What's so great about living in East Dulwich?

[Spangles30]

I just wonder what people think about this.

Personally I have to go elsewhere for the cinema and theatre. I have to to Greenwich, Brick Lane, Portobello or other parts of London for shopping. I buy my most of my food in Peckham, but if desperate will grace 'Sommerfield' in L.ship Lane. I will grant you that some of the shops are very 'pretty', but I rarely - if ever - buy anything in 'em.

On topic:- I do like the Thai Corner Cafe, Jacks is OK as far as snack bars are concerned (but is let down by the fact that it doesn't have soya milk), and I also approve of there being a good fishmongers and William Rose. Also thumbs up to Chris's 'Pretty Traditional' in Northcross Rd. Oh, and Peckham Rye park is a nice enough green space to take one's children and dog(s).

I am going to be struggling to find a cost effective place to work out in though, once the ED leisure centre closes down for refurbishment.

[Cassius]

I have heard that the gym isn't closing down now - although everyone I ask has a different story to tell - it might be worth contacting the head office to find out for sure.

On topic - ED has a variety of different shops, bars and restaurants - it isn't perfect and there will always be people who will moan about this and that - but then again where is perfect? It has fairly decent transport links, I feel safe walking around at night and there is good proximity to both Peckham Rye and Dulwich Parks. In all I think that ED ticks more boxes that it doesn't tick.

[Pickle]

I love the fact that ED has a sense of community. I know my neighbours, have met a great network of friends, and think the area has a very welcoming feeling to it.

The shops, while not to everyone's taste, are handy. I can buy pretty much everything I need locally, enjoy a meal at a nice restaurant when babysitters permit and enjoy being so close to two great parks.

[Asset]

Where would tick all your right boxes?

[Cassius]

Asset Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Where would tick all your right boxes?

If you added a riverside location and a tube line (or at least a direct route to Victoria or Charing Cross) I think we'd practically be there!

[Shaggy]

Hey, spangles, why don't you write to the Theatre Royal Drury Lane and ask them if they will consider relocatimng to the upstairs room of the EDT. And, yet, you are right. There is no need for the largest antiques market in the world to be on Portobello Road. I'm sure you could convince them to move to Northcross Road. Then many of your problems would be solved.

Or you could just move to Clapham.

[Bellenden Belle]

I could just say what Pickle said - for me the sense of community is everything...shops I can take or leave.

I can't think of anywhere that matches your wishlist...a theatre and a cinema and a residential area...mmm, Bromley? If that kind of theatre is your cup of tea ...personally I feel ED is within easy reach of the centre and that suits me fine. I can reach the National Theatre, Old Vic, Young Vic, and the West End by bus...and the Royal Court is one tube stop and a short train ride ...perfect!

Jags is a gym that is within reach and suits my budget ...so I have to get off my backside to get there...well, I can make the effort.

Wherever you live you can say the glass is half empty or half full... that mindset is a choice.

Perhaps I would like to hear where you are thinking of as an alternative Spangles?

[Guest]

I don't really understand the endless negative comments about shops. The market decides - if ED people didn't use them, they'd go away. I've seen plenty of arguments in this forum about the need to use your local shops if you want to keep them. If people don't like Locale, BMC, Davina Shoes, don't spend your money there.

But my point is that one of the pluses about ED is that a lot of local residents do care enough about the place to have these arguments!

[falcao]

Yet another round of East Dulwich navel gazing.

[Marmora Man]

The distance from London (City & West End) is a great plus. A trip to the West End (theatre or cinema) and train from Charing Cross means I can be home within 35 minutes of leaving the show. All of London, shows, museums, streets, sights, sounds and life becomes available after just a short bus or train ride on a cheap day ticket - antiques in Portobello Road, flowers at Columbia Market, food at Borough market and so on. I can cycle to work from ED - good for my fitness and my wallet.

I like the fact that I can, almost, buy everything I need in terms of food and general household goods on / near Lordship Lane and that, as a consequence, shopkeepers and regular customers know me and I know them.

The parks are excellent and both (Dulwich and Peckham Rye) now have a good cafe to sit in and watch the world go by.

I like to shops on Peckham Rye - and the cafes / restaurants on LL.

I can't see too many downsides at all.

Perfection might involve a good local distillery and a crystal clear river with wild trout - but their absence gives me a reason to travel elsewhere.

[Guest]

While I'm not a fan of chains, at the risk of inviting the wrath of a hundred forumites if Somerfield were replaced by Waitrose I'd be even happier.

I'd also like to be able to afford to buy a house in the area.

[bob]

Evrythink

Bob S

[HonaloochieB]

It can truly be construed as a being in London because it has at least one bus service that runs to Oxford Circus.

It feels safe in a not too much obvious crime going on sort of way. Fewer lowlife street scumbags littering up the place than in many locales.

The shops? The boutiques? Foldarol and window dressing to pick and choose as you please.

I know where to catch a bus to Peckham in order to buy cheaper stuff, I have an Oyster card and I'm going to use it.

I know how to get back as well.

[Asset]

I'd rather have the local boutiques and food emporiums than endless bookies, fast food joints and sports shops a la Wally Rd (where I lived for many years)

[????]

Mrs B if you'd like to afford to buy a house here I suggest you stop shopping at Waitrose and use Iceland instead

[Guest]

It's a myth that Waitrose is expensive, probably because they focus on quality rather than suckering in the gullible with claims about price. It's actually cheaper than M&S (BTW can someone get that Dervla woman to blow her nose before the next voiceover, it's getting annoying) and on most items usually the same as Tesco and Sainsbury's - I lived in a poorer area outside London a couple of years ago and the difference in price between Sainsbury's there and in ED was significant.

But my main reason for loving it (as I've already bored people with on another thread recently, sorry) is because the employees co-own the company, they all - from MD to shelf-stackers - get the same bonus as a percentage of salary, employees are given management information and involved in management decisions, and the business's primary objective according to their written constitution (for apparently they have one) is to make the employees happy - commercial success is the route to this, not an end in itself. They also treat their suppliers fairly. And they've been doing this for about 100 years. Bloody marvellous.

[HonaloochieB]

I had no idea that Waitrose had that sort of thing going on. It gives me pause for thought.

If you don't mind Ms B, may I rest my cyber head on your cyber shoulder for a spell, while I consider it?

'Preciate it.

[Guest]

You've got a cyber head? You never mentioned that before.

This bit's probably quite wrong but in my own mind I associate John Lewis with the Arts & Crafts movement, garden cities etc. People are blinded by the fact they have the royal warrant and are loved by the upper middle classes.

[Marmora Man]

Ms B Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> But my main reason for loving it (as I've already

> bored people with on another thread recently,

> sorry) is because the employees co-own the

> company, they all - from MD to shelf-stackers -

> get the same bonus as a percentage of salary,

> employees are given management information and

> involved in management decisions, and the

> business's primary objective according to their

> written constitution (for apparently they have

> one) is to make the employees happy - commercial

> success is the route to this, not an end in

> itself. They also treat their suppliers fairly.

> And they've been doing this for about 100 years.

> Bloody marvellous.

My niece and her husband work for Waitrose and do enjoy the bonus you describe. Not only that their general approach to all staff matters is, in their experience excellent. When my niece had cancer in '06 Waitrose / John Lewis looked after her welfare very well and gave her husband lots of compassionate time off to care for her and visit London for specialist care.

[SteveT]

Ed forum is a great local resource, thanks to Mark and Co.

As for shops I can drive, bus or train anywhere to get what is not readily available here, or internet even.

I knew what was here before I came, and the outlets have not changed greatly since my arrival so no complaints here.

[EDmummy]

If you have to ask, perhaps you don't get it!

[Lwilliams]

Marmora Man Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> The distance from London (City & West End) is a

> great plus. A trip to the West End (theatre or

> cinema) and train from Charing Cross means I can

> be home within 35 minutes of leaving the show. All

> of London, shows, museums, streets, sights, sounds

> and life becomes available after just a short bus

> or train ride on a cheap day ticket - antiques in

> Portobello Road, flowers at Columbia Market, food

> at Borough market and so on. I can cycle to work

> from ED - good for my fitness and my wallet.

>

> I like the fact that I can, almost, buy everything

> I need in terms of food and general household

> goods on / near Lordship Lane and that, as a

> consequence, shopkeepers and regular customers

> know me and I know them.

>

> The parks are excellent and both (Dulwich and

> Peckham Rye) now have a good cafe to sit in and

> watch the world go by.

>

> I like to shops on Peckham Rye - and the cafes /

> restaurants on LL.

>

> I can't see too many downsides at all.

>

> Perfection might involve a good local distillery

> and a crystal clear river with wild trout - but

> their absence gives me a reason to travel

> elsewhere.

Hello Marmora Man - sounds like you know the area quite well. Would you have any suggestions on Bed & Breakfast or Lodge accommodations? I'm in the trip planning stage and I always enjoy finding something off the beaten track and East Dulwich is quite a possiblity.

Thanks.

[Sue]

:-S

[SteveT]

The airplane noise being almost continuous during the day, was something I was not aware of before I bought.

[shoshntosh]

p.s. i compared till receipts from sainsbury's (east dulwich) and ocado (waitrose delivery scheme) and ocado was cheaper.

(i know i need to get a job... no comments please on the dreadfully boring and pedantic ways in which i spend my spare time)