House Prices Up

[Lex James]

Its odd that house prices are going up but still there is so many derelict shops in PC. You would have think they would have been snapped up very bizzarre.
Does anyone know what the plans are for the shops along PC road are, apparently the guy from ablair owns them but not sure

[dottie30]

Firstly, thanks for setting up the discussion forum! Hope it's a success.

Secondly, you're right about the shops. As a mother, I've always thought that Plumstead is lacking in day nurseries - it's kind of a moot point for me now as my son will be reaching school age school but I and other working mothers have had to travel to Charlton/Blackheath. Perhaps an enterprising childcare professional might rent/buy one of the empty stores and open up a nursery. Certainly would get business.

[smith]

I think the problem is that there just aren't enough well educated/affluent people around here to make a delicatessen, trendy coffee shop, expensive children's clothes shop, bistro etc a profitable business.
And there are already plenty of cheap off-licences, barber's shops, builder merchants, laundrettes, costcutters etc.
So what else is going to succeed around here?

[wildheart]

smith said:

I think the problem is that there just aren't enough well educated/affluent people around here to make a delicatessen, trendy coffee shop, expensive children's clothes shop, bistro etc a profitable business.

I would use everyone of those places if we had them!

I am certainly not affluent, but I do have taste. I have lived in Plumstead for a year now and am chuffed to have a house for the price of a flat only 2 miles up the road.
I have noticed plenty of people using Plumstead station in the mornings who look like they would use better amenities if available.

[mac125]

Really pleased we like minded people finally have a way of communicating!

A coffee shop/deli would be great. If I had the money I'd open one myself! Certain winner.

[Pilgrim]

I bought a 3 bedroom house in High Grove in Plumstead for just 175k. This was 6 months ago.

I am already seeing similar houses down my road going up for 200K+

When I was looking at properties I was stunned at how cheap it was around here in comparison to other areas of London.

I think that given the current house price situation, more and more professionals are going to head this way, especially with the Woolwich Arsenal DLR on the way.

The thing is, there is absolutely no where I would consider going out around here. I think that anyone who opened up a slightly more upmarket bar/restaurant would be pleasantly surprised....

[smith]

Hello Pilgrim.
I live in High Grove too!
I would love to see something a bit smarter round here, but I really think people are being overly optimistic. I have lived in areas like Camberwell, and Nunhead, where these kinds of businesses have started to thrive over the last 8 years, but it is slow progress. Most of the people you see heading for the station aren't here from dawn until dusk to patronise local businesses, and I doubt they are the type to go out several nights a week.
It takes more than a swallow......

[Mrsdp]

We bought here about 3 months ago primarily because of the size of house we could get for our money and hopefully the area will start to get some nicer shops/delis etc. I await the day the Co-op becomes an M&S! If Woolwich has one there has to be hope..There are some lovely little pockets in most up and coming areas - look at the little parade of shops off Eltham High Street and the little parade by Lee, it just takes one to start it.
We work in the City daily but do go out 3 times plus a week, mainly to eat and drink and I would definitely use local places. At the moment we meet friends in Blackheath or Greenwich as there are no other options close by. I would also support local gift shops/boutiques and deli's/cafes etc - OK only at the weekend but my husband occasionally works from home and there are also Mum's around Plumstead who to my knowledge have nowhere to go. At the moment I travel past Eltham on my way to netball and am always dropping in at Chapmans to pick up a lamp, hook, doorknob, clock, side table, cushion etc - just think how much i would spend if i had something on my doorstep!
We looked around the SE when looking to buy and Plumstead had good transport links and was well priced within good reach of some lovely places that would have cost us about another £200k to buy.

[Plummy]

Smith - I am sure you didnt mean it the way it reads, but I know 6 people in Plumstead - 3 of whom were educated privately and all who went to Uni and have reasonably paid jobs, so I think people are starting to move here who do have a thirst for the better things in life and would support a deli/whatever.
Besides you dont have to be affluent to buy some olives and ciabatta surely? What about a local restaurant - ie Italian/Greek etc somewhere cheerful, a bowl of pasta, bottle of wine and some garlic bread is not going to break the bank but would be welcomed and i am sure well supported...Tony's cafe would be a great spot for this overlooking the common, snug on winter evenings and lovely on balmy summer nights..

[me]

Please please please a decent restaurant/some cool bars are all we need . . . why should we pay £10 - £15 cab fare to Greenwich/Blackheath?

[smith]

Plummy said:

Smith - I am sure you didnt mean it the way it reads, but I know 6 people in Plumstead - 3 of whom were educated privately and all who went to Uni and have reasonably paid jobs, so I think people are starting to move here who do have a thirst for the better things in life and would support a deli/whatever.
Besides you dont have to be affluent to buy some olives and ciabatta surely? What about a local restaurant - ie Italian/Greek etc somewhere cheerful, a bowl of pasta, bottle of wine and some garlic bread is not going to break the bank but would be welcomed and i am sure well supported...Tony's cafe would be a great spot for this overlooking the common, snug on winter evenings and lovely on balmy summer nights..

Blimey you are affluent if you can afford to drink/eat out in Blackheath 3 nights a week.
Dinkies?
I think you'll find that graduates are in the minority round here. Have a look at the socio-economic breakdown of this area via upmystreet.com or a similar site.
By the way, you do have to be affluent to buy olives and ciabatta from a deli, rather than Sainsbury's or Asda - unless it's Paul's Continental Olive shop in Camberwell
FWIW I think the most likely business to survive would be something like an Italian cafe that could serve as coffee shop during the day and trattoria style restaurant in the evenings.
I'm just trying to inject a note of caution and some realism here, so we don't get our hopes up too much.
I hope I am proven wrong

[Plummy]

well i guess affluent depends on how you look at it, but I am not talking Chapter 2 three times a week! I think the area is on the up, more and more people are moving out here due to the size of properties and the fact especially if you are considering children that you can buy a house rather than a flat for them to tear around in.
Besides who needs realism when you can have dreams! I see it now cream teas on the common and dancing round the Maypole..

[smith]

Plummy said:

well i guess affluent depends on how you look at it, but I am not talking Chapter 2 three times a week!

;D
Is it as expensive as it looks there then?

[begamot]

In the seven years I have lived in PC always dreamed of waking up and finding that Tony's cafe has transformed itself into a deli/cafe. I live in hope!

[Donald Duck]

I was delighted to discover this message board via Plumsteadshire but having read this thread I think you are all a bunch of snobs! Co-op become an M&S indeed! I like olives and ciabatta as much as the next man but what a patronising load of sh!te.

Why don't you bog off back to Greenwich or Blackheath........oh I forgot, you can't afford it! Well count your blessings then.