No Mo' Mo Pho
Coulgate Street Vietnamese café Mo Pho has fallen phoul of Big Pho. The Pho café chain seems to think they own the word Pho and have served Mo Pho notice that they think they are infringing their trademark. The Mo Pho team write:
It is with sadness that we would like to inform our customers that we will be reluctantly taking down our shop sign this week and trading as "mopho" instead of mo pho until we have establish a new name for ourselves.
Please note, WE WILL BE OPEN for business as usual and welcome your continued support!!
Some background on our decision... we have been put on notice by Pho Holdings Ltd (Pho cafe) that they have registered and trade marked the word PHO, as they feel that the use of our name Mo Pho is confusingly similar to their trade mark, constituting an infringement and passing off.
We feel this unfair as we ensured the look and feel of our brand was different to any established restaurants when designing our brand and logo. Our biggest surprise was that trademarking the word PHO was possible especially as it's our national dish which is used widely in our trade as a Vietnamese cafe/restaurant.
As a small family business, taking on a successful chain such as Pho will be a big risk to us, therefore we opted to take down our signages until we are fully rebranded.
If you have any suggestions for our new name, please let us know!! You could see your name in lights and a free meal on us!
It’s a little incongruous for a cutesy, Innocentesque brand like Pho to act so aggressively and a little odd that they think their customers might confuse them with a café whose title is a play on “motherfucker”. It’s not who they are underneath, but what they do that defines them.
It is with sadness that we would like to inform our customers that we will be reluctantly taking down our shop sign this week and trading as "mopho" instead of mo pho until we have establish a new name for ourselves.
Please note, WE WILL BE OPEN for business as usual and welcome your continued support!!
Some background on our decision... we have been put on notice by Pho Holdings Ltd (Pho cafe) that they have registered and trade marked the word PHO, as they feel that the use of our name Mo Pho is confusingly similar to their trade mark, constituting an infringement and passing off.
We feel this unfair as we ensured the look and feel of our brand was different to any established restaurants when designing our brand and logo. Our biggest surprise was that trademarking the word PHO was possible especially as it's our national dish which is used widely in our trade as a Vietnamese cafe/restaurant.
As a small family business, taking on a successful chain such as Pho will be a big risk to us, therefore we opted to take down our signages until we are fully rebranded.
If you have any suggestions for our new name, please let us know!! You could see your name in lights and a free meal on us!
It’s a little incongruous for a cutesy, Innocentesque brand like Pho to act so aggressively and a little odd that they think their customers might confuse them with a café whose title is a play on “motherfucker”. It’s not who they are underneath, but what they do that defines them.
Souper September in Honor Oak
Imelda from Hills and Parks (49 Honor Oak Park) writes:
Souper September is Broadway’s first ever month-long fundraising appeal and it is asking people to make a small change at lunch to ensure a big difference to the lives of thousands of homeless people.
No 178 New Cross Road
No 178 New Cross Road is a new cafe for New Cross Gate, which opened earlier this month. The cafe is operated as a social enterprise and serves an eclectic mix of food, from kedgeree and salads to granola, bacon sandwiches and pancakes. Unexceptional from the outside, it's been fitted-out beautifully inside.
Please let us know what you think.
The Deptford Project relocates to Douglas Square
The Deptford Project will stay in Deptford. Forced to relocate now that the development of the land it sits on is due to begin, there was a risk that the train carriage cafe would be lost to the area entirely. Now Alison writes:
Just thought you'd like to know that I walked past the Deptford Project tonight and there is a sign outside saying they are moving to Douglas Square. Not sure whether this is temporary or permanent, but it's good news that they'll be staying in the area for the time being at least.
Just thought you'd like to know that I walked past the Deptford Project tonight and there is a sign outside saying they are moving to Douglas Square. Not sure whether this is temporary or permanent, but it's good news that they'll be staying in the area for the time being at least.
Deptford Project cafe derailed
Crosswhatfields reports:
When building work finally commences in a couple of months' time on the delayed Cathedral/United House development next to Deptford station, one of Deptford's most recent and best loved landmarks, the café known to locals as "the train", will have to move. The café has been given notice to be off the site by 31st August.
The cafe has been an amazing success and forms a pair with the Big Red pizza bus on the other side of Deptford. It would be a travesty if it left town. The original plan, to stick it near the station, has been vetoed. The most promising spot, Crosswhatfields suggests, is next to The Albany theatre. One possibility is it gets shunted to Brighton, so that that quiet seaside town can benefit from a little sprinkle of Deptford stardust. Everyone wants to 'do a Bilbao'.
Like Boxpark, the train cafe only exists because the developers wanted the land to be used for something interesting in the period before redevelopment took place, so it's a little churlish to criticise Cathedral for displacing it now. But likewise, the wider Deptford Project development will owe at least part of its success to the "placemaking" role that the carriage has played in marketing Deptford to new audiences.
Cathedral and Lewisham Council should do everything they can to find it a happy home in SE8.
Statement on Ladywell Fields Cafe Plans
Last week, we reported that the owner of the cafe in Ladywell Fields has asked his customers to show their support for the business he runs, which is potentially threatened by plans to create a new cafe with bigger and better facilities, similar to those in Hilly Fields and Manor House Gardens.
It's his livelihood and it's quite right that he should be given a fair chance to bid to run the new franchise, but a new cafe should be built. The existing facility is little more than a tea hut, which doesn't offer the range or the space that other local park cafes manage. Bigger local park cafes have become community hubs - the focus for a range of local groups and activities. Ladywell Fields' cafe hasn't. There is a successful local model - it should be copied. If the incumbent feels that he can meet the brief, he should submit a bid.
This statement, issued in response to the issue, sets out the case for a new cafe:
Over the last few years many Park users have commented – in meetings, by email and on the Ladywell Fields Facebook page – about the café. Two clear themes emerged from these comments – first, that the current lessee (Glen) is very popular and very committed to the Park and secondly that the current café space is inadequate in a number of ways - in particular the lack of indoor seating, protected from the elements, which would make the café more appealing outside of the Spring/Summer period, and thus more viable.
The Park User Group responded to this by applying to the Ladywell Assembly last Autumn for a modest £1,250 to undertake a feasibility study to explore how, and at what cost, the building might be reconfigured to provide a better café facility. The Ladywell Assembly supported this bid and, following a tendering exercise, local architects Studio-ia were commissioned to undertake the study. The purpose of this exercise has never been to replace the current operator of the café, but rather to improve the facility to enable more people to benefit from it: the resulting additional footfall in the Park could also bring additional benefits such as improved safety.
Studio-ia began its work early this year and, having shown its early options drawings to the User Group and Council in April, undertook a widely-publicised consultation in the Park on 20 April. This consultation confirmed a clear aspiration amongst park users for a better café facility.
The final proposal, including helpful visualisations, was produced in early June and published on the Ladywell Fields Facebook page. This represents the way that, in an ideal world, the Council and Park users would like the café building improved. This will be used by the Council when it formally seeks ‘expressions of interest’ from all interested parties, including the current licence holder, by means of an advertisement in the local press. Bidders will be asked to outline what level of investment they are willing to make, in return for a long lease. It may be that not all those interested in operating the café will be able to invest all it might cost to achieve the full redevelopment scheme. As such the Council will be happy to hear from those who wish to submit an expression of interest that delivers enough of this scheme to bring about a significantly improved cafe facility. All bidders will need to demonstrate they have a costed plan and, importantly, have a clear understanding of the needs of Ladywell Fields park users.
Subject to the outcome of the bidding process (in which the User Group will remain involved) it is anticipated that building work will be undertaken from this Autumn so that the new café facility can open in Spring 2014. In the meantime the current licence, which would otherwise have been subject to a competitive tendering exercise, has been extended.
Martin Hyde, LBL Green Space Regeneration Manager (martin.hyde@lewisham.gov.uk)
Tony Rich, Chair of the Park User Group (ladywellfields@yahoo.co.uk)
It's his livelihood and it's quite right that he should be given a fair chance to bid to run the new franchise, but a new cafe should be built. The existing facility is little more than a tea hut, which doesn't offer the range or the space that other local park cafes manage. Bigger local park cafes have become community hubs - the focus for a range of local groups and activities. Ladywell Fields' cafe hasn't. There is a successful local model - it should be copied. If the incumbent feels that he can meet the brief, he should submit a bid.
This statement, issued in response to the issue, sets out the case for a new cafe:
Over the last few years many Park users have commented – in meetings, by email and on the Ladywell Fields Facebook page – about the café. Two clear themes emerged from these comments – first, that the current lessee (Glen) is very popular and very committed to the Park and secondly that the current café space is inadequate in a number of ways - in particular the lack of indoor seating, protected from the elements, which would make the café more appealing outside of the Spring/Summer period, and thus more viable.
The Park User Group responded to this by applying to the Ladywell Assembly last Autumn for a modest £1,250 to undertake a feasibility study to explore how, and at what cost, the building might be reconfigured to provide a better café facility. The Ladywell Assembly supported this bid and, following a tendering exercise, local architects Studio-ia were commissioned to undertake the study. The purpose of this exercise has never been to replace the current operator of the café, but rather to improve the facility to enable more people to benefit from it: the resulting additional footfall in the Park could also bring additional benefits such as improved safety.
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| How the cafe will look |
The final proposal, including helpful visualisations, was produced in early June and published on the Ladywell Fields Facebook page. This represents the way that, in an ideal world, the Council and Park users would like the café building improved. This will be used by the Council when it formally seeks ‘expressions of interest’ from all interested parties, including the current licence holder, by means of an advertisement in the local press. Bidders will be asked to outline what level of investment they are willing to make, in return for a long lease. It may be that not all those interested in operating the café will be able to invest all it might cost to achieve the full redevelopment scheme. As such the Council will be happy to hear from those who wish to submit an expression of interest that delivers enough of this scheme to bring about a significantly improved cafe facility. All bidders will need to demonstrate they have a costed plan and, importantly, have a clear understanding of the needs of Ladywell Fields park users.
Subject to the outcome of the bidding process (in which the User Group will remain involved) it is anticipated that building work will be undertaken from this Autumn so that the new café facility can open in Spring 2014. In the meantime the current licence, which would otherwise have been subject to a competitive tendering exercise, has been extended.
Martin Hyde, LBL Green Space Regeneration Manager (martin.hyde@lewisham.gov.uk)
Tony Rich, Chair of the Park User Group (ladywellfields@yahoo.co.uk)
Ladywell Fields cafe plan threatens red velvet cake revolution
Sara says plans to develop a cafe in Ladywell Fields similar to the Hilly Fields model may threaten the incumbent cafe. She writes:
The lovely Glen, from the cafe in Ladywell Fields says that it looks like he could be ousted. He has a petition to protect his business, which folks can sign at the cafe. Replacing Glen's cafe with something more generic would be a great shame.
He's a really nice guy, his wife's cakes are very tasty and creative, and his prices are very reasonable. OK, so he's more chips and lollies than hummus and soy latte, but his coffee is great and his cakes are home-made. Most importantly, he is a friendly, reliable independent trader, who keeps his prices low, despite the tough times.
Please can I ask BCers who support Glen to sign the petition on their next visit to the cafe.
The lovely Glen, from the cafe in Ladywell Fields says that it looks like he could be ousted. He has a petition to protect his business, which folks can sign at the cafe. Replacing Glen's cafe with something more generic would be a great shame.
He's a really nice guy, his wife's cakes are very tasty and creative, and his prices are very reasonable. OK, so he's more chips and lollies than hummus and soy latte, but his coffee is great and his cakes are home-made. Most importantly, he is a friendly, reliable independent trader, who keeps his prices low, despite the tough times.
Please can I ask BCers who support Glen to sign the petition on their next visit to the cafe.
Jobs at new New Cross cafe
BCer Fabhat let's us know of a job opportunity at a new social enterprise cafe in New Cross. Here are the details:
Anybody know people who would be interested in being a Chef (£15k a year for 32.5 hours) or a Cafe Assistant (£6.50 per hour for 20-25 hours per week, but will probably be more as the cafe develops) for a Social Enterprise Cafe in New Cross? Direct them to the Social Enterprise Manager (Luke Hamilton) via luke@toucanemployment.org
Anybody know people who would be interested in being a Chef (£15k a year for 32.5 hours) or a Cafe Assistant (£6.50 per hour for 20-25 hours per week, but will probably be more as the cafe develops) for a Social Enterprise Cafe in New Cross? Direct them to the Social Enterprise Manager (Luke Hamilton) via luke@toucanemployment.org
Pat-a-cakes garden
The Station Agent: Hill cafe needs new management
The Bold Vision team write:
Bold Vision, a community development charity in SE14, is looking for a new operator to take over running the vibrant Hill Station Community Cafe on Telegraph Hill. This is an exciting opportunity to build on the existing success of the venture, and to develop a catering business that serves the needs of the community and fulfills Bold Vision’s social mission. The contract will be for a 3 year period and will start in August 2013.
The closing date for proposals is 3 May 2013. Proposals should contain a full description of experience, the proposed service offering, a financial proposal and statement of how Bold Vision’s values would be enhanced.
Download the Hill Station tender 2013 Document
Bold Vision, a community development charity in SE14, is looking for a new operator to take over running the vibrant Hill Station Community Cafe on Telegraph Hill. This is an exciting opportunity to build on the existing success of the venture, and to develop a catering business that serves the needs of the community and fulfills Bold Vision’s social mission. The contract will be for a 3 year period and will start in August 2013.
The closing date for proposals is 3 May 2013. Proposals should contain a full description of experience, the proposed service offering, a financial proposal and statement of how Bold Vision’s values would be enhanced.
Download the Hill Station tender 2013 Document
Le Delice, Ladywell Road [UPDATED]
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| French enough for you? Photo courtesy of Richard Elliot. |
The Malaysian Deli
Crofton Park's new Malaysian Deli (338 Brockley Road) is run by Amy Mustafa and two colleagues and is more cafe than shop, with generous amounts of seating and a selection of beef, chicken, fish and vegetarian dishes, with a choice of rendang, peanut, spicy sambal or mild percik sauces and served with rice and salad or in a wrap.
