The Orchard - Best Brockley Newcomer 2009 [UPDATED]
Congratulations to The Orchard bar and kitchen, which fought off tough competition and a late burst of enthusiasm from the flock of the Redeemed Christian Church of God to scoop the coveted Brockley Central award for the most exciting newcomer 2009.
This has been an exceptional year for Brockley start-ups and the Harefield Road venue was up against businesses that have raised the bar for local eating, drinking and shopping, winning plenty of loyal customers and critical praise from BC readers in the process. The Orchard is a place that locals can enjoy in it's own right without having to sacrifice anything in terms of atmosphere, service or quality in order to support a local option.
The achievement is all the more impressive given the short time it's been open. Its early success bodes well for the wave of new places we can look forward to in 2010.
If you'd like to see what all the fuss is about for yourself, you might like to know that it has a late license for Christmas Eve.
UPDATE
Emily and Ed write in response:
Thank you to everyone for your support with our new venture The Orchard and to those who voted for us in the best newcomer poll- we are thrilled you picked us as the most exciting new business in 2009, especially as we were up against some great competition.
It's been a busy couple of months getting the bar up and running and we wanted to take this opportunity to thank you all for being so patient with us. We have had a few teething problems and we probably won't be completely happy with everything for another month or so until we really iron everything out, but so far we are really pleased with our first month.
We will keep on listening to suggestions as well as learning from mistakes so please do keep on giving us feedback.
We look forward to seeing those of you who have bought tickets to our New Years Eve party (which is sold out!) and look forward to seeing many more of you in 2010.
Finally, we hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and that you all have a fantastic New Year
35 comments:
The Dinner's Winner Award winner 2009.
I eat and drink there all the time.
Beats everywhere else hands down. Why travel into the West End when it's on your doorstep?
Congrats Ed and Emily!
Well done to the The Orchard.
Going forward for Brockley I hope this area doesn't go too far down the 'lifestyle' conspicuous consumption route; "local eating, drinking and shopping".
That Copenhagen conference last week, generated some pretty foreboding predictions about the future, unless some pretty drastic changes on how we live are made and soon.
A new decade and the generations of people born in 60's, 70's, 80's really need to think about how we live and what life is about? Is it just about acquiring stuff?
I know the notion of God gets short shrift here but what other ways can we configure a meaning for existence.
This may seem like a heavy topic to bring up, but these questions will become increasingly unavoidable.
60's, 70's, 80's? Let's think about spelling too in the '2010s'. (Not the 2010's note.)
'If you're not fighting climate change or improving the world, you're wasting your life'
What use is god in the environmental debate? The most strongly opposed to emissions reductions in the us are the ones most likely to identify themselves as christian and yet christian groups are taking out radio ads to campaign for co2 cuts. In other words, god has nothing to do with it and the bible has nothing to teach us, we have to sort our own problems out. What any of this has to do with the orchard I don't know
Adame and Eve walked through that Orchard to taste the apple. This set mankind on the path to knowledge and original sin. It was following this 'sin' (at The Orchard in Harefield Road) that he and she realised that a (Jewish) God created manking in His image - and even placed his Son physically on it to be sacrificed (by Jews)for Man's sins (and those he had not committed) - approximately 15.5.000,000,000, million years after the Big Bang. Confused? Have Faith.
Confused? Read! but not this blog.
The Orchard deserves the ALL applause. The Talbot, also opened recently, boasts a gormless staff, totally disinterested in the needs of its clientelle - and clearly hates children.
US: Can our child have something to eat?
TALBOT: Unfortunately the kitchen doesn't open until seven.
US: That's fine. We don't mind waiting fifteen minutes.
TALBOT: Unfortunatley children are NOT allowed AFTER SEVEN PM.
Talk about Catch 22! We have no problem with a 'no child' policy, but have a huge problem with disengeneous presentation. This the same establishement that claimed it was 'family friendly' and that the pub was being cut in half so that its owner could live next door....? Surprise... the bit that was moved into house ownership is up for sale. Nice way to do business.
Unfortunately you dont get bar staff who converse with customers much these days,Just students working for beer tokens who dont know the first thing about a good or bad pint.
If you decide to eat at the Orchard, just make sure the chef is working. One of the owners decided to take over in the kitchen the other day, the result: a 1 hour wait for inedible food.
To be fair a refund was given, but it felt like being in an episode of reality show The Restaurant, with the owner clearly out of his depth. On previous visits to the Orchard the food had been excellent, as it has been on 2 visits to the Talbot.
That Winner's Dinner Award comes with the caveat emptor 'providing it has been prepared by a chef'.
If I pay for a plumber I expect a plumber, or a price matching the offer.
I love the Orchard and the Talbot, they are very different offerings (and I'd like the Talbot to have more cushions) but it's brilliant to have them both so close. I've only ever had charming service and extra help in both places. Also Browns is fabulous, as is Speedicars for being ever available and by far the cheapest option for a cab home from London Bridge.
Such a shame about the church hall, but you can't have it all I guess. Maybe it'll open for hire for music events sometime soon.
Maybe gospel,I cant see a rock band being allowed.
"Such a shame about the church hall,"
y'know what I mean...why couldn't it be a betting shop, oh well you win some you lose some.
What's happening at The Orchard NYE party? Is it themed like JC's?
How much did it cost?
As the Orchard is fully booked, does anyone know what's happening at the Talbot on NYE? I can't find a phone number for them.
The Talbot is doing a three course meal - £40 a head.
Talbot phone No 02086922665
Thanks for the info and number. What a great site for an instant response.
The Orchard party was an inclusive invite to buy only?
The Orchard is a vast improvement on what's come before, already, but one plea - PLEASE sort out your vegetarian options. Yesterday there was nothing on offer that wasn't a combination of tomato, basil and / or aubergine (giving the sense of a surplus to be used up, rather than attention to what might be a tasty / interesting vegi selection); plus, the seafood risotto was marked as vegi, ominously...
What exactly is the big issue with the Redeemed Christian Church of God? They seem to get singled-out on this website. It reminds me of the way the media ridicules the Church of Scientology. The reality is that all the religions in the area are rediculous but perhaps you aren't so confident to suggest that they aren't beneficial to the community for fear of being accused of discrimination?
Hi John - just to be clear, none of this site's editors have an issue with the Redeemed church - to my knowledge, there's been one article about it, as it's new to the area.
The passing reference to it in this article is due to the fact that it was included in the list of newcomers for this poll and the number of votes it secured rocketed in the space of one morning, as a result of a co-ordinated campaign amongst its supporters. Not that there is anything wrong with that, by the way - the Brockley Mess also used its Facebook group to garner some extra votes - but its campaign was slightly less successful...
Singled out?
Hardly.
It reminds me of the way the media ridicules the Church of Scientology.
Deservedly. It is based on science fiction. Other religions are just based on fiction.
The reality is that all the religions in the area are rediculous
You seem to be moaning about a religious institute getting flak, yet ridicule them yourself?
Not quite an Orchard related. But I love the avenuesisation of Shardeloes Road.
Anon - re: Shardeloes - what are you referring to?
Yes the road has been lined with young trees. They'll a little bit wimpy at the moment but should sprig up nicely by spring.
But they are terribly close together - do they expect half of them to be vandalised. And it will rather detract from the effect of the poem - better invested elsewhere I would have thought.
But shouldn't carp - planting trees is better than most of what the LA does.
The world needs more trees, so I'm more than grateful for the saplings on Shardeloes road.
Yes, but these ones do look as if they have been put in on the basis that a certain number of trees had to be planted by the end of the year to meet an arbitrary target (which sounds like a pun but was not intended as such). The job was simply not thought through. Roll forward 40 or even 20 years and think how they will look planted so close together... Bear in mind that the wall, which is now (since the ELL extension) the last surviving remnant of the old canal, already has that fantastic piece of public art commissioned by the Broc. Soc... Think also that this is a route for double-decker buses and silver birches bush out quite low down.
Also, replacement trees have been promised for the gaps in the original plantings around Telegraph Hill - but these have not been forthcoming - too difficult a job. Hence my modified rapture (to quote W.S. Gilbert).
lifestyle consumption does make everyone a bit happier does it not? i think its so good to able to walk to two places where i can get a half decent glass of wine... although I too was a bit disappointed by the gormless staff at the Talbot... ... i wanted to be made welcome by the talbot these things may help... turn the heating up , turn the lights down, let some kids run around ...Brockey mess also happy with too... lets support all these new bussiness for tis year ahead and make brockley not only a beautiful place to live but a full of happy full up smiling people! xx
I went The Orchard last night - really liked it. Nice food, great vibe, particularly for a Tuesday - it was nicely buzzing - this has now become my favourite place in Brockley!!
(to)
Who would ever suggest "let some kids run around" as an improvement?
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