Penge - the revival starts here

[ice-is-forming]

The police station sits empty now, which is a shame. Was the Penge Trades Social Club at the end of Royston Rd there when you grew up?

Yeah That's where Frank and Peggys Dance school was. The Penge trade union club was upstairs and the Royston Ballroom was underneath. The ballroom was pretty magnificent with chandeliers and a big polished floor that you could slide for miiiiiles in, in just your socks. My dad would drink upstairs at the club and the men would have trade union meetings there, my dad was a shop floor steward. It's occurred to me that men and women's lives were very much separate back then. Or was that just my family? my dad took me most places with him and there was always a few of us kids playing about but I don't remember seeing many women now i come to think of it.

 

[TruXta]

Yeah That's where Frank and Peggys Dance school was. The Penge trade union club was upstairs and the Royston Ballroom was underneath. The ballroom was pretty magnificent with chandeliers and a big polished floor that you could slide for miiiiiles in, in just your socks. My dad would drink upstairs at the club and the men would have trade union meetings there, my dad was a shop floor steward. It's occurred to me that men and women's lives back then were very much separate back then. Or was that just my family? my dad took me most places with him and there was always a few of us kids playing about but I don't remember seeing many women now i come to think of it.

I think you're right that there was more gender segregation alright. Cheers for sharing, keep it coming please.

 

[TruXta]

Has anyone mentioned that a craft brewery has set up shop in Penge? These guys http://www.lateknightsbrewery.co.uk/ Apparently they've opened a bar in Gipsy Hill too, as well as selling their produce across pubs in London.

 

[ice-is-forming]

My mum and dad met at a dance but it was at Beckenham (swimming) Baths. After the war they used to have a huge bit of board that they took out and covered the pool with and they'd hold dances on that! My dad always told me that there used to be a diving board at the pool, they'd put it in but had somehow forgotten to make the pool deeper, first bloke that dived in died apparently so they took it straight down! My dad used to be a volunteer swimming instructor at the pool in the evenings, i used to spend a lot of time there and in the school holidays I'd be there as soon as they opened. It used to be freezing and sometimes the life guard would even have to crack a thin layer of ice on the top of the water with that long pole they used to have to fish you out with if you started drowning. We used to get wet and then sit on the side until we turned blue from the cold, the idea being that when you dived back into the water it felt warm because you almost had hypothermia crazy kids

 

[gaijingirl]

My mum and dad met at a dance but it was at Beckenham (swimming) Baths. After the war they used to have a huge bit of board that they took out and covered the pool with and they'd hold dances on that! My dad always told me that there used to be a diving board at the pool, they'd put it in but had somehow forgotten to make the pool deeper, first bloke that dived in died apparently so they took it straight down! My dad used to be a volunteer swimming instructor at the pool in the evenings, i used to spend a lot of time there and in the school holidays I'd be there as soon as they opened. It used to be freezing and sometimes the life guard would even have to crack a thin layer of ice on the top of the water with that long pole they used to have to fish you out with if you started drowning. We used to get wet and then sit on the side until we turned blue from the cold, the idea being that when you dived back into the water it felt warm because you almost had hypothermia crazy kids

ah.. thanks for this... it's all different now of course that it's the Spa (still not been) but this is where I used to go every Saturday for swimming lessons. Fond memories of Beckenham baths. Would always go upstairs afterwards and buy a packet of fish and chip snacks (salt and vinegar flavour fish and chip shaped biscuits) and a honeycomb bar. I remember especially doing the lifesaving course in my pyjamas - tying knots in the ends of the legs and whipping them over my head to "inflate" them and make a float. Every time I take a ferry these days I do wonder if I should go in my pyjamas - just in case.

 

[TruXta]

 

[porno thieving gypsy]

Is it on the same site as the new Beckenham Spa?

 

[TruXta]

Think so

 

[ChrisFilter]

ChrisFilter we're here now . The High Street's not that grim! The Crooked Billet and the Pawleyne Arms are.... interesting. Contrary to RubyToogood's predictions five years ago it's not turned into Herne Hill yet. I quite like it so far.

Welcome! The seller pulled out of that purchase so we ended up just round the corner in South Norwood. Penge is cool, I have a few mates who live there. Proximity to park is a big plus and the aforementioned shops are wicked. Angel Kebab also does restaurant quality (as opposed to kebab shop quality) Turkish fare. Lovely stuff.

 

[gaijingirl]

Is it on the same site as the new Beckenham Spa?

yes..

 

[TruXta]

Welcome! The seller pulled out of that purchase so we ended up just round the corner in South Norwood. Penge is cool, I have a few mates who live there. Proximity to park is a big plus and the aforementioned shops are wicked. Angel Kebab also does restaurant quality (as opposed to kebab shop quality) Turkish fare. Lovely stuff.

Angel is the only place our sellers recommended we visit. I did seem to remember you were in SNorwood alright. Any good pubs/cafes/restaurants down there?

 

[_pH_]

Any good pubs/cafes/restaurants down there?

None whatsoever.

 

[ice-is-forming]

ah.. thanks for this... it's all different now of course that it's the Spa (still not been) but this is where I used to go every Saturday for swimming lessons. Fond memories of Beckenham baths. Would always go upstairs afterwards and buy a packet of fish and chip snacks (salt and vinegar flavour fish and chip shaped biscuits) and a honeycomb bar. I remember especially doing the lifesaving course in my pyjamas - tying knots in the ends of the legs and whipping them over my head to "inflate" them and make a float. Every time I take a ferry these days I do wonder if I should go in my pyjamas - just in case.

yeah i did that pyjama thing too! but i always got the tomato sauce flavour potato stick things from the machine and a cup of hot chocolate, used to feel so high tech using that machine! I used to love those fisn n chips things though, can you still get them?

 

[gaijingirl]

yeah i did that pyjama thing too! but i always got the tomato sauce flavour potato stick things from the machine and a cup of hot chocolate, used to feel so high tech using that machine! I used to love those fisn n chips things though, can you still get them?

I haven't seen them in years tbh.. they were very very very vinegary.. used to love them.

 

[Yelkcub]

http://www.pengeparty.com/ right up Urban's street I reckon...

 

[ice-is-forming]

There used to be a big department store co-op, in between the Odeon Pictures and the Pawleyne arms. In about 1966 they installed the first escalator that most people had ever seen. There was quite the grand opening ceremony, when the crowds had cleared and everyone had tried it out things at the shop quietened down and my mum said i could have one last ride on it. On the way up she pointed to the big red emergency stop button and said "never touch that button" of course what a stupid thing to say to me When it had ground to an abrupt halt she was so embarrassed, it was even worse when she was told that the manager, who had the only key to restart it was already half way across london and wouldn't be back that day. I don't think my feet even touched the ground as she dragged me out of the shop. we always shopped there but she stayed away for a few months after that, <<< mum


This is a picture of what used to be the Co-op and Sainsburys is now where the cinema used to be

 

[Guineveretoo]

Angel is the only place our sellers recommended we visit. I did seem to remember you were in SNorwood alright. Any good pubs/cafes/restaurants down there?

There is a really good Thai restaurant in South Norwood called Mantanah. http://mantanahthai.co.uk/

That's about it, so far, though. More to come, once Stanley Halls is renovated. Hopefully.

 

[ChrisFilter]

None whatsoever.

Not been to Yeha Noha yet? It's fantastic. Genuinely one of my favourite places for a coffee/food/beers in London.

Pubs-wise, Snorwood is shit. The Ship is the only one I'd drink in.

 

[Guineveretoo]

Not been to Yeha Noha yet? It's fantastic. Genuinely one of my favourite places for a coffee/food/beers in London.

Pubs-wise, Snorwood is shit. The Ship is the only one I'd drink in.

Oh yeah, I like Yeha Noha. It is a bit limited in its food, though, particularly for veggies....

 

[ChrisFilter]

Oh yeah, I like Yeha Noha. It is a bit limited in its food, though, particularly for veggies....

It's all about the pierogi And the chilli hot chocolate is amazing.

 

[TruXta]

Not been to Yeha Noha yet? It's fantastic. Genuinely one of my favourite places for a coffee/food/beers in London.

Pubs-wise, Snorwood is shit. The Ship is the only one I'd drink in.

That's the one place I have been. Great place.

 

[_pH_]

Not been to Yeha Noha yet? It's fantastic. Genuinely one of my favourite places for a coffee/food/beers in London.

Pubs-wise, Snorwood is shit. The Ship is the only one I'd drink in.

I haven't no, might have to give it a try. The bloke who runs the coffee shop at the station does a good cuppa too, and open at around 5am which is handy.

You're right about the pubs though.

 

[gaijingirl]

yeah i did that pyjama thing too! but i always got the tomato sauce flavour potato stick things from the machine and a cup of hot chocolate, used to feel so high tech using that machine! I used to love those fisn n chips things though, can you still get them?

oh my gosh.. they're doing a whole feature on this (the 70s water survival course - pyjamas, black bricks etc) on the one show right now. I didn't realise they didn't do this anymore - apparently it's quite iconic and was comparatively difficult compared with what they do now. Also they were saying that the numbers of kids who could swim then is much higher than it is now. Don't ever watch this programme but that was really interesting! The black bricks!! Where did they all go?

 

[TruXta]

Kids nowadays... pft.

 

[secateurz]

after 5 years in Brix, Penge/Kent House/Beckenham is my new abode. Penge will be like Herne Hill someday, and Kent House will be more like West Dulwich.

trust

 

[porno thieving gypsy]

Penge will be like Herne Hill someday, and Kent House will be more like West Dulwich.

trust

I hope not.

 

[TruXta]

Penge has some potential, Kent House is just residential, apart from the part of the main drag that leads up to the big Sainsbury's.

 

[Pickman's model]

Penge has some potential

so the revival's not got too far since 2008 then

 

[TruXta]

so the revival's not got too far since 2008 then

Not sure, I wasn't here until this year. Seems some things (like house prices) have done well. Not sure what that might indicate for the area other than the obvious.

 

[spanglechick]

I noticed on my way back from homebase on Saturday, that penge has a cupcake shop! Gentrification gone mad!