Have you ever wondered where Surrey Quays ends and Canada Water begins?
Are you curious to know the shape of Rotherhithe?
Help is now at hand.
Check out Tom Taylor’s rather splendid Boundaries. You can read more about it here.
Neighbourhoods of Surrey Quays Mapped
April 30th, 2009Cafes in Surrey Quays
January 28th, 2009
Which is your favourite place to grab a coffee and hang out in Surrey Quays?
I’ve spent quite a lot of time in the Decathlon cafe and in Starbucks lately, using them as makeshift meeting rooms.
The cafe on the corner of the Decathlon store is pretty spartan, but the food’s okay (typical panini/sandwich fare), there’s a nice view over Canada Water and prices are quite reasonable, despite some (IMHO) very over-the-top protestations from one unhappy customer while I was there. Clearly that cheerful soul hadn’t been to Starbucks lately.
When it comes to a cosy atmosphere, Starbucks does have the edge over Decathlon. There are some comfy chairs if you’re lucky enough to get them and somehow there is a kind of welcoming aura. That said, you do pay a fairly hefty premium for it. But if you’re hanging out there for hours on end as I’ve been, it’s not so bad. I hear Starbucks may be introducing free wifi sometime soon. Now that would really make me happy. Come on Starbucks — you know you want to!
Anyway, back to my question at the start: what’s your favourite cafe in Surrey Quays? Let me know! I’d love to try it out.
photo credit: Salim Virji
Surrey Quays on New Year’s Day
January 1st, 2009
Happy New Year! This photo shows the creepy aftermath of New Year’s Eve in the Surrey Quays shopping centre car park — abandoned trolleys everywhere. Somehow I found it rather spooky.
Anyhow, best wishes and I hope 2009 is a great one for you all!
Merry Christmas Everyone!
December 25th, 2008
Christmas Bowling for 1p at Surrey Quays Hollywood Bowl
December 18th, 2008
Here’s a great idea for any families in Surrey Quays over the 2008 Christmas holidays: Hollywood Bowl is offering bowling for just 1p!
The catch is that it’s for bookings between 9am and 9.30am only. But if you’re going to be in Surrey Quays over Christmas and fancy a morning bowling game, why not go for it?
The offer is running from 20th December to 4th January, only when you book online for up to 12 people, with a maximum of 2 adults. It excludes bank holidays.
photo credit: robertgaal
The Future of Canada Water
December 2nd, 2008
I just came across an excellent site that is the home of the “Canada Water Campaign”: http://www.canadawater.org/, a group that “seeks to involve local residents in the physical, social and economic development of the Canada Water area.”
The site has details of all the new developments that are underway and planned for the Canada Water area. If you live in the area but haven’t seen what’s coming or would like more information about the group, then do take a look.
There’s more information about the developments themselves here.
Incidentally, apparently ten of the houses in the new Maple Quays development have been snapped up already. More are available off-plan from £249,995 for one-bedroom flats or £319,500 for two bedroom flats. At least that’s how much they were going for last month.
Property slump? What property slump?
Cobbles to That!
November 30th, 2008
I was walking back from the Canada Water tube station the other day when I suddenly realised something that I’d not noticed in the 18 previous months of living in Surrey Quays.
Down one side of the expanse of water that gives the tube station its name, there’s a strip of land that’s covered over with large, vaguely cobble-like stones. It’s a busy route for people going to and from the station, yet these cobbles are so incredibly awkward to walk on that even London’s eager commuter-folk avoid them, instead skirting around the outside, no doubt losing valuable seconds.
It was only the other day that it dawned on me that this decidedly pedestrian-unfriendly area was probably intended to be walked over. It seems to serve no other possible purpose, and there’s a bench in the middle of the area that would comfortably accommodate a pensioner or three… if, that is, they could safely negotiate the cobbles. As it is, even daredevil two-steps-at-a-time stair descenders such as I would risk twisted ankles if we tried to get to it.
As I understand it, councils have to be incredibly careful about providing perfectly level pavements these days, yet here is a whole area that almost seems designed to trip people up.
Peculiar planning, I must say.
What Do You Like About Surrey Quays?
November 24th, 2008
Lunch at Lana Cafe on Lower Road
November 20th, 2008
Having nothing much in the fridge for lunch seemed an excellent excuse earlier to try a cafe/sandwich shop I’d not yet got round to sampling: Lana at 239 Lower Road.
The decor is fairly standard modern cafe fare: bright and simple, with a few small tables and chairs and stools by the window.
The menu covers sandwiches on pretty much any type of bread you might be hankering for (plain sliced, panini, ciabatta, bagel, crusty roll, baguette, etc.) and there’s a decent selection of fillings.
Lana also serve pasta and rice dishes, including chilli con carne, if I’m not mistaken. A local workman stopped by when I was there and ordered three lots of chilli with rice, so I might try that next time I’m passing.
I plumped for a baguette with chicken and bacon in a mayonnaise sauce and a cup of tea. £3.40 in total and very tasty. The service was very friendly and cheerful and, for me, that makes all the difference.
In summary: decent food, prices and atmosphere, and good service.
If you’re in the Lower Road area at lunchtime, try stopping by Lana.
Have you tried Lana? What did you think? Leave a comment below…
photo credit: soapbeard
When did you Last go to the Park?
November 17th, 2008
The local parks are looking fantastic in all their Autumn glory. Here’s how Deptford Park was looking a few days ago.
If you haven’t been to a park lately, plan a trip some time. You’ll be glad you did.
