Seacow/MEATliquor (main section)

[Mick Mac]

Chains are just successful outlets - you know, the ones that have customers.

[miga]

Morleys and Franco Manca. Iceland and Waitrose. Costa and Taylor St. Baristas. As Charlie Brooker once said, a meal is just a shit you haven't had yet.

[LondonMix]

I think the issue people (including myself) sometimes have with chains are three things:

1. A lot of chains end up being quite bland as part of the success of a mega chain is appealing to a really broad audience

2. Knowing the proprietors in a world that is generally full of large faceless corporations feels quaint in a way that people crave as its missing from so much of everyday life. A lot of our lives aren't on a human scale anymore (even at the GP how often can you see the same doctor!) and given human beings lived in a totally different way for much of human history, there is an odd psychological craving for that closeness.

3. Its nice to feel that everywhere has its own character. Its why people like travelling etc. When you feel like you see the same thing everywhere you go and there is nothing new to discover or unique it can feel oppressively monotonous. These days, retail is much more about experiences and this plays into it as well.

For all these reasons I do tend to support my local small businesses and why I do love ED's retail character. Nevertheless, I flat out love some chains. I'd love a Nando's to open nearby! We all know Louisa wants a Space NK. And I certainly wouldn't begrudge any small business owner (and let's get real, 10 small outlets is still peanuts) their growing success if their product is good.

Some business owners get point number 3 well- ToastED, The Flying Pig, and Yamma Mommo are all part of restaurant groups but each restaurant in the group has its own name and a different menu (for the Flying Pig its owned by the same people who run the 3 Locale restaurants in London). I prefer that approach though it obviously doesn't allow you to capitalize off of your previous success as easily.

[Seacow]

We've heard it from the horses mouth that it's a permanent pop up doing filet-o-fish with a swimming pool in the basement. There are plans for a chain, a crowdfunded mini bond followed by a swift exit. Good luck to them we say.

[Peckhamrye]

*Like* Seacow x

[Sue]

LondonMix Wrote:

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

>

I'd love a Nando's to open nearby!

There's one in Denmark Hill! Not that far .....

> (for the Flying Pig its owned by the same people

> who run the 3 Locale restaurants in London). I

> prefer that approach though it obviously doesn't

> allow you to capitalize off of your previous

> success as easily.

Wasn't the Flying Pig called Locale previously? I didn't realise it was owned by the same people, or possibly I've forgotten.

I imagine they changed their name because the local Locale ( :) ) was not exactly successful if memory serves, so they didn't want to continue to be associated with that name, which is the other side of the coin I suppose .....

[Jeremy]

Is this definitely true? That the Flying Pig is still owned by the Locale owners? News to me.

[LondonMix]

Yes, it is 100% true. You can ask the people who work there, they are very open about it Jeremy.

Sue, I think they changed the name because it was a totally different concept from the 3 other Locale's they run. They have always been super open about the situation. I remember when I asked about when they took over and my server said it was the same people but as Locale wasn't working well in the ED branch they wanted to experiment with something new. I think they tested it out at first as a pop up type thing at one of the local Dulwich festivals (maybe Goose Green). Some of the history of this is definitely on the forum.

I have been going senile lately but I'm pretty sure I'm remembering this correctly.

[Seabag]

Flying Pig is owned by Locale

Sea cow will now sell burgers

Next?

[HonaloochieB]

A Wimpy would be utterly awesome. I mean awesome!

If it turned out to be a Wimpy 'Bar' then ooo...

My name's on the the first Chocolate Bowler.

[HonaloochieB]

And the first thirty Benders are on me.

[Seabag]

HonaloochieB Wrote:

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

> And the first thirty Benders are on me.

I'll take one for the team

Xx

Great to see you're back H

[Jeremy]

How the devil are you, HB?

[Otta]

LondonMix Wrote:

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

> Our own Blue Mountain cafe have a branch in Penge

> and in Gypsy Hill.

And Sydenham. Unless that closed.

[Seabag]

Otta Wrote:

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

> LondonMix Wrote:

> --------------------------------------------------

> -----

> > Our own Blue Mountain cafe have a branch in

> Penge

> > and in Gypsy Hill.

>

>

>

> And Sydenham. Unless that closed.

Sydenham BMC is alive and 'haloumi sandwich' kicking

It's great

Where's the Penge one tho?

[dc]

The first Blue Mountain Cafe was on Peckham Rye (the road, not the big open space) - opposite the end of Nigel Road. Very near where lots of new food places have opened recently.

[DulwichFox]

....and one in Forest Hill opposite the Hob. that wasn't there long and is long gone..

Foxy

[Bovine Juice]

Penge's Blue Mountain Cafe is on Maple Road, Otta. Been there a few years, though originally it was called Loaf for some reason.

I agree Penge is an ideal location for any restaurant owner wanting to expand or relocate. The area has changd a heck of a lot with lots of younger 20/30 somethings with young families now here and the two really good places (both Italians - Friends of Flavour and Sicilian Art Pizza) are mobbed every night. The only other options are curry places and loads of takeaways.

[Baggs]

There is a BMC in Croydon too... They're spreading.

[Mick Mac]

Chain alert --- avoid, avoid, avoid.

[LondonMix]

Exactly Mic Mac. This local ED cafe owner is approaching the dreaded 10 establishment limit that turns him and his cafes from friend to foe...

[LondonMix]

By the way, M&S have confirmed the store is due to open in July. James Barber has confirmed it.

[Sue]

DulwichFox Wrote:

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

> ....and one in Forest Hill opposite the Hob. that

> wasn't there long and is long gone..

>

> Foxy

When was that, Foxy? I don't remember one in Forest Hill?

[Sue]

dc Wrote:

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

> The first Blue Mountain Cafe was on Peckham Rye

> (the road, not the big open space) - opposite the

> end of Nigel Road. Very near where lots of new

> food places have opened recently.

Really?

I always thought the one in North Cross Road was the first one, in the early nineties?

[????]

Agree Sue ('93?)

And in my book the first sign of the Gentrification that was to come.