The Teapot Deli

[ALIB]

I seem to be caught on the Forest Hill/Sydenham border. Royal Mail class me as Sydenham and yet i am in the Forest Hill ward...i digress

Three doors up from Forest Hill Sainsburys is the Teapot Deli', which has been open 3 weeks. A lovely little place , which i'm sure will thrive. At the moment their range of meats and cheeses is a little restricted, but i'm sure they'll develop their range as custom grows.

Fantastic place with a tea-room to the rear. The range of goods is selected personally by the owner and is excellent. Fresh bread, cured meats, cheeses and sweet pastries.

A very welcome addition to the area.

[Rachael]

I also have a foot in both postcodes. When my house was built in the late 1800s it was, according to the original deeds, in Sydenham, Kent. Now it is in Forest Hill, but only just. Two houses down and the postcode changes to SE26. Which is why you will find me both here and on the SE23 forum.

There are a couple of new places in FH. The Teapot is indeed very nice. There is a quiet, cool seating area and I hear the sandwiches are good. I ordered a flat white coffee and got ... a white coffee, so they haven't quite sussed that yet. I don't expect everyone to do speciality coffees, but if it's on the menu, you need to know how to make it. That said, it has a lovely ambience and should do well

We in SE23 are waiting with baited breath for the opening of St David's on, er, St David's Road, which looks like it's going to be a dedicated coffee shop.

Definitely worth a trip to visit your friends in the North.

[bigbadwolf]

We in SE23 are waiting with baited breath for the opening of St David's on, er, St David's Road, which looks like it's going to be a dedicated coffee shop.

I assume I'm not in the minority in favouring the arrival of Jam Circus at the old Post Office on Dartmouth rd, over yet another bleedin' coffee shop.

If anything it'll be interesting to see how the regular pondlife who drink in the Bird In Hand opposite will react to the upmarket clientele suspiciously observing the wilderbeasts from behind their Guardians and Observers whilst the dole scum seeth behind their copies of the Daily Wail and Sun.

Though I've never made it a big secret that I believe we'd all be better off if we subjected the c_ntish patrons of the Bird In Hand to a sustained campaign of germ warfare.

Oh, and rshdunlop. The se23 forum? You'll soon learn.

[Rachael]

BBW - I'm trying to institute change 'up North' by a stealth campaign of being generally reasonable and affable. I'll let you know how that goes.

Is Jam Circus a done deal at the old PO? I could go check the planning apps, but can't be arsed.

[bigbadwolf]

BBW - I'm trying to institute change 'up North' by a stealth campaign of being generally reasonable and affable. I'll let you know how that goes.

By all means try. But I wouldn't get your hopes up regarding any polite, or indeed, regular reciprocation.

Is Jam Circus a done deal at the old PO? I could go check the planning apps, but can't be arsed.

My spies tell me that planning permission has been submitted but some concern has been raised by those living in the flats above.

That, however, isn't their only obstacle.

If they're to make a success of any venture, something will have to be done about the removal of the vagrants who congregate outside Paddy Power and occupy the shabby benches outside.

I strongly advise that the no doubt limp-wristed, wishy washy proprietors of Jam Circus farm out the contract to some rough looking Catford types. Because if they were foolish enough to draw up alongside Paddy Power, leap from the van and start attacking those dregs of society with rolled-up copies of Amnesty International and The Big Issue they'd be repelled with stiff resistance.

And they'd be wise to accept my advice as the last time I passed Paddy Power, one of its unfortunate, cave dwelling customers was in possesion of a dog that would look more at home patrolling the Berlin Wall.

[LivesNearby]

Slightly off topic, but..

The arrival of the 'Teapot' and 'From the Forest' coffee shops in Forest Hill las also brought us the welcome relief of real bread (at Royal prices) No longer are we consigned to the wasteland of Mother's Pride from Sainsbury's

The only other bakers I have tried locally are Betram's (in Honor Oak) and the Cake Shop in Sydenham. Am I missing any gems?

[Rachael]

Had a coffee in SE23's latest opening, St David's, this morning. For those of you who, like me, like your coffee beefy, this is the place to go. I had a flat white and it was delicious - dense, hot and strong enough to trot a mouse across.

[ Post made via Mobile Device ]

[Freegirl]

A friend and I too had a decent couple of Cappuccinos each, together with food. The ambiance was good and service pleasent. It was only half full, with several empty tables so we sat and chatted. Then a waitress came and cleared our cups and said as we did not want any thing else we may be asked to leave. This is the first time in my life this has ever happened! a couple of elderly ladies quietly sitting in a half empty tea house chatting . I would have thought it would be to their advantage to look popular not empty. I did glance around to confirm that there were still empty tables and indeed there were 4, neither was there a queue..... so what was the problem?
I certainly would not feel comfortable meeting friends there again.

[bigbadwolf]

Perhaps the waitress shouldn't have been so blunt in drawing your attention to tradition. And someone should remind them of the importance of first impressions. But that's what's expected: you finish what you've ordered. Then after 5-10 minutes you leave.

I understand there's a gratuitous window of prandial conversation, but a business can only indulge its customers so far.

That said, I can't help feeling a tiny bit suspicious when someone focuses their first post on the supposed shortcomings of a (rival?) local business venture.

[ALIB]

Ditto, BBW

[Rachael]

She lost me at 'two elderly ladies', one of whom joined a local message board and posted just shy of midnight on a Saturday night. I'm not saying this post isn't genuine, but it's certainly a little odd.

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[Freegirl]

hi just a brief comment, this was a genuine post. I have no connection with any shop. had visited the teapot after reading the first posts and hence felt I should add my experience. I frequently visit tea / coffee places to meet friends, but can honestly say this was the first time I had experienced this and was genuinly surprised. I suspect actually the other posters may be connected, not I. As for the querries about my age and late night internet usage, that just defies belief that people are so agist. Any age can be up at night and can actually be e-literate! As for the local message board, I have lived in the area and been involved locally for over 30 years so feel I am a valid 'local'.

[bigbadwolf]

I suspect actually the other posters may be connected, not I.

I can only speak for myself when I say that your suspicion doesn't apply to myself. I'm in no way connected to or have an interest in the (supposedly) 'offending' establishment. I'm a construction and demolition engineer and I'd never even contemplate getting my hands dirty serving thirsty plebs. But, then again, who knows what local pies the users ALIB and rshdunlop have got their unashamed fingers firmly stuck into.

Having said that, your intitial (and first) post on this forum betrayed, at first, second and third glance, incoherence. And a niggling doubt with regards to what was and wasn't a fairytale. What with all the guff covering the lack of any ambient OAP's. Huddling around the radiator to keep themselves alive, perhaps?

All in all, I humbly apologise if I've got the wrong end of the stick, but please don't take it personally when I say: 'Nice try, love. Better luck nextime, eh.'

[stone-penge]

This whole saga is all a bit of a storm in a teapot isn't it?

[lady taz]

This whole saga is all a bit of a storm in a teapot isn't it?

Been to the teapot today. Food good and tasty, coffee yum, interior nice, 2 of the 3 staff RUDE. Actually had the audacity to move my friends and me and then had a go at us for how we had been moved, insinuating we were taking up too much room and we were in the way when that was how they'd positioned us, there was 9 of us paying for food and drinks and potentially bringing further business from our families and friends. What happened to good PR and customer's always right or at least could be right AND it WASN'T BUSY???!!! So I agree with a previous post, some of staff were off putting. Having customers in a cafe speaks volumes for more customers to venture in, herd instinct I guess. I will call them and try to speak to the proprietor to let him know that business may be lost from people like me who want to support local cafes but are put off by impolite workers.

[KM]

The only other bakers I have tried locally are Betram's (in Honor Oak) and the Cake Shop in Sydenham. Am I missing any gems?

The only other bakers I have tried locally are Betram's (in Honor Oak) and the Cake Shop in Sydenham. Am I missing any gems?[/quote]

YES! And you have missed a gem in SE26; La Bonne Bakery in Kirkdale...lovely French bakers, been open about 3 months, the most gorgeous croissants and pain au chocolate, and not expensive - cheaper than Tesco's over the road....mmm...dreaming of coffee and croissants at the weekend!