Bellenden Road

[Ganapati]

I was passing through Bellenden Road today and it struck me that it just seems so blah there. Maybe I'm missing something, but I remember looking at the Bellenden area in 2002, and it seemed more "up and coming". Now it seems a bit stuck in a rut. Am I wrong? Businesses don't seem to last very long on this road either. I'm thinking of the original Peckham Experiment that used to do really lovely breakfasts.

[tommy]

Hi Ganapati

Not sure what "so blah" means, but if you speak to a few shopkeepers and business people you'll know that there are a few new shops starting up in the near future

- Vietnamese Cafe (whatever that is) where Casa used to be

- Beauty / therapy place inbetween the Sunsplash Bakery and the Chinese takeaway

- Bayberry is extending with a cafe at the back - pending planning application

Would be nice if the Peckham Experiment site and the one opposite would be leased - anyone else have any snippets of info ?

I think restaurants might be putoff by the seeming lack of support - Bellenden Brasserie is an example of a nice looking place always being empty.

With the Montpelier now serving decent food any restaurant in the area (such as your namesake) needs to be excellent to keep going strong

[Ganapati]

That's great. I actually think it's a nice street, and I was sad to see the original Peckham Experience go, but it always seems a bit lifeless around there. I will definitely go support the Vietnamese cafe though.

[citizenED]

And Petitou, and Review bookshop, and that little experimental shop that has organic veg at the weekend. Maybe I'm not there as often as you Ganapati but i think the place is fine.

[Bellenden Belle]

Thank you CitizenEd! Can I also add Fenton Walsh, a lovely clothes shop; a fantastic drycleaners; Casa - a friendly reclamation shop; and Lucius and Richards. And Ganapati just down the road. It is a small local neighbourhood - it doesn't need to compete with Lordship Lane, thank you very much.

Bellenden Brasserie is failing because it's rubbish - I ate there the first week it opened and won't return - but as Montpellier and indeed The Gowlett prove places which have something to offer in the area will thrive.

[SeanMacGabhann]

CitizenEd is always the voice of reason on here (one of them anyway)

There are vast swathes of people who would kill for "meh" like Bellenden Rd

CitizenEd, like me, lives as far from the place as is possible and still be within touching distance but we still make it down there just for the different feel of the place (not to mention the chance to bump into you Bellenden Belle)

[Ganapati]

Bellenden Belle--don't get me wrong I really like that area. It was one of the areas we were looking at to move to. I think it has fantastic housing stock and of course, how can you argue with a place that has Ganapati as its local Indian. :)) It just looked a little lackluster to me--but I'm quite willing to admit it's probably down to my disappointment that I can no longer get my poached egg and smoked haddock breakfast (as in the old days of the Peckham Experiment-pre Bellenden Brasserie). Anyway, as I said, I will make sure to go visit the area again.

[*Bob*]

My reading (ie guess) was that the first wave of shops and eateries that opened-up in the wake of regeneration were aimed at those at the more fantastic end of the fantastic housing stock, and either they weren't supported or there weren't enough supporters.

The second wave of shops feels more realistic, genuinely local - and the timing is better.. I'm sure it will be different this time around. And Bellenden dwellers have Ganapati, so you already have one up on the whole of SE22, you lucky, lucky people.

[Maurice]

The subsidy is gone so shops have to stand on their own feet. The 'local' market is hardly enough to support what is really a middle class group trying to thrive as an island.

It hasn't work. It won't work without subsidy.

[Ted Max]

The 'local' market is hardly enough to support what is really a middle class group trying to thrive as an island.

I think you're saying there aren't enough middle class people in the immediate area to support a lot of businesses attractive to those few middle class people. Maybe not. And so what? Businesses that do fit the area will thrive and so be it. In Car Multimedia and Review, Crossroads Cafe and Petitou, Sam's Kebabs and Ganapati. All seem to do fine. Perhaps the area is not as isolated or as one-size-fits-all as you make out.

[macroban]

> The subsidy is gone so shops have to stand on their own feet.

Public subsidy for the shops?

[downsouth]

It will do just fine. There are plenty of 'middle class' and 'commoners' living in the area to patronise whichever establishments they wish. Good luck to Bellenden.

[tommy]

Ganapati - try Lucius and Richards (if you haven't already) - fantastic eggs benedict and all sorts for breakfast.

Talking of which, on a nice Saturday morning, its great grabbing a newspaper and sitting outside either L&R of the Crossroads Cafe watching people buying their organic veg and the home made cakes at Inside Space across the road - while Matt and Richard at Casa chat away to customers...I think with Bellenden - as the French say "celebrate the difference"

Maurice - re subsidies - you may be right about the survival of the fittest (or survival of the shops that fit the demographic) but I think the relatively lower rents in the area will enable more innovative/unique or independent shops starting up to have an opportunity to trade - OK the footfall isn't like L.L during a Bugaboo sale but as Peter Kay (Alan Potter) in Phoenix Nights (Series 2) says "build it and they will come" *

* He also said "garlic bread is the future" but that's another matter

[macroban]

> as Peter Kay (Alan Potter) in Phoenix Nights (Series 2) says "build it and they will come" *

Stolen from "Field of Dreams" (1989).

[Maurice]

The point is we're all still hoping 10 years on. I say it is a flawed, failed experiment. But I would very much like to be proven wrong with time. And I would like my tax money to stop paying for subsidised rents.

[mamafeelgood]

flawed! the area over 10 years ago compared to the area today is a vast improvement, jesus, if they tried that kind of regen in brixton it would not only probably not work but actually end up worse. it's true it's not turned into a middle class 'oasis' but maybe that's not the point. maybe the point is a cleaned up street, with good lighting and an interesting mix on offer.

plus on bellenden there's more of the kind of mix of shops and eateries that everyone wheeps about the death of on LL.

[tiddles]

there's a darned sight more going on in and around the bellenden area than there is at the top end of east dulwich! believe me I have found out the hard way!! LL is great but beyond that.....

[Ganapati]

Tommy thanks for the tip--I will definitely try them out. At least I can still get decent kippers at Sopers.

[DanbyGirl]

There's a lot going on on Bellenden and it's getting better and better. I actually think that the Bellenden Brasserie is the only blot on the landscape. If that became buzzing (and there really are plenty of middle-class 30-somethings round and about who would fill it on Sat and Sun lunchtimes if it was offering hearty food and a comfortable and relaxing atmosphere), the whole street would fall into place. Yes there are a few shops to let, but rumours of who might be filling them point to Bellenden developing into a charming alternative to North Cross Road. For those of us who live in "Bellenden Village" the future feels bright. Don't rain on our parade.

[macroban]

> Don't rain on our parade.

Courtesy of public subsidies.

[tommy]

Subsidy or not (and I don't think there are anymore) - demand will determine whether a business will flourish or not

I support the local shops in the area and hope others will do the same

[anarchyintheUK]

macroban Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> > Don't rain on our parade.

>

> Courtesy of public subsidies.

hey macroban, why do we pay taxes? Surely public money spent on regenerating local communities is a good thing. You directly benefit from improved services and more diversity. Are you against public money being used to suport the arts too? And to clarify, there were some very small subsidies to start up businesses at the beginning of the regeneration initiative (years ago now)to help kick-start the area. There are now no subsidised rents on Bellenden Road and the businesses there stand or fall on their own merits.

[macroban]

I am used to the tax on my small pension being used to subsidise rich people.

The ?32m directed at Bellenden Village is of no benefit to me as I live too far away.

I am pleased to hear that Southwark Council has now stopped subsidising the rents of Bellenden Village shops.

Have the soft loans been repaid too?

[atila the gooner]

What is this urban obssession with giving a place name the suffix of "Village". Bellenden road has not been a village since at least 1968 and never will be, nor will anywhere else in East Dulwich. Lets not kid ourselves in to believing that you can't get a place to become a village just because of a name. Please people, get real. The vast majority of Grater London is dirty, overpriced and not a nice place to live. I've lived in this sh*thole for 50 years, and know what I'm talking about unlike the people who suddenly arrived, over the past decade and think it's a smart place to live. Poor deluded fools!!

[jessie09]

Well, ? we had Mum and Dad down last weekend and decided to plum for Bellenden Brasserie, as a few colleagues from Kings had told me they had tried it earlier this month.

To be honest, we were a little bit surprised that there were only a few diners, given that it was a Saturday night. The food however, was surprisingly very nice and the staff were really helpful. Mum and Dad certainly enjoyed themselves and we will definitely be back.

All I can say is that they may be a blot on some people?s landscape but they certainly know how to cook good French food.

And before you ask?.. no I am not an employee, but I will certainly be recommending it.