Louisa

Almost Jeremy. But then there are those who can't afford to move, or are tied for other reasons in rural or urban. They moan and groan, hate their surroundings rather than embrace them. Grass is greener mentality. Those people annoy me too. Put up or shut up I say. Louisa.

Seabag yes they do have a frontage to trade from, but it all depends who comes along to fill the empty places. I can't see a chain taking on the speedo pizza site, nor can I really imagine another independent. If anything, I reckon it will probably imagine an already existing business investing the time and money into an expansion or second outlet selling food. Maybe Blue Mountain ED 2? Hope and greenwood ED 2? Who knows. I personally would be happy with a prey a manger but that won't happen. Louisa.

*Bob* you've turned into a sort EDF political activist on this thread. The chalk with cheese line does sum up this whole argument though. I think ED is a dump comparable to somewhere nice in the countryside, my personal opinion. But, people who love these places and pay over the odds to live in them do so not for the lovely scenery, but for a whole host of other things like transport links, jobs, proximity to amenities etc I'm pretty sure they didn't come here for a room with a view overlooking the hanging gardens of Babylon. Louisa.

I've been a few times to Brockley market, it has a great vibe to the place. It's quiet, but not too much so. It has a good mix of people, great caf?s and shops, large Victorian and more importantly affordable (just about) housing, with the Overground right on the doorstep. It still maintains a spoons alongside poncy pubs and boozers alike. Something for everyone. Not sure who Professor Green is? Does he works at Goldsmiths? Louisa.

I disagree titch juicy. It's not what people want exclusively. And there is always room for niche in any market. Hence the survival of places like the castle. Louisa.

New people fill their front gardens with bugaboos and used Waitrose bags. Louisa.

Nigello sounds like a plan, but I'm not paying those sort of hiked up rents. I'd rather setup a stall on north cross where I can shout at people directly. Louisa.

Totally agree Otta. But I think that's a change which has happened London wide, and maybe even urban wide across this country. Lots of changes such as Sunday trading laws and the food onslaught for survival have all transformed the pub from being at the heart of the community to somewhere you go for a bite to eat. Hence the death of the boozer. Whenever I visit the west country I still see these types of landlord dominated community pubs, but sadly they are almost exclusively rural, they appear not sustainable in London because of all the crap foodie snobby brigade. Louisa.

20+ years ago ED was a no-mans land not even on the map but retained a real community sense and had a good mix of people both white and black, mostly working class but no exclusively, and we all just got on reasonably well. It's never been perfect then or now, and people do sell up to move somewhere leafier as they get older, what's wrong with that? London is fine when you're young but after being a slave to the system your whole working life why not pack up and cash in to live somewhere that suits? ED since landing itself on 'the map' has become something else, just like the rest of horrible London. I now much prefer Brockley if I'm being honest, because it still feels like ED did those few decades ago, but guess what, it has bigger Victorian houses and is on the Overground, oh wait.... Louisa.

Seabag - what changes are the traders at that end of the lane making to their offering? Later opening hours? Change of use to to serve food? I'm confused. Those units up their are so small this place can't become a restaurant, so regardless of Picture House opening, it will at most become another deli or something of that ilk. As for the couscous/middle eastern eatery that sounds like an online rumour to me. It's probably gonna remain empty for a while because of excessive rents and then be taken on by a charity shop. Louisa.

I'm old enough to remember when London pubs, particularly around Peckham/Bermondsey and into the East End (basically anywhere within spitting distance of the docks or a market) were split down the middle between market stall traders in one bar and dock workers in the other. How times have changed, nearly all gone now. One favourite of mine when I was much younger was the 'Hand and Marigold' just off East Lane market down the Walworth Road. Louisa.

Alec Salmond is a big fish in a rather small political pond. Last nights debate showed how vulnerable his ideas are when put up against a more experienced political heavy weight. If only Cameron had the balls to defy all the critics and confront him in the same manner I think the people of Scotland, regardless of political affiliation, would be smart enough to intelligently make up their own minds based on the clear facts rather than the emotional patriotic bluster that the SNP dish up in abundance. Well done Alistair Darling for taking Salmond on and showing him up for what he really is. Louisa.

El Pibe I could single handedly drink a pub dry so I think any boozer in trouble that what's to offer me a good time get in touch, you'll be back in profit within a day! Jeremy yes pub lunches have always been a thing, but again, it was a very limited menu of mostly sandwiches maybe a pasty. Sunday was always the day for food, free roasties nuts crisps and prawns at the bar. You can't even stand at the pub in half these poncy ED pubs these days, let alone have a munch on some free food! And yes Millhaven fond memories of the travelling fishmonger popping in with lots of seafood in little pots with salt and vinegar yum. Anyone else remember the guy in the stand alone van outside the a Kings on the Rye pub/nightclub throughout the 80s? Louisa.

El Pibe if a pub has a loyal and consistent client base and good offers and atmosphere, it shouldn't need to serve food to stay alive. Well I say food, I mean over and above the cheap crap sandwich and behind the bar snacks. Louisa.

Jeremy a Sunday roast may well have been sold in pubs which otherwise didn't do food, but most people who ate them didn't specifically go to the establishment for it. More often than not, they were pissed up pub goers with the munchies who would snack on any old crap. People who go out of their way to visit a pub for food need to get a life. The alcohol should take priority and food should always be a secondary thought if hungry whilst there. Louisa.

It's a lovely town in the heart of Middlesex. But I can appreciate why aliens may gravitate to this place. I was once on a bus passing through and felt like I was in the twilight zone. Louisa.

*bob* I too have heard stories about people being abducted from the West Ruislip area. Louisa.

What a load of b*llocks. A pub is for drinking, not eating. Anyone who goes to a pub and bases their entire opinion on the establishment around the food is in the wrong place. Sick of foodies dictating what a pub should or shouldn't be like. The most you should expect in the way of gastronomy in a public house should be a pack of scampi fries or some ready salted. Louisa.

I've seen various cars pull up outside my house over the years and just presumed these people were waiting for friends/relatives, until a girl at the shop down the road told me they were peddling illegal substances. I went through a stage of shouting at them out the window until they drove off. I don't want them selling their disgusting habit outside my respectable home thanks very much. If you're going to do it, why not go to a less conspicuous place, why choose a residential street? Make me sick. Louisa.

My great uncle who died at the battle of the somme in 1916 and who's remains were never recovered, will be remember tonight. Very very fond memories of my grandmother telling us stories, and how upset she always seemed without fully understanding why. My lights will be going out at 10 and I shall light a candle in his memory and every other young man who served in a most horrific war. Louisa.

The Palmerston - great example of old school 'boozer'. Now it's just a restaurant where you can have a drink and sit outside. Not the same thing. Louisa.

I'm with you there DM. I feel as though I've OD'ed on Irn Bru these past two weeks. Louisa.

Well done Seabag I knew I'd missed something out. That's got my brain ticking over now about just how much I hate posh cheese on toast. Someone slap me before I start ranting. Louisa.

Someone told me that a friend of theirs overheard a conversation between a yummy mummy, pearly queen and a woman applying makeup on a bus regarding the annexation of ED by the people of Bromley. Plans are allegedly afoot to turn the whole of Lordship Lane into a dull lifeless suburban street full of mock Tudor houses with a Waitrose at the end of it with a 'street food van' selling organic burgers for between 6 and 12 quid. Did I miss anything out? Louisa.

The Man of Kent in Nunhead gets my vote for traditional boozer. One of the last great Irish pubs in the area, but retains a good mix of people and a real 'atmosphere'. The food is pretty good too. Louisa.