Author Archives: David

Could the mystery of 53 Lavender Hill be close to an end?

Update (January 2021) – it’s finally occupied! By established local signmaker Signtair, who have relocated from their smaller previous shop across the road. Signtair’s former unit also has a new tenant which we’ll report on soon. 53 Lavender Hill is … Continue reading

Posted in Food & drink, Planning, Retail | 1 Comment

Coming soon, to a lamp post near you: Electric car chargers

Something unusual’s happening to all the lamp posts on Clapham Common Northside. You may have seen it yourself – what usually happens is a gentleman in hi-viz digs holes about two feet deep, throws in a big copper grid, wires … Continue reading

Posted in Environment, Transport, Useful to know | 1 Comment

Clapham Common’s bandstand cafe’s becoming an off license

La Baita, the well-established cafe at the centre of Clapham Common, is applying to Lambeth Council to also run as an off license – for sale of alcohol that can be taken elsewhere on the common. Their current license limits … Continue reading

Posted in Business, Clapham Common, Food & drink | 1 Comment

Bus stops are being extended, to cope with the Coronavirus

This is Forthbridge Road bus stop, on Clapham Common Northside. It’s one of the first to be extended, to provide more waiting space – and to allow safe use of the pavement at the same time as the bus stop. … Continue reading

Posted in Clapham Common, Transport | 1 Comment

Updates on the Queens Arms: Does a new licensee mean a reopening? And an architecturally bold extension.

Some good news on the Queens Arms, just off Queenstown Road.  Neighbours & regular readers will know it was closed in 2017, and architects Boon Brown won planning permission to redevelop it, creating five flats (four two-bed ones and a … Continue reading

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A small block of flats may be built on Eccles Road / Parma Crescent

One of the houses on Eccles Road is smaller than the others, but with a much larger garden. Regular readers can probably already see where this is going!…  Developers love houses like the one above – with a huge garden, … Continue reading

Posted in Environment, Housing, Planning | 2 Comments

Classic Ealing comedy The Lavender Hill Mob, which gave our street some fame, is showing on BBC2

Friday 10th (Good Friday), 4pm, BBC2, and then probably on Iplayer for a while. Staying in on Easter Friday?  Aren’t we all! Luckily the BBC has come to the rescue, with another showing of the vintage 1951 Ealing Comedy that … Continue reading

Posted in Useful to know | 1 Comment

Retail takeovers explained… why squatters now target empty shops rather than flats

Mrs Le’s Banh Mi, at 178 Lavender Hill, is unusual in that it’s the only shop on the street that is currently in use as a temporary home! Here we explore, for our readers’ curiosity, the occasional phenomenon of shops … Continue reading

Posted in Housing, Retail, Useful to know | Leave a comment

Lavender Hill’s local businesses are still open, and need our support! Here’s a list of restaurants and shops offering delivery, takeaway & collection.

Mid-June update: This was our most-read & most-shared post ever. Following the reopening of ‘non essential’ shops the content is now a bit out of date – many more of our local traders have reopened, and the range of services … Continue reading

Posted in Business, Food & drink, Retail, Useful to know | 3 Comments

Sendero Coffee has opened a second branch on Queenstown Road

One of our first ever posts, three years ago, featured then then-imminent opening of Sendero Coffee at the junction of Lavender Hill and Queenstown Road.  The combination of quality coffee sourced directly by the team, comfortable sofas, pastries and light … Continue reading

Posted in Food & drink, Retail, Useful to know | 3 Comments