It’s interesting to mooch around Twitter now and then to find out what Croydon people are talking about.

The CRO stumbled upon an interesting exchange about some of the new high buildings going up having some sort of bar, restaurant viewing platform function. One reader pointed out that if ‘the Croyds was Lisbon – they’d be everywhere’.

The thread started by a Mr Philip Glowinski said that ‘the views would be amazing’. The CRO is inclined to agree. Croydon has a some history with using roof top spaces. Croydon’s two major department stores in the middle of the 20th century, Grants and Kennards both had roof top terraces which they incorporated into their businesses.

Grant’s roof top garden was one of the three public spaces in this old Croydon department store. This rooftop terrace not only offered a cafe service and manicured flower beds, it also had a panoramic view over Old Town, Duppas Hill and the aircraft taking off and landing at Croydon Airport. Grants also boasted two restaurants, the Harlequin and the Devonian which also capitalised on the view from the rear of the building with floor to ceiling windows so that tea sippers could enjoy the sights.

Kennard’s roof was not quite as upmarket as Grants but there always something going on, from performances (left), two mini golf courses, pony rides and even a mini zoo to name only a few of the events that Kennards put on to attract customers to their store.

More recently, the roof spaces of multi storey car parks in Croydon have been used by the Lost Format Society as outdoor event space offering outdoor cinema, bars and some very funky sounds.

Croydon has got some ideas for the future though. In 2017 Croydon Council gave planning permission to a two-tower and podium development at 1-5 Lansdowne Road. This development has a tower of 41 floors and a further tower of 68 floors. 288 metres up on the top floors of the proposed development there will be a viewing platform, a bar and a restaurant – the highest one in London.

There has been some doubt expressed here in Croydon about whether or not this development is ever going to get built, but a quick look at Croydon Council Planning Department’s website shows that smaller applications for the discharge of conditions prior to the commencement of construction have been submitted and approved.

The CRO thinks it is important that this application goes ahead as approved so would like to hear from the mayoral candidates in May’s election about how they will ensure that this (below) happens. The CRO’s email inbox is, as always, open.