brown. I can’t believe his vanity.
This whole period has been about the realisation of his prime ministerial dream to the detriment of the party and the country.
Very true, Alan. The stubborn get is going to plod on and on and over the cliff edge. All for the sake of a deal with Bliar and him getting a go at the wheel.
The party are pathetic too though.
They should be able to reign him in.
‘rein’ sorry Dagmar!
Any news of Le Petit Parisien improving their menu? We went there last week; on reading the menu realised that, apart from vegetable risotto and mussels it was all meat. Not being a meat eater we left (it was empty) and moved on to the bog standard but ever reliable Vineyard (8 other tables occupied). Le PP, like Mr Brown, will have to pull their socks smartish.
Anyone using the tube tomorrow?
eeeerm no ya not.
So there you have it. The shite head Bob the tosser Crow brings out the tube drivers when only 3000 of them voted to strike.
And he says it’s demorcratic.
He is clearly a *ucking idiot.
Yes, not a bad gig is it being a tube driver. An underground office with clean air issues, but hey: £40k a year, 8 weeks holiday, free London travel, discounted UK travel, and a 1/40ths guaranteed pension scheme that’s impossible to replicate in the private sector. And a nice payrise in the offing too.
What’s that, Crow? You want more? Don’t care about the recession? Don’t worry about it, stick it all on our tab. It’s fine. It’s a bottomless pit isn’t it. You just look after your own, pal.
“The shite head Bob the tosser Crow brings out the tube drivers when only 3000 of them voted to strike.”
Well most people didn’t vote Labour at the last election, yet here we are now. That’s a first-past-the-post electoral system for you.
This has nothing to do with Camberwell but does concern my wallet so I don’t care. Stalin at it’s best.
As Shahid Malik heads back to his highly paid job and position as Numero Uno Expenses thief, apparently cleared of all wrong doing, I notice that his Master Gordon has banned publication of the independent report “clearing” him.
Good stuff Gordon. You useless fetid blubberous lump of rancid tripe.
The tube is one big gravy train. Mind the pay-gap; after the Vadera-Brown forced-privatisation and contractor-consultant blank cheque love-in, the drivers just want a piece of the action.
The New Labour voting generation has always been intensely relaxed about inefficient public spending and indebting future generations with £billions and unsolvable climate problems.
But Gawd ‘elp ‘em if we catch ‘em at the ‘Ob-nobs, funded by taxpayers’ money.
Is it just me or a sign of the times — apart from Gordon being PM (he still is, I assume) I honestly have no idea — or even care — who is in the Cabinet these days.
Have they all resigned, or just most of them? I assume Harriet is still there??
Its not that I deliberately won’t vote in the next election, its that I honestly can’t be bothered as they really are all swines in the trough — sadly, I can’t see anyone who is around at the moment, from any party, with any true integrity, leading Britain out of this ungodly mess we have ended up in.
Very sad really, especially for those who are down and out during these times through no fault of their own.
A day spent in Bellingham, today, an overcast Tuesday in early June. There is not much to say about a day like today, the rain falls finely and the sky is bright grey. The winter is paying a rare visit to June, though the wind says there will be change enough soon. Up above the ominous cloud mass somewhere is the sun, burning off the wet blanket below, penetrating come what may the woollen weave to show off behind vast white sheets which glow up there in the air and spread their light round, so that the whole atmosphere, right down to the ground, and everything that is built, ordered and planted, is lit like the inside of a tent in a wet summer, with the promise of things not being like this for ever.
Bellingham Lifestyle and Leisure Centre’s small children’s ballpool sessions are where the life is. There are nans sitting round with diehard-rock, fully crested & mulleted hair cuts. There are occasionally earringed men preserved by hard drinking and industrial smoking, balanced by long periods of abstinence whilst doing time.
At the cafe there is a hand-painted sign saying “ICE CREAM foR SALE Nobbly Bobbly 50p Fruit Pastel Ice Lollies 50p”. There is also a signed on the kitchen door reading ‘NO JEWERLLY ALLOWED”. The bottled water served is called “PRIORY FALLS” though it is bottled at source near Lennoxtown in Scotland — such is Brakes Brothers of Ashford, the big catering supplier, such is their idea of branding. So the non-fizzy variety is called “STILL PRIORY FALLS”.
The centre is run by Greenwich Leisure Limited which is a workers’ co-op set up in 1993 when Greenwich chopped services and outsourced. The service is pared back and very professional and the centre is — for Bellingham — an oasis of cheeriness.
There is a fast-food type poster on the walls showing an inviting plate of chips. “CHEAP AS CHIPS! * without the grease! From 70p per day * gym membership *”.
An enquiry about buying a plate of chips is met with “We don’t do plates, just bowls.” OK, but the bowl of chips turns out to cost £1.60.
Across the road, the Friendship pub set in the parade of shops offers BEERS and SPIRITS, but nothing in between, not mixing the grape with the grain. Going against the grain in Bellingham is not recommended.
Next week: Grain.
Didn’t realise the Tube twits want a jobs guarantee too. What planet are they from?
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2009/jun/09/tube-strike-london-underground-faq
What a mess. And shame on Boris for not wading in.
This is going to cause mayhem at my work and across London. Luckily I have my own 2 wheels, not that we have a tube in SE5 anyway (yet!).
I blame the parents.
And their parents of course…
I know it’s nothing to do with me.
Im a bit late to the party but went to Le Petit Parisien tonight and had a decent feed. Will be writing it up shortly on my blog if anybody is keen to find out my entire opinion!
FM Mangal I love! Haven’t eaten in yet, but their takeaway is delicious and unbelievably good value.
Hi Matthew,
Thanks for your detailed response re: Le Petit Parisien; it’s not often you get such a dedicated working force. I think it’s great that you guys are investing in the local young people, giving them opportunities in these difficult times. I came to the restaurant last week and had a fantastic lamb shank with the best house red I’ve had in a long time! The service was spot on. The corner couch is dangerous — I think I almost feel asleep on it after reading the paper!
Contrary to some of the other comments, I think the decor looks clean and fresh with great, off road outdoor space for these sunny days; a rareity in the area.
I’ll be back.
Chris
This is great — have heard recommendations from others before this post but now I’ll definitely have to check it out.
I WENT TO FM MANGAL LAST WEKEND. THEY HAVE STARTED A NICE HOME MADE LUNCH, WHICH WAS REALY TASTY AND DELICIOUS ALL JUST FOR £4.50.
bunch of snobs
Sadly I don’t think Matthew has achieved any of his goals set out here. We ate at La Petit Parisien on Sunday night. The food was OK — good steak frites but my cassoulet was dry and had obviously been prepared long before and been sitting around for some time.
By far the worst thing, however, was the service which was truly awful. We were pretty much ignored all evening. When you’re paying restaurant prices and splashing out on a few bottles of wine you don’t expect to have to clear your own plates and order desert at the bar. What a joke. We could have eaten at a very smart restaurant for what we paid and they would have cleared our plates, served our wine and taken our orders for us!
It’s so infuriating when, what is essentially a pub, charges inflated prices and pretends to be a high-end restaurant. Without the service to match it really doesn’t work. Get more front of house staff and show your diners some manners while you rob them of their hard earned cash. We definitely won’t be going back.
Rosie
Has Le Petit Parisien closed down? I intended to go there for dinner last night and found it all shut up and the lights off.