Tuesday 12 December 2006

Squat's up doc?

Lovely listener.

What's up with that tatty looking house a third of the way down Griffin Road? If you know Griffin Road then you definitely know the house to which I refer. It looks like one of those houses featured on the hit BBC show, Life of Grime.

Is it occupied? Is it a squat? Is it infested with rats, coachroaches? Or art students?

Only you, lovely listener, can hold the proverbial key to the battened up door.

Help me Obi Wan Kenobi, you're my only hope.......

18 comments:

Anonymous said...

there are more than a few tatty houses around. Not mine tho it's lovely...

Anonymous said...

Does the Ship have a 'special' licence granted every week?

They have another 'shindig' going on tonight.

Didn't see any of his 'ladies'...looks like a 'gentlemen's only' night....Busta has invited along his family and Carpet Man and his cronies....oooh I must apply for my membership.

Is he doing this every week to show the council that there won't be any trouble at Busta's?

Has anyone one had a look at what The Woodman is applying for?

BTW. I know the gaff you are talking about...I've seen the lovely kids from next door throwing stones etc at the boarded up windows...I'm pretty sure I've seen an old fella going in / out

Anonymous said...

I can confirm a gathering of gentlemen this evening. It certainly looks like there's something in the offing.

There seems to be a sense of urgency about the renovation. Yet it should be noted that the renovation is all "on the surface" - imperfections are already showing through the external paintwork (look up); the weirdly-placed lampstand remains on the roof (what was that all about?)

Can the previous poster post a reference to The Woodman application (I can only find old ones).

Anonymous said...

I haven't been able to find anything either on the council site - I noticed a blue application on the pub the other day.

Anonymous said...

I previously read the Woodman application online via the Greenwich licensing section application section. It was very short, and is only for the moving of the loos to a different location in the building. That's it as far as I remember.

I walked passed to Woodman this morning. It's looking very nice. The inside is being redecorated and looking much smarter. They've painted the outside a pretty pale green with new signs of a traditional style. The signs say "all warmly welcome" and "good bar food". Is this the making of the gastro pub we've all been hoping for!?

Anonymous said...

The Woodman is looking rather pleasant. As I mentioned before, the only licensing applications on the Greenwich site are old ones. I recall two recent planning applications: 1. for externally lit signs and 2. (as already mentioned above)for movement of the loos.

I'd have thought that private functions would not require a licence.

Anonymous said...

re. the boarded up house on griffin road, i've seen milk bottles left outside, and then evidence of them being replaced, and/or taken into house. i always thought it was some old batty recluse living there... not squatters, but i could be wrong.

there are certainly squatters on warwick terrace, next to the old post office and closed hip hip hooray cake shop. such a shame because that corner would be an ideal location for some useful business or cafe or something.

things look hopeful for the woodman from observations above.

Anonymous said...

either the Woodman or the new Ship will do me nicely. Being newish to the area I have been in the Ship a couple of times, which is OK for the quiz but they don't serve wine (well they do but I had to leave it, so grim) and I have also ventured into the Old Mill which was full of Ford Escort driving young boys in baseball caps, chains, tracksuit bottoms and white Reebok trainers. I won't be returning.

Anonymous said...

Long time lurker makes post shocker!
I don't recognise the afore-mentioned description of the Old Mill. Whenever I have visited it seemed like a nice pub with a mix of customers and great landlord, but too smoky. I found the Star good too, but also smoky. The Woodman used to be horrible - I hope it is on the up.

Anonymous said...

The Star is by far the best pub in Plum. Unfortunately, I have to agree - it is very smokey. Way back when, most of my friends smoked, and even they suffered from the smokey atmosphere there(even - or maybe especially - when we sat in the window seats with the window open). It is to do with the building rather than the number of smokers. Remember, though, the ban on smoking in public places is rapidly approaching.

Brian, the landlord, works hard to make The Star a community pub. Don't knock it.

The Old Mill, the Albert and The Woodman lend themselves to serving food. I reckon the Old Mill is the best bet for a "gourmet" type pub for its size and the rear garden. If we could get rid of DC, the Prince Albert could be the pub version of the cafe in Oxleas Wood (ie. a brilliant weekday lunch venue)and a popular venue for light meals in the summer in the evenings and weekends.

Unfortunately, The Ship has sailed as far as catering is concerned - Busta's flats to the rear have put paid to that idea. Short-sighted thinking, yet again, Mr Patel! This is a shame, as I have long argued that The Ship could become a going concern if it served evening meals.

Avatart said...

Briefly passing over the subject of this thread; what is actually wrong with squatters? They keep a building alive, will usually make improvements to a derelict or rundown property and, in my experience, are well behaved. just because some people are not as fortunate as us does not make them bad people.

As for pubs (my favourite subject), I personally think that The Mill is the best pub for miles around, fantastic beers, very friendly (and family friendly), wonderful building.

I also like The Star, but have encountered some racists there, which I am sure is the exception, but did put me off.

My other favourite is The Volunteer, down in the High Street, I often pop in there with my partner after a shopping expedition to Somerfields and it has always been very pleasant.

Anonymous said...

if you live in plumstead you will encounter racists from time to time, i'm afriad......

Anonymous said...

Oops I did mean the Star indeed. I'm not knocking it at all, everytime i have been in there they have been lovely and friendly, it is typical of what I would call a real local. The Mill landlord was v pleasant but the clientele were just not my thing - it is really smoky and I smoke! Can't say I would eat in there. Where is there to eat locally?
Also did cake shop lady not try to make it into a cafe as well so people could eat her cakes as well as just ordering them?

Anonymous said...

Just in time for me to spend the day recovering from my Xmas do and pop in for a pre-Christmas beverage. Hope they have their mulled wine and mince pies out!

Anonymous said...

The Old Mill is by far the best pub around Plumstead Common. Always friendly, always has a fantastic selection of well-looked after real ales. Andy, the landlord, is a lovely fella who will get out his bongos at the drop of a hat (and I mean that in a good way).

He also does cracking lunches. Check it out.

Anonymous said...

1 The Slade is to become a betting shop!

Anonymous said...

ooh we need another one of them....

The Ship appears to have another 'one off' night again...this time with some very cool DISCO lights...but I'm pretty sure it's not going to be a nightclub cos every pub has lights like those...

Headless...'doom mongers' eh? eh? Sorry mate can't hear you.

Wool & Eyes again springs to mind!

Anonymous said...

anyone been into the Woodman yet?