Bellenden road...?!

[DLL3600]

Hi,

Hoping you may be able to help answer a few questions as we're looking around the area to buy, but dont know it very well.

How safe do people feel in the area - it seems safe enough, no different to other areas of London - but I've been reading mixed messages online re. crime and safety?

Is the parade of shops expanding? There seem to be some empty retail units...do we know what for?

The transport links look great, and the community spirit seems strong. Be good to get peoples thoughts please?

[jimmyraj]

Yes, it's a lovely place to live. As safe or unsafe as most of the rest of South London from Dulwich to Deptford.

There's more shops open and trading than there has been for a long time on Bellenden road. The Victoria Inn and Montpellier, alongside Petitou and Andersons delis mean there's a good footfall to the area. Good independent shops like Review books, Fenton Walsh clothes, Paul's Custom Cycles and Melange chocolate also help create a good precinct alongside vintage stuff, and the mini supermarkets and takeaways.

There's the convenience of Peckham's shops and transport links whilst lordship Lane is a closer walk than it is for many in East Dulwich.

[david_carnell]

I'd Echo Jimmyraj's comments. I live just off Bellenden on Maxted Rd and like it enormously.

I've never felt unsafe wandering around the area late at night (taking the usual precautions re: phone etc). I've now got a young family and have no concerns.

The parade of shops has some real stalwarts and also some shops that seem ever changing. The new haidressers has been three different cafes and a reading project before it's latest incarnation this year. There are some odd artists shops/studios that add character. The small supermarket is handy.

Transport couldn't be better. You're only 10mins from both stations and the bottom of Lordship Lane. Housing stock is good and the streets that got the regeneration money some years ago have wonderful street furniture and matching walls and railings. Considering it's cheaper than SE22 I think it's the best place to live locally.

But then I would say that....;-)

[ConConLOL]

Some guy DID get stabbed on Bellenden Road a couple of months ago, but it was gang related. So unless you move in and start repping some other set you should be fine.

[Inkmaiden]

ConConLOL, maybe you should pass that information on to your friend Baby Rae so she doesn't get herself into any more trouble on Bellenden Road?

Amateurs.

[burty]

I totally agree with jimmyraj and david's comments, I bought a flat at the Grove Vale end of Bellenden about 18 months ago after renting in East Dulwich proper for several years and I way prefer it down here in SE15 in spite of not quite knowing how to describe where I live to people (see East Dulwich North/Peckham South debate elsewhere!)

As far as shops go, recent casualty seems to be the pizza place on the corner of Choumert Road, it's a shame as it was a nice place to sit outside of last summer but never did seem to pick up enough (possibly because Il Mirto by East Dulwich station is so good?). But the chocolate shop, Melange, does pretty much the best hot choc I have ever tasted. Yeah a few of the shops are empty but there is enough going on to make it an interesting little local parade, and all the hustle and bustle of Lordship Lane is only a few minutes away...

Check out the wildlife garden on Marsden Road too - it is lovely!

I have definitely felt safe in the area and would agree there is good community spirit - I have got to know at least half a dozen different neighbours since I've been here. They also organize a Big Lunch street party thing too.

Happy house hunting DLL!

[woodrot]

ConConLOL Wrote:

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

> Some guy DID get stabbed on Bellenden Road a

> couple of months ago, but it was gang related. So

> unless you move in and start repping some other

> set you should be fine.

your music taste is shite bludz

[ConConLOL]

Inkmaiden Wrote:

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

> ConConLOL, maybe you should pass that information

> on to your friend Baby Rae so she doesn't get

> herself into any more trouble on Bellenden Road?

> Amateurs.

Noted. Ta!

[Inkmaiden]

You are WELCOME!

[MitchB]

Haha ConConLol, What a d-bag you are! You can't compete with Inkmaiden's Gnar-Gnar

[El Pibe]

Isn't half term over?

Oh god, do grown ups actually talk like this these days?

[MitchB]

That shit cray

[El Pibe]

Is this an anagram competition?

Say hitch tart?

[RosieH]

Say, Hitch tart?

Are you asking me if I would like a slice of the mighty might fine, but-a-little-bit slightly promiscuous, Will Smith?

Damn straight I would. Gimme.

[VanessaPMR]

We've been living on Bellenden road for 5 years now and really love it.

Whats not to love? Ridiculously easy access to fab deli's, cafes, pubs, a book shop, a chocolate shop to die for...seriously the woman is a genius, and a brilliantly stocked mini market. And if you get bored of whats on offer on Bellenden you can meander down to lordship lane..not that I tend to...

I think the busyness of the area gives it a lovely and I think safe feel. Re shouting woman outside the SLA..well, i can safely guess who that was, and frankly, that is very unusual, I tend to get a little nod and a smile.

[Gidget]

Bit taken aback to be charged ?2.50 for an Americano at Andersons. Seems jolly expensive to me. Aside from that there is a good selection of shops to be had. No need to go to LL. And the transport options are better as well, as others have said.

[Huggers]

Moved to Bellenden area 13 years ago and love it. Live equidistant between ED station and PR station but walk back from PR much lighter and busier. Transport brilliant. Shops lovely. Real family area. and the residential streets are really pretty, specially in spring. We've seen a lot of changes/gentrification but in our experience it's always been very nice, and quite arty and eclectic too. Lots of families.

[Jeremy]

We live a 5 min walk away from Bellenden Rd, and it has become a really good little area. For a long time I felt that the area was struggling to regenerate in terms of footfall and the mix/longevity of businesses, but now it really seems to be taking off. The Victoria Inn seems to have given the place the "nerve centre" it needed. All we need now is for a decent restaurant to open in the old Peckham Experiment/Bellenden Brasserie/Pizzeria site...

[Ls86]

It's a great area. I've lived here for two years now and enjoy it hugely. The little parade is lovely, with Anderson & co and the Victoria, Pauls bike shop and the book shop. Also I heard a couple of people talking the other week in Anderson and co about a free range butchers is to open on the parade. I hope this happens as I've had a couple of bad trips to William Rose and I don't visit them anymore. Fingers crossed it happens.

[Annette Curtain]

Tis true

That woman is a godess.

For her produce alone it's worth a move to the area

Actually, in my fantasy life I have a pied a terre there

Nette (tu)

[Gidget]

Yeah, and the coffee at Melange is miles cheaper than Anderson's. They also have some tasty looking cakes.

[mrsouthlondon]

Totally agree - I live off Anstey and it's the best of both worlds: you're nice and local for the Bellenden Rd and have LL within striking distance. Personally, i've found the older lady who runs Andersons to be bloody rude (the coffee IS over-priced and mediocre) and much prefer Melange and Petit tou. There's also a new player on Choumert - Cafe Viva - that's really good - great coffee/food and run by really nice people.

[maxxi]

Annette Curtain Wrote:

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

> >

> Tis true

>

> That woman is a godess.

>

> For her produce alone it's worth a move to the

> area

She has a stall at the Goose Green fair today - tasters of Cardamon and Nutmeg White Chocolate, Raspberry and Rosemary Dark Choc and Lavender and Lemon Milk Choc. among others... seriously worth swinging by.

[tommy]

Nobody has mentioned Ganapati, v good south Indian food. The Bellenden shops are also close to Warwick Gardens. Living In the area is handy to walk to Peckham Library, and Peckham Pulse. Wouldn't want to live anywhere else in this area.