South London Press, Friday, October 3, 2014
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www.southlondon-today.co.uk
It doesn’t get any batter
daily and picked, cut and cooked according A CHIPPY which claims celebrity By HAYLEY RICHARDSON to preference. chef Gordon Ramsay as a customer In their review of the restaurant, The Times has been named third best in The pair were inspired to open a fish recommended: “Try the beer-battered halloumi the country. or Mersea Island oysters.” restaurant after a trip to Australia.
The FishClub in Clapham High Street, Clapham was awarded the accolade in a national newspaper’s 30 best fish and chip shops in Britain. The restaurant is the brainchild of schoolmates Steve Orme and James Thomson. Mr Thomson, 38, trained at 16 as a chef with Albert Roux, while Mr Orme, 37, previously worked as an electrician for 10 years.
Mr Orme, who works front-of-house, said: “We were two best mates with no money and a dream.” Mr Orme explained that FishClub is all about quality cooking and produce. He added: “We come from a cooking background, not a frying background.” FishClub makes all its own beer batter, bread and tartar sauce. All fish is delivered
Council and housing association tenants Are you thinking about Right to Buy?
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IGHT TO BUY is the scheme that helps eligible council and housing association tenants buy their home by offering a discount on the purchase price.
Since 2012 the discounts available have increased and the rates have recently risen again. The new top cash discounts are £77,000 in England, and £102,700 if you live in London. Each year the discount will increase at the rate of inflation. In addition, eligible tenants can now get up to 70% off the cost of their house – the www.communities.gov.uk/therighttobuy to same maximum percentage discount as help you add up what this means for you for flats. including an easy-to-use calculator to Since the scheme was refreshed in April help you work out what discount you 2012 more than 22,500 people in England could get and if you can afford to buy. have become homeowners through the Working out your budget Right to Buy scheme. The Money Advice Service offers free, Could this be the right time for you – or impartial advice on budgeting, somebody you know – to join them? mortgages and other financial matters. All additional purchases through the Right You can contact them on 0300 500 5000 go to their website at to Buy scheme go straight into building or new affordable housing for hardworking www.moneyadviceservice.org.uk. people locally. The Government’s new Right to Buy Agent service can also help you through Who qualifies for the Right to Buy? Tenants are likely to be eligible to buy the Right to Buy process from applying to They can provide their current home if they can answer completing. information on finding a mortgage, ‘yes’ to the following questions: • Are you currently a council tenant, appointing a solicitor and arranging a or were you living in your home survey. when the council transferred it to If you are midway through buying and another landlord (housing association)? • Have you been a council or housing association tenant for 5 years or more? • Can you confirm that you do not live in sheltered housing or other housing designed for elderly or disabled people? In addition, tenants need to be free from legal problems with debt or outstanding possession orders, and their home isn’t due to be demolished. If you don’t qualify at the moment, keep an eye on news about Right to Buy as the Government is hoping to make further changes to eligibility in 2015. How much does it cost? Home ownership brings many benefits have a problem, get in touch with the such as freedom to make changes, a Agent service and they can advise you. sense of pride and an investment for the The advisers are available from Monday future. But it is not the right choice for to Friday, 8am until 6pm, on 0300 123 everyone and one of the biggest 0913. questions to answer is ‘Can I afford it?’ What to do next When you buy a home you need to If you decide that home ownership budget for one-off costs and ongoing is the right choice for you, and costs, and you need to allow for your you want to find out more about finances to change in the future. Right to Buy, please visit The one-off costs could include stamp www.communities.gov.uk/therighttobuy. duty, professional fees for a survey, If you decide to go ahead you will need conveyancing and other legal costs. The to fill in the application form and take the ongoing costs include mortgage or loan process forward with your landlord. repayments, repairs and maintenance. If For more information: Website: the property is leasehold (usually a flat) www.communities.gov.uk/therighttobuy there will be an annual service charge Phone: 0300 123 0913. Email: and ground rent. There is plenty of guidance available at enquiry@righttobuyagent.org.uk.
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Wandsworth resident Gordon Ramsay is frequently spotted around Clapham. When asked if he had any celebrity customers, Mr Orme said the Hell’s Kitchen star and fellow chef Ainsley Harriott often pop in. The original FishClub celebrated its 10th anniversary at the St John’s Hill Festival BREAM JOB: From left, Jack Sutton, earlier this month. newsdesk@slp.co.uk
Steve Orme and James Thomson