Jo Brand Disses St.Reatham!!!!

[Sorry for radio silence etc etc..] I'm SURE that you all heard the Hoo Haa yesterday following Jo Brand calling my beloved St.Reatham a SHIT hole?! No, well read about it at the Telegraph here and the Daily Mail perspective here.   Even the Sun got involved, read all about it! Here.

The good news? St.Reatham in the news! If you want to hear what Londoners and locals [my people] think about our neighbourhood then listen to it on 'my' Vanessa show, which aired on BBC London Radio yesterday.  Follow the link here, and click on 'Wednesday 25th' [don't be confused by the title of it] - fast forward to '2 hours in' that's when they start discussing it.    It's only there for a few more days so get it whilst you can!

Jo? Pah, Jo who? SHE dresses like a Shit Hole [if that's even possible]....
XOXO, Queenie xxx

The Goose in St.Reatham is to be renamed!

Well! It's all about re-branding today isn't it? The Goose down by Lidl [next to the Weatherspoons pub] is to be rebranded as 'Pratts and Payne' [echoes of the Pratts John Lewis that was here back when I was just a little girl! and the Payne part? She was a MADAM of a BROTHEL back in the day!] read the full article here.  Let's hope that they change it inside too as they have a lovely garden [so rare in St.Reatham public houses....when WILL Taylors convert that flat roof into a terrace huh?!?] - that just begs to be filled with not-so-rough types like you lot.  Get campaigning now, put it out to the Universe, the power is in your hands! etc etc. 

Bad Queenie!!

Hello my loyal people! A thousand apologies for my absence in writing to you....I have been busy overseeing a move from the lovey Kingscourt Road to Amesbury Avenue ..what a change! Kingscourt feels almost suburban and Amesbury is enriched with folks from all walks of life shall we say! As your Queen I embrace it all in my stride, and now that my oasis garden has been completed [in a Tuscan Contemporary feel thanks to Living Proof Gardens the landscapers].  You can get a peek of what I've been overseeing here ...a great success I think you'll agree!] - sadly the Treatment room that he speaks of in the case study is not to be, but we keep moving forward!

So, what has been happing in the delightful St.Reatham, apart from my move? Well a wonderful new Hair and Spa salon has opened called The Workshop literally opposite [ish] to Kingscourt Road - they have an uber cool layout of crates and an industrial kind of vibe going on.  Forgive the not-so-good picture, I took it quickly en route on the way back from spinning at Virgin Gym.  I think they have now changed the flowers from white to pink [a mistake in my view].

They sadly don't look too busy at the moment [where is their marketing?!] so get down there and have a peak...they have told me that the Spa will 'open soon' and your Queen can't wait for that as she is partial to the odd facial! The Workshop have also brough Aveda to St.Reatham ladies and gents! Oh yes.  We. Have. Arrived.

Still down that part of the high street is a new coffee shop 'We love Coffee' with the love being signified as a heart ...hmmmmm Jury is still out ..do we need another coffee house? better than an empty shop though ....or another estate agents!

What else? The curry house next to 19 Brasserie has moved on ..I have it on good authority that Cafe Rouge is coming to town!! But sadly the retailers in charge of the space will not confirm [or deny] this snippet...I shall keep you posted. 

With our move comes a whole new vibe as I've told you....we still are loyal to the Manor Arms who I'm pleased to say are growing nicely with a range of fab experiences, events and competition on offer, which you can read about here ... at our last visit, the Sunday Lunch menu has evolved into a 2 course menu for a great price, get down there.  We are now closer to the hub of shops on Leigham Court Road and have been topping up our Olive Oil, Fish, Olives and other nice eatery bits at Fish Tale - you can even take in your own bottle and fill up! Such a delight if a little pongy.  You must try their dried fruit - they have strawberries and kiwis that are to die for! Husband and I have been munching them in place of Haribo [always good to find things to replace cow hoof don't you think?], whilst watching films [on that note..go watch Limitless it's awesome and whatever you do, avoid The Human Centipede at all costs ...shudder at the memory!  eek! have noticed there is a sequal to it whilst researching for this article..how can it be?!].  There is a much better article than I can ever possibly write on this kind of thing [shops, not centipedes] on Streatham Pulse and there is a nice pic of Fish tale too, read it here. 

And what of the peculiar 'blue delhi on the corner' near the St.Reatham Hill Train Station? When they opened over a year ago your Queen popped into show support, check out the wine range [lovely, have tried all of them now ..lovely sparking wine you should try], she was shocked to see the sticker 'Thompsons' as their branding! Having nearly bought a house through Thompsons [the manager of which has now moved to run the newly revamped Jacksons] - I was quick to point out the associations that some might make ...estate agents to lovely delhi? hmmm with all my branding & marketing experience alarm bells were tinkling all over the place!! I have had many heart to hearts with the proprieter since then [he is Italian, she is Polish, hence the wonderful hybrid feel you get in there of Polski Sklep! meets Mafioso Eatery ...yummmy!] - and he is keen to change the name, she isn't..in the meanwhile they are 'nameless'.  I suggested a local competition to get them some great PR and a wonderfully local name! I also suggested 'Delhi on the Corner' husband suggested 'Blue Delhi'...hmmm....stick to the filming love and let your Queen get on with what she does best!

So..the jury is still out on that one, but in the meanwhile get down there and sample some wine and cheese, gorgeous breads and mergingues [that need a little less time in the oven to get to that nice gooey stage in my opinion], but nonetheless are HUGE, and a fantastic, quick desert  when combined with some strawbs and whipped cream after some alfresco dining.  Oh and pop over the road Leigham Court Road to Early Grey & Rose - they don't seem to have a website but here's a not so good picture that doesn't do it justice [bit like my one of The Workshop] - they are delightfully vintage and offer sewing classes, lots of magazines to flick through whilst you stuff your face full of cupcakes and tea served in vintage tea cups - divine!

Over and out for now, I have places to snoop and people to see, mwah mwah, Queenie xxx

The Manor Arms is a hit!

Went their yesterday to taste their £11.50 two course set menu - but decided to treat ourselves to the al a carte instead.  He [hubby] had potted Shrimp with toast to start and I had grilled squid with chilli.  Delish!!! The squid was SO tender melted in my mouth.  His shrimps were nice too.  For main, he had macaroni and cheese [nice and cheesy with a side salad] I on the other hand was more adventurous and went for sea bass on what looked like a bed of snozzcumbers [think the BFG Roald Dahl - needless to say they were divine] and succulently roasted, delicately tasting Fennel.  Awesome.  To finish, we had pancakes [would be rude not to, it was Shrove Tuesday].  Him with the classic sugar and lemon, me: maple syrup and lemon.  These were cooked previously and heated up and it tasted like it - still nice but not as nice as I expected due to the quality of the rest of the meal.  Fantastic service, attentive and friendly.  We sat at the 'eating bar' overlooking the open kitchen [even getting a glimpse of Chef's bum!] - felt like 'chefs table' and was nice to see the clean kitchen and the attention to detail.  They were very accommodating and not the least bit snooty when I requested my sea bass without dill [I can't stand it!] and the head Chef used to work at The Ivy don't you know>
The meal was complemented by a wonderful wine list, encased in a posh, green hardboard menu [attention to detail to match the great refurbishment] with plenty by the glass and by carafe.  We opted for a 2005 Bordeaux [carafe] and were not disappointed.
It's VERY exciting to have businesses that want to bring a bit of class to the area [especially this particular nook of St.Reatham - if you don't know where it is, it's just down from the estate agenet's 'time to move' indeed if they are still called that ...just walk down between the churches and you can't miss it] - so you must all get down there and sample it for yourselves and support them in their quest to bring Fine food and Dining to St.Reatham.  Go forth my subjects and enjoy!
Your Queen xx

Regeneration is beginning to show signs of movement...

Well, we've all heard so much talk about the regeneration for so long but with excuses ranging from 'the recession' to 'town planning problems' we've all got a bit jaded with this 'go slow movement' [such a winner everywhere else...].  So, I'm happy to report to you that things are happening my people! First up we have The Manor Arms: a Grade II listed Edwardian Pub that by the local's account has been described to me as "not a safe place to go to ....I wouldn't have felt safe going in there even if I had guns on me!" remarked one local Streathamite.  But no more hopefully! This pub has undergone a complete refurb costing the new Landlords [Richard Coltart and Alex Hughes] £350,000.  Reported to have moved into the Gastro genre, this new venue promises a drinking and eating sensation in a brighter, modern setting.  I'll report back on what I think about it once they launch the re-opening on 15th February.....see you there??
Elsewhere, there is news that Travelodge is coming to Streatham! Not quite the Four Seasons, but it's a start and will generate increased income and employment in the area, so shouldn't be sniffed at.  A council spokesman said: “As soon as an agreement has been finalised Travelodge hope to be up and running as soon as possible.” Confused? Yes, it is a little vague, but it's a start - and work on the 90 room hotel should start soon 'somewhere on the High Street' I'm told...watch this space.
If you've not been already, then get yourself down to The Hamlet [opposite Perfect Blend] for a yummy cocktail and some brunch or lunch and a glimpse of the hardworking Elsa Ibro who should be credited for turning the one time Grill into a wonderful vintage nook, where you can curl up on oppulent chairs and sofas and have a chat or a wiggle to the funky tunes played at the weekend.   The toilets are still too cold though Elsa....
And on to treading the boards - do you see yourself as culture vulture? Well your time of schlepping into town to get your fix may well soon be over as I have it on good authority that there are plans to use some of the old Bowling Alley as a theatre! Streatham used to be home to The Streatham Playhouse and if you're interested then head to this site where Matthew Lloyd has a wonderful archive on all things theatrical and has dedicated some space to our little Streatham.  A comprehensive website, well worth a read.  So, it seems that the future holds a theatre for us - here's hoping! More as I learn about it.