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Brixton chitter chatter and news and updates (Feb-Aug 2011)

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nick h. said:
Please don't shoot the messenger. Remember that I said "I can't say whether they're racist", so don't jump to conclusions. Do the maths, it's not rocket science. Take Coldharbour Ward as an example. The black population is similar in size to the white population. But on weekdays the majority of faces on the street are black. Until rush hour when a flood of white people come out of the tube, by which time the market's closing. Then take into account that some businesses tend to attract predominantly white customers. Hence they get little business during the week. In fact some get well over half their weekly takings on Saturdays when the employed middle classes are out spending their money. It's hardly surprising that they want more white people around. If business is bad they look at their surroundings and think 'no wonder I'm not making any money, this place is a ghetto'. Does that mean they're racist? Who knows. Racists in this country have learned to keep quiet about it.
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People who commute out of brixton for work will be doing that regardless of whether they 'ethnically cleanse' the market or not. People who are around during the day are shift workers, primary carers to young children, the retired, the unemployed and school children whatever colour they are.

e2a: and what eric says.
 
Obviously I have lost the competition to be the first urban poster to visit the ice cream shop - but me and the girl shared a scoop today for £1.75 and it was very nice. Her first taste of ice cream and although surprised by the coldness of it - she soon overcame the shock and lapped it up!
 
I've just had £2 worth of chocolate and caramel ice cream IN A CONE! I do wish the Spanish salesperson would stop winking at me though. I'm sure it's an accidental wink bestowed on all, but it's giving me angina.
 
quimcunx said:
People who commute out of brixton for work will be doing that regardless of whether they 'ethnically cleanse' the market or not. People who are around during the day are shift workers, primary carers to young children, the retired, the unemployed and school children whatever colour they are.

e2a: and what eric says.
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I would shop more in the Market (and did regularly when I was self employed) if the opening hours were extended. The Market does need to adapt to the needs of local shoppers if it wants to attract them. many of us who do commute out of Brixton just can't access it except on a Saturday.

It's a huge shame to lose businesses like Nour though and I don't want it turned into spitafields but currently large sections of the community aren't able to use it. To be fair, we probably have more options/money than the traditional Market customers, but a bit of change could mean lots more customers
 
Isn't it open until 10:00 pm on Thursdays and Fridays these days? So that all the posh people can buy expensive meals in the posh foodie places.... having said that, I'm hoping to find somewhere nice to have a meal myself this evening, but there you go (and I am white and arguably posh, but have lived in Brixton for over 30 years and not at all sure I really like the new market!).
 
I thought it was just the Brixton village restauranty bit that was open late not the food stalls. I'm also White and middle class, but love the Market, I just don't get to use it enough these days.
I quite like the new bit of the Market, but don't want to loose the traditional one. I guess (probably very selfishly) that it was easier for me to use.
 
nick h. said:
I've just had £2 worth of chocolate and caramel ice cream IN A CONE! I do wish the Spanish salesperson would stop winking at me though. I'm sure it's an accidental wink bestowed on all, but it's giving me angina.
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Does she just wink at white people?
 
shakespearegirl said:
I would shop more in the Market (and did regularly when I was self employed) if the opening hours were extended. The Market does need to adapt to the needs of local shoppers if it wants to attract them. many of us who do commute out of Brixton just can't access it except on a Saturday.

It's a huge shame to lose businesses like Nour though and I don't want it turned into spitafields but currently large sections of the community aren't able to use it. To be fair, we probably have more options/money than the traditional Market customers, but a bit of change could mean lots more customers
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I always have a grand plan to get up early on Saturday (so no one sees me with my granny trolley) and do a big shop in the market. I never do though. I can just about whizz in there in the evening, but only just. And I might have a little wander and pick up a couple of things at the weekend.

My ex's Bajan mum used to come from Tooting and still sometimes comes from Sutton to use the market. I expect others do too. But other than opening later, I don't know what changes they could make to get more better off white customers to come. They will still be at work during the day. Maybe they could have special weekday offers to make them more affordable and attractive to the people who are around during the day, if the choice is between that and being open but empty. But of course as has been discussed on numerous threads the market traders have other forces working against them.

e2a: at mrsredboots. I went to the Thai place at the entrance of Brixton Village last Friday and the lamb was delicious and tender. A bargain too at under £20 for 3 people to eat.
 
quimcunx said:
e2a: at mrsredboots. I went to the Thai place at the entrance of Brixton Village last Friday and the lamb was delicious and tender. A bargain too at under £20 for 3 people to eat.
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We ended up at Etta's Seafood Restaurant, and very good it was too! But we were very disappointed to see that every restaurant - even Franco Manca's - was 3/4 empty. Where, oh where were all the punters? I suppose Brixton just isn't used to eating in the arcades on a Friday night, but how sad. My husband wondered whether any of them will survive.

ETA We stopped off at the ice-cream parlour for pudding on the way home, and were served by the nice Spanish girl who may or may not have winked at us, but put so much caramel sauce on my rum-n-raisin cone that she had to hand me a tissue to wipe it off my hands! Lovely ice-cream, I thought.
 
Mrs Redboots said:
We ended up at Etta's Seafood Restaurant, and very good it was too! But we were very disappointed to see that every restaurant - even Franco Manca's - was 3/4 empty. Where, oh where were all the punters? I suppose Brixton just isn't used to eating in the arcades on a Friday night, but how sad. My husband wondered whether any of them will survive.
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I had a lovely seafood something or other there. It was quiet when I went in too. One other table arrived when I was there, but that was weekday. The thai place was full last friday. Several of the places were, not everywhere though. Maybe it was all people down for the march. :hmm:
 
quimcunx said:
I had a lovely seafood something or other there. It was quiet when I went in too. One other table arrived when I was there, but that was weekday. The thai place was full last friday. Several of the places were, not everywhere though. Maybe it was all people down for the march. :hmm:
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You do wonder whether they'll go on opening late if people don't bother eating there. But the arcades felt rather strange with all the shops (as opposed to restaurants) shut, and shuttered, and people driving large machines shifting boxes around and cleaning the floors. I wouldn't have liked to have gone in there on my own. The Thai place is okay as it opens on to the street, and the Japanese place is only just inside, but some of the other places are quite a trek into the depths!
 
miss minnie said:
Thurs night and Sat lunch seem to be busiest times at those eateries, Sunday lunch hasn't really caught on yet.
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I am certain that the foodie area in 'Brixton Village' is too hidden away.

Market Row is much better for passing trade.

After all, people are often lazy and unadventurous.
 
Make that "lazy and unadventurous" plus having little sense of direction. ;)

I hate using the covered bits of the market. It's not the semi-deserted air which puts me off as much as the lack of much indication of where I am in relation to where I'm trying to get to. You know how it is (or maybe not), you go into the market, find something brilliant, vow to go back there again another time... but don't find it again because you can't remember where it was. :facepalm:
 
Does anyone ever answer the phone at Brixton Rec on a Sunday :mad:

HELLO? HELLO? ANYONE THERE? *bangs on glass*
 
Greebo said:
Make that "lazy and unadventurous" plus having little sense of direction. ;)

I hate using the covered bits of the market. It's not the semi-deserted air which puts me off as much as the lack of much indication of where I am in relation to where I'm trying to get to. You know how it is (or maybe not), you go into the market, find something brilliant, vow to go back there again another time... but don't find it again because you can't remember where it was. :facepalm:
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I understand, Greebo. I have no sensible mind map of the various bits of Brixton market at all. What doesn't help is that Atlantic Road and Coldharbour Lane are parallel to each other yet somehow manage to cross each other. :hmm:
 
Rare sighting - of a cycling police sergeant (on his own) up the top of Tulse Hill. First sign of Spring?
 
Greebo said:
Rare sighting - of a cycling police sergeant (on his own) up the top of Tulse Hill. First sign of Spring?
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That may possibly be Brixton's version of Robocop. He has a bit of a rep (none of it good with either community or Job) in the area. Was a PCSO who became a cop. He's not well-liked with anyone and also has wrecked any semblance of community relations. Years of hard work wrecked by officers like him.
He's very good at officious pedalling.
 
Fair enough, never seen the film, that's just his local nickname (and not in a complimentary way). Saw him in action down CHL a while ago and it was clear he was known and not respected by anyone.
 
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