Apparently someone wanted to open up a Costa Coffee type coffee shop in the high street, but the council refused permission because, “there were too many cafes in the area”.
This decision beggars belief, are the council vindictive or just stupid? How can you compare the Chefs Delight and a trendy coffee shop?
New Coffee Shop for Sydenham?
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annabel mclaren
- Posts: 115
- Joined: 1 Oct 2004 19:55
- Location: thorpes
new coffee shop for sydenham
Hi Kster
Do you have any details of the application? I look at all planning applications at the town hall on behalf of the Sydenham Society and I don't remember seeing an application for a coffee shop - I think it's something we desperately need! In answer to Back-ache - the shop you are thinking of is Zuckers - it's opp LA Fitness, at Cobbs Corner - it's brilliant, but rather small and tucked away... something similar lower down the high st would be a real winner, I think.
Annabel
Do you have any details of the application? I look at all planning applications at the town hall on behalf of the Sydenham Society and I don't remember seeing an application for a coffee shop - I think it's something we desperately need! In answer to Back-ache - the shop you are thinking of is Zuckers - it's opp LA Fitness, at Cobbs Corner - it's brilliant, but rather small and tucked away... something similar lower down the high st would be a real winner, I think.
Annabel
New Coffee Shop for Sydenham
I agree wholeheartedly that what Sydenham needs is a rather upmarket trendy coffee shop. Costa, Cafe Nero or whatever.
I love Chef's Delight and all the memories it holds for me and my children when we were all a little younger but times move on - Chef's will always have a loyal and steady clientelle. However Sydenham desperately needs an injection of style and trendiness. And the very place for it would be the old Pine Shop practically opposite the Greyhound. It would be a real money spinner. If I had the time and the cash I would be thinking of doing something like that.
If it is true that planning permission has been refused for this I would be really astounded. How many betting shops has this town got??? What is that telling us about how Sydenham and its residents are viewed?
I love Chef's Delight and all the memories it holds for me and my children when we were all a little younger but times move on - Chef's will always have a loyal and steady clientelle. However Sydenham desperately needs an injection of style and trendiness. And the very place for it would be the old Pine Shop practically opposite the Greyhound. It would be a real money spinner. If I had the time and the cash I would be thinking of doing something like that.
If it is true that planning permission has been refused for this I would be really astounded. How many betting shops has this town got??? What is that telling us about how Sydenham and its residents are viewed?
I am all for a new coffee shop. We have too many blooming pound shops and nail bars. As for Chefs Delight - top place!!!
What about down the bottom of Sydenham - where the old Post Office used to be? It is so grotty and awful looking. We desperately need something - anything, down there. Are there any plans for these empty shops?
What about down the bottom of Sydenham - where the old Post Office used to be? It is so grotty and awful looking. We desperately need something - anything, down there. Are there any plans for these empty shops?
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still_robbo
- Posts: 46
- Joined: 24 Oct 2004 22:13
- Location: Newlands Park
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still_robbo
- Posts: 46
- Joined: 24 Oct 2004 22:13
- Location: Newlands Park
Great. Just supplant Anonymous High St, Anywhere, UK for Sydenham's shabby, but loveable mish-mash.
This is off-topic but how about something for the community proper instead?
Somewhere for young pre-pub age people to hang out for example, rather than the Alpha Course place with its dubious doctrines?
This is off-topic but how about something for the community proper instead?
Somewhere for young pre-pub age people to hang out for example, rather than the Alpha Course place with its dubious doctrines?
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annabel mclaren
- Posts: 115
- Joined: 1 Oct 2004 19:55
- Location: thorpes
A coffee shop would be great in Lower Sydenham - and an independently-run one even better! A bit of background here - the Sydenham Society is currently campaigning for the huge site at Bell Green to be re-designated, so that an anonymous retail park is not built and, instead, the land developed for housing and business. This will all be hammered out at a public inquiry taking place at the town hall in the middle of June. If the distinctly 'old-fashioned' (as one councillor described it at last July's planning meeting) current planning application is defeated then housing will be developed and business units created - all bringing more people into the area who will want shops, coffee bars, restaurants etc. The small terrace of shops at Bell Green never recovered from the building of the (then) Savacentre, and their decline will accelerate if the retail park goes ahead. The Sydenham Society believes that the best way to reverse this process is to go for the kind of mixed-use development outlined above - if you want more details, look at our Statement of Case at www.sydenhamsociety.com
coffee shop
I can't agree more with all those who think that a coffee shop in Sydenham would benefit the profile of the area. Perhaps a 'chain' type is not the answer but a nice independent type would do the trick. I cannot understand how Sydenham is missing out. You only have to go to surrounding areas to see the changes these business make. I myself am a frequent visitor to East Dulwich as I love the bars/cafes and restaurants. The shopping is excelent too having a host of small boutique type shops for clothing and furniture. Driving through Brockley over the weekend also looks as tho it is on the up.. a couple o nice coffee shops/bars. It was a lovely day and was great to see people sitting on the pavements outside the cafes..
So ..... what is the problem with Sydenham?. We have some fantastic housing/parks/schools and a lot of the people look great too! I swear it would only take one establishment to get it all going .. look at Forrest Hill ...The Dartmouth Arms is a great pub now.. and all it really took to make it a Gastro Pub was to remove the beer stained carpet !!
So ..... what is the problem with Sydenham?. We have some fantastic housing/parks/schools and a lot of the people look great too! I swear it would only take one establishment to get it all going .. look at Forrest Hill ...The Dartmouth Arms is a great pub now.. and all it really took to make it a Gastro Pub was to remove the beer stained carpet !!
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Chris Best
- Posts: 439
- Joined: 6 May 2005 11:37
- Location: Sydenham
7pm Thursday 8 June - next SCRP meeting
Please come along to the next Sydenham Community Regeneration Partnership meeting on Thursday 8 June at the Naborhood Centre - next to the Post Office - in Sydenham Road and discuss your ideas with the Town Centre Manager Julie Sutch. Meeting starts at 7pm and this will be the first item on the agenda.
We will also discuss community safety with the Sydenham Safer Neighbourhoods Team and pick up on any issues that you feel should be tackled to improve our area.
Chris
We will also discuss community safety with the Sydenham Safer Neighbourhoods Team and pick up on any issues that you feel should be tackled to improve our area.
Chris
Have leaflets been distributed around Sydenham advertising this meeting or have notices been posted on lamp-posts (as with warnings of yellow lines) in order that people not having access to the internet or its obscure corners are aware of the forthcoming meeting?
Don't tell me it was advertised in a newspaper that does not circulate in the area!
Don't tell me it was advertised in a newspaper that does not circulate in the area!
Planning Permission
Hiya does any one know what number 51 Lawrie Park Avenue is going to be?
It has been extended into a very large residence how do i find out if it has planning permission?
Any help would be appreciated
Annie
Yes to coffee shop!
I'd highly approve of a cafe/coffee shop in Sydenham, that's a great idea! There is nowhere on the street to pop in and socialise, unless you count the Wimpy or bumping into someone in the aisle in Sainsburys. Why can Lordship Lane have one and not us?
It doesn't even have to be a high street coffee shop - I recall a coffee place in Birmingham that was open and spacious, very cheap and even had a place where you could read a book or a magazine in private. It even managed to hae a small garden in a reconstructed conservatory type thing at the back! It was known as the meeting place for the locals who went there regularly, and I think something like that would be great for Sydenham. A place where everyone in this forum could meet up and have a chinwag!
It doesn't even have to be a high street coffee shop - I recall a coffee place in Birmingham that was open and spacious, very cheap and even had a place where you could read a book or a magazine in private. It even managed to hae a small garden in a reconstructed conservatory type thing at the back! It was known as the meeting place for the locals who went there regularly, and I think something like that would be great for Sydenham. A place where everyone in this forum could meet up and have a chinwag!
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Murfmullet
- Posts: 5
- Joined: 23 Jun 2006 15:38
- Location: Sydenham
A coffee shop may drag Sydenham up a little bit, but do people think there would be a market for it? I'm not too sure.
I went to the Dartmouth Arms in Forest Hill last year on a Sunday at just gone noon, had a coffee shop atmosphere, relaxed, all the papers etc.. so anyone who's into that could try they're on a Sunday.
I went to the Dartmouth Arms in Forest Hill last year on a Sunday at just gone noon, had a coffee shop atmosphere, relaxed, all the papers etc.. so anyone who's into that could try they're on a Sunday.
Sydenham just doesn't seem to be able to turn the corner.
There's clearly a demand for a coffee shop, but it's not self-evident when you walk down the high street. Some might argue that Sydenham is as Sydenham is - ie that the high street has evolved the shops and services required by it's residents. This idea of organic growth is persuasive, but actually I think it belies the fact that the development of the High Street is now out of step with the changing residential make-up of the area. More 'young professionals' are moving in to this area, but the high street has yet to reflect their needs. In fact, you could go further - I'd suggest that their is a requirement (not my own) for a 'proper' fast food restaurant such as McDonalds, Burger King or KFC. They've always been conspicuous by their absence in an area with a lot of low-income households. So perhaps Sydenham is generally a development blind spot, regardless of whether it's coffee houses or fast food joints.
If I were a scout for Cafe Nero I'd see Sydenham as a bit of a risk. I think it'll take an enlightened developer to see through the shabbiness and conjure up a vision. But - to borrow from a recent international best seller - it only takes one developer to tip the situation, and I think others will follow.
In the meantime, it's heartening to read the current thread going on in the cafe forum - "what would you like to see on your high street" - as it's clear that many residents have really exciting ideas. If only they could sell that vision to a developer... Maybe we'll have to wait for the East London Line.
As for me - Cafe Nero gets my vote. Lovely mochas.
There's clearly a demand for a coffee shop, but it's not self-evident when you walk down the high street. Some might argue that Sydenham is as Sydenham is - ie that the high street has evolved the shops and services required by it's residents. This idea of organic growth is persuasive, but actually I think it belies the fact that the development of the High Street is now out of step with the changing residential make-up of the area. More 'young professionals' are moving in to this area, but the high street has yet to reflect their needs. In fact, you could go further - I'd suggest that their is a requirement (not my own) for a 'proper' fast food restaurant such as McDonalds, Burger King or KFC. They've always been conspicuous by their absence in an area with a lot of low-income households. So perhaps Sydenham is generally a development blind spot, regardless of whether it's coffee houses or fast food joints.
If I were a scout for Cafe Nero I'd see Sydenham as a bit of a risk. I think it'll take an enlightened developer to see through the shabbiness and conjure up a vision. But - to borrow from a recent international best seller - it only takes one developer to tip the situation, and I think others will follow.
In the meantime, it's heartening to read the current thread going on in the cafe forum - "what would you like to see on your high street" - as it's clear that many residents have really exciting ideas. If only they could sell that vision to a developer... Maybe we'll have to wait for the East London Line.
As for me - Cafe Nero gets my vote. Lovely mochas.
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Greg Whitehead
- Posts: 474
- Joined: 11 Apr 2005 15:44
- Location: SE26 5RL
So. If I am to read correctly soulfood, until KFC/McDonalds/other chav fast-food establishment (of course, not to reflect your own personal taste, you understand...) opens up in Sydenham then we can just shelve any plans for a gastropub or Pizza Express or the like?
And as for Murfmullet I bet every establishment hankers after your customer loyalty! If you're recommending a gastropub you visited once at least six months earlier but never returned then Heaven forbid you would ever not like somewhere.
Mind, could you do my lottery numbers this week? Your post, whilst pathetic, is almost prophetic in the sense of the DA buying the Dolphin to turn it into a 'coffee shop' as you saw it. Not that I lower myself to playing the Lottery you understand, eh soulfood?
Can we please have more of pro-active members such as these two fine examples joining the forum? Such considered and positive opinions. I wonder if they're friends of ChrisF? I bet they cannot believe the DVD shop has moved it's stock away from videos and that the slamdoor trains have been done away with - how dare Sydenham try to progress and move upmarket in order to attract more AB1's such as myself to move into the area. I agree soulfood and Murfmullet there simply aren't enough chicken shops, pound shops or pawn-shops - sit down ChrisF I didn't write 'porn'.
And as for Murfmullet I bet every establishment hankers after your customer loyalty! If you're recommending a gastropub you visited once at least six months earlier but never returned then Heaven forbid you would ever not like somewhere.
Mind, could you do my lottery numbers this week? Your post, whilst pathetic, is almost prophetic in the sense of the DA buying the Dolphin to turn it into a 'coffee shop' as you saw it. Not that I lower myself to playing the Lottery you understand, eh soulfood?
Can we please have more of pro-active members such as these two fine examples joining the forum? Such considered and positive opinions. I wonder if they're friends of ChrisF? I bet they cannot believe the DVD shop has moved it's stock away from videos and that the slamdoor trains have been done away with - how dare Sydenham try to progress and move upmarket in order to attract more AB1's such as myself to move into the area. I agree soulfood and Murfmullet there simply aren't enough chicken shops, pound shops or pawn-shops - sit down ChrisF I didn't write 'porn'.
Last edited by Greg Whitehead on 27 Sep 2006 14:52, edited 2 times in total.