Streatham Bowling Alley Sold for £8m

[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.

 

[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.

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 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???

 

[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...

[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

 

[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....

 

[jpm]

Somerfield will be pleased

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