Camberwell news and chitter-chatter

[ibilly99]

I was there again the other day and it was delicious.

The problem with FM Mangal is it has become a benchmark of taste/value by which I judge all others. Recently returned to the Angel and Gypsies where me and the missus had an exceptional meal a few years back if a little pricey. This time the portions were meagre , the food just average and the cost extortionate (70 quid for a few dishes and a glass of wine each). They are relying on their reputation now to max out the return from their customers and has the feel of a business maxing return on investment rather than indulging in a love of food and sharing it with the world. We won't be going back. Nothing (and we eat out a lot) beats the Mangal bang for your buck equation. It would get boring but we love to take friends there and treat them and see the love. The owner who is a Kurd BTW always greets us like returning friends.

 

[George & Bill]

The problem with FM Mangal is it has become a benchmark of taste/value by which I judge all others. Recently returned to the Angel and Gypsies where me and the missus had an exceptional meal a few years back if a little pricey. This time the portions were meagre , the food just average and the cost extortionate (70 quid for a few dishes and a glass of wine each). They are relying on their reputation now to max out the return from their customers and has the feel of a business maxing return on investment rather than indulging in a love of food and sharing it with the world. We won't be going back. Nothing (and we eat out a lot) beats the Mangal bang for your buck equation. It would get boring but we love to take friends there and treat them and see the love. The owner who is a Kurd BTW always greets us like returning friends.

Silk Road easily competes with FM Mangal on bang/buck - and probably wins, IMO, especially if atmosphere is taken into account. A&G is nowhere on that count.

 

[Puddy_Tat]

came up on tweeter this morning.

 

[se5]

I see the fabulous Rat Records on Camberwell New Road have got various things going on for Record Store Day on Saturday:

 

[editor]

A search failed to locate a dedicated thread, so here's something for you Camberwell folks. I went along to the Flying Dutchman bar/venue last night for an art exhibitiomn - and I’ve never been to a pub with a wet room in the basement. Oooer!

Bad Behaviour – Collaborations. Art exhibition at The Flying Dutchman, SE5

 

[colacubes]

http://www.urban75.net/forums/threads/camberwell-chitter-chatter.234926/page-38#post-13803083

 

[editor]

http://www.urban75.net/forums/threads/camberwell-chitter-chatter.234926/page-38#post-13803083

Damn! I searched for Camberwell in the title (too many results) and then 'news' and 'gossip' but forgot chitter chatter!

 

[editor]

*threads a-merged

 

[Freddie8]

*threads a-merged

Hi guys, new here, please be gentle
I've been away from Camberwell for quite a while but recently moved back. It's all changed! Seems to be going places. Can you recommend any other hidden gems? I tried that FM Mangal place which was great. Love the new fish and chip place opposite too! Any good pubs? Or Sunday lunches?
Many thanks!
Fx

 

[George & Bill]

Yes, the 'new' fish and chip place - Flying Fish - is good; I remember not being that impressed with the chips when I first went in there in 2004 when it opened up, but those teething problems have long since been ironed out!

 

[mango5]

Yeah, the new bit confused me. Avoid the calamari if you want to avoid disappointment.

Deffo big changes in the last 10 years, probably most in the last 5.

The new Hill Bakery on Grove Lane does fantastic fresh sourdough. Opening hours are a bit variable, especially the start time. But they are usually sold out by 4ish in my experience.

The Pigeon Hole has calmed down a bit on the ubertrendiness and stopped trying to sell upcycled furniture as far as I can tell. Their cakes are probably the best in Camberwell.

In other news, continuing the slow decline of once abundant barber/nail bar provision, it looks like there will be an evening/weekend pop-up deli coming soon to the former Queen's nail bar on Camberwell Church Street.

 

[mango5]

Oh, and the art thing at the Flying Dutchman finishes today. An Urb is one of the exhibitors, so go along if you can.

 

[Freddie8]

Yeah, the new bit confused me. Avoid the calamari if you want to avoid disappointment.

Deffo big changes in the last 10 years, probably most in the last 5.

The new Hill Bakery on Grove Lane does fantastic fresh sourdough. Opening hours are a bit variable, especially the start time. But they are usually sold out by 4ish in my experience.

The Pigeon Hole has calmed down a bit on the ubertrendiness and stopped trying to sell upcycled furniture as far as I can tell. Their cakes are probably the best in Camberwell.

In other news, continuing the slow decline of once abundant barber/nail bar provision, it looks like there will be an evening/weekend pop-up deli coming soon to the former Queen's nail bar on Camberwell Church Street.

Okay, so it seems the fish and chip place is far from 'new' but it's new to me having been away so long. Thanks for the recommendations guys, will definitely check out the Pigeon Hole. I see what used to be the Sun and Doves is now the Sun! Is that any good?
And also there used to be a reading group in Camberwell. Is that still in existence does anyone know?
Thanks all!

 

[mango5]

The Sun is now part of the Antic chain, like the Tiger on the Green (and a new place 'The Hole' I think' just off Peckham Road near the library. Apart from cosmetic differences they're much the same. The Sun and Doves came to a sad end. The old guv'nor started the fair pint campaign and posts on here sometimes.

The library has reading groups.

 

[mango5]

Here's a depressing list of closed Camberwell pubs.

 

[editor]

Here's a depressing list of closed Camberwell pubs.

Ouch. That is depressing.

 

[Freddie8]

Guys what happened to Johanssons? It seems to have closed?

 

[mango5]

It's been closed for more than a year. I think it's going to reincarnate as a pizza place.

 

[Freddie8]

It's been closed for more than a year. I think it's going to reincarnate as a pizza place.

That's a shame, I thought it was great in there.

 

[Dulwich Raider]

Sorry to hear that the Cool Cats Cafe has closed.

http://www.coolcatscafe.com/

Just a little too far off the track for the drop-in, perhaps (guilty)

TDR

 

[George & Bill]

Sorry to hear that the Cool Cats Cafe has closed.

http://www.coolcatscafe.com/

Just a little too far off the track for the drop-in, perhaps (guilty)

TDR

Partly, but also down to the fact that the owner, despite a stated aim to create a venue for the whole community, put on a menu with dishes centred around the £10 even at lunchtimes. I used to live 30 seconds away, and wrote to him a couple of times suggesting ways he could maintain his commitment to good cooking while making it accessible to the likes of me (not to mention the many people around there who are much poorer still); he first replied by saying he would start doing houmous and pitta at £4 a go, and then, when I wrote again, pointing out that most of his competitors seemed to have settled around the £5 price point at lunchtime, he told me that he didn't want to be running a fried chicken shop, or words to that effect.

 

[editor]

Sorry to hear that the Cool Cats Cafe has closed.

http://www.coolcatscafe.com/

Just a little too far off the track for the drop-in, perhaps (guilty)

TDR

That is a shame as they made quite an effort to provide a good little local live venue.

 

[Freddie8]

That is a shame as they made quite an effort to provide a good little local live venue.

That's a real shame, it was great in there, and exactly what the area needed. And I thought it always seemed busy

 

[George & Bill]

That's a real shame, it was great in there, and exactly what the area needed. And I thought it always seemed busy

No, it was rarely busy, and it was so quiet during the day that it had stopped opening before 5pm or so quite some time back. I'm not really sure how it can have been 'exactly what the area needed' when most in the area could not have afforded to go there more than very occasionally. Unless what you mean is that the area needed its mostly poor residents to leave and be replaced by people who can afford £10 for a weekday lunch.

 

[Maggot]

I'm not really sure how it can have been 'exactly what the area needed' when most in the area could not have afforded to go there more than very occasionally.

How do you know how much the local residents can afford?

 

[mango5]

Not sure if the Peckham Pelican does live music but suspect it does the groovy hangout vibe rather better than Cool Cats'. There's already a lot of choice for ladies wot lunch elsewhere in Camberwell.
In other news, Angels and Gypsies have stopped opening at lunchtime after a brief experiment with a new menu. Even though the burrito & juice deal prices crept up it was still a decent lunchtime option.

 

[editor]

Has anyone been to the Communion Bar with its curious ecclesiastical theme?

 

[George & Bill]

How do you know how much the local residents can afford?

1. Because I was a single person with an above-average disposable income for the area, and could not afford the place myself
2. Because I spoke to them and that's what they told me
3. From the fact that nearly every other eatery nearby had followed the market towards a ~£5 pricepoint at lunchtimes, while they stuck stubbornly around the £10 mark

 

[George & Bill]

Not sure if the Peckham Pelican does live music but suspect it does the groovy hangout vibe rather better than Cool Cats'. There's already a lot of choice for ladies wot lunch elsewhere in Camberwell.
In other news, Angels and Gypsies have stopped opening at lunchtime after a brief experiment with a new menu. Even though the burrito & juice deal prices crept up it was still a decent lunchtime option.

Yes, the Pelican got the fact that people had varied budgets - you can get a big filter coffee for £1.20 and choose between pricier craft beers or a can of Red Stripe for £2.50. Likewise you can get a bagel for under a couple of quid, whereas CCC's idea of an affordable option was some homuous and pita for £4.

 

[Get Involved]

Has anyone been to the Communion Bar with its curious ecclesiastical theme?

Yes. If you're fundamentally opposed to the idea of somewhere like Camberwell having a swanky place selling £8+ cocktails, you won't enjoy it, but I personally think it's got a lot going for it. There are some questionable elements, like the theme and the related decor (although the muralled toilets are pretty incredible), and they have a rather cringe-inducing cocktail 'inspired by John Healey's tales of alcoholism' which is served in a can of special brew...
But on the plus side, the cocktails are of a very high quality, the music is always very good, it's table service so no waiting at the bar, and it's theoretically open late (depending on how busy it is). Somewhere to go for a treat every so often, and nice to have the option to do so, I think.