James

I have two major issues with the finalists: 1) Too many acts that sound like musical theatre. Do people really want pop stars that sound like they should be singing The Phantom of the Opera? There IS a place for them... on stage. For Chrissakes. 2) Too much focus on how well they can sing and too little on how attractive they are! The dinner lady has a fantastic voice but she looks like a dinner lady. Who is going to buy her records?

I think the name is a missed opportunity. SNUB sounds a bit... well, SMUG to me. Reminds me of those self-congratulatory Anya Hindmarch bags. Perhaps the event could do with being a bit more inclusive all round?

I have "no moral code" because I'm okay with Cafe Nero flouting a planning law? Good grief... Actually I do think it's a bit rubbish they did that. Maybe they could pay a fine for it which could be put back into the community? Or even better, maybe there could be some kind of two-tier rent system whereby places like Nero help to subsidise independents whereby both can flourish side-by-side? Besides which, you have to ask what exatly we are protecting with these silly planning laws. Are we trying to safeguard the old Norwood High street style ED? In which case, let's get rid of the laws... Oops, forgot to reply to this: >>How can an indie compete with a chain that has the resources to open up without full planning permission? Look around you! The indies are doing very well thanks very much! Despite some wobbly service and general ineptitude.

I'm with dulwichmum on this one! What good would closing Nero down do? Might satisfy some people with axes to grind on various issues but we would lose a precious, decent place to get a coffee. So what if it's a chain? It's a good chain, that's all that matters and if you want to support local businesses you can always go to Blue Mountain instead (which I think is pretty poor in comparison). As it is they are both usually heaving so it's not as if the indie places are being driven out - a bit of competition might make them up their game. Surely a good thing?

Worst restaurant I've ever been to! Awful dirty 70s decor, 70s style food too.

Refugees from The Plough now it's been gentrified?

Why are Celestial behaving like this? Would be interesting to hear their side of the story.

Compare the football players with the rugby players. One is a bunch of overpaid loutish underachieving chavs, the other earn a fraction of the amount yet manage to behave themselves off the pitch and perform brilliantly on it. Our national rugby team put the footballers to shame.

Come and smile Don't be shy! Touch my bum This is life

Also try BIG GIRL in Peckham

God does everything always have to be blamed on racism? It is a natural fact of life that people of all races tend to stick together in communities. It's also a fact of life that these communities get displaced over time. Nobody is forcing black people to move out - they are probably doing it because they can get more for their money elsewhere AND be near family and friends. What's wrong with that? If someone was to bemoan the fact that lots of white people left Peckham after the war they would probably be called racist. Yet we can happily talk about black people leaving East Dulwich as if white people/racism is somehow responsible. Double standards or what?

Please let them stay in Clapham, we don't want their sort here!

Sushi place good. Boring chichi babyclothes bad. Got it?

I thought Nunhead always had dark clouds looming over it anyway

Oh good, you take it all back then

So according to what you're saying we should only have shops that cater for the majority? It's ignorant and childish to stereotype vegetarians as eating only nut roast. Considering around 1 in 7 of the population is vegetarian it is a little surprising that we have not one veggie restaurant. The problem is that ED used to have more interesting "alternative" people before all these Claphamite dullards like you moved in. We could do with a little more diversity. Other parts of London do - so why not East Dulwich? I hope it happens fast before ED turns into a 3rd rate copy of Battersea.

Um, isn't designer baby booties a bit of a niche market itself!? Other parts of London have all of the things I have suggested but we have 400 mediocre curry houses and 236 shops selling baby booties and designer teapots. What is wrong with a bit of variety?

Why not a cool veggie cafe? A Vietnamese or Japanese sushi bar? A laid-back, straight-friendly gay bar? A cool music or secondhand clothes shop? Why do we need another pointless boutique? AAAAAGH!!!

Is it just me or are there some other people who live in ED and like places that are a bit "alternative" - rather than all these dull frumpy Battersea/Chiswick style boutiques for bored housewives to spend their husbands' city bonuses?

For bonzer car insurance deals Girls get onto Sheila's Wheels

Jojo Maman BeBe? What a STUPID name. Stupid overpriced designer babyclothes for idiot Clapham posho w*nkers. This is the last thing we need.

Dancing in the disco, bumper to bumper. Wait a minute. Where's me jumper?

I'm serious as cancer when I say that rhythm is a dancer

To be honest none of the Thais in East Dulwich are much good in my opinion. I prefer the Thai food at the Rye Hotel (they have a Thai chef). It's about time we got a Japanese & a Vietnamese place too. We have enough curry houses now!

I was in there yesterday and the barmaid was totally off her face