More changes on Northcote Road. Post Reply

[juliantenniscoach]

Further to this - Image 2 image, the picture frame/poster shop is definitely going after a few on/off decisions.

There is a new estate agent Portico already open Rampton & Baseley.......because we don't have enough already

And the new cycling in water (or something like that!) gym is opening soon on the old Oliver Bonas site. Not many sites have one of those!

[Annabel (admin)]

Hi All
Let's please keep this nice and friendly.

I really don't want to lock or delete such a potentially useful thread.

Thanks all!

[BFW]

I am sorry Mungo I do like your posts on this site! But in the politest way possible...I think your posts are the aggressive ones on this thread. I have just gone back to re-read Moops post and it was not rude nor aggressive. Sorry that I felt the need to say that.

I am very sad to see the newsagent close down and also the lovely people from the photo shop.

But I can't wait to see what the cycling in water place is?!! Sounds interesting at least!!!

[nuttymummy]

SO, I haven't been BTC for 30 years but near on 20 (coming in my late teens.....oh the days when a terrace on Mallinson cost £300k!!). I'm certainly not complaining re the benefit I have had in terms of property price increases but do agree with the sentiment that the 'quality' of shops on Northcote Road have somewhat declined. Obviously the shops/cafés today are significantly more glitzy/trendy/posh etc but I seriously struggle with the insane impracticality of what's on offer. You have to laugh when looking at that old thread 'what do we really want on Northcote Road?'' when people say post office, cobbler, decent italian deli, fishmonger etc etc as not so long ago we had all those. What is a real shame is that most have gone not through failing businesses but thanks to insane local business rates and really greedy landlords (as Dove's say there's no way they'd still be here if they hadn't actually bought their site!!). Harry & Mary were so wonderful & helpful and I loved popping into Dandelion (best tuna sarnies ever!). Others I seriously miss - Lighthouse Bakery (really decent bread, great pies & pasties & pastries all baked daily on site - one of Rick Stein's original food heroes too!!), Salumeria Napoli, the fishmongers when it was in the shop...so much more choice. I really used to find it great fun to 'shop local'....
Sorry - long post!!

[ally30_1998]

This is very sad news about Harry and Mary's shop.
Quite a lot of the leases on Northcote road are owned by the same chap who let them out on low rents 25-30 years ago before that part of Northcote road was affluent.
Can't blame him for now wanting to cash in on the area having come up as it were.

[rooting4tooting]

WBC can be decisive about what is licensed and what is not. However, what they cannot do is prevent a an independent shop becoming a chain. Only you can do that by patronising the kind of shop you want and boycotting the kind you don't.
BTW I have been resident since 92 and Northcote Road has never been dodgy. Balham, yes a bit (Woolworths was like taking your life in your hands) and I was once slightly assaulted near the Northcote Rd library, but that's all in 22 years.

[mrc]

Very sad news I heard this morning is that Mary, Harry's wife, has died from cancer. So sad just a year into their retirement.

[ally30_1998]

Such a shock. How terribly sad, poor Harry and Sima.