Louisa

So most of the negative reviews of this pub come from the late 90's onwards. Let me just remind you all, East Dulwich existed 30/40/50 years ago too, and it was a massively popular pub back in the day. As was the Palmerston, and the Plough. Had some great times here, and if I hear the words 'dodgy' or 'rough' anymore ill run around my garden naked with a traffic cone on my head. Louisa.

The Foresters was one of my favourite boozers. I was a regular during the late 70's. I miss that crowd I could walk in on a Friday night with Mr Louisa and see faces I knew and recognised. Louisa.

You all scoff but the sad reality is gentrification continues to divide communities between the haves and have nots more strinkingly than ever. Yes there are positives, but the negatives far outweigh those. If you allow the market to run riot, humanity becomes nothing more than a transit commodity, whose worth is dependent on its monetary value. Very sad. Louisa.

Yes Dulwich DIY has a decent selection of bits you might struggle to get elsewhere. Very handy shop and they open for long hours, you can't go wrong with them. The same goes for Farmers, everything you need is on the shelf, and it's not overpriced. These places survive because they buck the trend of gentrification. They don't have to open for an hour a month relying on the sale of one pricey object. All the great charity shops are a addition to the neighbourhood too. Maxxi why do we have to name specific shops which only operate a few hours a week? There's plenty of them out there, have a look yourself! As JohnL says, it's the end game of gentrification. It won't be long before LL is a struggle to buy a newspaper and a lottery ticket, as all the newsagents are disappearing. Louisa.

I agree with you Foxy. Not saying all new businesses fail for those reasons, but certainly is a factor. Most of the older businesses where the freehold is presumably owned by the business operating. If that is the case, the overheads will surely be considerably lower than if the building was being rented. What I love about places like Farmer's, is the way they're just so friendly and make your day a better one. No pretence, just genuinely nice people. I never go in and don't come out with what I need. Useful shops like these are becoming less and less, until we end up with a handful of trinket shops open 2 hours a week. Louisa.

Shops come and go, populations move around, demographics change. No one has ever disputed any of this. But there is nothing wrong with state intervention in market forces when it is for the good of the general populace. We need that in London now, we need to stop the march of chains, especially ones which isolate huge numbers of people. The loss of Iceland was a good example of a landlord seeking a retailer who would pay more rent, e.g. M&S. it's often difficult to underestimate the effect the loss of a long standing business can have on a neighbourhood. You can see the striking demographic changes that have occurred on Lordship Lane since the loss of Iceland. Many of the people who relied on this store no longer use the lane. This in turn leads to many people who've always lived here feeling more isolated, and forced to shop elsewhere. It perpetuates the idea that this area isn't for a certain demographic profile any longer. I don't think it would hurt for retailers to have some degree of say over remaining in a neighbourhood as a community asset, whether that be a chain like Iceland or a independent shop. Perhaps even with rental subsidies or rules controlling how a commercial landlord is able to remove a long standing retail unit. Many of you on here just don't realise the loss of these stores have on a large number of people. Often people who can't drive, and want to feel part of the community by visiting affordable local shops. Not everyone does online shopping either. Louisa.

I don't care what food is being served, how it's being cooked, or even how much it costs. There is NO excuse for poor hygiene practises. It costs nothing to maintain clean worktops, clean floors and ha de and storing food items at the correct temperature in the correct part of a refrigeration unit. Everywhere should have a 5 star food hygiene rating, or else be forced to close down (unless they work towards one). Louisa.

Personally I have had bad experiences with Specsavers in Peckham. Was expected to wait 12 days and after 16 my glasses still had not arrived. The one on Lordship Lane is good, but not quick in previous experience. Boots opticians are usually the fastest but no idea where the nearest branch would be? Louisa.

I've switched white for red, a sure sign it's not gonna be an Indian summer. Louisa.

I went for a leisurely stroll yesterday to the village and had a read of the menu, and prices were displayed on the menu outside by the door. So not sure who's saying they don't display prices? They clearly do! Louisa.

I love how such a simple topic is clouded in all sorts of mysticism. IF you genuinely love and care for animals and their welfare, you would choose NEVER to eat any meat or dairy products at all ever, that's how simple this topic is. If you continue to eat animal based products, hold your hands up and admit "I am as bad as the next person". Don't try coming out with all sorts of bizarre self-validation points about free range produce and how by spending a bit more on eggs you're somehow doing the chicken a favour. You're still supporting the wider industry which allows animals to be used for food consumption. Nothing wrong with that of course, just admit it rather than trying to polish a turd of an argument. I have more respect for the vegans and vegetarians on here who choose not to eat any meat products. All this grand standing about where and how animal products are farmed and created is tiresome. Louisa.

Allow me to interrupt here. Free range is, and has been, a con for years now. If you had real concern about animal welfare, you'd not eat animals at all. It might make you feel better about yourself for eating a animal which lives a better-ish (dubious) life, but ultimately unless you decide to go animal product free you are as bad as the next person. As expected on this forum, the high and mighty like to proclaim that by spending a fortune on food they're doing something amazing for the environment and the community around them. It's all a load of old BS. Spending, nay, wasting money on things that make YOU feel good about yourself, in some imagined bubble isn't helping anyone, not least the animals still being slaughtered so YOU can eat a bit of chicken. Louisa.

That is indeed outrageously expensive for a small. Hence why I felt a little bit disappointed after my first experience. The meat is very nice though, can't argue that point. Louisa.

Heard lots of positive things about Flamin Mangal on Rye Lane. My highest expectation is always for the quality of the salad, it means a lot to me. More so than the meat. The chilli sauce is also important. Louisa.

Well for what it's worth, here is a genuine review from me. As you know I've gone in K&W for years now for my kebab fix and it's always been my take away of choice locally. I had seen some notable regulars point me towards Hisar for better quality and tastier food, so I finally gave in and tried it last week. The service was very good, staff seemed to be training up someone new when I was being served in the take away, and they were very helpful. Didn't have to wait too long. I sat down and kept my eye peeled on where they kept the salad, and that wasn't impressive. Chopped up salad, no tomato, onion, pickled cabbage, cucumber - just a strange diced up mix kept in a large container inside the counter fridge. Wasn't given the option of how I wanted my kebab, as they wrapped the meat and bread separately from all the sauces and salad, which isn't my style. Creates more work?, but I get how some people may like this. Also ordered chips, which were tasty and fresh but no offer of salt and vinegar. Got it all home, unpacked it and sort of made my own kebab pretty much. The lamb kebab (sort of similar to a lamb doner) was good quality nicely cooked meat but it didn't seem to have much flavour in terms of spice or seasoning. Something was lacking for me. The salad was, as expected quite bland and didn't contribute anything to the kebab. The chips were delicious, once I had added my own salt and vinegar. The yogurt wasn't my sort of thing so left that, and the chilli sauce was actually very tasty indeed. Overall verdict. 5/10. Good customer service, nice chips, good quality kebab meat (under seasoned though) poor quality salad. Also, not a fan of the way the food is packaged. Takes away the fun of eating a kebab. Price wise, about average but I felt for the quality of the experience probably a little overpriced for me personally. But the ingredients were clearly good quality. Will I be ditching K&W? Definitely not. Prefer the style of the kebab and also the quality of the salad, and the presentation. This first visit has not won me over at all, but I may try it again sometime, maybe. But it's all horses for courses, whichever kebab floats your boat, enjoy! Louisa.

singalto Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > How is The Plough miles away from DV > . It's clearly not far at all, 10 minute brisk walk from heart of the village? Maybe less if walking through the park. First world problems and all that. But it's also important to note that the village doesn't have a proper convenience store, and hasn't done for some decades now. I would imagine lack of footfall has something to do with it. Louisa.

The village Sainsbury's idea was scraped for whatever reason. The planning info should still be available online. Waitrose are rumoured to be moving into the new development on the old car showroom site, but I'd take this with a pinch of salt. As always, this is what happens when high streets are allowed to be overrun with the same things. Let this be a warning to ED, you may laugh about the Londis situation, but give it a decade and you might struggle for the basics around here too. Louisa.

Indeed JohnL I am consistent on this issue, and tbf our local councillor is also supportive of a mixed use high street. We cannot continue to lose valuable resources which are replaced by pointless chain restaurants. Think Nando's may need to get their market research in order. A Nando's on Lordship Lane would be much less fruitful to their long term success than one in Peckham, which has a younger mobile population and night life culture. LL is not the ideal place for one of their restaurants when you look at the amount of competition and also slow/limited footfall. I shall be opposing any move which limits the decline in local independent convenience stores to be replaced by chains. Louisa.

I think they've all just given up the ghost with this forum. We have a new clique now anyway...... Louisa.

Londis is a useful convenience store for people, and considering the number of restaurants and pointless trinket shops we have around here, it makes good sense to keep a mixed use high street which is franchised and independently run, as opposed to a chain restaurant of which we have one less than a mile away in camberwell. A lot of older people prefer going Ina small local shop where they recognise a friendly face. Anyway it makes no difference, let's just become a pointless high street full of restaurants. Who cares about the community aspect. Meh. Louisa.

Seabag Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Louisa Wrote: > -------------------------------------------------- > ----- > > Seabag, I've just checked the page linked to > the > > application details you provided and nowhere on > > that link does it suggest Nando's will be > taking > > over the retail unit on that site. It also > doesn't > > mention any other business which will be moving > in > > either. So not sure where you got your > information > > from? > > > > Louisa. > > Industry inside info Lou. > > Anyway, back to Nando's. > > Lemon and Herb or Extra spicy? Well if this information is true, I for one am incredibly disappointed. I rely on this shop for various items I struggle to get elsewhere in the neighbourhood and will be raising this issue with Mr Barber as it is yet another restaurant and loss of useful retail in East Dulwich. Not happy. Louisa.

Seabag, I've just checked the page linked to the application details you provided and nowhere on that link does it suggest Nando's will be taking over the retail unit on that site. It also doesn't mention any other business which will be moving in either. So not sure where you got your information from? Louisa.

edcam Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > The big sign above the shop which says > "Houseplants and Botanical Goods" might give you a > clue. > Obviously I hadn't read the sign as I was too busy driving, otherwise I'd have known, wouldn't I? Louisa.

The new shop looks lovely from the outside and a great improvement. Not sure what they sell though? The pavements along LL are a mess from top to bottom. Lots of visitors have taken note of the poor condition of our public pathways. Louisa.

DuncanW Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > So it looks like we have a much-needed new pizza > place opening up in Peckham Rye "Much needed" - I do hope there is a heavy sense of irony in this statement. If there's one thing we don't need more of locally, it's pizza places! Saturation point reached! Louisa.