Co-Op Forest Hill Road - thoughts

[seanmlow]

I use them regularly now and think they are so friendly. It is a tad overpriced in there (but you can't beat their ?2.99 Cape Red wine!), but one assistant in particular is really chatty and nice.

All that has to be done now is make the rest of the parade of shops look semi-presentable!

[Brightside]

Hi

I was thinking of opening a tiling shop to show the type of work my business can offer. We do Victorian paths and hallways new and restored along with all other tiling services.

I was wondering if Forest Hill road would be a good place for this shop? Would you pop in to have a look at the different patterns and style of tiling we can provide?

Mean while have a look at our website - www.brightsidetiling.co.uk

[trinity]

I would definitely :))

[jimbo1964]

Yes please.. We need some good shops down there.

[Nero]

Thirded for good shops. It's not an awful place, but it just needs a bit of a push and a shove. How about looking at that god-awful 'blue shop' on the corner of the parade and Dunstan's? Or the ex-caff next to the (very good) barber's? Or Bont interiors. The Coop, the barber's, the landeretted with its natty pink and black revamp, the restaurants and the beauty parlour are all great, but it's just a bit crap elsewhere. Nero

[seanmlow]

Nero - I hear you!

It is a few places that let the side down. The betting shop is God awful!

[Peckhamgatecrasher]

Great idea Brightside. Now why am I humming Art Garfunkel?

[jocelyn]

The co-op is cramped and over priced and the fruit and veg look like they have seen better days. But overall this line of shops has potential to smarten up a bit...

[seanmlow]

I agree Joss.

It is such a nice area, opposite the park etc etc, that it is a shame to see it go to ruin!

[jocelyn]

Yes yes neighbour!

[MadWorld74]

their food is not good quality, and the shop is dirty.

The staff are very friendly but that isn't enough when the produce is poor. Best bargain in there at the moment is the ?5.99 oaked verdout.

I think Forest Hill will take off big time. What with the new development/converted church taking place over the way.

I love!!! Si Mangia. Great little eatery.

[Knomester]

Hi Sean

For a small parade of shops I think it's really good - co-op for food, chemist, newsagents, launderette (no washing machine at the moment so it's a godsend!), post office, The Herne (does that count?!). The Co-Op is fine for basics and for very cheap nearly out of date veg (20p swede this weekend!) but it doesn't have the variety I need so we often go further up the road to the Turkish shop which sells everything.

As MadWorld74 said the shops will most likely 'come up' as they say and maybe more eateries with the new development (anyone know what the progress is on that?). The new boys school (if and when it opens) may also have an impact??

So what's Si Mangia like - I've never eaten there and it usually looks fairly empty when I walk past....

[seanmlow]

Si Mangia is great!

It is very reasonably priced and the atmosphere is very nice too.

I wouldn't say it is the best food in the world, but cheap and cheerfull if you ask me!

[MadWorld74]

Service always friendly, and food basic but great!

Very noisey sometimes, but all good Italian restaurants should be! It's the charm.

[Knomester]

Great news - we'll give a whirl then! :)-D

[Siduhe]

I prefer the Turkish corner shop at the top of FHR to the Co-op (great for vegetables, flatbreads and mezze as well as lamb when they have it), but nothing against the Co-op per se. Si Mangia I love, but my better half isn't a big fan of Italian, so don't get to go there as much as I'd like.

Would also like to mention the beauty salon (Beauty Plus) - I've only been once for a manicure, but found it really welcoming and friendly - and I'm someone who usually finds local salons a bit scary in a cosmetic counter/2 inches of make up/5 inch nails kind of way (based admittedly on only one bad experience in Blackheath a couple of years ago). Am going to start trying to use it more in the evenings (they are open late two days a week).

[Knomester]

That's good to know about the beauty place Siduhe - I keep meaning to pop in for a price list. I might try on the way home this evening!

[Pickle]

I use that parade of shops quite often if I can't be bothered with the hustle and bustle of Lordship Lane (or am just feeling too lazy to walk the extra 5 mins!). The Co-Op staff are friendly, and they have the basics that I need if I'm just nipping out, and often some good savings. The NHS chemist has a good stock of baby products and once again a bargain can be found every now and then. Si Mangia is fab, cheap and cheerful food, great atmosphere.

The post office is a godsend, I often use it late afternoon and hardly ever have to queue (here's hoping it doesn't get closed down!).

I've never ventured into Beauty Plus, but might give it a try, especially if they do late nights.

[Siduhe]

There's a website at http://www.beauty-plus.co.uk/about.htm

[MadWorld74]

Used to go to Beauty Plus but found prefer Therapy on Melbourne Grove. More modern and less......tacky.:-S

[PeckhamRose]

The Post office is a treasure and the Post office Manager is the chair of the local Ward Police Panel of which I am a member and also the woman from the DIY shop on the corner.

But there are nearly always queues when I go in the PO and since the PO at Cheltenham Road closed it got worse, and now that the Melbourne Grove one, and possibly the Nunhead one is closing....

Love Beauty Plus too tho I only go in there for manicures for posh occasions.

Co-Op (to return to thread) is great and friendly. Since most food is in packaging the occasional grubby floor is acceptable. They earn rubbish money and are competing with the Tescos down the road.

[Rook]

.

[prdarling]

seanmlow - tell me you are joking about the co-op!!!

It looks like it has been burgled it's such a tip on the inside and don't start me on what an eyesore the outside is

I can't get down the aisles with my pushchair as they are 1)not wide enough and 2) always littered with half empty boxes. They are always out of bread, milk, potatoes etc and the assistants are generally so surly and unhelpful it puts a cloud on my silver lining

I wrote a letter of complaint about them as i was so pissed off, telling them I would never darken their door again..what do you think I got in return? A ?5 Co-op gift voucher. Ha ha ha.

Turn right out of Ryedale (for that is where I think you live) and go up the hill to the little shop next to the Forest Hill Tavern... much wider selection of everything and service with a smile - oh and it's WAY cheaper

[Nero]

Went into the Co-Op last night and was disappointed, again. No fresh pasta, only full-fat milk, no fresh pasta sauces. Told the bloke, whose English is negligible. Got much head shaking and embarrassed laughter. Went to the Turkish shop which was better stocked but with more non-English speaker on the aisles. Anyone with a TEFL and an O level in business studies could be onto something. Nero

[*Bob*]

Ahhh.. the magic of the Co-Op.

Let's take a stroll down there. Push past those empty giant cages permanently obscuring the entrance and you're IN.

MARVEL at the unstocked ice-cream freezer chest.

PERUSE at your leisure the dreadful selection of wine

TRIP over the boxes of good littering the floor waiting to be shelved.

WONDER at why they don't sell garlic.

ASK why they keep instant coffee behind the till, like it's a box of fireworks.

Don't forget to use the cashpoint when you leave.. and then find another one which actually has cash in it.