Hi

As a local to Forest Hill I was looking forward to supporting new and established businesses with this weekend’s ‘Fiver Fest’. Walking up Dartmouth Road on Saturday, I was struck how un-fest the shops were. Frankly, it just looked like any other Saturday and I was surprised that there wasn’t more of a ‘buzz’ about the place. I thought shopkeepers and The Totally Locally team would have been out there on the streets promoting the beginning of this event.

So with an absence of enthusiasm in that part of town, I headed up to the new butchers on London Road. Great quality meat but charging Mayfair prices (literally their sausages, for example, are slightly more expensive than Allen’s of Mayfair!) Again there was no obvious signage that The Butchery was part of the scheme until I asked. I ended up spending over ten quid which I’m assuming is the idea of the offer, to entice local folk into the independent shops and get us, hopefully, to spend more.

Another poor example was Finches on Perry Vale who were supposed to be offering a Beanie Hat for a fiver. Initially the staff didn’t know what I was talking about, then the manager came out and said they weren’t starting until next week. While I was there I nearly spent another £45 but the slack attitude put me off.

That evening I was in the All Inn One, great pub with possibly the best Christmas decorations this side of the Thames (wish they’d turn the telly off though) but again no obvious indication that they were part of this mini festival.

I have only chosen the above as examples but from what I could see, the same lack of eagerness was prevalent across all 27 sites. Perhaps as its Christmas the local businesses are so busy they don’t need nor want the extra custom or Totally Locally aren’t giving them the support they require. However, if you do want my pound and that of my neighbours spent locally, I would suggest more of an effort next time.

all the best and Merry Christmas!!