BrandNewGuy

Nice one! That's going straight in the Louisa quotes album...

Very good news! The Palmerston flourished under Jamie, so Franklins will be in safe hands, I'm sure

That'll be a brimstone – always one of the first butterflies of spring.

Ooh, you tease!

Just to repeat the news I was given – it's not being converted into a pub. As far as I know, there's no intention of dumbing down their restaurant offering. Although as others have pointed out, Camberwell has two pubs – The Camberwell Arms and now the Michelin-starred Kerfield Arms – with excellent food. The Palmerston used to be the only pub in ED that was of such quality, but sadly no longer IMHO.

It seems like only a couple of years since it reopened after a massive refurb.

Both your hopes will be fine, I think. Our waitress will stay on. The downstairs is getting refurbished, and the bar area enlarged, presumably by removing that awkward little 'lobby' by the loos.

Just had a fine lunch at Franklins and can confirm that it's soon to be sold and will have a minor refurbishment before reopening, probably as The Victory, which was its original name, I think.

From Southwark News: BREAKING NEWS: James McAsh defects to the Green Party, seven months after his Southwark Labour leadership victory was overturned He added that the council was "planning for funding gaps larger than those faced in almost every year of Conservative austerity..." https://southwarknews.co.uk/featured/breaking-news-james-mcash-defects-to-the-green-party-seven-months-after-his-southwark-labour-leadership-victory-was-overturned/

Latest update from Simorgh: "Open in about two weeks"

TGJones, who bought WHS's high street business, are obliged to abide by the PO contracts that were already in place, but I guess as soon as these come up for renewal, they might reconsider. And I think the Forest Hill PO is open? Maybe it was a temporary closure for some reason.

New update from Persepolis: So our new restaurant is VERY NEARLY OPEN. Remember: it is on SE22, the other end of East Dulwich. Persian food, kebabs, all the good things like Persepolis but with added meat. And added wine and beer. We’ll let you know when it’s opened but we’re reckoning the beginning of March…

Indeed – and to be managed by Amir, son of the owners. Can't wait!

Update: a new sign is up at the old Barcelona site - "Simorgh: For a taste of Persia" https://www.instagram.com/simorgh_se22 No news on when it's opening

Saw this piece about a radically redesigned East Dulwich house. Wacky certainly, but liveable in? Not so sure.... https://www.dezeen.com/2025/12/18/can-druid-grove-renovation-london/ "Cave-like openings, green timber tendrils and a monolithic standing stone all feature in Druid Grove, a London house recently renovated by local studio CAN. Located in East Dulwich, the three-bedroom townhouse was updated and extended for a visual artist, whose own work informed the creation of what CAN founder Mat Barnes calls a "mystical" space."

The queue there today and yesterday afternoon stretched half way down the stairs. Much patience required!

This is a very thoughtful film about the toxic and traumatic effects of boarding schools on our ruling class and therefore on us. It's pay-for, but the trailer will give you flavour of it.

Ah, that's a shame. Best wishes to them. They nursed my old 19-year-old Peugeot through many an MOT and were always friendly and helpful.

Young at heart...

Many thanks, Sue – it was a fine evening! BNG

Aiming to be there!

In spring and early summer, try a walk through Green Dale, and you should be able to see/hear chiffchaffs, whitethroats and green woodpeckers, as well as the more regular garden birds

This thread brings back hazy memories from the early to mid-90s of a wine shop / off licence off Lordship Lane run by a bibulous chap who specialised in East European wines. It wasn't on a parade of shops but was on maybe Whateley Rd – or possibly Goodrich?? I used to walk past it when heading home from work and would drop in for a cheap bottle of Hungarian plonk. Someone tell me I'm not dreaming this... 🙂

'Turn on red' is normal in the USA, unless there is a sign indicating "No Turn on Red." However drivers (and presumably cyclists) must come to a complete stop and yield to any pedestrians and oncoming traffic before making the turn. Not so sure about allowing 'straight ahead on red'...

Looks like they have massive issues with numbers of visitors too... “People have literally just arrived and are refusing to leave. Chaos. They booked out all the lane spaces but let people in. Absolute sh*t show.” https://www.the-londoner.co.uk/were-police-called-to-brockwell-lido/