BigED

Just a word of encouragement - it seems to be important that people who are concerned do turn up to the conciliation meeting to let the GE applicants know the degree of local concern. There has been talk of it being quiet at the Great Exhibition some nights last week. Well, it seemed to have recovered by Friday night - doors and windows open at 11pm, lots of people outside, no sign of anyone being moved inside, plenty of noise - nothing amplified, but late at night, when the world goes a bit quiet, you notice a load of people who have been drinking for a while and talking a bit louder then they need to. It's quite a contrast with The Actress just a couple of minutes down the road where people are moved inside at 10 pm (I think) which does mitigate the noise problem for neighbours. I don't really understand why the council can't impose similar restrictions on all pubs in residential areas as standard practice. For those saying it has been quiet lately at the GE, the Olympic games have been on in London (no, really) and lots of businesses have been complaining about a downturn in business - too many people staying at home and shouting at the telly, rather than watching it down the pub - that's what happens when you stop Sky from having a stranglehold - everyone can watch. Also, it's the summer holidays and lots of people have been forced to spend time on holiday with their nearest and dearest rather than running to the pub to escape them for a few hours. Anyway, if you are able to make it to the rearranged conciliation meeting at the Great Exhibition on Wednesday 15th then please do come and let the GE hear your views first hand. And we can listen to any reassurances they might be able to give (though personally, there is no way I can envisage being up for agreeing with the opening time extensions or the siting of a bar and food service area in the rear courtyard). See you on the 15th.

I got an invitation too. Will go if I'm free. Anyone else going? Don't fancy being there on my own!

Hello piazzola, how did your meeting with the council go? BigED

If you want to submit comments to Southwark Council, today is the last day. The Southwark website is still throwing up all sorts of script errors - unless these get fixed soon (and even if they get fixed), you may want to email directly: [email protected] quoting reference number 838498 Given their IT problems, it's probably worth asking for a confirmation that they have received your email. And if your email system can provide delivery receipts then do request one (I know Microsoft Outlook has this facility). Then there need be no problem about them denying ever having received an email (I speak from Southwark Council experience). Or you can try telephone: 020 7525 5748 - not sure what is the status of telephoned objections though.

Well, it's Wednesday morning as I write, and as several others have said over the last couple of days, if you want to have your views heard by Southwark Council then do make sure you contact them (details in earlier posts) by TOMORROW, THURSDAY 2 AUGUST. Not sure if there is a cut-off time but if you can do it during the council's normal working hours then that is a good idea. And after all this encouragement from other posters, it's about time I put in my own formal comments.

Getting back on topic... if you do want to comment on The Great Exhibition's application for an extended licence (for or against), the deadline in 2 August, this Thursday. Details of the application are here: http://app.southwark.gov.uk/Licensing/LicPremisesAppliedDetails.asp?systemkey=838498 The licence reference application is 838498 If you want to object, details of how to are here: http://www.southwark.gov.uk/info/200063/licences/856/how_to_object_to_a_licensing_application or you can comment by emailing [email protected] quoting the reference 838498. If you still use old fashioned writing techniques: Southwark Licensing Team Hub 2, 3rd Floor PO BOX 64529 London SE1P 5LX Telephone: 020 7525 5748 Although you have to provide details such as name and address (and I guess that just helps establish that you are a real person with a genuine interest in the outcome of the application and not just the applicant or a competitor), you can ask for your comments to be kept anonymous. But if it goes to a public inquiry then your comments would have to be made available including your name and address. If you are opposing the application, there are four main grounds: 1. The prevention of crime and disorder 2. Public safety 3. The prevention of nuisance 4. The protection of children from harm And if you are supporting the application I guess you can say whatever you like. BigED

Apparently the owners/managers of The Great Exhibition have applied for a late licence that would see them open until 2.00 a.m. on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays and until midnight on all other nights (with special de-restrictions applying on bank holidays). The application, if approved, would allow live and recorded music and dancing until these times and the applicants want to remove a number of existing restrictions. They also want to have an outside courtyard bar serving alcohol. If you want to find out more and/or wish to send your views to Southwark Council, you can do so here: http://app.southwark.gov.uk/licensing/LicPremisesAppliedDetails.asp?systemkey=838498 I quite like the Great Exhibition, despite my initial reservations, but personally, I have some concerns: - the immediate vicinity of the corner of Underhill Road and Crystal Palace Road is wholly residential and it is not an area where there is any tradition of late-night noise - the new pub is very noisy - the doors and windows are left open which may be great for ventilation but causes a lot of noise for neighbouring properties - this is in contrast to, for example, The Actress, where the doors are shut from 10 p.m. and there is no access to the outdoors areas - smokers have to use the space outside the front door which is staffed by an accredited security person. There seems to be no equivalent at The Great Exhibition where people are free to sit , drink and smoke outside without restriction or time limit (beyond the existing opening hours). - the smoking area/courtyard is already a considerable source of noise going late into the night. The space is not enclosed by a roof (otherwise it couldn't be used for smoking) so the noise just escapes out making life less pleasant for their neighbours. Having an additional bar outside will significantly increase the existing problem of noise. - there are already problems with drunk and rowdy people leaving the Great Exhibit after midnight. Extending weekend opening times until 2.00 a.m. will mean that increased disturbance is caused to residential neighbours for longer into the night; - today, a group of people took up place in the front seating area and started singing, accompanied by a trumpet - if you were within a hundred yards, you will have heard their rendition of Ring of Fire. It was early evening and, with the trumpet, very loud - perhaps just the wrong time/place? Unfortunately, unlike with planning applications, there is no statutory requirement on the council to notify neighbours, so if you want to have your say - for or against - then you will need to contact the council yourself via the link above. Like I said, I quite like the new pub, but I want The Great Exhibition to be good neighbours. The Actress and The Plough have to abide by restrictions on their use of music, their use of outside space and keeping doors and windows closed from 10.00 pm; it would be nice if similar restrictions were placed on the Great Exhibition which is in an even more residential area than those two pubs. And if the Great Exhibition does have those conditions imposed I will be more than happy to go along and continue giving them my business. PS - closing date for comments: August 02 2012

Anyone know what's up with the electricity on/around Crystal Palace Road near the CPT?

the-e-dealer - I think you're confusing it with Streatham Odeon! As for hanging out in the cinema, I find that the Yoof don't go for anything foreign or arty. Steer clear of the Hollywood blockbusters and kid-friendly films and we're mostly ok. And going to Brixton is no guarantee of a quality experience - for that you have to get up early at the weekend and go into town to the Chelsea Cinema - ?6 for films starting before 14.00, big screen, almost nobody else there. Once you're over the shock of getting up it's fine. Alternatively, support your local film society and check out Dulwich Paradiso. As with any of the local amenities, use them or lose them (in which case you'll end up with no choice but to go to Brixton or Clapham or Chelsea...). I sense we're getting off topic. I'd still like to see the Irish festival come back. Maybe dulwich Paradiso could run an Irish Film Festival to coincide if/when Southwark Council relents.

Sue - once you're sitting in a darkened room watching a film, you're in a darkened room watching a film. For most people in East Dulwich, Peckham is easier to get to than Brixton and it's cheaper. And indeed, once it's gone, it's gone. As for the Irish Festival, BrandNewGuy, ?52k for two days of fun for people of all ages doesn't seem too bad- maybe the council aren't so fussed about the Irish community any more but two days of free entertainment - music, dancing, sport, comedy and, yes, Guinness, was alawys good fun and helped link in with Irish groups in the borough and gave the Southwark Irish diaspora an opporunity to come together, meet up and have fun. There's no crime in a council using money to help people have fun. I'm not Irish but I always enjoyed the Irish festival. The only year it wasn't any good was when they tried to merge it with the much bigger Latin American festival in Burgess Park. The Irsh Festival was tucked away in a far corner and the only music you could hear was the heavily amplified latin rhythms. Keep the two celebrations separate and let us all join in the fun at both of them.

Went to Il Mirto on Sunday having discovered to my distress that Magnolia wasn't serving mussels (they are out of season, apparently). Finally ended up shambling past Il Mirto and decided to risk it given the low prices. the food was really good - proper pizzas, not pre-made, nice pasta, some Sardinian specialities (the owners come from there). Cheap, cheerful and tasty. No licence so you can bring your own from across the road. They are hoping to move somewhere bigger in due course so they can expand the range of food they offer. Well worth a visit - don't think they get a lot of passing trade like you would on LL.

I nearly always go to the barber down at the end of Barry Road, more or less opposite the Clock House. A tenner for a basic cut, proper cut-throat razor to tidy up your neck, no superfluous chit-chat but conversation if you want it, free beer in the fridge if you want it. oh, and they do a decent job of cutting my hair too. And if anyone works around Victoria, the barber on Page Street near the Regency Cafe is about ?8 or ?9 for a reasonable haircut with even less time spent discussing the weather.

Sorry Suzette, but yes, you can only go to your own polling station. Life can be very cruel sometimes.

TJ - I wanted the congestion charge, and the extension. And I'm all for bigger cars getting well and truly stung. Bring it on.

So, unaffordable bread instead of inedible chicken. Now that's what I call progress.

Don't suppose anyone knows what is happening with this cordon bleu eatery? Is it just being refurbished or (be still, oh leaping heart) is it going to open up as another bleedin' cocktail bar?