Author Archives: David

Lambeth’s Planning officers face the interesting question of whether Dirty Blonde is a bar or a club

642 Wandsworth Road – between the Premier Inn and the Sainsbury’s – has been a nightclub one way or another for years. It was particularly popular in the days when it was Inigo, attracting a young crowd from far and wide; … Continue reading

Posted in Business, Planning, Retail | Tagged | 2 Comments

Social Affair, a new coffee shop & restaurant, has just opened on Lavender Hill

Hot on the heels of Phresh Juice and Pique, another brand new coffee shop and restaurant has just opened at the eastern end of Lavender Hill. Social Affair has just taken over the old premises of Room 43, which for several … Continue reading

Posted in Business, Food & drink, Retail | 2 Comments

A bold proposal… to abandon the promised landscaping in the Avery Walk housing development

We keep an eye on new planning applications in the Lavender Hill area – and from time to time we see one that we think has to be some kind of joke! This time it’s at Avery Walk, where an entirely … Continue reading

Posted in Environment, Planning, Street by street | 3 Comments

Mystery surrounds the future of the Lavender Hill Fitness First

The Fitness First on Lavender Hill recently closed, rather suddenly (so suddenly that the notice on the door gives instructions on how to recover things members may have left in lockers). This hasn’t been great for the members, with around 2500 … Continue reading

Posted in Food & drink, Retail | 1 Comment

The latest on the planned rough sleepers’ hub opposite Battersea Arts Centre, following the Council’s public meeting

As we posted a few days ago – perhaps stung by the criticism surrounding the plans for a new Rough Sleeper Assessment Hub / Hostel opposite Battersea Arts Centre, which came as a surprise to its neighbours and which saw … Continue reading

Posted in Business, Planning, Politics | 2 Comments

A new block of flats is being planned next to the Co-op on Wandsworth Road

An plan is emerging to build a block of flats on an unusually awkward scrap of land on Wandsworth Road. It’s currently home to a garage, as well as an unofficial late night club, on St Rule Street next to … Continue reading

Posted in Planning, Street by street, Wandsworth Road | 1 Comment

The Council is hosting a public meeting, following huge controversy on their ‘stealth’ plans for a new hostel

A few weeks ago we found out about some rather vague plans for a new hostel for rough sleepers opposite Battersea Arts centre, which we noticed on a chance dig deep in the Wandsworth planning database. These were a bit … Continue reading

Posted in Business, Planning, Politics, Street by street | 5 Comments

The first part of Clapham Junction’s redeveloped Arding & Hobbs opens for business

It’s been more than two years in the making, but the first part of the redeveloped Arding & Hobbs building has opened to the public. Botanica Hall, part of the small Albion & East group of pub / restaurants, has … Continue reading

Posted in Arding & Hobbs, Business, Food & drink, Retail | 1 Comment

pHresh Juice, a new juice & coffee bar on Lavender Hill

There’s been building work underway for the last few weeks at 103a Lavender Hill – and late last week the doors were thrown open to Lavender Hill’s latest arrival, pHresh Juice. It’s an independent family business, whose flagship product is … Continue reading

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

Calling parents: Open mornings at the Belleville Wix Academy

We’re blessed with a very popular and successful local school – which is also quite an unusual one, almost unique in London. There are three classes in each year group, one of which – the Belleville Wix Academy – is … Continue reading

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