Mellors

I'm pretty sure there is a bin in the car park at the back of the cafe in Peckham Rye Park as well.

I can't believe anybody thinks that hitting somebody else is a justifiable solution to anything, be it child, adult, man or woman! Has the world gone quite mad?

Hi Chris, thanks for responding. I shall know now to book for next time, as I said, I like the place, and the food is good, its just the service that irritates me (and I have no idea about the timing discrepancy - maybe my husband was having a couple of sneaky pints instead!). Its been fine when I've been during the week, but weekends always seem to be a struggle in the kitchen. I think a good start would be giving customers a reasonable pre-estimate of how long the food will take to come if you are busy, so you set expectations accordingly. Saying that it won't be long, when specifically asked, and then it taking ages is bound to end in frustration all round. Hopefully you can take the criticism constructively - its a shame to lose business because people never say anything when they are unhappy.

I am always ready to praise places that offer good service, but I am so sick of the dreadful service at The Herne I thought I would mention it on here and get others views. We went for lunch this weekend with our toddler, and knowing the food service to be incredibly slow we ordered the minute we arrived. We also asked how long they expected it to take to arrive. Not long, apparently. Almost an hour later we still had not had any sign of the food, and the staff seemed more interested in catering for a function they were also having (which is interesting, because we had a function there ourselves earlier in the year and the service was so appauling I can't even begin to tell you (although the function people this weekend were complaining too)). I appreciate they have to cook it and its not fast food, but even I can do one rare steak and a burger in less time than that. And it wasn't even that busy. I asked for my card back as we finally gavce up and decided to go home and make something ourselves instead (which they keep behind the bar, and annoys me anyway with all these card cloning things going on at the momment), and got a right mouthful instead of an apology. Its such a shame - I like the pub, the food is nice, and its great for kids, but the awful service is just beyond a joke and it never seems to improve, despite the number of second chances I have given it. End of rant! Title changed to be more general - The Administrator

I had the sirloin at The Rosendale on Saturday night and it was really superb - although a bit priocey at ?22. Franklins steak has always been great as well. I vote for a decent Chinese.

I caught a non pooper scooper outside my house trying to do a runner the other day - I stuck my head out of the window and shouted loudly "Would you like me to bring you a carrier bag - there's a bin just over there!". Seemed to do the trick and shamed them into picking up.

Info on "Flag the Poo" http://www.southwark.gov.uk/YourServices/environment/CampaignsandEducation/Flag.html You can get free poop scoop bags from the council (number on that website), although they do sell biodegradable nappy sacks at HealthMatters on Lordship Lane, and they aren't very expensive.

I am an ancient lady who risks falling off when signalling hence I take the back routes - I would never dare go on the OKR or round the roundabouts, Peckham High St is enough of a rollercoaster for me! I got the route from the free cycle maps that you get from TFL (you can order them online) - very helpful indeed.

I am a mum of a toddler and I am sorry to say I avoid it too - its mental with everyone else's sprogs, and the service has always been too slow for words. Its a shame as its a great facility and the food is really nice, but I just can't be bothered with the hassle.

I go up to Peckham, down the canal path at the back of Peckham Pulse, up through Burgess Park to Portland St (diagonal across the park). From there follow the cycle path to New Kent Rd, where you go across at the peedestrian crossing and round the back streets to Southwark Bridge Rd. Up Southwark Bridge Rd and over then along the NOrth Side of the river to Blackfriars. Pretty much all low traffic/off road is you are a scaredy cat like me! I am slow and it takes me 25 mins.

Baby Mellors is as lazy as they come and quite dense, but is a charmer. I suspect he will become Prime Minister.

As a parent of an under school age child and another on the way, I moved to the area specifically because it had good state primary schools (as did a number of my friends with children of the same age). I don't really see the point of paying over the odds for a house in SE22 which is in the catchment area for Goodrich/Heber etc and then sending them to private school anyway - you are already paying for a "better" education through your increased mortgage every month. I suppose the issue comes when they are at secondary level though - we may then all be competing for the places at the private schools, or considering moving out of London altogether. That's a long way off though.

Plan B in Brixton is much better. The DogStar is rubbish, and its not dance music anyway.

CTF is invested in stocks etc anyway, you get no choice, other than as to the level of risk (1, 2 or 3 - I think they recommend 2). Mine is in Children's Mututal, but to be honest I think they are all about the same. They seemed to have the lowest admin charge at the time (about a year ago). moneysupermarket is a good place to look. One thing to bear in mind if you are putting extra cash in is that with a CTF the money goes straight to the sprog when they are 18. To blow on whatever they like. I stuck my CTF voucher in mine, and a bit extra into a high interest account (Halifax pays 10% on the kiddies account). With that you are trustee for them, so you get the cash and decide if they are sensible enough to have it!

Very nice - I hope you will be baby friendly and have high chairs and the like so us local Mums can give you some lunchtime trade.

Hope and Greenwood, yum yum yum! Nice parks and baby friendly, mostly.

Ooh, I never new I was being a "terrorist" whilst popping out to the shops for a pint of milk and not leaving the baby home alone. *yawn*

Not quite the same, but I saw a grey seal in the Thames when I was walking past Hammersmith Bridge the other day and was quite amazed. It would have made a lovely handbag for Dulwichmum.

I can't comment on the other areas, but East Dulwich is brilliant with small kids. I have a 1 year old and there are tons of things to do - playgroups, singing, toy sessions at the pubs, story sessions, Peckham Pulse for swimming and ball pool etc etc. I also like the fact I can walk to the shops (saves faffing about with the car/car seat) and there are lots of baby shops and nice coffee shops if I fancy a browse. The parks/playgrounds are super - Peckham Rye, Dulwich, Goose Green and even the little one near Sainsburys. Pretty much everywhere is well suited to life with a pram, and there are a number of places to go for a nice Sunday lunch etc within walking distance (there was a recent thread on pubs and restaurants with high chairs and baby facilities). The state primaries are very good I believe - Heber, Goodrich, St Johns, St Anthonys - although I must confess I haven't really thought about it much. Hope that helps!

My son would get his creative issues supressed by means of a smacked bottom and a sharp telling off ;) Which parents would want their kids in the pub at 9pm? I am relived to pack the little blighter off to bed at 7pm every night, not having him hanging around and disrupting my Quality Drinking Time. My view is that only when they are old enough to stand their own round they are old enough to stay in the pub till late.

d803cn - you're pretty much the same journey as me (but I finish at Holborn Circus). When I get to the end of the Canal I go through Burgess Park, take the diagonal after the little red choo choo train (!) up Portland St, round the Elephant (it takes you down the pavement on the New Kent Rd, across at the pedestrian crossing and round the back, so not scary!) then up Southwark Bridge Rd and over the bridge. I then go up Watling St and New Change to get to Holborn Viaduct. Pretty much all off road or with decent cycle lanes - esp as Southwark Bridge Rd is quiet, and the bridge itself is having on of those new concrete barriers put up to enclose the cycle lane properly.

*nods*

I agree Siduhe. I can't bear other peoples badly behaved children, and whilst my own may not be perfect, I certainly don't let him behave like that. If he did have a tantrum he would promptly get taken outside and get a good talking to, or get taken home. And stealing food/hitting other kids/being in the pub at 9pm is never acceptable. I think its a shame that some parents spoil it for the rest of us. Our kids need to be taken to such places fom an early age so they can learn how to behave appropriately in grown up venues, but not at the expense of everyone elses experience. Maybe there should be a licensing scheme for parents? You only get to go out in public if you can demonstrate an understanding of acceptable public behaviour for you and your offspring.

Having kids or not having kids *yawn* - this eternal argument is pointless as its entirely subjective. Its also been done to death on this forum. I suggest those without kids just don't bother looking at or posting on a (very helpful) thread about which eating establishments have high chairs (other than to see places to avoid of course).

Ooh and Butlers Wharf Chop House on the river was super too last week and had high chairs. Sun and Doves is v good during the week, not been at weekend. And whats the other one on Camberwell Grove - the Dark Horse? What about The Gowlett - can't remember if they have chairs (I think they do) but they are friendly and do nice pizzas. Can you tell that having a sprog hasn't got in the way of my need for a decent lunch?! (or a good nights sleep or a decent holiday).