Croydon - nightlife, accommodation, things to do and general chat

[Guineveretoo]

There used to be a small theatre on part of the site where the boxpark now is and there was, initially, an agreement that any development would include a theatre.

however, the builders went bankrupt and, unrelatedly, so did the theatre company.

Which is a shame, because it was a brilliant little theatre and was a reason for going out in East Croydon in the evenings.

Then they closed the cinema and the theatre in the Clocktower (although they have since reopened the cinema on an occasional basis) and then they closed Fairfield Halls.

And that is on top of all the clubs that have been forced to close for one reason or another.

And they wonder why it is such a desert in the centre of Croydon??

 

[hash tag]

Also, did that theatre not have a cafe with it?

 

[Callie]

There was a bar. Not sure about café. You might have been able to get lunch there...not sure.

 

[Hoss]

There used to be a fantastic games arcade attached to the Warehouse Theatre in the early 90's. Loads of games at 10/20p a go and single B&H sold from behind the counter.

Guineveretoo makes a really good point. How can a town thrive when all its cultural spots are being closed down?

I grew up in Croydon and it always had a lot going on musically - from bands at the Cartoon, jam sessions and illegal gigs at Priddy's Yard studio to sound systems, squat parties, pirate radio stations and a ridiculous amount of good record shops. I spent many years djing at various venues from mid 90's and 00's. It always felt as though potential was bubbling away under the surface. Dubstep was born there but Croydons cultural and music scene seems to have died. Is this terribly pessimistic of me? Am I just old and not in touch?


.

 

[Puddy_Tat]

on flickr today - west croydon station looking south, late 1940s / early 50s

 

[ATOMIC SUPLEX]

Cool!

 

[Maggot]

There used to be a fantastic games arcade attached to the Warehouse Theatre in the early 90's. Loads of games at 10/20p a go and single B&H sold from behind the counter.

Guineveretoo makes a really good point. How can a town thrive when all its cultural spots are being closed down?

I grew up in Croydon and it always had a lot going on musically - from bands at the Cartoon, jam sessions and illegal gigs at Priddy's Yard studio to sound systems, squat parties, pirate radio stations and a ridiculous amount of good record shops. I spent many years djing at various venues from mid 90's and 00's. It always felt as though potential was bubbling away under the surface. Dubstep was born there but Croydons cultural and music scene seems to have died. Is this terribly pessimistic of me? Am I just old and not in touch?

You are right. Some bars and restaurants in containers is no substitute for all the proper culture which has been lost.

Although I am old too, are there any young Croydonians who can fill us in on the state of culture in Croydon.

 

[Callie]

Pretty sure I don't count as young anymore but the night life in Croydon is shite. There are a few places with live music, I'm not aware of any venues that play music I am interested in (anything that isn't chart shite, 80s/retro, rock), the cinema is shite blockbuster top ten films only.

We have potential, we have the venues, we have residents with skills but we just don't seem to have anything actually going on.

But yeah I'm sure I've missed things out... Scream studios, project b, Matthews yard maybe?! The spread-eagle try with theatre and film. The Oval has live music.

 

[Dan U]

There used to be a fantastic games arcade attached to the Warehouse Theatre in the early 90's. Loads of games at 10/20p a go and single B&H sold from behind the counter.

Guineveretoo makes a really good point. How can a town thrive when all its cultural spots are being closed down?

I grew up in Croydon and it always had a lot going on musically - from bands at the Cartoon, jam sessions and illegal gigs at Priddy's Yard studio to sound systems, squat parties, pirate radio stations and a ridiculous amount of good record shops. I spent many years djing at various venues from mid 90's and 00's. It always felt as though potential was bubbling away under the surface. Dubstep was born there but Croydons cultural and music scene seems to have died. Is this terribly pessimistic of me? Am I just old and not in touch?


.

Spot on.

 

[ATOMIC SUPLEX]

You are right. Some bars and restaurants in containers is no substitute for all the proper culture which has been lost.

Although I am old too, are there any young Croydonians who can fill us in on the state of culture in Croydon.

I knew some young people who were constantly battling to get some of the local scene back. Basically it all seemed to fail. Black Sheep, Scream lounge, gigs and theater at St Mathews yard.
The council were certainly not interested in helping or even trumpeting any venture, so it makes me angry that they feel that this temporary white elephant deserves so much council money.
They wanted to follow a successful shorditch model . . . then did it all half arsed and half cocked and just threw money at (what they admit is risky as is).

 

[ffsear]

Christ, am i the only one who's actually excited about BoxPark ?

 

[ATOMIC SUPLEX]

Christ, am i the only one who's actually excited about BoxPark ?

You are excited about choosing which street food snack to eat?
If you live in croydon you've already paid for it but you will have to pay again. No garden waste collection though, no money for that.

 

[ffsear]

Yes. I'm prepared to give it a chance at least. Don't understand the level of pessimism here.

Garden waste? First world problem I can deal with.

 

[Hoss]

Yes. I'm prepared to give it a chance at least. Don't understand the level of pessimism here.

Garden waste? First world problem I can deal with.

I'm definitely prepared to give it a chance and make a few visits. I hope it's a success and that it will benefit the residents of the borough in some way.


.

 

[ATOMIC SUPLEX]

Yes. I'm prepared to give it a chance at least. Don't understand the level of pessimism here.

Garden waste? First world problem I can deal with.

They are spending my council tax on a venture that they think is unlikely to prop itself up even after that. Forget pessimism about the flawed business model being a success. That makes me mad.

Garden waste is a first world problem you can deal with? Good for you Jack, glad you are ok. I'm not sure where high price street tacos in a container come in the queue there. My elderly neighbour can't afford to have hers taken away and has no way of removing her garden waste herself. In a short sighted cut in waste disposal, the road to the tip is now at a constant traffic jam at the weekend, disrupting business, including the royal mail. People (even with back gardens and too small) are having bonfires, someones going to fuck up soon. I know my neighbour did, but it was sorted.
I've now bought an incinerator and do both our waste as best I can.

. . but yeah you can buy your bao and go to the (not free) lame arse festival at the Summer boxpark. I mean winter, or next year or whenever. I mean it's only us who are paying for it to happen.

 

[Callie]

I'm excited about box park sad that craft beer co won't be there now but hopefully Cronx will have a decent selection (I haven't liked many of their beers so far).

There is some other stuff going on, it's not all doom and gloom -> reinvestment in the Surrey street area, things happening there in Sundays (Pride, street cocktails did a thing?, Something happening this Sunday beats and eats), beer festival at braithwaite hall in a couple of weeks...there just seems to be too much shiny, standard development stuff rather than supporting home grown business and talent. I think there are only a couple of local Croydon businesses going into boxpark

 

[ffsear]

They are spending my council tax on a venture that they think is unlikely to prop itself up even after that. Forget pessimism about the flawed business model being a success. That makes me mad.

Garden waste is a first world problem you can deal with? Good for you Jack, glad you are ok. I'm not sure where high price street tacos in a container come in the queue there. My elderly neighbour can't afford to have hers taken away and has no way of removing her garden waste herself. In a short sighted cut in waste disposal, the road to the tip is now at a constant traffic jam at the weekend, disrupting business, including the royal mail. People (even with back gardens and too small) are having bonfires, someones going to fuck up soon. I know my neighbour did, but it was sorted.
I've now bought an incinerator and do both our waste as best I can.

. . but yeah you can buy your bao and go to the (not free) lame arse festival at the Summer boxpark. I mean winter, or next year or whenever. I mean it's only us who are paying for it to happen.

I'm sorry you feel that way. That doesn't mean i have to share your view.

And i'm happy paying the yearly fee for Garden Waste removal (which i split with 4 of my neighbours). Works out £15 a year!

 

[bemused]

And i'm happy paying the yearly fee for Garden Waste removal (which i split with 4 of my neighbours). Works out £15 a year!

I'm paying for it, although it was rather cheeky of them to remove it whilst at the same time pumping cashing into vanity projects.

I dream for the day they allow you to use wheelie bins for recycling rather than the awful thinks you have to put bricks on to stop them blowing down the road.

 

[Hoss]

I'm paying for it, although it was rather cheeky of them to remove it whilst at the same time pumping cashing into vanity projects.

I dream for the day they allow you to use wheelie bins for recycling rather than the awful thinks you have to put bricks on to stop them blowing down the road.

Those boxes are ridiculously inconvenient. We bought a wheelie bin and fill it with glass/plastic etc and the binmen empty it with no problem.




.

 

[bemused]

Those boxes are ridiculously inconvenient. We bought a wheelie bin and fill it with glass/plastic etc and the binmen empty it with no problem.
.

Really? Fuck it I'm buying two then - where did you get it from?

 

[Maggot]

Those boxes are ridiculously inconvenient. We bought a wheelie bin and fill it with glass/plastic etc and the binmen empty it with no problem.




.

Do you mean it still gets recycled, or does it fill up precious landfill space?

 

[Hoss]

Really? Fuck it I'm buying two then - where did you get it from?

I'll dig out the link and get back to you.

Maggot it's the recycling team that take it away so I assume it's not dumped in landfill.


.

 

[ATOMIC SUPLEX]

I'm sorry you feel that way. That doesn't mean i have to share your view.

And i'm happy paying the yearly fee for Garden Waste removal (which i split with 4 of my neighbours). Works out £15 a year!

What bemused said. They can fritter money away on their white elephant that even they don't think will break even after they have given it a load of cash but are happy to make cuts on things that actually affect ordinary people. How many tacos and bao could your £15 buy? They stole your money.

 

[ffsear]

What bemused said. They can fritter money away on their white elephant that even they don't think will break even after they have given it a load of cash but are happy to make cuts on things that actually affect ordinary people. How many tacos and bao could your £15 buy? They stole your money.

Just because you want it to fail doesn't make it a white elephant. Not point arguing over it, lets wait a year and see.

 

[ffsear]

Some new pics.. Almost finished! Photos show how Boxpark Croydon looks inside

 

[ATOMIC SUPLEX]

Just because you want it to fail doesn't make it a white elephant. Not point arguing over it, lets wait a year and see.

No, I didn't say that. It doesn't look to me like a great business model, and looks unlikely to go well.
I object to my very large council tax bill being wasted on what is essentially a vanity project.

 

[bemused]

Some new pics.. Almost finished! Photos show how Boxpark Croydon looks inside

It's looking rather nice.

 

[Hoss]

bemused the bin is from Amazon. Also bought some recycling bin stickers so the recycling guys know it's not landfill stuff.


.

 

[ATOMIC SUPLEX]

It's looking rather nice.

Almost finished??? Not really.

 

[Callie]

So stuff going on in Croydon...

New Rose: 40 Years of Croydon Punk (22 October): The space under the old Nestle tower (next to the iconic old Greyhound venue) will be turned into an outdoor exhibition featuring both new artwork and memorabilia from the period around 22 October 1976 when Croydon’s The Damned released the first ever punk single, New Rose. As well as a free launch event between 4pm and 6pm (also supported by Croydon BID) there will be a gig at The Oval Tavern in the evening.

Neatneatneat?

Other bits here too:
Croydon is bursting with events this October