Don't Gentrify Sydenham!

[Guest]

I have lived in the Sydenham area for the past 20 years, originally living in the old Nat West halls of residence on Lawrie Park Road. To be honest, I dont think it has really changed a great deal over the period. Whilst people bemoan the fact that other areas (East Dulwich for example) have become more 'gentrified', I think I prefer Sydenham the way it is. It has a great cross section of people living here, and is still relatively affordable, whereas the likes of East Dulwich have become so expensive, the property prices have priced 'real' people out of the area. If people want to spend 350k on a terraced house, then let them live in East Dulwich. To me, both Sydenham and Forest Hill are two of Londons gems. Sydenham could do with a decent pub though. Why The Greyhound was ever allowed to be so badly messed up, astonishes me. It used to have an amazing bar, which split the 'vault' and the 'lounge'. Now it is just another characterless pub, and as for its exte! rior colour, Arena Pubs must be run by some pretty tasteless (and colourblind) characters.

I used to spend ages checking out Kirks Cameras, and was sad to see it go. Luckily we still have the book shop, and there are a couple of interesting shops further down the high street, one of them a middle eastern shop, amongst the more run-of-the-mill stuff.

We have some superb parks - Sydenham Wells is a great place to spend a peaceful afternoon; it's only the transmitting tower which reminds you where you are. Crystal Palace Park is also excellent, if only I could figure out what Bromley Council have spent all the money on (apart from putting some strange paths in, which appear to wash away with the rain).

Great web site, I will return to waffle on at some later point.

SF

[Guest]

How about a nice pub/bar serving food for the late twenty's and over 30's ? I feel Crystal Palace is taking all of the potentail customers and money. CP is moving in a much better direction than Sydenham. If I want a bite to eat I head up the road .... and I don't want that !!

Daniel L

[Dick Eagle]

I seem to remember some reasonable Pubs but can't remember names, oh of course ! I remember Thr "King Alfred "in Bellingham. which is now "The Saxon King".I'm surprised one of your politicaly motivated glory hunters didn't call it the Mandella Arms ! oh well Dickie...............