Louisa

Honk if these types of traditional High Street have disappeared, why is it that Lewisham, Bromley, Croydon, Clapham, Putney.. and the list goes on, continue to have traditional shopping centres that have pretty much stayed the same over the previous two to three decades, whilst Peckham has been allowed to fall into disrepair equal only to the analogy of the concrete house at Dulwich Common. It seems that some places are worth looking after and maintaining, whilst others can be allowed to go to the dogs. I am sure if had a thing for wigs, bush meat and pound shop items I would be more than happy to do a weekly shop along Rye Lane, but oddly enough I want more than that. DM, charity work? I knew that times were rough for fired city brokers, but is it really that bad that you are rattling a tin to collect cash for HM Revenue and Customs on their behalf? Louisa.

DM I could never call you a bitch, you dont have the claws for it my love :)). Louisa.

oh you cow! ;-) Louisa.

I went to Thai Corner was was pleasantly surprised, although my thai friend who owns a restaurant in Oxfordshire thought it was a little bland. Hey what do I know about Thai cuisine? Louisa.

DM I hate to disagree, but what a load of crap. Morrisons is one of the VERY few exceptions to the overall rule in Peckham. So much so that it was actually considered as one of the stores that would be sold off following the Safeway buyout, can you imagine what could have gone in it's place? A wig hypermarket perhaps? Jojomanapoppycock or whatever it is known as is considerably more expensive than the likes of adams or mothercare. You only need to look on the website and compare like for like prices, it is a true joke. White Stuff is an complete waste of time too, January SALE, what friggin SALE? I've been in numerous times and rboken out in a sweat at the price tags. The demographics have changed I agree, but not to the extent that in both Peckham and ED the majority of shops now only represent some of the local community as opposed to all of it. ED is certainly more lively, but that is in no way attributed to the mediocre overpriced gift shops that have swamped LL in the last 10 years or so. It is probably more to do with the fact that now the local characters stand out of the crowd somewhat more than they did this very day 10 years ago!! Louisa.

You obviously lack any sort of true understanding of the local area at all. Perhaps you need it spelling out. I have always lived in Peckham and ED area, I am in no way snorting at the area in which I grew up in, far from it. I am just appauled at what it has become. I am not a snob, I just think Peckham no longer has anything to offer the majority of people who live in the local area. I would to an extent say the same of ED, it certainly isnt a place I would choose to shop let me tell you! I just think the extremes of Peckham and ED, something that was once never apparant, has isolated a huge swaith of the local population. Dont give me all the rubbish about "shops with poor standards close", that is not the case at all. Many of those shops along Rye Lane are open because Southwark amongst others choose to do nothing about it. I would rather you didnt call me narrow minded either, I am just someone who knows the area well and is a bit p*ssed off with the way it has gone. It has nothing to offer me anymore, and certainly nothing to offer most people I know who live in both Peckham and ED of all races and backgrounds. People like you are the reason dumps like that are allowed to thrive. You really do infuriate me. Louisa.

honk, Rye Lane and Peckham in general is not reflective of the local area at all. Rye Lane once served a huge area, not just Peckham but the likes of ED going east to Lewisham and west to Brixton. It truly was a significant shopping centre. Half of those disgusting s*itty butchers and fishmongers you refer to are indeed a health hazard and if only Southwark could do the right thing and get environmental standards out most would be closed down immediately. Call it what you will, it is NOT a place you really want to go and spend time, almost everyone I have spoken to agrees, not just "the wrong shops for me", but the wrong shops for most people I would imagine. It is no longer a shopping centre aimed at everyone, it is a dirty grotty place where only cheap and cheerful health hazard food shops wish to open up and sell things that should have been condemned for human consumption. Sneering? I think not, just being realistic about the situation. I bet you dont do your shopping down there do you? It's about as "bustling" as a busy sewage works. Good luck going down there and getting your weekly shop! Louisa.

Peckham was always the Bromley or Lewisham kind of traditional high street with all the big brand names alongside family owned businesses like Holdrens, Kennedys and Jones and Higgins. The likes of White Stuff and JoJoMamanBebb or whatever it's called are purely shops aimed at overindulgent yummys with nothing better to spend the money on. Keef I know you too remember just how great a shopping centre Peckham was, right up until the 1980's decline. I honestly think many people who have moved into the area recently see Peckham as if it has always been a horrible place, but I can assure you it most certainly was not. I think the collpase that has taken place down there is not reflective of all high street's across the country, but more to do with the absolute shift in demographics in the area in such a short space of time and the fact that government and local council have stood by and let the area turn to rubbish. Honk it may be a packed high street if you fancy buying wigs and yams, but it is not reflective of the high street I once knew which was very clean and a decent place to shop. Louisa.

Tony in my honest opinion as a long standing local resident, Peckham has certainly not improved aesthetically and is possibly one of the grottiest smelliest s*itholes in south London, but again just an opinion. As much as I hate this way ED has changed (in some ways), the way Peckham has changed has been even more significantly shocking in the last two decades. Louisa.

I would say in terms of demographics and social trends ED has undergone a significant change in the last decade. The post-war gradual multicultural flavour of most of inner London was significantly halted in ED comparable to other local areas in the last decade. The shift of middle class and predoninantly white families out of the SW belt has homogenised this small area considerably in the last decade. I am not just talking about the visible presence of faces along the streets of ED either, if you check out the Neighbourhood stats on the census website comparing 2001 to the 2005 update on race and ethnicity, southern parts of Southwark have bucked the overwhelming trend of most of inner London towards multiculturalism. This undoubtedly does have an impact on the area in my opinion. I think we have spoken about this before actually but in my opinion the whole class thing goes far beyond a few shops opening up, it's impact goes across the board of demographics for the local community. Louisa.

The Wetherspoons on the hill in Exeter is one of the few I have had a good evening in, in fact I didnt even realise it was a Wetherspoons until I left and was informed by my friend. Didnt eat there though luckily as it would have probably changed my opinion. The one on the crossroads heading towards Streatham isnt bad either, but these are two exceptions to the general rule for me. I dont mind paying over the odds if I am getting something worth the money but I dont think I get that at any of the pubs/bars along LL. Louisa.

Great so knock down a local landmark and stick up a block of flats that will look grotty and outdated within a decade. I think it would serve the local community as a house with trees and landscaped gardens rather than yet another block of flats or something equally as disturbing. Louisa. ps. I wouldnt say no to a Burger King but thats my one exception ;-)

ED boundary varies, do you mean as a placename or as a parliamentary seat or something else? I'm not getting into any gentrification debates on here as I am always accused of being a divisive force. In terms of Sainsbury's I would say that the exist of this store from Peckham closer to ED was certainly a turning point in the demise of that area and the re-birth if you like of this area (ED) - and yes ED has to include the station as that is the name of the bloody place. ED is an ok place to live, nothing spectacular, ask most people even within a few miles from here what is ED like and you usually get a confused look, although the yummy brigade were certainly savvy when they decide to make the long and trecherous journey from SW postcodes to here, so maybe our place on the map is become slightly more defined now. I cetrtainly would not agree that there is a strong sense of community across the board, definitely a class barrier in my opinion. ED has for the most part been considered a place you pass through as opposed to want to spend time in for many many decades and I think that is changing, but it still has a terribly long way to go in matching the neighbouring Dulwich Village in terms of personality. Louisa.

and busy lizzy from 80's icon TV:AM.... Louisa.

Bloomin 'eck, where am I going to go for my overpriced overcooked lemon chicken and special fried rice now??? Look's like I might be tempted by Hong Hong along Grove Vale again. Louisa.

Now that really does bring back some good memories.. the Walmer Castle... an absolutely stunning local landmark and not a bad public house either. Christ know's why it's still standing now though. It went the way of the Adam and Eve further along Peckham Hill Street and the Rosemary Branch (oldest pub in Peckham dating back to 1540) until it closed in the 1970's. Louisa.

For once I think the sexy one known as *Bob* has nailed it. Give the guy a break, just because someone wanders round the street with a suitcase complimenting ladies on their boots doesnt mean he wants to abuse them/kill them and possibly do other unthinkable things. I personally would have stuck to the main road and not wandered off down the side street but thats just me. In a big city you get weirdos, always have done and probably always will do until the Daily Mail is able to get some sponsporship for some sort of Guantanamo Bay detention camp for all the worlds slightly loopy individuals. Let us be vigilant and not vigilante. Louisa.

i'd rather go to the supermarket and get a s*itload of bottles and cans and stay home watching tv than go to a wetherspoons. anyway, Peckham has the Kentish Drovers. Louisa.

I can now almost confirm that the Rye Lane store will be sold to..... wait for it.... the 99p store, which has also bought the woolies in Camberwell Green and the one in Penge as confimed by Kalamity. Louisa.

Hello Ocean Possibly the best part of the area as you have good access to a variety of public transport (not that I use it, but if you're that way inclined) and equally Peckham Rye park is on your doorstep for great walks. Some lovely pubs in the area too. Louisa.

The guy may well just have been trying to be friendly but it's always worth being cautious in such situations. I'm going to start wearing boots now, it may mean I start getting compliments from men also! (I wonder if she got them at Davina Boutique or whatever it's called). Louisa.

Sadly Mr Louisa was taken in by this young guy from "Apex Promotions" last night and while he didnt seem pushy, he was quite stand offish about the finer details of this and seemed to want a telephone number more than anything. After reading everything I have just come off phone to a gentleman who answered the above number and I was very rude to him (possibly undeserved), but I am a little p*ssed off to think someone could fall for this! I have called the police up to report this incident and am now on my guard constantly worrying about the posibility of this guy or one of his friends calling round again. Keep an eye out everyone. Louisa.

The Co-op pharmacy is a remnant of the fact that a Co-op convenience/grocery store was located along the space which was previously Woolwich and the bookies next door right up until the late 1980's. I think the Co-op still owns the building and lands along this strip of shops, though I may be wrong now. It would be odd if the Co-op transfered the Somerfield into their name though when they still own the buildings on the opposite side of the street. I often go into the Co-op pharamcy and I find them very friendly and helpful, far superior to Lloyds just round the corner. Louisa.

I find it quite amusing that Waitrose have opted not to pick LL as one of the Somerfield buyouts. We had the same hype not so long ago when M&S were buying a large number of Iceland stores, all the yummy brigade were dribbling at the mouth at the thought of having a Simply Food on their doorstep, in fact a few people were so certain that LL would be picked that they even started giving us dates for opening lol. I have said it before and I will say it again, LL never has been and never will be a big enough retail space for large names to want to move in and open up. ED may have become fancy dan in recent years, but in terms of it's geographical location and indeed it's next door neightbourhoods, there is more chance of being struck by a cloud produced organic sausage roll than there is of a big name opening up along the lane. I hope now that we have all come to terms with the fact that LL never has been, and never will be, a place for big shops, that we can start to ponder the possibility that this Somerfield store may just be one of the stores that is staying with the Co-operative and perish the thought my yummy friends, may actually carry the name along your beloved LL... hehe... Louisa.

Tesco will not be buying the site when it already has a store on East Dulwich Road. I put my money on Lidl ;-) Louisa.