It appears that the Boycott Nandos people are mounting their last stand against Richard Midda. Their objective is to block Nando’s application for an alcohol licence. Given the number of pubs and licenced restaurants on Church Street already, all I have to say is, “good luck with that”.
My question is: What do you really hope to achieve? The Vortex is gone and not coming back. Richard Midda isn’t obliged to rent the premises out to your “business co-operative” or anyone of your choosing. Your victory, if any, will be pyrrhic. If not Nandos, it will be another big hitter who can afford Midda’s rent. Simple as that.
April 9, 2008 at 8:45 pm
I hate Nandos and I rather liked the Vortex. But I loathe far more the sanctimonious snob-twattery of campaigning to prevent Nandos’ customers have a drink. Do they really think that will scare of the nasty chain restaurant? Yeah right…
April 13, 2008 at 11:27 am
I wonder if the over 700 local residents and local businesses who have signed up to fight against having Nando’s in Church Street will agree with you. They are made up of the whole spectrum of our community including age, race or class. We now have a barrister on board to speak for us at the license hearing who believes we have a good chance actually.
At least we’ve got off our arses to try and do something about it instead of just taping away at our computer.
There are already 7 Nando’s within 10 minutes if Church Street and I know that they are paying a high premium to be there. Mr Midda also owns several other sites on the street and the local businesses ther are very worried about over increased rents.
If you’re happy to see another homogenised high street then go somewher else. Stoke Newington has a long history of dissent and we are continuing that tradition.
Even if we do not succeed in stopping them coming in, at least, we have started a long overdue dialogue between local residents and local business who now plan to create a combined development association for Church Street.
Something I fear you’ll want nothing to do with in your ivory towers!
April 13, 2008 at 12:37 pm
oh plu-se, would people just fuck off about me and my “ivory towers”….
Tony, I’m pleased for you mate, honestly. But do the words “barn door” and “horse already bolted” mean nothing to you?
PS
If you would take the trouble to READ what I’ve already written at length about before kicking off, you will see I’ve been taking it in the neck for opposing Nandos. I’ve been called an elitist by the Nandos fans (they see it as the “peoples restaurant”, apparantly).
Anyhoo, we note you are in receipt of counsel’s advice. Perhaps you will enlighten us as to the contents thereof – for a laugh – as Richard Midda already has A3 consent (Hackney Labour gifted him that some time ago) and Nandos are a reputable company seeking to be one licenced premises of many already on the street….
So that that make me an “elitist” or a realist?
just sayin’
April 15, 2008 at 10:39 pm
I want beer!!
May 4, 2008 at 10:15 am
What’s up with the Burger King sign that keeps appearing on the building? An attempt to make people appreciate Nando’s?
May 29, 2008 at 8:33 am
On a purely architectural note, you have to say that, for whatever reason, this guy’s done an incredible job on what is essentially a period-piece reproduction of a 19c shop front.
It’s probably the finest repro I’ve seen, tbh and looks really rather beautiful- a quantum improvement on the crumbling old pile it replaced. Seems perverse that it’s all for a soddin Nando’s.
This is my question, though to those who tend to represent their views on Stoke Newington in print/pixels: why is it always about Church St. rather than the High St??
Are the people who are banging on about Nando’s, very often the same lot who are furtively riding their his n’ hers hybrids on the pavement to scramble into Tesco’s on the High St?
I get the feeling that very often it is, and that this desire to retain the indie sanctity of Church St often comes cadenced with an fairly unattractive and selfish readiness to have the vastly superior, cheaper, better quality yet less packaged charms of our High St. potentially ruined by Tesco’s (which wouldn’t be good enough for Churchy oh no!!) for the convenience of these self-same Church St. resistors.
The High St. needs its own representation…!