Tesla at Belair House

[NewWave]

Went there for a drink must have been about 7 or so years ago, lovely building but the bar and the whole place lacked atmosphere, funnily enough just last week we were coming back from a walk in the woods and wanted to go for a drink before heading home, neither of us faniced the Dog and Duck (aka crown and greyhound) so I suggested Belair House but my other half said It'd probably be packed out due to it being Mothering Sunday.

Which brings me the fact that on one of the posts here it shows they are advertising for an event on Mothering Sunday for end of May-which is the date its celebrated in Europe and the US I believe...odd.

I'm saddened to learn its gone to **** It would be lovely if it was a nice cafe/bar not too fancy but with character.

[mlteenie]

Well, well, well! Pretty disappointing and tacky. I have some sympathy for Tesla owners but although he has shown his colours now, Elon was always a tosser. 

I have always been sad and frustrated by Belair House, and I wish someone could get a grip and market it successfully as a good redto and bar.

As the earlier comment said it is a beautiful building in a great location, albeit a bit shabby here and there. Over the years we have eaten and had drinks there but the last time was about 5 years ago and we haven't been back since after a cockroach crawled up my arm as I waited at the bar for my pint...

[MrCheeky]

On 05/04/2025 at 13:55, MrCheeky said:

come touch my tesIa  n see what happens 

FAFO

[Dogkennelhillbilly]

20 hours ago, Kathleen Olander said:

It's complicated, the Dulwich Estate own the freehold of the land and Southwark Council are responsible for Belair Park, presumably on a lease.  In the 80s the house was sold, presumably on a long lease, to quite a famous chef whose name I forget!

Dulwich Society says:

"In the 1980s Southwark Council incurred further considerable expenditure on 'Belair', particularly in repainting the exterior. Unfortunately, in the 1990s Southwark Council closed up the building, pleading lack of funds, and in its boarded-up and vandalised state it became an eyesore. Happily, in 1997 the Council leased out the building and after impressive and extensive restoration by the new owner, Gary Cady, it opened as a restaurant, with the second floor converted into a private flat."

18 hours ago, Penguin68 said:

it is in an area where there is no passing trade, 

And yet the Hot N Juicy seafood place across the South Circular is busy all the time, in the same location where the sad Indian restaurant that used to be there faltered. Not sure if "passing trade" is that important to specialty restaurants.

[Penguin68]

1 hour ago, Dogkennelhillbilly said:

Not sure if "passing trade" is that important to specialty restaurants.

In an area which (thank goodness) is stuffed with good and acceptable restaurants (East, West and Central Dulwich) Belair would have to be a real destination - hence I suggested the need for a very high quality offering which would encourage visitors to go in search of it. A restaurant next to a station is a very different beast than a country house down a side street. I know about it because I live, and have lived for nearly 40 years, pretty close. And I have gone there on a number of occasions in its different guises. Sometimes with great enjoyment, other times less so. But for a site like that to work it must deliver its promise, which because of the nature and cost of the site will have to be both high-end and not very crowded, which means high prices and probably aiming for at least twice the covers occupation most nights and some lunches. Frankly, it can't live on local trade alone (because there are too many good alternatives) - so it has to build a rep for people to travel there, and again and again.

[Dogkennelhillbilly]

55 minutes ago, Penguin68 said:

 A restaurant next to a station is a very different beast than a country house down a side street.

Yeah - the restaurant next to the station is successful, that's the big difference! Don't think there is much passing trade strolling down the South Circular at night that pops in for a seafood boil spontaneously. Evidently they have built a rep that makes people search them out, even if they haven't yet persuaded you to pop by and patronise them. 

[Penguin68]

People do of course use the station. And the South Circular is one of the last roads left open in SE22.