New Shops in East Dulwich and Nearby - 2025 Edition

[teddyboy23]

The relocated St Christopher's hospice shop will be opening Sat 29th March a week earlier than advertised.

 

 

Arapina might be closing there's a hording above the shop stating retail unit to let .it's on hindewoods estate agents website

[satsuma]

1 hour ago, teddyboy23 said:

Arapina might be closing there's a hording above the shop stating retail unit to let .it's on hindewoods estate agents website

Some of the norberts on here would be delighted about that. 

[Dogkennelhillbilly]

13 hours ago, satsuma said:

Some of the norberts on here would be delighted about that. 

Norberts live in Norbury. It's all Dullards around here.

[Sue]

14 hours ago, satsuma said:

Some of the norberts on here would be delighted about that. 

Some of the possible reasons for Arapina's  closure have been discussed on here on other threads.

Edited March 29, 2025 by Sue
Clarification

[scarlettbanks]

Norbert's sounds promising to me: https://www.hot-dinners.com/2025041114100/Gastroblog/Latest-news/norberts-rotisserie-east-dulwich-london?utm_source=newsletter_7777&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=londons-late-night-dining-big-mamma-in-canary-wharf-48-hours-in-dublin-perilla-revisited-best-of-islington-more 

[EcospaceStudios]

This is a very useful thread! thank you for compiling. 

[Moonglum]

A return to the start of this year's thread but walked past Chilli and Garlic Falafel on Zenoria today and it looks as if they are finally open. Anyone been and seen if they are any good? 

[HeatherP]

We tried Chilli and Garlic and found them very friendly and the food was nice. Fresh orange juice, babaganoush and hummus to take away. Had a falafel wrap which was tasty - they also do halloumi and chicken. Hope they do well with the footfall to Gail’s as a little tucked away there. 

[ConzernedResident]

Not sure if anyone’s tried Norbert’s yet but saw they’re charging £30 quid for a takeaway chicken and then saw that it’s the same people behind Eric’s and then the pricing made sense 

[teddyboy23]

Empty unit next to dulwich tandoori.  Argentinian restaurant.

[beansprout]

Wow - you really mean £30.00 for a takeaway chicken? 
Dulwich folk have more money than me! As a matter of interest, what do you get?

 

[nivag]

6 minutes ago, beansprout said:

Wow - you really mean £30.00 for a takeaway chicken? 
Dulwich folk have more money than me! As a matter of interest, what do you get?

 

Looks like you just get a whole chicken for that price.

https://www.norbertslondon.com/

[zork]

Free range chickens &/ organic whole chickens are around £15-20 retail these days… 

Given their credentials in hospitality etc I’d assume Norbert’s has sourced decent quality chicken, wholesale. The fact they aren’t saying anything about that on the menu or website seems strange…  if it were true it would help justify the price.

Chicken & 2 x Chips - would work out £10.50 a head between 4… not bad if it’s decent quality chicken and seasoned well with care & skill

[beansprout]

Dulwich folk well particularly ED folk have more money than certainly me - £4.00 for bread and butter? That is outrageous and I certainly would not pay £30 for an organic chicken - weird one is pate and runner beans combo. Don’t think butcher on Lordship Lane charges that but each to their own - live in Devon now and no way is an organic chicken that price!!

[mrwb]

It's what they need to charge given high rents, staff wages and other costs. I strongly doubt they'll be making much profit even charging £30 for a rotisserie chicken.... in 2025. Rotisserie Jules used to charge £14 ish I think before covid, the sector is in a lot of trouble these days. Lots of places will end up closing as the economics don't work. 

[ConzernedResident]

If all that is true, why is takeaway the same price as eat in? 

[zork]

To be clear, a RAW whole chicken organic / free range chicken is at least £15-20 retail these days.

I think its fair to expect a mark up on not just the raw wholesale produce but also on the cooking of it, and associated hospitality costs, in the location etc. 

 

[teddyboy23]

Argentinian restaurant coming to the old gods gift unit 

[Dogkennelhillbilly]

DVillage, the deli and cafe in Dulwich Village, has permanently closed. 

[ArchieCarlos]

49 minutes ago, Dogkennelhillbilly said:

DVillage, the deli and cafe in Dulwich Village, has permanently closed. 

Oh! That's surprising as they had a sign saying they are closed for an exciting refurb, although it's been in that state for many months now.

Romeo Jones also closing permanently this week. 

Maybe these closures will open up a space for Dulwich Village to finally have a great restaurant (though Romeo Jones' unit seems too small for this kind of use)

Still waiting for the grocer to open in the old Jigsaw shop. Inside it's all been refurbished but still empty since the DE announced it in January

[alice]

You reap what you sow

[Penguin68]

So the wonderfully vibrant pedestrianised and traffic restricted area has now 3,or is it more, closed outlets. This whole redesign has been such a commercial benefit to the area. The cheerleaders must be so proud of the council's contribution to the local economy. 

[BrandNewGuy]

5 minutes ago, ArchieCarlos said:

Oh! That's surprising as they had a sign saying they are closed for an exciting refurb, although it's been in that state for many months now.

Romeo Jones also closing permanently this week. 

Maybe these closures will open up a space for Dulwich Village to finally have a great restaurant (though Romeo Jones' unit seems too small for this kind of use)

Still waiting for the grocer to open in the old Jigsaw shop. Inside it's all been refurbished but still empty since the DE announced it in January

The Romeo Jones owner blames rising costs, but also the impact of the LTNs, which have significantly reduced footfall in the Village. It was a lovely, friendly place – a shame that it's only chains like Gail's that can afford to take rising costs on the chin.

[ArchieCarlos]

Hopefully we will see something like Melbourne Grove, where all the shops that initially closed after the road closures were then replaced with new ones. I think all the units on that street are now finally open for business.

[Dogkennelhillbilly]

I much prefer Romeo Jones to >spit< Gail's, but I'm struggling to blame this on the LTN when nothing outside Romeo Jones has changed, the LTN came in 5 (!!!) years ago, and Gail's has queues out the door most days. It also is directly opposite Rocca (which serves coffee and has seating), next door to Porters (which serves coffee and has seating), a few doors along from Real Greek (which serves coffee and has seating), and diagonally across from Gail's (which serves coffee and sells baked goods and has seating). I'll be sorry to see Romeo Jones go (not least because I have a stack of stamped loyalty cards).

I don't want to criticise small business owners because it's a tough old racket, but DVillage never really seemed to find its niche either as a proper deli (like La Gastronomia or The Sicilian in West Dulwich) or as a coffee shop (which is difficult when you have Megan's and Redemption right next to you, and Au Ciel around the corner).