View Full Version : Lewisham
smokedout
22-08-2007, 11:42
well its a bit late cos ive just committed to moving there and south east london is a whole new world for me
have i made a terrible mistake or will my life be full of bread and honey
littlebabyjesus
22-08-2007, 11:50
Whereabouts in Lewisham are you?
Fantasitic Sri Lankan grub in Lewisham itself.
And great Jamaican food. Good food market.
Shit pubs, mostly.
Never a fan of Lewisham really, always found the centre depressing and never liked any of the pubs.
London_Calling
22-08-2007, 11:53
As I'm sure you know, with the DLR it has "excellent transport links". Apart from that it's a bit hit and miss. Many pockets of tranquility, a few pockets of less than stellar des-res - around the tower blocks on the way to Catford/opposite the hospital, for example. Like the area between the station and Deptford, and also the roads off Lewisham Way going up to New Cross.
Nice having Blackheath around the corner.
Whereabout's in partic?
smokedout
22-08-2007, 11:59
just opposite ladywell, tbh i dont care that much after spending a year sharing with the fat goth from hell (he wishes, more like the fat goth from trumpton) me and my kid will have our own space for a while
but i dont know a soul, how easy is it go get to brixton
Nice having Blackheath around the corner.
Heath is nice, shit place to go out in though.
but i dont know a soul, how easy is it go get to brixton
I seem to remember you can get a bus from outside the station.
littlebabyjesus
22-08-2007, 12:04
just opposite ladywell, tbh i dont care that much after spending a year sharing with the fat goth from hell (he wishes, more like the fat goth from trumpton) me and my kid will have our own space for a while
but i dont know a soul, how easy is it go get to brixton
P4 bus. It's a granny bus and goes a pretty scenic route, but it takes you all the way there.:)
the button
22-08-2007, 12:12
I've lived in Lewisham for 5 years, and I love it. Best thing for me is the market. Also, of the places I've lived in London (Brixton, Clapham, Finchley Road, Shepherds Bush) it's the most relaxed. IMO, anyway.
As others have said, the pubs aren't up to much. But I haven't been in a pub in Lewisham since the smoking ban anyway.
London_Calling
22-08-2007, 12:15
just opposite ladywell
Nice enough. Couple of half-decent pubs on the road by the station and the much mentioned and over-rated Hilly Fields is just up the road.
Bus up to Deptford for some unpretentious market shopping, Greenwich if you're feeling posh, Catford if you're desperate. Can't go wrong :)
Its not as bad as you think.
I was in Brockley for a long time
Hopper Bus goes to brixton, but you can get a train from lewisham tho' peckham to Denmark hill etc
Hilly Fields is a nice little park for teh kids and has got good views & is a nice climb to the top
Lewisham market is Ok for cheap veg and suchlike.
Ladywell isnt too bad - starting to gentrify a bit now - a few resturants/ take aways etc outside ladywell station.
You could do an awful lot worse that Lewisham /Ladywell:D
Niand the much mentioned and over-rated Hilly Fields is just up the road.
Its got snob value It has to be admitted - Brockley though,. cos its a conversation area, has fuck all decent shops / resturants etc itself - the sometimes hysterical reactionary Guardian reading Brockley Society seem to oppose everything that the council suggested when I was there - every little infringment or bit of building or repair work to your property was snitched on by some curtain twitching busybody - I could guarantee that If I was a day late with my car tax, The authorities would be informed instantly.
Ladywell is nice. Some lovely roads- Vicars Hill, Algernon Road, Embleton Road.
Has a lovely bakery by the hump backed bridge. A few steps away from Ladywell Baths, athletics/ sports clubs and nice parks.
A couple of nice places to eat, good chippie. A Fenerbache supporting laundrette.
One of the best fruit and veg markets in Londonis 5 mins walk away in Lewisham. but for big things like clothes and books and stuff- Bromley is probably best- its 15 mins drive away.
Ladywell is one of Lewisham's little Oases, real sense of community there.
dash_two
22-08-2007, 15:19
For pubs you are maybe better off heading eastwards to Brockley Road and having a look round there, eg The Brockley Jack, Jam Circus, The Brockley Barge, depending on your tastes; also a couple of trendy licensed cafes.
The Brockley Jack
Does that still have the theatre upstairs?
dash_two
22-08-2007, 15:24
Yes it does Belushi.
Roadkill
22-08-2007, 15:47
Heath is nice, shit place to go out in though.
There's some good pubs in Blackheath, although not a lot else...
littlebabyjesus
22-08-2007, 16:02
Its got snob value It has to be admitted - Brockley though,. cos its a conversation area, has fuck all decent shops / resturants etc itself - the sometimes hysterical reactionary Guardian reading Brockley Society seem to oppose everything that the council suggested when I was there - every little infringment or bit of building or repair work to your property was snitched on by some curtain twitching busybody - I could guarantee that If I was a day late with my car tax, The authorities would be informed instantly.
I always lived just outside the conservation area - Malpas Road, Endwell and Kneller. No problems there.:)
As for decent restaurants, the best Thai restaurant I know is in Brockley (end of Foxberry Road). Opposite the train station is a brilliant Jamaican take-away /cafe. Up towards Brockley Rise is Babur, a really good up-market Indian. On Lewisham Way there is a brilliant Bangladeshi restaurant/take-away at the end of Malpas Rd, and there's a very decent Turkish place opposite Lewisham College.
Plus the best video/DVD library in London - Homeview - I worked there for a few months and they had a policy of buying every 'world cinema' title as it was released - they had the complete Herzog, a goodly number of Fassbinder, the complete Hitchcock, Lang... Brilliant. Owner was a cunt though.
There's some good pubs in Blackheath, although not a lot else...
Its been a few years but I never liked the pubs there, especially after the Railway became one of those Irish theme pubs. The PoW would have been okay if it werent forthe clientele.
Lysistrata
23-08-2007, 09:42
Hello Smokedout, I've just moved to Ladywell (I was living on Lee High Road between Blackheath and Hither Green) and I really like it. A good choice of local shops including the bakery mentioned above and a couple of good restaurants. "Life" does Thai food with Caribbean influence and is lovely with very friendly staff and Ladywell Tandoori is good too. You'll be innundated with takeaway leaflets! Don't bother with Mason's, the food is horrendously over-priced. Fast trains to central London take about 15 minutes. Lewisham is the best for transport, as every bus in the world goes there (almost). Best put in the area, (my former local and I still go there because it's worth the bus ride along Lee High Road) is the Dacre Arms in Kingswood Place. It's a very traditional local, friendly, with a good beer garden.
Roadkill
23-08-2007, 11:22
Its been a few years but I never liked the pubs there, especially after the Railway became one of those Irish theme pubs. The PoW would have been okay if it werent forthe clientele.
The Prince of Wales isn't that good, but it's become useful recently thanks to its big beer garden with patio heaters and umbrellas...
The Crown and the Hare and Billet are both really nice pubs.
Hello Smokedout, I've just moved to Ladywell (I was living on Lee High Road between Blackheath and Hither Green) and I really like it. A good choice of local shops including the bakery mentioned above and a couple of good restaurants. "Life" does Thai food with Caribbean influence and is lovely with very friendly staff and Ladywell Tandoori is good too. You'll be innundated with takeaway leaflets! Don't bother with Mason's, the food is horrendously over-priced. Fast trains to central London take about 15 minutes. Lewisham is the best for transport, as every bus in the world goes there (almost). Best put in the area, (my former local and I still go there because it's worth the bus ride along Lee High Road) is the Dacre Arms in Kingswood Place. It's a very traditional local, friendly, with a good beer garden.
Lee, Blackheath, Hither Green and Ladywell! I am away from home atm, and this thread is making me smile :)
Mate of mine lives on Algiers Road in Ladywell. It's a lovely area.
Seeing as Caribbean food outlets have been mentioned a few times in this thread, I thought I'd ask - does anyone know of a good sit-down Caribbean place in the Lewisham/Catford area? There seem to be plenty of takeaways, but I haven't found a proper restaurant. Cheers.
littlebabyjesus
23-08-2007, 13:50
Seeing as Caribbean food outlets have been mentioned a few times in this thread, I thought I'd ask - does anyone know of a good sit-down Caribbean place in the Lewisham/Catford area? There seem to be plenty of takeaways, but I haven't found a proper restaurant. Cheers.
You can eat in at the one opposite Brockley train station, but it doesn't have a licence and only has a couple of tables.
kyser_soze
23-08-2007, 13:51
the Hare and Billet
OOOO, LOVELY pub...haven't been there for EONS.
Buds and Spawn
23-08-2007, 15:47
I live in Brockley - also have lived in Ladywell - for last seven or eight years. It's a great area - close to town but far enough away too.... Hilly Fields is the best park in London. Lots of good food to be had. Lots of places to have tea and cake. Walking distance to Greenwich and Blackheath. Best cinema is the PictureHouse in Greenwich....
dash_two
24-08-2007, 15:37
Seeing as Caribbean food outlets have been mentioned a few times in this thread, I thought I'd ask - does anyone know of a good sit-down Caribbean place in the Lewisham/Catford area? There seem to be plenty of takeaways, but I haven't found a proper restaurant. Cheers.
A bit far from Catford, but there is a place called 'The Restaurant' on Evelina Road (5 mins walk from Nunhead rail station). Reviews below:
http://www.london-eating.co.uk/5700.htm
That doesn't sound very Caribbean :confused:
dash_two
24-08-2007, 15:53
Looked at the menu the other day when walking past - about half the dishes seemed to be Caribbean/Caribbean-influenced.
Just ordered a large selection from Cummin' Up on Sydenham Road, hopefully it will be here soon. Having checked their website it appears that they have a restaurant in Lewisham High Street. I'll let you know if the food's any good later.
memespring
24-08-2007, 20:10
this guy keeps a nice blog of what's going on in lewisham: http://andrewkbrown.wordpress.com/
I spend a lot of time in and around Lewisham/Catford.I don't particularly like it,but I can think of a few places that I dislike more.Some of the New Cross bits are quite alright and around Lee Green/Lewisham isn't too bad either.The Sun and Doves was a great take away place till it got stupidly yardie infested and got busted for drugs and closed down.
A good friend of mine lived across from Hilly Fields for years and I think up there's really nice for walks etc.I wouldn't boy out Lewisham as I've pretty much grown up in and around there.Some parts of it are particularly shitholeish,but it aint all bad though.
pinkmonkey
27-08-2007, 22:31
P4 bus. It's a granny bus and goes a pretty scenic route, but it takes you all the way there.:)
I remember double dropping and taking the P4 from Lewisham to Brixton, back in the days. It was a very scenic route indeed.
I spend a lot of time in and around Lewisham/Catford.I don't particularly like it,but I can think of a few places that I dislike more.Some of the New Cross bits are quite alright and around Lee Green/Lewisham isn't too bad either.The Sun and Doves was a great take away place till it got stupidly yardie infested and got busted for drugs and closed down.
A good friend of mine lived across from Hilly Fields for years and I think up there's really nice for walks etc.I wouldn't boy out Lewisham as I've pretty much grown up in and around there.Some parts of it are particularly shitholeish,but it aint all bad though.
Its a massive borough with some lovely parks and gorgeous streets. These are some very nice parts
Lewisham Hill up to Blackheath,
Lee Terrace to Lee,
Lee Green, lots of Hither Green,
Manor Park/ Manor Lane, Manor House Gardens,
Lewisham Park, Ladywell,
Brockley, Crofton Park,
Parts of Catford have a lot to offer
Bits of Honor Oak up to Forest Hill and Sydenham
Lewisham is confusing- new gated communities, shockingly ugly new architecture, its being redeveloped by people with no souls and little sense of community. It was stable but still fairly ethnicly diverse while I was growing up. But its in a state of flux atm. I barely recognise it anymore.
FabricLiveBaby!
28-08-2007, 11:29
I fukcing hate lewisham. Shit to go out in , shit pubs, shitty dirty streets, shit shopping centre with shit shops.
If I never go there again it will be too soon
kyser_soze
28-08-2007, 12:14
this guy keeps a nice blog of what's going on in lewisham: http://andrewkbrown.wordpress.com/
He's a man with too much time on his hands...
I fukcing hate lewisham. Shit to go out in , shit pubs, shitty dirty streets, shit shopping centre with shit shops.
If I never go there again it will be too soon
I stopped doing Lewisham when Yates' opened - the crowds of unruly tanked up yoof got too much for me.
Oh and the library's dope too.
Zinedine*
29-08-2007, 16:43
I lived in Lewisham for a bit, I loved it. the Town centre is good, transport is good. the pubs are a bit boring but you are close to areas with decent ones. I miss Lewisham.
Lysistrata
05-09-2007, 15:32
There's a lot more to Lewisham than the high street, fortunately not a lot of people know that so we can keep the nice bits to ourselves.
Lewisham
City of Tommorrow
lights.out.london
06-09-2007, 20:06
Lewisham? Not a huge fan, but lots for families, I guess. Close to Greenwich and Blackheath. :cool: -ish
Good luck in your new home. Hope you and yours are very happy there. :)
ska invita
06-09-2007, 22:15
I've lived in Lewisham for 5 years, and I love it. Best thing for me is the market.
Dont you just love the way everything you buy there goes off as soon as you get it home?;)
I've got a soft spot for Lewisham - been in the hospital, worked there, got married in the registry office, got some books out the library, often eat nice Sri Lankan food there - but lets face it ultimately Lewisham is pretty shit - particularly down towards Lee.
Back streets are nice enough to live in, but Lewisham centre should be bulldozed - Im looking forward to the redevelopments planned: its got to be better than whats going on now.
SE London is addictive - it is the mellowest part of town, I agree with the button, but anywhere east of lewisham and your getting into eltham territory.
Seeing as Caribbean food outlets have been mentioned a few times in this thread, I thought I'd ask - does anyone know of a good sit-down Caribbean place in the Lewisham/Catford area? There seem to be plenty of takeaways, but I haven't found a proper restaurant. Cheers.
Cant think of any - definitely a gap in the market you've spotted there.
ska invita
06-09-2007, 22:19
Plus the best video/DVD library in London - Homeview - I worked there for a few months and they had a policy of buying every 'world cinema' title as it was released - they had the complete Herzog, a goodly number of Fassbinder, the complete Hitchcock, Lang... Brilliant. Owner was a cunt though.
Sadly shut down this year. The local community is fighting hard to stop it being turned into a bookies.
Also sadly Star Video on Walworth Road, which claimed to have every film ever released in the UK (inlucding an immense VHS collection), has shut down.
Internet and posting rentals mean its the end of video stores Im afraid, or at least independent ones.
Also sadly Star Video on Walworth Road, which claimed to have every film ever released in the UK (inlucding an immense VHS collection), has shut down.
Internet and posting rentals mean its the end of video stores Im afraid, or at least independent ones.
No way! :eek: I remember going there purposefully a good few times on my hunt for obscenely rubbish 80's films and they were always very helpful and got it in stock for me.Oh the times before the internet.That really is a shame :(
Roadkill
07-09-2007, 01:21
<edit>
drunken London-slagging doesn't achieve much
<edit>
drunken London-slagging doesn't achieve much
You couldn't have left it till morning? :D
Roadkill
07-09-2007, 08:19
I don't remember posting that edit, never mind what I originally put. :o
May Kasahara
07-09-2007, 09:24
Plus the best video/DVD library in London - Homeview - I worked there for a few months and they had a policy of buying every 'world cinema' title as it was released - they had the complete Herzog, a goodly number of Fassbinder, the complete Hitchcock, Lang... Brilliant. Owner was a cunt though.
Ha ha, really? My best mate worked there for several years, till it closed down in fact. She too said the owner was a cunt.
I remember double dropping and taking the P4 from Lewisham to Brixton, back in the days. It was a very scenic route indeed.
Lol! I did that too once, well, just the one little fella, but I remember being v happy and then amazed to be at the Horniman so quickly!
May Kasahara
07-09-2007, 12:42
The only time I got the P4 from Lewisham to Brixton, my mate sat on a wasp and it stung her in the arse. She spent the entire journey complaining :D
Bet the wasp was pretty pissed off too!!!!:D
sarfsider
11-09-2007, 18:16
Very nice S. Indian restaurant, think it's called the Madras on Lew High St opposite the KFC. Nice Sri Lankan caff on Lee High Road opposite Nandos. I quite like Life in Ladywell and the bar opposite the station. Ladywell Fields is being done up, including rechannelling the River Ravensbourne. It's a nice area, although I don't find the trains that regular from Ladywell. I'd walk to Lewisham or even Brockley for more frequent trains.
May Kasahara
11-09-2007, 22:10
Yeah, trains from Brockley are amazingly good (for SE London) - many's the lonely Sunday I've staggered out of my mate's, bound for Kings X, and got a train within minutes.
sarfsider
11-09-2007, 23:57
I used to live right by Brockley stn. I miss the quick 7 min hop into London Bridge. On a good day, you can be in the West End in 20-25 mins door to door from Brockley stn.
Lysistrata
12-09-2007, 10:53
Sad to say I think the nice "Life" restaurant in Ladywell has closed, the shutters have been down for ages and they have emptied it. If we're lucky it's just a refurbishment. Hmmm, maybe I should start a Ladywell blog.
Monkeynuts
15-09-2007, 22:34
I used to live right by Brockley stn. I miss the quick 7 min hop into London Bridge. On a good day, you can be in the West End in 20-25 mins door to door from Brockley stn.
Well, on a good night it's more like 15 - but Brockley is still a bit ropey.
Well, on a good night it's more like 15 - but Brockley is still a bit ropey.Which bit though? Brockley Rise, Crofton Park, Brockley Cross, Adelaide Avenue, Hilly Fields, up near Nunhead, up near Honor Oak?
I dont think Brockley is that bad. Plenty worse.
- but Brockley is still a bit ropey.
:eek: Which gated community do you live in? Brockley is firmly in the hands of the Guardianistas.
May Kasahara
16-09-2007, 17:23
For sure. Anyone who's been in the Toad's Mouth can confirm this ^^^
Im back in Hither Green for a few days. Not been back in a month or two. I cycled the length of Hither Green Lane. The Bellway village place is complete. Its so odd! Hundreds of continental-style box sized flats with people having breakfast on their glass balconys. Just like the brouchure! Its like another world.
And there have opened up a Tescos Express onsite as well. I went in and they have security tags on the bread and meat! Hilarious! Less hilarious is the fact that the community fought to save the old hopsital site from the grasp of Tesco in the first place, for fear of traffice and killing off the shops on HGL, but low and behold Tesco got their claws in anyway. The Co-op was a ghost town as I cycled past.
And the Spotted Cow has closed down on HGL :( I loved that pub, every six months it would change the colour of its livery. Now its gone. Forever!
Streathamite
20-09-2007, 18:27
the only good thing abouit Lewisham is it's first rate transport connections so you can leave there in a hurry. ladywell's Ok and so is brockley
sarfsider
21-09-2007, 12:14
:eek: Which gated community do you live in? Brockley is firmly in the hands of the Guardianistas.Exactly. It used to be rough, but has changed. Telegraph Hill, Crofton Park and around Lewisham College are fine. But cross Lewisham Way and it gets a bit shitty, esp around Friendly St (crime-friendly street ?) and that horrible park. But technically that's in SE8, Deptford/St John's not Brockley/Crofton Park. The Honor Oak Estate on St Norbert Rd is the only rough bit of SE4 nowadays.
In fact, even though Sydenham is generally more suburban than Brockley, it's getting as shit in parts as Brockley used to be. Eg Wells Park Est, then around Home Park, and Bell Green.
the button
22-09-2007, 10:09
the only good thing abouit Lewisham is it's first rate transport connections so you can leave there in a hurry.
:mad: :(
*drones on & on about how good Lewisham market is*
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