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>> BRIXTON ILLUSTRATED, P9 >> TOP FILM PICKS, P17 >> WAHACA REVIEW, P21 >> AFAWEE BOXING CLUB, P28 >>

Estate £14M repair costs ‘inflated’ BY ANNA MCKIE

Residents of Cressingham Gardens estate have accused Lambeth council of “grossly inflating” the estimated cost of refurbishing their estate. They say the real price-tag will be half of the council’s proposed figure of £14 million. The dispute over costs erupted at a meeting between Cressingham residents’ representatives and officials of Lambeth council and Lambeth Living, the housing stock managers, on January 26. At the meeting residents said an independent surveyor had estimated the cost of refurbishment as only £7 million. The representatives also say that when challenged, Lambeth Living was unable to justify how it had worked out its costs. “They couldn’t explain why they were allocating £4,000 for kitchen renewals,” said resident representative

Gerlinder Gniewosz. “Yet last year they signed a contract... which showed a complete new kitchen would cost a maximum of £2,000.” The battle over Cressingham Gardens first erupted following the Council’s announcement, in 2012, of regeneration plans for the estate that could involve its partial demolition. The council says regeneration is necessary as many of the flats are in a poor state. The plans include five options for Cressingham that range from repairing existing properties to complete demolition. The council favours an option that involves demolishing half the estate, on which new housing would be built by a private property developer. But the proposal is opposed by residents who are in favour of refurbishment. “We really enjoy living on the estate – we don’t want to leave. There is true community spirit here,” said resident Pam Douglas.

MATERIAL WEALTH: Market institution Simply Fabrics continues on its colourful roll, with two shops crammed full of sewing pleasures. Arts, p16

Cressingham Gardens residents. Picture: Louis Leeson At the meeting, residents questioned Cllr Matthew Bennett, Cabinet the calculations used to produce the Member for Housing, said: “We council’s £14 million figure. “Lambeth are working very closely with are saying sorting out windows on the Cressingham Gardens residents on estate would cost £1.7 million but getting homes on the estate up to the they were only installed 10 years ago Lambeth Housing Standard. At the and are supposed to last 30 years,” same time we are examining if new added Gniewosz. “Some need to be flats or houses could be built on the fixed, but it is completely unfounded estate as part of our pledge to make to say they all need to replaced.” 1,000 new homes across the borough “We also questioned the £150,000 available for council rent. allocated for drainage that was “As part of our work with residents apparently based on ‘surveys’. Yet on the refurbishment of Cressingham they could not provide any survey for Gardens they have produced their reference. It seems as though Lambeth own costings for the project. We will would prefer the cost of refurbishment thoroughly test those figures, and will to be a higher figure, so it can push be looking to make both savings and ahead with plans for demolition.” get the best value for money.”

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PUTTING ON THE RITZY: Follow the fascinating story behind your beloved cinema, from homemade carrot cake and old projectors to surviving riots and strikes . Features, p10

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Sales | Lettings | Property Management

ALL THE FUN OF THE FLEA Bag a bargain. From furniture and fabrics to mugs and bric-a- brac, there’ll be something for everyone. What’s On, p23

WHERE’S FRANCO? Meet Giuseppe Mascoli, the man behind Franco Manca - the Brixton gem now found all over London . Food, p9

NEWS THE BRIXTON BUGLE & BRIXTONBLOG.COM are edited in Brixton by Zoe Jewell and Tim Dickens. Both the website and newspaper are published by a not-for-profit community organisation. It’s run by a committed team of people from Brixton. Brixton Blog and Bugle The Piano Club 9 Brighton Terrace SW9 8DJ » Tel 020 3730 1312 » @brixtonblog » @brixton_bugle » www.brixtonblog.com ADVERTISING Jenny Shramenko 07811 878394 jenny@brixtonblog.com Circulation: 10,000 copies Readership: circa 15,000 DEPUTY EDITORS Keith Lewis Lindsay Faller Sub-editor: Jamila Omar Designer: Agnes Graves NEWS Anna McKie, News Editor newsdesk@brixtonblog.com FEATURES Katrin Magnussen features@brixtonblog.com ARTS & MUSIC Barney Evison Ruth Waters arts@brixtonblog.com FOOD Miss South food@brixtonblog.com SPORT Sandra Brobbey newsdesk@brixtonblog.com ISSUE 29 Writers: Max Macrbride Kathryn Aedy, Pictures: Owen Llewellyn, , Alexandra Waespi, Adam Marshall, Zofia Niemtus Cartoons / Illustrations: Kaylene Alder, Tim Bird, Pam Willians Crossword: Josie Gardiner Columnists: Alison Alexander, Frankie Holah A massive thank you to everybody involved in making this issue, and the Blog & Bugle project, a success.

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February 2015

College strike over BY ANNA MCKIE

The nine month dispute over staff contracts at Lambeth College ended last month when UCU members voted to accept revised terms from the college, seeing staff returning to work after an bitter battle. Union members walked out indefinitely on Monday January 19 over the dispute, having already been on strike for five days this month, six in December and for five weeks in June. The row centred on new staff contracts which the union said it had not been properly consulted over and contained unfair conditions. On January 21 UCU members voted overwhelming in favour of accepting a revised offer from the college. This means all current staff will stay on their old contracts and the new contract for incoming staff has “significant improvements to working hours and sick pay.” Barry Lovejoy, national head of regional organisation at UCU, said members were “extremely pleased”

Gogglebox stars and Brixton residents Sandra and Sandy picked up the show’s award for Best Factual Programme at the 2015 National Television Awards. Long-term Brixton residents and Gogglebox favourites, Sandy Channer, 48, and Sandra Martin (known as Queen B), 52, arrived on stage to collect the award on behalf of the programme. Arriving on stage Sandra said: “Where’s the sofa? Thank you very much everyone for voting for us. It’s a liberty, man, a proper liberty.” with the result. He told the Brixton Bugle UCU was “glad to see its members return to the job and to provide an excellent service to the students at Lambeth College.” Principal Mark Silverman said: “The College has always been open to, and hopeful of achieving, a reasonable resolution to this dispute, and I welcome the end of strike action and return to work.

“We are very clear on the steps we need to take to improve the quality of our teaching and to assure our financial position as we build a highquality sustainable College for South London. The terms and conditions in the ‘new’ contract, and the agreement we have reached today, support both of those objectives and I am pleased that we can now put the dispute behind us.”

Gang initiative is go A new approach to gang violence is being piloted in Lambeth which will see members of gangs collectively punished for the criminal actions of individual members. Last week Boris Johnson launched the Shield pilot which will be run in partnership with the Metropolitan Police and three pilot boroughs: Haringey, Westminster and Lambeth. The boroughs have been chosen for their well-established gang programmes. Under the pilot, the arrest and prosecution of the main perpetrator will be fast-tracked while the rest of the gang will face a range of criminal and civil sanctions. These include injunctions preventing

them from entering a certain area, or recalling them to prison if on licence, or mandate them to attend an employment course. The Mayor’s Office for Policing And Crime (MOPAC) are providing £200,000 funding for the new programme. According to MOPAC, the method has already proven successful in the United States and a similar model introduced in Glasgow in 2008 has apparently seen youth violence drop by almost 50 per cent. As part of the 12-month pilot, the police and key community representatives in the boroughs ‘callin’ gangs for face-to-face meetings where they will be made aware

of Shield. During these meetings, and throughout the process, those wishing to leave the gang will be offered help to do so. Cllr Lib Peck, Lambeth council leader, said: “Lambeth’s approach to tackling gangs is built on local experience, working with the community and learning from previous work, including Professor Kennedy’s Group Violence Intervention Model. We welcome this additional support from the London Assembly. It will help us to continue our work to break the cycle of violence and build the resilience of communities affected by gangs.” See Comment, p9

MACHINE GUN SEIZED A man has been jailed for five years after a sub-machine gun was found at his home. Lambeth police seized a Scorpion sub-machine gun, a magazine of ammunition and a silencer from the Penge home of Arjuna Pookraj, 28. The initial search took place on Electric Lane, when patrolling officers from the Lambeth Safer Neighbourhood Team passed a car with three men inside smelling strongly of cannabis. Officers searched the men and

ON THE BOX

found cannabis, a number of bank cards - believed stolen - as well as £4000 cash. Two of the men, including Pookraj, were arrested and a number of addresses were searched. Police found the weapon behind the curtains in Pookraj’s bedroom. Appearing at the Inner London Crown Court on January 26, Pookraj was jailed for five years for possession of a prohibited firearm, prohibited ammunition, a firearm without a certificate and possession of cannabis.

HOLOCAUST MEMORIES Lambeth held a Holocaust Memorial Day on January 27 at Lambeth Town Hall. The date marks the 70th anniversary of the liberation of AuschwitzBirkenau. Speakers included Rabbi Janet Darley, of the South London Liberal Synagogue, Mayor of Lambeth Adedamola Aminu and Holocaust survivors Ann and Bob Kirk. ”

LAUNDRY Two public consultations on the plans for Walton Lodge, Coldharbour Lane, were held on January 24 and 31. The former laundry business was bought last summer by Lexadon, owned by property developer Jerry Knight, who wants to turn the site into 13 apartments with a space for “business and commercial opportunities” on the ground floor. Lexadon invited residents to come down to the site so they could view and discuss the proposed plans.

RUSHCROFT The refurbishment of Rushcroft Road’s mansion blocks will cost £1.3million more than originally thought. The cost of renovating Lambeth council-owned Homer House, Granville House and Oval House, which are being turned in 22 flats, have apparently risen due to “unforeseen structural defects”. The mansions were the scene of protests and clashes between residents and the bailiffs and police in July 2013, when around 75 squatters were evicted from the flats.

Above: Arjuna Pookraj

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February 2015

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ARSON AT SHELTER A police investigation is under way after the pavilion behind Brockwell Park’s tennis courts burned down in suspected arson. Brockwell Park Community Partners said: “We are saddened by this revolting attack on a public park facility.” Metropolitan police believe the fire at the newly refurbished shelter was started deliberately. No arrests have been made yet and police are asking for anyone who might have information to come forward.

HOUSING CRISIS PANEL

Hundreds against ad boards

A Tale of Two Cities, a panel event at the Karibu centre in Brixton on London’s housing crisis, kicked off with some campaign advice from three leading voices from the New Era estate in Hackney. Hosted by Unite Community Lambeth, the panel heard residents from the Guinness Trust estate and Cressingham Gardens speak up about their ongoing campaigns to prevent their eviction because of regeneration and panellist Adam Lambert from St Mungo’s also discussed the labour campaign at the charity last year.

BY ANNA MCKIE Hundreds of comments have been lodged against proposals to erect huge LED advertising boards in the centre of Brixton. A planning application has been submitted to Lambeth council for the installation of ten LED advertising boards to the upper floors of 467 Brixton Road (above KFC). The proposal had largely gone unnoticed until Sunday, January 25, when Brixton Buzz reported it, noting that the deadline for comments from neighbours was the end of January 26.

However, Brixton residents managed to get in over 400 objections in just over 24 hours. Many pointed out that the building was locally listed, while one explained that the plan “would completely cover up an attractive building, create light pollution and turn a major part of the centre of Brixton into an unattractive and intrusive advertising billboard.” According to the planning application, the illuminated moving

advertising across the upper floors of the Prince of Wales pub “has the potential to enhance the visibility of both the building and Brixton centre as a whole.” Zeo Holdings, who have put in the proposal, say they are “long-term investors in Brixton town centre and have been for a number of years. This investment has included bringing Premier Inn to Brixton and works to secure this new hotel are now under way adjacent to this property. “This application would also

represent a substantial investment into Brixton that will further enliven what is already a bustling commercial centre. It should be remembered that Piccadilly Circus started somewhere. Under the current environment of various regulations and controls it would probably never happen today, yet it is known across the globe as one of the places to visit within London attracting people and stimulating the economy. This application would have a similar effect on Brixton and would benefit traders, businesses and those who frequent the town centre. But the Brixton Society said: “the idea that a massive, garish illuminated advertising hoarding on the high street will somehow help put the area on the map is laughable. This dignified 1938 building sits well in this substantially Edwardian townscape. To turn this into a version of Piccadilly Circus, which the applicant openly intends, would be a travesty.” Since the deluge of objections Jack Hopkins, Cabinet member for Jobs and Growth, has said Lambeth would now be taking comments via email until February 13. He added that “The council is working hard to support job creation and ensure local people feel the benefits of the big changes the area is experiencing. The planning application will go through the town hall committee when all the factors, including residents’ comments and its location in a conservation area, will be taken into account before a decision is made.”

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From left: Lewis McNeill, Helping Britain Blossom, with community members Kristin Scott, Robin Russell-Pavier and Serge Aoussou

Orchard planting in community A community orchard in Brixton has planted its first trees, thanks to the hard work of a local community group and the support of Helping Britain Blossom. The new orchard at Holmewood Gardens is one of 100 set to be created and restored across the UK by 2017 as part of the Helping Britain Blossom project.

There were seven fruit trees planted on the day: a quince tree, two plums, green gage, a damson, an elderberry, two apples and a pear. Helping Britain Blossom said: “It’s really exciting for the community to have this as the orchards can really help to bring communities together and people can have access to free fruit too.”

Contact Tony Fab, 0207 724 7311/ 07956 221 545 House Of Bottles, 420 Coldharbour Lane, Brixton, SW9 8LF

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February 2015

Proposed Thai restaurant is not smelling of Rosa’s BY ANNA MCKIE

A number of local residents are objecting to the opening of yet another restaurant on Coldharbour Lane. A planning application has been submitted for a change of license at 400 Coldharbour Lane, which was previously the office of cab company Granada Cars. The owners plan to lease the space, at the bottom of Connaught Mansions, to Rosa’s Thai Cafe. The chain, run by husband and wife Alex and Saiphin Moore, has spaces in Soho, Westfield, Spitalfields and Carnaby Street. In July, they said they were “very excited about opening a new site in Brixton” and want to address any issues the community has about the proposal. Owner of the site Julian Pycraft confirmed to the Brixton Bugle he still intends it to be a branch of Rosa’s. On Lambeth’s planning site, a number of residents have objected to the the application for the “change of use from minicab office (Sui Generis) to restaurant (Class A3)” because they fear a restaurant would generate noise and smells. One commenter said: “We use the roof space all the year round where we go for fresh air and to dry our laundry and nurture our roof gardens, we do not want fumes and more noise here.” Others are concerned with the proposal to store food and rubbish in the basement of the

Clockwise, from above: Granada Cars, Rosa’s owner Alex Moore and Rosa’s in Spitalfields. building, saying this is likely to attract vermin. Some residents also feel they were not given enough warning about the proposed changes. Consultation letters were apparently sent out to Coldharbour Lane residents on December 23 and letters to Connaught Mansions were sent out on January 13. However, local resident Talya Tibbon said: “the

planning officer confirmed that they actually didn’t send the letters out initially and only following my conversation with her on January 12 did they go out. The application is claiming to have ‘consulted’ us and to be ‘supported’ by neighbouring businesses, which is not the case.” Lambeth council say they have followed the correct procedure. A council spokesman said:

“Consultation letters were initially sent to local residents on December 23 with a second batch of letters sent out on January 13, following an initial review from the Planning Officer. Residents can comment on the application until February 3. “We encourage as many residents as possible to have their say on planning applications.” To comment on the plans visit Lambeth council’s planning site at lambeth.gov.uk.

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MP visits Parissi Minister of State for Employment Esther McVey arrived in Brixton to take a tour of Parissi – and to get a lesson in icing cakes. Last year owner Spyros Parissis opened the cafe, in Atlantic Road, after taking part in the government’s New Enterprise Allowance. The scheme offers mentoring and financial support people on benefits who want to start up their own business. They get advice from a business mentor who helps develop their idea and to put together a business plan. If the business plan is approved, they are eligible for a weekly allowance, to the total of £1,274,

over six months. The shop sells coffee and cakes, as well as lunch and dinner, prosecco and cocktails. Spyros also works with Bad Boy Bakeries, the bakery from Brixton prison, who provide a “lovely sourdough”. Spyros hopes to soon be able to offer a work scheme for ex-prisoners in his cafe. McVey said: “It is great to see entrepreneurs like Spyros taking up the support. And in return, he is giving back to his local community by supporting Brixton prisoners who want to turn their lives around.”

February 2015

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THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT A month ago, a paid, part-time news editor started at the Brixton Blog & Bugle office. She is Anna McKie (pictured left) she grew up in Brixton, trained as a journalist, and now she is here, writing on these pages, because of you. Readers, friends and family donated a whopping £15,000 late last year to pay for a journalist to report on Brixton for us. Thank you. We set up the Brixton Blog five years ago and it relies largely on volunteer efforts to keep it going, so we are very excited to have someone who can dedicate proper time to covering more Brixton news for you all! Thanks again so much if you donated and, even if you didn’t, for all your support along the way. Annie Hogan Sherion Mullings Jonny Rushton D38deano Rosemarie Mallett Charlotte Pope John Cush Katy Beinart Andy Broomfield Nicholas Balfe ufoddreTom Hoy Tom Harle Jemima Hartshorn Corinne Armstrong littlemisscow2Si Hammond Rod Stanley Maureen Nifiann Maureen. James Oriel

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February 2015

Flats planned for Mango Landin’ site The site of popular Brixton bar Mango Landin’ is to become nine flats and a “retail space”. Mango Landin’ sadly closed in December and Urbancity (No.3) LLP, part of the property developer URB Group, have been granted permission for the redevelopment of 40 St. Matthews Road. The bar will now be replaced with a two to four storey residential block. The approved application is for the “demolition of existing building and redevelopment to provide a part two, part three, part four storey mixed use development comprising (Class A1) retail use at ground floor level and nine (Class C3) residential flats and provision of private and

communal amenity space and landscaping.” Mango Landin’ fans were sad to see it go. On Facebook Róisín Chadwick said “that is a shame Mango Landin’ was a lovely little establishment.” Others questioned whether Brixton needed more expensive housing and, what they thought would inevitably be, another metro supermarket. Dan Ray Billington quipped: “I’d prefer another Sainsbury’s local as the Sainsbury’s local at the top of the road and the big Sainsbury’s at the bottom are too far apart.” One person asked: “Any affordable housing?” And looking at the planning proposal, the answer appears to be “no”.

New coffee owners unite the markets BY MISS SOUTH PICTURE BY MARIANNE WIE

One of Brixton’s best coffee shops has new owners. Federation Coffee in Brixton Village has been bought by the team at Salon in Market Row, bringing the two covered markets together for the first time. The two businesses have been collaborating for some time with Salon providing Federation’s bespoke baked goods, so when Federation founders Nick and George decided it was time to sell up so they could pursue new projects, it made sense for Salon to step in and keep the business in Brixton hands. Nicholas Balfe, owner and chef at Salon, said: “It’s a huge honour to be involved with Federation. We’ve been regulars at the cafe since it opened. Alongside the likes of Franco Manca, Rosie’s, Cornercopia and Etta’s, Federation was

one of the originators who helped kick start the regeneration of Brixton Market. Without them at the forefront, it’s possible none of us would be here today.” Salon began trading at Federation on November 1 2014. The Federation brand will remain intact with the same staff and approach to coffee, both at Brixton Village and at the hatch at the Piano House. However, the new owners have plans to develop further with Salon and Federation pop ups in the evening featuring food and coffeeinspired drinks. They will also be expanding the daytime menu and starting a new ‘brew bar’ to showcase new and less well-known coffees for the caffeine buffs. Balfe added: “We inhabit such a close-knit community of small businesses in Brixton, so it’s incredibly exciting to be part of the success that brings.”

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February 2015

SPITTING FINES After the first successful prosecution of the offence, Lambeth council is determined to stamp out spitting in public. A man was fined £120 recently by the courts for spitting in the street after Lambeth issued him with a penalty notice under anti-littering laws. The council said that the ruling means officers will now be quick to issue fixed penalty notices to those who also commit the offence. Councillor Jennifer Brathwaite, Cabinet member for Environment & Sustainability, said: “Most people find spitting extremely unpleasant – both as an act and the mess it leaves on our streets.”

SPORTING BOOST Applications have opened for young sports players in Lambeth to apply for up to £1,250 in funding. Lambeth Gifted and Talent Programme and the GLL Sport Foundation have teamed up to offer support to local athletes in 2015. Sports players have until February 20 to apply for the financial and training awards. In 2014, 51 young sports players in Lambeth received £30,500 worth of support through the scheme. Those who benefited included Brixton fencer Paul Sanchez-Lethem. The successful applicants will benefit from financial support for travel, competition and equipment costs. More info: www.gllsportfoundation.org.

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£24k Oyster newsagent scam BY ANNA MCKIE A Brixton newsagent who scammed his customers as they topped up their Oyster cards has been ordered to repay £24,000. A few locals told the Brixton Bugle that they avoided the shop because of odd incidents with their Oyster cards and because the owner and his wife were often rude to customers. Girish Patel, 63, from Krishen News, New Park Road, Brixton, scammed his customers out of thousands of pounds over two years by voiding top-ups put onto the cards for customers and keeping the cash for himself. Patel also charged customers more than he credited their card, pocketing the difference himself. One victim of the scam said she once asked Patel’s wife, who works in the shop, to put £10 on her Oyster “but when I got to Streatham Hill train station I was told there was nothing on it. I went back and told her later that day, but she said ‘nothing to do with me. Contact TfL. Get out of my shop.” She said that the pair were extremely rude to their customers. Another regular user of the shop said they believed they had been a victim of the scam, and added that Girish and his wife had “a bad form of customer service.” When asked by Brixton Bugle if he would like to apologise to his customers he said he “didn’t need to” as they “knew him” and declined to comment any further. His wife told us that they were “taking out a loan to pay the money back.” Appearing at Central Criminal Court on January 16, Patel was ordered to pay TfL £23,978 by July 17 or face more time in

New life for Tumbles? A ‘community hero’ who feared he would lose his laundry business has found new premises. Tumbles, on Atlantic Road, provided precious help for many people struggling to cope on their own or with young children. However, the lifeline provided by Tumbles was brought to an end when its original site was developed into flats. Now owner Bravo Dorrell can once again provide wash-day help for locals – though these plans are by no means certain. Tumbles still needs approval from the council and searches

NEWS 7

for funding have yet to get up and running. Nevertheless, Bravo says he is extremely pleased he has managed to find another location on Railton Road as “it is important to me to stay part of the community”. Among the hurdles he faces is the need to get planning permission from the council to use the space as a laundrette and dry cleaners. Dorell is now looking for an investor to help with the cost of installing his machines in the new location. So much of what he does is not for profit but is community-based, he adds.

prison. He was previously jailed for 14 months for fraud in November 2013. Acting Detective Superintendent John Oldham said: “This was a despicable and contemptuous crime in which Patel defrauded his customers for over two years, stealing their money by topping-up their Oyster cards with less than what they had paid for them.” Patel denied owning any assets in the UK or

abroad but a police investigation found that he owned a freehold property and had thousands of pounds in different bank accounts. Steve Burton, from TfL, said that Girish Patel “abused the trust of his customers”, adding that he will never have his contract to sell Oyster credit reinstated by TfL. You can see more comments at www. brixtonblog.com

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The blurb in the planning application is all about enhancing Brixton, ha ha. It’s just a money spinner: That building could be really nicely/creatively lit and genuinely enhance the ambience of the corner – but not by covering it up with relentless advertising, thanks. Nicholas Weedon, online

Harry is a yoga teacher at Yoga Point on Dalberg Road. He shares his five favourite things about Brixton - with a little bit of Herne Hill thrown in too

This was once an elegant Edwardian neighbourhood, which fell on hard times, then survived troubled times, and is now being shamelessly exploited by every money-grabber who can get their slimy hands on the place. Whoever has proposed this monstrous vulgarity is no better (in fact probably worse) than the drug dealers who periodically inhabit that corner, and this proposal stinks more than any skunk. Philip King, via facebook

Before I go to teach at Yoga Point in the mornings I love to pop in to Sesami (just by Herne Hill station) for a jasmine tea and chat to the lovely people who work there. It feels like I’m popping into a friends house for a quick tea! Then I take my tea to enjoy a walk through the park and watch the joggers with their wide variety of dogs.

2/ FARMERS’ MARKET

ROSA’S RESTAURANT Living in the heart of Brixton you do expect to put up with “a bit of noise”, but a big restaurant with cooking smells all day, rats in the basement from trash and waste stored for a week, and potential kitchen fires. Not so much. Also: There’s a long gap between a boarded-up shop and a big high street chain restaurant (regardless of what the developer is “selling” it as). It’s a gap that can be filled with so many options of viable small businesses which Lambeth council and residents should encourage and support. Brixton still manages to keep its unique character despite its current trendy status. The addition of a place like Rosa’s and its likes will turn it into another generic characterless neighborhood. Does anyone really want that? ‘TT’ Online

SPITTING VENOM Martina Van: spitting is disgusting, and it really does spread disease = on average babies in Lambeth get innoculated months and months earlier (when they are really tiny!) to try to reduce the risks of disease transmitted in this way. Im not pro gentrification - but for heavens sake, spitting is just unnecessary and disgusting, surely?? Via Facebook No to gentrification but jeez seeing a glob of mucus springing from someone’s mouth and landing next to me does not leave warm fuzzy feeling inside- it gross- and not necessary - like peeing in public- both bodily functions can be held till you’re in private and I don’t have to witness them, we are adults after all not children without control over our own bodies... Chez Brewster, via Facebook.

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1/ SESAMI

info@brixtonblog.com

I love the farmers’ market on Sunday mornings. The stuff they have there is amazing! Unfortunately it tends to be food which leans on the high calorific side. So I just go to look at the amazing cakes and again watch the awesome dogs who are also very interested in the market!

3/ THE PIANO

I love the piano under the bridge at Herne Hill. I love seeing all the different people playing it. Sometimes you get a homeless person playing an epic Jazz piece, or a toddler playing a not so epic Jazz piece. I think these pianos should be left in more places in the city.

4/ RITZY

It’s a pretty obvious one, but this cinema is awesome! I am lucky enough not to work a 9-5 job so I can treat myself to a movie in the incredible building sometimes almost on my own! It’s so nice inside with the huge ceiling in Screen 1. Love it! It feels like you’re in some old school movie, watching a movie, like Cinema Paradiso or something.

5/ YOGA POINT

I love Yoga Point, I love teaching there and I love the people who come to do Yoga there. I particularly enjoy the brief chats we have afterwards when I get to experience the amazing, eclectic range of characters and hear brief snippets about their lives. It’s awesome to teach in a place where gardeners, psychotherapists, musicians, actors, film makers, dancers and mothers all come to do their morning yoga. I have to say they are all incredibly dedicated and in amazing shape! The atmosphere there is amazing.

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BY NUMBERS

9 2 £15,000 £24,000 1911 5 FLATS TO BE BUILT ON THE OLD MANGO LANDIN’ SITE

TINS OF CHICKPEAS NEEDED IN MISS SOUTH’S DELICIOUS AND WARMING RECIPE

RAISED IN OUR SUCCESSFUL CROWDFUNDER

STOLEN FROM OYSTER CARDS BY LOCAL NEWSAGENT

YEARS SINCE THE FIRST BRIXTON BLOG POST WAS WRITTEN

THE YEAR THE RITZY BEGAN LIFE AS THE ELECTRIC PAVILION

February 2015

BRIXTONBugle

COMMENT “As long as it doesn’t mean an invasion of east London trendies” was how editor Zoe described the launch of Brixton Village exactly five years ago, when she wrote her first Brixton Blog post. Oops… Back then, the Brixton Blog was a tiny wordpress site run by Zoe from her bedroom, late at night or early in the morning before work. Now, it has section editors, a sub-editor, a deputy editor and a brilliant co-editor, Tim, as well as thousands of hits every week and over 20,000 Twitter followers. It’s still run largely by volunteers, but thanks to all of you, we can now afford to pay a news editor part-time, after raising £15,000 through our crowdfunder last year. We believe local news is vital to bring people together, support independent businesses, and keep councils to account in a time of gentrification in London. Brixton is especially lucky to have two of those news outlets – Brixton Blog and Brixton Buzz. In those five years, Brixton has changed almost beyond recognition. New restaurants and shops have appeared in the market at a dizzying pace, with that trend now spreading to areas outside the market too. For some, it has meant feeling excluded from the Brixton they felt was theirs, while for others it has meant finding a unique chance to set up their own restaurant or café or become part of a community they didn’t know before. The saddest change for us has been the extraordinary rise in rents and house prices in Brixton, which has pushed many locals out of the place they love and identify with. In recent weeks alone, we can’t tell you how many times we have spoken with people devastated by having no choice but to move out of the place they call ‘home’. Campaigning for policies that create truly affordable housing is going to be one of our biggest aims this year – and it’s something we should all join up on, because it affects us all. This issue of the Brixton Bugle is symptomatic of the tussles over Brixton’s future happening right now, from those opposing the opening of a Rosa’s Thai restaurant to the fight of Cressingham Gardens residents. Fingers crossed we will all still be here in another five years time…

EDITORIAL 9

www.brixtonblog.com

Brixton illustrated BRIXTON HILL TRAM DEPOT BY KAYLENE ALDER

This month’s suggestion for Brixton Illustrated comes from @Gert who suggested the Brixton Hill Tram Depot. Trams are lovely things aren’t they? Now used for bus storage, the depot saw its last tram around 1951 but there are a couple in the illustration for old time’s sake. @Gert will receive a free print of this charming building. Tweet your suggestions for beautiful Brixton buildings to @kpictures for next month’s Bugle.

COMMENT:

gang members who agree to change their lives and move to an employment based lifestyle. Yes, the threat of action against all gang members was part of the process, but it was not the main tenant. Now I am certain that this welcome initiative, announced by the Mayor, will also deliver this joined-up approach with similar positive BY MICHAEL GROCE, POET No, the reason I was disappointed was how opportunities so why not market it like this? the programme was being marketed ‘as a tough Was Boris afraid that a ‘hug a hoodie’ style Nothing grabs a wavering voter more than new initiative’; even the name Project Shield programme would be too near David Cameron, magnifying their fears then proposing a conjures up images of Sir Boris riding to the the man he is muted to replace? Why wax lyrical solution. Crime still remains a big issue with rescue of us poor Londoners. on the punitive measures but hardly mention public at large even though it is I am well aware of the project the positive support available – support that claimed to be at its lowest level in Scotland that it is based made the Glasgow initiative so successful. Even the name Project upon (even if the for 30 years. So it is with a heavy I want to be part of this heart that I read the latest missive claim that it helped programme – I want to be part of Shield conjures up I do not want to something that looks to provide from City Hall promising to crack reduce youth crime down on gang crime. in Glasgow by a positive future for individuals images of Sir Boris Not that I am against a nearly 50 per cent be part of political and their community. I want to programme aimed in this area is an inventive use work with other organisations in a riding to the rescue of of statistics) but that spin stories or indeed the programme itself. true partnership that looks at preI have worked in my community project preached a emptive support for people whose us poor Londoners. for 30 years, most latterly with the positive message of lives are at risk of spiralling out of Green Man Skills Zone in Brixton, hope. It talked of establishing control. I want to share my knowledge and looking to find alternative lifestyles a partnership among police, experience with practitioners and service users to individuals whose existence is blighted by social services, education, housing and alike - but I do not want to be part of political crime and gang membership. So I was delighted community safety services along with the spin stories aimed at making the messenger to hear of a collaborative approach and that local community; to make a range of services look tough on crime; especially when the extra funding was being proposed in this area. and programmes available to violent street message of hope is so much more positive.

WHY GANG INITIATIVE LEAVES ME DISAPPOINTED

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10 FEATURE

www.brixtonblog.com

February 2015

From Electric Pavilion to Little Bit Ritzy:

The story of a legendary landmark BY MAX MACBRIDE Many things are synonymous with Brixton: the kaleidoscopic market, the Academy, queuing for the Tube, the street preachers and buskers, roof dogs, Francoâ€™sâ€Ś And it would be remiss not to add the Ritzy DJOFNB " CPOB mEF MPDBM JOTUJUVUJPO JU T been entertaining and inspiring Brixtonians for over a century, through good times and bad, riots and regeneration. Of late though, itâ€™s been making headlines for the wrong reasons, as the recent pay dispute with the cinema workers threatened to undermine considerable reserves of goodwill from the local community. We take a look back at the Ritzyâ€™s history and speak to a couple of the key players in its development from the late â€˜70s onwards, in a bid to understand the DNA of the place and its role in the community.

The Ritzy began life as the Electric Pavilion in 1911, a welcome addition to Brixtonâ€™s booming arts and nightlife scene of the time. The Pavilion was one of Englandâ€™s earliest purpose-built cinemas, and like many silent cinemas at that time featured an organ by the side of the screen. However, complete with a leaky roof, it was seen as the scruffy relation to the nearby Palladium, and was known as the â€˜flea pitâ€™. Not to be daunted by such mockery, the Electric Pavilion soldiered on for the next 43 years, moving to sound in 1929 and surviving competition, the Blitz, and economic hard times along the way. In 1954, a man named George Coles renovated the cinema and renamed it the Pullman. The organ didnâ€™t survive this change but the Edwardian interiors remained intact. It was later renamed â€˜the Classicâ€™, and after an

inglorious period, including a stint as a porn cinema, finally closed its doors permanently in 1976, by that point forlorn and abandoned. Enter Pat Foster, a young man with a passion for cinema who would go on to reinvent and lay the foundations of the modern-day Ritzy. Pat is still a Brixton resident but no longer involved with the cinema. He recalls chancing on an article in the South London Press suggesting that Lambeth council, which had bought the land in the early â€˜70s, was now looking for ideas of what to do with the space. Although it later transpired that the story was completely made up, it provided the spark for the enterprising Pat to pitch his vision of the space as a quality independent and arthouse cinema to the council. Other competitors included the Black Theatre Group and a carpet warehouse. Although supportive, the council couldnâ€™t provide any funding. Pat, in desperation, placed an ad in

Time Out in 1977 appealing for partners to help provide the outstanding ÂŁ5,000 and join his co-operative. Happily, the response was overwhelmingly positive, so Pat was able to set about his mission - â€œwith the enthusiasm of the completely ignorantâ€? - to bring great film back to Brixton. Pat and his team faced a monumental task to put the cinema back in working order though. Having been derelict for two years, the innards had all been sold off; gone were the projectors, seats and power systems. Nevertheless, Pat says some of his fondest memories of running the Ritzy are from those early days, overcoming the myriad obstacles on their relative shoestring budget. On one occasion, having already acquired some seats for 50p a pop, they heard that a cinema in Hammersmith Broadway was being sold. Seizing the chance to lay their hands on a much needed bit of electrical equipment (which would have been thrown away), they launched a late-night raid. On arrival it turned out that the display board (the bit where the films, marriage proposals and political slogans are mounted) was still intact too, so they worked through the night to dismantle it - â€œan absolute nightmareâ€?. A DIY stage was sourced, courtesy of spare floorboards, and joists in a house being dismantled in the nearby squatted Villa Road off Brixton Road. A stern council safety officer would later declare this stage unfit for use, prompting further frantic efforts to get it into shape. The cinema eventually opened its doors in 1978 under the name â€˜Little Bit Ritzyâ€™. In the early days, the cinema was very much focused on showing independent and art house film. Pat describes the atmosphere as unashamedly â€œartsyâ€? - a cinema for film purists, even though he admits their efforts to keep the auditorium as a â€œsacred placeâ€? free of chatter had mixed results. Standard-issue popcorn was eschewed in favour of carrot cake, and although they did eventually relent on that front, Pat is proud that no hot dog ever darkened his doors. Late nights were a different story though; they took a relaxed attitude towards punters seeking a â€œa smoke and a flop-outâ€? at the regular afterhoursâ€™ double-bills. The building was beautiful but run-down. Although listed, the elaborate Victorian facade had been largely stripped out, and the area where the box office is today was not owned by the cinema at that time. â€œPeople used to come into

February 2015 the drab foyer,” says Pat, “then when they came into the auditorium, there was often a visible intake of breath. It’s still my favourite auditorium - it’s just beautiful.” Prohibitive fees and the single screen (distributors would often demand a minimum screen time commitment per week) made access to high-profile Hollywood films difficult early on, although Pat says it was always the aim to begin to work these into the programme. Indeed, a three-week showing of Superwoman in 1984 would eventually pave the way for more mainstream programming and greater financial stability. Nevertheless, in the early 1980s, Little Bit Ritzy established itself as home to some of the most exciting independent cinema around. They put on films encompassing the history of cinema, and from all over the world. “It was a great period,” recalls Pat. Little Bit Ritzy became a cultural hub, a mirror to the left-wing politics and radicalism of Brixton at the time. The programme reflected this, with passionate discussions often following films on feminism, LGBT rights, Latin American politics, environmental issues and much more. In fact, the reputation of Ritzy (as it would soon become known) became so intertwined with its politics that the general manager Clare Binns - who remains a Ritzy employee - felt compelled to place an ad in the local paper reminding people that not all the films were “left-wing or gay”. It also seems that strikes at the Ritzy are nothing new. Such was the LGBT element within the Ritzy that at one point in 1981, Pat discovered that a small clique of their staff had begun to censor parts of films which they saw as homophobic. Dismayed that such action had been taken without consultation, he fired the two main culprits. Within a week there was a picket outside supported by the Socialist Workers’ Party. The cinema opened its doors on the first

www.brixtonblog.com night of the picket, but very few people came. With a PR disaster looming, the management decided to stay shut the next day and plan their next move. That was Friday April 10. On Saturday, the first Brixton riots broke out. The strike was swept away by the rioting, never to be resumed. The Ritzy emerged unscathed, and played a key community role by putting on a massive benefit gig, featuring a fledgling UB40, for all those arrested by the police. “The riot actually saved the Ritzy’s reputation,” says Pat. On the recent pay disputes, Pat understands why the management were reluctant to increase wages, but believes they made a “huge mistake” regardless. “They are living in a completely different world to the one we operated in. The industry has changed enormously. Still, they never should have got to a point where they were paying below the Living Wage.” Asked whether they ever thought about the role of the cinema in the local community while he was running it, and whether they felt the need to tailor their output and activities accordingly, Pat says: “We thought about it a great deal but our principle motivation was to show films of quality. We ran arthouse film, sometimes to our great detriment; not much of an audience for a subtitled black-and-white Czechoslovak film!” Pat admits that he found it harder to integrate a programme that would appeal to the local black community, as they excluded Kung-Fu which was considered a big draw for the West Indian crowd. They put on the Black and Third World film festival, and when there was a film with a strong black lead, they tried to show it. By the early ‘90s, although the cinema was still doing well, Pat had tired and was in need of some money. The other partners in the business - his brother and Clare Binns - were also open to a change. Clare in particular was ambitious to take the Ritzy to the next level, so when the

opportunity presented itself in the form of a Michael Heseltine-led scheme to provide funding to local councils for regeneration, they made their move and began pitching to the independent cinema circuit for potential investors. Peter Buckingham, a former Brixton resident and the manager of arthouse distribution company Oasis, immediately saw the potential. Buckingham convinced the owner of Oasis, Chris Blackwell (the British-Jamaican businessman and founder of one of the great independent music labels - Island Records) to put up the necessary funding and the so the modern Ritzy was born. Peter Buckingham believed arthouse cinema needed to be upgraded - more screens, better services and more facilities. He also had great respect for what Pat and his team had done and saw it as his mission to preserve a cinema which was politically conscious and connected to the community. When I meet Peter at the Ritzy for our interview, he is visibly moved at returning to a place which for a long time was his life, and takes a moment to take in the new surroundings. Under Peter’s watch, the Ritzy formally became ‘The Ritzy’, and in 1994 began a full modernisation. Oasis added four new screens, the current restored facade and signage mimicking the original style of the Electric Pavilion, a bar and a café. Peter explains that this was a brave project to fund at the time. Britain was coming out of the Conservative era and Brixton’s image was still stained by riots and deprivation. Peter credits Heather Rabbatts (CBE), the chief at an embattled Lambeth council at the time, with providing vital support to get the regeneration funded. “She is an amazing woman. Without her I’m not sure we could have pieced it together.” Funding secured, there were still trials and tribulations to contend with. Peter remembers confronting skinhead looters during the rebuild who had decided to turn squatting laws to their

FEATURE 11

advantage in ransacking the site. A last-minute high court injunction was handed to the police, who finally intervened. With impeccable timing, just two weeks after officially throwing open its doors, the 1995 riots kicked off. With the world’s press camped on Windrush Square, Peter wondered what he’d done to anger the cinema gods. That minor hiccup aside though, the cinema was a “pretty immediate hit.” On the role of the Ritzy in the local community, Peter says he’s never encountered a cinema which is as challenging in meeting the hopes and expectations of locals. “We had to deal with complaints that we were too white, too arthouse. We were very conscious about rooting the programming in the local area and reaching out to local businesses and stakeholders though. If you don’t do that it’s just another cinema, another chain,” says Peter. He’s reluctant to say whether he thinks it’s actually possible to have a cinema run by a major PLC like Cineworld which upholds those values. Peter says that it was always his belief that the cinema really belonged to the community, rather than the owners. “I had the feeling that if you played it really wrong, then bad things could happen. You’d get targeted in a riot, or staff would rebel.” He thinks the current management may have taken their eye off the ball on that count. “Maybe it’s the physical location. People have emotional connections to public buildings.” Skip to 2015, and the Ritzy has continued to evolve - an ever-more polished cinema for new Brixton. Nevertheless, there are still few better places to catch a film. It remains a much-loved institution, as much a community hub as it ever was, serving up a wonderful blend of mainstream, art house and live events. Here’s hoping it stays true to its roots for a long time to come. (Thanks to Brixton Society and Gavin Freeborn facebook.com/freeborn.co.uk for images)

The changing faces of the Ritzy, clockwise from top left: The original Electric Pavilion. The Ritzy is all its restored glory today. The tired-looking1980s facade. Arial view before the new extension was built. The Rity Cinema Club in its heyday. Pat Foster, founder of Little Bit Ritzy in the late 1970s.

2015 brings exciting times ahead for Future Brixton! A New Year brings new beginnings and lots of interesting events and happenings for 2015. It should be the year work starts on Your New Town Hall, PopBrixton opens and Somerleyton Road is granted planning permission.

PopBrixton

PopBrixton has taken up residence at the former temporary ice rink site to at least October 2017. Formerly known as Grow:Brixton, the scheme provides a destination for creative local people. The entire site will be built from low-cost, low-energy, shipping containers, and is designed by award-winning architects, Carl Turner Architects. Just before Christmas, 18 shipping containers arrived and on 12 January a group of apprentices from Lambeth College’s general maintenance course began work on the scheme. The apprentices are working on the site for 4-6 months to get Brixton’s exciting new destination up and running. No day is going to be the same for them as Carl and his team will be making sure they build up a broad range of skills. They’ll all be paid the London Living Wage of £9.15 per hour. Carl says, ‘We are delighted to be working with Lambeth College and the first cohort of construction apprentices to PopBrixton. We believe in the power of education to transform lives, and there’s little more satisfying than being able to see what you’ve achieved at the end of a hard day’s work. That’s what I love about making things. It’s going to be fun.’

Once tenants have begun to take up home in the shipping containers they will be encouraged to take on any of the trainees that could fit their business and there an ambition to create longer term employment for the people who show real potential. Councillor Jack Hopkins said, “We are very proud to have local people building, creating and being part of this very exciting project for Brixton Central in a meanwhile space. We hope to replicate this across all Future Brixton projects” PopBrixton, will make its home on Pope’s Road until at least October 2017 so, to get involved or find out more information go to www.popbrixton.org or Tweet @PopBrixton.

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Short term car park A new short-term car park has opened on Pope’s Road which will be open until October 2017. The full address is 49 Brixton Station Road, London SW9 8PQ and is located on the site of the former ice rink. The car park will be open between 8.30am and 5.30pm, Monday to Saturday. It is for use by customers using our PayByPhone service, disabled badge holders and Brixton Market Traders federation permit holders only. For details on how to register with Paybyphone visit www.paybyphone.com

Brixton Central master plan – update Throughout November and December hundreds of people joined in the conversation about what kind of development should come forward in Brixton Central. More than 300 people completed a questionnaire, 130 came to one of our Open Days and 23 came to a dedicated workshop at the Impact Hub in the town hall. Lambeth Council, Network Rail and architects, Fluid, were on hand at the events to discuss

the latest proposals, which were themselves the result of working with local residents and businesses over a year.

Local architect chosen as part of Somerlyeton Road

People were generally supportive of the proposals. Improved market facitilities had the most support and the largest number of people strongly agreeing with it. A refurbished train station, cycle hire scheme, pedestrianising part of Pope’s Road and opening up of the railway arches all received strong support. You can read more feedback at futurebrixton.org/brixtoncentral.

Your New Town Hall We’ve had valuable feedback on the latest proposals from our residents’ meetings, Open Days and questionnaires and were pleased that we could extend the consultation period to Friday 16 January. All your feedback on the scheme is being considered before the planning application is submitted this Spring. In the meantime, we’re delighted that 279 of the people who responded to our questionnaire told us what elements of the

project they were particularly interested in, from a selection provided. You can see the results below. Over the next few months we’ll want to work with you to develop the thinking about the community space we provide - for example who can book it, how it’s booked, how much it costs and the facilities included. The other elements people suggested included space for concerts, events and exhibitions; and things for young people to do. Sign up to the FB email list at futurebrixton.co.uk to stay involved.

Brixton based architect, Zac Monroe, has been chosen as one of the multiple architects for the design of Somerleyton Road and will head up the design of the Carlton Mansions plot. The other teams chosen are Foster Wilson who will be responsible for Ovalhouse theatre, Mae, Howarth Thomkins (who won the Sterling Prize in 2014) and lead designer on the Somerleyton Road outline Masterplan, Metropolitan Workshop. Igloo and Metwork came together on this project largely because of their shared passion for a particular approach to creating places through the hands of multiple architects. Somerleyton Road lends itself well to this approach and that co-ordinated variety in the architecture and public realm will deliver a very special townscape and strong sense of place. Practices have been selected based upon relevant experience, capability and genuine ability to work collegiately with others. A ‘meet and greet’ session will be held in the coming weeks where the public can ask questions around the project. Go to FutureBrixton.com for more information.

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©ºÁÁ ÊÈ ¶·ÄÊÉ ÎÄÊÇ ·ÊÈ¾ÃºÈÈ I am the Managing Director of Afro salon group Hype Coiffure. We have ÉÌÄ È¶ÁÄÃÈ ¾Ã Ç¾ÍÉÄÃ ¶Ã¹ ¶ÉÉºÇÈº¶ ¶Ã¹ É½¾ÃÀ Ì½¶É Çº¶ÁÁÎ ÈºÉÈ ÊÈ ¶Å¶ÇÉ ¾È ÄÊÇ Éº¶Â Ì½Ä ½¶Ëº ÌÄÃ ÄËºÇ ½¶¾Ç¹ÇºÈÈ¾Ã¼ ¶Ì¶Ç¹È »ÄÇ É½º¾Ç ÈÀ¾ÁÁ ¶Ã¹ ÈºÇË¾¸º Ìº ¶Çº ÅÇÄÊ¹ ÉÄ ·º ½ÄÂº ÉÄ the current Black Beauty/SensationÃºÁ Ì¶Ç¹È ¨ÄÊÉ½ºÇÃ ¨ÉÎÁ¾ÈÉ Ä» É½º Year and Colourist of the Year. We ½¶Ëº ·ººÃ ÅÇÄË¾¹¾Ã¼ ĲÇÈÉ ¸Á¶ÈÈ ½¶¾Ç ÈºÇË¾¸ºÈ »ÇÄÂ ÇºÁ¶ÍºÇÈ ÉÄ Ìº¶ËºÈ ¸ÊÉÈ and colours, to the people of London and beyond since 1995 and this year ÌºĩÁÁ ·º ¸ºÁº·Ç¶É¾Ã¼ ÄÊÇ É½ ¶ÃÃ¾ËºÇÈ¶ÇÎ Ì½¾¸½ ¾È ¶Ã ºÍ¸¾É¾Ã¼ Â¾ÁºÈÉÄÃº »ÄÇ ºËºÇÎÄÃº ¶É ÎÅºv

skills and she deserves it. ¬½¶É Â¶ÀºÈ Ç¾ÍÉÄÃ ÈÊ¸½ ¶ ÊÃ¾ÆÊº ÅÁ¶¸º Brixton is vibrant, colourful, interesting ¶Ã¹ ¸ÄÄÁv ©½ºÇºĩÈ ÃÄÌ½ºÇº ºÁÈº Á¾Àº ¾É ¶Ã¹ ¾ÉĩÈ ¶ÁÌ¶ÎÈ ÈÄ Á¾ËºÁÎ ÁÄËº É½º ¹¾ËºÇÈ¾ÉÎ ÉÄÄv

¬½¶É ÌºÇº ÎÄÊÇ ¾Ã¾É¾¶Á ¾ÂÅÇºÈÈ¾ÄÃÈ ¶·ÄÊÉ ½¶Ë¾Ã¼ ¶ Ç¾ÍÉÄÃ ¾¹ The Brixton BID has been developed to create and fund area-based projects in ÄÇ¹ºÇ ÉÄ ·ºÃºĲÉ É½º Ì½ÄÁº ¸ÄÂÂÊÃ¾ty. I think it’s a fantastic, unique idea that helps businesses improve their turnover and put money back into pockets through innovative projects and schemes. It also encourages lo ®ÄÊ ½¶Ëº ÌÄÃ Â¶ÃÎ ÅÇºÈÉ¾¼¾ÄÊÈ ¸¶Á ·ÊÈ¾ÃºÈÈºÈ ÉÄ ÌÄÇÀ ¸ÄÁÁº¸É¾ËºÁÎ ÉÄ ¶Ì¶Ç¹È ¬½¶É Ì¶È É½º ÂÄÈÉ ¸½¶ÁÁºÃ¼ ¾ÂÅÇÄËº É½º ¹¾ÈÉÇ¾¸É Ì½¾¸½ ¾È ¼Çº¶É ¾Ã¼ Ì¾Ã ¶Ã¹ Ì½Î É½¾ÃÀ É½º ÂÄÈÉ ¸½¶ÁÁºÃ¼¾Ã¼ ¶Ì¶Ç¹ Ì¾Ã ¬½¶É ¾È ÎÄÊÇ »ÊÉÊÇº Ë¾È¾ÄÃ »ÄÇ É½º has to go our talented team member ¶Çº¶ ¨¸½ÄÁ¶ §ÄÈº ¨½º ÌÄÃ ¬º¶Ëº ¨ÉÎÁ¾ÈÉ Ä» They say Brixton is parallel to areas the Year in 2002 and 2006 at major such as Harlem and I couldn’t agree hairdressing event the Black Beauty/ ÂÄÇºv ÉĩÈ ÈÄ Ë¾·Ç¶ÃÉ ¶Ã¹ ºÍ¸¾É¾Ã¼ ¶Ã¹ ¨ºÃÈ¶É¾ÄÃÃºÁ ¶¾Ç Ì¶Ç¹È ·ÊÉ ÉÄ ¼ºÉ ¹ºĲÃ¾ÉºÁÎ É½¾ÃÀ É½ºÇº Ì¾ÁÁ ·º ¶Ã ¾ÃĳÊÍ ‘Hall of Fame’ status, you have to get of people moving to the area in the ¶ ÉÇ¾ÅÁº Ì¾Ã Ì½¾¸½ È½º Ì¶È ¹ºÉºÇÂ¾Ãº¹ near future. It’s the perfect breeding ÉÄ ¹Ä ¡¶ÈÉ Îº¶Ç È½º »ÊÁĲÁÁº¹ É½¶É ¶Â·¾- ground for creativity and I believe it É¾ÄÃ ¶Ã¹ ¾É Ì¶È ¶ »¶ÃÉ¶ÈÉ¾¸ ¶¸½¾ºËºÂºÃÉ Ì¾ÁÁ ¸ÄÃÉ¾ÃÊº ÉÄ ¼ÇÄÌ »ÇÄÂ ÈÉÇºÃ¼É½ »ÄÇ ½ºÇ ¶Ã¹ ÄÊÇ Éº¶Â È½º ÃÄÌ ½¶È ÉÄ ÈÉÇºÃ¼É½ ÄËºÇ É½º ÃºÍÉ »ºÌ Îº¶ÇÈ life-long recognition for her Weave Brixton Branch ©ÊÁÈº ¾ÁÁ ¡ÄÃ¹ÄÃ ¨¬ © ¾Ã»Ä ½ÎÅº¸Ä¾»»ÊÇº ¸ÄÂ ÌÌÌ ½ÎÅº¾Â¶¼ºÁÉ¹ ¸Ä ÊÀ

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How to start a food business The Brixton BID recently hosted its ĲÇÈÉ § Ç¶Ã¹ ÂÅÁ¾ĲºÇ ¢¶ÈÉºÇ¸Á¶ÈÈ designed to help Brixton businesses boost the image of their brands to attract more customer using social Âº¹¾¶ ÉĩÈ Ì¶È ¶ ¼Çº¶É ÄÅÅÄÇÉÊÃ¾ÉÎ »ÄÇ the businesses that attended giving them a chance to thrive and stand out ¶ÂÄÃ¼ÈÉ É½º ¸ÄÂÅºÉ¾É¾ÄÃ ¶È ÌºÁÁ ¶È ÃºÉÌÄÇÀ ¶Ã¹ ºÈÉ¶·Á¾È½ Á¾ÃÀÈ Ì¾É½ ÄÉ½ºÇ local businesses.

¾È ¹ºÁ¾¼½Éº¹ ÉÄ Å¶ÇÉÃºÇ Ì¾É½ É½º Ç¾ÍÉÄÃ BID to support the success and integration of Brixton businesses. Our ¶¾Â ¾È ÉÄ ¾¹ºÃÉ¾»Î É¶Ã¼¾·Áº Ì¶ÎÈ É½¶É participants can start collaborating ¾ÂÂº¹¾¶ÉºÁÎ ¶Ã¹ ÅÊÉÉ¾Ã¼ ÃºÌ »ÄÊÃ¹ }ÄÇ ÃºÌÁÎ Çº»ÇºÈ½º¹~ ÈÀ¾ÁÁÈ ÉÄ ÌÄÇÀ É½¶É Ì¾ÁÁ ÅÇÄ¹Ê¸º ÁÄÃ¼ ÉºÇÂ ¼ÇÄÌÉ½ ¤ÊÇ §ºÉ¶¾Á »Ä¸ÊÈº¹ ¢¶ÈÉºÇ¸Á¶ÈÈ Ì¶È ¶ ÅºÇ»º¸É ºÍ¶ÂÅÁº Ä» ½ÄÌ ÁÄ¸¶Á businesses can thrive on collaboration, Ì½¾Áº ºÃ½¶Ã¸¾Ã¼ É½º¾Ç ÈÀ¾ÁÁÈ ¾Ã ¶ »ÊÃ The masterclass consisted of a morning high-energy setting. Brixton is a great and afternoon session that covered ÅÁ¶¸º ÉÄ ¹Ä ·ÊÈ¾ÃºÈÈ ¶Ã¹ Ìº ½ÄÅº ÉÄ topics such as preparing you elevator ºÍÉºÃ¹ Ç¶Ã¹ ÂÅÁ¾ĲºÇ ¢¶ÈÉºÇ¸Á¶ÈÈºÈ pitch, establishing / re-establishing to more sectors, and to help make ¨¢ §© ÇºÉ¶¾Á ¼Ä¶ÁÈ ¶Ã¹ ½ÄÌ ÉÄ ¸Çº¶Éº the Brixton BID a leader in business a buzz on social media. regeneration programmes.” º¶ÃÃºÉÉº ¬½¾É¾Ã¼ Ç¶Ã¹ ÂÅÁ¾ĲºÇ trainer and Partnerships + ºËºÁÄÅÂºÃÉ ¢¶Ã¶¼ºÇ Ì½Ä ÅÇºÈºÃÉº¹ É½º Â¶ÈÉºÇ¸Á¶ÈÈ È¶¾¹ Ħ Ç¶Ã¹ ÂÅÁ¾ĲºÇ

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©½º Ç¾ÍÉÄÃ Ì¶È ËÄÉº¹ ¾Ã ·Î ÁÄ¸¶Á ·ÊÈ¾ÃºÈÈºÈ »ÄÇ ÁÄ¸¶Á ·ÊÈ¾ÃºÈÈºÈ ¶Ã¹ its funded by your BID levy bills. ©Ä Çº¼¾ÈÉºÇ ÎÄÊ ¾ÃÉºÇºÈÉ ¾Ã ¶ÉÉºÃ¹¾Ã¼ ÂººÉ¾Ã¼È ÄÇ ÉÄ ĲÃ¹ ÄÊÉ ½ÄÌ ÎÄÊ ¸¶Ã get involved contact us: info@thebrixtonbid.co.uk

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16 ARTS & CULTURE

www.brixtonblog.com

February 2015

ben romans-hopcroft, CHILDHOOD

Coming home to Brixton Arts Co-Editor Barney Evison interviews Ben Romans-Hopcroft, frontman of local indie band Childhood, whose criticallyBDDMBJNFE mSTU BMCVN -BDVOB MPPLT BU UIF changing face of Brixton. I spoke to Ben for the first time on the phone, as he sat on a bus on his way home to Tulse Hill. He was taking a break from writing new Childhood songs, which had been driving him crazy - “in a good way”, apparently. He’d just returned from a trip to Spain, not on tour this time, just a holiday. “I’ve done a lot of travelling recently but not on my own terms. It was nice to get on a flight and know I could just chill out at the other end!” Since the release of their debut album Lacuna in August last year, Childhood have been working hard. Lacuna was reviewed favourably by critics and was given eight out of 10 by NME. The Guardian said “these Brixton boys are anything but a typical indie band.” Lacuna has a soothing surf-rock vibe, with psychedelic overtones that call to mind Temples or a softer Tame Impala. It’s lyrically interesting, moving from introspective angst to biting social commentary. Following the success of their debut album, the band has played several festivals in the UK and Europe, gigged in Japan and supported Johnny Marr on tour. Just before Ben’s holiday in Spain, the band was supporting indie juggernauts Bombay Bicycle Club on a European tour. “It’s been humbling,” says Ben, when I ask him what all this success feels like, “and it’s nice - it’s vindicating.” It’s hard to imagine the feeling, going from relative anonymity to a rock and roll lifestyle on the road with famous bands. As Ben talks about “ping-ponging between European countries” and spending entire days enclosed

in hotel rooms conducting press interviews, it makes the whole experience sound pretty surreal. Touring with Johnny Marr obviously had a big impact too: “it was mind-blowing. I’ve been a massive Smiths fan since I was 15.” Childhood finished supporting Johnny Marr with a last gig at Brixton Academy - where The Smiths played their final gig back in 1986. “If you’ve grown up in the area the Academy is where you want to play,” says Ben, who worked there part-time before going to university. Ben grew up in Brixton and formed Childhood in 2010 with Leo Dobson, another South Londoner he met while they were both studying at Nottingham University. They began to make music together and pined for home, feeling isolated and disillusioned by university life. Their initial collaborations romanticised London, says Ben, looking back on it with nostalgia. The pair still write most of Childhood’s songs, and the music continues to reflect their origins. Some tracks on Lacuna consider the changing face of Brixton, such as ‘Pay For Cool’ or Ben’s favourite ‘Right Beneath Me’, and really Lacuna is about a homecoming. “When we came back from university,” says Ben, “the change was shocking.” I mention the g-word and Ben gets a little cautious, perhaps more so than in previous interviews. “These songs touch on the topic of gentrification, but I want to stress that it’s my personal take. I’m not attacking one group of people. It’s about how things can look the same, when the feeling you get from this familiar environment is completely different.” Another from Lacuna, ‘Sweeter Preacher’, is an ode to a recognisable local figure - it could be many people, but I suspect the song’s really inspired by ex-boxer turned street preacher

Part of the market’s rich fabric is on a roll BY ABIGAIL WILKINSON

Sewing may be experiencing a recent boost in popularity, but Brixton landmark Simply Fabrics is no newcomer. Owner Robert Chinman started selling fabric on Brixton Market 25 years ago and has been building a reputation for quality ever since. “My brother-in-law at the time was a fabric wholesaler,” says Mr Chinman. “I had no

connection to sewing, textiles, fashion – he just gave me a load of fabric and said ‘Go and sell it in the markets’, and I started like that.” Over the years, Mr Chinman has developed an eye for quality that has earned him loyal customers all over Britain. “I’ve learnt through selling – I don’t sew, but I like quality fabric, I like the business and I like the customers.” He doesn’t hesitate when asked about the cause of the shop’s success: “I’ve got an amazing selection of fabrics at reasonable prices.”

Childhood, clockwise from top left: Ben Romans-Hopcroft, Chris O’Driscoll, Leo Dobson, Daniel Salamons Carlton Warren, who is often seen competing with the Metro touts and steel drums at Brixton Tube (as well as us Brixton Buglers at the end of every month.) “I was writing songs one day, feeling a bit worse for wear, and I started idealising him, his belief,” says Ben, “I felt like I had no faith in anything and there was a real contrast between him and I.” While Ben’s family has moved out of Brixton (“they can’t afford it any more!”) he still spends a lot of time here. His “classic” night out is at the Effra Tavern, where his dad still plays every other Tuesday night. The Windmill is another firm favourite, and he’s played there a few times. The band have also played at the Queen’s Head, the Hootananny and the Bedford Simply Fabrics expanded three years ago, with the original 48 Atlantic Road location now selling haberdashery while the new shop at 57 Atlantic Road houses the fabric. Rolls of brightly coloured fabric are piled against the windows, but a closer look at the jumble reveal gorgeous silks, pure wool suiting and end-of-line Liberty prints. Mr Chinman now travels as far as China to stock up on a range of luxury fabrics that will have any fabric fanatic in raptures. “My business has improved over the past few years – I put it down to a combination of things: the business getting more established and the fact that sewing is now quite trendy.” In fact, sewing blogger and former Great British Sewing Bee contestant Tilly Walnes is a valued customer and recommends the shop on her blog. Simply Fabrics’ customers are not all part of the new wave of crafters, however – Brixton’s African community brings Mr Chinman some of his best customers, he says, buying fabric to have clothes custom made by tailors. The shop also caters to designers, events companies and costume makers: “Photographers buy fabric for backdrops, some customers buy for stages, for displays, church halls, weddings – I don’t really advertise, I’ve built up a good name over the years.” So what does he think of the way Brixton’s changed since he began trading? “When I first came it was still connected to the riots and trouble. Now it’s a lot more gentrified. It’s still a bit edgy, which is nice – it hasn’t lost its originality, but it’s definitely changed.” Mr Chinman is pragmatic when asked about his plans for the future. “These two shops keep me very busy,” he explains. “Once I opened the second shop I could bring in new lines

when it was still open. I ask him what his favourite Childhood gig has been so far, and he tells me one of the highlights was playing to audiences in Japan: “It was the most privileged we’ve felt. We were thinking ‘what are doing here, who’s going to turn up?’ It’s a pretty shocking thing to go that far away and get the reaction we got.” So what does the future hold for Childhood? “We’re not very good at writing when we’re touring” says Ben, so they’re taking this opportunity to put some new material together - hoping to get something out soon. With a US tour in the making and plans to hit the festival season in the UK again this summer, Childhood are growing up fast.

Robert Chinman, owner of Simply Fabrics - haberdashery, trimmings and accessories which has helped. People now know they can come here to the two shops and get everything that they need.” Simply Fabrics is open at its two locations Monday to Saturday from 10am to 6pm.

February 2015

www.brixtonblog.com

ARTS & CULTURE 17

Handpicked top of the flicks BY ADAM MARSHALL

black holes at the beginning of time brings back bad memories of GCSE physics, worry not - the script is more interested in exploring Hawkingâ€™s relationship with his wife Jane (beautifully played by Felicity Jones). Currently at the Ritzy and Odeon Streatham

Grab a massive bag of popcorn and make yourself comfortable, because thereâ€™s TPNF TFSJPVT mMN XBUDIJOH UP CF EPOF Following the recent Oscars nominations announcement awards season is in full TXJOH 4P XF WF IBOEQJDLFE mWF mMNT UIBU are winning the Academy Awards, BAFTA and Golden Globe plaudits, and where you can see them. Boyhood It took 12 years to film this innovative comingof-age drama, so it seems only fair that Boyhood is still getting some cinema love six months after its release. Richard Linklaterâ€™s achievement is remarkable, allowing as to watch central character Mason literally develop from child to young man. The filming technique may be unique, but the fact that Mason is just a normal kid going through the rigours of teenage life makes him and the movie universally relatable. And itâ€™s bookies favourite to pick up the Best Picture statue at this monthâ€™s Oscar ceremony too. Showing at the Ritzy on Sunday February 8 Birdman Garlanded with dozens of award nominations, the biggest joy of Birdman is its performances. Ed Norton, Emma Stone and Zach Galifianakis

Selma David Oyelowo (pictured left) picked up a Golden Globe nomination for his powerful portrayal of Martin Luther King in Ava DuVernayâ€™s depiction of the 54 mile Selma to Montgomery protest march of 1965. The telling of Dr Kingâ€™s epic struggle to win equal voting rights has controversially failed to win the favour of Oscar voters, but Selma cleverly walks the tightrope between drama and memoir to striking effect. General release on Friday February 6. The Ritzy is holding a school screening on Thursday February 12.

are all a joy to watch - as is Michael Keaton, playing a downtrodden actor most famous for starring in super hero movies in the early 90s (sound familiar?) seeking to resuscitate his career on Broadway. Currently at the Ritzy and Odeon Streatham

STAYING POWER

"SUT $P &EJUPS 3VUI 8BUFST mOET PVU NPSF subjects. Whilst Staying Power is exhibited at about the latest exhibition at the BCA. Brixtonâ€™s BCA, in South Kensington the V&A will present an exhibition of the same title drawn The new exhibition at the Black Cultural from the new collection of photographs from 16 Archives is the culmination of a seven-year February to May 24. collaboration between the BCA and the V&A to Staying Power explores the work of a selection acquire a collection of photographs that increases of photographers who were documenting black the representation of black photographers and experiences, from mass migration following

The Theory of Everything Eddie Redmayneâ€™s astonishing transformation into Professor Stephen Hawking for this biopic is worth the ticket price alone. A more convincing performance this year, youâ€™re unlikely to see. And the Golden Globes voters agreed - awarding him the top acting honour. If the thought of the arrival of the Windrush in 1948 to the late 1990s, and features 14 photographers, including Raphael Albert, Norman â€˜Normskiâ€™ Anderson, Jenny Baptiste, Pogus Cesar, Armet Francis, Colin Jones, Dennis Morris, Charlie Phillips, Ingrid Pollard, Al Vandenberg and Gavin Watson. Alongside the photographs there will also be a collection of oral histories from a range of subjects including the photographers themselves, their relatives and the people depicted in the images. The curator of Staying Power is Dr Kimberly F. Keith. She has worked in museums for 15 years, both in the UK and USA, and has developed educational programmes for at-risk youth and diverse audiences. Speaking to the Brixton Bugle, she said â€œStaying Power is a relatively small project that has the large ambition of creating change in the traditional canon of the history of photography, by including black photographers and black subjects in the V&Aâ€™s collection.â€? Through the exhibition Dr Kimberly hopes to â€œexpand who is included and who tells the story. We, black people, are directing the practices of representation, and that is a significant action and achievement.Iâ€™m so proud to have been a part of the collaborative partnership between the BCA and the V&A.â€? Itâ€™s not just photographs in the exhibition. Victoria Northbridge, BCA Collections Manager, explains that Staying Power has allowed the archives to present materials from within their collection that complement and relate to the exhibitionâ€™s themes. â€œItâ€™s a wonderful platform to showcase our periodicals - lifestyle, fashion and music magazines - which people may not realise we hold. The oral history interviews from the photographers are excellent, sharing the history behind the photos, as well as explaining how the photographer were inspired to begin their work.â€? Speaking of how the exhibition has been received so far Omari Okwulu, Black Cultural Archives Trainee, told the Bugle â€œItâ€™s really nice to see how many people are engaging with the subject material and photographs.â€? Staying Power runs until 30 June 30 at BCA. Windrush Square. Admission is free.

Big Hero 6 After the Academyâ€™s utterly unawesome snubbing of The Lego Movie, the fieldâ€™s wide open for the Best Animated Feature category. And Big Hero 6 may be the film to take the glory. Its premise - a young genius and a massive robot teaming up to defeat the forces of evil - may sound a tadâ€Ś far out. But when you consider that the film is a joint venture between Disney and Marvel, itâ€™s unlikely to disappoint. Opens at Odeon Streatham on Friday January 30.

Above: Normski (1966- ) Cynthia M. Prescod (Mum) at home in Primrose Hill, London, 1986, printed 2012. Left: James Barnor (1929- ) Mike Eghan, Piccadilly Circus, 1967, printed 2011. Below: Exhibition curator Kimberly F Keith at the BCA, by Sharron Wallace

18 FACES OF BRIXTON

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the faces of

BRIXTON PART VI: THE BAYTREE CENTRE BY KATHRYN AEDY PICTURES BY ALEXANDRA WAESPI The girls and women of Baytree find it difficult to sum up the work of the Centre in one sentence. Twelve-year old Hilina explains going from being too shy to interact with her peers to being selected to read her poem aloud at the Christmas party. “Everyone’s so kind, so I’ve become more confident; here, and in school too.” Another member, Jaycy, is the same age and moved from Brazil two years ago with no knowledge of English. She credits Baytree for her strengthened language skills and says: “They make you feel like you’re at home, and they make you feel happy when you’re down.” It’s easy to see how, with receptionists Sonja and Carol warmly greeting everyone by name. Centre Director Mae started working at Baytree shortly after it was founded by a group of volunteers in the 1980s after the riots, and considers all of the members as an extension of her family. Although Baytree offers education and skills training exclusively for women and girls, Mae says that mothers, fathers and children have expressed that this has brought greater cohesion to the entire family. “Peace in the home makes such a difference in other areas of their lives.” CEO Caroline explains how mothers often come in and reflect on moments where familial conflict may have usually arisen but now, “when both the mothers and daughters remember what they’ve learned, they help to resolve things peacefully.” Plus, as nearly a third of women members cannot initially read or write in English, classes for adults help to prevent language barriers between parents and their children. Mae’s dream

is “to make that mom feel that she can still take the lead even though she has never had the educational opportunities that her children are experiencing in the UK.” Both Caroline’s and PEACH Project Manager, Emily’s proudest moments last year involve Athen 31, a youth-led initiative with one member as young as 10 years old. The group is currently working on a multilingual project that will make the Centre more accessible to entire families. Emily says that “hearing the girls formulate the plan was inspirational.” Similarly, Caroline felt an incredible sense of pride when Athen 31 presented a grant proposal in City Hall in December. Despite a tough panel and a hundred-person audience, the girls won the £1,000 grant for their next project to prevent violence against women. Securing funding to meet the demand for the services Baytree offers is one of the Centre’s greatest challenges. Kate, Volunteer Service Coordinator, and her colleagues strongly encourage interested mentors to contribute their unique skill sets to the Centre. Whether offering pre-existing programming or introducing a new class, Mae says that all volunteers have the opportunity to “share joy in giving their gifts to other families who overcome great challenges to eventually give back to another family.” The Baytree Centre is located at 300-302 Brixton Road . To volunteer as a mentor or with after-school clubs contact: volunteering@ baytreecentre.org.uk or 020 7733 5283.

February 2015

FOOD AND DRINK 19

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Meet the man behind FRANCO MANCA BY ZOFIA NIEMTUS

Did you know there’s a Franco Manca in Westfield? Westfield. It feels wrong. Giuseppe Mascoli’s pizzas are crafted – the sourdough is left to ferment for at least 20 hours before being topped with simple, high-quality ingredients. They are truly the stuff of Brixton food legend. It seems weird, then, to think of them competing with Spud-U-Like and Harry Ramsden’s to refuel the patrons of the UK’s third largest mall. So what happened? Has the exacting Mascoli gone bland? “Shopping centres are awful places,” he declares. They should be torched.” We are sitting in Wild Caper, the coffee shop overlooking his Brixton Market restaurant and its ever-present queue, talking about the rise and rise of the business, which now has 10 branches across the capital. Mascoli is many things – opinionated, funny, wordy – but on the topic of Westfield, he is pragmatic: “Shopping centres exist,” he shrugs. “It is something we had to try, but I don’t enjoy them.” The first Franco Manca opened in Brixton Market in 2008, alongside a fishmongers’ (which is still open), a mobile phone stall (which is not) and lots and lots of empty shop fronts. Two months later, the restaurant expanded to the shop opposite, doubling its capacity. Then branches appeared in Chiswick, Dulwich, South Kensington, even, as of 2013, Tottenham Court Road. And Westfield. Three more are set to open

this year in Bermondsey, Ealing and Covent Garden (no shopping centres). So is Mascoli hoping to recreate the spirit of the Brixton original in the new venues? “We try to,” he says, “but every place is different.” I ask if he has a favourite of the other sites and he thinks for a long time. “No,” he says, finally. “Brixton is special.” He still lives here, in the house he bought two decades ago. He tells me, without cheer, that it has quadrupled in value in that time – and that he has strong opinions about the changes Brixton has seen over the same period. Mascoli came to London in 1989 as an assistant lecturer at the London School of Economics and it is the language of finance that drives a rant about the area being “held to ransom by speculators”. He talks animatedly about jubilee – the biblical method of leasing land for 49 years before all debts are written off. He recommends that I read John Ruskin’s 19th-century anti-capitalist essay Unto This Last. He argues at length in favour of rent caps and against the notion that they would inhibit business. “Is it better to have Labour crooks or Conservative crooks in charge?” he asks, shaking his head. As the cost of everything else in Brixton has soared, Mascoli has kept his prices low – remarkably so. His most expensive pizza is £6.95 and the cheapest is £4.50, about the same as a frozen number from the supermarket. Which is where the similarity ends. Franco Manca pizzas are cooked for 40 seconds in a wood-burning oven

at 500 degrees. They are prepared by pizzaiolos using the traditional method that Mascoli learned at his family home in Naples. And how do his efforts compare with the originals? “Mine are better,” he smiles. He has previously spoken about being “elitist” with his flavours. You will not find a Meat Lover’s special in Franco Manca. No crust will be stuffed. Instead, diners have six options, from a simple tomato and garlic to the more complex broccoli, mozzarella and sausage. The menu is updated with the seasons and Mascoli sees no need to offer a bigger range. “I am against freedom,” he says. “Freedom of choice is a bad thing. Have you been to a salad bar?” The problem with salad bars, as with life, he explains, is that people fill up their plates with a bit of everything. Too many ingredients that don’t work together. “What you need,” he continues, “is someone to say, ‘I have thought a lot about salad. These are the leaves that go well together and this is the drink you should serve it with.’” People need to develop critical minds, he adds, rather than simply being “funnels”. So where will Mascoli’s taste mission end? Will the ever-growing popularity of his pizzas mean that we’ll one day be able to pick up a Franco Manca in Tesco? “Oh yes,” he deadpans. “After I am dead.” ;PmB UXFFUT BU ![PGDIB

20 FOOD AND DRINK

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February 2015

BY MISS SOUTH

RECIPE CHICKPEAS WITH ORANGE, ROSEMARY AND LEEKS (SERVES 2-4 DEPENDING ON GREED) 2 x 400g tins chickpeas, drained and rinsed well 2 large leeks, sliced into half moons 2 tablespoons olive oil 1 clove garlic, finely chopped 2 large oranges, zested and juiced

3 sprigs fresh rosemary or 1 teaspoon dried rosemary 1 ⁄2 teaspoon red chilli flakes salt and pepper 250ml vegetable stock 150g fresh curly kale

This dish was inspired by one of I only ever buy my tinned pulses the answers in our Christmas series in the Nour Cash and Carry as they when we asked what you eat after stock good quality velvety ones at a the indulgences of December. Spyros decent price, unlike supermarkets from Parissi mentioned chickpeas that seem to sell pulses that are either with orange, rosemary and leeks mush in a can or hard as rocks. This and when I found myself with a isn’t the recipe for cooking your few spare oranges in early January, own from scratch. Drain two cans I knew exactly what to make. of chickpeas and rinse the liquid off )FBMUIZ BOE XBSNJOH JU T mMMJOH them well. It contains a concentration and easy to make and doesn’t put any of the sugars that make pulses pressure on your purse pre payday problematic to digest so a good wash either. Oranges are in season right does wonders. now. You can use the zest of a bitter Take the two leeks and peel the Seville orange from the A&C Deli very outermost layer off. Use a sharp for an extra citrus kick or of course knife to split the tip open along the keep them to make marmalade. natural crease of the leek and then It makes a great packed lunch or peel it back itself to wash it inside simple dinner and, while it’s vegan each layer. When clean, split them and gluten-free, you could add some in half and chop into half moons fried breadcrumbs for crunch or a about the thickness of a pound coin. poached egg on top if you prefer. Heat the olive oil on a medium Brixton Bugle AD_AW.pdf 1 23/10/2014 09:14:31

heat in a heavy pan or casserole that has a lid and add the leeks. Allow them to soften, stirring occasionally, for about 5-7 minutes until getting some colour. Add the chopped garlic and the drained chickpeas and stir through well. Slosh in the juice and pulp of the oranges, reserving the zest. Put the rosemary in, stalks and all and season well with salt and pepper and the chilli flakes if liked. Pour the vegetable stock in and put the lid on. Simmer for 30 minutes on a low heat. Wash the kale well (the Nour are now selling it as does the Farmers Market) and remove the leaves from the inner ribs. Chop or tear roughly so you have largish pieces of just leaves. Stir it into the chickpeas and put the lid back on for 2-3 minutes until it just wilts but doesn’t change colour. Remove it from the heat and scatter with the orange zest. Serve warm. Miss South also blogs at www. northsouthfood.com. Her recipes are available in Slow Cooked by Ebury Press. She edited and contributed to Recipes from Brixton Village by Kitchen Press, also available at 20 Storey in Market Row and Cornercopia in Brixton Village.

Foodie news As we all know, Brixton is ever-changing but each month we bring you a round-up of what’s happening to keep you in the loop:

WE ARE NOW STOCKING NEW LOCALLIY SUPPLIED PRODUCTS

tasty-looking kale fritters. Up the road on Brixton Hill, F Mondays (pictured left) is now in full swing and serving a popular hot chocolate by former Brixtonite chocolatier Amelia Rope. Meanwhile, San Marino’s popularity with coffee aficionados continues unabated on Brixton Station Road.

EGGS

MILK

BREAD

TEA

BUTTER

COFFEE

There’s a new restaurant opening next to Brixton Wholefoods, yet another sign that the areas outside Brixton Market are becoming more attractive to food and drink businesses. Some traders on Atlantic Road have recently voiced fears about rent rises when their own leases come up for renewal...

CAKE

CMY

From the finest Spanish basics to special treats, make your food shop a holiday from the ordinary.

For information about our ham schools email brixtonshop@brindisa.com For the cafe/bar email brixtoncafe@brindisa.com CAFE, BAR AND SHOP 41-43 ATLANTIC ROAD, BRIXTON SW98JL

Since we last brought you food news, the coffee scene in Brixton has changed a bit, with Salon Brixton taking over Federation in Granville Arcade. They are now serving food from Salon, including toasties and some

What’s your favourite brunch in Brixton? We recently ran a straw poll on Facebook and Duck Egg, Le Deli Corner, The Lido Cafe and Wild Caper were especially popular. Do you agree? Don’t forget, not everyone is so lucky with their food options, so please do take the time to donate to the Foodbank or help out at Brixton Soup Kitchen.

To advertise here email ads@brixtonblog.com Or call us on 0203 730 1312

February 2015

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FOOD AND DRINK 21

REVIEW WAHACA: SIMPLY A MEDIOCRE MEXICAN JOINT BY LINDSAY FALLER

When Wahaca opened in 2007 in Chandos Place, Covent Garden, I was thrilled. Finally Mexican food was available as something more than gluttonous fajitas and oversized plates of nachos. And it was good, very good in fact: fresh ingredients, ethical sourcing, interesting combinations of flavour and texture, kick-ass frozen margaritas. I completely credit founder Thomasina Miers for inciting a market for ripe avocados in Britain. But then, as with so many great affordable restaurants, something intrinsic shifts as it expands. More and more branches open, and with them, originality and finesse are diluted in the process. It becomes more about selling a brand, a veritable conveyor belt of averageness. In a refurbishment that is desperately trying to be ‘edgy’, their latest London branch is now in Brixton on the site of the former squatters’ paradise that was Brady’s Pub. It opened with murmurings of controversy regarding its status as a chain restaurant setting up shop in Brixton, seemingly jumping on the foodie nomenclature with which our neighbourhood is now associated. A dark, rainy Tuesday evening saw several tables filled with diners, but we didn’t have to wait long until we were seated, and a pleasant waitress had brought drinks, crunchy tortilla chips and under-seasoned guacamole. Bottles of Wacaha’s special chipotle sauces sat on each table to add additional, what? Spice? Flavour? If you’ve never eaten at a Wahaca, suffice to say it is a majority of small plates made up of tacos, quesadillas and the like, with larger plates for burritos, meat dishes, and salads. The food comes as and when, and is ideal for sharing. We ordered chipotle chicken quesadillas, fish tacos, confit duck taquitos, frijoles (black beans), and plantain tacos, the latter clearly Brixton-inspired. The chipotle chicken quesadilla was a confusion of chicken and cheese; the slightly sweet but essentially bland chipotle was heavy on tomato and light on the smoked chilli. The tasteless “panko-crumbed” fish tacos were drowned in chipotle mayonnaise, creating a sort of Baja-inspired waste of time. Confit duck

was rolled in blue corn tortillas and served with coloradito mole, fancy sounding words for what is basically enchilada sauce. The duck lacked any of that glorious silky sinew confit offers, and while I liked the idea of using blue corn tortillas, the taquito filling had what I imagine to be the texture of cat food and tasted roughly of nothing.

The two decent things we ordered were the plantain taco and frijoles. Earthy black beans, twice cooked, rendered the frijoles creamy, the taste of bay lingering in the background. Served with cheese and sour cream, they made everything else taste better. The plantain taco was also rather good. Tangy plantain was served slightly crispy with more frijoles, feta cheese, sour cream and chipotle in adobo sauce. This time, the chipotle was a decent match for its compadres. In their Brixton invasion, Wahaca paid local artists and designers to design the interiors and exteriors. They went local with Brixton Brewery for their house beer. They have provided jobs in the community. The company as a whole is still deeply concerned with sustainability. All of these things are genuine positives. But this isn’t about the food at Wahaca in Brixton, this is about the food at Wahaca in general. When it has become so decidedly mediocre, what really is the point? Dinner for two, including drinks and service £60

22 WHAT’S ON

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February 2015 BSAT 31 @ PLAN B

EDITOR’S PICK:

WE’RE LOVING VALENTINE’S DAY IF YOU’RE COUPLED UP…

Flowers for your loved one can be bought from the flower stall outside the Tube or from Leona in Brixton Village (you can pre-order at leonavintage@hotmail.com). If you want to avoid explicit Valentine’s-themed nights, then take your loved one for a drink at Kaff Bar, one of our favourites on Atlantic Rd, and then on to dinner at Asmara on Atlantic Road, Yum D in Market Row or Fish, Wings n Tings in Granville Arcade. For a proper, sit-down romantic meal, don’t forget to book in as soon as possible. Salon Brixton has a £35 four-course set menu filled with love-inducing ingredients such as oysters, beef hearts and chocolate. The Lido Café will have oysters, venison, cassoulet and even a Valentines sundae on their £45 three-course menu. Or you can tuck into oysters over at The Shrub & Shutter too, where they will be collaborating with Bloom Gin to create a fourcourse menu with cocktails to match.

IF YOU’RE SINGLE…

Stay at home, get a takeaway from Khans and watch a film. Don’t go to Brixton Village. Get together a group of best friends and get dancing at Plan B’s ‘Nothing but House’ night, featuring Pioneer, Sam Supplier, Move the House and Donna Love. Note, if you don’t like house music, then this one isn’t really for you.

FOR EVERYONE…

All of the above go for you too, but here are some added highlights, whether you are single or not, and just want to have a nice Saturday night out.

This will probably be a great day to download Tinder and set up some local dates, if you haven’t done so already.

For an event that will be fun with friends, a partner or alone, pop to the Brixton Library for its “first annual erotic lounge”, an LGBT Valentine’s Day special. This is a night to celebrate black erotica, love and attraction through poetry, prose and performance. Performers will include Antoine Rogers, Dean Atta and Olumide Popoola.

Book in early for the Met Opera’s performance of Iolanta and Duke Bluebeard’s Castle, screened as live in the Ritzy Cinema. Starts at 5.15pm.

Get into the soul groove at the Prince of Wales Deep into Soul night from 10pm with DJ Spen, Grant Nelson and Remi on the bill. And, coming right out of the leftfield, singles and couples are welcome on the Brixton Vegan Valentine’s Walkabout, which will start at 3pm with a trip around Brixton Station Road market, take in some time at Ms Cupcake and end with a vegan party in the ballroom at The Dogstar. Yep, bet you weren’t expecting that. Check out dogstarbrixton.com for more details.

The Red Bull Music Academy has been putting on some incredible parties at Plan B lately with the likes of Omar S and Theo Parrish. Tonight brings San Soda, Hunee and Jeremy ‘Underground’ Paris to the venue for an eight hour back-to-back session. Tickets are £10-£15, 10pm-6am.

SUN 1 @ BRIXTON REC

Top tip for Sunday afternoons in 2015 is a Brixton Topcats basketball game at the Brixton Rec sports hall. This week, the women’s team will be playing Sevenoaks Suns at 4pm. Tickets are on the door for £5 for adults and £2.50 for children.

MON 2 @ YOGA POINT

Start the week and the month with a bang by heading to Yoga Point on Dalberg Road for a 7am session. It feels awful getting up that early, but you won’t regret it, we promise you.

TUES 3 @ EFFRA SOCIAL

Pub quiz night! Get together a team for the Effra Social pub quiz tonight, and every Tuesday, from 8pm. £5 per team and the winner takes all.

WEDS 4 @ BRIXTON RECREATION CENTRE

We’ve recently started taking Afewee boxing classes at Brixton Rec - an hour and a half of cardio and boxing fun. See page 28 for an interview with the head coach. You’ll be knackered but full of endorphins afterwards.

THURS 5 @BRIXTON ROAD & BLACK CULTURAL ARCHIVES

Have you reached the point of no return with the Tube chaos in the mornings yet? If so, cycle! If you don’t have a bike then head to

EDITOR’S PICK:

THE VINTAGE FURNITURE FLEA

Brought to you by Britain’s biggest vintage fair (Judy’s Affordable Vintage Fair), The Vintage Furniture Flea returns to Brixton on Sunday February 22, bringing their homeware and interior traders. Celebrating the styles and palettes of mid-century living, the formula for the Flea is a simple one; gather eclectic vintage traders from all over the globe, check them for whimsical, affordable furniture and homewares from the 1950s and on and set-up shop, just for the day. Featuring everything from Ercol to cocktail

shakers, the Flea celebrates the kitsch to the collectible, from Scandi minimalism to statement textiles and prints; sideboards and bookcases, glass and ceramics, crockery and fabrics, radios, record players and posters are all part of the afternoon’s tapestry, providing Londoners with an afternoon of time travel quite unlike no other. Voted ‘Best Vintage Fair’ by the Vintage Guide to London and featured by the likes of Stylist and Time Out, Flea founder Judy Berger accredits success to a shift in both

money and mindset; “Once upon a time, shoppers wanted convenience,” she says, remarking on the popularity of brands such as Ikea, “however, nowadays, they are looking for something to invest in. If an Englishman’s home is his castle, he (or she) wants it to be unique, chic and incredibly good quality.” A popular spot with stylists, designers and celebrities (including Henry Holland and Florence Welch), the future of décor lies firmly in the past.

February 2015

WHAT’S ON 23

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Brixton Cycles, Harbour Cycles (Loughborough Junction) or Seabass Cycles (Camberwell) for the best local advice and the bicycles around. It’ll mean you’ll be able to get back in time for the 7pm ‘alternative’ Valentines event at the BCA – a night of poems and creativity around the theme of ‘One Love’.

FRI 6 @ LOCAL BRIXTON

Local, our favourite night to dance at in Brixton, is back tonight with a Michachu special. Check out Local Brixton on twitter or facebook for venue details.

SUN 8 @BROCKWELL LIDO

Cheer on Brockwell swimmers against teams from visiting pools and clubs at the first Brockwell Lido Cold Water Swimming Gala today at 11am. Entrance is free to all spectators. Wrap up warm and bring along a homemade cake for the baking competition.

MON 9 @ UPSTAIRS AT THE RITZY

Tonight the Ritzy hosts their ‘board games and beyond night’, a free event of gaming, from strategy games to skill and party games. Fans of Carcassonne, this is one for you. From 6.30pm.

TUES 10 @ ST PAUL’S CHURCH

News at Christmas revealed a dramatic increase in numbers using Foodbanks last year, so if you can, do help by donating food at the Brixton distribution centre in St Paul’s Church on Ferndale Road anytime

between 10am and 1pm. Shopping lists for each week can be found at norwoodbrixtonfoodbank.org.uk.

See our special tips on the left for our romantic highlights.

WEDS 11 @ WHIRLED ARTS

In a recent, fairly unscientific poll of our readers, Wild Caper, Le Deli Corner, Kaff, and The Lido Café came out top. Salon Brixton, Foccaccia GB and Parissi also have great breakfast menus.

Whirled Arts cinema shows Manakamana, a documentary about Nepal, at 8.30pm tonight. The film is shot entirely inside a cable car above a Nepalese jungle as it transports villagers and tourists to an ancient mountaintop temple.

THURS 12 @ BLACK CULTURAL ARCHIVES

The BCA are running a series of evening events called the ‘Café Club’ and this one is going to be a corker. An evening of conversation, memories and dance about the first wave of female UK hip hop. ‘Fly Girls, B Girls and Home Girls’ will document female MCs, dancers and promoters who started out in the 1980s. 7-11pm, tickets are £20.

FRI 13 @ UPSTAIRS AT THE RITZY

It’s swingtime! Steve Coombe’s Hot Six band will lead an hour’s class at 7.30pm followed by hour of live music inspired by Harlem Swing and Hot Jazz of the twenties. Tickets are £10 in advance or £12 on the door.

SAT 14 @ BRIXTON MARKET

Go on one of the excellent Brixton Society heritage walks which take in the street markets, covered arcades and shops of Brixton. Walks start at 2.30pm from Brixton Station Rd and cost £3 including a book on the history of Brixton. We haven’t forgotten Valentine’s Day, of course.

SUN 15 @ BRUNCH IN BRIXTON

MON 16 @ ELECTRIC BRIXTON

Singer-songwriter George Ezra will be playing at Electric Brixton tonight ahead of his Academy gig on February 20. The gig is part of a series celebrating British talent in the build-up to the BRIT awards.

TUES 17 @ THE DOGSTAR

Get over the mid-February funk at the Laugh Out Loud London comedy night at 8pm tonight. It’s only £5 for advance tickets and £7 on the door. Simon Nunnery, Phil Nichol and Nish Kumar are all set to perform.

WEDS 18 @ BROCKWELL PARK COMMUNITY GREENHOUSES

The Community Greenhouses have some excellent workshops for kids on offer this half-term. Today you can make a mini garden inspired by Japanese styles and learn how to make origami blossoms to decorate it. £5 per child, with discounts for unwaged/low income. Book with Beth on 07427685714 or education@ brockwellgreeenhouses.org.uk.

EDITOR’S PICK:

JON BAKER EXHIBITION SAT 7 @ PHOTOFUSION GALLERY

THURS 19 @ BRIXTON LIBRARY

Kids aged 9 to 11 years old can learn how to create computer games, animations and websites at Code Club from 4-5pm, for free. Go to codeclub.org.uk to sign up.

FRI 20 @ THE PRINCE OF WALES

The Brixton Boogaloo series takes place tonight with Joey Negro headlining, while We Love Vinyl and Grooveschool will support in Room 2. Tickets are £10-£15.

SAT 21@ UPSTAIRS AT THE RITZY

Help raise money for the Motor Neurone Disease Association at Bill’s Blue Quiz Fundraiser, a mixture of general knowledge and music rounds for £5 from 7.30pm

MON 23 @ CAMBERWELL

Sometimes on a Monday we like to take a sneaky trip out of Brixton and travel down the road for a bite to eat in Camberwell. Chinese at Silk Road or a big feed at The Camberwell Arms are our favourites.

TUES 24 @BRIXTON ACADEMY

The War on Drugs play the Academy tonight. We saw and loved them last year, so if you can get a ticket, it’s highly recommended!

WEDS 25 @ BRIXTON TATE LIBRARY

As part of LGBT Month, Lambeth Libraries are inviting women from all generations for an open discussion about female sexuality, specifically about the experience of ‘coming out’ as a gay or bisexual woman. 7pm.

WEDS 25 @BRIXTON REC

If you think your child would enjoy basketball, sign them up to the Brixton Topcats. It’s the largest grass roots basketball club in south London. Sessions are £4 a session and £2 for members, every Wednesday and Friday night for all abilities between 4-18 years old.

THURS 26 @ THE CLINK, BRIXTON PRISON

The Clink restaurant in Brixton Prison will be celebrating its first year with an Indian-themed night from 6pm-9.15pm. Guests will be treated to a non-alcoholic fruity drink before sitting down to an evening of Goan, north Indian and Bombay food. It’s a fundraising dinner and costs £75 per person, or you can book a whole table. Email brixton@ theclinkrestaurant.com for details.

FRI 27 @ HOOTANANNY

See out the month dancing to the Moviemientos DJs at this Effra Road favourite. There will be ska, rocksteady, afro-latin beats and lots of fusion sounds in between. Free before 10pm.

SAT 28 @ BROCKWELL LIDO

The Lido pool will be open from 8.30am, so why not don the wetsuit this morning and join the brave Icicles for a chilly dip? Then get straight into The Lido Café for a large, warming brunch.

Chinese Late Pop-up art | Films Music | Dance Food & Bars

Celebrate Chinese New Year with a contemporary twist on Chinese culture

The exhibition is open from February 6 to March 20.

Thurs 26 Feb, 6.30–9.30pm Tickets: £5 | Book now Over-18s only horniman.ac.uk 100 London Road, SE23 3PQ Forest Hill P4

Pop into Photofusion to have a look at the latest exhibition, the first solo show for Chelsea College of Art graduate Jon Baker. The works are dramatic large-scale images made through manipulating objects and cross-processing techniques. It’s all about sex, masculinity and gender.

“It’s like leaving my son with a second family” Parent at a LEYF nursery

Two New Nurseries in Lambeth Stockwell Gardens – Opening March 2015 Brixton – Now Open Childcare and education from birth to five years Open Monday to Friday, 8am – 6pm, 51 weeks a year Register for our Stockwell nursery by 28th February to receive a 10% discount for your first three months

Get in touch to find out more Stockwell p 07751 064606

stockwell@leyf.org.uk

Brixton p 020 7062 0466

brixton@leyf.org.uk

w www.leyf.org.uk/stockwell

w www.leyf.org.uk/brixton

Located in South London YMCA, 40 Stockwell Road, London, SW9 9ES

Located at 27 Brixton Station Road, London, SW9 8QQ

February 2015

FEATURE 25

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prayer candles: THE BURNING TRUTH BY KATRIN MAGNUSSEN PICTURES BY GAVIN FREEBORN

From jinx-removals to wishing wells: we explore Brixton’s very own Aladdin’s cave of wonders. “Most people who come here buy prayer candles, and I’ve been told that they do work”, says Jenny, proprietor of one of Brixton Market’s most fascinating shops. “I have had people who bought prayer candles for steady work come back and tell me that they now have a job,“ she explains matter-of-factly, whilst gesturing to a colourful array of candles catering to a multitude of purposes including work, love, faith, loss and birth. “I strongly believe in candle-burning, I always get one for my birth sign that I burn near my birthday. Based on the faith people have, they can work.” I am standing in the intriguingly named ‘Original Products, Religious Artefacts: Herbs’ store surrounded by a bewildering display of lifesized Jesus statues, black Orishas, candelabras, handmade Haitian sequinned flags and rosary beads in every colour imaginable. “People who are religious come here people who want to have their prayers answered, “Jenny explains. “For those who believe, prayers can do magic.” The air is pleasantly perfumed by incense and the stereo behind the counter plays a prayer song by a priest and a nun. In the background I hear another sound, something decidedly less ethereal – a bird? “Yes,” nods

Jenny,” I have a large green Amazonian parrot called Cindy upstairs, she can talk but she is very noisy.” Finding a parrot on the premises should perhaps not be that surprising, considering that the previous occupant some 17 years ago was in fact a pet shop. “For the first few months, I was allocated number 14E on the corner over there,” Jenny points to a nearby shop. “Then the pet shop closed down and I moved in.” “I’ve been here almost 20 years now – that’s a long time!” she exclaims. “When I retire, I will never open another shop. I don’t want to work my entire life, do you? Maybe in another five years I will be out of here and retire to the Caribbean. My Haitian husband will make the decision what to do, but perhaps I will get one of my friends to take over the shop.” She sings along to the prayer on the stereo. “I was brought up a Catholic, so I know the complete Mass of course, because I had to learn it as a child.” Jenny was born in the Caribbean but relocated to Connecticut, USA, as a young girl. Whilst there, she trained and practised as a nurse. From the tropical heat, she now found herself surrounded by cold temperatures and heavy snowfall. As a nurse, she often worked the late shift from 11pm to 7am, something that proved very difficult in the tough winter months when slippery roads became almost overpowering. “I often had to call the cops so they could help me get to work, as even with winter tyres and chains on I often ended up spinning around with my four-wheel drive car

on the slippery roads, “ she reminisces. “And once, the roof of our house fell down because there was too much snow on it.” After some time, she left the USA and settled in east London, commuting each day to her Brixton shop. “Why Brixton?” I ask. “Why not?” she replies softly. Jenny is warm and chatty, yet adamant that not everything we speak about should make the published interview. “Can I take a picture of you in the shop?” I enquire. Jenny declines. “That’s too personal - take some of the shop instead.” A suited man enters the shop. “Do you have, or did you stock, any Christian advent calendars? I have looked everywhere but it’s really hard to find Christian ones, I have only found Santa ones,” he laments. Jenny shakes her head: “No sorry, I don’t have any; you can try the internet?” The man looks dejected, “I did already - I found nothing.” The man leaves empty-handed. “The best thing about having been in Brixton Market so long is that we are established and people know about us”, says Jenny as she eats her lunch at the counter. “Our location here means people walk through every day.” Many of those walking past cannot resist the temptation to pop in and have a look at the many religious objects for sale, Jenny says. A large number

have been brought over from Haiti, every time her husband goes back to see his family. “The earthquake in Haiti about five years ago was horrible, I knew people who died in it. It’s still so sad there, lots of people still have nowhere to live,” Jenny’s voice is tinged with sadness. “Haiti is still a mess; all the leaders, all the funds… nobody knows where the money is. So, every time I get money in the wishing well (she points to a large dusty plastic well filled with water, situated in front of a life-sized Jesus statue) I send it directly to the people in Haiti so I know that it gets to those who need it.” As I leave the shop, I notice a shelf with five dusty, old-fashioned glass jars with type-written labels: ‘Jinxremoving’, ‘Success’, ‘High John the Conqueror’, ‘Commanding’, ‘Fast luck’. I instantly feel a little like Alice must have felt whilst visiting Wonderland. These are bath salts, explains Jenny. “Do they actually work? Can you remove a jinx? Is there such as thing as fast luck?” I ask. Jenny shoots me a bemused look. “If you have faith as small as the mustard seed, it can move mountains.”

26 COLUMNS

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February 2015

GREEN

FINGERS BY ALISON ALEXANDER, BROCKWELL COMMUNITY GREENHOUSES Since the country has been experiencing milder autumns and the late onset of winter, February has been taking me by surprise. My notion of seemingly endless dark days cosied up with the seed catalogues, mug in hand, dreaming of the year ahead, has been dashed. In reality, the grass has barely stopped growing, we’re racing through the last of the winter chores, and bam, the growing season is upon us. This month we’ll sow long-season crops like chilli and squash under glass and we’ll start encouraging life out of the knobbly remains of rhizomatous plants like ginger and turmeric on our window ledges at home. Outside in the garden, we need to finish pruning deciduous trees and bushes, particularly the fruit collection, while they are still dormant. Similarly, the few deciduous woody plants we need to move are best uprooted at this time. The bare garden also offers an opportunity to spot self-seeded young saplings. How many people out there are stuck with a massive sycamore shading out the rest of the garden that could have been pulled up with a hand fork 10 years ago, I wonder. We’re also doing soft fruit pruning. For raspberries, cut fruited canes to the ground. If you have autumn-fruiting varieties, this means you cut all the stems. You may have done this already in early winter. If you have summer-fruiting varieties, you’ll quickly spot the difference between the grey fruited canes that are cut back and the shiny brown new stems that will bear this year’s fruit, which you leave untouched. Gooseberries, white- and redcurrants are all treated the same. The aim is create an open bush with fruiting spurs along the length of the branches. This means cutting out the dead, diseased and dying (the three Ds – always the first to go), as well as crossing branches, then cutting all side shoots to two to three buds. This shape allows for plenty

Group pruning, an excellent way to learn

of air movement and easy fruit picking For blackcurrants, cut a third of the old branches to ground level, making way for the new young shoots that will be the most fruitful. Keep an eye out for our blog on fruit pruning – there’ll be lots of before and after photos. Or just drop in to the gardens and we’ll show you what we’ve done. One of our aims as a charity, and as an Incredible Edible Lambeth (IEL) Growing Hub partner garden, is to support other smaller community gardens in the borough. So we’re holding a networking afternoon this Sunday February 1 to bring together as many community gardeners as we can find. If you’re a community gardener, do get in touch. As well as offering a chance to share tips and ideas with other gardeners, we’re holding free workshops on planning your gardening year and fundraising for your project. Back to planning our own gardening year. Obviously most insects are in hibernation at this time of year so it’s not bad news for wildlife. But it did get me thinking about early spring flowers for those years when March feels more like June and the wildlife wakes up to no breakfast. Also, I reckon the visitors would appreciate some splashes of colour on a grey day. Here are some favourite flowering shrubs for early seasonal colour… the shrubby honeysuckle Lonicera fragrantissima and Sarcococca have pretty white flowers and incredibly powerful sweet scent. The Chinese witch hazel Hamamelis mollis looks like it’s covered in yellow fireworks. The unsubtle but stunning egg-yolk flowers of Berberis darwinii appear in mid- to late winter and the delicate flowers of snowy mespilus Amelanchier lamarckii in early spring - both have the advantage of being palatable to humans as well as birds.

>>>>winter warm-up 2015 – SURVIVAL OF THE RESOLUTION Is it too late to say it? Ahh well…Happy New Year lovely readers. Hands up if you made a New Year’s resolution to up your fitness game, get into fitness and improve your health? (if you’re reading this on the Tube, dare you to put your hand up). And now hands up if you have stuck to your resolutions past the first two weeks in January? It’s one of those things we all do, myself included. We set so many goals for ourselves in a time of pressure for constant self-improvement and it can all feel a little overwhelming, usually resulting in giving up before you really get going. So this is where I come in with some survival tips for making the most of your training ventures in 2015 which I hope will help you on your journey… Do somethin you ENJOY! Consistency is key when it comes to training and trying to do something regularly which you simply don’t enjoy very much means you’re less likely to keep it up… There are so many options out there as individual as you are and you mustn’t be afraid to PLAY and try things out… have FUN!! FOCUS your goals and don’t overwhelm yourself. I am a sucker for making a really long list and then struggling to know where to start so this is something I am also working on in 2015. Give yourself two to three fitness goals to attack and this should help you to stay on track. When working on your goals remember to enjoy the PROCESS and celebrate

achievements as you go… Being ACCOUNTABLE to someone can really help on those days you struggle to find motivation. If you have a friend who also wants to train, agree times in the week to work out together… encouragement, support and maybe a touch of competitiveness could be just what you need. There is also the option of hiring a Personal Trainer to kick your butt and help you to really step out of that ‘comfort zone’ – It can also be a positive way of beating plateaus and ruts. FIT KIT is my weakness. There’s nothing better than a super slick pair of leggings to get me in the mind set for training like a warrior – It’s the Lycra effect. Investing in great training gear can give you a real boost and it’s also a lovely reward for yourself… feeling good is really important. Some of my favourite brands for kit (not just for girls) include: fizzYcaL, lululemon, Adidas, Primavera and GymLuxe… Check them out. Whatever fitness journey you are on this year, I hope it is a journey full of fun, tons of sweat, great achievements, goal-smashing and some wicked Lycra… Go forth and conquer and when you do, give yourself a massive high five!!! 2015… Lets.Do.This For personal training or advice: frankie@ frankieholah.com Website: frankieholah.co.uk

February 2015

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After two years creating his own sideways glance at Brixton life for the Brixton Bugle, Tim Bird is taking a break from Effra Tales. 8F UIBOL 5JN GPS IJT XPOEFSGVM DPOUSJCVUJPOT BOE IFSF XF SFQVCMJTI IJT mSTU FWFS &GGSB 5BMFT GSPN 'FCSVBSZ *U TUJMM NBLFT VT HJHHMF

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28 SPORT

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Boxing club in new fight for permanent home Over 20 kids a week currently enjoy training at Afewee Boxing Club inside Brixton Rec

Why I swapped my office job for the boxing ring Bobby Miltiadous (pictured left) used to spend his days selling theatre tickets in Vauxhall until he decided to swap his desk job for a pair of boxing gloves and a punch bag. Here the 25-year-old father of one and Afewee head coach discusses his bold career change with the Brixton Bugle. “I used to work in an office. A friend I worked with, a brilliant guy called Tyrone Williams, introduced me to Afewee Boxing Club. “One day we were sitting in the office chatting about boxing and the fact that this was what we wanted to do with our lives. I then decided to get into coaching and I absolutely love it. I’d been boxing in my spare time since I was 15, and had my first bout when I was 22. “For me it was sort of a natural progression

moving from boxing into coaching. Then I got involved with a few clubs as a volunteer. My involvement grew and I started to enjoy the sport even more, especially seeing the changes and progression in the individuals I train. “So I took a risk and left my ticket sales job without having any other work lined up and got into coaching. I initially started off with a charity called London Community Boxing doing outreach work with dozens of south London schools. “Then I got involved with Afewee through Tyrone and the rest is, as they say, history. I currently train juniors from ages 11 to 16. When I look back it was a massive risk because I’m a father and have a fouryear-old son. But I took the risk and luckily everything fell into place. Life is about trying to pursue what

February 2015 BY SANDRA BROBBEY A central Brixton boxing club is facing a fresh battle to secure a permanent residence in the local area. Afewee, a community sports group which won a year-long fight to get a boxing club up and running at the Brixton Recreation Centre, is urging local authorities to help them secure a permanent space. The club, due to become an affiliate of the London Amateur Boxing Association (ABA) this year, currently runs training sessions for adults, and non-contact boxing classes for children in the Rec’s Energy Zone. Senior Afewee officials say that while Lambeth council has been supportive of the club’s efforts to get coaching sessions off the ground, they have yet to secure backing for a long-lasting training base open for use up to 12 hours a day. “This is a temporary set-up we have here. Nobody has come to us yet and said this is where the boxing club is going to remain”, says Afewee founder Steadman Scott. “On Sundays we have this space for two hours, and half of that time is spent assembling the ring. “The staff here at the Rec have been wonderful, but what we need is a permanent space of our own. We have been told that 25 per cent of the you enjoy; trying to make a living out of it. “Recently I was invited to Portsmouth where they have a really good gym - the Heart of Portsmouth Boxing Academy. It’s full of champions and is run by an England international coach, Q Shillingford. They were doing an open talent day for female boxers, all from London and south England. He invited me to help them do some coaching. It was the first time I got to work with female boxing talent from all sorts of different levels, from novices to women who were competing for England. “I’m a big believer in female boxing. Look at what we did in the 2012 Olympics with Nicola Adams becoming our British Olympic female gold medallist in the sport. “What we want to try and do at Afewee is to bring as many female boxers through as we can. Obviously it’s a male-dominated sport but hopefully that will change because of what competitors like Nicola Adams have achieved.”

Brixton Rec building is not being used. “It’s not just about having a boxing space for fitness training, it’s about creating a club where we can discover stars. We want to help develop role models here.” “Until I actually receive something that says, ‘Steadman, this is where your club is going to be, it might take two years, but this is where you will be staying’, I won’t feel at completely at ease here. We didn’t go through our petition and campaign to settle for this.” More than 200 adults and children are reported to have attended training classes at Afewee Boxing Club since it opened in May last year. The club hopes its affiliation with the London ABA will help boost its profile. “Soon we will be an ABA-affiliated club without a fixed home” says Club Secretary Peter Armstrong. “Until we have that we can’t really be a flagship club, running coaching sessions for 12 hours a day and open for the kids when they need to train. “Since we started we have more than 20 children coming here every week. The big thing for us is finding somewhere permanent. We are going to be putting pressure on Cabinet members from the council on this issue.” Follow @AfeweeBoxing on Twitter.