The Alexandra to become a hostel?

[mikej]

I am well aware of the Travelodge in Penge, thank you Kate and Eagle.
But the latter used the words "proper hotel" for professionals.
Hence my comment that there are none of these on the area currently.
I have once stayed in a Travelodge. It was quite poor.

[Nigel]

Tim
Talk about " if the cap fits ".
I would offer you a gentlemanly wager but I would not wish to have an incentive in a pub becoming a crumbling sublet dump , where nobody knows who lives there , paid for by the state , for the huge profit of scum landlords who pay no tax and allow their tenants to dump on the pavements instead of providing dustbins ( because they have no planning permission etc).

You don't have to look beyond Kirkdale for examples .
Lets hope I am very wrong

A very good morning
Nigel

[leenewham]

It would help drive down house prices though Nigel, wouldn't it? Probably more than building more homes!

[Eagle]

Mike

I agree with you , I would be reluctant to visit a Travelodge. But from the description of the proposed hostel , I would not think anymore up market

[Bovine Juice]

Not sure why the nearby presence of the Moon and Stars should preclude anybody else setting up a decent pub, Eagle. Penge can easily support two very different good ale pubs. The 'spoons does great, cheap beer but is a homogonised quaff barn like all 'spoons. The Alex, if run by LK or another decent beer company, could be a smaller, more friendly place with great beer and food. You only need to look at the amazing Beer Rebellion to see what's possible. And I'd have a darn sight more chance of persuading female friends to go down the improved Alex than the M&S.

[marymck]

Somewhat confusingly, the Agent and the Owner (at least according to the signed declaration on the application form) appears to be Marco Ferrara-Bardile of RMF Studio.

But the Applicant (Mr Amir Sharon - Company name Alexandra SE20 Ltd) has on the same form declared that he is the agent for the Applicant.

They have worked together before though ... albeit in what appears to be a reversal of roles and in what seems like works to a house.

http://www5.hertsmere.gov.uk/democracy/ ... 20Road.pdf

So far I haven't turned up any hostels, but so far I've only done one quick 5-min search online. If I've got the right Amir Sharon, I think he's been involved in student accommodation.

http://www.roomsandstudios.com/our-people/amir-sharon/

I've stayed in a hotel a couple of doors from a Backpackers' Hostel in Glastonbury, which occupied part of a pub. It was incredibly noisy until the early hours - but maybe that's more to do with Glastonbury High Street in the summer! And possibly the Glastonbury Backpackers is a bigger space? Anyway, I don't know if this is the sort of thing that the developers have in mind, I'm only posting the link as an example of the sort of development they might be thinking of.

http://www.glastonburybackpackers.com/backpackers/

[Nigel]

Despite a sunny weekend in the offing , nothing I have seen so far persuades me to see this other than someone creating demand to fill at a profit whilst quietly sweeping away a pub under everyone's nose .
With the greatest respect to those that passionately believe the area must become cheaper to live in and less full of bustling pubs , I don't see anything positive yet .

I sincerely hope that Late Knights actually open their own establishment - it sounds like a lot of support , including mine , for this . Rather than what looks to me like a front for some property speculation .
A very good evening
Nigel

[Tim Lund]

Despite a sunny weekend in the offing , nothing I have seen so far persuades me to see this other than someone creating demand to fill at a profit whilst quietly sweeping away a pub under everyone's nose .
With the greatest respect to those that passionately believe the area must become cheaper to live in and less full of bustling pubs , I don't see anything positive yet .

I sincerely hope that Late Knights actually open their own establishment - it sounds like a lot of support , including mine , for this . Rather than what looks to me like a front for some property speculation .
A very good evening
Nigel

And if Late Knights and the developers actually have a good working relationship, would that make your feelings about how market forces work mellow a bit?

[Nigel]

Tim
I don't need a mind adjustment thank you . Having seen so many people get away with creating mini slums with rubbish outside whilst making a huge profit I am naturally pessimistic .
My walk to penge east takes me past at least 6 such places just under the bridge .
I know you obtain great fascination and frisson at the thought of unknown unregulated unenforced entrepreneurism evolving organically . I am sure it reminds you a place you find less dull too but I do feel for the decent punters who have to live nearby .
If my neighbours used the pavement as a dustbin , as those places do , I would be very aggrieved indeed.
Good evening
Nigel

[Eagle]

Nigel

I am with you 100%. I think Tim means well , but I assume does not live next door to a hostel.

There is abundant cheap accommodation in Croydon Road , as has been stated.

[alywin]

Alywin, i don't think there is any parking associated with the existing building, nor is there any proposed as part of the development, reasoning being that it will be short stay accomodation notionally linked to the station so will not need parking.

I'm sure I saw parking mentioned on the wrapped-round-the-lampost notice. I walked past the entire frontage today, and can't see how any could be fitted in. Unless it was for bikes?

[Bovine Juice]

News from Late Knights is... they will be taking over the Alexandra pub from late summer.

[marymck]

News from Late Knights is... they will be taking over the Alexandra pub from late summer.

Fantastic news!

[Gaddison]

Fantastic!

[jonathan_har]

That's fantastic news. Any more detail?

[sarahsyd]

Hurrah! Such good news.

[Tim Lund]

News from Late Knights is... they will be taking over the Alexandra pub from late summer.

This is great. Are they taking over the entire building? What will the upper floors be used for?

[Bovine Juice]

Only the ground floor. I think the owner is still trying to get ideas through Council Planning that involve a hostel of some sort. Unlikely to succeed though as no parking spaces around there.

[Eagle]

Certainly good news that their will now be two outlets in Penge for their lovely ales.

[alywin]

I've been meaning to say: work has been going on at the Alexandra for a few weeks now - it's been all boarded up, and building materials being carted in and out. Not sure what's happening, nearly a couple of years after the last post on this thread - hopefully Late Knights?