Camberwell makes the front page of The Independent today, with the news that we have the biggest contrast in racial diversity in the country;
In one ward in Camberwell… Black Africans make up 41 per cent of the residents — yet in the neighbouring ward covering Herne Hill they account for just two per cent.
In other news: As has been noted before, the Bickleigh Arms pub on Vestry Road is for sale. For anyone unfamiliar with it, the Bickleigh is the most local of all local pubs — I don’t mean geographically, of course. I think it relies on the Lettsom estate for most of its trade, but with the shift in demographic in recent years, the Lettsom now has a lot of North African residents, and as such a lot of Muslims — hence, no lock-ins at the Bickleigh. And now they don’t even have Sky Sports anymore, it’s pretty much deserted apart from the die-hard (and young) regulars.
I wonder if it will continue as a local boozer, or if some enterprising soul will attempt a gastronomic revolution there?
Update: On the subject of pubs for sale, I hear from a reliable source that The Castle is on the market (or will be shortly). Always seemed like a thriving business to me; another example of how hard it is to run a business here?