Should Windrush Square be renamed Ritzy Square?

[London_Calling]

One thing I really didn't like last summer was the Ritzy's pavement grab at the side - the CHL end. Their little barrier thing somehow keeps getting 'pushed' further out so narrowing the pavement width and sometimes forcing people with buggies and pushchairs onto the road itself in order to get around it.

But you sense there's a fair amount of intentional 'mission creep' generally about the space they occupy.

I bet they pay peanuts for it, as well.

 

[Minnie_the_Minx]

I bet they pay peanuts for it, as well.

More likely popcorn

 

[paolo]

Right. I surveyed a couple of people in the square.

I'll wind my neck in slightly. They said the tables come out into the square nearing/in weekends.

But they weren't too bothered about that.

Their main beef was the distinction between 'approved' (commercial) drinking and 'unauthorised' (street) drinking.

That's a contradiction. If it's a booze free zone, it should be a booze free zone. Or a booze ok zone. Commercial distinction is rotten.

 

[Minnie_the_Minx]

Who

Right. I surveyed a couple of people in the square.

I'll wind my neck in slightly. They said the tables come out into the square nearing/in weekends.

But they weren't too bothered about that.

Their main beef was the distinction between 'approved' (commercial) drinking and 'unauthorised' (street) drinking.

That's a contradiction. If it's a booze free zone, it should be a booze free zone. Or a booze ok zone. Commercial distinction is rotten.

Whose main beef? The Ritzy?

 

[boohoo]

They had tons of table when the sun was out the other week but couldn't meet demand and had to stop the kitchen for 20 mins...

 

[paolo]

@Minnie... Eh? No, some randoms. They looked like locals, people who used the square a bit.

They didn't like the idea of people being chucked out for drinking, when the 'pay' people would be untouched. One of the two guys said he didn't drink himself.

Neither were fringe - not kids or weirdos. One about my age (40s), the other I'd say 50s.

Statistically poor sample I know, but it did give credence to some things on this thread.

 

[Minnie_the_Minx]

@Minnie... Eh? No, some randoms. They looked like locals, people who used the square a bit.

They didn't like the idea of people being chucked out for drinking, when the 'pay' people would be untouched. One of the two guys said he didn't drink himself.

Neither were fringe - not kids or weirdos. One about my age (40s), the other I'd say 50s.

Statistically poor sample I know, but it did give credence to some things on this thread.

Ah... thought you were talking to Ritzy staff so couldn't understand their comments

 

[Brixton Blog]

Good point. Im not sure how happy BB would be if people kept putting up links to here on BB. U75 often has been debating issues before they get taken up elsewhere.

Hi gramsci - chuck up as many links as you like and we will where relevant too. It's useful for readers to see fuller debates. We Like U75 - it's a Brixton institution!

 

[Gramsci]

One thing I really didn't like last summer was the Ritzy's pavement grab at the side - the CHL end. Their little barrier thing somehow keeps getting 'pushed' further out so narrowing the pavement width and sometimes forcing people with buggies and pushchairs onto the road itself in order to get around it.

But you sense there's a fair amount of intentional 'mission creep' generally about the space they occupy.

I bet they pay peanuts for it, as well.

They have license from Streetcare for tables and chairs directly outside cinema. Which is where I think you mean. This should be set so there is no obstruction to pavement. You would be in your rights to comment on this to Streetcare.

see here

"A licence can be withdrawn if valid complaints are received after the licence has been granted, or if you breach the terms and conditions of the licence"

There is telephone number on the webpage.

 

[Gramsci]

Can I just say that I like the Ritzy cafe. Sure, the staff can be a bit erratic, but I've always found them really friendly, lovely people and the coffee's not too bad either.

Yes I agree and I think the Picture House mge have been pissing people of a bit with there clear emphasis in raking it in from the outside seating. Rather than concentrating on the film side of things.

This has caused more work for the security staff and general staff at Ritzy. No thought was put in by mge when they decided to put in downstairs bar where the old ticket office was.

I liked the old upstairs bar the way it was. Now its closed most of the time except for events.

 

[Winot]

Hi gramsci - chuck up as many links as you like and we will where relevant too. It's useful for readers to see fuller debates. We Like U75 - it's a Brixton institution!

But who wants to live in an institution? (boom-tish, thank you Groucho Marx)

 

[newbie]

There are regularly large vehicles outside the Ritzy, on the fancy (and expensive) paving. A few of the stones are already cracked where they drive.

Who pays for the upkeep, repair and inevitable replacement of the paving, will the Ritzy be billed for the damage their delivery vehicles cause?

 

[Pickman's model]

I liked the old upstairs bar the way it was. Now its closed most of the time except for events.

yeh, it was a good bar

 

[Brixton Hatter]

I'm sure it *has* happened. Editor's photos prove that.

But how is it that, I pop down randomly, and the blight has magicked itself away?

It'll take alot more samples to prove this is cherry picking an argument, but right now the evidence around me is less than convincing.

Not One Single Table

Yes, I noticed the chairs and tables weren't out yesterday morning - perhaps cos the weather didn't look great in the morning, so they didn't bother. On other days, the tables are out well before 10am. I assume that, if the Ritzy pay (like they say they do) they don't want to pay for every single day, especially if the weather looks crap and people wouldn't bother sitting there. Perhaps Monday is a particularly slow day for the Ritzy cafe too.

 

[Minnie_the_Minx]

Yes, I noticed the chairs and tables weren't out yesterday morning - perhaps cos the weather didn't look great in the morning, so they didn't bother. On other days, the tables are out well before 10am. I assume that, if the Ritzy pay (like they say they do) they don't want to pay for every single day, especially if the weather looks crap and people wouldn't bother sitting there. Perhaps Monday is a particularly slow day for the Ritzy cafe too.

Nice day today and tomorrow, then it's going to piss down, so they may not be there for too long

 

[A realist]

Nice day today and tomorrow, then it's going to piss down, so they may not be there for too long

have people got bad memories or have nothing to do but moan, it was only a few years ago the area out side the Ritzy was full of drunks ,beggars and druggies and one of these bastards was nice enough to mug me in broad day light. Now the Ritzy by the looks of it have cleaned up the area with staff and security regularly patrolling the area. Last weekend i saw every table and chairs full of happy people enjoying the area so perhaps the poor memories of the people slagging off the Ritzy should think back and start supporting the cinema who i think are doing a great job. wELL DONE rITZY

 

[Badgers]

A realist speaks

 

[colacubes]

The blinkers have dropped from my eyes

 

[Mrs Magpie]

Crime has ceased in Brixton. Hurrah for the chairs against crime initiative!

 

[Mrs Magpie]

A realist, I think you missed the irony, I'd unlike that post as I was ripping the piss out of you.

 

[A realist]

A realist, I think you missed the irony, I'd unlike that post as I was ripping the piss out of you.

obviously the thought of someone being mugged is something you like to take the piss out of.....i hope you never have to go through something like that and then have someone take the piss out of it. You must truly be a lovely person. If the table and chairs help it make it safer in the square then as i said well done Ritzy

 

[Mrs Magpie]

It doesn't though, and I've lived here a very long time and don't think crime is a joke.

 

[Mrs Magpie]

I've long heard that having bustling commercial premises reduces crime, but if that's the case, why has Oxford Street got the worst crime statistics for a London shopping/leisure area? Windrush Square didn't even have the highest crime in Brixton before the great chair creep.

 

[Crispy]

It wasn't dangerous

 

[Mrs Magpie]

It wasn't dangerous

Exactly.

 

[Minnie_the_Minx]

It wasn't dangerous

It was though as a realist got mugged there! Only person I know that was mugged there

 

[Mrs Magpie]

In fact, when Clueless Twat Macintyre was desperately trying to get mugged in that area for his sensationalist exposé of Brixton crime it was largely the street drinkers and addicts who did their level best to protect him, which is why it took him several days of reckless behaviour to actually succeed in being robbed.

 

[Mrs Magpie]

...although it actually happened on an estate in the end, after waiting alone in the dark for several hours [stop fucking around, just give me the laptop] although I think he got relieved of a mobile on Atlantic or Railton road after waving it under a kid on a bike's nose.

 

[Minnie_the_Minx]

In fact, when Clueless Twat Macintyre was desperately trying to get mugged in that area for his sensationalist exposé of Brixton crime it was largely the street drinkers and addicts who did their level best to protect him, which is why it took him several days of reckless behaviour to actually succeed in being robbed.

A classic bit of tv twattery that was

 

[Badgers]

Update for people who like realistic data. Sunny day lunchtime in Brixton town.

Outside space next to the Ritzy:
17 tables
60 chairs
15 people

Public space 'put to good use' by the Ritzy:
18 tables
72 chairs
6 people

This post was correct as at 12:35