Melange Chocolate shop is 3! and Chocolate week...

On Saturday 15th October, Melange chocolate shop on Bellenden Road will be 3! Hurray! This lovely anniversary coincides with Chocolate Week, so they will be celebrating at Melange from 12-2pm on 15th October with "Chocolate, Music & food from Cocoa growing African countries".

There is also a chocolate and wine evening on 13th Oct - which I have heard v good things about - info on that also on the Melange website.

5th Annual Bellenden Bun Fight - 9th Oct

I've just noticed that the 5th Annual Bellenden Bun Fight will be happening this Sunday, 9th October outside ~Review Bookshop (Corner of Bellenden/ Choumert Rd) . - Info:


Bellenden Bun Fight

This year's Classic Cake Competition will be The Best Carrot Cake and as always there will be a special prize for Best In Show. All winners and runners up will be awarded a prize.

Please drop off entries between 10am - 12pm.

Winners to be announced at 3.00pm followed by the cake sale (of any entries that have been donated to the event)

Entry forms and further info are available from Review.
£1 per entry is payable on the day. All proceeds raised will be donated to charity. Please contact us with nominations for this year's funds.


Exciting!  I would enter - but sadly can't this weekend, will try to check it out tho.

SE Forum gets Peckham area

The SE London forum www.southeastcentral.co.uk now has a Peckham area - so get on there and get talking!

Works on a shop on Bellenden

I've spotted building work going on in the shop next to Apollo Photocopiers - am wondering if this may be a new business?  Watch this space...

missing cats etc

Yesterday we saw one of the kittens on a missing cat poster (Marvin) ... But all of the posters have vanished.. so either the cat was no longer missing - but back home and just happened to be out without a collar? Or the posters have been ripped down? Anyway - I am hoping the former. But it did make me think about how many missing cat posters there are on and around Bellenden Rd. Have pointlessly mused on why this might be and come up with some options:

1) Loads and loads of cats - so some will always go missing, but it just seems like a lot

2) They are all choosing to live in the feral cat colony up in the choumert rd car park (gangs for cats)

3) There is a cat rustler (making cat pie  or a cat fur coat? Or just selling them on)

4) They are being 'got' by something like a fox (unlikely)

Anyway... am going to keep musing this...

Carve in the Community: 20th-28th Aug

If you fancy trying some stone carving, you can head down to Peckham Square (just by Peckham Pulse) for 'Carve in the Community' (d'you see what they did there... ) which is happening 20th - 28th Aug from 11-1pm then 2-5pm each day.  more here:

Choumert Rd Graffiti Art

The corner of Bellenden Rd and Choumert Rd is now sporting an exciting new summer look - in the form of some stencil graffiti art - look:

Turns out it is actually the cover of an album by Jehst - which is called The dragon of an Ordinary Family.

Anyway - I like it!

Summer Art clubs at Peckham Space (2-27 Aug)

I noticed that Peckham Space (on Peckham High Street - close to the end of Bellenden Road) is holding free summer art clubs.  Which sound nice - apparently there is no booking needed,  you just turn up. I am guessing it's aimed at kids for the school holidays, but it doesn't actually say... Anyway - you can go and design an SE15 postcard and then they will display it. Quite cool.  It's open Tuesday - Friday 11am-5pm or on Saturday 11am - 4pm and runs throughout August (2nd - 27th).

Elephant and the Nun Festival 5th-14th Aug

I saw something about a festival called the Elephant and the Nun - but internet searches don't actually tell you very much - this is what I found:

Start date: August 14

Start time: 12:00 pm

End time: 06:00 pm

Description: 

The Elephant and the Nun is a new festival in the centre of Southwark from August 5 to 14 which will bring alive the areas from Elephant and Castle to Nunhead with a feast of creative indoor events and activities over 8 days, ending with a large outdoor festival on Sunday 14th August in:

• Camberwell Green
  Lucas Gardens
  Brunswick Park
  Peckham Space

Between these four spaces there will also be a programme of street performers, walks, cycle rides and activities linking the festival together.

Which all sounds nice - but would like to know more!

LoCo - London Comedy Film Festival in Peckham!

So this evening (Friday 29th July 2011) it's the kick off for Peckham screenings as part of the LoCo film festival, I took the following from their website:

"LoCo is proud to announce that we are curating a season of films to be shown at The Monpelier's Back Room Cinema in South London. The season starts on Friday 29th July and continues monthly.

First to be shown is Wes Anderson's 1998 classic 'Rushmore', space is limited to 30 seats and the screening is free!"

The event has a facebook page here

More detail about the festival:

"The LoCo London Comedy Film Festival is a major new film festival in the heart of London, launching officially January 26th-29th 2012.

LoCo’s mission is to bring fans and film-makers closer together to discover and inspire the world’s best comedy films.

Through screenings, education, outreach, curatorship and funding, we are bringing the best films to the broadest audience, and kick-starting a new generation of British comedy film talent."

The festival has a website here.

I haven't written about the Back Room Cinema yet - mainly because I haven't tried it, but I do think it's a lovely idea and I am fond of the Montpellier, so I hope it all goes well tonight.

Threads - Vintage Clothing Shop

I popped in to look around yesterday as it seemed to be shut on Monday and Tuesday, having heard positive and negative views about it.

They have done the shop up very nicely- it's very nicely laid out and designed.  The clothes... well they were ok.. I have to confess I didn't spend very long in there, but I looked at the children's things and although some of the things are nice, there isn't much choice. I also looked at the women's dresses and again, just not much stuff..  but then again it's starting out and I guess they need to start selling things. I very much like the idea of having a vintage clothes shop on the road though... and it does give Bellenden Rd a bit more 'browsability' if you find yourself with time to kill...

Bike Shop Opens

So this week the new bike shop Paul's Custom Cycles opened on Bellenden Road and so far it looks like its been fairly busy... well, I've seen people in there most times I've walked by, and I do walk down Bellenden Road a lot of times during the day.

It seems to be open Mondays- Fridays 8.30am - 6.30pm and also open at weekends (will check times and edit to add) and says it does same day servicing, with no booking needed - which is good. I may test it out soon as we do have one bike that needs a service, but if anyone has tried it - let me know how it is!

Edited to add - I popped in this morning and Paul was very nice! They have some v pretty children's helmets in there, so I bought the small one a crazy penguin creation.

A truly Lovely House - Dim Sum

Am just back from testing out the new Chinese Dim Sum restaurant 'Lovely House' on Bellenden Road and it really lives up to its name! It's just been redecorated and opened last Monday.

The lunch menu is quite short, which I always think is a good sign, and is mainly Dim Sum. It was really good food, tasted really fresh and looked amazing (especially the Char Sui Bun) - they bring all kinds of dips and vinegars and it's really nicely presented. The restaurant is quite simple and not flashy, but perfect for lunch! The added bonus is that the owners are lovely too - and my baby took to the owner so much, she almost didn't want to leave. They amused her while we ate and brought her something to play with, and free ice-cream.

@jessevershed said on Twitter that there is no MSG in the food (except the sweet and sour)

Go now - there is a 10% discount on at the mo!  Although it's very reasonable anyway. Another excellent addition to the road.

New shops opening 23rd July (or not!)

There were supposed to be two new shops opening today on Bellenden Road, but it now looks like it is just the one - Threads, a vintage clothing shop - next door to Melange Chocolate shop. I've peered through the window and it does look interesting - but wasn't open when I went by - will report back later!

The bike shop was also due to open today, but the sign in the window has now been changed to just say 'opens in July' and it clearly isn't ready to open today... so watch this space on that one!

Edited to add - I found a website online for the new Bike Shop - Paul's Custom Cycles

Street Market on Bellenden Road?

So I asked for any Bellenden Road related questions anyone wanted answering, in the hope that I can dig up answers - and this is the first:


@sathlondonshona writes, via twitter:
@BellendenBlog hello, is there any movement on the idea of a saturday market? I heard that from a shop keeper on the street.

I am starting to ask around, and nothing so far, but if anyone knows - let me know! It would be great if there was.

BBx

Edited to add - @carlosfandango_ says:
there used to be a small farmers Market outside the artspace shop (next to the fireplace shop) and also outside Petitiou.
I think a regular wknd farmer's Market would go down a storm. Maybe in one of the playgrounds or the Choumert Rd carpark?

Where can I find wifi?

So I walked past Lovely House today, which is the new Dim Sum place on Bellenden and noticed a sign saying it has wi-fi. Which is excellent!

So, I thought a list would be good:

Lovely house - dim sum restaurant
Anderson & co - cafe / deli

Places to drink

I thought I'd compile a small list of local pubs and bars, in case people are looking for places to go for a drink on or around Bellenden Road.

Victoria Inn
79 Choumert Rd (Corner of Bellenden Rd)
Open about a year so far, part of a local chain of pubs.  Good selection of drink, food, beer etc. - Allows dogs and has a children's playroom. Also has highchairs and baby changing. Has rooms above that people can stay in.

It used to be a pub called the Wishing Well when I first moved here - which was a standard (quite rubbish) british pub.

The Montpellier
43 Choumert Rd (just along from the Victoria)
Does food, wine, beer etc. Dogs allowed, and children.  Independent pub. According to their website:

"As well as providing good food & drink 7 days a week The Montpelier serves as a creative platform for the creative arts in Peckham, with exhibitions on a regular rotation and evenings of music and performance."

Also has a back room cinema, which seats 30 and has regular screenings - you can follow the back room cinema on twitter to find out what is on.

Again - this is a pub that has changed hands a few time since I moved here, and has been hugely improved.

Prince Albert
111, Bellenden Road
I don't know much about this one, I don't think they do food, it's just a place to drink - has a pool table and a small outside area.

Bar Story
213 Blenheim Grove
This is basically right on the way to Peckham Rye station, under the arches. It's a bar with an outside bit at the front. It looks quite cool, and is quite nice for a drink, although I'm clearly too old... I have had food there once, ages ago - wouldn't recommend it for food, but maybe it's improved? Think they do allow dogs in here.

Hoopers
Ivanhoe Road
Really large selection of beer! I like it actually - but they don't do food. They do have a quiz tho.

The Gowlett
Amott/ Gowlett Roads
Does really nice pizza, which you can takeaway or have there. Allows dogs and children.

That's it for now - any further suggestions for things to add?

Dog shock

I met a woman in Warwick Gardens today who told me that she won't let her dog off the lead there any more because a dog died recently, running through the fence  onto the train line.  

She says that the dog, apparently aged 6, chased a fox and somehow got through the fence onto the train tracks, was electrocuted and died.  She thinks there is a hole either under the fence, or in it somewhere.

Anyway.. I haven't seen a hole. And I will still be letting my dog off... but still v. sad.

School Sumer Fair - Sat 16th July

Oh it's all going on this weekend...  I also noticed a flyer for the Bellenden Primary School's Summer Fayre, also on Saturday 16th July. It's on from 11am- 2pm and includes stalls, games, cakes, bouncy castle, plants, face painting etc etc.  Once again a dreadful picture taken of the flyer, but I didn't want to take the flyer as it was the last one left, so picture taken whilst handling a latte and a pram (multi-tasking):

Pop up shop - Sat 16th July

Just saw a flyer for a pop-up shop outside Fenton Walsh on Saturday 16th July from 10am-5pm. Sounds quite cool, it's called Modern Maker and will be selling handmade items including cushions, knitting needle/paint brush rolls, yoga mat bags and girls skirts.  There is more information on the modern maker blog. or there is a, quite frankly, rubbish photo of the flyer that I took (note artistic crumpling... ):

Breakfasts on Bellenden Road

I've been thinking about breakfast today. Mainly because I like thinking about food - but also because I went for breakfast at Luca's on Lordship Lane this morning and it was totally disappointing. So I was thinking about the options Bellenden Road (and surrounding area) has for breakfast - and there are actually a few, and all of them good - depending what you want:

Crossroads Cafe - for your standard fry up etc.
Petitou - the BEST scrambled eggs on toast ever
Anderson & Co - have tried the yogurt/ granola thing which was excellent

Weekends have a few more brunch options - including the Montpellier and the Victoria Inn - think you can also get a croissant at Melange.

My personal breakfast obsession is eggs benedict - and you can definitely get that at the Victoria Inn and there is the added bonus that the dog can come in with us when we go there (Actually the dog can go in the Montpellier too).

Of course the final option is grab something from Payless (or the Caribbean bakery or somewhere) and eat it in the street... less appealing.

New play equipment for Warwick Gardens

As I was walking my dog in Warwick Gardens the other day, I ran into a fellow dog walker, who is also one of the Friends of Warwick Gardens. They told me about the plans for some exciting new play equipment to be installed in Warwick Gardens - which sounds great to me, but the plans appear to be causing some people to object.

From what i've heard - objections are coming from people whose houses border onto Warwick Gardens. I can't personally see what the problem is (maybe an objector can explain it to me?!). If noise is their objection - I can't really see how the noise of a few more children playing is going to be that bad.

Personally I think its a lovely sound anyway, and it would mean that bit of the gardens gets a bit more use. Maybe noise isn't their objection... who knows, but it would be a shame if these plans we stopped without more local people getting to say what they think.

So, if you can, go to this meeting:

PUBLIC MEETING!

The Friends of Warwick Gardens have obtained funding to improve play facilities for young people in our local park.

We would like to add some fun climbing netting, a small cantilevered swing and a table tennis table.

We now need YOUR help to make our plans a reality!

We love our local park and want to make sensitive improvements which the whole community can enjoy!

There will be a Public Meeting to approve the plans on WEDNESDAY 27^th JULY

Where; The Villa Nursery School (corner Azenby Road and Lyndhurst Grove)

When; 7pm

PLEASE COME ALONG TO VIEW THE PLANS AND GIVE US YOUR SUPPORT

SEE THE PHOTOGRAPHS AND CONTACT US FOR MORE INFORMATION ON OUR FACEBOOK PAGE “WARWICK GARDEN”

here are some pictures of what the play equipment will look like:

If you can't go - then you can sign a petition, you can contact me if you want to sign it electronically.

Bellenden's Best...

I thought it might be nice to compile a little list of Bellenden Road's bests, although I may widen the area a bit! So, continuing my general adoration of Anderson and co. I'm going to nominate them for Best Coffee and Best Cake.

Best pint? Hmmm not sure, I do like the Victoria, but also the Montpellier... May defer this one to someone more expert. votes please. And I do realise there is also the Albert, but no idea what that is like. In fact, Hoopers on Ivanhoe Road could win this one.

Best shop, I think goes to Review. It's my 'always turn to' gift option. And has cards, and wrapping paper.

Best supper/ dinner.. Tricky. I had an amazing meal at Anderson's at their Wednesday night 'supper in the kitchen'. But if I go with them, this blog will be more like the Anderson appreciation society! Anyway, I can't ignore Ganapati, which is also lovely. Perhaps they should take this particular award?

Edited to add:

So the votes are coming in:

LucyMarianne says:
the dressmaker - "otherwise" - beautiful quality, great service, reasonable. Can't recommend them highly enough. 

Mem in Friends of Fabric - so kind and helpful, things very nicely finished

Chaz's - does women's hair too. Very good cutters, lovely colour, astonishingly reasonable. Really fun and friendly. I get lots of compliments about my hair, and can't imagine paying central London prices ever again...

Outdoor Playgroup in Warwick Gardens

I saw this sign today, in the rain drenched park:

Looks really nice - an outdoor playgroup! Sadly I appear to have just missed the most recent one...  but am planning on checking it out next month.

Somewhere that's green...

I have the Little Shop of Horrors in my head....  Anyway - I thought it might be good to talk about green places on and around Bellenden Road.

As as dog walker, I have visited most green places in the vicinity and actually we're really lucky around here.  We have big parks like Peckham Rye close by, but even closer there is Warwick Gardens and a couple of small green places too.

Warwick Gardens
This is a nice green place which has a fenced off dog free area, a children's playground and an open green part with a path running straight through it. Its often used as a cut through, so there is quite a lot of through traffic - such as people heading down to Peckham Rye Station and school children on their way to school. Dog walkers also use the park - but mostly that is early morning or early evening as it's quite good for a quick scamper. The fenced off part has a small football pitch and at the top there is a seating area. It can be found on Lyndhurst Way (one road back from Bellenden) just at the junction with Holly Grove.

There are currently plans for some more play equipment to be installed int he fenced off area of the gardens - more on that to come...

In September it hosts the Warwick Wingding - which is a local festival, with music, food, stalls etc.

Holly Grove Shrubbery
This is a small green place which starts at the junction of Holly Grove and Bellenden Road and runs along Holly Grove almost up to Rye Lane. It's not very exciting, just a footpath with trees either side - but it's always nice to have a bit more greenery..

There is another little green place but I can't remember the name of it - so you'll have to wait until I have checked!

What we need on Bellenden Road - a wish list

The shops on Bellenden Road are actually really pretty great now, but I am greedy for more.  I guess it's human nature, but now we have better local businesses, I find myself wondering "If only we had a xxx" THEN I'd be happy...

Anyway - this is my wish list so far:

1) a Butchers
2) a green grocer
3) a proper wine shop


and if I was pushing it... a shop with nice gifty type things in it (Although not actually a gift shop itself, as that would probably be full of tat...) Like a non-chain version of Oliver Bonas..

Bellenden Blog is on Twitter

There is now a twitter account for this blog - check it out here.

Here be Angels - podcast

Have a listen to episode one of this excellent podcast Here be Angels featuring our local area.

You can follow Here be Angels on twitter for updates.

more to come on this...

Shops, restaurants etc

Right now the local businesses on Bellenden Road are really good, so I thought I'd start by listing them. I'll update with more info, reviews opening times etc as I get it:

So, starting from where Holly Grove intersects Bellenden Road and moving down towards Maxted Road (roughly - they aren't all in order...)

Ganapati - South Indian Restaurant
Bellenden Signs Limited
South London Clutch and Gear Centre
Old Villa - home furnishings, gifts
Prince Albert - Pub
Fenton Walsh - Clothes
Lovely House - Chinese food
Bike shop - opens 23rd July apparently
Newsagent
Codfella's - fish and chip shop
ABC Pharmacist
GJM property - Estate Agent
Review Bookshop
168SLA - Pizza restaurant (also does Take away)
The Victoria Inn - Pub - also does food and has rooms you can stay in.
Caribbean Spice Bakery
Laundromat
Anderson & Co. - Cafe, Deli, which also does some evenings for supper/ guest chefs
Otherwise - Fashion Boutique/ Designer - does made to measure stuff
Pay Less Food Hall - grocery shop/ off licence
New Lotus King - Chinese Takeaway
Bellenden Food and Wine - off licence (used to be Cave of Spirits)
Apollo Photocopying
In car media - does car stereos and stuff
Melange - chocolate shop and cafe
Threads - Vintage Clothing
Chaz - Hairdressers
Kushy Move - Estate Agent
Crossroads Cafe - greasy spoon
Friends of Fabric - Amazing dry cleaners
Literary Kitchen
Dog About Town - Dog Groomers
Casa - Fireplaces, Radiators etc
Roweco - Bathroom shop
Sam's Kebabs
Shopwork - Design Studio/ Gallery
Toutes Directions - Local Designers plus a barber (was Desmonds)

Shops very nearby:

Choumert Road
The Montpellier - Pub, which does food
Petitou - Cafe

Maxted Road / Oglander Road
Imani Natural - Hair and Beauty
Carol Henri - Soft Furnishings
Quick Print - printers
Flavaz First - Jamaican/ West Indian food

Blenheim Grove
Bar Story - bar
The Sassoon Gallery - art gallery
Blenheim Motors - Garage, does MOTs, services etc. - I like them
Yannis Motors
NEM motors
Il Giardino - Italian restaurant

Amott / Gowlett Road
The Gowlett - Pub

Ivanhoe Road
Hoopers Bar - Pub

I need help with this - section - please let me know of anything i've missed or need to add?

Bellenden Road

Bellenden Road is a road, with some shops on it.

It is in Peckham - South East London - England.

I like it.

I like it a lot.

Basically, there are lots of good things that happen around here - and hopefully, I can bring information on all of that, into this one place.

Here is some information on the Bellenden Regeneration.

Day 1 - Let the blogging begin

So I've started a blog. Its not an original idea - but i'm quite pleased with having had the idea to do one myself.

My original thoughts are that this will be a news, information and reviewing resource for the Bellenden Road area in SE15 - ie. Peckham, South London. I guess my ideas may evolve and it may end up being something totally differnt - or I may just lose the will to blog and it will sit online, never viewed in a kind of virtual rubbish bin, waiting to be emptied... Let's see.

Right - better get going with this thing then.

BB x