Bellenden Road - just picking up or closing down?

[northlondoner]

Was strolling around the Bellenden area for the first time in ages and noticed several agreeable looking shop fronts - a cholatier, wholefood shop etc. Nice villagey vibe - even better, dare I suggest, than that in ED. Only trouble was, none of these shops were actually open. Ok it was around 5pm - but still! Couldnt work out whether they were new businesses on the verge of opening for trade or established businesses foundering on the rocks of recession. My question is, is Bellenden just taking off , or just about to crash?

[Louisa]

Bellenden is going the way of all areas currently. I dont think it is about to crash, but equally I cant see Bang and Olufsen opening up a new store any time soon.

Louisa.

[Mikecg]

Thats a result then Louisa dont ya thinks.

[mumra]

Unfortunately the wholefood shop you mention has closed, as has the coffee shop on the corner, Lucius and Richards. However, the Review bookshop is the best bookshop in the area and Petitou on Choumert is easily the friendliest cafe. I could also go as far as to say Ganapati up the road is the best Indian. The drycleaners is also brilliantly friendly. ED it aint, but there are some treasures there, though I would agree there has been some interesting choices of businesses there in the past, Fish shop? Carpet shop and now woodcarving shop?!

[lenk]

mumra Wrote:

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

> ED it aint,

It has about twice the character of Lordship Lane in my opinion, if only for the general lack of pushchairs / ED-ites who would never be seen dead crossing the border.

That healthfood shop was rubbish, hardly a loss - the booze shop is 24-hour and there's 2 pool tables in the pubs on opposite corners : )

[tommy]

Come on - where else can you buy gems like this ?

http://www.mahogan-ey.com/

[Bellenden Belle]

A new caf? is due to open where Lucius and Richards was...there's a sign in the window.

I think good shops are well supported on the road - the bookshop, Fenton Walsh, Petitou, etc....I agree the "wholefood" shop was rubbish...it tried to cash in on the whole "organic" vibe, but failed to deliver.

It's a great place to live. Quieter, friendlier and indeed far cheaper than East Dulwich (imho).

[Bellenden Belle]

A new caf? is due to open where Lucius and Richards was...there's a sign in the window.

I think good shops are well supported on the road - the bookshop, Fenton Walsh, Petitou, etc....I agree the "wholefood" shop was rubbish...it tried to cash in on the whole "organic" scene, but failed to deliver.

It's a great place to live. Quieter, friendlier and indeed far cheaper than East Dulwich (imho).

[Polmoche]

wasn't the wholefood shop opened by the people behind SMBS foods?

[lenk]

Polmoche Wrote:

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

> wasn't the wholefood shop opened by the people

> behind SMBS foods?

It was a bit more 'hippyish' if I remember. Loads of Yogi tea and all that. Smelled of joss sticks.

[Ted Max]

It wasn't the SMBS folks, no. It was these guys: http://mybayberry.co.uk/default.aspx

And nice as they were, they really didn't know what they were doing.

The carpet shop was only ever a punt - they've got a warehouse elsewhere and just had a go at a retail outlet, quickly realised it wasn't going to go anywhere and cut their losses.

[Peckhamgatecrasher]

Bayberry, I think, started out as upmarket deli but quickly descended into a bit of everything (hot pies, nappies, etc).

They lost their target market and sold pretty substandard fresh veg/fruit at outrageous prices.

Lovely chap but no business nous.

[Huggers]

Bayberry was understocked and overpriced.

[Jeremy]

Bellenden Road is OK, but to be honest you can walk from one end of the shops to the other in about 30 seconds... there really isn't much there (and I'm local to the area). I hope it picks up a bit, but it's a bit of a funny area to open a shop because it isn't really a main thoroughfare like Lordship Lane.

[CF]

bellenden road is a lovely little area, its not a big main street like lordship lane but is still a quite a busys street and services those who cant make it to lordship lane or choose to shop somewhere different. it has a good selection of little independent shops and yes it could do with a few more but they will come. lordship lane 8 years ago was very different to what it is now, it takes time for areas to become established.

all the below are whats available on bellenden road and if you have never been down here give it a go!

review - bookshop

petit tou - cafe

the montpelier - lovely pub

fenton walsh - clothes shop

casa - reclaimed furniture

melange - chocolate shop and cafe

fish and chip shop that also sells fresh fish

newsagents

friends of fabric - drycleaners and alteration shop

cafe ora

crossroads cafe

wishing well pub

launderette

locksmiths

2 x estate agents

plumbing shop

sunblessed bakery

stationers

24/7supermarket

hairdressers

dog parlour

and you cant forget sams kebabs!

soon to be opened - vegetarian cafe in what use to be lucius and richards and also a rumour that the old carpet shop is going to be a foody shop aswell!!

[lenk]

There's a good little gallery space with plenty of free booze events thorughout the year as well ; )

[Peckhamgatecrasher]

How could you forget the Prince Albert?!

[lenk]

Peckhamgatecrasher Wrote:

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

> How could you forget the Prince Albert?!

Ace pub... pool table, cheap beer, lock ins... the antithesis of an '?9 bangers and mash and pint of Staropramen with Nightmares on Wax on the stereo' hellhole.

[Jeremy]

No prizes for guessing where honk lives!

[ralphation]

There's a good mix of old and new. Desmond's is yonks old, Chaz has been there for 37 years but there's newer stuff too. The chippy is great, the bookshop is ace and Crossroads cafe is an institution and much less stuck up than Petitou (which, by the by, is also horrifically overpriced.

Melange Chocolate is booming apparently and quite right too. Not sure I can see Mahogan-ey or whatever it is called faring so well. Bayberry was rubbish, glad it has gone and Lucius and Richards was a bit pricey though the woman that ran it was nice. Apparently the Dog hairdresser has been there for a million years as well. I live locally and I love it. Friendliest place I've lived in London.

[cate]

What about that brasserie place? What is that like? Didn't is used to be the Peckham Experiment?

I used to like Petitou but the food is so repetitive and expensive.

[Melange Chocolate]

Hello Northlondoner,

are you from South ?

The Wholefood shop you are mentionning is now closed since 5 months. have you been around recently ?

I run The chocolate shop, and it's open from Wedneday to Sunday. May be you came on a Monday or Tuesday. but the Schedule is in the window.

Thanks for worriing about our Dear Bellenden Road, who does its best to stay alive thanks to the support of all of you.

Isabelle

Melange Chocolate Shop

[lenk]

Jeremy Wrote:

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

> No prizes for guessing where honk lives!

Yes, because to like a street you obviously have to live on it...

I live in Hendon, I just like posting on here.

[cate]

Is honk lenk? I am confused.

[tommy]

Yes, Codfellas (or whatever the chippy is called) also gets my vote along that road