Death of a Restaurant

[Whoop]

If it has shut I'll be gutted - best Sunday roast in Dulwich in my opinion. I was forced to go to the Clockhouse this Sunday as the Patch was closed (GE/Franklins had run out, Palmerston stopped serving) and it was nowhere near as good. Must admit the service was a bit shoddy on occasions but I've never had any complaint about food.

[edcam]

Whoop Wrote:

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> If it has shut I'll be gutted - best Sunday roast

> in Dulwich in my opinion. I was forced to go to

> the Clockhouse this Sunday as the Patch was closed

> (GE/Franklins had run out, Palmerston stopped

> serving) and it was nowhere near as good. Must

> admit the service was a bit shoddy on occasions

> but I've never had any complaint about food.

The food definitely became rubbish pretty soon after it opened and not even vaguely comparable to The Palmerston or Franklins for a roast. I've never been to the Great Exhibition but can report that we had another roast at The Crooked Well in Camberwell on Sunday and it's hands down the best in the area.

[Otta]

I will never understand the British love affair with the roast. One of my least favourite meals.

[womanofdulwich]

It is what we had as a family every week until we left home. Then when we leave home we have it with our new housemates to try and show we can do it .It is our comfort food. When we go home our parents make it to say "welcome home , we love you". It is in our DNA.

[Louisa]

I miss the days of free roast spuds at the bar on a Sunday. Those were the days.

Louisa.

[Otta]

Those really WERE the days.

[Zebedee Tring]

I may be wrong, but didn't The Patch annoy local residents by having a number of noisy later night extensions and by failing to respond to complaints about this? If this is true, they must have lost a lot of goodwill, which can't have helped the business.

[bob]

ZT

I forgot about that council involved???

Bob S

[MrBen]

Side question: what happens when you feed an already arrogant bar team with lots of cheap builders grade ching? Do they become:

A: More modest, pleasant and focussed on the customer OR

B: Al Pacino at the end of Scarface. Ego driven. Losing focus on the customer and their front of house execution.

[woodland]

I agree with the comments about the space - it needs to be divided up more and made to feel more like the Great Exhibition which although open plan still feels ok if you are in there when it is really quiet. I ate there once - the food was great - but too pricey even by East Dulwich standards.

I hope someone gets hold of the space and makes it work - it would be a shame to see another pub left empty or turned into houses.

[Seabag]

MrBen Wrote:

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> Side question: what happens when you feed an

> already arrogant bar team with lots of cheap

> builders grade ching? Do they become:

>

> A: More modest, pleasant and focussed on the

> customer OR

> B: Al Pacino at the end of Scarface. Ego driven.

> Losing focus on the customer and their front of

> house execution.

Are we talking 'chisel'

Oh dear, it's never a good outcome

So, i'll opt for B

[NewWave]

I passed today on the bus and there was a note taped to the door..couldnt see what it said though, It looked handwritten

[jimbo1964]

Says something like Temporarily closed due to unforeseen circumstances. What it probably should read is 'Permanently closed due to foreseen circumstances'.

[Tsharck]

Hiya

this is bad news for me as I have my 4 year old's party booked there onthe 14th Dec - I am very worried as it is a bit late to find a new venue and I have about 30 children to entertain!!!

[Tsharck]

Does anyone know how to find out from a brewery if they are associated with one if there is any way to find out if they have indeed closed?

[Mick Mac]

They are closed. Im sorry but it's obvious.

[peggoula]

I have a party booked there too...

I have emailed the owner but have got nothing back so far...

If you do please let me know... In the meantime trying to find other venues as my house way too small for 25 rowdy 5 year olds!

[Tsharck]

Hi peggoula

My house is also too small for 25 4 year olds I am trying to book somewhere else - I paid a ?50 deposit did you?

Let me know if you find a venue - when is your party?

Tanya

[Sue]

That is truly terrible if they haven't contacted people who have bookings there to let them know the situation :(

You could try The Ivy House or The Old Nun's Head, both of whom cater for childrens' parties, or the Community Centre in Darrell Road?

[Tsharck]

Thanks so much Sue I have called these places and will probably have to reschedule the party as they have some availability but not all on14th Dec

[Otta]

St Clements church hall is available for.kids parties.

[Otta]

And the fact that this place hasn't thought to inform people with bookings that they're closed is a perfect example of the public relations that have led them to closure.

[peggoula]

Party is not till the 8th of February, was trying to be organised and book it before Christmas.

Have booked entertainer for it and paid deposit there but no deposit at the Patch... Wonder if it was because deep down he knew it was closing down?

Either way it is all annoying I have tried several places like the Ivy and the community centre but they either don't book Sunday or they are booked already.

All extremely annoying.

[Sue]

jimbo1964 Wrote:

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> Says something like Temporarily closed due to

> unforeseen circumstances. What it probably should

> read is 'Permanently closed due to foreseen

> circumstances'.

Does anybody actually know what the situation is? Could it be due to illness or worse which would explain the lack of response to emails?

[maxxi]

I've only been in Patch twice - once in January (wasn't keen on it as a pub) and once a couple of weeks ago. Went with a friend - Friday night - went there as the other pubs/bars on the lane were rammed.

2 pints of Doombar (?4/pt but the only cask ale available) which were flat, sour, stale and unedifying. The place was nearly empty (under a dozen in whole gaff including restaurant) and had the air of a sunken ship. Left (without finishing beers) to go to Great Exhibition - another pub I didn't like before - which was busy and vibrant and confounded my earlier feelings about the place - and had a fine night on Lanes bitter (?3/pt).

To those who say location is all this is a bit of a poser, no? Swap the two around and the GE would STILL be busy and vibrant and buzzing - and the Patch would still be f*cked.