Wagamama Restaurant

[Louisa]

Greetings one and all.

What are your views on the potential arrival of another 'chain restaurant' onto LL? Gourmet Burger Kitchen has been around for a few years now and IMO compliments but does not override any of the existing independent restaurants and bars along the lane. There are a number of empty retail units currently, and I think out of all the chain restaurants Wagamama would be very successful in this area without damaging any existing businesses. I contacted them recently and they did not rule out this area, in fact they seemed very positive about ED, and considering it for future expansion, but obviously would not give information about future plans.

What does everyone else think?

Louisa.

[Bunny19]

Don't think there is a unit big enough to fit their business model available

[Louisa]

You say that, but I've been to two smallish Wagamama restaurants, one in Chiswick and the other in Cardiff, both of which were in retail units the size of most of the existing single units along LL.

Louisa.

[the-e-dealer]

Theres a Tiny one in Kingston too. I love their food. But some of the bigger branchs are very noisy and there are only "anti tramp" benchs to sit on.

[david_carnell]

My bigger problem with Wagamamma, aside from stifling independent business by hiking up rents, would be their appalling food. Mass produced gunk-covered meat and pretty average bowls of soup-a-like for a big pile of golden nuggets.

I'd prefer a Pho if we must have some vaguely-east-Asian-cuisine chain.

[Bunny19]

None of the empty space on LL have a chance of gaining a planning change of use

[BrandNewGuy]

And Wagamama's horribly overpriced - ?9 or ?10 for a bowl of ramen? I don't think I've been in one since they stopped doing their offers. There's way better for far less than their prices.

If a good value ramen/noodle/fusion-y place opened in ED, I'd try it, but it's so depressing that many people will only go to chains they've heard of. Same with coffee shops - many independents aren't very good, but some are far better than chains, but the brand-obsessed general public won't even walk through their door. Bonkers.

[amydown]

I would love a Wagamama on LL.

[Louisa]

Unfortunately that is the world we live in. I would agree that there are some fantastic independent noodle fusion bars, but I for one think Wagamama is far fresher and tastier than most chain brands on our high street today. My point is that, having the odd chain brand isn't a disaster and if anything raises the profile of Lordship Lane as a great place to socialise, eat, drink and promote the area. Sure not every restaurant is to the taste of everyone, but my hope is that by attracting just a few 'decent' chains, it will in the long term provide us with a fantastic reputation for eating out in SE London and benefit the area by bringing in much needed revenue from neighbouring areas.

Louisa.

[Salsaboy]

Went to the Waga in Bluewater last week. Awful. Overpriced, formulaic gunk. They seem to have gone way downhill from a couple of years ago. Won't be going back.

[DulwichFox]

Some people have expressed concern at M&S bringing more people and their cars into the area.

At the weekend Lordship lane has reached Saturation Point..

Local people sufferer enough with late night revelers without attracting more people into the area.

And opening more restaurants will eventually affect established businesses.

It's alright for The Dulwich Village Clan to slum it up in E.D. Then return to the tranquility

of 'Village Life' where no one has to suffer the noise, litter and bodily functions.

Fox

[v_the_gelfling]

I'm not sure a chain restaurant will really service anyone other than those who live in ED. I like Wagamama but I wouldn't be rushing out to ED just for that.

[Earl Aelfheah]

Wagamama is awful.

[Jeremy]

I'm not really a big fan of ramen anyway, but Wagamama is really not very good.

An actual Japanese restaurant would do very well though, if they had the right balance of quality and price.

[kford]

There's not enough weekday lunchtime trade for a fast-turnaround multi-sitting joint like Wagas. It won't happen.

[Gidget]

So, only the e-dealer and Louisa are in favour. 2 customers won't cut it.

[Louisa]

DulwichFox I see your point entirely, this is one reason why it is my hope that the London Overground extension into Peckham Rye will see the regeneration of Rye Lane and more especially the station square which will hopefully attract many of these chains into that much bigger retail space with more parking facilities, in turn eleviating some of the pressure on the narrow and predominantly residential neighbourhood surrounding Lordship Lane. However, this is all pie in the sky stuff, and as such realistically growth is limited in SE London to gentrified areas such as ED.

What I fail to understand about the parking argument however, is that an existing much larger M&S is on the Walworth RD and this does not promote extra parking pressures to that predinantly residential area. And from my understanding, the new M&S would be a Simply Food format store, which tends to attract people on foot for passing trade such as lunchtime snacks and food to take home after work. I don't quite adhere to the argument a small Simply Food will put parking pressure on the area, any more than the existing Iceland already has.

A Wagamama would also tend to attract local people or those travelling on public transport as the demographic this type of restaurant is aimed at tend to be younger people and students and such like, many of whom do not drive.

Louisa.

[Jeremy]

Gidget Wrote:

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

> 2 customers won't cut it.

Yeah... but at the same time, almost all posters on here seem to hate GBK, but it seems to do OK.

[the-e-dealer]

I have a friend!

[the-e-dealer]

Louisa!

[lane lover]

I cant stand Wagamamas or GBK for that matter. I would prefer some of the independent "pop up" restaurants from Brixton Village to open up a second restaurant on LL. For example, Honest Burger would be a great replacement for GBK; they have already opened up a second store in Soho.

Also, I think we need a decent sushi restaurant. And not Yo Sushi!

[edcam]

Agree a good independent sushi restaurant would go down well. So would a vietnamese restaurant. Not a chain though please!

[Grotty]

I'd go to Wagamama if it was on LL

[B&G]

I'd be keen for something of that ilk, but would prefer not to have another chain in area. More than that, though, I think Wagamamas is really boring! I never think the food has any flavour and, despite eating there a few times, have never been impressed. Rather not have a wagamamas....

[Vick]

A good Japanese or vietnamese would be great. Anything but another Indian frankly. Not Wagamama though.