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Super Thursday: Goddards return, new pub opens and Squeeze perform surprise gig

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GODDARDS at Greenwich opened its doors to hungry punters yesterday, marking a return to Greenwich after a six year absence.

The much-awaited return of the family-run pie shop, along with a new pub opening, two new exhibitions and a surprise gig by the most famous band to have come out of Greenwich made it Super Thursday in SE10.

It was as if Goddards had never been away as customers at the new 100-seater restaurant in King William Walk tucked in to pie, mash and liquor while listening to classic songs like 'Roll out the Barrel'.

Kane Goddard told Greenwich.co.uk:

"We've been looking to come back to Greenwich for such a long time and we're fortunate to have found such a lovely building. We're looking forward to seeing all of our old customers again, getting back into the community and letting everybody enjoy our pie and mash."

050As Goddards at Greenwich closed after its first day back, the party was just getting started round at The Lost Hour in Greenwich High Road.

The Stonegate pub, formerly The Auctioneer, relaunched after a two week refurbishment and laid out the red carpet for its surprise mystery guest - top David Beckham lookalike, Andy Harmer (pictured right).

Elsewhere in Greenwich, a new gallery space opened up on Creek Road. Made in Greenwich features a range of works from a variety of disciplines, and the opening exhibition, which includes work by Edward Hill, Mike Curry and Tom Dingley amongst others, is dedicated to Greenwich Park.

At the Ben Oakley Gallery in Turnpin Lane, Greenwich Market, it was the opening night of an exhibition by Dartford-born artist David Bray called Far Out Is Not Far Enough.

Greenwich's Super Thursday ended with a surprise gig by Greenwich legends Squeeze at the Pelton Arms. It was the band's last gig before jetting off to the US for a tour that starts in San Diego on Tuesday.

"Awesome night at the pelton arms. To see The Squeeze in your local is a real treat. And they were brilliant!!!", tweeted one audience member lucky enough to see them play.

The splurge of new openings comes just days after the opening of two restaurants in the Greenwich Pier development. Byron, purveyors of "proper hamburgers", and Frankie & Benny's both opened for business this week.

“Greenwich is one of London’s most iconic locations, as popular with visitors as it is with locals. We’re excited to be bringing proper hamburgers to this historic maritime location,” says Byron’s founder, Tom Byng.

School kids work with neighbouring pub to improve area

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Children from St Alfege with St Peter’s Primary School with, from left to right, Sean Brogan (Landlord of the Gate Clock Wetherspoon Pub), Hazel Burnie (Headteacher at St Alfege with St Peter’s Primary School), Cllr David Grant, Cllr Maureen O’Mara, and Cllr Matthew Pennycook

Concerned children from a Greenwich primary school have met with the landlord of a neighbouring pub to call for improvements to their local area.

Pupils from St Alfege with St Peter’s Church of England Primary School, along with their headteacher, Hazel Burnie, met with Sean Brogan, manager of the Gate Clock in Creek Road. They were joined by all three Greenwich West ward councillors - Maureen O'Mara, David Grant and Matthew Pennycook.

A plan was agreed which includes the Gate Clock pledging not to sell alcohol off-licence to be consumed outside the premises, a bigger effort to deal with litter and a promise to remind customers that areas near the pub are part of a 'no drinking zone'.

The children’s work is part of South London Citizens’ CitySafe campaign, a community-led response to crime and the fear of crime in the capital.

Hazel Burnie, Headteacher at St Alfege with St Peter’s Primary School, said:

“As a school, we take citizenship very seriously, and that’s why we are members of South London Citizens. We are keen to work with our neighbours to improve our local area. We are pleased about the relationship that is developing between our school, the landlord of the Pub next door to us, and our local councillors. There’s so much we can achieve together.”

Cllr Maureen O’Mara, Cabinet Member for Community Safety and Environment, said:

“As local councillors we congratulate the school on this initiative. Anti social behaviour blights everyone's lives and we are pleased to work with the school to tackle it.”

Sean Brogan, Landlord of the Gate Clock Wetherspoon Pub, said:

“I feel the meeting was very beneficial for us to see a different perspective on our business and how it is viewed by the younger generation. I gained valuable information on how they felt about the surrounding community and businesses, and was pleased to learn about their views on litter and minor crime.”

Council consults on Greenwich pedestrianisation proposals

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Greenwich Council has initiated a consultation on proposals to part pedestrianise Greenwich town centre.

The pedestrianisation scheme would entail closing College Approach and King William Walk (northern section) to all traffic except for access. Greenwich Church Street north of Creek Road would allow some traffic access.

Cllr Chris Roberts. Leader of Greenwich Council, said, “We are very keen to get the views of everyone who lives in, works in or visits Greenwich, and I hope as many people as possible will take part in the consultation on the Council’s proposals.”

The options currently under proposal are:

Option 1 – two-way traffic on all the non-pedestrianised roads.
Option 2 – create new clockwise traffic gyratory with one-way traffic flows on Norman Road and the affected stretches of Creek Road, Greenwich Church Street and Greenwich High Road.

Those supporting the second option are invited to give comments on three variations:

2a – As Option 2 but with two-way movement permitted on Greenwich High Road southwest of Stockwell Street.
2b – As Option 2 but with a bus contra-flow on Greenwich High Road – Greenwich Church Street – Creek Road.
2c – As Option 2 but with a cycle contra-flow on Greenwich High Road – Greenwich Church Street – Creek Road.

The proposed options can be seen in detail, along with a visual computer model, at an exhibition being held at Devonport House on the 19th/20th/21st December between 10am - 8pm. More information is available from the Council website.

Pub Review: Lord Hood

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Lord Hood
300 Creek Road SE10 9SW

Back in 2005-06 there was a local campaign to ‘Save the Hood’ when its existence was threatened by council plans for redevelopment. According to its website, the pub’s patrons won out with some stellar arguments about its being 200 years old, “friendly to women” and “not a wine bar”. With that kind of progressive thinking how could the council bring in the JCBs, right? Unfortunately for the Lord Hood, I can’t find much to savour in its salvation.

To start with the positive, the exterior is actually rather promising. Nothing flashy but with an old town house pub look and a bit of greenery it looks like a welcoming, unpretentious sort of place. However, there’s a line between ‘unpretentious’ and ‘not trying at all’, and once you get inside you realise that this place has long since crossed that line. It has the shabby red velvet and dark wooden bar stool thing going on, with a dartboard and pool table, but it all looks like no-one’s touched (read: cleaned) anything for 20 years +.

We got a few good hard stares from the locals when entering; they were about 6 in number and made up the entire clientele. The Internet buzz about this place is that it’s all about the Live Music - especially jazz and folk - but thank goodness for beardy musicians because there was little sign of the 60 people who apparently attended the ‘Save the Hood’ meetings and I wonder how this pub would survive otherwise.

The service was a little unfriendly and the barmaid seemed pretty put out when we asked what selection of ciders they had – Magners and Strongbow, which is pretty indicative of the average drinks selection. The beer garden doesn’t add much either: perhaps I was too harsh on the Pilot Inn, as the Lord Hood’s concrete patio slab adjacent to the main road certainly made me wish I were back at GMV.

I acknowledge that the Live Music here can be a huge draw for many and that a good gig can really make a place. Therefore I reserve ultimate judgement on this place until I check out the Jazz, but frankly I can’t think of any other reason I would want to go to the Lord Hood again.


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Cycles UK Opens in Creek Road

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New bike shop, Cycles UK, opened for business in Creek Road on Saturday morning. The new branch is intended to be the flagship store for the independent chain, and will stock bikes and accessories from leading brands such as Specialized, Marin, Trek, Wilier and Cube.

The opening was nearly derailed by the recent break-in and theft of eight cycles, but thankfully everything went ahead as scheduled.

On Thursday night, local cyclists were invited down to an "open night" to see what the shop had to offer and enjoy a drink and a chat with the staff. Peter Skelton from Cycles UK tells me that the store's dedicated women’s cycling area received particular praise from the female cyclists in attendance.

Related Link: Hybrid Bike

New Bike Shop Coming To Greenwich

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A new bike shop will be opening up in Creek Road in the first week of April. Cycles UK, an independent chain with 16 branches around the South East, will be opening up for business on the 4th April and will be stocking a wide selection of brands including Specialized, Trek, Marin, Wilier, Cube and Pashley alongside a great range of kids & BMX bikes, clothing and accessories.

They are also planning a pilot programme to offer courtesy bikes to customers whilst their own bikes are being serviced or repaired. Cycles UK is actively encouraging feedback from cyclists about what they would like from the shop, so if you have any comments, check out their new blog which shows progress with the store as it nears completion.