Thu Sep 25, 2014 11:16 am
It happens everywhere. Near me, Surrey Docks and Rotherhithe are marketed and referred to as "Surrey Quays" and "Canada Water". Deptford Creek has become "Greenwich Creek". East Dulwich is stretching ever further into what was Peckham, and North Dulwich into Camberwell.
It is a bit snobby but there isn't much harm to these name changes.
Where the harm is more likely to come from is the actual change in character of an area. Long-standing residents may find that the shops and pubs they use close down, replaced or change in character; if its a gentrifying area, long-standing renters and first-time buyers from the area may find themselves priced out - although existing owners will be big winners; if its an area where a batch of new social housing has been built, owners may find increased problems with crime and anti-social behaviour and property prices may fall (thus actign as an incentive to differentiate as in "Old" St Mellons). But this is just the process of urban renewal and decay and is what happens in dynamic cities.
Anyway this is nothing to do with restaurants. I wanted to fly the flag for Whitchuch Village as a place where the quality of food has improved significantly in recent years. There's a collection of lounge/restaurants, indian, thai, Italian, delis, and the pubs have all upped their game. Plus a chippy which does the best chicken curry half n half in a 5 mile radius (you can even eat it sober!).