- by Admin
- in Life Style
The way in which the local community of South East London has pulled together over the last 12 months still continues to astound us, and we just can’t stop talking about them…
Following on from last month’s local heroes blog, we’re back, sharing more news on local businesses that are going above and beyond for the community at such a difficult and challenging time. As you know, Urban Village Homes is proud to be an independent business, which is why supporting local is something very close to our hearts – and we love seeing the lengths some of them have gone to just to help out…
Find out more about the businesses of SE5 that are open and operating, and ways to support them support the local community over at the SE5 Forum.
Keely Fruit and Veg in Denmark Hill
Since August 2019, Keely Fruit and Veg Delivery & Stall has be open 9am-5pm every weekday, just outside Denmark Hill station. Locally-owned and family run, the stall has been invaluable to NHS staff and the local community throughout the pandemic and before, while also delivering essential food to the vulnerable community.
Unfortunately, two months ago, Keely was threatened with closure when Southwark Council insisted on running a cycle path down one side, closing access to the stall. Not only would this have had a big impact on the family, but it would have also removed an incredible asset to the NHS teams working in the King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and Maudsley Hospital, plus local residents. But the community pulled together, sharing their reasons online why Keely just had to stay:
‘Keely has been there for us all the way through this amazingly hard year, especially the first weeks of lockdown when it was so difficult to get food. What she does has been especially crucial for vulnerable older people. Her deliveries and her stall are a fantastic local asset. She needs to our support now.’ Ceri, local resident
‘Keely is helping our community by providing us with fresh fruits and vegetables in this lockdown. She is doing a wonderful job and she is a hero.’ Joyce, local resident
Ove 1,380 people signed a petition to keep Keely where she is, and it won! Keely even got a call from the council to say that she didn’t have to move and could carry on trading. If that isn’t community spirit, we don’t know what is.
Sem Café in Loughborough Junction
Tucked away around the back of Loughborough Junction is the gorgeous Sem Café. With Turkish-Cypriot roots, it serves everything you might want to eat for breakfast, lunch and dinner – whether that’s a greasy fry-up, just a cup of coffee or a tasty sandwich. Affordable and friendly, this unpretentious café offers no-nonsense delicious food with fabulous value for money. Not only that, but they have also been supporting the local community over the last year or so…
‘It’s been a difficult few months, but we have been trying to help local residents as much a possible,’ the team at Sem Café told us. ‘Simply by adding a discount to bacon sandwiches or even a cup of tea, we’re trying to do our bit to support everyone.’
Pop in and see the friendly team at 37-39 Padfield Road – they really are a lovely bunch.
The Crooked Well in Camberwell
An award-winning gastro pub in the heart of Camberwell, The Crooked Well really is a delight to visit. And their Sunday roasts have simply got to be tried to be believed. Plus, even after the challenge of last year, landlords Hector Skinner and Matt Green-Armytage refused to give up – instead, launching a work-from-pub scheme that would ‘give back’ to regulars who supported the business during lockdown.
Officially launched on 10 October, ‘Work Well’ was intended to help locals who didn’t have space for a home office, allowing regulars to book a COVID-secure table for the day for just £7. Or for £15, they could also enjoy bottomless coffee, breakfast, lunch and a pint once their working day had finished.
‘One of our regulars said he couldn’t stand working and living at home every day and it gave us an idea to help our locals and our staff,’ the landlords told Southwark News. ‘We wanted customers to feel connected in real life – not just over Zoom – and remind them that they are part of a community. It’s been a huge hit with our customers who are working from home locally.’
While The Crooked Well was forced to close its doors after the third lockdown in January, we look forward to seeing them open again as soon as lockdown starts to lift in April.
If you’re looking to buy or sell in the local area, Urban Village is just a stone’s throw away from these delightful businesses and we have some amazing properties on our books. Give us a call on 020 3519 9121, email info@urbanvillagehomes.com or book a virtual viewing with our friendly team today.