Circumstantial evidence

I keep seeing ‘Camberwell’ and ‘crime’ linked together in various news stories, and I only realised recently that it’s because of Camberwell Green Magistrates Court (15 D’Eynsford Road, SE5 7UP); everytime the TV reporter says “… a court in Camberwell heard today…”, I’d assumed the crime happened in Camberwell. Ha ha.

On the subject of crime, local Lib Dem candidate Richard Porter has raised a petition on his website for the reopening of Camberwell Police Station (registration required). I’ve written about it before, and regardless of party politics I think it’s a tremendous idea.

In other news, The Old Dispensary seem to be going all out for custom — four postcards advertising the place were pushed through my letterbox yesterday. I may scan one and post it here, if I can be bothered. I wish the place well, even if they are a haven for desperate junkies.

Don’t hold any pages

Today I thought I’d finally found a prime bit of Camberwell news as the poster for the Southwark News proclaimed ‘NEW-LOOK CENTRE FOR SE5’ (or similar). I assumed it was something to do with my earlier revelation about the Grove Lane development, but I’m afraid I can’t confirm that as the newsagents didn’t have a copy.

I make a crap investigative journalist.

On a more positive note, I’ve booked my table at Rock‑8 for December 18. See you there.

Update: I found the Southwark News in a newsagent this morning, and was very disappointed to learn that it was just a story about the renovation of Butterfly Walk; in effect, the ‘NEW LOOK FOR SE5 CENTRE’ means that there will be a new skylight above the pound shops. Or maybe I’m just being cynical because my big scoop didn’t happen.

Can’t believe I missed my bus for that.

Just say ‘no’

After a spell of not going out much (at least, not going out in Camberwell), last night was our (overdue) monthly celebration of our marriage.

We decided to meet in Camberwell’s newest arrival, The Old Dispensary (325 Camberwell New Road, SE5 0TF; their web address just links to a design agency’s page, which isn’t helpful). It’s located right next to the Doctor’s Surgery and is painted a rich, chocolate brown outside.

From outside it looks quite small, but inside is larger than you think and has a beautiful high kind-of-domed ceiling (hey, I’m no architect) with a splendid chandelier. There are lots of mirrors and gilt fittings, strongly-patterned wallpaper (I couldn’t tell you which style, I’m not an interior designer either) the table-tops are marble effect and the seats all leather. In a word, it’s sumptuous. The shiny bar serves a range of imported beers (Stella, Staropramen, Leffe, to name a few).

What really gave me a handle on the place was the toilets; one stall but with enough space for a small group, and the cistern was flat, stomach-height and mirrored; perfect for cocaine use. Coupled with the slightly high bar price and the feeling of luxury, it’s obvious that this place is aimed at Camberwell’s more affluent residents. Thing is, I’m not sure there is a big market for that. I guess we’ll find out.

What else should I mention? Oh, they have a good range of bar snacks (for about £5 a dish) and a neat menu, although I didn’t see anyone eating and the place doesn’t seem ideal for it. I’d certainly go back there again, but I can’t see it becoming my local. Nicely placed for jumping off the 36 after work, however.

We stayed for a couple of drinks and left at about 8pm; in the hour-and-a-bit we were in there, there were perhaps seven or eight other customers. I’ve no idea how busy it gets later. We crossed the junction to the opposite corner and went to Mozzarella e Pomodoro (21–22 Camberwell Green, SE5 7AA), a spacious Italian restaurant.

Still being fairly early, it wasn’t too busy and we were seated in the middle of the floor. Along came the bread and olives (the bread was slighly stale) and we ordered a so-so Soave while we waited for the food. We had a starter of melon and Parma ham, the wife ate Canneloni (she ordered Ravioli but it was off, apparently) and I had Linguine di Mare. What can I say; it was… fine. Nothing really inspiring, nothing really terrible. Just… pretty good. And fairly reasonably priced; the whole bill came to about £40.

It was ok. I’d go back there again, but just for a bite after work, not for a special occasion. If you’re one of the area’s many students it would make a good place for a birthday meal, I think.

Speaking of which, I think I’ve decided where I’m going to have my birthday dinner: Rock‑8, the tapas bar on Grove Lane. Tapas is good for groups of people, and the bar is right by the side of Denmark Hill station. So that’s settled.

The Castle: yet another pub review

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No decision as yet on the birthday issue.

This weekend the wife and I had some friends to stay. It was their first visit to London (or, indeed, the UK) and so we thought we’d let them see the whole city rather than just SE5, but we did get the chance to show a few places in Camberwell to them.

On Friday night they wanted to go out for a drink in a “traditional English pub”; rather than inflict that on them we went to The Grove. There was a ‘casino’ night on so the place was packed; you were given a handful of free ‘money’ when you ordered a round, which was yours to spend on the roulette table.

We arrived at about 9.30 and when we left an hour later the croupier had completely lost control of the table as a crowd of drunks (myself excepted, obviously; although I was happily on my way) threw plastic chips at him. It was good fun, but there was little chance of us coming away as winners, and we wanted to get a couple more drinks in so decided to go to The Castle (65 Camberwell Church Street, SE5 8TR), which has a license to 2am.

As a result of being the only decent pub with a late license (at least, I think so; Redstar and Cube are clubs, The Silver Buckle is a hole and I don’t know of any others) it was pretty crowded, although the crowd seemed pretty decent. The music was loud and I drank one more Guiness than was good for me, so I don’t remember any specifics apart from being handed a flower by a girl, to my wife’s obvious dismay.

Everything I’ve read about The Castle seems positive, and I enjoyed myself on Friday so I’d like to try it out again during a quieter time.

I went back to The Grove on Sunday to watch the Manchester Utd v Arsenal match. Wish I hadn’t bothered. Later that evening we took our friends to Safa for a goodbye meal. They were really impressed, and I’m not surprised; the food is uniformly excellent, the prices very reasonable and by moving away from the look of a ‘traditional’ Indian restaurant they’ve moved away from the beery crowd as well. Not that there’s anything wrong with a beery crowd per se, I just prefer them in a pub to a restaurant.

Birthday decisions

I need to decide where I’m going to have my birthday dinner/drinks (when did I stop having birthday parties?). It’s going to be for about 12 people so I can’t book a whole room, and it’s going to be on a Saturday night so I don’t want to be anywhere super-busy that will try to hurry us out. And it’s going to be the last weekend before Christmas, so it’s going to be a fucking nightmare.

My first thought was Blake House because they have the nice upstairs restaurant and bar, and it’s never been too busy before. My one drawback with the place is that the portions fall on the small side, and my friends (and I) love to eat.

I thought about The Grove as well, because of their great pizzas, but I don’t think they do table reservations and I’m not sure how willing they will be to close their snug bar on a Saturday night.

Much as I like the place’s casual atmosphere, The Vineyard isn’t the place for my birthday. However, Rock‑8 could be a good option as it has the seperate conservatory area and tapas is always a winner for groups of people. Perhaps a little too far from Camberwell centre, but right next to Denmark Hill station.

Of course I could go for Indian food at Safa, which could turn out to be a surprisingly popular option. Or I could try somewhere completely new and unexplored, but that’s a hell of a risk for a birthday meal. Especially my birthday meal.

I can definitely rule out: The Silver Buckle, 4 Sure We’re D Best, Jungle Cafe, Bolu Restaurant and a host of others beside. I may be getting older, but I’m not senile yet. And if you’re wondering why I haven’t written about the three places I named above, you obviously don’t know Camberwell.