Lunch in Brixton with children

[christonabike]

That place don't sound half bad fer adults there wiskey!

 

[IntoStella]

best of all 5 people ate lunch with drinks for £22.90

That's impressive.

Given the absolutely unbelievable number of people popping out sprogs lately (what is going on ??), more places would clearly be wise to follow the Lounge's example.

Or they might find themselves jabbing big pins repeatedly into their own persons and involuntarily walking under buses, like in the Midwich Cuckoos.

 

[lang rabbie]

Lounge has no problem with kids - in fact, you can see some in the pics I took on the brixtonlounge.com site!.

Mike - when the venue also holds art exhibitions, is a menu option of Gallery the obvious one to click on to find out that kids are welcome?

And, without wanting to turn Urban75.com completely into Suburban75.com
now that so many of your dangerous anarchist readers have offspring, perhaps the Brixton cafe/restaurant listings could include something on each venue's attitude to children?

 

[Boom_Sounds]

Lunch in Brixton with kids

Nice one Wiskey, I'll try out the Lounge after your recommendation. I forgot to add Verz Cruz which does an OK fish finger sandwich plus Cafe on the Hill for a fry-up.

I'm a bit surprised by the level of emotion over a few casual comments about Pret a Manager. I'll put my hands up - I don't really like Pret myself and it was poor choice of language. The last thing I would want is for Brixton to become sterile and bland. If you read my original post you'll notice that I said
'I wouldn't mind a Pret a Manager or half decent Restuarant where I could take the kids during the day'. I didn't say 'I would really love a Pret a Manger and won't sleep until Brixton gets one' or 'I would like the whole of Brixton Market to be replaced by high street chain stores'. I was simply trying to make the point that people have different needs/wants and desires. The general discussion in this forum makes regular reference to Brixton's diversity and that strength is underpinned by tolerance of others. I'm surprised by the level of intolerence shown just because I may have a different view.

Hatboy - you've mis-understood me and twisted words to fit your own agenda. I don't recall coming to any conclusion that "Pret a Manger" will save Brixton. When I referred to dodgy geezers I meant junkies and dealers who make life with young children in Brxiton a perpetual struggle. I wouldn't treat a poor person any differently to you or I. .

 

[Streathamite]

House prices aside, would 100 locals in a bar with very loud music nightly at 1am keeping 1 resident awake be reasonable or not? Is it the "yuppie mentality" to suggest this is unreasonable?

yes, it is, actually. If you don't know brixton's a loud and lively place within hours of first arriving here, then your head - or your ears - need radical remedy. Also, the 100 come before the one. If you want trappist silence, move to f-ing Hove.

 

[wiskey]

And, without wanting to turn Urban75.com completely into Suburban75.com now that so many of your dangerous anarchist readers have offspring, perhaps the Brixton cafe/restaurant listings could include something on each venue's attitude to children?

i actually agree with that, i dont often have children to visit and it might be useful to show where accepts them and whats geared up for them.

i'll do a bit of research if i can borrow some more kids.

wiskers

 

[hatboy]

yes, it is, actually. If you don't know brixton's a loud and lively place within hours of first arriving here, then your head - or your ears - need radical remedy. Also, the 100 come before the one. If you want trappist silence, move to f-ing Hove.

That's how I feel Mr Red. I've always said that when the "turn your stereo down brigade move to Brixton it will be fucked"... well... they're here now for sure. I do believe very much in mutual respect, but some people think they own the neighbourhood as soon as they get here. I think it's important to get to know the place and how it works a bit, then you can get things done by co-operation rather than trying to boss people. And yeah, basically, this is a noisy, vibrant (most cliched word to describe Brixton?) area. And I do resent people who want to kill that. It's a bloody cheek. Like new Notting Hillites trying to kill the carnival - what the fuck did they move into NH for anyway? Don't tell me, cos they read it was cool.

Boom sounds - you sound more reasonable now, but that was a pretty provoking first post.



PS That Cafe Pushka might be OK for kids. Clean and smoke free.

 

[corporate whore]

Interesting thread - though I don't have children, it's made me think about how people in different domestic circumstances move in different circles, and need different things from their locality.

For all its faults, I reckon The Wimpey was probably the best place to take a child for eats. You'd have to dress 'em up a bit to get 'em into Plan B, though, especially at the weekend How about the organic cafe on CHL? Used to be in the market, but is now 2 doors up from The Albert - is it still there? Quality smoothies...

On the Pret, er, tip, it not extremelely likely they'll ever open in Brixton - so much of their business is about the office lunch rush, and I don't think there's the demand.

Why anyone would take their kids to Pret, I'm not sure - there's nowhere to sit! Though beware! This is coming (and look! It's Jay Rayner again!)

 

[editor]

Mike - when the venue also holds art exhibitions, is a menu option of Gallery the obvious one to click on to find out that kids are welcome?

Err, I meant that if you clicked on the gallery page of brixtonlounge.com you'd see a picture of a couple holding a baby on the sofa there - thus illustrating that they're 'child friendly'!

I'm happy to include child friendly listings - in fact, I'd be happy to have an entire 'Brixton for Kids' listings - if someone can be arsed to compile it!

 

[Ol Nick]

For all its faults, I reckon The Wimpey was probably the best place to take a child for eats.

Wimpey's were great. Waiters and waitresses, real plates and cutlery, Knickerbocker Glory, Banana Split (I have no memory of any main courses.)

On the Pret, er, tip, it not extremelely likely they'll ever open in Brixton - so much of their business is about the office lunch rush, and I don't think there's the demand.

I agree. I think it would be nice to be able to get sandwiches as nice as at Pret -- and they're better than most "traditional" grease and chicken parts sandwich merchants -- but in a proper local cafe.

As for noise, bits of Brixton have been loud for a while. Most bits are residential and quiet. AK and the others have been campaigning against the Living Bah on the issue of the noise it generated. I'm sure people living on Rushcroft Road knew that CHL is a noisy place before they moved there.

I'm all for a bit of give and take if it's done with respect. Otherwise how am I going to persuade my neighbours to let me have a party till 4am once in a while? But I don't think anyone has a right to make enough noise to keep their neighbours (and their neighbours' children, let's remember) up past, say 10. There's no automatic right; there has to be give and take.

 

[lang rabbie]

Err, I meant that if you clicked on the gallery page of brixtonlounge.com you'd see a picture of a couple holding a baby on the sofa there - thus illustrating that they're 'child friendly'!

Maybe I'm becoming an obsessive non-smoker (too much socialising in medical research charity circles), but I read the home page image with the cigarette at the centre of the composition as meaning 'smoker friendly' - which too often = 'child unfriendly'.

I know that the Lounge isn't usually some smoke filled room, but first impressions count if a website is being used as a promotional tool.

 

[CK1977]

Brixton needs more places like the Lounge IMHO. The Lounge seems to cater for all age groups and the staff are extremely friendly and welcoming.

IMHO The Lounge is streets ahead of all these new "style" bars/cafes/dining concepts.

Us mere mortals...don't ask for much in Brixton...but a few more places like The Lounge would certainly cheer me up!

 

[Streathamite]

Which means that bar did not lower property prices...and they'll presumably sell with much the same story, so the market price won't be affected. Their argument is absurd, as well as being very selfish.

What the bar might do is reduce the quality of life for those living nearby, whether recent incomers or longer term residents.
So Hurrah for Lambeth Council (& there's a phrase you don't come across very often )

umm, as the bar's been there for years, how can it 'reduce the quality of life'?
but yer right about the council-I had to read that sentence twice!

 

[Streathamite]

This is coming (and look! It's Jay Rayner again!)

are yer startin', then? d'yer want me 'n' 'Stella to 'ave a word, like?

 

[hatboy]

"I'm all for a bit of give and take if it's done with respect. Otherwise how am I going to persuade my neighbours to let me have a party till 4am once in a while? But I don't think anyone has a right to make enough noise to keep their neighbours (and their neighbours' children, let's remember) up past, say 10."

No, 12 at least. 2am at weekends. You can't complain here before that. If you do you need to live in Hove, actually.

 

[IntoStella]

This is coming (and look! It's Jay Rayner again!)

Oh please! Not with the hangover I've got right now!

I'm sure Mr Rayner is far too busy dining for free on distended goose testicles to suffer Pret's limited and monotonous fare day after day after tedious day, unlike a lot of poor sods who, unless they bring in their own butties, have bugger all choice because there's a Pret every 10 yards and nothing else.

Their bread absolutely sucks and who wants to eat sushi every single day apart from idiots who want to believe they're in Sex and the City? (And who can afford it..)

Admittedly their noodles were nice but they stopped doing them after about two months.

 

[lang rabbie]

"No, 12 at least. 2am at weekends. You can't complain here before that. If you do you need to live in Hove, actually.

That's bollocks HB and you ought to know it[ or no ] - despite gentrification, your neighbours in social housing in Brixton are far more likely than a suburbanite to include someone who has to get up at 4.30 or 5.00 in the morning to work as a bus driver, cleaner, or in any of the service industries which members of the new leisure classes take for granted.

The old all-night drinking dens down the road generally didn't keep them awake. Unthinking neighbours blasting 100 watts per channel past midnight, because no-one expects them to function before 10am, do.

 

[editor]

.... but I read the home page image with the cigarette at the centre of the composition as meaning 'smoker friendly' - which too often = 'child unfriendly'.

Can't say I make that association myself, but the Lounge has a smoking and a non-smoking area. But I'll mention your comments to the owner and maybe he'll update the site to reflect your concerns.

 

[Ol Nick]

"I'm all for a bit of give and take if it's done with respect. Otherwise how am I going to persuade my neighbours to let me have a party till 4am once in a while? But I don't think anyone has a right to make enough noise to keep their neighbours (and their neighbours' children, let's remember) up past, say 10."

No, 12 at least. 2am at weekends. You can't complain here before that. If you do you need to live in Hove, actually.

Hmmm. Are you sure you mean that?

 

[hatboy]

What I'm saying is that quiet is not automatically superior to loud. My response to some people who'd say "you're too loud and over-the-top" is to say "you're not loud enough and under-the-top".

And bollocks to you Lang! But seriously I have excellent relations with my neighbours.

How did you know I got 100 watts per channel btw?

 

[Ol Nick]

How did you know I got 100 watts per channel btw?

I've got lightbulbs more powerful than that.

But if you've got excellent relationships with your neighbours, that's just how it should be.

But suppose you adopted some children. And they needed to sleep from 8 or evey night. And the noise from next door stopped them. Would they have to move to Hove? Maybe this discussion is getting a little arid.

 

[IntoStella]

I've got lightbulbs more powerful than that.

You made me spit water all over my keyboard then.

 

[Brixton Hatter]

sorry - off topic

Though beware! This is coming (and look! It's Jay Rayner again!)

I almost spat water all over my keyboard when i read the truly saddening story about how Jay Rayner couldnt get a decent coffee in the UK until starbucks came along

 

[Streathamite]

I've got lightbulbs more powerful than that.

But if you've got excellent relationships with your neighbours, that's just how it should be.

But suppose you adopted some children. And they needed to sleep from 8 or evey night. And the noise from next door stopped them. Would they have to move to Hove? Maybe this discussion is getting a little arid.

right Ok. first off, as this all started witha point about whether a local pub's grooveability rights should precede an incomers snoozeability rights, that's a bit of a straw man. relations with neighbours are as much an individual thing in SW2 as elsewhere.
but....the answer is there'd have to be mutual give and take. and no, if you choose to adopt kids, you can't suddenly insist that everyone in a 500 yard radius turns into dormice. just as you can't suddenly move into an area and shove your lifestyle down its' throat

 

[IntoStella]

I almost spat water all over my keyboard when i read the truly saddening story about how Jay Rayner couldnt get a decent coffee in the UK until starbucks came along

There is something seriously wrong with that man's tastebuds. I'd be really worried if I was the Observer.

 

[IntoStella]

Maybe this discussion is getting a little arid.

The moral of this story, as the doughty burghers on planning and licensing cttees will surely tell you, is that you absolutely cannot generalise. Each case has to be taken on its individual merits. This is one reason why it is such a long and often unbelievably tedious process. These people take their work extremely seriously. And some of them (Cllrs Parry, Grigg and Fewtrell) are on Ents Licensing AND Planning!

 

[Gramsci]

yes, it is, actually. If you don't know brixton's a loud and lively place within hours of first arriving here, then your head - or your ears - need radical remedy. Also, the 100 come before the one. If you want trappist silence, move to f-ing Hove.

I have lived here for 22 years in Central Brixton.Whilst their were always a lot of pubs it has changed.For example I lived near the old Atlantic.This was a pub on the ground floor which played music which was not heavily amplified.It was mainly a black pub-though i used it every know and again before it got out of hand.The first floor was used for meetings etc and the top floor was a flat.It closed at 11.

When it was changed into the "Dogstar" with Brixton Challenge money it became a three floor later night club with powerful sound systems.It was complaints by residents that stopped it getting an upstairs entertainments licence(Dogstar won on appeal).

This reduced the quality of life for residents who lived nearby.These people were not "yuppies" or people who had just moved into the area.

 

[Gramsci]

Coming back to Wiskeys original post this does fit into the "entertainment" "gentrification" discussion.Brixton Challenge-a government funded regeneration project-decided to spend money on Brixtons "entertainment" sector.

I get frequent complaints from people that Brixton is not child friendly.I agree-and I dont have children.Brixton Challenge,instead of regenerating Brixton to also make it good for those with kids,Put money into "entertainment" projects that encouraged the "yuppification" of Brixton.

Their are plenty of people with kids around Brixton and they are not neccessarily that well off-they arent going (in the mind of business led regeneration) going to input a lot of money in the local economy so they get fuck all.

What Brixton needs for kids are:

1)Decent public toilets with baby changing facilities.
2)A good supervised playground/creche for people shopping in Brixton.
3)A space/small park with a cafe and seats.This should be a adults with kids only space to stop drunks and dealers taking it over.

Perhaps 2 and 3 could be combined.

Of course this wont bring in big bucks so it will never happen unless its Council/Government funded.This despite the fact it would do the shopping centre good.

 

[editor]

What Brixton needs for kids are:
3)A space/small park with a café and seats.This should be a adults with kids only space to stop drunks and dealers taking it over.

I say: reclaim Tate Gardens!

It's a drunks/junkies/dodgy geezer-infested shithole at the moment and as a result woefully under used by the community.

Imagine if there was an outdoor café there, the toilets replaced and the space more closely linked to Windrush Gardens... (another woefully underused resource)

 

[Gramsci]

I was going to suggest the Tate Gardens but didnt want to get into an argument about were the street drinkers etc go.Unfortunately that might have to happen.