BITE user comments - Griffter
Comments by Griffter
Thought as much. It's a chain. Although the way Scott was talking, you'd have thought he owned the place.
I went passed there yesterday and couldn't believe how many mothers and babies were in there. Was the same in the Prince Regent. Have people mistaken the word pub for creche. Pathetic
9 Jul 2007 16:42
Hello Scott,
Thanks for your comments. My earlier posts are a bit ranty so I'll try and keep it more civilised this time.
I agree with BennyBeans in that Ganley's was far from perfect, and did need improvements, but it did have a good down to earth atmosphere which I feel is now lacking in the Florence. I think it was thriving (maybe not so much on Friday and Saturday nights), but the the landlord obviously saw a chance to take the money and run, with real estate prices in SE24/SE22 going through the roof. Who can blame him.
And who can blame you for seeing a great opportunity to create a funky bar in Herne Hill for the ever growing number of upwardly mobile professinals who want somewhere cool to drink.
To me it feels like it's all gone very selective, as you know well that ordinary folk are not going to want to drink beers at those sort of prices or frequent such a place anyway. (Minimum LAGER price is �3.10 @ 5%) Also, if you have no screens in the pub showing sport, you again will be rid of the 'undesirable' elements of the community. This is all quite cynically contrived and a deliberate squeezing and pricing out of a large section of the community.
Sure, there are no laws to say you can't do what you're doing, and in your scene, you're obviously a big success,.I'm just disappointed that I no longer can pop down my local boozer and be surrounded by a broad range of people, watch sport and not be irritated by nerds who for some strange reason believe they are cool.
It feels very bland and shallow in there now, and don't get me wrong, it's good to see the back of the old irish blokes on the wall and the celtic crosses but it was a darn sight better than what's there now.
I think it's about getting a balance within the area, and with the Escape Bar and the Commercial both attracting fairly similar crowds to the Florence, and not showing sports or being tradional, we are now in a situation where there is no variety. The Prince Regent is now right off since that was done up.
I'm sure I'm very much in the minority now and probably seem bitter and old fashioned, however I'm sure if you were to do some local research you may find alot more people like me who haven't bothered to complain.
Regardless, I wish you luck in your business venture.
PS the footie season may be over, but it's just the small matter that England are playing Estonia tonight in a crucial qualifier and half of Herne Hill will be in a small bar in the Half Moon trying to get a view of the only TV in the area that will be showing it.
The Florence will be half empty. What a waste of such a great building!
6 Jun 2007 17:24
Yes I agree Ravish. Although, if a Starbucks was to open I would expect it to be full of arty farty sissies wearing rupert the bear scarves and trilbys, but I dont expect to find them in my local pub.
There is only one pub left in herne hill where you can watch football (Half Moon) and they now only have one tiny screen, and there are rumours that is going to go as well. What's happening to our community. It's being eroded by sterile cretins from planet yuppy.
1 Jun 2007 11:11
Where do I start with this. I was pretty gutted in the first place when I was told that Ganley was selling up, but when I found out that it had been bought by the same people as the Bishop in East Dulwich I was mortified. Although, I did hold out a bit of hope that the new owners would show a bit of common sense and keep some of the traditional pub features (not the tacky celtic crosses and fake irish stuff) but keep it as a thriving local pub which shows sport and serves beer at reasonable prices.
When I found out it was gonna be called the Florence and saw the outside I cringed. Yet another poncy, pretentious pub (wine bar). When I actually went inside my heart sank. What a soulless, cold place. Only 5% beer at a minimum price of �3.10 a pint, full of wannabe yuppies with about as much charisma as a sack of potatoes. What a shame that these people think that this is good for a local area when all it does it drive out honest local people who enjoy the craic, a few pints and a good game of footie. The man/WOMAN, who responsible for the fake rubbish should be ashamed of him/herself. Bring back the local boozer. boycott this rubbish
1 Jun 2007 09:58
The Florence, Herne Hill
Anonymous Scott again. The landlord (manager), telling people to go in drink in Tulse. Tell you what, why dont you go back to East Dulwich and take our gay 'pub' with you.
11 Dec 2007 17:25