15 February 2014

Stories of Forest Hill: A Writers Workshop

Lived here for some time?
Interested in sharing with others the changes you’ve seen?

Experience not essential, simply an interest in tales of your life in this fascinating community. Written nothing beyond the odd letter since leaving school? Now’s the time to try!
AND IT’S FREE!!

WHERE: The Montage Coffee House, Dartmouth Road SE23
WHEN: Thursdays 2-4pm, beginning February 27, Weekly for six weeks
TUTOR: Maggie Smith (former National Adviser, Creative Writing U3A)

Places very limited. For enquiries please call 07507 753984 or email info@see3.co.uk

February Newsletter: Pizza Restaurant adds New Flavour to the Old Bank

The Old Bank site on Honor Oak high street has been un-utilised for a number of years and the last potential opening was an application by Dominos Pizza to convert the site into a takeaway and delivery shop. The Forest Hill Society in unison with local residents campaigned to stop the planning application. Our main reason for objecting was the poor use of a prime location which we felt should be a retail unit.

There were also concerns around parking and the noise generated by bikes serving the shop during peak hours. There were over 300 objections to the application and thankfully the Domino’s application was rejected. Although Domino’s went onto appeal this decision, through a series of demonstrations outside the restaurant, Dominos’ remained unsuccessful.

Residents had nothing against takeaways but we felt sure that this key location would be better placed as a restaurant rather than a hub for a take way delivery service.

Indeed we are delighted to report that an independent pizza restaurant/cafe called SODO has now opened on the site. This is exactly the outcome we wanted, even if it took three years for it to happen! It provides a better future for Honor Oak with a selection of top quality restaurants in a small area of South East London.

SODO announced ‘SO DOUGH’ (as in sour-dough, the traditional pizza base) opened in early February. This is the third venture from SODO, the original is in Clapton and there is also a concession at The George & Vulture pub in Hoxton. The whole ethos is based around offering the best and freshest pizza, working with local suppliers and creating a fun experience for the customer.

At University, Dan Birch the founding director worked in a kitchen and hated the fact that so much was processed and deep fried. He came across somewhere selling pizza and loved the freshness and theatre of it and this is what restaurant is all about; the pizzas are made on order in front of the customers and the kitchen is an integral part of the experience.

They came across The Old Bank site very much by accident although they were actively hunting for new sites across London. They thought the building was ‘amazing’ and immediately fell in love with it describing it as ‘a big old building with bags of character’. Dan and his team have renovated the majority of the existing features including fireplaces, brick walls and old tiles and have incorporated them into the décor. They have created an interior that’s in harmony with the building and which brings to life the period features that remained hidden for many years.

In addition to the restaurant, there is a bar with seating and space for between five and seven people. The idea is that people can just pop in for a drink or actually eat at the bar, much like you might eat tapas in Spain. If you don’t fancy eating out, you can call the restaurant for a pizza and then pick it up between five and ten minutes later. The pizzas only take a minute in the oven so this is fast (and fresh) food at it’s best! At a maximum, the take away process may take twenty minutes but that’s only to be expected on a packed out Saturday night.

The most popular pizza at the moment is called the ‘Winter Goat’. This consists of mozzarella, tomato, caramelised onions, goat’s cheese, olives and walnuts. Prices range from between £6 and £11 depending on the toppings but the average price is £8/£9. All the ingredients are fresh and locally sourced and indeed they are currently looking for local suppliers in the area.

Dan is not from SE23 so I asked what he has come to like about the area and his answer was ‘the community’ which will not surprise us Forest Hilliers! He says the reception has been really supportive and that people could not wait for them to open.

It’s clear that SODO will be a great success if his passion for freshly made pizza and the support of the local community is anything to go by. The restaurant is now open, three days a week between 12pm – 11pm and once everything is fully up and running, they plan to open six days a week.

Extremists at the Horniman

The Horniman Museum's latest family friendly exhibition “Extremes” explores what it takes for animals and plants to survive in some of the world's most hostile environments.

Much of the animal kingdom is far better adapted to extreme conditions than we are as humans. The exhibition will take you on an expedition to see how animals and plants survive in extreme conditions relating to heat, cold, dryness and constant darkness.

You can see some of the animals that live in these environments and watch films that will make you shiver.

There are hands-on experiences including feeling the 'air-conditioning' inside an ostrich’s beak or trying to keep up with the drinking speed of a camel. A definite must for the would be explorer!

Ticket prices: £3.30 Child, £6.60 Adult, £16.50 Family.

11 February 2014

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

23 Bike Ride - Sunday, 23rd March, 8:30am23 mile bike ride from Devonshire Road Nature Reserve to Orpington. Email Jake@fhsoc.com for further details.
Honor Oak Pub - Sunday, 23rd March, 7:30pmDrinks with the Forest Hill Society at the newly reopened Honor Oak Pub (assuming it has reopened).

Planting at the Station - Sunday, 13th April, 2pm

07 February 2014

Proposed Crofton Park and Honor Oak Park Neighbourhood Forum


Crofton Park and Honor Oak Park

A local Crofton Park and Honor Oak Park community group has submitted two applications to the Council:
  1. to become an officially designated neighbourhood forum called Crofton Park and Honor Oak Park neighbourhood forum, and
  2. to designate a geographical area as an officially recognised neighbourhood area.


The council would like to hear your views on the proposals, especially  including feedback on the following issues:
  • Does the proposed neighbourhood area boundary shown on the submitted map align with your own understanding of the local neighbourhood? and
  • Do you agree with the purpose and objectives of the proposed neighbourhood forum as set out in the forum’s constitution?

Please email all comments on neighbourhood planning applications along with your full name and address to: planning.policy@lewisham.gov.uk

29 January 2014

A Lovely Fortnight in Forest Hill

Events for happy couples, happy singles, and happy families across Forest Hill and Sydenham.
Venues include: Stag & Bow, DoopoDoopo, The Hob, Montage, Forest Hill Library, Forest Hill Pool, and St. David’s Coffee House.



Full list of Valentine's related events here

28 January 2014

Story Jam at Canvas and Cream


Alys got in touch to tell us about something new at Canvas and Cream:

Story Jam kicks off on Thursday February 6th with Story Jamissimo celebrating National Storytelling week with some mob-handed storytelling.  Expect collaborations, conglomerations and co- confabulations, as we banish solitary activity for the night. Tonight we tell together! (You’ll be safe in the audience, we promise). Come ready for music, laughter, paper beards, moments of great beauty and more storytellers than Forest Hill has ever hosted before.


We’ve got a great season of storytelling ahead, full of nonsense and fun, adventures and enchantment. And if that sounds as though the tales are for children,  listen again. Each month we invite the best storytellers we can entice to Forest Hill to tell us folk tales, fragments of epics, wonder tales, stories from our own shores and from across the globe.  Expect to be transported, challenged, moved, tickled, surprised and maybe even changed… And always to have a cracking night out.
As well as our regular monthly nights, we’re running a couple of working sessions and discussions for newish and not quite so new storytellers.  We’ll announce them loudly, but to be the first to know more, please contact us  and we’ll send you an email when booking opens.
More details at: http://storyjamjar.com/

27 January 2014

Miriam Lodge Chicken Project

This spring Miriam Lodge will be starting a community kitchen garden to produce fresh, healthy food for residents and other local project.

It will also be starting a chicken keeping project with a small brood of hens.

The Lodge is inviting local people to take part!

All levels of gardening ability and chicken keeping experience welcome!
Happily, the chickens should be arriving within the next few weeks and so perhaps if you've been thinking about having a few hens at home, why not come along and find out more?!

Please email: services@hqproperty.net
Or find out more on the Lewisham Gardens Facebook

 

23 January 2014

Big Sunday Sing 2


Sunday 23rd February,  from 1-6pm
Forest Hill Methodist Church & Centre, Normanton St, London SE23 2DS
The workshop is being organised by Sydenham Singers, a local community choir. 
We'll be singing gorgeous heart-warming songs that will leave you feeling uplifted and refreshed. Everything will be taught by ear and there's no need for any experience. Tea & Coffee will be provided and all you need to bring is your enthusiasm!

Cost per place is: 
£15 in advance (£10 concessions); 
£17 on the door (£12 concessions). 
If you feel unable to pay please apply for limited assisted places. 
£6 under 18 min Age 12; 12-16s must be accompanied by an adult.

To book please contact Lynn Barclay:

17 January 2014

Retail Masterclass with Rowland Gee

In conjunction with SEE3, the National Skills Academy for Retail and the Employer Ownership Fund, you are invited to a Retail Masterclass with Rowland Gee, retired Chief Executive of Moss Bros Group plc.

This is an ‘invitation only’ event for independent retailers in Forest Hill, Kirkdale and Sydenham. You are invited to attend either event as follows:
Sydenham Library, 210 Sydenham Road London SE26 5SE on Monday 27th January 6pm–8 pm
or Forest Hill Pools, Dartmouth Road London SE23 3HZ on Wednesday 29th January 6pm–8pm

For more information please contact: Janet Read, National Skills Academy for Retail  eofproject@nsaforretail.com or Tony Buckley – Town Team Manager, SEE3 on townteam@see3.co.uk