Crystal Palace Local

THE ALMA pub on Church Road has re-opened.  Dave Chant and Steve Boyd, two former managers of the East Dulwich Tavern on Lordship Lane, Dulwich are now running the establishment.

"We've been absolutely over the moon at the support we've had from the local people" says Dave. "The feedback has been astonishing - there's been a lot of happy faces."

Dave says they were attracted to the area by Crystal Palace being an up-and-coming location and the sense of community.  "We wanted to bring something to the area which would be available for all to encourage people to come out - and something that encapsulates the community spirit that's already up here."

Children will be allowed to use the pub up until 10 pm Mondays to Thursdays (providing they are accompanied by a responsible adult!) - but there won't be any live music.

"The music was hugely popular" admits Dave. "But it wasn't necessarily doing anything for the business. "What we're looking to do is good food with a twist - good British pub fayre with locally sourced ingredients and a real emphasis on sharing and family meal times."

The menu I saw included rainbow trout; wild boar and rabbit and pancetta pie while among the sandwiches listed were slow roasted pork belly - and grilled haggis.
And the next step? Sorting out the garden. "I don't think it has ever been used to its full potential" says Dave.

ELSEWHERE ON THE TRIANGLE the past few months have seen the closure of The Cambridge on the corner of Church Road and Westow Hill which was repossessed. One small plastic wreath with the message 'RIP The Cambridge' was left outside but the building may not have called last orders. Talk of the Cambdrige remaining a pub with boutique hotel above continues.

The Numidie restaurant on Westow Hill has re-opened under new management with a menu which on re-opening night included tagine, couscous, grilled sea bass, merguez and lamb brochettes.

As previously reported, The Sparrowhawk has landed in the old Holly Bush on the corner of Westow Street and Westow Hill - but it appears another sparrowhawk has also landed in the area. Shortly before the clocks changed there was what was definitely a bird of prey trying to snatch a pigeon off the slope of the bell tower of the Greek Orthodox church on Westow Street.

From looking up illustrations of birds of prey it could only have been a sparrowhawk or a kestrel - but an ornithological acquaintance tells me kestrels wouldn't snack on a pigeon that way.

The sparrowhawk failed to get hold of the pigeon which was left sitting there literally ruffling its feathers.