Champagne & Fromage opening in Brixton soon
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prunus
Tick tock.
[Reply to ska invita] Yes, it is of course a big one; just sort of feels the anger is being poorly used here. Or not ideally used, perhaps. I take your point about raising awareness, and certainly it is very important that all if the market doesn't only cater for the well-off, that'd be a disaster. As long as the protest is noticed by the market management (and they take notice...) that's very valid. Thanks for the reply 
Also, if they're not wanting to be part if the community as you say, I'm not happy about that. Fwiw. Markets have to be part of and at the heart of a community or both's souls are torn out. What's the evidence that they don't care? How did they react to the protest? If it was me I'd have invited some protesters in for free cheese and wine and talked to them. Engage or die. (Motto available for licensing at modest fee).
Also, if they're not wanting to be part if the community as you say, I'm not happy about that. Fwiw. Markets have to be part of and at the heart of a community or both's souls are torn out. What's the evidence that they don't care? How did they react to the protest? If it was me I'd have invited some protesters in for free cheese and wine and talked to them. Engage or die. (Motto available for licensing at modest fee).
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teuchter
je suis teuchter
I agree, and I mentioned way earlier in the thread that sometimes it seems like people would prefer some kind of ghettoisation where certain areas are labelled "poor people only" and some "rich people only". One of London's strengths is that it is quite well mixed up in this way (compared to many cities) and while obviously the ideal situation would be one where inequality is much reduced, for as long as we have this inequality it's important people are at least aware of it. It's very easy in many places for the wealthier to live their life in quite complete isolation from those less fortunate. Nearly everyone where they live is in a similar situation to them, everyone in the shops they go to, and so on, and their daily routine seldom even involves going on public transport. It's hardly surprising people in that situation underestimate the level of privilege they have. It's difficult not to notice the differences between yourself and others if you live in London. So, I'm not really comfortable with the idea that the problem with C&F is its proximity to the "poor people". It's a bit patronising, even, I think, as if these poor people who live in London have until now simply not been introduced to the notion that other residents of the city are wealthy and quaff champagne or whatever.
I do accept that these things have an impact on housing costs locally of course. But I'd like to keep London as mixed up as possible and it's for the same reason that I think it's not on to ship out social housing to other parts of the city (or even country).
editor
hiraethified
I must have missed that argument being presented. Perhaps you could enlighten me with some specific posts?
The whole point of the debate has been that well-financed, upmarket West End companies like C&F are part of a process that is accelerating the growing inequality in Brixton, pricing out traditional traders and large chunks of the nearby community and turning what was a traditional market into something that few locals can afford.
The knock on effect of opening up champagne bars is that the area becomes more attractive to those who can afford such luxuries, which in turns inflates the housing market, which in turn prices out those at the bottom of the pile. So the end result is that a large chunk of the existing community is either priced out of the market, or forced to leave completely as they can no longer afford the rising rents, driven skywards by the area's new found 'desirability' to those who can afford to pay more.
Obviously this isn't solely down to C&F, but given their fucking stupid name and the obvious luxury connotations of their brand, it's not surprising that people have made them a poster boy for their concerns and expressed heartfelt worries about their impact on the local community.
editor
hiraethified
Federation is a locally-spawned small business that took a gamble on the market right at the start, and they started from the bottom. And the owners certainly aren't yuppies. So could you explain what your anonymous 'source' finds so 'hilarious', please?
editor
hiraethified
That's how it feels to me too.
editor
hiraethified
Here's the real problem.
Report: Nation's Gentrified Neighborhoods Threatened By Aristocratisation
Report: Nation's Gentrified Neighborhoods Threatened By Aristocratisation
What are you on about? It's owned and run by two guys from New Zealand who source their coffee from a guy based in recently gentrified Spitalfield Market. And it's fucking expensive in there. Nice coffee mind you. But I'm also sure the champagne joint serves up decently tasting stuff too.
leanderman
Street Party: July 2
They claim they will take the Brixton pound, which shows a small degree of giving a shit.
leanderman
Street Party: July 2
The whole point of the debate is 'whether' not 'that' - or it isn't a debate at all.
Again, I believe C+F is simply a symptom of the crazy London-wide housing crisis, which has made 'even' Brixton acceptable to the well-off.
Rents are soaring irrespective of Brixton village. Sixty per cent of locals in the Coldharbour ward should be ok though because they are in social housing. And that is a very large chunk
C+F is also a sign of growing affluence (for some).
innit
c'mon, little life giver
I love feds and I don't think the owners are posh, but pretty sure they are both ex city (goldmans maybe).
leanderman
Street Party: July 2
Didn't know that.
They are good sponsors of things, such as local primary school calendar etc.
Ms T
Honey-coloured ramparts
it's the most expensive coffee in Brixton and probably been responsible for a lot of the Village's success. I like the Fed guys too and wish them well. My friend was merely pointing out a certain irony. And there's irony too in the fact that one of the traditional businesses that we are so busy defending pocketed 30 grand from the C + F deal.
Rushy
basically a scrotum
Not to forget they profited (more modestly) from the Honest deal too. And look set to profit from another corner unit opposite C+F. So I am reliably told by another unit owner.
It's not irony, it's massive hypocrisy
lighterthief
Well-Known Member
What was on the site originally before C&F set up shop?
editor
hiraethified
Their coffee is the same price as the Ritzy, and I'm still not entirely sure what your friend found so "hilarious" about the sight of certain people drinking there or how she recognised them. They are a local start up serving decent tea/coffee/cakes at relatively affordable prices and have been operating in Brixton for several years. C&F are a well-funded expanding West End champagne bar who have just arrived here. Their prices are unaffordable to many.
For the record, I hardly ever go to Federation any more, even though I like the guys that started it. The ambience is all wrong for me now.
el-ahrairah
forward communism, forward gerbils!
in this society only the affluent are growing more affluence. social mobility has entirely collapsed.
lang rabbie
Je ne regrette les gazebos
PUBLIC INFORMATION POST
teuchter
je suis teuchter
Waste my time constructing a point so you can dismiss it with your arrogant "can't be arsed with your barmy ideas" routine yet again? Nah, I've got work to do today.
editor
hiraethified
Well, that's certainly one way for you to get out of having to make sense of your 'argument', but no matter. Jog on and enjoy your busy day!
editor
hiraethified
While the champagne glasses are being clinked in the Village, there's people struggling to survive mere metres across the road, there's people being evicted out of their homes, and there's growing numbers of people attending the nearby soup kitchen. It's fucked.
sparkybird
ask the bird...
Spot the difference
Asti spumanti
Champagne
Nescafe instant coffee
Federation flat white
Iceland cheddar
Posh cheese
Asti spumanti
Champagne
Nescafe instant coffee
Federation flat white
Iceland cheddar
Posh cheese
leanderman
Street Party: July 2
It's quite quiet in Fed right now.
But what a long way it has come from that spot across the avenue. I remember going there just after it opened to sample my first flat white and bring one home to Mrs LM as if it were a trophy from a journey to distant lands.
