Ladywell just keeps getting better!

A busy life makes it hard to post to this blog as often one might like, and the three items below are a little late, but all demonstrate continued momentum in the improvement of Ladywell since the major streetworks brought the place to a grinding halt, and nearly bankrupted local businesses, in 2013.

Our excellent new 'mural' (presumably not really a mural unless its on a wall?) screening the
derelict garages site on the corner of Malyons Road (see blog item below).

 . . and there's evidence of work going on at 40 Ladywell Road
where we hope a new restaurant will open in 2016



. . . and 251 Algernon Road looks to be in the final stages of a major exterior refurb!

So lots of positives, even on a rainy November lunchtime, to add to anecdotal evidence that various of the newer local businesses seem to be going from strength to strength with clear evidence of loyal and appreciative clientele.

We very much hope for positive news in the coming months in relation to the neglected local asset that is the Ladywell Baths ('Playtower'), recently listed by the Victorian Society as one of the country's top 10 Victorian/Edwardian buildings at risk.  Come on Lewisham Council!

Robert Sheppard

 

Ladywell Christmas Market - Sat 6th December

Following the great success of last year's market, this year's Christmas Market in Ladywell will be taking place on Saturday 6th December.

Applications for stalls are available from Slater & King on Ladywell Road or by emailing hello@slaterandking.co.uk - £45 if you have your own insurance or £55 if not. There are only a limited number of stalls, so be quick!

Restaurant Plans for Ladywell's 'Snack Bar'

A planning application has been submitted to convert the long-empty 'Snack Bar' at 40 Ladywell Road (next to Le Delice) into a restaurant. You can have a look at the plans here.

'The Larder' will open in April

The Larder, 71 Ladywell Road, SE13 will open its doors for business within the next few weeks.

The new owners are two local mums, Cynthia and Katherine.  They say: "We are absolutely thrilled to be opening 'The Larder' in Ladywell.  Food is our passion.  Our aim is to provide customers with fantastic tasting fresh produce and cupboard essentials, sourced as locally as possible. We're interested in the way food tastes, what's in it and how it's produced.  We just love good, honestly produced food and hope you do too.  We look forward to welcoming you to our lovely new shop soon."

Love Ladywell Day - Saturday 5th April

Spring has well and truly sprung - so the Ladywell traders have come together again to hold another 'Love Ladywell Day' on Saturday 5th April.  There will be special offers, great discounts and live performances to keep you entertained!  Come and support your local businesses and bag yourselves a bargain – look out for the red posters at participating stores!

 

 

New delicatessen for Ladywell

The keen-eyed amongst you will have seen much activity on the site of the former El's Kitchen.  I'm catching up with the new owners and will report more fully soon.

In the meantime, we spoke with El of El's Kitchen who says "I'm delighted to confirm that the sale of the lease of 71 Ladywell Road has now been completed.  Having met the new owners many times I felt that together they had the skills and experience to run a delicatessen and make it work long term. They both know the community in Ladywell and Brockley very well and have a good understanding of what customers want and how to deliver it to them.  I wish them every success and hope to be queuing up to buy their lovely produce very soon!"

More on this very soon . . .

Robert Sheppard

Zenubian

The former Sunrise Ceramics premises at 218 Algernon Road in Ladywell Village has now been replaced by Zenubian which  describes itself on its Facebook page as a 'cultural gift shop'.

LVIG welcomes Zenubian to Ladywell and wishes this venture all the best.

The only way is up! - Ladywell Public Meeting, Tues 18 March 2014, 7.30p.m.

Following a lull in activity during last year's streetworks, LVIG is now priming itself for a new push over the next 2+ years to ensure that Ladywell develops as a sustainable, vibrant and attractive retail centre with thriving businesses in every premises.  As part of this we are keen to work with landlords and traders to improve buildings and work with the Council and others on enforcement, planning issues etc. to improve the Ladywell public realm for everyone.

It's planned to hold a public meeting and AGM on Tuesday 18 March (venue to be confirmed) at which all present can elect a new LVIG Committee for 2014/15 and at which we can seek to prioritise some of the possible actions LVIG might pursue during this period.

If you're likely to have a few hours a week spare time over the next year and share LVIG's vision for Ladywell please do think about putting your name forward for one of our Committee positions - Chair, Vice-Chair & Treasurer, Secretary, Deputy Secretary, Membership Secretary, Comms & Events Officer and Deputy Comms & Events Officer.  We need new blood to help drive forward this agenda so do email ladywell.info@gmail.com to let us know what you have to offer and which position might interest you.

Those of us who've been involved in LVIG over the last 5 years have enjoyed the challenge and the achievements, made great friends and found working together most rewarding, especially our periodic meetings at the Ladywell Tavern!  So get on board!

Robert Sheppard, LVIG Deputy Secretary

Ladywell Village - the Achievements, and the Challenges for 2014

Some things looking good . . .

Clean, wide, well-drained pavements - with 'traditional' benches

Plenty of short-stay bays (signs yet to be erected)

Despite appearances these flats are almost ready for occupation we hear - just the windows to do . . .

One 'missing tooth' in the Ladywell smile - at the junction of Ladywell Road with Malyons Road.  A few family houses would be a nice addition, but a supermarket is more likely.

A nice business opportunity for someone, but El's Kitchen will be a hard act to follow!

 

 

 

But some eyesores still to be tackled . . .

Highly visible on the corner of Gillian Street, but in a sorry state

A garish jumble of signs and window stickers

Shopfronts that make no contribution to the streetscape

And some enforcement issues to be addressed . . .



Trolley outside the newsagent on Algernon Road



Bins left on the pavement day after day



Ladywell Christmas Market on 14 Dec - volunteer stewards needed

After all the argy-bargy over the Ladywell Road streetscape works, Ladywell businesses have been given Council go-head for a Ladywell Christmas Market to be held on the new, widened pavement on Sat 14 December between 11.00am and 4.00pm.

There’ll be creative crafters, brilliant bakers and fabulous food producers offering their locally-made Christmas gifts, plus hot mulled wine to warm you up and a rousing chorus of festive fun!

BUT the organisers need stewards on the day to keep the crowds under control – so if you can donate an hour or two of your time to help with stewarding, please email el@elskitchen.co.uk with the times you are available.  Every little helps!

The Ladywell Christmas Market would like to thank Sebastian Roche estate agents for their generous sponsorship this year.

Robert Sheppard

 

 

 

El's Kitchen to close this Thursday

This is a sad week for Ladywell.  Thursday will see the closure of El's Kitchen, a beacon of hope and quality in Ladywell's shopping parade.  El is calling time on this venture and explains her decision as follows:

"It is with great regret that we have to inform all our lovely customers that El’s Kitchen will be closing for good on Thursday 31st October.  Unfortunately El is unable to carry on running the business and there is no succession plan in place.  It’s been a really hard decision for us to make and we’ve given it an enormous amount of consideration, and, although we have looked into other options, none are viable given the circumstances.

We’ve spent a fantastic three years bringing you delicious food and drink in Ladywell and we couldn’t have done it without our wonderfully committed staff and tremendously loyal customers. We’ve really valued your business and greatly appreciated your support through the highs (Christmas trading and wine tastings!) and the lows (the bloody road works!).

It’s been an amazing experience being such a pivotal part of Ladywell and we’re very sad that El’s Kitchen will no longer be at the centre of the local community. We’d like to thank our customers and staff for coming with us on such an exciting journey, and we’re really hoping that someone can take over the reins and carry it on so that Ladywell gets to keep its deli.

El’s Kitchen is solvent and is not being liquidated. The lease and assets are for sale of this perfectly positioned property, which comes with an A3 restaurant licence, an on and off sales premises licence and a very friendly and accommodating landlord. Any interested parties should contact el@elskitchen.co.uk.

Robert Sheppard

Masons to reopen as Patisserie

Redecoration carrying on apace today

Local businesses in Ladywell confirm that the former Masons bar/restaurant has new tenants and will open, probably in mid-March, as French patisserie and fresh food store, which will be open every day until 8.00pm.

It seems the new business will not sell booze for consumption on the premises, something that will disappoint those who point out this site is an ideal place for a drink, esp. during the Summer, on the way back from the Station.

Empty business units are a blight on the Ladywell streetscape so LVIG is very pleased that these premises will soon be back in use.

We wish the new venture every success.

Council to restart legal action on Corals

It doesn't come as any great surprise to hear that assurances given by Coomes (owners of the Coral building in Ladywell) to repair the building and bring the first and second floor flats back into use proved worthless, so it is good to hear that the Council has recently written to the Residential Property Tribunal Service seeking a hearing and, hopefully, service of an Empty Dwelling Management Order.

The Council supports LVIG's long held argument that this property is highly visible, a blight on the local amenity of the neighbourhood and contributes towards depressing the regeneration of the area and the sustainability of Ladywell Village as a local retail centre.

Thanks to Nick Long at the Council for his tenacity - HOWEVER if the Council is to be successful in seeking an EDMO they will need evidence by way of letters from local residents and retailers painting a picture of the impact this shabby building has on Ladywell and showing the strength of feeling on this matter.  Furthermore, when this comes to the Tribunal in January (date t.b.c.) it would be good if a small delegation of residents could attend to demonstrate the strength of local support for firm and decisive action.

Letters on this should be sent to Nick Long, Empty Homes Officer, 4th Floor, Laurence House, London SE6 4RU.

Chicken tonight - and every night

Ladywell residents will soon be able to eat fried chicken to their heart’s content – and order it from a different takeaway each night. Yes, the country’s favourite food will soon be available from two new outlets on our high street.  Coming soon – The Village Chicken Hut at the old off licence at 222 Algernon Road, expected to open in about two weeks time. Soon after – or even at the same time  – a finger lickin’ fried chicken outlet is expected to open in the Chinese takeway which is currently being refurbished.  LVIG wishes the owners well but remains concerned about the proliferation of takeaway outlets on our high streets. Tony M

Coral-Coomes bow to pressure over flats

The Ladywell Village improvement Group’s long-running campaign to force Coral-Coomes to renovate the landmark double fronted flat above the Coral betting shop at 228-230 Algernon Rd might soon bear fruit.

Inspired by the recent Channel 4 programme – Phil Spencer’s Empty Homes Giveaway – which featured LVIG’s campaign to bring the flats back into use, Nick Long, Lewisham’s empty homes officer, has been putting pressure on Coral-Coomes to renovate the properties.

Earlier this year he applied to the residential property tribunal for an interim empty dwelling management order which could be used to force Coomes to repair and let the property.

But this week Coomes property manager Ashley Hall met Mr Long and indicated the bookmaker was now looking at improving the flats above three betting shops in the borough -  228-230 Algernon Rd,  347-349 Lee High Road, and 357 Sydenham Rd.

Mr Hall indicated Coomes would start work shortly on the six flats above their Lee High Rd shop.. Once completed, rental income from these flats will be used to renovate Corals on the corner of Algernon Rd. A builder is understood to be inspecting the long neglected flat this month.

The large flat is in a poor condition, with broken windows, peeling paint, and a deteriorating roof. It has long been seen by the local community as a sad waste of a family home at a time of acute housing shortage in London. It has been an eyesore on the high street for more than 10 years but Coral-Coomes had always refused to take responsibility for renovating the property.

But Coomes hs now told Mr Long that they have taken a strategic decision to rationalise  the ownership and control of their property portfolio across south east London to generate capital and maximise potential rental income.

 They are reducing the number of shops they own from 49 to 32 because of the tough competition they are now facing from on line betting and a growing number of high street competitors.

Mr Long said that as soon as Coomes confirm the undertakings they have given to the council and builders start work he will adjourn his case before the residential property tribunal  to give the bookmaker time to complete the projects and bring the dwellings back into occupation. 

As Mr Long said: “These are early days but it is encouraging”.

Coomes' about turn on these properties shows that determined action by the local community can force change. LVIG hopes Coomes will now move quickly in 2012 to bring this landmark property back into full and proper use. TonyM

.

A flicker of hope for Mason's

Hopes that Masons is about to get a new owner have been raised by the sight of decorating equipment piled up in the bar, but we hear these relate to ongoing redecoration of one of the flats above.  However, local shopkeepers have been told that one restaurant operator with outlets in Crystal Palace and Brixton is in in discussion with the freeholder about taking-on the lease.  A sticking point may be the kitchens, which I'm told are in need of some investment.  Watch this space . . . 

Minicabs return to Ladywell

Minicabs are coming back to Ladywell. The once famous blue and yellow Fenerbahce launderette, which graced Ladywell Road for several years until recent owners painted it black, is about to be turned into a minicab office. The last minicab business in the village, on Algernon Rd, shut up shop years ago. Anyone know how long ago? Meanwhile, work is progressing on the fried chicken takeaway in the old off-licence. It can't be long now!

Mason's closes but no.46 to open soon

I return from holiday to hear that Mason's Bar & Restaurant has closed.  It seems that in difficult economic times the proprietor simply had to 'bite the bullet'.  This is sad news for him and his family, and for Ladywell too, of course.  Hopefully, in due course, some other operator will take on the lease and provide the sort of bar/dining experience much in demand in the Ladywell area.

It seems that the shop at 46 Ladywell Road will open shortly, though the new leaseholder is cagey about what the premises will offer.  On 15 August he wrote on the Brockley Central blogspot "we took on the lease of no.46 at the start of the month and are currently working to get it ready. As you appreciate, it's been empty for several years and although the landlord has replastered, put new stairs to the basement, loo in the basement, etc., there is still lots to do.  The interiors walls have been painted this weekend but there's still the woodwork to do, floor needs to be laid (purchased and being collected this Thursday), basement needs fitting out for storage, shop needs fitting out, front needs painting, shutters need to be installed . . .  There's lots to do and we want to get it just right rather than get standard shopfitters in - so please be patient!  I won't say yet what we will be selling but we think that it will fit in well in the area and although we'll be called Slater & King, we're not an estate agents or solicitors."

Robert Sheppard

Rising from the ruins

It's taking shape. No.46 Ladywell Road, long an eyesore on the high street, is beginning to look like a decent shop unit again.
After a prolonged campaign by LVIG and sustained pressure from Lewisham council the old Nightwatch was sold to new owners who are turning it into two small flats and a shop unit. Work should be completed some time in the spring.
All we need now is a sustainable business to take over the premises! What kind of shop would you like to see in the high street?

Campaign on eyesore buildings hots up

Ladywell Village has plenty of interesting architecture, which has recently earned it Conservation Area status, but many of the once proud buildings are now left empty, are poorly maintained or spoilt by unsympathetic shopfronts and awnings, illuminated box signs etc.  There are few examples worse than the flats above Coral bookmakers which are highly visible, unoccupied and in a poor state of repair.  The Council's Empty Property Officer is on the case, but so far he's been unable to make much progress.  However, neither he nor LVIG are prepared to give up this battle.  Watch this space for more on this in the coming months.