Streatham Bowling Alley Sold for £8m

[Minnie_the_Minx]

Now I know it's a shithole, but earlier in the week after going shopping in Streatham, as I was loaded down with bags, thought I'd drop into Bowling Alley with b/f for a couple of games of pool but it was shut which I thought was a bit bad considering it's school hols. Didn't say shut for refurbishment though.

Have just decided to look at SLP and it seems not even locals were aware of it shutting :eek: Has been sold for £8 million :eek:


http://icsouthlondon.icnetwork.co.uk/0100news/0400lambeth/tm_objectid=17611060%26method=full%26siteid=50100%26headline=all%2dbowled%2dover%2dby%2dalley%2dclosure-name_page.html

[tarannau]

Thanks for that. I love the way that Lambeth Council are apparently recommending that the Bowling Alley, a long time entertainment venue on Streatham High Road, and neighbouring Caesars, which for all its many nasty flaws remains a impressive venue with a fine history, are suitable for conversion to a department store.

There was once a department store in Streatham, a massive branch of John Lewis called Pratt's, that stood on the roads just around WH Smiths. Apparently it shut down because Lambeth Council decided to to play hard in renegotiating the rent and redevelopment, leading John Lewis to stick two fingers up and shut the only destination department store for miles around, hastening the decline of Streatham.

And so, Lambeth built all over the old sprawling Pratt's building, replacing it with anodyne shopfronts like Argos and the like. And now the they want to turn back the clock and re-establish a department store, only by leaving the crappy new buildings and converting two of the most established entertainment venues in the area. Nice work LB Lambeth. Cunts

[Minnie_the_Minx]

Thanks for that. I love the way that Lambeth Council are apparently recommending that the Bowling Alley, a long time entertainment venue on Streatham High Road, and neighbouring Caesars, which for all its many nasty flaws remains a impressive venue with a fine history, are suitable for conversion to a department store.

There was once a department store in Streatham, a massive branch of John Lewis called Pratt's, that stood on the roads just around WH Smiths. Apparently it shut down because Lambeth Council decided to to play hard in renegotiating the rent and redevelopment, leading John Lewis to stick two fingers up and shut the only destination department store for miles around, hastening the decline of Streatham.

And so, Lambeth built all over the old sprawling Pratt's building, replacing it with anodyne shopfronts like Argos and the like. And now the they want to turn back the clock and re-establish a department store, only by leaving the crappy new buildings and converting two of the most established entertainment venues in the area. Nice work LB Lambeth. Cunts

I remember Pratts. Streatham must be the only High Street in Britain without a department store :rolleyes: Everyone always said that Streatham went downhill after that.

Well, not that I'm that bothered about a department store, but it's gotta be better than more expensive flats

[gaijingirl]

It would be great if it had a nice big haberdashery! :)

[Minnie_the_Minx]

It would be great if it had a nice big haberdashery! :)

:rolleyes:

haberwhat? :D

Get out :p

[gaijingirl]

:p :p right back atcha!! :D

[tarannau]

I remember Pratt's from my childhood really strongly. Pulling my Fisher Price dog behind me, it was a nearly daily journey for me and my Nan. Must have spent hours poking around that haberdashery department, or the excitement of the electrical section.

I know what you mean about luxury flats tbh, but a department store that far up the high street doesn't exactly help establish 'central Streatham' if you know what I mean. The area's not exactly crying out for shopfront space either, more decent stores. Simply replacing two of the biggest and best established venues in the area with a fucking Debenham's ain't going to change the profile of the high street. Croydon's always going to kick the hold the advantage for chain store shopping, Brixton for markets and access to tube. Streatham's got to aim for a niche market imo - it's more of a dormitory town than Clapham or Tooting, both of which struggle to support decent dept stores.

ETA: Nice haberdashery mention - I really remember the Pratt's department because they used to sell patterns for teddies, which my gran used to make for me. I've still got a bunny to this day.

:)

[Minnie_the_Minx]

I remember Pratt's from my childhood really strongly. Pulling my Fisher Price dog behind me, it was a nearly daily journey for me and my Nan. Must have spent hours poking around that haberdashery department, or the excitement of the electrical section.http://cache.tias.com/stores/silsnw/pictures/tfp3a.jpg Bless

"I know what you mean about luxury flats tbh, but a department store that far up the high street doesn't exactly help establish 'central Streatham' if you know what I mean.
Depends from which way you're coming. If you're coming from Brixton Hill then it ain't far ;) Plus you avoid all that built-up traffic in the main stretch of Streatham

[tarannau]

But Morley's is close enough to Streatham Hill isn't it. What more could you possible want?

;)


That was exactly the dog by the way. Every day I used to walk from Brixton to Stratham, then latterly from Streatham Vale up the high road, with that thing clacking behind me. I think it must have driven my olds mad...


:D

[Minnie_the_Minx]

But Morley's is close enough to Streatham Hill isn't it. What more could you possible want?
;)

Somewhere that does a half decent sale would be nice. Morley's is way overpriced as it is


That was exactly the dog by the way. Every day I used to walk from Brixton to Stratham, then latterly from Streatham Vale up the high road, with that thing clacking behind me. I think it must have driven my olds mad...

:D

Exactly that dog? :eek: He must be very old by now :D

[Minnie_the_Minx]

I think a good little arcade like Brixton or Tooting. You could move all the grocers, bakers, butchers, fishmongers, haberdashers ;) in, and then build a big department store :D

[Errol's son]

I remember Pratts. Streatham must be the only High Street in Britain without a department store :rolleyes: Everyone always said that Streatham went downhill after that.

Well, not that I'm that bothered about a department store, but it's gotta be better than more expensive flats

Rye Lane in Peckham use to have a C&A and Jones and Higgins.

Now we just have Khan's Bargain Basement with the sign "Walk in and see the variety".

[Minnie_the_Minx]

Now we just have Khan's Bargain Basement with the sign "Walk in and see the variety".


:D :D

and Trotters Independent ;)

[RaverDrew]

This has seriously pissed me off :mad:

How fucking dare they close the bowling alley and ceasers down !!! :(

I am so so mad about this. :mad: :mad: :mad:

[aurora green]

Was the bowling alley actually owned by Lambeth?

[Minnie_the_Minx]

This has seriously pissed me off :mad:

How fucking dare they close the bowling alley and ceasers down !!! :(

I am so so mad about this.


I thought it was shut for a refurb, it was seriously in need of it :D I've never set foot in Caesar's myself. Have never liked cattle markets. :D

[Minnie_the_Minx]

Was the bowling alley actually owned by Lambeth?


The Megabowl was sold by leisure firm Georgica.

A report commissioned by Lambeth council last year identified the building, along with the neighbouring Caesars nightclub, as suitable for redevelopment for a department store.




from the link

[aurora green]

Hmmm... (sorry for not reading link)
...a department store is one thing, but another bloody Asda is something no one needs...
My family will miss the bowling alley greatly. It's been the venue for many a birthday party. It's a real shame when leisure facilities get replaced with shops or flats, a real loss for the community.

[Minnie_the_Minx]

Hmmm... (sorry for not reading link)
...a department store is one thing, but another bloody Asda is something no one needs...
My family will miss the bowling alley greatly. It's been the venue for many a birthday party. It's a real shame when leisure facilities get replaced with shops or flats, a real loss for the community.


Asda isn't buying it, thank God

[lang rabbie]

There was once a department store in Streatham, a massive branch of John Lewis called Pratt's, that stood on the roads just around WH Smiths. Apparently it shut down because Lambeth Council decided to to play hard in renegotiating the rent and redevelopment, leading John Lewis to stick two fingers up and shut the only destination department store for miles around, hastening the decline of Streatham.

[Pedant gets out red pencil to correct rewriting of history.]

There was once a department store in Streatham, a branch of John Lewis called Pratt's which occupied a rambling collection of Victorian and later buildings (which they owned freehold) and only provided a fraction of the full John Lewis range.

In the early 1980s, John Lewis bought up most of the houses in the street behind, Ockley Road, and put in a planning application to demolish them and redevelop the site. This was bitterly resisted by a diehard group of locals (including the leading light of the Streatham Ratepayers Association, a former journalist who lived in Ockley Road, strangely enough.) This played into the hands of "Red" Ted Knight in Lambeth Town Hall who didn't want to see any commercial investment in "Tory" Streatham rather than in Brixton, where of course John Lewis had already closed Bon Marche a few years earlier.

After Lambeth moved to more moderate politics, the planners rapidly changed their tune when they realised John Lewis would move out without the redevelopment, and the Lambeth Development Plan allocated the site as retail.

However, by this stage in the late 1980s, John Lewis had decided there was more money to be made in the major outer suburban shopping locations rather than in inner suburban High Streets. Being an employee partnership they relocated their south London staff to an enormous new branch at Kingston (and their staff from the equivalent north London branch at Holloway Road to an enormous new branch in Watford), and both branches closed in the summer of 1990.

[tarannau]

Ah, I'm glad you could come in with a more accurate recollection Lang - I was a little too young to go on anything but the grapevine gossip at the time. It closed 20 years ago though, which seems almost shocking. ! I more recall the muttering and recriminations after it closed to be honest, with everyone sensing the lifeblood sap out of Streatham and complaining accordingly.

And I'm sure it used to be fairly big indoors, but perhaps I'm suffering small-person 'used to be bigger' syndrome. I really recall the electrical section in more or less its own annexe and being surprisingly large, as was the haberdashery department. I don't recall things like the clothing departments to be fair.

It's a shame though. I suspect the moment's been more than lost now - it almost seems unbelievable that Streatham was actually a destination shopping and eating venue for the wider Sarf London area once. And pitching a new department store seems more than hopeful as a regeneration gambit.

;)

[lang rabbie]

Watchers of 1990 archive London Weekend news footage can see a younger Rabbie (with some hair:eek: )taking a break from road protesting and holding aloft a "Save our Pratts" banner along with several hundred of the revolting middle classes of Streatham. ;)

And every politician in Streatham remembers the public meeting that was silenced by the pensioner who complained "There's nowhere in Streatham to buy knicker elastic, and it's your fault".

[wiskey]

i remember pratts, i was very small. i remember getting horribly confused when i accidentally walked out the side exit without my mum :o couldnt work out where streatham high road had gone :eek:

like i say i was very small :)

[han]

Fucking hell. This is such a shame :(

Why do we always hear about these things AFTER they've been decided....*sigh*

[Dan U]

Fucking hell. This is such a shame :(

Why do we always hear about these things AFTER they've been decided....*sigh*

so you cant kick up a fuss i assume :D

[memespring]

Fucking hell. This is such a shame :(

Why do we always hear about these things AFTER they've been decided....*sigh*

The planning system is set up so people only find out about the applications directly affecting them. not the ones on their high street or the pubs they drink in etc etc. the flow of information is all wrong.

anyone in streatham who wants email planning alerts PM me and I'll set it up

[supercity]

From Hitch-hiker's Guide to the Galaxy:

"But the plans were on display ..."

"On display? I eventually had to go down to the cellar to find them."

"That's the display department."

"With a flashlight."

"Ah, well the lights had probably gone."

"So had the stairs."

"But look, you found the notice didn't you?"

"Yes," said Arthur, "yes I did. It was on display in the bottom of a locked filing cabinet stuck in a disused lavatory with a sign on the door saying 'Beware of the Leopard'."

[lang rabbie]

The planning system is set up so people only find out about the applications directly affecting them. not the ones on their high street or the pubs they drink in etc etc. the flow of information is all wrong.


But in this case what is so bizarre is that someone has paid £8million for a site without any planning permission for a change of use. AFAIK there is also no planning consent for a change of use on the Caesar's site next door either. The developer there wanted far more flats on the site than the planners had indicated they would consider in pre-application discussions, and it got turned down - not sure if it is going to appeal.

Informed local supposition is that the developer of the Caesar's site thinks there is what property bods call a "marriage value" in developing the two sites together, and therefore they are the mystery buyer.

[Minnie_the_Minx]

Informed local supposition is that the developer of the Caesar's site thinks there is what property bods call a "marriage value" in developing the two sites together, and therefore they are the mystery buyer.


Please keep us informed Lang as you're so good at all this stuff :)

[jpm]

But in this case what is so bizarre is that someone has paid £8million for a site without any planning permission for a change of use. AFAIK there is also no planning consent for a change of use on the Caesar's site next door either. The developer there wanted far more flats on the site than the planners had indicated they would consider in pre-application discussions, and it got turned down - not sure if it is going to appeal.

Informed local supposition is that the developer of the Caesar's site thinks there is what property bods call a "marriage value" in developing the two sites together, and therefore they are the mystery buyer.

i would suggest that Caesars is being sold subject to planning consent

[saucisson]

I noticed this at the weekend and was tempted to post a thread....I have been bowling there a few times. its a good night out...shame if its just going to be more flats etc.

[zora]

That is sad. Only ever been there once but wanted to go back in winter!

Does anyone know what's happening on the other side of the High Street?
I remember walking down Streatham Hill/High Rd for the first time a couple of years ago and falling in love with it (much to the astonishment of the person I was with) for it's little independent paint and pet and whatever shops.
On second glance you could see that all those shops had signs in their windows asking people to sign a petition to save their local independent paint/pet/whatever shop from 'development'.

[jpm]

That is sad. Only ever been there once but wanted to go back in winter!

Does anyone know what's happening on the other side of the High Street?
I remember walking down Streatham Hill/High Rd for the first time a couple of years ago and falling in love with it (much to the astonishment of the person I was with) for it's little independent paint and pet and whatever shops.
On second glance you could see that all those shops had signs in their windows asking people to sign a petition to save their local independent paint/pet/whatever shop from 'development'.

Probably this http://icsouthlondon.icnetwork.co.uk/0100news/0200southlondonheadlines/tm_objectid=15716671%26method=full%26siteid=50100-name_page.html

Basically the Council, taking the lead from the Lib Dem Executive Member for Finance Ashley Lumsden, decides to put the shop leases up for sale, in a way that made it impossible for individual owners to buy their own lease.

Local uproar, big campaign to save the shops, shopkeepers announce their intention to stand at the local elections.

Then the council changes it's mind, and the Streatham Hill Lib Dem councillors, one of which is a certain Ashley Lumsden, let it be known that they have saved the shops.

[Campcrusader]

Another worry is that the beautiful building containing the bowling alley will go...

[Streathamite]

Thanks for that. I love the way that Lambeth Council are apparently recommending that the Bowling Alley, a long time entertainment venue on Streatham High Road, and neighbouring Caesars, which for all its many nasty flaws remains a impressive venue with a fine history, are suitable for conversion to a department store.

There was once a department store in Streatham, a massive branch of John Lewis called Pratt's, that stood on the roads just around WH Smiths. Apparently it shut down because Lambeth Council decided to to play hard in renegotiating the rent and redevelopment, leading John Lewis to stick two fingers up and shut the only destination department store for miles around, hastening the decline of Streatham.

And so, Lambeth built all over the old sprawling Pratt's building, replacing it with anodyne shopfronts like Argos and the like. And now the they want to turn back the clock and re-establish a department store, only by leaving the crappy new buildings and converting two of the most established entertainment venues in the area. Nice work LB Lambeth. Cunts
100% spot on.
i could f-ing scream right now.
Streatham has
a) a very large working-class population under 30.
b) a crying need to provide ents for such types, 'keeop 'em off the street' etc.
so - not only do we have NO decent gig venues, NO decent clubs (Caesars? do me a favour!) we are now seeing the closure of one of the few local ents venues that DOES seem popular, and necessary.
it's a pissing disgrace.:mad:

[Minnie_the_Minx]

100% spot on.
i could f-ing scream right now.
Streatham has
a) a very large working-class population under 30.
b) a crying need to provide ents for such types, 'keeop 'em off the street' etc.
so - not only do we have NO decent gig venues, NO decent clubs (Caesars? do me a favour!) we are now seeing the closure of one of the few local ents venues that DOES seem popular, and necessary.
it's a pissing disgrace.:mad:


Not to mention one of the few places left with some pool tables (even if they were totally crap) :(

[lang rabbie]

The SLP claimed that a report for the Council said that the Caesar's site was suitable for a department store

Actually, the report commissioned by Lambeth from GVA Grimley (http://www.lambeth.gov.uk/NR/rdonlyres/DAC6DC81-4F95-4DA9-92F5-88B3CAE7FE78/0/007GVAGrimleyHighrdretailstudy.pdf) appears to make no such assertion. The only department store operator that they talked to (Debenhams) would only be interested in being the anchor tenant in a much larger development.

I think I'm equally concerned by what was actually in the report, it it included no replacement leisure facilities:


Caesars
The other obvious location to create impact is the Caesars nightclub and Megabowl buildings just north of Streatham Hill Station, as identified in the UDP as a Major Development Opportunity.
Having explored this we have discovered these are not dormant opportunities and proposals are in progress. However, the two large sites directly adjoining each other are in different ownerships and the owners are pursuing their own agendas. Caesars nightclub is in private ownership, is currently on the market via Bomford Estates and discussions are well advanced with a residential developer to purchase this site subject to planning.
5.6 Megabowl
Having contacted the owners of Megabowl we have learned that the building is no longer suitable, compared to modern bowling facilities. The owners are in detailed negotiations with a purchaser to sell the site subject to planning, again principally for residential purposes. These two buildings combined could provide a floor plate of approaching 60,000 sq ft with the inclusion of the small retail units at the front from numbers 146-154. With the inclusion of 162-178 including the Somerfield and Wentworth House to the southern elevation of the site a large and clean development site could be created.
As discussions are well advanced on both sites and from a recent meeting with Councillors, it was stated a more substantial commercial scheme would be preferential to a residentially led scheme, we have contacted Asda. We have learned that Asda have a strong requirement for Streatham and are interested in this site, if they feel the site can accommodate a full store (40,000 sq ft sales +) and they can deal with loading.

[tarannau]

Is it just me who dislikes the phrase 'large and clean development site?' To me the subtext to that reads 'we'll knock down the old entertainment venues and rapidly construct an anodyne identikit shopping area in its place.'

Does Streatham really need more shops, traffic and congestion on that stretch? Who really thinks these recommendations through?

[Minnie_the_Minx]

Does Streatham really need more shops, traffic and congestion on that stretch? Who really thinks these recommendations through?


Nah, but a pub's needed ;)

[OpalFruit]

I don't know if there is any connection but the new Labour Cllr with responsibility for regneneration in Streatham is saying that a new big Tesco will be coming to Streatham High Rd - as a way to regenerate it.........

[H.Dot]

neighbouring Caesars, which for all its many nasty flaws remains a impressive venue with a fine history, are suitable for conversion to a department store.


oh no!!! does this mean no more photo spreads in the SLP featuring people with names like Kev from Sutton and Jade from Croydon? how will I cope??? :D

[lang rabbie]

I don't know if there is any connection but the new Labour Cllr with responsibility for regneneration in Streatham is saying that a new big Tesco will be coming to Streatham High Rd - as a way to regenerate it.........

No, that is the one at the other end of Streatham that the Ice Rink will be demolished to make way for... :mad:

[There is supposedly a guarantee that the old ice rink will continue operating until a new one is built as part of a new leisure centre - unfortunately Streatham Pool will close for some 20 months because TfL are insisting that they get a bus turnaround constructed before anything else happens ]

[jpm]

from the SLP

http://icsouthlondon.icnetwork.co.uk/southlondonpress/lambeth/tm_objectid=17696562%26method=full%26siteid=50100%26headline=buyout%2dto%2dbury%2dcaesars-name_page.html

"But if we get the go-ahead we are planning to build a shopping centre there with lots of little shops inside and a series of luxury apartments above.

"It will be tasteful. And nothing will be done without the backing of the other business owners in the area."

Mr Batt stressed that he wanted the approval of the other shop owners and said it would definitely be an improvement.

He said there would also be an underground car park and possibly a small supermarket but added that no proposals had yet been submitted to Lambeth council's planning department.

Hope it's not Fred Batt's idea of tasteful :)

[Minnie_the_Minx]

He said there would also be an underground car park and possibly a small supermarket but added that no proposals had yet been submitted to Lambeth council's planning department.[/I]

Hope it's not Fred Batt's idea of tasteful :)


Somerfield will be pleased :D

[tarannau]

Somerfield can cock off though.

How long did they have that sign outside that boasted the misspelled legend: "Streathham's finest supermarket' or somesuch guff. It wouldn't be so bad, but surely the signwriter could have virtually seen the sign for Streatham Hill station a short way away....

:D

[jpm]

Somerfield will be pleased :D

unless it's Somerfield who want to move into a bigger premises

[PacificOcean]

I worked in the Burger King in the Megabowl while I was at college back in '95. It was the most fun job I ever had.

I had many a good time with mates in that place. I used to love the lazer thing they used to have upstairs.

I thought Ceasers was really popular though (for those who like that sort of thing)

[Leon]

Ah Megabowl, used to bunk off school to go play teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles there.

And Pratt's - which was actually quite rubbish.

And the skating rink - surely THE worst in the world.

Would be a shame if they go. All anyone knows about Streatham is that they wouldn't want to live there and it has Caesers and a skating rink.

[Streathamite]

I know more about Streatham because I live here, out of choice, and so do a lot of other people.
The megabowl was popular, as is the icerink, and the leisure centre. Yes, they could do with refurb - but that is a terrible reason to close the bowling alley.

[Leon]

I know more about Streatham because I live here, out of choice, and so do a lot of other people.
The megabowl was popular, as is the icerink, and the leisure centre. Yes, they could do with refurb - but that is a terrible reason to close the bowling alley.

So do I - I'm a Streathamite too, praise the Lord. I was talkin bout those there outsiders.

We don't like 'em round ere.

[tarannau]

They should really bring back the Cat's Whiskers in place of Caesars.

Now there was a club with a proper Vegas-style neon sign. Not even the mighty plastic chariot of Caesars could replace it.

;)

[Streathamite]

So do I - I'm a Streathamite too, praise the Lord. I was talkin bout those there outsiders.

We don't like 'em round ere.
1st point - fairy snuff.
second - nooo, we mneed as many as possible!

[Minnie_the_Minx]

They should really bring back the Cat's Whiskers in place of Caesars.

Now there was a club with a proper Vegas-style neon sign. Not even the mighty plastic chariot of Caesars could replace it.

;)


Went past the Bowling ALley the other day. The still had the Neon McCluskey's sign switched on