Hi, my name’s Gianni Ingrosso, I own High Vibe on Melbourne Grove. We’re a fitness studio specialising in Vibration Plate Training and we’ve been here helping busy people stay fit since 2010. I live in Nunhead, close to Peckham Rye Park with my wife Gill and 3 year old daughter Ayla.
How long have you lived in the area?
12 years or so
What brought you here?
I was living in what was then, a slightly a rough around the edges Peckham, and stumbled upon ED by accident and that was it, I moved here soon after and have been around here since then. Although I’ve switched residence from SE22 to SE15, my business is still in ED and I now have a ten-minute commute.
What do you most value about the area/street you live in?
Having Peckham Rye park on my doorstep, my daughter loves it there. And the community feel of the whole area, it does feel like a village in some ways. It’s nice to walk down Lordship Lane and bump into people you know, it’s not that common when you live in London.
What one thing would you change?
House prices, it’s crazy what people will pay for a terraced house these days!
Do you know your neighbours?
At the studio, yes. I have Anne Marie who owns Angel Upholstery on one side and Becca who owns HB Therapy on the other. They’re great and we help each other out when needed.
The most famous person you’ve seen or met?
I had Olivia Coleman as a client for a while, she was very nice and down to earth.
What is your favourite place to eat?
I love the Turkish restaurant Hisar. Their kofte kebabs are excellent, I prefer the more relaxed café side over the restaurant.
Coffee or tea? Where?
Coffee, black, always. Blackbird do great coffee and it’s been my second home for the last six years but the new place La Scala opposite do really great coffee too, so I’m spoilt for choice now.
Cafe, pub or bar?
Café, definitely, I’m not much of a drinker these days and am happy with a coffee, a pastry and a chat with the locals.
Where’s your favourite place to walk?
One Tree Hill, it has amazing views of London. It’s a great place to get away from it all, you almost feel like you’re in the countryside until you turn around a see the awesome London skyline.
If money was no object…
I’d open a health and wellbeing retreat on a Mediterranean island… and buy a huge house in Dulwich Village (with a housekeeper of course)
The book I’m reading at the moment…
I’m constantly reading a few books but the two that are leading the way right now are Haruki Murakami – What I talk about when I talk about running, and Malcolm Gladwell – Outliers.