Brockley eclipses Blackheath in Time Out awards

Duke: He's worried! You cut him! You hurt him! You see? You see? He's not a machine, he's a man!
- Rocky IV

For the last few weeks, Time Out has been asking people to vote for their favourite local venues in neighbourhoods across London. The results are now out and despite being randomly bundled together with the big dogs of Blackheath, Brockley has scooped four out of the five awards in its category - a measure of how far the area has come in a few years.

The Orchard wins best restaurant, Arlo & Moe best cafe, Jam Circus best bar and Brockley Market best local thing. We only missed out on best shop category, thanks to a strong performance by Bookshop on the Heath, which will only compound the frustration felt by Brockley Central bibliophiles, who are almost as desperate for a local bookshop as Brockley Central gym bunnies are for somewhere to bench press.

Congratulations too to the Deptford, New Cross and Lewisham winners.