Attention: Please take a moment to consider our terms and conditions before posting.
Woolwich
Comments
-
Ain't been the same since they put that big telly in the square.0
-
244Curb_It said:
Great. What number, an old Charlton mate is a driver on the 51 and I got a special honk when crossing over the other day.Baldybonce said:
The Woolwich bus queue.... not for the feint hearted 😁Curb_It said:Which bit makes you laugh? I’m a woman in her 50s with a big mouth and it’s difficult for me to keep quiet when I see rudeness.. particularly when queuing to get on the bus up the hill. I get a bit wound up.. I spend more than I care to mention getting cabs up the hill rather than the bun fight for the bus.
BB junior is now your bus driver. I'll tell him to look out for you.1 -
That formation is very weak at the back.Baldybonce said:
244Curb_It said:
Great. What number, an old Charlton mate is a driver on the 51 and I got a special honk when crossing over the other day.Baldybonce said:
The Woolwich bus queue.... not for the feint hearted 😁Curb_It said:Which bit makes you laugh? I’m a woman in her 50s with a big mouth and it’s difficult for me to keep quiet when I see rudeness.. particularly when queuing to get on the bus up the hill. I get a bit wound up.. I spend more than I care to mention getting cabs up the hill rather than the bun fight for the bus.
BB junior is now your bus driver. I'll tell him to look out for you.9 -
I’m not frightened. I just need to keep my wits about me.FreshHaddock said:Believe me, there are plenty of women your age and older that (how can I put this delicately?) fit your description, and of all ethnicities, that are certainly "robust" enough to look after themselves in Woolwich. I would even go as far to say that women like that were probably among my role models when I was more nervous about the area!
I worked with women like that in the Council that had to deal with the sorts of complex social problems that areas like this experience and they are the rocks that community (if it exists at all) in places like this are founded on.
I am also aware that I have much less to fear than a lot of people because I'm a white middle aged man, but I have a feeling that you are selling yourself short. It's always good to keep your wits about you, but I really don't think Woolwich is as bad as a lot of people make out and I don't think you should be too scared of it, even if there are a few loonies that might cause problems if you point out they are being arsehats. Last night on the way back from work on the Purple Train some suited and booted young man in his 20s or 30s sat on the seat diagonally across from me and put his shoes on the seat right next to me. I was instantly enraged and wanted to kick off, but I glared at him, thought about it, and moved seat. If I had done, it might have turned nasty, but I think that is a London thing as much as a Woolwich thing.Like I said above Public was one of the best uses of a disused space and was great for Woolwich and I loved going there.Don’t get me started on the complete waste of Woolwich Works. That is a massive disappointment to me.2 -
Diebythesword said:
Yep, but I’d say the other side of the road will see rapid improvement in the next few years. Even now the square renovation, the bobs your uncle cafe opening and the old gun pit renovation makes beresford square look much more inviting. Woolwich central development will be finished, adding about 800 homes to the area and more high spec commercial space. Greenwich council’s recent “2040 plan” has the Woolwich island site finished within the next 5 years, which considering they haven’t started anything they better get their skates on.Crusty54 said:
There are homes for very rich people in the Arsenal development but cross the road and there is extreme poverty at the moment.Diebythesword said:
Nope. Woolwich one of fastest gentrifying areas in the capitalredbuttle said:
Are you joking?Diebythesword said:Meanwhile, in reality, Woolwich is rapidly beginning to gentrify and crime stats continues to go down in Sadiq khan’s London.
https://trustforlondon.org.uk/data/gentrification-across-london/
and crime is falling citywide.
https://news.met.police.uk/pressreleases/neighbourhood-crime-significantly-falls-in-london-after-met-boosts-local-policing-3459166Facts do not lie. Nor do they care about “feelings”. Although my feeling as a Woolwich resident of the last 15 months are the place is continuing to get better and better.Extremely happy here with 20 mins from the city now, and world class Nepalese cuisine on my doorstep https://www.ft.com/content/903c5569-c1d6-43d6-852d-df5d382a8aa5?shareType=nongift and a stones throw from the valley.Does it have problems? Absolutely. Every place in any city does, but let’s not pretend it isn’t rapidly improving. Im fairly sure it will join Shoreditch, elephant and castle, Peckham and Deptford as areas once deemed as certifiable shitholes that are rapidly improving.
Berkeley Homes and Greenwich Council are keen to flatten the area and build more tower blocks.
dont get me started on Greenwich council’s lethargy in redeveloping these brownfield sites in Woolwich - I’m looking at you indoor market and macbean street sites.
I haven't seen the square in a very long time, 25-30 years maybe. Are there still market stalls there? When I was a kid it was a thriving market with old time costermongers on the high pavement shouting out prices, best fruit in Woolwich from Delieu's (RIP Chris) outside the Elephant & Castle, tram lines still in the square. That's the Woolwich I remember - such a great place to live (and Plumstead!)1 -
They did something really cool with it a couple of months ago where people could graffiti around it with different messages about how to improve the local area. Gave a real splash of colour to the square. Of course, it was so good the council only had it up for the weekend and then removed it. Now it’s back to that horrible grey box.fenlandaddick said:Ain't been the same since they put that big telly in the square.0 -
Yes, the stalls are still in Beresford Square, they were moved into General Gordon Square whilst the Square was refurbished but are now back on the high pavement & the end of Powis Street outside the DLR entrance/exit.bobmunro said:Diebythesword said:
Yep, but I’d say the other side of the road will see rapid improvement in the next few years. Even now the square renovation, the bobs your uncle cafe opening and the old gun pit renovation makes beresford square look much more inviting. Woolwich central development will be finished, adding about 800 homes to the area and more high spec commercial space. Greenwich council’s recent “2040 plan” has the Woolwich island site finished within the next 5 years, which considering they haven’t started anything they better get their skates on.Crusty54 said:
There are homes for very rich people in the Arsenal development but cross the road and there is extreme poverty at the moment.Diebythesword said:
Nope. Woolwich one of fastest gentrifying areas in the capitalredbuttle said:
Are you joking?Diebythesword said:Meanwhile, in reality, Woolwich is rapidly beginning to gentrify and crime stats continues to go down in Sadiq khan’s London.
https://trustforlondon.org.uk/data/gentrification-across-london/
and crime is falling citywide.
https://news.met.police.uk/pressreleases/neighbourhood-crime-significantly-falls-in-london-after-met-boosts-local-policing-3459166Facts do not lie. Nor do they care about “feelings”. Although my feeling as a Woolwich resident of the last 15 months are the place is continuing to get better and better.Extremely happy here with 20 mins from the city now, and world class Nepalese cuisine on my doorstep https://www.ft.com/content/903c5569-c1d6-43d6-852d-df5d382a8aa5?shareType=nongift and a stones throw from the valley.Does it have problems? Absolutely. Every place in any city does, but let’s not pretend it isn’t rapidly improving. Im fairly sure it will join Shoreditch, elephant and castle, Peckham and Deptford as areas once deemed as certifiable shitholes that are rapidly improving.
Berkeley Homes and Greenwich Council are keen to flatten the area and build more tower blocks.
dont get me started on Greenwich council’s lethargy in redeveloping these brownfield sites in Woolwich - I’m looking at you indoor market and macbean street sites.
I haven't seen the square in a very long time, 25-30 years maybe. Are there still market stalls there? When I was a kid it was a thriving market with old time costermongers on the high pavement shouting out prices, best fruit in Woolwich from Delieu's (RIP Chris) outside the Elephant & Castle, tram lines still in the square. That's the Woolwich I remember - such a great place to live (and Plumstead!)
https://www.fromthemurkydepths.co.uk/2025/08/28/woolwich-market-traders-move-back-to-beresford-square/3 -
OK here's another memory that will make the old timers well up a bit: the cafe opposite the Waterfront that did the most awesome bubble I have ever had! I am probably looking back through rose tinted glasses but that stuff used to fuel me for an entire day. I can't remember exactly where it was but I think quite close to the Chinese takeaway that is rumoured to be in the ancient house where Tom Cribb lived or was born.
I never really investigated Public. And you are right Woolwich Works is wasted potential.
I have a funny feeling that the eponymous Bob of Bobs Your Uncle *may* be an Addick. I think hes a HK Chinese YouTuber but I'm not entirely sure...1 -
I worked in Woolwich for nearly 40 years. It had its up and downs but it was a great place with lots of character. Apart from an 8 schoolgirl fight at the bus stop in Woolwich New Road I've never seen any violence or anti-social behaviour, including when getting the bus home at 11pm after I retired. I was always more concerned about being in Bexleyheath late at night than in Woolwich!
Woolwich suffered from two main factors - obviously the gradual closure of the Royal Arsenal and lots of factories in and around the town plus the London County Council's policy of building large numbers of council houses and flats in what was their outer London boroughs where land was cheaper. This resulted in relatively high levels of unemployment, poverty and low average incomes which, in turn, meant that the town centre shops and pubs suffered and many closed because the locals just didn't have enough money to spend in them.
With improved transport links like the DLR and the Elizabeth Line (which wasn't originally planned to stop in Woolwich), the redevelopment of the Royal Arsenal and the big council estates around the town, Woolwich is very much on the up now.6 -
The fights by squaddies outside Flamingoes at chucking out time in the 90s were a sight to behold.5
-
Sponsored links:
-
I find that incredible. I worked in Woolwich on and off for 4-5 years and I saw something practically every lunchtime!BOWAddick said:I worked in Woolwich for nearly 40 years. It had its up and downs but it was a great place with lots of character. Apart from an 8 schoolgirl fight at the bus stop in Woolwich New Road I've never seen any violence or anti-social behaviour, including when getting the bus home at 11pm after I retired.7 -
Used to be outside the Earl of Chatham in my day, but I think the Army put a lot of pubs “Out of Bounds “fenlandaddick said:The fights by squaddies outside Flamingoes at chucking out time in the 90s were a sight to behold.
to try to quell it.0 -
Yes we had a really cool graffiti wall back in 2011 after the last London riots kicked the shite out of the place. Lots left messages then… which the council ripped down.Diebythesword said:
They did something really cool with it a couple of months ago where people could graffiti around it with different messages about how to improve the local area. Gave a real splash of colour to the square. Of course, it was so good the council only had it up for the weekend and then removed it. Now it’s back to that horrible grey box.fenlandaddick said:Ain't been the same since they put that big telly in the square.
A friend to this website wrote about it here.
https://greenwichwire.co.uk/2011/08/14/the-woolwich-wall-honk-if-you-love-woolwich/
2 -
Has anyone mentioned the Thames Poly/University of Greenwich site closure as a contributing factor in the demise of Woolwich?2
-
I had an exchange with the bloke who ran Public as they had Giant Robot in Canary Wharf as well. From what I remember they apparently cocked up with the electrics/re-wiring in Public and he kept saying it was temporary and getting sorted. He got a bit arsey in the end that anyone should be asking about what was happening.Curb_It said:
I’m not frightened. I just need to keep my wits about me.FreshHaddock said:Believe me, there are plenty of women your age and older that (how can I put this delicately?) fit your description, and of all ethnicities, that are certainly "robust" enough to look after themselves in Woolwich. I would even go as far to say that women like that were probably among my role models when I was more nervous about the area!
I worked with women like that in the Council that had to deal with the sorts of complex social problems that areas like this experience and they are the rocks that community (if it exists at all) in places like this are founded on.
I am also aware that I have much less to fear than a lot of people because I'm a white middle aged man, but I have a feeling that you are selling yourself short. It's always good to keep your wits about you, but I really don't think Woolwich is as bad as a lot of people make out and I don't think you should be too scared of it, even if there are a few loonies that might cause problems if you point out they are being arsehats. Last night on the way back from work on the Purple Train some suited and booted young man in his 20s or 30s sat on the seat diagonally across from me and put his shoes on the seat right next to me. I was instantly enraged and wanted to kick off, but I glared at him, thought about it, and moved seat. If I had done, it might have turned nasty, but I think that is a London thing as much as a Woolwich thing.Like I said above Public was one of the best uses of a disused space and was great for Woolwich and I loved going there.Don’t get me started on the complete waste of Woolwich Works. That is a massive disappointment to me.0 -
No sign of anyone taking the Old Gun Pit. Now being marketed as a restaurant.Diebythesword said:
Yep, but I’d say the other side of the road will see rapid improvement in the next few years. Even now the square renovation, the bobs your uncle cafe opening and the old gun pit renovation makes beresford square look much more inviting. Woolwich central development will be finished, adding about 800 homes to the area and more high spec commercial space. Greenwich council’s recent “2040 plan” has the Woolwich island site finished within the next 5 years, which considering they haven’t started anything they better get their skates on.Crusty54 said:
There are homes for very rich people in the Arsenal development but cross the road and there is extreme poverty at the moment.Diebythesword said:
Nope. Woolwich one of fastest gentrifying areas in the capitalredbuttle said:
Are you joking?Diebythesword said:Meanwhile, in reality, Woolwich is rapidly beginning to gentrify and crime stats continues to go down in Sadiq khan’s London.
https://trustforlondon.org.uk/data/gentrification-across-london/
and crime is falling citywide.
https://news.met.police.uk/pressreleases/neighbourhood-crime-significantly-falls-in-london-after-met-boosts-local-policing-3459166Facts do not lie. Nor do they care about “feelings”. Although my feeling as a Woolwich resident of the last 15 months are the place is continuing to get better and better.Extremely happy here with 20 mins from the city now, and world class Nepalese cuisine on my doorstep https://www.ft.com/content/903c5569-c1d6-43d6-852d-df5d382a8aa5?shareType=nongift and a stones throw from the valley.Does it have problems? Absolutely. Every place in any city does, but let’s not pretend it isn’t rapidly improving. Im fairly sure it will join Shoreditch, elephant and castle, Peckham and Deptford as areas once deemed as certifiable shitholes that are rapidly improving.
Berkeley Homes and Greenwich Council are keen to flatten the area and build more tower blocks.
dont get me started on Greenwich council’s lethargy in redeveloping these brownfield sites in Woolwich - I’m looking at you indoor market and macbean street sites.
Saw my first customer in the Bobs Your Uncle coffee shop in the week. Empty when I walk past before that. Far too much nearby competition to be a success.0 -
Hi Chunes, all I can say is that I used to have a stroll around most lunchtimes. I've racked my brain and still don't remember seeing anything scary. What sort of thing did you see and where did you see them?Chunes said:
I find that incredible. I worked in Woolwich on and off for 4-5 years and I saw something practically every lunchtime!BOWAddick said:I worked in Woolwich for nearly 40 years. It had its up and downs but it was a great place with lots of character. Apart from an 8 schoolgirl fight at the bus stop in Woolwich New Road I've never seen any violence or anti-social behaviour, including when getting the bus home at 11pm after I retired.0 -
Try connault estate back in the day.1
-
Got picked on by a mob from the Barnfield Estate while at the Woolwich Comon Fair in early 70's.
Didn't realise I could run so fast !1 -
I was a paper boy from WH Smith in Woolwich Arsenal station and I had the Connault as part of my round.R0TW said:Try connault estate back in the day.People used to put the money out for the milkman by the empty bottles.
The money was going missing and I was turned over by a young PC investigating this crime.Searched me from head to toe.But I was as clean as a whistle.Got stopped twice in as weeks.Turned out a crooked milkman was binning the money and not knocking it off the bill.0 -
Sponsored links:
-
I don’t live far from the Barnfield and cut through there when going to Herbert Road. When I watched that panorama programme recently about what goes on there I find it hard to believe as it’s always fairly quiet. Though I do go in the middle of the day.I know it had a big reputation back in the day but I didn’t know it then.0
-
Unusual for a milkman not to be knocking things off on his round.usetobunkin said:
I was a paper boy from WH Smith in Woolwich Arsenal station and I had the Connault as part of my round.R0TW said:Try connault estate back in the day.People used to put the money out for the milkman by the empty bottles.
The money was going missing and I was turned over by a young PC investigating this crime.Searched me from head to toe.But I was as clean as a whistle.Got stopped twice in as weeks.Turned out a crooked milkman was binning the money and not knocking it off the bill.2 -
Had my windscreen put through when getting out of there once.Curb_It said:I don’t live far from the Barnfield and cut through there when going to Herbert Road. When I watched that panorama programme recently about what goes on there I find it hard to believe as it’s always fairly quiet. Though I do go in the middle of the day.I know it had a big reputation back in the day but I didn’t know it then.
Had Dhesi screaming at me “run the c***s over”.
Those were the days.
1 -
Bobs been making good business, every time I walk passed there’s a few customers sat outside. I think the way they’ve set up the interior is terrible (you have to move all the way around the counter as you come in to get served) but it’s definitely not doing badly. More homes that finish round here and the more potential wallets.Crusty54 said:
No sign of anyone taking the Old Gun Pit. Now being marketed as a restaurant.Diebythesword said:
Yep, but I’d say the other side of the road will see rapid improvement in the next few years. Even now the square renovation, the bobs your uncle cafe opening and the old gun pit renovation makes beresford square look much more inviting. Woolwich central development will be finished, adding about 800 homes to the area and more high spec commercial space. Greenwich council’s recent “2040 plan” has the Woolwich island site finished within the next 5 years, which considering they haven’t started anything they better get their skates on.Crusty54 said:
There are homes for very rich people in the Arsenal development but cross the road and there is extreme poverty at the moment.Diebythesword said:
Nope. Woolwich one of fastest gentrifying areas in the capitalredbuttle said:
Are you joking?Diebythesword said:Meanwhile, in reality, Woolwich is rapidly beginning to gentrify and crime stats continues to go down in Sadiq khan’s London.
https://trustforlondon.org.uk/data/gentrification-across-london/
and crime is falling citywide.
https://news.met.police.uk/pressreleases/neighbourhood-crime-significantly-falls-in-london-after-met-boosts-local-policing-3459166Facts do not lie. Nor do they care about “feelings”. Although my feeling as a Woolwich resident of the last 15 months are the place is continuing to get better and better.Extremely happy here with 20 mins from the city now, and world class Nepalese cuisine on my doorstep https://www.ft.com/content/903c5569-c1d6-43d6-852d-df5d382a8aa5?shareType=nongift and a stones throw from the valley.Does it have problems? Absolutely. Every place in any city does, but let’s not pretend it isn’t rapidly improving. Im fairly sure it will join Shoreditch, elephant and castle, Peckham and Deptford as areas once deemed as certifiable shitholes that are rapidly improving.
Berkeley Homes and Greenwich Council are keen to flatten the area and build more tower blocks.
dont get me started on Greenwich council’s lethargy in redeveloping these brownfield sites in Woolwich - I’m looking at you indoor market and macbean street sites.
Saw my first customer in the Bobs Your Uncle coffee shop in the week. Empty when I walk past before that. Far too much nearby competition to be a success.0 -
After having lived in Woolwich [edit, okay, the Woolwich side of Charlton] for nearly 10 years, ending 5 years ago, every time I return it does feel safer. It also feels more boring. The riverside developments have slowly crushed its character. I know that as something of a technical posho myself I'm being a bit hypocritical decrying this gentrification, but those Dial Arch and Guard House pubs are horrible - that's the sort of faceless yuppie-families crap that classic boozers are being replaced with and I hate it*. When Tai Tip Mein falls, Woolwich will have truly gone
*I really liked the Woolwich Equitable - that was a brilliant example of how to create a new pub that has a bit of atmosphere. Of course it didn't last2 -
Probably owned by the same folks who have the Bobs in Eltham. Ukrainians i think.Diebythesword said:
Bobs been making good business, every time I walk passed there’s a few customers sat outside. I think the way they’ve set up the interior is terrible (you have to move all the way around the counter as you come in to get served) but it’s definitely not doing badly. More homes that finish round here and the more potential wallets.Crusty54 said:
No sign of anyone taking the Old Gun Pit. Now being marketed as a restaurant.Diebythesword said:
Yep, but I’d say the other side of the road will see rapid improvement in the next few years. Even now the square renovation, the bobs your uncle cafe opening and the old gun pit renovation makes beresford square look much more inviting. Woolwich central development will be finished, adding about 800 homes to the area and more high spec commercial space. Greenwich council’s recent “2040 plan” has the Woolwich island site finished within the next 5 years, which considering they haven’t started anything they better get their skates on.Crusty54 said:
There are homes for very rich people in the Arsenal development but cross the road and there is extreme poverty at the moment.Diebythesword said:
Nope. Woolwich one of fastest gentrifying areas in the capitalredbuttle said:
Are you joking?Diebythesword said:Meanwhile, in reality, Woolwich is rapidly beginning to gentrify and crime stats continues to go down in Sadiq khan’s London.
https://trustforlondon.org.uk/data/gentrification-across-london/
and crime is falling citywide.
https://news.met.police.uk/pressreleases/neighbourhood-crime-significantly-falls-in-london-after-met-boosts-local-policing-3459166Facts do not lie. Nor do they care about “feelings”. Although my feeling as a Woolwich resident of the last 15 months are the place is continuing to get better and better.Extremely happy here with 20 mins from the city now, and world class Nepalese cuisine on my doorstep https://www.ft.com/content/903c5569-c1d6-43d6-852d-df5d382a8aa5?shareType=nongift and a stones throw from the valley.Does it have problems? Absolutely. Every place in any city does, but let’s not pretend it isn’t rapidly improving. Im fairly sure it will join Shoreditch, elephant and castle, Peckham and Deptford as areas once deemed as certifiable shitholes that are rapidly improving.
Berkeley Homes and Greenwich Council are keen to flatten the area and build more tower blocks.
dont get me started on Greenwich council’s lethargy in redeveloping these brownfield sites in Woolwich - I’m looking at you indoor market and macbean street sites.
Saw my first customer in the Bobs Your Uncle coffee shop in the week. Empty when I walk past before that. Far too much nearby competition to be a success.0 -
been replaced by an excellent Nepalese/Indian restaurant.Leuth said:After having lived in Woolwich [edit, okay, the Woolwich side of Charlton] for nearly 10 years, ending 5 years ago, every time I return it does feel safer. It also feels more boring. The riverside developments have slowly crushed its character. I know that as something of a technical posho myself I'm being a bit hypocritical decrying this gentrification, but those Dial Arch and Guard House pubs are horrible - that's the sort of faceless yuppie-families crap that classic boozers are being replaced with and I hate it*. When Tai Tip Mein falls, Woolwich will have truly gone
*I really liked the Woolwich Equitable - that was a brilliant example of how to create a new pub that has a bit of atmosphere. Of course it didn't lastBut yes, the guardhouse is rubbish. Dial arch has much more of an atmosphere to it. But there’s always rose’s at the end of the high street if you really want a proper old school boozer that’s packed with alcoholic slipping a Gary every Friday and Saturday night.0 -
Oh I love the Guardhouse, I can get a lovely glass of wine which doesn’t make me gag. Best wine in the area.Sad it’s up for sale. I won’t go back to queuing in the Dial Arch.0
-
Doesn’t make you gag, have you tried you local tavern?Curb_It said:Oh I love the Guardhouse, I can get a lovely glass of wine which doesn’t make me gag. Best wine in the area.Sad it’s up for sale. I won’t go back to queuing in the Dial Arch.3 -
Rude!!1
