Forest Hill, London SE23: The famous sinkhole + Havelock Walk Open Studios

The sinkhole on 5th November 2016

A sinkhole is for Christmas ......... on Friday 4th November 2016 at the start of Perry Vale in Forest Hill in South London started to entertain its third sinkhole of 2016. The two previous were on the nearby railway line into London Bridge. As these photos taken today (27th November) show work to repair this sinkhole, which is now one of the most popular Forest Hill tourist sights, there is little sign that the repairs will be finished anytime soon. 

Looking eastwards along Perry Vale

(above and below)

The sinkhole gets ready to celebrate Christmas

Looking westwards up Perry Vale 

(above and below)

There has been some comment and comparison with a large sinkhole in Japan that that occurred around the same time but was very rapidly repaired – see here.

Will our SE23 sinkhole see in the New Year?

•••

Open Studios @Havelock Walk: 26th-27th November 2016:

 "It's all too much....!

 Paper Fish enlivening Saturday afternoon

(above and below)

Bona brings sourdough pizzas to London's Forest Hill

 Bona – Sourdough Pizza, 25 Dartmouth Road, London SE23  

The beautifully decorated pizza oven 

Painted by David Mach, a Havelock Walk artist

 

Tuesday evening saw us make our first visit to Bona – Sourdough Pizza in Dartmouth Road of up and coming Forest Hill (London). This new restaurant is run by fellow wine writer Andrea Sturniolo and his partner – Kasia.  

We bumped into Andrea and his partner at one of Havelock Walk's late November Open Days. Andrea told us that they would shortly be opening – planned for 29th December when we would unfortunately be away. Anyway Tuesday was the first day we could try out the pizzas. 

They were excellent. We both chose Pizza Biancas. CRM had the Cotto ham, Portobello mushrooms, fennel sausage, Mozzarella and Parmesan (£9), while I went for the artichokes, smoked Scamorza cheese, Kalamata olives, Mozzarella and pink peppercorns (£8.50).   

We had a glass of the refreshing Vinvita Prosecco (£5 for 175ml/£18.50 bottle) and enjoyed a very good selection of olives. With our pizzas we drank the soft, easy drinking 2014 Caparzo Sangiovese Toscana (£4 for 175ml/ £15 for bottle).

Andrea is very pleased with the way it is going. "The opening night was rammed," he told us. The weekends are apparently very busy. Even on Tuesday there were few spare tables.  

They had initially looked at premises in Camberwell Green but that fell through and now find it exciting to be part of the changes that are happening in Forest Hill. 

Andrea's profile as a judge for the Decanter World Wine Awards:
Italian Andrea Sturniolo moved to London in 1994 and studied for the WSET examinations whilst helping open the London section of the Associazione Italiana Sommelier. Heading back to Italy in 2002, he set up and taught the wine culture/wine tasting courses at the International Wine Academy of Rome as vice-director, and during this time he began working with an Italian wine guide and various press and web publications. Sturniolo has been back in London since 2006 and has opened his own catering company, Fins & Trotters Kitchen, which won the LLA Street Food Vendor of the Year award in 2013. He is also a consultant for Pall Mall Fine Wine, as well as continuing to contribute to magazines both abroad and in the UK. Sturniolo was first a DWWA judge in 2012.

We will certainly be back!

Bona Sourdough Pizza, 25 Dartmouth Road, Forest Hill, London SE23 3HN. Tel: 020-8616 4620. No bookings – just turn up.

@BONA_SOURDOUGH

Vinvita, Prosecco 

118 Stanstead Open Studios today

Entrance to 118 Stanstead on the South Circular 

We had a great visit to the Open Studios at 118 Stanstead, which is on the South Circular in Forest Hill just beyond the Railway Telegraph pub as you head towards Catford. It did prove to be rather expensive but that was because there are so many lovely things being made there and with Christmas coming up...! So some present buying including some for ourselves.

We were particularly impressed by: Emily Forgot, Rachel Frost, Emma Jeffs, Louisa Taylor, Janice Tchalenko (great ceramicist), Paul Murphy and Debbie Powell.  

 Looking towards the South Circular past the studios. 

In the late 19th Century apparently the workshops were part of the largest photographic studios in the world  – The Studios of A. & G. Taylor (Andrew Taylor and George Taylor).

Having visited 118 you shouldn't miss Havelock Walk

in downtown Forest Hill 

This weekend in Forest Hill – London SE23: 118 Stanstead and Havelock Walk

Entrance to 118 Stanstead on the South Circular 

near the Railway Telegraph 

Open Studios this weekend at 118 Stanstead. 11am - 5pm. 

Havelock Walk Open Studios: 28th and 29th November: Midday to 6pm 

Havelock Walk, Forest Hill: artists' Open Days

Havelock Walk 

This past weekend it was an Open Studios weekend at Havelock Walk, a quiet cul de sac tucked away in the centre of Forest Hill. The Walk has long been a street of crafts people and artists. Currently it seems to be particularly vibrant. Next weekend Saturday 16th and Sunday 17th is also Open Studios. Well worth a visit, especially if it is a lovely sunny day as it was on Sunday.