The Orchard - a new bar for Brockley
Back in the summer, we met a guy called Ed at the Brockley Central music night at the Ladywell Tavern. He revealed that he was working on plans to open a bar in Brockley, somewhere near the station.
A decent bar in Brockley Cross, offering an alternative to the Brockley Barge and the mysterious Gulens, has been something Brockley Central has dreamed of, since the site began. However, we'd heard similar things from people before that had never materialised, so we refused to allow ourselves to get too excited. Ed was a great bloke and seemed to know what he was doing, but we didn't think much more about it until we got an email from him a couple of months ago.
He revealed that he'd made progress and was close to signing a lease, but asked us not to say anything more about it, because he didn't want to disappoint people if it all fell through. Hence this frustratingly oblique post.
Today, we're delighted to be able to bring you this message from Ed and his partner Emily. Enjoy:
We have lived in Brockley Cross for a few years now and have always wanted a place we could enjoy a good pint or decent glass of wine without having to travel all the way to Greenwich or Blackheath- we wanted somewhere we could walk to. It was because of our frustration at not having somewhere like this to hang out that we decided to do it ourselves.
We are really excited to be opening a Bar and Kitchen where Aquarium briefly existed on Harefield Road. As local residents we know how important it is to reflect the local area and are really proud to be part of the Brockley business community which already houses some fantastic places to eat, get a coffee and shop.
We look forward to serving up some great wines, cocktails, and beers amongst much more, in a relaxed environment that is comfortable, stylish and homely.
We are refurbishing the property and are looking to open at the end of November/beginning of December depending on how quickly we can turn everything around.
We have decided to name the bar The Orchard. If you look around you can still see some old trees left over from the orchards that were grown here in Brockley where the property now is today.
We are relatively new to this but firmly believe we have an understanding of what Brockley wants, and needs, and really hope we can fit in alongside the existing businesses and new ventures that are also popping up around us.
You'll probably see us working on the property over the coming weeks and you'll be the first to know when we have an open date. We look forward to seeing you all there in time for some Christmas cheer!
Edmund and Emily
68 comments:
Ooh how exciting!
OMG OMG OMG!!!!!!!!!!
So, with luck, that means we could have 2 BC drinks before Xmas - one at the refurbed Talbot, and one at the Orchard!
A pub crawl.
This is great news. I'll definitely be down there for a drink on the opening night :)
Excellent news. Best of luck to them.
Looking forward to it...
Oh that's very exciting!
Just down the road from us so we're very excited indeed!
I hope to be tasting your fine wines in the very near future :o) Goodluck with the refurbishing!
Good news! Not sure we quite have a enough decent bars for a pub crawl yet... Lets see, The Talbot, Orchard, the Wickham perhaps? Actually come to think of it, that's enough for me, a pint or so at each of those and I'd be anybody's if anybody would have me...
As long as those terrible tables have gone, I'll be there.
Please get better tables and chairs-the original ones were diabolical.
Also pls play decent music-the only time I went to Aquarium I had to listen to Mariah Carey-ugh! Perhaps get some ideas from Jam Circus-they do a fanatastic job! Overall looking forward to it as I live around the corner.
Brockley Nick-is this the new mysterious business that has been talked about?
Nick - you have been very busy today, 3 articles???
This new bar is simply AMAZING to say the least!
Really looking forward to it - I hope it works well for the owners, this will simply be a treasure to the are - i'm actually quite excited!
All these lovely new places spring up now are so exciting. I was wondering why it's taken Brockley so long to get its act together - why are we getting all these things now, rather than 5 years ago, for example.
The two main differences as I can see them are the East london line and this website.
I moved here a year ago. I heard about Brockley because of the East london line but I learned about Brockley through this website. It was the combination of the two things which brought me here. Which d'you reckon has done more for Brockley then? the East london line or Brockley Central?
Great news. I'll be there.
Great news,How many people will use these 2 refurbished places regularly after Christmas.
Fantastic news, feel it’s now the right time for that part of Brockley to really take off… think we will see a big change over next 18 months.
Any pointers, local knowledge or tips, for what they're worth, I am happy to oblige, just drop me a line or catch up with me at the Rivoli after the Wed night cemetery event.
Best of luck
John Ex Moonbow Jakes
Re Anon… 12.48. The odd thing about Brockley, from my seven years experience here, was that it is actually busier after Christmas (excl xmas parties) as most people want to stay local.
This is like the best Brockley news for ages, am super pleased!!!
Great news, at present in Crofton Park we have Mr Lawrence, Jam Circus and the Brockley Jack...
Looking forward to something to lure me Northwards! Broca Market followed by swift pint sounds like a plan.
Good work.
Great to see this explosion of commercial activity.
I also hope the wonky furniture goes and if you need it disposed off let me know, my neighbour might have room in his biannual bonfire.
Good luck and I hope you have better success with it.
Ooh! *Claps hands excitedly*
That is brilliant news, hurrah hurrah! Good luck with the refurb, can't wait to try it out!
brilliant, about time!
Good luck! We need a good bar like JC but weren't there always noise/residential issues with that site?
Only time will tell John.
Fan-bloody-tastic! That end of SE4 is really changing, with this great news, Browns by the station, the Lanterna refurb, the Italian on Endwell rd, the cafe at the teafactory...its really good stuff. Roll on the Orchard!
Great news - I wish you every success.
Hard to disagree with that, Anon @ 12:29. Amidst all the talk of whether the Brockley Mess should or shouldn't have music to distract from the echoes of toddlers a-braying and yummy mummies a-slurping, there was precious little discussion as to what music should be played. I might be an overly sensitive soul, but I find a lousy/uninventive/bland choice of acoustic wallpaper on the part of a proprietor can thoroughly ruin an evening out...
Hey a bit disappointed with Nick on this one. For a man with his knowledge of film I would have at least expected a headline like IF YOU BUILD THEY WILL COME.....
and I'm guessing they will. Good luck to the Orchard.
excellent news! looking forward to trying it out
A plea for the "beers" to include English Ales and not just continental Lagers as featured in far too many bars.
I have to admit the Talbot will probably get more of my custom but that's location for you.
I've kind of done that line to death elsewhere on this blog (it's almost the BC mantra).
I did consider the Rocky IV classic:
"I guess what I'm trying to say, is that if I can change, and you can change, everybody can change!"
Does anybody know the journey time between Canada Water and Brockley?
anonymous @ 8:17 - I have done it in 12 min on my bike. . . .
That's Really Great
Good news wish you guys all the luck will be down as soon as you open.
I concur that the best way to Canada Water is by bike. Got the bus back from there in the summer and it was a bit of an arse and took ages. You can be there in a flash by bike.
If it is called the Orchard I really hope it does decent cider
I was rather more hoping for freshly pressed organic apple juice.
I hope they have Aspall cider from Suffolk (my favourite!) and I totally agree with Tyrwhitt Michael on the English real ales!
Can't wait for the Orchard to open... good luck with the refurb!!
Yeah Aspall is marvellous stuff. Bring on the summer!
Great news. Hope Edmund and Emily don't try and compete with the Barge but set up a real alternative. I'd happily pay more for a drink in decent surroundings (though the Barge isn't that bad). One request: a good range of non-alcoholic drinks please. Helps to convince better halves to go out for a drink.
Exactly not everyone wants to go out to get bladdered on high strength cider
My better half drinks more than I do....
I'm suprised, with all ths excitement about drinking venues, that no one has mentioned the Brockley Mess' evening opening hours. (or have i missed it?) I got a note from them via Facebook:
"From this Thursday, the 5th of November, we'll be open in the evenings on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays until 11 pm. Come down and enjoy our delicious evening menu or just for a few drinks - we have some lovely wines and some excellent, unusual beers, plus the usual spirits. Hopefully the sound system should be up and running, too!"
No real ale drinkers in the new place please.
Are they the sort with big red noses who spray wee all over the toilet seat?
with beards...
Someone mentioned the Mess opening hours on another thread yesterday.
Well I didn't see that thread so thank you angelofthewest!
I was told back in Spring somebody had taken the lease and was worried until now things had gone quiet. This is good news, but it could be a challenge to get potential customers to walk those 30 metres up Harefield Rd to a bar they can't see easily from the high street.
Will The Orchard be more food or drink orientated? Bar & kitchen suggests equal pegging, but the blurb focusses on wines & cocktails. The station area has been missing a good bar for years and this could be ideal - all the best with The Orchard, sounds very promising!
yes i was thinking along the same lines as Richard - exciting news and very best of luck guys.
we'd be keen to see food as well - if a straw poll of 2 plus richard carries any weight. ideally it would be the sort of food for nights you can't be bothered to cook or go down to tesco. basic stuff, presumably quite easy to organise for the owners and good margins, I would assume too.
anyway, guys, all the best. it sounds like you and the Talbot chap have exactly the right approach and attitude to make it work.
Great news - I'll be there, but please do consider an alternative to just lager, lager, lager.
will this be a place for grown-ups?
Is there an opening date set yet?
I just drove past this place and it was open and packed, on a Tuesday night! So i assume this was the opening night. In the immortal words of Ness...whats occurrin'??
Exciting - did anyone go to the opening last night then?
They've turned that around quickly..
I walked past and it was very packed, but was a friends a family opening night so not open to Joe Public. But the notices said that it is opening on Thursday. I peered through the steamy windows and it looked great, sooooo much better than the previous place! I couldn't see what drinks they had on draught, but there looked like a long wine list on the chalk board and the kitchen was in full swing. Hope to go down on Thursday... exciting!
Ok, so who's worked out the best (read least time spent walking) way to get round the Talbot, Wickham, Orchard, Mess, Mr Lawrence and JC?
I feel an Xmas bar crawl coming on.
Interesting that it's called "orchard". Does this mean that they will serve cider, and if so let's hope it's cider without ice.
Only people with severe psychiatric disorders put ice in cider.
Aspall is on tap. Very nice.
Just had very nice lunch there and had very nice Sunday lunch the other weekend.
I really hope they make a go of it. Their food is excellent, very good value and the staff know how to look after you.
Are the Food Police in operation? Where is my previous post and valid comments on this?
That said...
I had cause to revisit The Orchard last night - and what a turn of events.
The chef was cooking up a great storm, with all sorts of delectable dishes flying out of the kitchen. Owner Ed, who could challenge Richard Jam Circus in the charm stakes, was running what must be the best bar/restaurant to open in Brockley in years. Beats The Talbot hands down for ambience, pricing of drinks. One to place on the Christmas calendar for sure. A Dinner's Winner!
Michael Dinner (good name, btw), your comments are on another thread:
http://brockleycentral.blogspot.com/2009/12/adventures-in-catering-opening-night-at.html
Oops. Thanks Tressilliana.
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