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.

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...

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.

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... ):

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...

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?