New plans for the historic Queen’s hotel at 122 Church Road have been put forward by Euro (Queens Hotel) Ltd.

The application is for: the demolition of existing buildings to the centre and rear of the site and existing extensions to the roof with the construction of a new spine building;

a single storey extension to the restaurant, four subterranean levels which provide parking, a swimming pool and servicing space, to create a total of 530 hotel rooms and 170 vehicle parking spaces;

the re-cladding of the 1970’s extension, provision of enhanced landscaping across the site including three coach parking spaces to the front, and the adaption of the existing entrance to the hotel.

The submission of the planning application – with development taking place over four phases if approved – follows “a comprehensive pre-application process” with members and officers of Croydon council and with officers of the GLA, say the applicants.

“We have also sought input from a range of stakeholders, local community groups and residents, and we are confident that the redevelopment proposals provide an opportunity to provide high quality new hotel accommodation at the site and to visually improve this part of the Church Road conservation area.

“The development would also bring forward a range of planning benefits including: demolition of a series of existing non-original buildings and extensions of limited architectural merit and which provide hotel accommodation which is not up to modern day standards;

“the provisions of a series of high quality extensions which provide accommodation of a modern-day standard and which caters for a range of customer’s needs; and the significant enhancing to the existing townscape context by way of a series of contemporary extensions and alterations to elements of the building which detract from the local character.

“These will help to ‘frame’ the retained central element of the existing building.”

There would also be extensive measures to reduce existing on-street parking issues for the wider area, say the applicants.

To view the plans please go to croydon.gov planning:

http://publicaccess2.croydon.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=neighbourComments&keyVal=OP5YGSJLI3500

Crystal Palace park has been the scene of many a free concert and additionally the bowl has a long history of legendary gigs from the very beginning in 1967 when Pink Floyd performed all the way up to the famous Bob Marley concert in 1980 and finally in 1999 with the last concert by Pixies.

This summer sees the return of the free festival to the landmark park with the relaunch of the Crystal Palace Overground Festival on 17 June 2017.

The festival will take place in the heart of the park and 10,000 festival visitors are expected from all over London. Festival director Noreen Meehan says “We have a gorgeous site in the park which we are very excited about and an amazing line up including Morcheeba as headliners for the main stage!”

Morcheeba’s involvement came about by happy accident with Ross Godfrey from the band hearing about the festival from a mutual friend.

Ross says “Crystal Palace Park has always been a magical place for me and deeply connected to music. I attended the BRIT School when it first opened in the early 1990’s and used to spend weekends hanging out in the park and playing my guitar.

I used to wonder at the pictures of Cream standing in front of the Dinosaurs and talk to my family about the legendary concerts that took place at the bowl in the 1970’s and always wished to play there myself.

When we formed Morcheeba in mid 1995 I got my chance when Paul Weller invited us to play his all day festival in the sports arena with the likes of Travis and Hurricane #1.

But the idea of playing in the park itself was still a dream until I became involved with the Crystal Palace Overground Festival organisers in 2016. 17 June will a magical day with some wonderful music, suitable for all ages and tastes and personally I can’t wait!”

90 per cent  of the events during this family friendly arts and culture festival are FREE. There’s tons more to see and do with events all week from 12 – 18 June 2017 including; live music, theatre, visual arts and crafts, spoken word, comedy, storytelling, community activities, sports, amazing food and drink, vintage shopping plus much much more! See the full programme at crystalpalacefestival.org

Other highlights of the 2017 programme include:

– Lemn Sissay, the official poet for the London Olympics, headlines the Spoken Word & Comedy Tent on 17 June

– Kianja, a finalist in the Mayor’s GIGs competition and guest artist with the Jazz Warriors, headlines the Youth Takeover Stage on 17 June

– Dr Alex Paterson of The Orb presents Kompact Sounds and Balearic Beats with Nancy Noise and DJ Dadaist on 16 June

– Temujin Gill and Sunanda Biswas, from the 2012 Olympics opening ceremony creative team, perform and invite you to throwdown (dance) on 17 June in the park

– Sian Evans (Kosheen) and long-term writing partner Ron McElroy (DJ Fresh) perform new work and their substantial back catalogue on 17 June

– Sheku Kanneh-Mason, BBC Young Musician of the Year in 2016, performs in a very special concert with London Mozart Players at St John the Evangelist Church on 18 June.

The festival’s free status is maintained by a dedicated band of volunteers who donate their time and energy to organising this huge event and the support of many local businesses and other funders and sponsors.

Sponsors and supporters of CPOF 2017 are:
Arts Council, Heritage Lottery Fund, Crystal Palace Park Community Projects Fund, Croydon Council, Bromley Community Fund, PRS for Music, Frontier, Better, Just Giclee, Martin & Co., Amphlett Lissimore, Crystal Palace Physio Group, Acorn Group, Bambino, Brown & Green, Sefgrove Chemist, The Sparrowhawk, Papagaio, James Ware Stephenson, Coopers Yard Studios, Bamboo Fitness, BOB Wines, The White Hart, Bookseller Crow on the Hill, Merlin Shoes, Smash Bang Wallop, Westow House, D’Solo, Blue Door Bicycles, Domali Bar & Kitchen, Yak & Yeti, South of the River and Willie Smarts.

The Crystal Palace Overground Festival is a free arts and culture festival run by a team of dedicated volunteers. It was launched in 2006 by the Upper Norwood Triangle traders and has gone from strength to strength with over 10,000 people attending the 2015 festival.

The organisers took a year off in 2016 to prepare for the move of the park event to a much larger site in Crystal Palace Park in June 2017.

Find out more
crystalpalacefestival.org
Find on Facebook: Crystal Palace Overground Festival
Follow on Twitter: @CPOFestival
Instagram: CPOFestival

A new petition to the Mayor of London Sadiq Khan calling on Lambeth council to produce energy and carbon assessment figures for the six estates they want to demolish has been launched on the change.org website.

The petition – which people are being asked to sign –  states:

Lambeth council are demolishing several council estates without carrying out any environmental assessments to the well-being of the residents and the wider community especially in terms of carbon, energy, pollution, traffic, maintenance, infrastructure and loss of green space.

We want Lambeth council to provide full, impartial embodied energy and embodied carbon assessments of all existing homes and estates proposed for demolition so that it can be properly considered in their decision-making process especially when the residents raise their concerns at these council meetings, as in the case of Central Hill estate and Cressingham Gardens.*

Lambeth council have to take their legal obligations of reducing greenhouse gas emissions seriously and show evidence that they have a low carbon transition plan which can be implemented over the next 40 years.

If they fail to provide these embodied energy and embodied carbon assessments, it will show that they are, in fact, acting in a very complacent, negligent manner with the futures of all their residents.

Furthermore, we request that Lambeth council show residents examples of how their previous ‘successful’ regeneration projects have dealt with these environmental matters by showing us how these new developments have performed when compared to the embodied energy and embodied carbon assessments of previously demolished council estates such as Myatts Fields / Oval Quarter.

As well as Sadiq Khan, the petition will be delivered to various politicians, Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors; Royal Institute of British Architects and other groups.

The petition, headed: ‘Get Lambeth council to produce their Embodied Energy / Embodied Carbon Assessments now!’ has already attracted more than 120 supporters.

Among reasons given by people signing the petition so far are:

“There is no need to demolish these homes which are in a good condition and in keeping with the area. Don’t do it waste of public money. More consultation needed. “

“I care about the Central Hill community as I live there, and the wider community around Crystal Palace, as it will affect everyone around, in the local area. As we already know, London is, & has been breaking cleaner air regulations for quite a while now, so lets not make it worse !!”

“Lambeth council have been very quiet about estate demolition and environmental impact. We think the Mayor needs to see this.”

“Well-designed, popular housing with generous space standards, in mature landscapes are being lost, established communities disrupted, often to be sent to remote areas, and the replacement housing is often inferior.”

“Lambeth’s plan is crazy and clearly through ineptitude will cost the good people of Lambeth a fortune…. councillors should start protecting our assets not offload everything in sight.”

“As a resident of Central Hill estate I don’t want to see my perfectly good home destroyed and I also believe the environmental impact on the area of Crystal Palace and indeed the areas of all the estates that are up for regeneration by Lambeth council will be massive!”

“This goes against the Mayor’s promise to not impact the environment with estate demolition, this is unnecessary pollution for London, repair and refurbish!”

“I’m a resident of Cressingham Gardens and have raised concerns with council officers who have simply ignored and not taken seriously environmental issues.”

“Lambeth council have no regard for the residents of these popular estates with green spaces, the lure of the cash sale is paramount. Do the developers care about the residents or the environment?”

“Central Hill in Crystal Palace is a great example of how estates should be planned – lots of open spaces for children and families to enjoy. No high rise building and every house and flat has large windows allowing good light and views- some minor re furbishment needed in some areas because of council neglect BUT absolutely NO need to demolish- which should not be on the agenda.”

“I live close to this well maintained and loved community. This was a debacle of a consultation with under handed and false representation of facts to drive through what amounts to more aggressive social cleansing in London.”

” I live on the Central Hill estate, and fear for the environment and the health of the residents both on the estate and around it as we consider demolishing thousands of tons of concrete, as well as spewing masses of unregulated diesel fumes from diggers and other plant into the atmosphere.

“The planned demolition is not needed as the buildings are sound, and the price people will pay in terms of their health is far too high to justify a few million pounds in profit that Lambeth intend to make to shore up their waning funds.”

*Note: The other four estates Lambeth want to demolish are Fenwick, Knights Walk, South Lambeth and Westbury – Ed.

Public Exhibition – Regeneration Plan Update

Come and join us at the Information Centre in Crystal Palace Park to find out more about the park’s Regeneration Plan. Over the past year we have been reviewing and refining ideas, consulting with the community and developing a recommended plan that will support a restored and vibrant park.

We are inviting you to come and see how your input is helping shape the future development of Crystal Palace Park. The project team will be on hand to answer your queries about the plan and how it was developed, before it is considered by the Council Executive and then Full Council this summer.

Public Exhibition Crystal Palace Information Centre

Near the Penge Gate entrance Friday 19 May 2017
2.00pm to 6.00pm

Public ExhibitionCrystal Palace Information Centre

Near the Penge Gate entranceSaturday 20 May 2017
10.00am to 2.00pm

Contact us

If you have any questions please contact us on:

T | 020 7729 1705
E | [email protected]

Public Exhibition – Regeneration Plan Update

Come and join us at the Information Centre in Crystal Palace park to find out more about the park’s Regeneration Plan. Over the past year we have been reviewing and refining ideas, consulting with the community and developing a recommended plan that will support a restored and vibrant park.

We are inviting you to come and see how your input is helping shape the future development of Crystal Palace park. The project team will be on hand to answer your queries about the plan and how it was developed, before it is considered by the council executive and then full council this summer.

Crystal Palace park regeneration plan aims to deliver local aspirations for a restored and vibrant metropolitan park, which is an asset to its surrounding communities and visitors from across the UK. The park will be supported by a sustainable business model and cared for through a community led not for profit governance model.

2007 Masterplan

Although Crystal Palace Park benefits from an extensively consulted on and approved Masterplan developed in 2007, the £70million costs associated with the full delivery of this plan have not been available to the park.

Building on the scheme of improvements already underway in the park, the Crystal Palace Park Regeneration Plan now aims to bring to fruition further aspects of the 2007 Masterplan so as to restore the park landscape, reduce on-going maintenance costs, realise capital receipts, and create revenue generating activity which will support the sustainable business model.

The 2007 vision was to rejuvenate Crystal Palace Park as a metropolitan park, heritage asset, cultural, leisure, educational and recreational resource to meet the needs of the local people, sports people whether elite or amateur, and the public at large.

Regeneration Plan

As announced in 2016 the London Borough of Bromley (LBB) is developing a sustainable Regeneration Plan for Crystal Palace Park in order to support a restored and vibrant metropolitan park, for the local community. The Regeneration Plan is an updated version of the 2007 Masterplan, that is achievable within the resources available.

Over the past year we have been going through the process of testing and refining ideas for the Regeneration Plan. This has included reviewing the 2007 Masterplan and the park’s historic importance, workshops with key stakeholders and public consultation.

This has led to the identification of a Regeneration Plan that is practical, achievable and responds to these findings and the wishes expressed by the community. The Council Executive and Full Council will make a final decision on the Regeneration Plan this summer.

Improvement Scheme

Alongside the Regeneration Plan, a 2.16million project is currently underway to improve key elements of the park. This is largely funded by the Mayor of London, with additional funding from Historic England and London Borough of Bromley.

Which improvements have been completed?

Conservation of the six Sphinxes and South Terrace steps is complete.
Areas of hard standing and the turnstiles have been removed.
‘Iggy’ the Iguanodon and the water-based dinosaurs have been conserved and works to the lakes are complete. New information boards are now in place.

Which improvements have been completed?

Planning permission for the skatepark has been granted, the tender has been awarded and construction is due to start soon – the new skatepark will be open by summer 2018.
The building of the new cafe is expected to begin this summer.

CONSULTATION PROCESS

The consultation process until the date included one-to-one meetings, pop-up events in 17 different locations, and two full-day drop-in exhibitions adjacent to Crystal Palace train station.

The upcoming public exhibition aims to inform you about the preferred option that was identified through this process for the Regeneration Plan.

Public Exhibition – Regeneration Plan Update

Come and join us at the Information Centre in Crystal Palace Park to find out more about the park’s Regeneration Plan. Over the past year we have been reviewing and refining ideas, consulting with the community and developing a recommended plan that will support a restored and vibrant park.

We are inviting you to come and see how your input is helping shape the future development of Crystal Palace Park. The project team will be on hand to answer your queries about the plan and how it was developed, before it is considered by the council executive and then full council this summer.

In response to the following Freedom of Information request:

Please state number of political office staff currently employed by Lambeth council.
Please state what their individual annual salaries before tax currently are. Not requesting any names.

Lambeth council have responded: “There are no political office staff employed by Lambeth council and consequently, we cannot provide any comment on posts that do not exist within the council’s organisational structure.”

Conservative opposition leader Cllr Tim Briggs says: “If you look at the appendix for our alternative budget which has all the communications dept spend £350,000 is spent on council officers for Lib Peck’s office and Labour councillors – advisors, assistants, admin and office staff.

“They are not called political officers. “Political staff would be people like special advisors paid for by the party in power. “In Lambeth these people are not Labour officers, they are paid for by taxpayers.

“So £350k a year for support staff for the Labour administration and for Labour councillors. “We get £0, Scott (Ainslie, Green party councillor) gets £0 and £1.5 for the communications team spinning Labour lines and blaming the Tories.”

PS: A further Freedom of Information request asked for the dates of contracts signed by Lambeth council and Greenwich Leisure over the Carnegie library, Herne Hill and the Minet library, Knatchbull Road SE5.

Back came this FOI reply: “The council has not yet signed any agreements with GLL for either building known as Carnegie or Minet.”

Or, as a Lambeth council press officer told News From Crystal Palace last week: “Specific agreements relating to particular local arrangements and individual buildings are still under negotiation.”

LABOUR CANVASSERS NOT WELCOME

News From Crystal Palace hears that the other Sunday Labour canvassers visited Central Hill estate to drum up support for the Labour Parliamentary candidate for Dulwich and West Norwood and were basically told they were not welcome and / or to ‘sling their hook.’

Canvassers reportedly included Gipsy Hill ward councillors Matthew Bennett and Jennifer Brathwaite.

This was days after both had attended a meeting of Lambeth council’s overview and scrutiny committee which upheld a decision…to demolish Central Hill estate.

TIE A YELLOW RIBBON…..

Meanwhile Lambeth council are continuing with their tiresome policy of removing yellow ribbons, messages, and quotes from various people from the railings outside the Carnegie library. Which are replaced within hours of them being removed.

News From Crystal Palace wonders how much money has been budgeted for this continuing action until the financial year ends next March 31st. And from which committee budget the money is coming from.

TOUGH CHOICES

Defend The Ten have re-tweeted the following from the Peoples Audit on their Twitter website:

“Lambeth council spent £2,192 at the Electric Social nightclub”. Meanwhile librararies were being slashed to save money #toughchoices

AND FINALLY….

From a Labour party website:

“When our children ask us why their library has closed down – what will we tell them?”

Defend the Ten have fired a fresh load of broadsides at Lambeth council over their antics involving the Carnegie library at Herne Hill.

They say: “Almost 14 months since Carnegie and Minet libraries were pointlessly closed… what’s happening? “Well, local people are never told anything, but here’s some pointers…

1. PLANS STILL IN CHAOS

At the end of April the council press office told a reporter about the libraries:

“Specific agreements relating to particular local arrangements and individual buildings are still under negotiation.”

This, remember, is the council that turned down a viable plan to keep all Lambeth’s 10 libraries open AND make all the savings demanded. Why? Because it would not be in place for April 2016. Date of decision? March 2016. Why so late? The plan was presented in April 2015, but the council delayed and delayed…

2. COMMUNITY STILL INSULTED

Despite being ignored and sometimes insulted, pesky locals continue to make it clear they want their library back – not a useless gym. One way is by keeping the library railings decorated with ribbons, flowers and posters.

In a rare burst of action, these were all taken down on Monday (May 15).  Locals have reacted with fury – and immediately replaced them. “Lambeth really knows how to unite a community!” comments one neighbour.

3. COMMUNITY STILL IGNORED

Meanwhile – despite repeated requests – there is so sign of the “community liaison committee” promised by unloved councillor Jim “Gym” Dickson at the planning meeting on 7 February.

This is supposed to ensure neighbours are consulted on the wrecking of the building (opposed by 313 people; five in favour). Similar liaison was also promised in the planning application itself.

4. MONEY STILL WASTED

The Carnegie building – despite council denials – continues to incur all the costs it did when open: rates, utilities, staff.

PLUS the cost of security at £5,400 per month after an initial panicked flurry that cost thousands more after the library was occupied in April 2016.

PLUS the loss of £5,000 per month formerly paid in rent by the businesses booted out of the building with no notice at all.

PLUS the growing bill for damage to building and garden caused by neglect.

NB: Since the weekend of 6-7 May, all security has now been withdrawn. Let’s see how that works out.

5. BUILDING STILL DETERIORATING

The soundly-built Carnegie has an “indefinite” lifespan, say surveyors – if it is looked after.

Library staff and the Friends of Carnegie Library ensured regular no-brainer maintenance such as clearing the gutters. That all stopped when the library closed.

Despite warnings from the Friends, water, damp and mould have predictably got in – and no repairs have been done.

6. GARDEN STILL A MESS

Similarly, the Friends of Carnegie Library always maintained (at no cost,of course) the Carnegie’s attractive gardens. Now they are overgrown and full of junk. The Friends have had to remove thousands of pounds’ worth of recreation goodies they had funded.

After all, as GLL and the council plan to almost halve the space, fell trees and fill the space with a garish new entrance and building plant, they won’t be needed…

7. WORSE STILL TO COME

NOW, Japanese knotweed is starting to flourish. This notorious, hard-to-control pest is known to spring into activity if the ground is disturbed (by, for instance, digging to excavate the basement and install a gym).

After the council did a botch job of eradicating the knotweed some years ago, it has been kept at bay by the Friends via the required, regular care. That, of course, was stopped.

A commercial landscape garden firm has been spotted in the grounds. After all, why would the council want a large garden maintained for free by the community, when it can have small one maintained for a generous fee, against all the community’s expressed wishes?

The Friends of Carnegie Library contacted this firm six weeks ago offering advice and experience. One acknowledgement – then nothing, despite repeated emails.

8. JIM STILL ON PLANET ZOG

Councillor Gym Dickson is still in full denial – “Good progress is being made”, he tweeted on 6 May.

#hernehill pic.twitter.com/wfUt5Oa3AF

9. WORST OF ALL…

If this farce ever comes to an end, the result will be:

– millions wasted on hand-outs to GLL for a gym in the basement that nobody needs or wants

– a good chance that GLL will be allowed to use as much of the ground floor to do whatever it pleases, however noisy

– a thriving, fully used library replaced by something much smaller – and without the librarians needed to help users

– a furious, alienated community -just in time for local elections in May 2018.

A Lambeth council press officer, asked if they had any comments to make on the above, told News From Crystal Palace: “No. An update on Carnegie will come in due course.”

In glorious sunshine over 3,500 walkers took part in St Christopher’s Fun Walk in Keston, Kent, on Sunday (14 May).

Lots of walkers wore t-shirts featuring the names or photos of loved ones who were cared for by the Sydenham-based hospice, and many more were walking simply to support the hospice’s work across five south east London boroughs (Bromley. Croydon, Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham).

With over 900 participants signing-up on the day, it’s hoped that this year’s Fun Walk will top the £200,000 raised at the last walk – a fitting tribute in the hospice’s 50th Anniversary year.

The atmosphere on Keston Common was made extra special by several large groups of family and friends who came to walk the miles together.

One group, walking in memory of a young lady from Beckenham, had members who had travelled from as far afield as Birmingham, Worthing, Spain and New Zealand to raise a magnificent sum in the region of £20,000 for the hospice in her memory.

Routes ranged from three to 11 miles through picturesque woodland, fields and Keston Lakes. Marshall points along the way were staffed with enthusiastic volunteers including nine local Rotary Clubs and 5th Beckenham South Scout Group, who kept walkers going with water supplies, sweets, music, cheering and dancing.

Keston Common itself, where the walks started and finished, was buzzing with live music, a mix of street food and lots of groups having picnics to celebrate their walk and fantastic fundraising efforts on behalf of St Christopher’s.

Ginny Hearn from Forest Hill was walking with a group calling themselves ‘Team Dynamos’. Ginny says, “This is just such a lovely event, the atmosphere is so warm and so many people are walking to remember someone who was cared for by the hospice.

“It’s an amazing testament to the work that they do, that so many people raise sponsorship and come out walking to support St Christopher’s.”

Sean O’Leary, joint chief executive at St Christopher’s says, “We want to say an absolutely huge thank you to all our amazing walkers, volunteers and Rotary Clubs who came together to help us have such a brilliant day.

“Stagecoach have been fantastic, providing a free shuttle bus, and Host catering produced some wonderful food.” (Source: St Christopher’s press release).

FROM ROOT TO SHOOT – IT’S ON THE TABLE (and this week’s food market menu is here)

Don’t miss this weeks MARKET TABLE from Rachel de Thample.

Sat 20 May 2017 19:30 – 22:30 BST

Antenna Studios Bedwardine Road London SE19 3AY

This magical Market Table, featuring a 4-course dinner inspired by market produce. This time the focus will be on eating every part of a vegetable from root to shoot. To further celebrate all things veg, the menu will be fully plant-based. Joel Brook from local farm, Calabaza, in Sutton will join us and be supplying an array of stunning produce for the menu. Many locally foraged finds will also feature, including the first full wave of elderflower, lime blossom and dog rose. There’ll be a little hands-on learning and cooking, too. Don’t miss out… Places strictly limited. Booking essential.  Book here

-draft menu-

Crispy fig leaves
Radishes & asparagus, broad bean tops whipped with coconut, pistachio & cardamom
Fennel-smoked potato & apple wood mushroom galette
Kale florets with tomato leaf vinaigrette & crispy sage
Roasted baby artichokes, porcini salt, foraged garden salad
Smoked cashew butter & oolong tea brownies, preserved Brambletye pears
Sugared beetroot stem laces with rhubarb & raspberry leaf tea

Crystal Palace Overground Festival are looking for volunteers.  Would you be interested?  Find out more here.

We’re also really happy to welcome back Patchwork Farm and have truly locally grown produce available again.  If you have any gluts from your garden/allotment please bring them in and swap for other local produce.  If you’re on twitter, tweet about it using the handle @CPPatchworkFarm.

Staff wanted  London Smoke and Cure are looking for happy friendly people to join their stall staff. No experience necessary, must have a good heart and kind eyes. Range of hours available. Contact Ross on 0783 783 8241 /[email protected]

Check out the new walk through

We’ve connected the upper and lower markets with a walk through thanks to Cosmo, who is renting us the space on a Saturday.  Check out his great recycled lights and the other makers we’ll be rotating each week.

Guest stalls this week

Guest lunch – Jerky Fridays  Patsy says, “Jerky Fridays will be at the wonderful Crystal Palace Food Market this Saturday 20th May from 10am until 3pm.  On the menu is: Rice & Peas, Plain Rice, Curry Mutton, Jerk Chicken, Jerk Pork, Callaloo, Ackee & Saltfish, Fried Dumplings Macaroni & Cheese and Fried Plantains. THE DAYS SPECIALS: Curry Chicken, Saltfish Fritters and Oxtail & Buttered Beans. **All served to you in our NEW Bio-degradeable containers.** Love to see ya. xx”

Free-from – Elvira’s Secret Pantry Elvira is cooking up “Cakes: carrot and pistachio, pumpkin and chocolate, bluebeery and almond tart, lemon and poppy seeds polenta, berry tartlets (now also vegan), vegan chocolate sandwich. Savouries (vegan also available): asparagus and artichokes, spinach and leek, tomato and olive, peas and courgette; and sausage rolls.”

Olive oil & more – Mar de Olivas  Mar says “I will bring some olives, extra virgin olive oil made with different varieties , fantastic and yummy artisan chocolates made with extra virgin olive oil and olive pate.  I will give a free 100ml bottle of extra virgin olive oil for the first 15 customers who spend more than £6. ”

Central Hill – help support our neighbours in their fight to save Central Hill.

Bags, cushions covers and purses – with Jeanette. Find her in the courtyard.

Chocolates (and ice-cream maybe!) – Blowing Dandelion

Intoxyque – hot chilli sauces

NEW STALL Preserves – Intoxyque – gourmet sauces that are hand-made in small batches in Epsom, Surrey using only the finest fresh ingredients.  Our sauces are used as a table sauce or in cooking. Add to stir fries, soups, omelettes or use as a condiment for chips or crackers. Our sauces are free from added sugar, preservatives, additives and nasties. In addition, our range is gluten free and vegan. Uniquely, we do not use vinegar which can alter the taste of food thus allowing our sauces to compliment food without overpowering it. Visit our stall this Saturday for a free taster and join our growing tribe of INTOXYQUE lovers.

NEW STALL Curry powders – Beji’s – homemade blended spices.

Second hand clothes – from Sarah & daughter Lolly.

Shawls – Anoushka

Art and Crafts – Palace Makers If you’d like to get involved in this weekly market stall please pay us a visit and have a chat.

Weekly stalls – courtyard site

The Store Cupboard: herbs & spices

Storecupboard refills – The Store Cupboard Sarah says “Tea time at The Store Cupboard: This week our lovely glass tea infusers are reduced in price. Made from toughened glass & dishwasher safe. Mugs reduced from £19 to £15 and tea pots from £21.50 to £16. While stocks last.  Back in stock: bioD laundry liquid, fabric softener and washing up liquid.

Lunch – Return to Shashamane Emilia is making us “Salads & sauces – chickpea salad with wakame seaweed; kidney beans with cardamom seeds and fresh tarragon; butter beans toasted with seeds and herbs; Mexican cabbage salad with herbs, chillies and onion; polenta chips; coriander chimmichurri sauce; quinoa salad. Hot – butter beans puree; spicy sauce with cayenne pepper; lentil tikka masala stew.”

Bread & patisserie –  Claude’s Boulangerie and Patisserie Bread & pastries, made in SE London.  See Trisha on the stall.

Collectables market – our neighbour market Haynes Lane Market, a treasure trove of collectables.

Weekly stalls – Antenna Cafe site

Lunch & Deli – Comfort & Joy Hot tasty wraps, salads and those famous (enormous) scotch eggs plus takeaways – curries, lasagne and more.

Meru Galettes

Lunch – Meru Galettes  Sweet & savoury galettes and crepes. The new special galette is caramelised onions, slow roasted tomatoes, cheese, salad, seeds and chilli.

Smoked Produce – London Smoke and Cure Ross says “In this weeks ‘behind-the-scenes’ look at how we make our product we’re revealing how exactly we make such tasty bacon. In our mind there’s two types of bacon – at one end of the scale there’s that danish stuff you buy in the supermarket. We’ve all had it – it’s pretty cheap, fairly salty, low in flavour and when you cook it you get that bubbly white liquid come up as all the water they’ve injected in it leaches out. Hey listen, don’t feel guilty, most of the country is guzzling it down, you’re in good company. Then, at the other end of the scale, you’ve got your traditional, dry cured bacon. It takes a good while to make and its packed full of flavour. It’s likely to be better for you as well as as the salt quality will be higher and the nitrates will be lower. Anyway, that’s the type of bacon we make.

We love that when you cook it the fats get all chewy. And we love the depth of flavour that comes with it. Anyway, you’re welcome to buy some from us, or if you like you can give it a crack yourself, you won’t be disappointed. Here goes…

How to make bacon like Ross from London Smoke & Cure
Take some of Gill Wing farms finest pork belly. Say them to him for us! Whilst you’re there pick yourself up a nice bit of chicken, it’s so tasty.
Then you’re going to make a dry cure mix using 90g of salt, 45g of sugar and 10g of a curing salt called Cure No.1. (you can buy it on line).
Rub the pork belly with the dry cure mix using a ratio of 25g per 1kg (you don’t need a lot)
If you want, you can add some other flavourings at this point. We love a little bit of pepper, juniper and bay. Or you could add a splash of maple syrup.
Seal you pork in a plastic bag and put in in the fridge. Turn it over daily for a week to allow the salts to distribute evenly.
At the end of the week, wash it off. You can either eat it straight away or leave it uncovered for a few more days to let the flavours intensify further.
Cook it slowly, make a nice cup of tea, put it on some good bread (Trisha in the courtyard does a lovely rustic loaf that will go great with it)
Go and look at yourself in the mirror and say to yourself “I’ve done something quite amazing, well done!”

That’s it, you’re now officially a bacon master – come down and tell us how it went.

Also on the stall tomorrow we’ll have our complete range of super tasty smoked and cured food, all of which have been professionally guaranteed to make your belly happy.”

Cakes – Brett & Bailey Joe says “Will there be any sign of summer on Saturday? Not sure yet, but strawberry season has definitely arrived and we’ll be making the most of British berries over the coming months. Not only will we have indulgent slices of baked berry cheesecake and glossy, sticky raspberry bakewell squares, but we’re welcoming back our strawberry and white chocolate gateau for the first time this year. This limoncello-drizzled lemon and almond sponge, with lashings of white chocolate and vanilla bean buttercream and plump strawberries, is a Brett & Bailey summer favourite. You can find it alongside our coffee and Brazil nut cake, double carrot cake, andchocolate Guinness cake.

Want more? Don’t miss our peanut butter bars with thick milk chocolate ganache and salted caramel; mint choc chip cookies; preserved lemon meringue pies; our gooey signature brownies; baskets full of sticky buns and cardamom knots; and – at last! – plenty of strawberry and cream bomboloni.

Missing the market? Remember that the Brett & Bailey online shop is always open.”

Meat – Gill Wing Farm Andrew tells me this week he’ll have chicken (whole, breast, thighs & drums); Sussex beef – topside, sirloin, minced, steak and diced steaks; sausages; chops; wild garlic sausages; kofta; bacon – streaky and back; Pevensey marsh lamb – chops, minced, leg and shoulders.” Please ring Andrew on 07920 850 653 to place any meat orders.

Vegetables, salad, herbs & fruit – Brambletye Fruit Farm, Brockmans & Wild Country Organics.

Brockmans – Jason says, “There will be some Strawberries available this week but possibly just at farm only markets. The same is probably  true for Carrot bunches as well but we will have wet Garlic for everyone. For the other markets UK Aubergines and Courgettes are now available and for the exotics we have Peaches and Nectarines. The stalls are pretty well stocked so come along and get some – Asparagus, Cauliflowers, Apples, Vine Tomatoes, Cucumbers, Lettuce, Radish Bunches, Kale (limited), Spinach, Duck Eggs, Carrots, Onions, Mushrooms, Bananas, Lemons.”  For news, tweets & photographs go to : Brockmans Farm

Raw milk, butter & other dairy – Hook & Son Organically produced in Kent, unprocessed in any way.  Taste the difference.

Veaseys: Paul showing a little friend how to fillet fish

Fish – Veasey’s Dan’s on the stall this week!  A fine week for fish so far! we are getting out own local Mackerel now and a few of the wild Salmon fisheries have opened up in Scotland too (not that we can afford any yet!) wait until June for that.  Local (Sussex Coast) fish: Mackerel, Sea Bass, Horse Mackerel, Skate (Ray), Plaice, Sole, Turbot, Brill, Whiting, Gurnard, Huss AND MORE!  From the smoker this week, if you are quick you can get hold of some of our very special Teriyaki cured hot smoked Salmon. It is awesome!   All the best from me.  I will see you all next week as Nick is off.  Dan  If you know you want anything, you could pre-order it with us either by email [email protected] or by phone on 01342 822906.”

Local growing project – Patchwork Farm (a Crystal Palace Transition Town project), selling locally grown food from our community gardens & gluts.

Locally made art & crafts – Palace Makers (previously called Handmade Palace)

Cafe – our friends at Antenna Cafe

Crystal Palace Transition Town – April newsletter now out.

Permaculture Garden in Merton – we love this from our friend Steve Topple at The Canary about May Project Gardens in Merton.

Transition Network – click here for our wider network’s April news.

The Foodbank – collection point at the market every week. They currently need washing up liquid, clothes washing powder, tinned carrots, UHT custard and tinned meat (not pork).  Latest drop off (Tuesday 18th April) 31 kilos.  Total donated so far 1390.7kg.

News From Crystal Palace – we love this local news page from our friend, journalist Jerry Green.

Save Central Hill Community – support our neighbours & find out more about the proposed demolition of the estate, and how it would everyone in the area.

Our neighbours – Antenna Studios  Music, dance, performances, practice, recording & more. Also loads of great classes and the best coffee in the Palace.

We are proud to be part of Crystal Palace Transition Town.  Wondering who we are, what we do, or how you could get involved? Our blog section is a great place to start or this talk given by Joe Duggan, one of the co-chairs.

Follow us on twitter @CPFoodMarket or join us on Facebook.

CRYSTAL PALACE FOOD MARKET bottom of Haynes Lane / top of Bedwardine Road. Saturdays 10 am to 3 pm.

Now on two sites – the normal Antenna car park site and also in the Haynes Lane market courtyard.

“Meat, vegetables, fruit, eggs, honey, bread, cakes, salads, hot foods, the Cafe Thing, coffee, tea, pastries, cheese, dairy and munch munch more.”

West Norwood Food bank collection: every week at the market.  Their shopping list  – which changes every so often. – can be found at
http://norwoodbrixton.foodbank.org.uk

(The above is copied from an email; which mentions various links – for full links please go to the market website – Thanks)

A rogue builder who lied to, deceived and conned a homeowner out of £121,901 over the course of 18 months has been jailed for four years and three months.

The builder’s invoice indicated he was a member of the Guild of Master Craftsmen.

But an independent survey found the majority of works carried out on the property were unnecessary or had been done in such an incompetent manner that the cost of remedial work to put it right would be as much as £45,000.

And the standard of work was described as “absolutely abysmal” and “below the standard of a limited DIY-er”.

Analysis of the rogue builder’s bank account revealed that in a 15-month period he bought a car, went on multiple holidays and spent freely on eating out, items of jewellery and other non-essential items.

And during the execution of a search warrant at his house, it was discovered that he had a running machine, a home gym, a hot tub, large flatscreen televisions, and designer clothes and electronics, many of which would have been bought with the victim’s money.

The hefty sentence of four years and three months was handed down to the 55 -year-old man from Netherne Village at Croydon crown court on Wednesday (10) after he had changed his plea three days into his trial last month, admitting four of the nine charges he faced.

The court was told that the campaign of deceit and intimidation started in November 2013 when the man, who traded as a firm of builders, visited the resident’s home for payment for work he had completed on another property owned by his victim.

The man convinced the homeowner that improvements to his home would see it increase in value.

Assured that the man had 30 years’ building experience, and remembering that his invoice indicated he was a member of the Guild of Master Craftsmen, the householder gave him the job of carrying out the improvements.

The rogue builder’s first suggested tasks were the urgent replacement of the roof and repointing of a wall, the cost of both jobs and related scaffolding exceeding £10,000.

The work to the roof had barely started before the rogue builder was finding other jobs to do in the house. He said the chimney was crumbling and in such bad condition that it could collapse, he quoted £9,000 for the repairs.

Thinking the rogue builder’s advice was honest and professional, the homeowner agreed to the demolition and rebuilding of the bedroom walls containing the “crumbling” chimney stack, handing over £20,000.

Over the course of the year from June 2014, the rogue builder convinced his victim that a number of jobs were necessary, some because, so he claimed, it would be dangerous not to do them.

They included the enlargement of the patio and repairs to a brick-built shed in the garden; the continuation of works to the house that had not been completed, due, according to the rogue builder, to more money being needed; the purchase of new radiators, doors, windows and associated materials; and even jobs that Ackerley started without seeking approval.

Each new job was accompanied by a demand for cash, often in amounts of tens of thousands of pounds.

Richard Heller, prosecuting, said: “The property might have needed some work doing to it, but it did not need the extent of the work the defendant carried out.

“The householder was trapped in a home that had been turned into a building site with a builder who was finding one new job after another to start whilst barely finishing any of those he had started.”

In March 2015, the rogue builder’s attitude toward his client changed from one of appeasement to one of intimidation. He claimed that the resident had cost him a job worth £42,000 by bad-mouthing him to his neighbours, but he had done no such thing.

The following month, the rogue builder turned up at the house with his wife. She, too, accused the homeowner of costing her husband a lucrative contract.

She told him that her husband would get angry, at which the rogue builder told her: “He doesn’t know what I’m like.” Mr Heller told the jury that the implication of the remark was clear.

On another occasion, the couple again went to the house and forced their way in, at which point the rogue builder said that failure to pay what he claimed was owed to him would result in the homeowner being “taken into the woods”.

The rogue builder did no more work at the property, as Croydon council’s trading standards team arranged for an independent survey of the property.

The report found that the majority of works carried out on the property were unnecessary or had been done in such an incompetent manner that the cost of remedial work to put it right would be as much as £45,000.

The standard of work was described as “absolutely abysmal” and “below the standard of a limited DIY-er”.

Passing sentence, Her Honour Judge Smaller told him: “Your behaviour is nothing short of disgraceful. “You turned the house into a dirty, dusty, cold building site. “At no point, through either the trial or the sentencing, have you apologised.”

Andy Opie, Croydon’s council’s director of safety, said: “This is a terrible case of a corrupt and heartless builder taking complete and repeated advantage of a vulnerable and trusting householder, creating months of unnecessary work for himself and doing damage to the house that cost thousands to put right.

“Our trading standards officers have done a great job in bringing this case to court, which has resulted in the man being sent to prison, where he can cause no more misery to other unsuspecting residents.”

A spokeswoman for the Guild of Master Craftsmen told News From Crystal Palace: “Thankfully, I can confirm that this company is not a current member of the Guild of Master Craftsmen.

“We have a website www.findacraftsman.com on which you can search all of our current members using either trading names or alternatively postcode areas and trade categories.” (Sources: Croydon council press release / Guild of Master Craftsmen).

BLOOMING LAMBETH – AWARDS, THAT IS

Your nominations are wanted for Lambeth growing, greening and innovation –  entry forms in June, prizes in October

We want to recognise and celebrate what people are doing to make Lambeth greener and greater. Take a look at the categories and nominate yourself, your neighbours, a community group, or your whole street or estate as an example of what’s best about Lambeth and the people who live here.

The categories are:

Home in Bloom – for front or back gardens
Community in bloom – if you have an estate or community garden to be proud of
Food growing – your individual (or your neighbour’s) vegetable patch, herb garden, window box or container garden
Innovation – The best initiative or project. Something you or someone you know has done to change things for the better
Windowbox or balcony – Some people can make the most out the smallest of spaces
Community food growing – for the group that gardens together and contributes to the community.

Prize for each category = £100 garden centre vouchers

Deadline to send in a photo of your entry and ‘tell your story’ in three sentences is 16 June 2017.

For an entry form please phone 020 7926 3401 or email [email protected]

Incredible Edible Lambeth will be judging the entries in each category and holding an awards ceremony at the Garden Museum, Lambeth Palace on 12 October 2017.

IEL is a network of food growers and activists working to improve communities. IEL was founded in 2010 and is now a Community Interest Company (CIC) with an experienced team of seven directors and a wide network of volunteers and supporters.

ILLEGAL ROADSIDE CAR REPAIRS COST TRADER THOUSANDS

The owner of a Thornton Heath car-repair business who ignored repeated warnings from Croydon council about allowing work to be carried out on the pavement and road outside his premises has been hit with fines and costs totalling £4,840.

He pleaded guilty to three charges at Camberwell Green magistrates’ court on Monday (15). The court was told that between June and October of last year, council officers, responding to complaints from neighbouring residents, visited the business on a number of occasions.

They issued a community protection notice, giving him 48 hours to comply with instructions to quit works beyond the boundaries of his premises, to remove unroadworthy vehicles from the highway and to clean the public footpath.

He failed to comply, and during each subsequent visit the owner was told that work to motor vehicles should not be carried out on the road outside the premises, and that cars should not be left in such a way that they obstructed pedestrians’ free passage along the footpath.

The bench was told that he had not dealt with debris, oils and other fluids that he allowed to drain away across the footpath, and had failed to pay an £80 fixed-penalty notice issued by officers.

Return visits revealed that the works were being continued and that untaxed, damaged, dismantled and stripped vehicles were being kept on the road and overhanging the footpath, often with sharp-edged jagged metal bodywork that could prove hazardous to passers-by.

On several occasions, cars had been left up on jacks, in a dangerous position.

The premises is located near, and on a busy through route to, the St James the Great Primary School and Nursery, and is passed by lots of young children and families, both in the mornings and afternoons. Officers feared that harm could befall them.

In mitigation, the man told the court that when he had taken over the business he was unaware of the law prohibiting the working of vehicles on the public highway. Once informed, he had tried to ensure that employees did not work on vehicles outside the premises. And he said that he had sent a cheque in payment of the fixed-penalty notice but that it had not arrived.

He told the court that he no longer owned the business.

Andy Opie, Croydon council’s director of safety, said: “This was a case of a local businessman flagrantly ignoring repeated warnings by council officers that what he was doing was both illegal and antisocial.

“His actions made life very difficult and unpleasant for people living nearby who, in addition to being put at risk by what was going on, often could not park their own vehicles near their homes because cars that the owner was working on were taking any available spaces.” (Source: Croydon council press release)

CONTRACTOR SIGNED FOR NEXT STAGE OF FAIRFIELD TRANSFORMATION

Fairfield Halls is about to enter the next stage of its £30m transformation.
 
As the first phase of refurbishment draws to a close, Croydon Council’s development company, Brick by Brick, has engaged Vinci Construction UK to take the venue through the next leg of its exciting journey to completion in 2018.

Since the venue closed last summer, Brick by Brick has had contractors on site carrying out enabling works to prepare the building for the main structural works.

Over the past 10 months, extensive work has taken place behind the hoardings, including detailed surveys, ground investigations, asbestos removal and the stripping of loose fixtures and fittings, such as flooring, ceilings and soft furnishings.

With these enabling works now entering the final stages, Fairfield Halls is ready for its redesign. Vinci Construction UK will arrive on site this month (May), remaining until the venue reopens at the end of 2018.

Vinci Construction UK was appointed for the Fairfield Halls refurbishment following a competitive tendering process which started in April.

It has worked on several major developments in the borough, including Croydon’s tallest tower, Altitude 25, Fairfield Road and The Ashburton Learning Village, Shirley Road. (Source: Croydon council press release)

New developments by the Croydon-council owned Brick by Brick have no affordable housing included in them, say the Norwood Society.

Philip Goddard, who chairs the Society’s planning committee, says:

• There was no affordable housing at Ravensdale Gardens, Upper Norwood – including a block of flats opposite Tivoili Lodge on Beulah Hill – which was approved last week by a Croydon council planning committee.
• There is no affordable housing included in plans for 24 Station Road, South Norwood which go before a Croydon planning committee tonight (Thursday).
• And the proposals for the Auckland Road estate which fronts Sylvan Hill and Church Road, Upper Norwood – which are being recommended for approval at committee next Wednesday May 24th – have no provision for housing to be let at less than market rents.

Mr Goddard says that at last week’s meeting the councillors spent most of the time discussing the size and design of the proposed block on the corner of Harold Road and Beulah Hill and its effect on the local heritage assets, especially Tivoli Lodge.

This is a subjective matter on which people can take different views, he says.

“What is not subjective is the failure to provide any affordable housing, which is directly contrary to both local and national policy, even though, as the officer’s report to committee itself makes clear, an independent viability assessment indicated that it was perfectly possible to provide affordable housing on this site.

“It should have been refused on these grounds alone, and certainly would have been had the application been made by a private developer. “But the issue was not even mentioned by any of the councillors who spoke in the debate.

“The problem is that providing affordable housing reduces the amount of profit which the council expects to make from Brick by Brick, so they feel entitled to drive a coach and horses through national and their own local policies.

“But private developers can’t get away with it like the council can.

“Anyone needing affordable housing in this area will be told to go and live somewhere else, whether they can or not.

“Exactly the same issue is coming up tonight (Thursday) when 24 Station Road, another Brick by Brick development, again without any provision for affordable housing, comes up at the committee. “John Hickman will be speaking against it on our behalf.

“Alison Butler who is the wife of Paul Scott the committee chairman has waxed enthusiastic about how Brick by Brick is providing affordable housing, which of course is precisely what they are not doing, at least in this part of the borough.”

Mr Goddard, who spoke as an objector at last week’s meeting,  said he made the point the application was in breach of both national – and local – policy in that it did not include any provision at all for affordable housing.

“The same is true of the other Brick by Brick applications, 24 Station Road South Norwood (which like this one has no provision for affordable housing at all) and the Auckland Road estate (which has no provision for housing to be let at less than market rents).

“Brick by Brick claim that the shortfall will be made up by housing units in developments in other parts of the borough.

“I pointed out in my submission that housing should be provided where people need it for work or family reasons and it is not acceptable for them to be simply told to go and live in another part of the borough.

“An independent viability review has concluded that affordable housing is entirely feasible in this development but Brick by Brick won’t provide it because it would reduce their profits.

“Notwithstanding the above the application was approved without the question of affordable housing even being mentioned during the committee debate.

“The councillors have clearly been told to disregard this issue when deciding applications submitted by Brick by Brick.

“If a private developer were to present such an application it would be unanimously rejected, but because it is presented by Croydon council’s own in house developer it seems that anything goes. “The whole thing is a scandal.”

Cllr Paul Scott, who chaired the committee, told News From Crystal Palace: “I suggest you read the committee paper which explains how the Brick by Brick schemes are being delivered in ‘tranches’ or groups of applications that will allow considerably more affordable housing to be delivered than if each site was considered individually.

“The Ravensdale Gardens will therefore make a considerable contribution to building a range of affordable homes in Croydon.

“This arrangement was discussed by the committee earlier in the meeting.”

UPDATE: Cllr Alison Butler issued the following statement via the council leader’s office to News From Crystal Palace: “In order to maximise the amount of affordable housing it delivers, Brick by Brick adopts a tranche based approach to affordable housing deliver.

HAPPY FOURTH BIRTHDAY TO CRYSTAL PALACE FOOD MARKET – TOP BANANA CAKE ON THE MENU!

It’s our FOURTH birthday!!!!  Where did time go?  And welcome back Laura, we’re so glad you’re back.  We wanted to continue our theme of celebrating local producers, this week it’s the turn of our preserve makers starting with Imogeni, who has been with us from day one, and Creative All Sorts, run by Christine James, who also helps on the Patchwork Farm Stall.  Both live locally and use as many locally sourced products as they can (including bits and pieces from the Patchwork Farm Stall) to create great tasting preserves, chutneys and pickles.  In terms of hot food locals, we’re proud to have hosted; Domali, Casa Cuba –  to have helped; ATE streetfood, Makasan, Monk 29, Get Wurst, Margosa, Jerky Fridays, NOSH, Raclette, Gunpowder Pies, Simply Tay and Ric and Rob’s Firehouse.  That’s just the locals! And of course we mustn’t forget the schools, Rockmount, Kingswood and James Dixon, and all the other locals who have come with secondhand clothes, to raise money for charity or to educate us about truffles.  Last but not least, we have Handmade Palace, which has now become the Paxton Centre under Beth Mander’s management, promoting local artists and makers.  Jakki has now taken over the market stall renaming it Palace Makers.  What a lot to celebrate.

Crystal Palace Overground Festival are looking for volunteers.  Would you be interested?  Find out more here.

We’re also really happy to welcome back Patchwork Farm and have truly locally grown produce available again.  If you have any gluts from your garden/allotment please bring them in and swap for other local produce.  If you’re on twitter, tweet about it using the handle @CPPatchworkFarm.

Check out the new walk through

We’ve connected the upper and lower markets with a walk through thanks to Cosmo, who is renting us the space on a Saturday.  Check out his great recycled lights and the other makers we’ll be rotating each week.

Guest stalls this week

Guest lunch – Ric & Rob’s Smokehouse – Indonesian Street Food – Chicken sate wrap or with steamed rice or salad £6/7  – 48 hour Marinated chicken in sweet soy and spices, with mixed leaf and  herbs, seasonal pickled slaw, Chai Seeds, Crispy shallots, homemade  spicy peanut sauce, and homemade chilli sauce optional.  Fried aubergine wrap; Tofu wrap or with steamed rice or salad (V) £6/7 – Fried Aubergine amp; Tofu in sweet soy n chilli with mixed leaf and herbs,  seasonal pickled slaw, Chai Seeds, Crispy shallots, homemade spicy  peanut sauce, and homemade chilli sauce optional.  Vegetarian spring rolls (V) £3 – with mixed leaf and pickled slaw and sweet chilli dipping sauce.

Truffles – Truffle Stories is run by Roberto Bertuol, self-appointed Alba truffles ambassador to the UK and further afield. Truffle Stories is a purveyor of grade “A” truffles from Alba (Italy) as well as white and black truffle-based products, such as white truffles sauces, black truffle condiments, preserved whole black truffle and truffle honey. Truffle Stories also organises tailor-made truffle hunting experiences in Italy. Come and smell our truffles.

Free-from – Owl Kitchen – gluten-free sweets and savories:  CAKES; carrot cake, luscious lemon raspberry sandwich, sticky ginger cake, sugar free dairy free beetroot torte, vegan chocolate avocado cake, vegan banana courgette cake, vegan peanut butter squares,chocolate brownies SAVOURIES; roasted red pepper and goats cheese quiche

Preserves – Creative All Sorts I will be bringing great tastes for summer BBQs and salads;  3 flavours of mustards, onion marmalade, beetroot chutneys and piccalilli for grilled meats and roasted veggies. Then there are preserved lemons with cinnamon, cloves, allspice and peppercorns for your salads, tagines, stir fries and roasts. A pickled salad in a jar of home grown radishes, radish leaves, shallots, oranges and pink peppercorns is undergoing its final taste test today before being labeled up. For grown-up breakfasts there is strawberry, mint and black pepper jam, strawberry and red wine jam, and clementine Marmalade with saffron and cardamom. For the little ones there is my ever popular four berry jam and delicious plum jam. And don’t buy stock cubes! I have you covered with jars of fresh vegetable stock paste.  See you Saturday!

Olive oil & more – Elia Olive Oil  Organic, extra virgin olive oil produced in the hills of Egion in the Peloponnes from two local varieties extracted by a method of cold press, followed by natural filtration, thus retaining all its flavour and nutritional value. The oil is distinguished by its delicate and fruity aromas, smooth, balanced flavour and low acidity of 0.4%. It’s delicious.  SPECIAL OFFER – 4 1L bottles for £40.

Patchwork Farm – they’re back! Rhubarb, locally grown produce, and some veggie seeds.  Everyone is welcome to bring in any gluts of veg – herbs – seedlings to swap.

Local brewery – Clarkshaws – We use only ingredients sourced from the UK, supporting local producers and reducing the ‘beer miles’ of all our products. This also ensures that we have full farm to face traceability.  No artificial flavours or preservatives, natch.  SPECIAL OFFER – buy one get one free on Gordon’s Alive golden ale.

Natural Wines – Wine Scouts  On Sat I’ll open the new vintage of the lovely, organic  Le P’tit Blanc du Clos du Tue Bœuf from the Loire in France: a fantastic Sauvignon Blanc, from mostly young vines. Careful vineyard work and selection, coupled with natural vinification give this wine a level of aromatic complexity and depth that is a bit surprising, given it’s unassuming name. This wine evolves quite a bit from citrus-driven early moments, to more subtle oxidative notes and quince aromas, and growing weight over course of a day or two. Yum!

Cheese – Capo Caccia “Hola, CHEESES; black truffle cacciotta, cow and sheep’s milk blue cheese, aged smoked ricotta, saffron Pecorino, vegetarain goat’s cheese, new cow’s milk blue and MEATS; gluten free cured sausage marinated in red wine, pork cheek guanciale, wild boar salami and lots of love! :)”

Art and Crafts – Palace Makers If you’d like to get involved in this weekly market stall please pay us a visit and have a chat.

Weekly stalls – courtyard site

Storecupboard refills – The Store Cupboard Sarah says “Tea time at The Store Cupboard: This week our lovely glass tea infusers are reduced in price. Made from toughened glass & dishwasher safe. Mugs reduced from £19 to £15 and tea pots from £21.50 to £16. While stocks last.  Back in stock: bioD laundry liquid, fabric softener and washing up liquid.  Friday opening: Can’t make Saturday, don’t want to queue or simply fancy a peaceful browse? We are now open every Friday from 11am – 4pm.  You can order in advance by email and pick up from us Friday or Saturday.  Click here for the order form.”

Lunch – Return to Shashamane Emilia is making us “Salads & sauces –chickpea salad with wakame seaweed; kidney beans with cardamom seeds and fresh tarragon; butter beans toasted with seeds and herbs; Mexican cabbage salad with herbs, chillies and onion; polenta chips; coriander chimmichurri sauce; quinoa salad. Hot – butter beans puree; spicy sauce with cayenne pepper; lentil tikka masala stew.”

Bread & patisserie –  Claude’s Boulangerie and Patisserie Bread & pastries, made in SE London.  See Trisha on the stall.

Collectables market – our neighbour market Haynes Lane Market, a treasure trove of collectables.

Weekly stalls – Antenna Cafe site

Lunch & Deli – Comfort & Joy Hot tasty wraps, salads and those famous (enormous) scotch eggs plus takeaways – curries, lasagne and more.

Lunch – Meru Galettes  Sweet & savoury galettes and crepes. The new special galette is caramelised onions, slow roasted tomatoes, cheese, salad, seeds and chilli.

Smoked Produce – London Smoke and Cure Ross says “For those of you that are regular customers you’ll know well what we do – very delicious, small batch products, made locally with the best ingredients possible. This week we’ll have it all – great organic bacons, lovely moreish smoked cheeses, cured meats and all served with the biggest smile.  I thought it might be interesting to do a few write ups focusing on a particular product to give you a bit of an insight into what we do. So I’m starting this week with our salmon pates. The main thing we try to achieve with our pates is something light, fresh and zingy. In competitor tests we’ve found it easy to make something that ends up being claggy… and that just ain’t what we’re about!! So here’s the recipe if you like what we do and fancy trying it at home.      

200g Poached Salmon (You want to try to get the freshest and best available – Veaseys is the best option for miles around)
100g Cream Cheese
50g  Sour Creme (this is the secret ingredient, keeping it light and fresh)
A drop or two of hot pepper sauce
A splash of Worcestershire sauce
A squeeze of lemon (till the juice runs down…)
Pepper and salt.
A handful of dill (finely chopped)
A spring onion (finely chopped)
A tiny bit of horseradish sauce
Mix it all up, enjoy the process, eat it off the spoon or spread it on some bread. Simple food makes for a happy belly! If you like, you can change the poached salmon for a cold or a hot smoked salmon version. It will be a bit deeper in flavour and if you give it to your friends they’ll start telling you to go on Masterchef.   Next week we’ll do a meat product, if you want to find out about something in particular let me know and we’ll do it! [email protected]  Remember, we produce right on your doorstep in the heart of the triangle. We are literally your local smokehouse!
See you tomorrow x “

Cakes – Brett & Bailey – It’s our award-winning local market’s 4th birthday, and we’re bringing the cake! Come and join us. Guest starring on this week’s cake parade is our elusive coffee and Brazil nut cake with lashings of vanilla latte butter, and a New York-style baked blueberry and lemon cheesecake. We’ll also have coconut and raspberry cake with plenty of fresh berries and coconut shavings; Top Banana cake with banana milkshake buttercream and salted dulce de leche; rich and malty chocolate Guinness cake; and double carrot cake with a gently spiced white chocolate and carrot ganache.  We’ll also have big favourites including raspberry bakewells that melt in the mouth, preserved lemon meringue pies with plenty of citrus zing and clouds of meringue, peanut butter bars with milk chocolate ganache and salted caramel, moreish peanut choc chip cookies, indulgent dark chocolate brownies flecked with pecans and white chocolate chunks, and loads of sticky buns, cardamom knots, and jars of our Great Taste Award-winning marmalade.   This week’s bomboloni filling? Stracciatella, inspired by the mouthwatering vanilla chocolate chip gelato you find all over Italy. Yum.   Missing the market? Remember that the Brett & Bailey online shop is always open.

Meat – Gill Wing Farm Andrew tells me this week he’ll have chicken (whole, breast, thighs & drums); Sussex beef – topside, sirloin, minced, steak and diced steaks; sausages; chops; wild garlic sausages; kofta; bacon – streaky and back; Pevensey marsh lamb – chops, minced, leg and shoulders.” Please ring Andrew on 07920 850 653 to place any meat orders.

Vegetables, salad, herbs & fruit – Brambletye Fruit Farm, Brockmans & Wild Country Organics.

Brockmans – Jason says, “New season asparagus and lettuces are the star offerings this week. Other new lines include cucumbers and vine tomatoes though in limited numbers. The recent warm weather is great if you are out and about in shorts and sandals but a nightmare if you want to plant crops.  Also at markets you will find
spring greens, broccoli, spartan apples, purslane, sorrel and parsley, beetroot, kale (limited), spinach, leeks, chard (limited), carrots, 2 varieties of potato, onions, mushrooms, eggs and much more, bananas, lemons and other exotics at Venn St, Crystal Palace, Brockley and Primrose Hill.  For news, tweets & photographs go to : Brockmans Farm

Raw milk, butter & other dairy – Hook & Son Organically produced in Kent, unprocessed in any way.  Taste the difference.

Fish – Veasey’s  Dan says “Hello everybody!  We’ve had some fine fish up so far this week the wind has been a little crazy out at sea but hey it’s like that sometimes.  Our local fish this week is: Garfish, Gurnard, Plaice, Seabass, Brill, Turbot, Soles and Squid  From the Smokery, Whole Smoked Mackerel, Cold Smoked Salmon, Hot Smoked Salmon, Smoked Trout and our own Salmon Pate  Shellfish: Fresh Crab, Lobster, Cornish Mussels, Cornish Oysters, Lindisfarne Oysters, Raw Prawns, Jumbo Wild Prawns and Vongole Clams.  Have a great weekend.”  If you know you want anything, you could pre-order it with us either by email on [email protected] or by phone on 01342 822906.”

Local growing project – Patchwork Farm (a Crystal Palace Transition Town project), selling locally grown food from our community gardens & gluts.

Locally made art & crafts – Palace Makers (previously called Handmade Palace)

Cafe – our friends at Antenna Cafe

Crystal Palace Transition Town – April newsletter now out.

Permaculture Garden in Merton – we love this from our friend Steve Topple at The Canary about May Project Gardens in Merton.

Transition Network – click here for our wider network’s April news.

The Foodbank – collection point at the market every week. They currently need washing up liquid, clothes washing powder, tinned carrots, UHT custard and tinned meat (not pork).  Latest drop off (Tuesday 18th April) 31 kilos.  Total donated so far 1390.7kg.

News From Crystal Palace – we love this local news page from our friend, journalist Jerry Green.

Save Central Hill Community – support our neighbours & find out more about the proposed demolition of the estate, and how it would everyone in the area.

Our neighbours – Antenna Studios  Music, dance, performances, practice, recording & more. Also loads of great classes and the best coffee in the Palace.

We are proud to be part of Crystal Palace Transition Town.  Wondering who we are, what we do, or how you could get involved? Our blog section is a great place to start or this talk given by Joe Duggan, one of the co-chairs.

Follow us on twitter @CPFoodMarket or join us on Facebook.

CRYSTAL PALACE FOOD MARKET bottom of Haynes Lane / top of Bedwardine Road. Saturdays 10 am to 3 pm.

Now on two sites – the normal Antenna car park site and also in the Haynes Lane market courtyard.

“Meat, vegetables, fruit, eggs, honey, bread, cakes, salads, hot foods, the Cafe Thing, coffee, tea, pastries, cheese, dairy and munch munch more.”

West Norwood Food bank collection: every week at the market.  Their shopping list  – which changes every so often. – can be found at
http://norwoodbrixton.foodbank.org.uk

(The above is copied from an email; which mentions various links – for full links please go to the market website – Thanks)