A once down-market area of south London has been ‘overtaken’ by hipsters, street art and walking tours – leaving loyal locals fuming.
An influx of independent coffee shops, cycle clubs and art galleries has changed the face of Penge for good.
Long-time residents were stunned at the start of the year when it was voted one of the top 11 coolest postcodes in Britain.
It placed alongside the Cotswolds, Cheshire towns and tourist hotspots within Cornwall.
Nothing screams the new Penge more than a series of street artwork next to a McDonald’s in the town centre.
But nothing shows the divide between long-term Penge residents, their reaction to the art and what they think of what is happening to the area in general.
One piece – painted by vegan artist Louis Michel – sparked fury. A miserable-looking 6ft-tall cow in a bun next to the slogan ‘I’m not lovin’ it was painted alongside two others.
It set the dividing lines between the direction of the area for locals.
Retired trade unionist Kevin Hayes, 75, who has lived in Penge for 45 years, said: ‘It’s not for me. It’s bloody awful.
‘Why can’t they leave things alone? It’s terrible. I think it looks really bad. It’s graffiti to me. I don’t get it. There was nothing wrong with Penge, it served a really good purpose and now they want to change everything.
‘It’s not posh, never has been posh, so why try and make it posh?
‘They’re trying to make it look like Brixton – and that is not a good thing.
‘Will these new trendy things be here for the next 45 years? How much are they going to contribute to Penge long-term?’
Kevin and his wife Sandra, 71, said they were ‘gutted’ to see what had happened to their area.
Kevin added: ‘It’s sad.’
Retired builder Paul Green, 72, said he was ‘bloody angry’ at the artwork.
He said: ‘It just makes it look rough. I was told it will bring new people in and all of that but where are they? We’ve been overtaken by hipsters.
‘They’re not starting businesses in the area or creating jobs. They might enjoy living here and posting it on the internet but what are they doing to the area in general? Nothing.
‘Penge is great and I have lived here for 50 years. But it’s not without its problems. There’s still street crime and antisocial behaviour.
‘There’s still muggings and crime. They’d be better working on that before doing all this artwork.
‘Penge to me is Penge. It’s never going to be Venice or Mayfair.
‘I suppose I sound grumpy, I’m usually a fairly positive person. I just don’t agree with it all.’
Dad-of-three Paul said he did enjoy the new businesses which had arrived in the area in recent years and had even taken up cycling.
But he added: ‘That street art is terrible. I think it invites crime.
‘I know that might not be popular but that’s what I think.’
Corner shop worker Wendy Partridge, 56, said: ‘The artwork is terrible.
‘In the last two years we’ve noticed a different attitude with customers.
‘We’re a basic corner shop. They came in asking for avocados and someone the other day wanted to know if we’d got guacamole.
‘I didn’t know what to say. The answer was no. And I’m not going to start getting that stuff in either.’
But – not everyone is against the change.
Care assistant Damy Olly, 31, said: ‘I love the artwork. It makes the area a bit different. It stands out. It does not invite crime.
‘It means people can be proud of their area. That’s what it is all about. I love living here. It’s getting better and better and I will never move.’
Bakery teacher Bee Dunne, 57, said: ‘Things have changed but I think for the better. I really enjoy living here.’
