Lewisham Place: Like Lewisham Shopping Centre, only slightly more lime green

The future of Lewisham Shopping Centre has been the subject of feverish speculation over the years: Would it be completely rebuilt? Submerged below ground? Turned into a gastrodome? Appended with a cinema?

The answer is none of these things. Instead, they're adding some green signs. Fromthemurkydepths reports:

Lewisham Shopping Centre owners Landsec have just gained approval from Lewisham Council for a series of upgrades.

The focus is mainly on improving the six entrances to the site, which itself appears to be renamed as “Lewisham Place”. The centre first opened in 1977 and has undergone internal refurbishment in recent years.

The planning application states: 

"The design for the six entrances is in line with the principles intended for the rest of the Shopping Centre which include the use if timber, natural stone and stainless steel as materials and shades of green and grey for the colour palette and graphics with the intention to brighten up and refresh the space."

The entrance closest to Lewisham station and new builds at Lewisham Gateway is to be upgraded. A new green wall is apparent above the canopy.

For the full, uninspiring story, click here. Thanks to Miles for the heads-up.

Parts and Labour Cycles

Rad Bikes has renamed itself Parts and Labour Cycles due to a trademark dispute.

You can now find the Lewisham Way bike maintenance shop online here.

Crofton Park Vinyl

What a record looks like

Will writes:

We are setting up a vinyl record shop in Crofton Park Library. Most of the proceeds will go directly towards funding the running of the library and improvements to it.

We will be working closely with the already established and successful Crofton Books, who are also based at the library

There will always be low priced bargains whenever the library or book shop are open. For more collectible and desirable items, Crofton Park Vinyl will be exclusively staffed at the following times (as of Sunday 10th Dec):
Sundays: 1130-1330
Tuesdays: 1800-1900
Thursdays: 1800-1900

To help get us going we’re looking for vinyl donations. If you have a collection, big or small, that you no longer listen to, please bring it in, or we can come and collect. If you have items that are worth more than a few quid that you wouldn’t just want to part with, then we can sell them on your behalf for a commission, including a library donation.

If you want to know more or are interested in donating please contact me here.

The Nunhead Gardener, Nunhead

The Nunhead Gardener (1a Oakdale Road) is a charming gardening shop tucked under an archway next to Nunhead Station.

Although it doesn't have the floorspace to compete with larger garden centres for equipment, trees and larger plants, it offers a beautiful range of plants and pots for window boxes, borders and around the home.

Waterintobeer launch birthday celebration with the Brockley Brewery and Dulwich Hamlet FC

The Waterintobeer team write:

Brockley's home brewing supplies and beer shop, waterintobeer (on Mantle Road), has teamed up with Brockley Brewery and Dulwich Hamlet FC to celebrate its first birthday.

To celebrate its first birthday, owner Tim has collaborated with Brockley Brewery to create an exclusive orange peel porter and for the first time, you'll be able to enjoy a beer on tap at wib!

And that's not all! To say a big thank you to everyone who's helped the shop through its first year, everyone who spends £20 or more from 21-27 August will receive:

> A free ticket to see Dulwich Hamlet FC v Tooting and Mitcham FC for them and up to three guests
> A free waterintobeer tote bag
> Entry into a raffle to be in with a chance of winning: a Dulwich Hamlet season ticket and a homebrew kit

On Friday 25 August, join us for a drink with the guys from Brockley Brewery to find out more about their beer and brew school.

On Saturday 26 August, free samples, cake and other beer snacks will be offer all day - so be sure to join us!

Mantle Road conversion refused

A proposal to convert the ground floor of Maypole Court on Mantle Road into residential space has been refused.

The retail space, opposite Spar, has never been used and the owners have never given the impression that they were in any great hurry to let it.

Gently, 405 Brockley Road

We are delighted to be open now in #CroftonPark, every day. Come for a nose. We are selling gorgeous #gifts, #books and #homewares. pic.twitter.com/Xob4LLb2um

— Gently (@gentlyhome) July 23, 2017

Open seven days a week in Crofton Park, selling homewares and gifts, Gently Elephant now has a sibling.

Coming soon: Gently

Gently is the sister shop of Gently Elephant and will be opening in Crofton Park soon. Owner Helen teased this shot today and promises a shop for grown ups.

Rad Bikes, 148 Lewisham Way

Rad Bikes, the bespoke bike build specialist, has opened on Lewisham Way.

The great and the good of South East London cycling turned out to celebrate this evening and here is a badly-taken photograph to prove it.

Click here for their website.

Coming soon: Another Elephant

I saw a little elephant standing in my garden,
I said 'You don't belong in here', he said 'I beg you pardon?'
- Spike Milligan

Another local store opening to share...

Helen from Brockley children's store (and Brockley Central award winner) Gently Elephant writes: "We have collected the keys for the old Swintons shop in Crofton Park (between Aqua and Rosie's the florist) and we will be opening a new uptown store with an unexpected twist!"

More news soon.

Coming soon: Rad Bikes

Rad Bikes is a new independent bike shop, opening on June 26th at 148 Lewisham Way, between Upper Brockley and Rokeby Roads. Founders Ben and Tom explain:

"Maintenance is key but we will have accessories, locks, pumps and helmets. We also make wheels.

"We also hope to secure genesis bikes. But also will be doing other bikes. We have worked closely with Brother Cycles in the past. But everything can be ordered and we can advise on that."

Turners to close

Turners, the Brockley Road hardware store, is to close later this month. The shop has been providing a valuable service to the local community for decades and built a loyal customer base, who've come to rely on the fact that Turners will always have what they need, however obscure.

Recently, the owner of Turners was a victim of a violent assault in the course of a robbery, but the decision to close the store is due to retirement.

Thank you to BertofBrockley for the heads-up.

Brockley Road: Heroes and Villains

Two neighbouring venues on Brockley Road have recently made an effort to pretty themselves up for summer, to vastly different effect.

Firstly, we have Central Cafe, who have taken a look around and noticed that people seem to like spending time in places that look nice. Their minimalist makeover is a soothing addition to the high street.

Secondly, we have the post office next door, which has sold every square inch of real estate to Moneygram and consequently looks like a nightmarish version of Rymans, with its employees and customers forbidden from ever seeing the light of day. If junk mail were a shop, it would be this place.

Brockley 4 Turners

The owner of Turners, the hardware store at 309 Brockley Road, was beaten up during a robbery of his store today.

A Justgiving page has been launched to raise £250 to help him get back on his feet. The creators say:

"We are shocked by the events at our local hardware store and this is a donation for the owner, who has been hospitalised after an attack during a robbery at his premises today."

To donate, click here.

Budgens4Life

Pratik from the Crofton Park Budgens writes:

You may have seen some recent press reports regarding the closure of 36 Budgens stores nationwide.

In July 2016, The Food Retailer Operations Limited (TFR) bought 36 stores from the Co-op and traded them under the Budgens brand.

However, due to financial issues the company TFR experienced, it has gone into administration.

Just to confirm:

We are an independently owned store.

We have been here since 1980, and are currently in our 37th year!!!

In this climate of increased competition, we know how lucky we are to have such lovely people shop here.

And with your continued support we will be staying open.

Coming soon: Winemakers Deptford

The Winemakers Club in Farringdon will serve as a model

New wine bar and restaurant from the team behind the Winemakers Club in Farringdon, opens later this month, replacing Hungry Boy on Deptford High Street. The Drinks Business reports:

Winemakers Deptford is set to open at the end of this month and will comprise a bar and restaurant, as well as a small section of wines for retail.

The company has been importing and selling wine since 1999 and specialises in smaller, niche and up-and-coming producers, as well as organic and biodynamic wines. It supplies a number of bistros, cafes, small restaurants and gastro-pubs in and around London, along with a handful of restaurants in the North of England and Brighton.

Stockists including Fera at Claridges Hotel, Antidote, Stockwell’s the Canton Arms, Great Queen Street, and The 10 Cases.

In 2014 the Winemakers Club opened its first ‘wine pub’ and retail outlet in the City of London under Holborn Viaduct, and the new outlet will be in line with the Farringdon site.

Deptford High Street has the potential to be the new Columbia Road, on a grander scale, with a more diverse mix and better connections. This is a big step forward.

Thank you to Sophie for the link. Follow Winemakers Deptford on Twitter here.

Application made to replace Mantle Road shops

An application has been made to convert the majority of the ground floor retail space at number 1 Mantle Road for residential use. The proposal is for:

"The change of use, alteration and conversion of part of the ground floor at 1 Mantle Road SE4 to retain commercial unit and provide 1 one bedroom and 1 two bedroom self-contained flats, together with alterations to the elevations."

The ground floor units, right opposite Brockley Station's westside entrance, have lain empty since they were first built. This spot is something of a disaster zone of narrow, dark, busy street-scape and unlovely architecture.

Although the Spar is popular and the station busy, the only people who hang around at this location tend to be lorry drivers who have sheared the top off their vehicles by trying to drive under the neighbouring railway bridge.

Thanks to Scott for letting me know.

Breaking Bad

Say its name! After years of speculation that Duke might have shut down - always to be confounded by reports that someone had successfully managed to buy 'a pint of milk' at 2am there - we finally have confirmation that the legendary Brockley Cross convenience store has closed. The landlord was the one who knocks.

Monkeyboy trod lightly to send us these photos. The first a notice of forfeiture from the landlord, the second a bunch of flowers, representing the mourning process this community is going through.

It may have dealt in half measures, but a Brockley institution has been lost. Duke's passing marks the end of an era. Its death should not satisfy us.

The Allotment closes

@BrockleyCentral Oh no!! Closing Down signs up at the Allotment in New Cross. A real loss for the neighbourhood. 😢

— Marshall Manson (@marshallmanson) October 24, 2016

Fresh produce store The Allotment is closing down after five years of heroic trading on New Cross Road. \After a spree of local openings, it's a pity to see a high-quality independent close.

Thunder & Lightning, Ladywell

The pop-up palace at 261 Lewisham High Street, PLACELadywell, has found another tenant.

Morgan writes:

I have been lucky enough to get one of the small retail units in the block next to the Italian deli at PLACELadywell.

Thunder & Lightning opened at the weekend and sells hand picked ladies vintage pieces and also cool kitsch UK made clothing and accessories not usually seen on the high street.

The other local businesses operating from here will include a florist, plus size ladies clothing, a dress maker / designer, someone selling African print fabric and jewellery, hand made skin care products, greeting cards, a local charity Daley Bread and a couple more to come!

I'm really happy and excited I now get to be involved in this project, which is a great platform for retail start ups and creative.

For Thunder & Lightning's website, click here.