Many of you will already know that I am a South Londoner. I have made no secret of this fact.
However, to be more exact, I am a person from a place called Catford. This is a place I lovingly call "the Nation of Catford", since we are a highly individual and characteristic part of the fabric of South London. Culturally diverse, and full of people of every age and social background, I regard us a somewhat exotic and special corner of the London Borough of Lewisham. We are most famous for our large and decorative black and white cat, which adorns our shopping centre. We used to be famous for our greyhound track, which met its demise with the decline of the sport over the last 5 to 10 years.
South London has long had an image problem amongst London folk, and unfairly so. As a result, it is my pleasure to host this post by someone on the team responsible for reinvigorating Catford Town Centre who is a proud Catford resident for the last 10 years.
My guest blogger works for the London Borough of Lewisham and has been instrumental in creating and running both the Catford Broadway Monthly Market and the Catford Broadway Supperclub. It's an exciting and fresh approach to bringing together a community and resurrecting local pride.
Lewisham Council has ambitious plans for Catford that will completely change the face of the town centre. Plans include new shop fronts, repaving and pedestrianisation of Catford Broadway which have already begun.
One of the first Council initiatives was the Catford Broadway Monthly Market. Held on the first Sunday of the month from 10am–4pm, it balances the artisan and authentic, with traditional Trinidadian canteen sitting comfortably alongside vegan cupcakes, Sardinian charcuterie and handmade pasta.
Celebrating its first birthday last month, it’s fast becoming a ‘gastro hotspot’. Traders for the next market include ‘Colonel Tom’s Gumbo’, ‘Two Hungry Bees’ Vietnamese street food and ‘Ulrike’s Bakery’ offering the best salted caramel macaroons you’ll ever taste. There are also non-food stalls including ‘Sylvia’s Vintage Gems’ and handmade dolls of all hues by ‘Verona C’.
The Catford Broadway Supper Club was built on the success of the market after seeing all the culinary talent in the market. Initially ‘a summer experience’ the club has been so successful that it has been extended for the rest of the year and will be moving to an inside location in the autumn.
The Catford Broadway Supper Club kicked off in May with Forest Hill’s Mama Wangs Kitchen’s ‘Terracotta Nights’, a menu inspired by Chinese street food from Xi’an. Then in June there was Catford’s very own DB Foods - presenting 'The Ubuntu' Experience’ - taking diners through South Africa’s rich culinary history.
The third event in July was a pizza and beer night from Sydenham’s ‘Van Dough’ and the ‘Brockley Brewing Company’. The next event, all the way from Croydon, is ‘Yummy Choo Eats’ offering home-cooked food from the tropical Indian Ocean island of Mauritius.
Catford is one of the only places in south east London that doesn't have a society or improvement group so the supper club brings local people together. It also introduces non-locals to Catford – in fact, some travelled from as far afield as Brighton, Haringey and Petts Wood.
The most rewarding part of the project so far has been to prove that it can be done. Catford isn’t the ‘hippest’ part of the borough - we don’t have the ‘Ginger Line’ and not everyone sports an ironic moustache or skinny jeans. But we’ve proved that interesting things can still happen. There are plans for a cinema club, a food bank and we’d like to see a pan-Catford group of local ambassadors raising civic pride and getting things done.
If it can happen in Forest Hill, Sydenham, Ladywell and Hither Green it can happen here!
Catford Broadway Monthly Market - First Sunday of the month
Catford Broadway Supper Club - Third Thursday of the book. Book in advance at www.grubclub.co.uk
The next Catford Broadway Monthly Market is Sunday 1 September
Join us on Twitter https://twitter.com/CatfordBroadway
Join us on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/pages/Catford-Broadway-Market/143688855771066
Snigdha would like to thank her guest blogger for this informative and entertaining guest post, and thank the London Borough of Lewisham for the pictures used here. Snigdha has not received any sponsorship, gift or incentive for hosting this post.
However, to be more exact, I am a person from a place called Catford. This is a place I lovingly call "the Nation of Catford", since we are a highly individual and characteristic part of the fabric of South London. Culturally diverse, and full of people of every age and social background, I regard us a somewhat exotic and special corner of the London Borough of Lewisham. We are most famous for our large and decorative black and white cat, which adorns our shopping centre. We used to be famous for our greyhound track, which met its demise with the decline of the sport over the last 5 to 10 years.
South London has long had an image problem amongst London folk, and unfairly so. As a result, it is my pleasure to host this post by someone on the team responsible for reinvigorating Catford Town Centre who is a proud Catford resident for the last 10 years.
My guest blogger works for the London Borough of Lewisham and has been instrumental in creating and running both the Catford Broadway Monthly Market and the Catford Broadway Supperclub. It's an exciting and fresh approach to bringing together a community and resurrecting local pride.
Lewisham Council has ambitious plans for Catford that will completely change the face of the town centre. Plans include new shop fronts, repaving and pedestrianisation of Catford Broadway which have already begun.
One of the first Council initiatives was the Catford Broadway Monthly Market. Held on the first Sunday of the month from 10am–4pm, it balances the artisan and authentic, with traditional Trinidadian canteen sitting comfortably alongside vegan cupcakes, Sardinian charcuterie and handmade pasta.
Celebrating its first birthday last month, it’s fast becoming a ‘gastro hotspot’. Traders for the next market include ‘Colonel Tom’s Gumbo’, ‘Two Hungry Bees’ Vietnamese street food and ‘Ulrike’s Bakery’ offering the best salted caramel macaroons you’ll ever taste. There are also non-food stalls including ‘Sylvia’s Vintage Gems’ and handmade dolls of all hues by ‘Verona C’.
The Catford Broadway Supper Club was built on the success of the market after seeing all the culinary talent in the market. Initially ‘a summer experience’ the club has been so successful that it has been extended for the rest of the year and will be moving to an inside location in the autumn.
The Catford Broadway Supper Club kicked off in May with Forest Hill’s Mama Wangs Kitchen’s ‘Terracotta Nights’, a menu inspired by Chinese street food from Xi’an. Then in June there was Catford’s very own DB Foods - presenting 'The Ubuntu' Experience’ - taking diners through South Africa’s rich culinary history.
The third event in July was a pizza and beer night from Sydenham’s ‘Van Dough’ and the ‘Brockley Brewing Company’. The next event, all the way from Croydon, is ‘Yummy Choo Eats’ offering home-cooked food from the tropical Indian Ocean island of Mauritius.
Catford is one of the only places in south east London that doesn't have a society or improvement group so the supper club brings local people together. It also introduces non-locals to Catford – in fact, some travelled from as far afield as Brighton, Haringey and Petts Wood.
The most rewarding part of the project so far has been to prove that it can be done. Catford isn’t the ‘hippest’ part of the borough - we don’t have the ‘Ginger Line’ and not everyone sports an ironic moustache or skinny jeans. But we’ve proved that interesting things can still happen. There are plans for a cinema club, a food bank and we’d like to see a pan-Catford group of local ambassadors raising civic pride and getting things done.
If it can happen in Forest Hill, Sydenham, Ladywell and Hither Green it can happen here!
Catford Broadway Monthly Market - First Sunday of the month
Catford Broadway Supper Club - Third Thursday of the book. Book in advance at www.grubclub.co.uk
The next Catford Broadway Monthly Market is Sunday 1 September
Join us on Twitter https://twitter.com/CatfordBroadway
Join us on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/pages/Catford-Broadway-Market/143688855771066
I was very disappointed with the August market, having been inmpressed on other occasions. A little hit and miss.
ReplyDeleteHello Anonymous
ReplyDeleteThanks for reading, and thanks for taking the time to comment! It's lovely to hear from a reader!
I guess the market is going to be variable until traders start seeing steady trade. Not everyone in Catford knows about the market yet, and some have to see it for themselves to see it is worth the trip to visit.
I hope that soon it will be more 'hit' than 'miss'! :)
best wishes
Snigdha
It is such a great thing and breaths life back into the high street. Could you post more info on other initiatives you mention in your blog? Also how can ppl get involved?
ReplyDeleteHello Anonymous,
DeleteI couldn't agree more! Catford is a great place to live, but has for too long been unloved.
The resurfacing of Catford Broadway will make it look so much more attractive on Market days!
I will do my best to find out more about the other initiatives and report back. Give me a little bit of time and I hope to have some more info!
Thanks for reading and for posting a comment.
Best wishes
Snigdha
Dear Anonymous
DeleteThere will be a short updated post coming soon all about the new initiatives. Keep your eyes peeled!
Best wishes
Snigdha
I think the Catford Broadway Twitter account could do a great deal more to promote the market, and that includes quality engagement. Not much engagement with local people on there at the moment, more with the traders. They need to immerse themselves into the Catford, and indeed Lewisham, Twitter community and reach out. Then everyone will know about the market. I'm not talking over marketing, I'm talking about entering into and starting up conversations. That's how Twitter works.
ReplyDeleteHello Anonymous,
DeleteI have not carefully inspected their twitter feed. You are certainly right that locals have to be included and part of the discussion.
Perhaps it is difficult to work out who, of the many people on twitter, are Catford/Lewisham locals? I don't know.
If you don't mind, I will pass your comments on and see what response I get. Is that all right with you?
Thanks for reading and for taking the time to comment.
best wishes
Snigdha
Dear Anonymous,
DeleteI have passed your feedback on. I think this might be a more difficult issue that it first appears.
Firstly, the Catford Broadway twitter account is run by a council worker who has to abide by a policy on what can and can't be said. For example, no personal opinions can be expressed, massively reducing what twitter output is possible.
I can't imagine not being able to express an opinion on twitter, can you?! ;)
Social networking is also difficult. To do it well, you need to invest a lot of time.
Perhaps we could all help out by starting chatting to each other more? I don't know.
But thanks very much for getting in touch. Maybe I will be in touch with you on twitter some time?
very best wishes
Snigdha