just_browsing

On the subject of new shops in the area (and throwing Nunhead into the area, forgive me), some reactions to some of the new places - - Cafe G - on day two they seemed a bit overwhelmed by the occasion and quickly ran out of food, but by now they seem to have got into the swing of things, with lovely service, great coffee, proper hot chocolate and nice looking food. Also they seem to have a lot more custom than their predecessor (can't explain this myself as I liked the old one as much if not more) and not only folks with kids in tow (nothing wrong with that, hasten to add). It does feel a little echoey, and it doesn't ooze character, but I think that's inevitable in a space this big. The gymboree appears to be well divided so it's certainly not like relaxing in a cr?che, which some people were worried about. Will definitely go back, and pop in when strolling past, but I don't think it's a patch on the more intimate likes of Cafe Viva, Lerryn's, Blue Brick, Aneto.. - Hop, Burns and Black - quick confession - I am an absolute craft beer fanatic, so both this place and the next are very much designed to appeal to me. However, there are many places that sell craft beer that I wouldn't feel the need to post about because, well, they're fine but that's it. Hop Burns and Black is a level up - it really is a pretty special place and I hope it's a business success. They sell a great range of beers from all over the UK and world, some lovely looking wines and cider, and some devilish hot sauces, plus an eclectic small selection of vinyl. Their hot (spicy) pork scratchings are both delicious and dangerously hot by the way. They also have a remarkable device for filling a beautiful Hop, Burns and Black glass flagon with a selection of draft/cask beers. You can also drink in with a few seats at the front - you probably wouldn't linger there all evening but with fantastic scotch eggs, wonderful music and the lovely owners there to chat with, it's definitely worth trying an exciting new beer. This really is marvellous. - The Beer Shop, Nunhead - basically a tiny pub/beer shop serving beers from London only, a few nice ciders and some other eclectic drinks, which opened on Evelina on Thursday. Seem like another set of lovely people trying to get a beer-based small business off the ground, with great branding, style and fantastic customer service. Nunhead needs this sort of place, in my view (and clarity on what sort of person I am for those on the forum who really care about social stereotyping), and I hope it succeeds. The idea of this whole area, with the Brick Brewery, Clarkshaws Brewery, Flying Pig, plus beer selections on the East Dulwich Tavern, Montpelier, Four Quarters and elsewhere, becoming a burgeoning craft beer haven fills me with excitement. - Pedler - a lovely new restaurant mentioned above that has soft launched this weekend. They serve delicious food in a stylish setting in a normally pretty uninspiring southern stretch of Rye Lane. This place would be a hit on Lordship Lane or Bellenden Road, no doubt. While the food was really nice, I would say that I don't think it competes with Artusi for value of money (few great quality places do, and I am sure I will be told there are plenty of traditional, longstanding places on Lordship Lane where one can contentedly eat a year's worth of hearty goodness for the price of a starter in this upstart..). We paid half price as it was the soft launch weekend - double what we paid would have ensured this is far more of a rare treat destination for us than a regular haunt, but don't get me wrong, it's a fantastic addition and once they've sorted out teething issues with slow service and the like, they'll be a big hit for many in the area. They also specialise in cocktails, as they are affiliated with a Bermondsey gin brand, so will presumably be a go-to end of the evening place for some. As someone who spends the working week looking forward to a good weekend brunch with a book/papers, I will definitely be back soon to sample their brunch too. A few doors along there will be a coffee shop opening (in the literal sense - they will sell coffee beans roasted to order on site), which also doubles up as a social enterprise working with the homeless. Sounds great and very worthwhile to me. Meanwhile another new venture will be Miss Tapas, replacing Southerden next to Cafe Viva. Their website makes them sound really nice. I also happen to love the new French place on Lordship Lane and look forward to seeing what the new pizza and sushi places have to offer, along with the new Indian eatery being offered on a separate thread and of course Brickhouse Bakery. Always keen to try everywhere (well, everywhere that, if good, does stuff I like) at least once. Quick self identification in the hope of avoiding too much of the inevitable social sidetracking that seems to plague most threads - I fear I'm probably Louisa's idea of hell (this, to be clear, is a tongue in cheek comment) - a thirty something year old who moved from around Clapham Junction to buy in the area for the first time, I originate from outside of London, like occasionally treating to myself to a nice meal/drink as that's what a treat is for me, rather than expensive clothes or whatnot. I don't know why I should feel mildly ashamed of this, but somehow I feel the need to 'out' myself in this way. I do feel the need for an off-topic and mildly hypocritical defence, and I hope I'll be forgiven - I love the area, both the new and the old elements, the occasional edginess of Peckham and the moments of yummy mumminess in East Dulwich, for example. It's the mix that I think makes us lucky to live here and I don't think a few enterprising people starting small businesses, or small chains replacing small chains (see the new pizza place) equates to the end of an era - it seems to me that London's modern era, including this area's, has always been dynamic - changing and evolving, never static or sterile and that's just how it is. Social upheaval, often accelerated by house price booms and bubbles, can be identified across London. That doesn't make it a good thing of course, I just think that new businesses and those of us who happen to have been born at the time when we were and with not unusual or outrageous aspirations of living somewhere nice where we can get to where most jobs are within a convenient amount of time etc, should feel free to welcome new places without worrying about being fingerpointed as being among the four horsemen. Sorry to drift off topic everyone. To return to the theme - all these four places seem to me to be excellent and very welcome additions to our wider area. They are all run by enterprising people who have bravely sought to do something new (except perhaps Cafe G) in their locations with a distinct brand - best of luck to them all!

Great, thanks, will go and have a look

Hop, Burns and Black is replacing the laundromat. Sounds great fun, although I was rather crossing fingers that a bar/restaurant would retain the laundromat name and signage - something catchy about it, I thought. No idea what if anything is replacing Ken's.

Anyone know if it has opened today? I have tried calling to no avail.

James, Out of your specific area, perhaps, but no doubt with some potential with regard to anything from traffic flows to local economy boosting - any initial thoughts on the burgeoning campaign for the Peckham Lido to be resurrected/exhumed? Thanks

On the EAst Dulwich Road parade, the barber is either being replaced or renovated too. As for Nigel Road, yes, the Blue Tit hairdresser came but nothing has followed. As for railway arches and the Sassoon Gallery' that's Peckham Springs - nice enough for a pricey beer/cocktail, although I gather Bar Story has a better range if food. Meanwhile, the Brick Brewery is really superlative and Choumert Road, with Southerden, Cafe Viva and Small White Elephant, has got a great range of quirky, cute caf?s. Peckham Refreshment Rooms has reopened with an extended premises today, and does great food (perhaps more of a treat than a regular haunt - dishes are delicious but not exactly huge and not exactly cheap), while we ate at the relatively new Artusi (reviewed by Jay Rayner, leading to the inevitable impossibility of booking for a few months) this week, and it really was sensationally good. Staying in Peckham (I ow this will already have riled Forumites for straying across the boundary but hey, it's in the subject and all eminently walkable from East Dulwich, assuming no mobility challenges) - agree entirely on Barry's In the arches being worth a visit, if only just to meet the lovely Barry. Finally, Peckahm Bazaar is back open, on a corner in a somewhat eerie residential area. I've heard great things but a booking a fortnight ago coincided with me breaking my ankle so had to postpone. Back in East Dulwich, there are positive noises being made about a new Italian cafe near the station elsewhere on the forum(excluding those who don't frequent caf?s who, despite sitting well outside the target market, still feel emboldened to critique their very existence and the, to my mind brave and admirable, entrepreneurship of those setting them up (sorry, brief gripe over)). Is the Hause of Wood definitely being replaced by a cafe? Even I, an accredited cafe and coffee addict, realises this can all get a bit much.

There's going to be a new place called Hop, Burns and Black on East Dulwich Road near Aneto Cafe and Flying Pig. As above, Cafe G is opening this weekend. There are a few places being done up at the lower end of Rye Lane (in addition to Lerryn's and Four Quarters) - no idea if they will be exciting, but they'll be new for sure. Still a mystery on what's replacing the East Dulwich Deli, as well as what is happening to Crown House opposite Goose Green.

As are we - early thirties couple into our food and meeting more people in the area having just moved here.