The Bermondsey Biscuit & Rotherhithe Docker - September 2023

marilyn and the kennedy

HOW A BErMONDSEy girL TrAvELLED THE WOrLD AS THE AMEriCAN iCON

2023:BESTEVER RESULTS!

Open Sessions

Thursday 14th September - 9.15am

Open Morning

Friday 15th September - 9.15am

Open Morning

Thursday 21st September -9.15am

Open Morning

Tuesday 10th October - 5pm

Open Evening

0207 450 9570

admissions@walworth academy org

UNIFORM VOUCHER

£65 Uniform Voucher

LAPTOP

All students get a laptop for studies at home

FREE BREAKFAST

Free breakfast for all, every morning BE

About us

We’ve been based in the old Biscuit Factory in Bermondsey since 1994.

Our flagship publication, the Southwark News launched in 1987 and is now London’s only independent, paid for newspaper.

We created the Bermondsey Biscuit and Rotherhithe Docker in 2018 with support from sponsors including Sellar, Grosvenor, British Land, and many other local businesses.

About us

Editor Eliza Frost

We also publish the South Londoner each month, and the Greenwich and Lewisham Weekender and South London Weekly every week.

We are proud to be a London Living Wage employer.

We use 100% recovered paper from the Ortviken paper mill in Sweden, a green energy provider who use biofuel instead of oil and provide heat for 10,000 single family homes.

Writers Michael Holland, Debra Gosling

Design Lizzy Tweedale, Dan Martin, Ann Gravesen

Marketing Clarry Frewin, Katie Boyed, Sophie Ali

Media partnerships Anthony Phillips

Finance Emrah Zeki

Managing Directors Chris Mullany, Kevin Quinn

Contact

Email enquiry@bermondseybiscuit.co.uk

Phone 020 7231 5258

Facebook BermondseyBiscuit

Instagram @bermondseybiscuit Website www.bbandrd.co.uk

Eliza Frost

41-43 Meet Marilyn

17 The Disappearing Dining Club

21 Bermondsey Street Festival

A thank you to our sponsors

We'd like to acknowledge all our sponsors and supporters for helping us bring the Bermondsey Biscuit and Rotherhithe Docker to life.

What’s on in SE1 and SE16?

THE BiSCuiT’S rOuNDup OF EvENTS FOr yOur DiAry THiS AuTuMN

urBAN ELEpHANT FESTivAL

A free, arts and community-driven festival is coming to Elephant and Castle from 15-17 September. The Urban Elephant Festival will bring the community together to celebrate the area.

Friday 15 sees World Fusion in Castle Square, beginning with a parade at 4pm, followed by performances of music and dance. On Saturday 16, World on One Street will see street performances throughout the day on four pitches, including Caribbean steel drums and Polish dancers. Finally, Sunday 17 will see the weekend close with the Business Forum, for local businesses to get together and network, connect and discuss future opportunities.

urbanelephant.co.uk

Castle Square, Elephant Park, Sayer Street, Walworth Square, SE17 1EU

SOuNDS OF SOuTH AMEriCA

Immerse yourself in the passion of Argentinian music and poetry on 28 September (7:30pm9:45pm) with world-renowned troubadour Martin Alvarado. Described as the best voice in Buenos Aires, the charismatic tenor infuses his carefully chosen repertoire with warmth, colour, nuance and sensitivity.

Martin will be joined by fellow ‘Porteños’ from the city of Rio de Plata, the talented Gerardo Villar & Los Aguirre guitar quartet, who are making their UK debut. Together they share the authentic sound of old Buenos Aires, with added 21st-century flair.

billetto.co.uk/e/martin-alvarado-with-gerardovillar-los-aguirre-tickets-862193

City Hope Church, 121 Drummond Road, SE16 2JY

NEW HOME FOr THE DrAWiNg rOOM

From a new home in SE1, the Drawing Room is showing ‘UNBUILD: a site of possibility’ from 22 September to 10 December 2023, with free admission. UNBUILD considers the impact of buildings on our bodies, our minds, our memories and our dreams.

Selected artists, Jessie Brennan, Ian Kiaer, Tanoa Sasraku, Emily Speed and Do Ho Suh, use expanded forms of drawing to explore how the built environment represents our aspirations, cultural and physical displacement and the inequities of our patriarchal society.

drawingroom.org.uk

Unit 1b, New Tannery Way, Bermondsey, SE1 5WS

BOuLE-D AWAy

There’s been a renewed interest in the French sport boules, at least in London. The game has been given a boozy rebrand and added to a list of activities (see also darts, shuffleboard and axe throwing) found in what you could call “adult playgrounds” to liven up some day drinking.

Now, a pop-up at Waterloo, Jack and Boule, is putting boules centre stage. Teams of 2-6 players can book one of eight boules’ courts for a 55-minute game while enjoying food and drink around their play.

www.jackandboule.com

101 Upper Ground, SE1 9PP

JAzz CELEBrATiON

Windrush 75: Let’s Make Music and Dance is a free, community event happening on 16 September from 12pm-5pm at Bermondsey Square to mark the 75th anniversary of The Empire Windrush arriving at Tilbury Docks in 1948.

This community event will complement Bermondsey Street Festival and is hosted by vocalist Stephen Pierre, the curator of Bermondsey Square Jazz Days.

bermondseysquare.net

Bermondsey Square, SE1 3UN

Eliza Frost

©Prudence Cummings Associates

©Cristian Leguizamon

Eliza Frost

By rEMATCH

Arriving at SE16’s Dock X, the much anticipated second experience by Rematch will reimagine the legendary Muhammad Ali and George Foreman boxing match nearly 50 years later, supercharging imaginations as it features the untold stories of the Rumble in the Jungle.

Fusing theatre, sport and technology – and taking immersive experiences to a new height – Rumble in the Jungle Rematch launches on 14 September.

Audiences will be transported back to the epic Rumble and Zaire 74 festival with never-seen-before moments of history.

Playing on all five of the senses, Rumble in the Jungle will be brought to life by an incredible cast of actors, with live music, food and drink, which will create authentic smells and tastes of the time.

From Muhammad’s pre-match trash-talking to the step-by-step play-out of the fight, where his famous rope-a-dope was performed, Rumble in the Jungle will take audiences on a journey to discover The Greatest Sporting Event of the 20th Century.

The event will feature the sounds of the Zaire 74 music festival, which saw the biggest global acts in black music perform, including; James Brown, BB King, Bill Withers, Sister Sledge and a slew of Africa and Latin America’s best musicians

Following a successful ‘Wimbledon Rematch 1980’ in 2019, the brand’s latest experience will be its longest experience to date, with tickets now on sale for September-October 2023.

rumbleinthejunglerematch.com

‘i’ll take an SE1 Slammer’

Eliza Frost

NEW iMMErSivE COCkTAiL BAr EXpEriENCE COMES TO LONDON BriDgE – BEyOND BArBED WirE, priSON CAMErAS AND pATrOLLiNg guArDS, DriNkErS gO TO JAiL AT

The London Bridge Experience has launched a new immersive cocktail bar experience – set in a prison.

Tucked beneath London Bridge, drinkers will find a bar behind bars. Convicts, we mean customers, will be greeted by prison wardens or prisoners and taken

“London Bridge is crying out for an immersive cocktail bar like this, we have loads of original exciting ideas to introduce in the future.

“The prison is set in Lake Havasu Penitentiary as Lake Havasu is where the original London Bridge was moved to in 1968, so this seemed fitting.

“We are hoping Slammers becomes a ‘must do’ for Londoners and those visiting our capital city from across the UK.”

www.slammersbar.co.uk

Slammers, 2-4 Tooley Street, SE1 2SY

SLAMMErS

Igloo Flowers

The Igloo team have been creating bespoke floral wonders from their workshops and branches in bustling Bermondsey street and vibrant Clapham Junction for over fifteen years.

Now open: our Urban Garden Centre at 64 Druid street SE1 selling a huge variety of garden and indoor plants, pots and homewares.

Serving up lipsmackingly good cocktails, wine, ale and free range chickens.

Thursday 5-11pm | Friday 5-11pm | Saturday 12-11pm | Sunday 12-6pm 07539 142389

Now serving fabulous brunches 12-4pm Saturday and Sunday

The Flower Pitch

Bermondsey St / Tanner St park

iglooflowers.com 07497 190613

Beautiful chirashi sushi bowls and dashi, freshly prepared to order on Bermondsey Street

126 Bermondsey Street, London SE1 3TX

Available on Deliveroo. omoide_uk/

For more details, please contact us on info@poulet37.co.uk

Poulet, 37 Maltby St, London, SE1 3PA

126 Bermondsey Street, London

Igloo Flowers 64 Druid St, SE1 2HQ

Bitesize

Eliza Frost

Crol & Co new location

This summer, Crol & Co opened their largest home yet, and have been welcoming customers for coffee and café vibes all season.

Continuing their continental style, they’ve been busy slinging out food from dawn ‘til dusk. From a flat white in the morning to brunch to keep you fuelled and after-work drinks with a side of loaded fries – they’ve got you covered.

They’ve also partnered up with a host of local producers to bring you the largest selection of Bermondsey craft beers on tap on Bermondsey Street.

And for fun… there’s a Bonzini foosball table. Goal! www.crolandcocoffee.com

9 Tanner Street, SE1 3LE

kachori at Elephant Park

New restaurant Kachori has opened at Elephant Park, serving ingredients-focused dishes from the heart of the North Indian regions of Rajasthan, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Delhi.

Kachori is where the culinary traditions of North India melt with South East London. Styled with the colours of the subcontinent, here you can enjoy deep and intense flavours, sip chai and embrace the warmth of Indian hospitality. kachorirestaurant.com

12 Ash Avenue, SE17 1GQ

taste of italy on Bermondsey street

When you visit Baccalà, you feel their passion for creating authentic Italian food. They want to create dining experiences “true to our roots”. With a seasonal menu showcasing fresh seafood and produce, they are transporting Italy’s heart – and flavours – straight to SE1.

This season, the menu boasts dishes of frittura di calamaretti (black baby squid, saffron mayo), capesante, melone, erba ostrica, limone e panzanella (raw scallops, melon, oyster leaf, lemon jelly, panzanella) and spaghetti ‘mancini’, vongole, fiore di zucchina (spaghetti with clams, courgette flower) to name a few that tickle our tastebuds.

With its own olive oil menu, too, it’s the perfect place to go to tear and share a basket of bread and experience the different tastes of olive oil from the varying regions of Italy.

They also have a wine shop, with a curated list featuring a selection of Italian wines from small, independent producers, “who respect and love their territory”, they say.

Mangiamo! Let’s eat!

www.baccalalondon.co.uk

194-204 Bermondsey Street, SE1 3TQ

sake brewery and bar comes to sE1

KANPAI London Craft Sake Brewery moves to new premises on Druid Street. The relocation brings a new and unique taproom to the top of the Bermondsey Beer Mile, as the sake trend grows in the UK.

After seven years of pioneering the UK craft sake scene in Peckham, KANPAI is expanding its brewery –and its sake production.

The new premises will include a modern taproom bar with 10 dedicated sake draft taps pouring the freshest sakes straight from the tanks, as well as seasonal Japanese cocktails, craft beers and Japanese spirits.

Keep an eye out for KANPAI’s launch events in the lead up to World Sake Day on 1 October.

kanpai.london

Druid Street, SE1 2EZ

stuck on sticky mango

Sticky Mango Tower Bridge is the newly opened flagship restaurant and event space by chef patron Peter Lloyd.

Diners can expect Sticky Mango’s signature morsels on the new menu, along with premium dishes to inject flavour and awaken your senses, transporting you to the bustling streets of South East Asia.

www.stickymango.co.uk

36C Shad Thames, SE1 2Y3

unveiling the wallet-Friendly delights of Elephant Park

Discover the great deals that unlock a world of global cuisines, bottomless brunches, and wallet-friendly options all under £10, thanks to the new deals unveiled by Elephant Park at Elephant & Castle. Whether you consider yourself a bona fide foodie, constantly in search of delectable dishes, or a dedicated wellness fanatic, Elephant Park is here to cater to your desires. What better way to spend a wonderful spring day at the leafy Elephant Park and Elephant Spring, and treat yourself to great deals across an incredible range of restaurants, retailers, and beyond.

Food and drink

1. Rosy Hue Weeknight cocktail offer - Enjoy two cocktails for £14 from 4pm-7pm Monday to Friday and all night on Thursdays with delicious bites from brisket loaded chips to crispy buttermilk chilli squid. Order from here and you can enjoy bottomless tea and coffee for just £6, every weekday until 5pm.

6 Ash Ave, Elephant and Castle SE17 1GQ

2. Feed The Yak two tacos for £5 every Friday.

3. Cheeky Chicos margaritas and daiquiris for just £7 during Happy Hour. from 4pm-7pm, Monday to Friday.

4. Little Louie Scrumptious cakes or pastries with an iced coffee for £7.

5. Koi Ramen every dish at this slurp worthy Japanese ramen eatery is

less than ten pounds, including soup-less tossed noodles and grilled dumplings.

6. Tasty Jerk

Caribbean cuisine – think mouth watering jerk chicken, escovitch fish or curried goat for a tenner. All dishes are served with vegetables and rice or salad.

7. Bobo Social

Have you discovered their incredible Skin Drinks - made of cold pressed fruit and vegetables, and blended with ingestible cosmetics such as Hylauronic acid and Marine Collagen - all under £8!

Coffee Lover Rejoice

Another must-try for coffee lovers - who are spoilt for choice with classic coffee drinks made using buttery Monmouth espresso beans at Hana Coffee, sitting pretty under the Tree House and Hej, the coffee connoisseurs who roast their beans to perfection.

12. 400 Rabbits

Don’t miss Tenner Tuesday when a pizza and beer can be enjoyed from £10 all day long. pints of house craft beer, house wine and house cocktails for £5 Happy Hour (4pm-6pm daily).

13. Kiki & Miumiu

independent Asian food market you’ll find a plethora of Chinese, Japanese and Korean foodstuffs. From fresh ingredients to cupboard staples.

14. Pot & Rice

Great bites from classic Chinese, Japanese and Korean dishes - express lunch menu available from 12pm-4pm Monday to Friday and offers a variety of flavour packed dishes for just £9.50. Our favourite is the fried chicken with spicy mayo on steamed rice.

thinGs to do

1. SideQuest

Visit this UK’s largest gaming hub from 12pm-5pm Monday to Friday and enjoy an hour of gaming in any area with a regular bubble tea for a tenner.

3. SoLo Craft Fair

This independent gift store hosts over 60 small businesses every month with unique charming gifts, many under £10.

4. Tempo

fantastic introductory package to newcomers – 3 Tempo HIIT classes for £10, to be used across four weeks!

Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle all the way...

All good things are worth a wait, and one of the best things is the Annual Christmas Fair at The Finnish Church in London!

Mark down the dates:

Fri 24.11 12-20, Sat 25.11 12-18

Sun 26.11 12-18, Fri 1.12 12-20

Sat 2.12 12-18, Sun 3.12 12-18

Please follow us on www.finnishchurch.org.uk

Twitter: @Lontoonkirkko

Facebook: Lontoon merimieskirkko

Instagram: @Lontoonmerimieskirkko

Finnish church in London. 33 Albion Street, SE16 7HZ

The Last Talisman

Eliza Frost

THE

1 Why did you want to become a chef?

I’ve had a deep passion for cooking since I was a child, and owe this passion to my father, who had been working in Asia for many years. Thanks to him, I had the incredible opportunity to visit China at a young age, and it was there that I truly fell in love with cooking.

Inspired by the experience, I embarked on a journey to study Asian cuisines and cultures, and after graduating from Boscolo Etoile Academy in 2014, I decided to relocate to London, where I have been working across various Asian restaurants since.

2How would you describe the ‘Talisman Twist’?

My culinary approach and techniques revolve around utilising simple yet the finest ingredients to ensure the best possible quality. I strive to create harmonious and contrasting taste combinations that amplify the sensory experience.

By carefully selecting the complementary and contrasting elements, I aim to maximise the sensation of each dish I create. So, the Talisman Twist embodies my techniques, with a fusion of Asian flavours.

3What ingredient do you think elevates any dish?

Goma sauce. Also known as sesame sauce or sesame dressing, it’s a versatile and delicious condiment commonly found in Asian cuisine. It’s a nutty and slightly sweet flavour, along with a tangy kick, and it makes an excellent accompaniment for a wide range of dishes.

It’s often used as a dipping sauce for various appetizers, as a dressing for salads, or as a sauce for noodles and vegetables. Its ability to complement both cold and warm dishes makes it a popular choice for all seasons.

Whether you use it with a fresh green salad, as a dipping sauce for sushi, drizzled over cold noodles, or served alongside grilled vegetables, Goma sauce adds a delightful taste that can elevate any dish it accompanies.

4 If you could form your perfect menu from the new dishes – what would it be?

I’d choose the pork belly and salmon teriyaki large plates and the asparagus side as my perfect menu of dishes from our à new la carte menu.

5 Lastly, which cocktail would you choose to have alongside your chosen menu?

The Nemesis Margarita – The Last Talisman’s bar team’s spin on a margarita using Ocho Blanco tequila. It has a spicy kick from the added hot sauce, with a citrusy twist from the lime, pairing perfectly with any of the dishes from our new menu with their highlighted Asian ingredients incorporated.

thelasttalisman.com

171-173 Bermondsey Street, SE1 3UW

BiSCuiT SiTS DOWN WiTH HEAD CHEF AT THE LAST TALiSMAN, FrANCESCO BrACCiNO, TO FiND OuT ABOuT THE SE1 rESTAurANT’S NEW à LA CArTE MENu

A small, cosy and intimate wine and cocktail bar opening soon at No 92 Bermondsey St.

We will be serving delicious small French plates alongside a sensational wine selection.

We look forward to welcoming you all.

A Bientôt

greystar –long term investors in Bermondsey

grEySTAr iS THriLLED TO HAvE STArTED Our WOrk ON BErMONDSEy’S HiSTOriC BiSCuiT FACTOry SiTE, TAkiNg THE FirST STEpS TOWArDS DELivEriNg THE LONg-AWAiTED BErMONDSEy prOJECT. NEW HOMES, OFFiCES AND SHOpS WiLL TrANSFOrM THE SiTE iNTO A viBrANT DESTiNATiON.

‘Biscuit Town’ was once a bustling hub of activity and an iconic symbol of Bermondsey’s industrial past. At its peak, the former Peek Freans Biscuit Factory produced nearly 100 million biscuits in a three-month period during 1912 and employed over 4,000 people during its lifetime.

The Bermondsey Project will deliver new housing and create a mixed community that will bring the site to life for the next generation. New rental homes, offices, shops and cafes, alongside new parks and play spaces, will be woven together by new connections for the whole neighbourhood and visitors to enjoy.

Through our build-to-rent approach to development, Greystar is committed to becoming a long-term member of the Bermondsey community. We want to support the fantastic community that make Bermondsey a great place to live and to visit.

With our community investment programme, we have been supporting events with partners including the Blue Bermondsey Market, Bermondsey Carnival and Bankside Open Spaces Trust Festival. We’ll also be running our own events programme, inviting everybody along to join the fun at outdoor film nights, concerts, market days and more - so watch this space! Or even better, sign up via our website to our mailing list (details below) so you don’t miss out on upcoming events and

development progress.

Through construction and delivery, hundreds of apprenticeships, training opportunities and jobs will be created and we’re working hard to ensure that these are filled by local people.

Bermondsey is truly a place for everybody, and we are excited to see the long-awaited, shared vision for its future beginning to take shape.

The latest

Since purchasing the site in October 2022 from Grosvenor, we have identified some areas of the approved planning application that could be improved. We have recently submitted a planning application to Southwark Council to make some minor changes to the previously approved plans.

Thank you to all those who shared your feedback at the doorstep, on Saturday mornings down at Blue Bermondsey Market or at our consultation events on site. We are grateful for all these conversations

and your input. You can read more about our plans on our website or view the full application on the Southwark Council website.

Like you, we are keen to see the Bermondsey Project delivered as soon as possible. That’s why, alongside our planning application, we have also started work onsite. In July, we started work to deliver new infrastructure which will ultimately serve the new homes and businesses. We have also started work to prepare for the demolition of the old Compass School buildings, which will start once Compass School move into their brand-new school building. This work will continue through the rest of 2023, with wider construction set to begin in early 2024, and we’re committed to keeping you up to date with our progress and ways that you can get involved.

Greystar is a real estate agent and developer with nearly 30 years’ experience investing, delivering, and managing rental housing. We are responsible for delivering over 4000 residential units across the UK and have a strong track record of investing in the community and delivering long-term value for residents.

“Over the past year we’ve been getting to know Bermondsey locals and I wanted to say a big thank you for your warm welcome. Bermondsey has so much history and alongside the rest of the Bermondsey Project team I’m so excited to see this community vision being brought to fruition.” – Jonathon Armstrong, Development Director, Greystar

Get in touch!

Find out more, share your ideas or get in touch by visiting The Bermondsey Project website.

W: www.greystar-bermondseyproject.com/

E: info@greystar-bermondseyproject.com

P: 020 3900 3676

Greystar at the Bermondsey Carnival 2023

Future view into the Bermondsey Project site from the railway arches.

Infrastructure upgrades started on site in July 2023.

The

Dish

DiSAppEAriNg DiNiNg CLuB’S SEA BrEAM

“For me, the sea bream is the standout plate of food – for both of the pubs; Simon the Tanner and The Dartmouth Arms. The dish’s versatility also makes for a great choice for dinner parties, helping to make it an easy Disappearing Dining Club classic.

“A simple but balanced dish made up primarily of just three ingredients; the (often understated) guild head bream, beautifully caramelised fennel, and smoky and spicy chorizo. All brought together with a subtly pungent saffron aioli.

“Visually pleasing; delicate but meaty. The whole dish is cooked in one pan so that all the flavours come together as one, while still retaining their own unique identity.

“An honest, comforting, tasty pub favourite, I’m sure that the bream will continue to be a bestseller every time it is featured on any of our menus.”

Fred Bolin, head chef at Disappearing Dining Club www.disappearingdiningclub.co.uk

Simon the Tanner, 231 Long Lane, SE1

personalised coffee from NyC to SE1

Eliza Frost

Right by London Bridge station sits the Roasting Plant, where coffee beans are roasted in front of you and brewed for your order within 60 seconds.

They use Javabot technology to roast coffee beans, which was developed in owner Mike Caswell’s garage. From the Lower East Side of New York City, the Roasting Plant has expanded its technology across the globe.

The roasting machine sends beans from the vats into tubes that snake across the ceiling and over your head, into the roasters by the counter. These are programmed to create the perfect conditions for each bean, they say.

Genevieve Kappler, director of coffee at the Roasting Plant, tells The Biscuit: “Micro-batch roasting the beans on site in the Javabot means we get to openly display the entire process of transformation, from the green beans lined up in their raw form to the roasting, where they change in colour, shape and size in the Javabot.

“This is where the magic happens, and the taste and flavours from the origins come alive.”

You can choose beans from eight single origins, sourced and purchased directly from farms across the world from Jamaica to Ethiopia and Sumatra – and you can pick a blend of up to four for a truly personal coffee experience.

Kappler says Mexico is a staff favourite: “It’s velvety sweet making for an incredible singleorigin espresso, with a floral front and milk chocolate core for an impeccable overall balance. On top of that, it’s also empowering women producers from the region of Zongolica.

“The women there are a model for us all, they teach us the meaning of the word determination; they’re headstrong and keep fighting.

“We’ve just received the 2023 crop and it comes from four women – Reyna, Rita, Edith and Sara.”

roastingplant.co.uk

4 Borough High Street, SE1 9QQ

©David Robson

Making drinks for These Days

Eliza Frost

Lazy jazz plays in the background, drips of condensation form as the hot Bermondsey beer mile air meets the icy spritz I’m sipping.

Across the booth is one-third of the brains behind spritz-makers These Days, Alex Beausire, who’s explaining the concept behind the drinks brand – and now beer mile bar, where they make and sell their ready-to-go spritzes (can or bottle), with a small selection of aperitivo classics and bar snacks on the menu, too.

The idea first came about when Oli, another of the trio (with Jonny completing the set), “fell in love with this style of drink” – and now, These Days has turned two.

Beausire tells The Biscuit: “It’s not a drink to get drunk, it’s about drinking for taste, drinking for flavour, it’s about drinking in a way where people come together and enjoy the moment. It’s not just about sinking as many pints as you can, it’s about drinks that encourage people to drink in a certain way and hang out, talk to each other, and have long evenings enjoying each other’s company. Oli really loved that style of drinking, and he wanted a way to bring that to more people.”

And that’s the exact vibe they’re brought to the bar, low lights and plants dotted about, like you’re in a friend’s living room ready to spend the night picking at olives and losing yourself in conversation.

They want to “make the aperitivo accessible”, and they want you to know what’s in them. Other spritzes are full of “bad prosecco and sugar”, but These Days want to make drinks that “are refreshing and bitter, that you want to drink on a hot summer’s day”, says Beausire.

Made on site under the arches of the beer mile, These Days’ Sundown Spritz has a deep, citrusy blood orange and chinotto flavour, and the Venetian is a reimagination of the classic Venetian Bellini, full of bitter peach flavour with a sweet nose and a long-lasting dry finish – and both have a session ABV, meaning you can sip away all evening.

Finding a location on the beer mile was a “happy coincidence”, says Beausire. How has it been since setting up shop? “It’s been busy, and it’s been validating seeing people come here and experience the way that we want people to drink, in a more considered way. We have beers on taps, but we sell them in just under two-thirds and people have been really receptive to that. We’ve really enjoyed it,” he tells us.

“And being in Bermondsey has been fantastic, being around so many great businesses doing interesting things with food and drink. We get our meat down the road and

cheese from Neal’s Yard Dairy. It’s a good place to be.” What’s next for These Days? “The summer has been fantastic, it’s been buzzing,” says Beausire. “In the winter, we’re looking to change the menu and start doing food at some point. We’re going to put a kitchen in and offer small plates. If we’re doing food, it’s got to reflect the spirit of what we’re trying to do with the drinks. Finding food that is true to the same principle of refreshing simplicity, and easy for people to enjoy together and have a small aperitivo moment.”

thesedaysdrinks.com

100 Druid Street, SE1 2HQ

 ©Teo Della Torre

 ©Teo Della Torre

BOOKTODAY ANDRECEIVE 10%OFF

LIGHT UP YOUR WORLD THIS CHRISTMAS!

EXPERIENCE AN ELECTRIFYING CHRISTMAS PARTY AT MAGAZINE LONDON. CONVENIENTLY LOCATED ONLY 10 MINUTES AWAY FROM CANARY WHARF. ENTER INTO A NEON URBAN WONDERLAND, WITH TOWERING CEILINGS AND STUNNING PANORAMIC VIEWS OF THE THAMES, CANARY WHARF AND THE CITY BEYOND.

Bermondsey Street Festival returns for 2023

Eliza Frost

Back again for SE1 fun is the Bermondsey Street Festival – following a last-minute cancellation last year, the festival is returning for 2023 boasting all of your favourites. And don’t miss a special jazz performance in Bermondsey Square, too.

At this year’s “village fete in the city” you’ll find:

Food stalls

the famous dog show

maypole dancing

Bermondsey Lock

rin tin theatre

morocco Band

hot Jazz Books & beers

The Bermondsey Street Festival is on Saturday 16 September from 11am-7pm. bermondseystreetfestival.org.uk

Tanner Street Park, SE1 3GS

BestBermondsey pooches back with a bark

the Entry Classes…

the Lily award

Best Pedigree bitch

the Eddie award

Best Pedigree boy

the albie & Benny Best Pup dogs under 6 months old the holly award Best mash-up and/or rescue the augusts & nelly Bear award anything goes, fancy dress, best trick, best 6 legs

the top two pups from each class go through to Best in show!

The winner will receive £75 towards a Holly & Lil dog collar of their choice. There will be small prizes for all runners-up, too. Losing entrants will receive a “WE WOZ ROBBED” rosette.

And there will be a free pack of ByBenji treats for all entrants and 10% off all collars, leads and harnesses at Holly & Lil.

Leathermarket Gardens, SE1 3HP

Registration starts from 11am at Leathermarket Gardens and is limited to 20 a class.

FETE IN THE CITY

IT’S TIME TO HAVE SOME FUN!

SATURDAY 16.09.2023 11AM–7PM

TANNER STREET PARK BERMONDSEY SQUARE DONNA & THE DOGS

A plethora of musicians to perform a mixture of jazz, blues and grooves.

Laze around soaking up the finest cuisine and drinks accompanied by the live music curated by Event Horizon.

Come along to Leathermarket Gardens for the traditional family fun of the Maypole and the Holly & Lil dog show.

FOLLOW US AND HASHTAG YOUR VISIT

#BermondsStFest

For more information on how to get involved get in touch: hello@bermondseystreetfestival.org.uk

bermondseystreetfestival.org.uk

SE1 Treasure Trove

ALESSANDrO pALHArES AND MiCHAEL MCgrATH HAvE ruN BErMONDSEy STrEET’S TrOvE167 SiNCE 2007. THE BiSCuiT FiNDS

OuT MOrE ABOuT THE SpECiALLy CurATED STOrE

The Biscuit: Tell us about TROVE167…

Alessandro Palhares and Michael McGrath: TROVE167 is an ever-evolving curated collection of eclectic finds and one-off pieces. It is a shopping experience at its best, a real find! Offering amazing accessories, interior pieces and exclusive, limited menswear pieces designed by Michael.

Although it is a very small and unassuming shop, we manage to beautifully and creatively pack the space with all sorts of "treasures" and curiosities, pieces that we carefully source – ranging from practical novelty to contemporary, reclaimed and some antique pieces. The shop also offers creative consultation for interiors. If you don't find it here, you won't find it anywhere else.

Tell us about your journey to TROVE167?

As one of the first independent shops on Bermondsey Street, we are proud to say that we not only saw the area transform throughout the years but we were part of it. We established TROVE167, originally named Bermondsey167, in 2007.

Michael moved to the area in 2000 and instantly spotted an opportunity to create a unique concept store to reflect the historic side of the area at the same time as offering something new to the emerging demographic.

How do you select the items you sell? What do they have in common?

We mix our own design creations with interesting finds, most of these reflect our personalities which differentiate us from the high street competition. Creativity, innovation and sustainability are key factors to the TROVE167 aesthetic, something we have always believed in as our concept.

The key to our business is not following trends, but simply believing in what matters to the customers. We are very selective with the quantities of the pieces we stock, ensuring our clients will always find something new and unique.

And what about the Treasure Trove – what is so special about the beautiful items found here?

Eliza Frost

 Alessandro left, Michael, right

Treasure Trove is our exciting collection of special finds and one-off pieces. It is a department very close to our hearts and, although we have a representation of it online, nothing substitutes a visit to TROVE167.

Each carefully selected gem shows the shop’s uniqueness serving as basic inspiration for the product we buy and the creative way we showcase it.

We aim to portray a sort of “cabinet of curiosities meets contemporary lifestyle”, but the mix can be overwhelming and at times misunderstood by some who frequently mistake us for an Antique Emporium or second-hand shop.

Labels apart, most of the time customers are surprisingly wowed by what they see and buy, and that is reassuring.

Can you explain the typical customer at Trove and why they shop with you?

Our client base at TROVE167 varies from the young and curious to the elderly and even more curious. We tend to attract customers who are looking for something different from what they would find on the high street. Creative and artistic people with good taste, who visit the street’s art galleries.

The locals know the importance of supporting independent businesses and keep returning, guaranteed to always find what they are after. We also have tourists, who are attracted by the shop window displays and scent within.

What do you love about being located on Bermondsey Street?

Bermondsey Street has this sort of village community vibe, which makes it distinctive and gives it an “out of the city” feeling situated in SE1. We have lived in the area for 23 years and seen astonishing changes, most for the better.

The street has an amazingly proud sense of community and, when strolling down Bermondsey Street’s narrow and uneven pavements, the industrial warehouse conversions are a constant reminder of its amazing historic heritage in harmony with the current day.

What other businesses around the area do you always recommend?

The White Cube gallery is a must! And we make sure to experience the exhibitions from day one, we like the inspiration and the cultural knowledge, which sparks interesting exchanges with our customers.

Bermondsey Street has become a gastronomic destination offering authentic and diverse options for every taste, too. Many clients ask for recommended places to eat or have a coffee. We like Flour and Grape for fresh handmade pasta and Pizarro for sharing tapas, both places have proven to be consistent. At Giddy Grocer you can pick up some great fresh pies and vegetables, and then we have the quirky and longtime neighbour Fuckcoffee, perfect for a caffeine fix.

trove167.co.uk

167 Bermondsey Street, SE1 3UF

“Bermondsey Street has a village community vibe, which gives it an ‘out of the city’ feeling situated in SE1”

www.forbesandlomax.com London

combines bouldering, functional fitness, speciality coffee, craft beer and great pizza.

www.the-font.co.uk/borough Unit 1b, Triptych Place, 185 Park Street, Bankside, London, SE1 9BL

e: info@the-font.co.uk t: 020 8161 4450

50% off Introduction to Bouldering coaching sessions.

Use promo code: NEWCLIMBER3

Book here: Wandsworth: www.the-font.co.uk/wandsworth/timetable/intro-to-bouldering Borough: www.the-font.co.uk/borough/timetables/intro-to-bouldering

World class indoor climbing wall in Borough, SE1.

the people making Canada Water work for them

As we step into autumn, we take a look at how people in the area are making the most of opportunities created by the Canada Water development. Here we focus on the local talent fronting new life sciences and innovation hub Paper Yard, and on how the Canada Water Connect service is helping to plug local people of all ages into the fast-evolving economy.

Navardo and Angela hit the ground running at Paper Yard

Bermondsey residents Navardo and Angela have taken up new roles in the recently completed Paper Yard life sciences facility, located off Quebec Way. Navardo is Paper Yard’s property manager, overseeing the facilities and ensuring occupants have everything they need. Angela works alongside him as the frontof-house lead and is the first port of call for any visitors.

Navardo’s family have been residents in the area for nearly 20 years and he himself has lived here for the past eight years. He brings over a decade’s experience in facilities management to Paper Yard and is excited about what’s happening in the area.

He says: “Having a career in Canada Water was a nobrainer – I get the chance to work locally whilst being part of this once-in-a-lifetime regeneration project.”

Angela has lived in Bermondsey her entire life and sees it as an inclusive and diverse place to live, work and explore. She started volunteering at Southwark Works during the pandemic, and was later offered a role as their Construction Apprenticeship and Training Advisor, which is how she discovered the Canada Water development. Angela says she was amazed by the work that British Land are doing “to empower Southwark residents into jobs and training, as well as bringing much-needed development to an area that’s often been overlooked, while still retaining the heritage of the area”.

She says: “I’m so excited to see this new building come to life and be part of its journey. I can’t wait to see the rest of Canada Water come forward and I’m extremely proud of being part of such an iconic development.”

Helping to place both Navardo and Angela in their roles, Canada Water Connect (CWC) is a partnership between British Land, the developer behind Canada Water, and ELBA, a charity with 30 years’ experience in enabling businesses to support their community. CWC is a free service connecting local people to the new opportunities being created by the Canada Water development.

These include:

• New jobs and apprenticeships

• New learning and skill development opportunities

• Support for local entrepreneurs and businesses to grow

• New community initiatives

The team are committed to helping local people find meaningful sustained employment as part of the development. To date, more than 90 people from the local area have found long-term work on the development, including 36 apprentices.

To find out more, view the many employment and training openings currently available, list opportunities you are offering locally, or register for updates, visit: www.canadawater.co.uk/connect or email: connect@canadawater.co.uk

Lovely Low Line Louie

Akiosk of coffee and cocktails, Low Line Louie sits close to London Bridge station seasonally, serving SE1 locals from sunrise to sunset. Founder Chris Greenwood tells The Biscuit all about Louie the third…

The Biscuit: How did Low Line Louie arrive at London Bridge?

Chris Greenwood: Low Line Louie is the third in a series of sites in South London serving coffee by day, with our own baked bread and pastries, and alcohol by night, alongside local guest chefs throwing supper clubs and holding down residencies.

We were approached by Team London Bridge and Southwark Regeneration to take on a revolutionary new structure built on wasteland – which recently won a Professional Temporary National Civic Award. Holyrood Street will soon be pedestrianised and we will be at the gateway of the Low Line!

Have you made friends with any neighbours, and where would you recommend nearby?

Our neighbours Nine Lives (a legendary bar and awesome tacos) and Fully Charged (the ultimate electric bike shop) have been very welcoming; James Donnelly of Bermondsey Bar & Kitchen cooks honest British fare; José Pizarro is the undisputed king of Spanish food at both his spots, José and Pizarro, and my good friend Eric Yu at The Last Talisman knows how to throw a good party.

Tell us about your seasons…

As we have no indoor area, and we are not fans of outdoor gas heaters, we hibernate from mid-October to mid-April each year.

What does your partnership with Redemption Coffee bring to Low Line Louie?

We have been working with Redemption for five years now. As well as roasting great coffee, their social model working with young offenders is exemplary and they help train our baristas to high standards.

What do you think are the perfect ingredients for a toastie?

with tEam London BridGE

LONDON BriDgE COMMuNiTy

First and foremost, it’s the sourdough we bake in-house at our bakery at Louie Louie on Walworth Road that carries the swing! Personally speaking, it’s got to be tuna in olive oil, freshly made mayo, mild cheddar and pickled chillis.

Where are the other Louie locations?

Louie Louie on Walworth Road, Little Louie in Elephant Park – where you’ll also find bike shop Fix Your Cycle (which works with the prison service in a

similar manner to Redemption Coffee), craft shop SoLo Craft Fair, and Vintage Matters furniture – and South London Louie on the Camberwell/Peckham border as part of the South London Gallery, where we also host weekly supper clubs with up and coming chefs.

What’s next for Low Line Louie?

We look forward to the pedestrianisation of Holyrood Street and the opportunity to operate a food truck in

front of the kiosk, a bit like Nine Lives do with their excellent Tigre Tacos truck.

Can you leave us with a secret?

Cat Nip: Our neighbour regularly brings her cat to our daily 5pm to 6pm, 2 for £12, cocktail happy hour. louielouie.london

7 Holyrood Street, SE1 2EL

Eliza Frost

A-list offering at B Street Deli

Eliza Frost

THE BiSCuiT SiTS DOWN WiTH JEAN CLAuDE, MANAgEr OF B STrEET DELi, TO FiND OuT MOrE ABOuT WHAT’S ON OFFEr, iTS SpOT ON BErMONDSEy STrEET AND THE pErFECT DELi pAiriNg

The Biscuit: What does B Street Deli offer?

Jean Claude: Our offer is huge. We open at 8am but we have regulars coming in before that. They come Monday to Sunday and they are like family. As soon as they come in, we prepare their order without asking.

From 8am to 11am, the offer is mainly coffee, toast, bacon or sausage bap with a fried egg or plain. From 11am to 4pm it is more coffee, plus salad boxes, grilled salmon or chicken, sausage rolls, spinach rolls, vegan rolls, chicken and mushroom pie, steak and ale pie, tortilla, quiche, sandwiches made fresh every morning, and more.

After 4pm, we also have cheese platters, charcuterie and antipasti.

All day long, we are famous for our pastries, cakes, cookies, and muffins, and we sell the best Canelé in central London.

What are your most popular wines?

The most popular wines at the deli are Chenin Blanc, Malbec, Pinot Noir, Merlot and Verdejo.

Who is the typical B Street Deli customer?

The typical customer at the deli is a regular. They love our offering, the character of the place and the personality of the staff.

We have many international celebrities but I can’t share…

Tell us how you came to head up the deli?

I started as B Street Deli’s general manager at the start of July this year. I also manage Omoide, which is a Japanese poke bowl takeaway restaurant also located on Bermondsey Street. Both businesses are owned by the same person, and Omoide was my first general manager role, which I started last year.

I was born in Stuttgart, Germany, but I grew up in Menorca, Spain. My family used to run a seafood restaurant there. I chose to become a chef and then I

specialised in pastry. I have lived in Spain, Germany, Japan, Kuwait and now here in the UK.

I’ve worked for more than 28 years as a chef. My last post was as executive pastry chef at Shoreditch House (Soho House). Before that, I was the head pastry chef at The Swan at Shakespeare’s Globe, head pastry at Plateau (D&D group) and executive pastry chef at the Luton Hoo in Luton.

After so much time working back of house, I really enjoy being out front.

What do you love about being located on Bermondsey Street?

I must admit, I am in love with the Bermondsey vibe. But the best thing about Bermondsey Street is the people. There is an amazing mix of people from the city, artists, elegant people but no snobbery, people without the rush of the city and also many LGTB+ people living around the area.

What other businesses around the deli do you always recommend?

As the manager of Omoide, too, I highly recommend the place. It is simple, healthy Japanese food. Apart from this, Pizarro is another one I love as I lived most of my life in Spain.

What is the perfect pairing in your eyes?

Cheese or charcuterie and red wine.

www.bstreetdeli.co.uk

88 Bermondsey Street, SE1 3UB

“i am in love with the Bermondsey vibe”

Annual Members’ Meeting

Tuesday 26 September 2023, from 6.30pm

Patients and members of the public are invited to join King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust’s Annual Members’ Meeting.

The meeting will be held virtually – using Microsoft Teams – and is open to anyone with an interest in the Trust, and the services we provide for patients and local communities.

There is no need to book, and you can join the virtual event from anywhere – on a computer, tablet or a smartphone. You just need to make sure you are connected to the internet.

For further information, including how to join the meeting, visit www.kch.nhs.uk or email kch-tr.FTO@nhs.net

Enriching young Lives

At Charter School Bermondsey, we believe that education must go beyond the basics so every pupil develops the knowledge, skills, values, and experiences that enable them to build successful futures. Exploring the world around us is core to this vision, so we enrich pupils’ learning and broaden their horizons through our enrichment curriculum, cultural trips to theatres and galleries, outward-bound residential programs and overseas visits.

We offer an exciting range of enrichment activities built into the timetable for every child in Years 7 and 8, with many of these continuing after school, open to all year groups so pupils can immerse themselves and enrich their learning. They enjoy options like Table Tennis, Chess, Debating or Football, providing opportunities to develop new skills, participate in competitions and show leadership by coaching others. They can learn a musical instrument; take part in performing arts; explore the Universe in Astronomy Club; or get creative with Leatherwork, perhaps visiting the Leather Technology Centre at Northampton University for added inspiration.

so whether it’s a Lake District stay, or a devicefree week on Jamie’s Farm, there is something shaped for every young person at Charter School Bermondsey.

Our values of aspiration, integrity, exploration, and resilience underpin our mission and support our pupils to become happy, independent and confident young people. These drive all aspects of school life, from our high expectations of learning to our exciting curriculum and extensive enrichment offer.

- Marcus Huntley, Principal Charter School Bermondsey Drummond Rd, London SE16 2BT www.charterbermondsey.org.uk

OPEN EVENTS 2023

Come

Our high-achievers program offers empowering experiences including The Brilliant Club, Oxford University trips, book clubs, inspirational lectures and the chance to study GCSE Additional Maths. Moreover, our pioneering Science Hub partnership with University College London connects pupils with professors at the forefront of scientific research.

We know that connecting with nature promotes positivity and enhances well-being,

OPEN EVENTS 2023

Come

Compassionate... Reflective... Inclusive... Supportive... Tra r nsformative...

ompassionate... Transformative... An 11 - 18 Church of England Girls’ School

Open Sessions 2023 pen

Open Mornings:

September 22nd and 26th, October 4th and 9th

All sessions start at 10am

Open Evening: 21st September from 6pm

(Headteacher’s talk at 7.30pm)

Sixth Form Open Evening 19th October

OPEN EVENING

Thursday 28 September 2023, 17:00 - 19:00

Drop In Sessions on Monday 2, Tuesday 3 and Wednesday 4 October 2023, 08.40 - 10.30

Please note that this event may be subject to change so please refer to our website at www.harrisdulwichboys.org.uk/admissions for confirmation prior to visiting us.

e: info@harrisdulwichboys.org.uk www.harrisdulwichboys.org.uk

The leadership of teaching and learning is outstanding

Acommunity partnership and an award winning landscape designer have joined forces to shed light on how we use the leftover materials from buildings that have been demolished.

Created in summer 2023, the Waste to Wildlife Garden in London Bridge uses recycled building materials to provide a mini green oasis where biodiversity can flourish.

Set on Great Maze Pond opposite Guy’s Cancer Centre, the Garden highlights the ways in which green spaces can offer health and wellbeing benefits, providing a colourful, plant-filled corridor for students, patients, staff and visitors.

The hard landscaping provides different habitats for a wide range of invertebrates with all the reused building materials sourced from a

5km radius of the garden site by Keltbray. Devised by urban landscape designer Darryl Moore of Cityscapes, the planting scheme features wildflowers and introduced species suited to the specific growing conditions to form a sustainable ecosystem.

Waste to Wildlife was created by Cityscapes in partnership with Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, Guy’s and St Thomas’ Charity, Keltbray, King’s College London and Team London Bridge.

You can find a walking trail to visit more green spaces in London Bridge online at atlondonbridge.com/walks.

More about the Waste to Wildlife Garden can be found at teamlondonbridge.co.uk/wastetowildlife

Thank you to everyone who joined us for the first In a Field by a Bridge festival. On the 22nd & 23rd July, artists, partners, London Bridge businesses and members of the community all came together at Potters Fields Park, St. John’s Churchyard, The Two Bridges Pub and London Bridge City’s The Scoop, to celebrate low-impact living and show how it can improve our lives and help build a greener future.

Highlights of the packed line-up included live performances and talks on a pedal-powered stage, the Parade of Pollinators led by local sculptor Andrew Logan and the creation of a giant city made from clay with the Clayground Collective. There were guest appearances from Keith Brymer-Jones and Dame Zandra Rhodes, plus the astonishing London Vegetable Orchestra entertained travellers aboard the Uber Boat by Thames Clippers. Social Enterprise Beyond Food headed up the community food offering with Feast in a Field, which saw renowned Chefs Simon Boyle

and Leon Aarts mentor 10 cooks to perfect their trademark dishes and serve them to the masses - which they did expertly with mouthwatering results.

The feast was supported by a host of partners including Brigade Bar + Kitchen, The Hilton Tower Bridge, The Lalit London, The Arches, Charlie Bigham’s, The Ivy Tower Bridge and Santo Remedio.

Planning for the next festival starts now! If you’d like to get involved we’d love to hear from you. Maybe you’d like to partner on an artistic workshop or sponsor an activity? Or you could trade at the independent market or as a street food vendor...

For more information e-mail info@inafieldbyabridge.com

In a Field by a Bridge is produced by HemingwayDesign, in partnership with Team London Bridge and Potters Fields Park Management Trust.

New garden uses recycled building materials to provide mini green oasis in London Bridge

it takes a whole community to make a new festival a success - and you made it happen!

in assoCiation with tEam London BridGE

Being Marilyn

Michael Holland

HOW DOES SOMEONE BECOME MAriLyN MONrOE?

FOr SuziE kENNEDy iT HAS BEEN A JOurNEy FrOM THE uSA TO BErMONDSEy viA pECkHAM, WiTH A LOT OF EXCiTEMENT iN BETWEEN

Suzie Kennedy’s parents emigrated to the States, where she was born. Sadly, they split up and Suzie and her mum returned to England to live in Peckham.

At some point they moved to Leather Market, where young Suzie’s childhood was spent playing a lot of knock down ginger, like any kid growing up in south-east London, and attending St George’s School before going on to the illustrious St Saviour’s & St Olave’s School.

Suzie enjoyed school and was particularly keen on English and History: “I loved learning about the amazing historical characters – I’m a geek, so wasn’t interested in the social aspect of school too much.” She left with the usual GCSEs.

On leaving college, Suzie was spotted on the street by someone in the media industry who said she looked like Marilyn Monroe. Soon after that surprise encounter, she was – in the guise of Monroe – cast in an After Eights commercial, along with Stephen Fry and Naomi Campbell. Other commercials came in – Pepsi, Guinness, Citroën –

Suzie and Liam Gallagher

In the following years, Suzie travelled the world as a Marilyn lookalike, winning top awards. She lived in Berlin for a while, and in Hollywood, where she was in films such as Blade Runner 2049 with Ryan Gosling, Me and Marilyn, JFK: Seven Days That Made a President, and The Theory of Everything. TV appearances include Britain’s Got Talent, America’s Got Talent, Come Dine With Me, The Chase and The Weakest Link. She has also performed for Madonna, Kate Moss, Simon Cowell, Prince Albert of Monaco and even Stephen Hawking. And Suzie can soon be seen in Fatal Addiction on Amazon Prime.

Now living in Canada Water, she says she loves the history of Bermondsey, its location and great parks, great food and great transport links. But when I asked, “What’s your favourite place in Bermondsey?” She replied: “My church, City Hope. It’s full of community, kindness and faith.”

The church has been a more recent move for Suzie, who says she spent much of her adult life “partying, dating, drinking and living a wild life, like a lot of people”. But then she was diagnosed with stage 3 cancer and her life immediately changed from living the high life to living with radiotherapy sessions. “The news was a shock,” she says, “and was unexpected… I believe so much can happen to you in this life, but it’s how you react to it. I have taken my knocks and fought back; I think it’s the Bermondsey spirit in me. We keep going.”

One way that Suzie dealt with how her life had changed was to join City Hope Church, on Drummond Road, and to enrol on a degree course in Theology and Counselling at the London School of Theology.

“My aim,” she reveals, “is to use my life experience and give back by helping those struggling with mental health issues”. Suzie says that she “already has placements at two of the leading mental health charities to do counselling – and I’m still doing Marilyn work”.

Suzie has been clear of cancer for six years now.

So, after a life filled with a mix of fun and trauma, and much upheaval in her formative years, I asked what have been the highlights? Her immediate answer was: “Finding my faith. All the TV shows, films and achievements in entertainment pale into insignificance in comparison to the happiness I feel knowing God has got my back.”

“it’s the Bermondsey spirit in me. We keep going.”

Sifting the Sands of time

Flicking the light switch as we enter the different rooms of Sands Films brings a new world each time.

One flick and there are pattern cuttings for giant magpie heads, two flicks and endless period drama costumes hang on rails, handmade here at the studio, ready to transport you to a time of Little Women

Three flicks and we enter a theatre room kitted out to the theme of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, bunches of grapes draped over the chandelier included.

Four flicks and the basement room reveals a cinema, with mismatched chairs and sofas you want to sink into.

Managing director Olivier Stockman shows us around each room as if it were his home: which it basically is. Stockman came to London from Paris aged 19 in 1979 hoping for a job in films and, “almost by chance”, he started working at Sands Films, 44 years ago.

The studio is “independent and fully self-contained”; and “these characteristics are essential and have been the case ever since Sands Films existed”, Stockman tells

The Biscuit

He adds: “We are based in an 18th-century warehouse. The oldest part of the building was built in 1784. It was abandoned in the ‘60s, but Sands Films took over in the mid-’70s, and it has been a working studio ever since.”

Stockman recalls when four generations once worked together at the studio at one time, passing skills from family member to family member, and generation to generation.

He says of the studio: “My favourite thing is the continuity of Sands Films and the fact that for nearly fifty years, it has delivered a continuous stream of creative outputs; not only that but it has also created employment for workers and much joy for users.”

Stockman begins to tell me of the different events Sands Films offers, external to their work for big productions on platforms like Netflix.

He talks first of the Music Room: “Sands Films always had a connection with live music and music performance in general. But during the Covid lockdown, the studio’s recording and broadcasting facilities were

made available to musicians who were deprived of their live audience, and therefore of their income.

“We offered the Music Room as accessible and open to all: without a paywall, fees or anything. All we asked is for donations from those who can afford it.”

Now, all of Sands Films’ music events are hybrid, with a live audience in the theatre and online viewers at home – but with unrestricted access remaining the same.

“Our open door policy reflects the fact that art and culture should not be treated as commodities,” says Stockman. “Music, in particular, is destined to all and should not be conditional upon a financial transaction.”

They do pay the performers a minimum guarantee and have to cover all overhead costs, but they are “very keen to keep the Music Room as a workspace rather than an entertainment venue”.

www.sandsfilms.co.uk

82 Saint Marychurch Street, SE16 4HZ

upcoming events at sands Films

21 September: Jack Gonzala-Harding

1 October: Angela Hicks stage play

12-13 October: Goodbye Jolene stage play

18-21 October: The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists

26-27 October: The Mistake

17-19 November: EFG London Jazz Festival

TuCkED AWAy iN rOTHErHiTHE SiTS SANDS FiLMS, A DOESiT-ALL prODuCTiON COMpANy. MANAgiNg DirECTOr OLiviEr STOCkMAN TELLS uS THE TALES OF THiS HiSTOriCAL SiTE

Eliza Frost

Here is a tale of some Eastern Europeans who immigrated to the UK and became Bermondsey legends. They travelled many miles across the seas and landed in Rotherhithe, with a destiny of ensuring the area’s youth were suitably dressed...

This is Lower Road around 1905 – it hasn’t changed a great deal, despite the area being bombarded in the Second World War. In the old picture, you can see the dockers hanging around, waiting to be called on for work. This side of the road is now totally redeveloped, with the Osprey Estate prominent, but the right side remains true to its original layout.

Trades come and go but Jays menswear sold jeans and jumpers here for almost seventy years. Their shop was situated just by where the lady is standing in the 1905 picture. The head of the family was Samuel Jorish, a Prussian Jew who landed here in the early 1900s (around the time when the Lower Road photo was taken).

Sam naturalised his name to Jay, much easier for locals to pronounce. His ancestors were tailors, but he went into the hairdressing business and had a barber’s shop. He made a bit of a name for himself, too.

He was so efficient with a razor that he won an award for the most wet shaves performed in one hour!

Sam’s son Alf wasn’t interested in carrying on the “fastest barber in town” tradition and found his calling in menswear. After the war, there was a glut of forces clothing that was no longer needed – all those “call ups” had returned to Civvy Street. So, what to do with so many coats, trousers and jumpers?

Alf saw an opportunity for the surplus uniforms. He repaired and sold them to the dockers as tough

The Jean Jeanies

Gosling

work clothing. The docks were exposed to all weather conditions and the work there was hard. Alf provided those heavy woollen sailors’ jumpers to keep out the cold, damp conditions – and the army trousers were tough enough to resist rough wooden packing cases, oil and rusty nails.

Besides English and the family’s native tongue, young Alf spoke twenty words in as many different languages; just enough to sell to the foreign sailors coming into the dock.

Dockers’ clothing had to be practical, anything to keep warm; so, in addition to the clothes, Alf sold them balaclavas; long johns; reefer jackets and thick socks. When a new craze for post-war kids took off, Alf was literally on the ball – Sorbo rubber balls from America were very popular and cheap enough to buy with pocket money. He had a stall down The Blue where he sold them, along with a line in repaired silk stockings – they were still hard to come by and the ladies eagerly bought them up!

As fashions changed, local boys in the 1960s wanted “bovver boots”; in the 1970s it was Harrington jackets and, in the 1980s, no lad would be seen dead without his Farah slacks. Jays supplied them all, but their stock of clothes for dockers was the mainstay. Until the docks closed. The area became one dead, depressed zone with many redundancies and poverty loomed. Undeterred, as warehouses turned into posh apartments, Alf’s sons turned to builder’s clothes and safety wear. Everyone wears denim and their huge range of jeans continued to be popular.

But now it has all gone – the Jays brothers have retired, and the shop is now a supermarket, run by a new wave of immigrants. History repeats itself.

Debra

 Lower Road with Jays on the right by woman