Enjoy classic Italian dishes made with fresh local ingredients, all served in a cozy, inviting atmosphere. Our friendly, attentive staff ensure every visit feels like home. Whether you’re relaxing on our covered terrace or inside, we promise a dining experience that is both delicious and unforgettable.
Join us for great food, great company and a warm welcome!
Leonardo Mastrofilippo, Owner Head Chef (Left) & Francesco Messinas, Owner FOH Manager (Right)
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.
We also publish the south Londoner each month, and the Greenwich and Lewisham Weekender 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.
editor Eliza Frost
Writers Michael Holland, Debra Gosling
design Lizzy Tweedale, Dan Martin, Ann Gravesen
Marketing Clarry Frewin, Katie Boyd
Media Partnerships Anthony Phillips
Finance Emrah Zeki
Managing directors Chris Mullany and Kevin Quinn
5-8 What’s on Get festive with The Biscuit’s top picks of events this season, plus Moor Beers launches The Vaults and Monkey Music discusses the power of tunes
12-14 FooD & DrinK Editor Eliza Frost visits Café François for steak frites, plus new openings in the area
16-23 PEoPlE The Kernel Brewery explains how brewing on the mile has changed over time, Token Studio invites you to get creative and Morocco Bound discusses championing the local
28-30 giFt gUiDE Shop locally this gift-giving season with these present ideas from Bermondsey and Rotherhithe
35-37 mEmorY lanE Maureen Waite tells Michael Holland about how she was a joker when she was a kid: ‘I loved to laugh. I still do’
39 historY Debra Gosling revisits the dancing joy bells and enormous puddings at Peek Frean Christmas parties of the past
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.
MiracLe On LeaKe street
Start warming up your vocal cords because this year’s Miracle on Leake Street is using the acoustics of London’s longest graffiti tunnel to create a festive singalong.
Returning to Waterloo on 5 December for its sixth year, this after-work event centres around music. The Karaoke Bug Bar, powered by Lucky Voice, will provide a Christmas soundtrack everyone will want to sing along to – with professional choirs on hand to drown out any off-key notes.
Traditional carols and festive queen Mariah have been banned and replaced by a curated track list of rock, hiphop and R‘n’B classics.
The event also includes graffiti workshops, dance performances from local Samba and Salsa troupes, quirky wreath-making, giant board games, a craft market, a group photo experience, and food and drink stalls serving up flavours from around the world. A gold, 10-foot “spray can Christmas tree” completes this festive experience.
Date: 5 December 2024 - Free
The Graffiti Tunnel, Leake Street, SE1 7NN www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/miracle-on-leake-streettickets-1073106332929
Finnish church christMas Fair
SE16’s Finnish Church is hosting its annual Christmas Fair. You’ll find Finnish Christmas treats and gifts on offer, with products from Finnish artists and makers.
Open for two weekends this festive season, visit on Fridays from 12pm to 8pm, Saturdays from 12pm to 6pm and Sundays from 12pm to 6pm.
Dates: 29 November to 1 December and 6 December to 8 December 2024 - Free 33 Albion Street, SE16 7HZ www.instagram.com/lontoonmerimieskirkko
Odd and the FrOst Giants
Unicorn Theatre presents Odd and the Frost Giants. This Christmas, follow unlikely hero Odd on an epic journey as he meets Norse Gods Odin, Loki and Thor, stuck in animal form in the human world.
They are in trouble so Odd must use all his cunning to save them, and stop the invading Frost Giants from plunging the world into endless winter.
Combining magic and humour, this festive tale is about finding friends in unlikely places, and the courage you never knew you had. A World Premiere stage adaptation by Robert Alan Evans and directed by the Unicorn’s new artistic director Rachel Bagshaw. Suitable for children aged 7 and over.
Dates: Showing until 31 December
Tickets: Under 18s £10.50 to £22.50, adults £12.50 to £31.50 147 Tooley Street, SE1 2HZ www.unicorntheatre.com/events/odd-and-thefrost-giants
eLectric Winter
Between The Bridges is kicking off its festive Electric Winter season with the best in street food and events, so fill up your stockings and head down to South Bank for a hefty dose of Christmas cheer.
Running until 22 December, Electric Winter returns for its fourth year, with outside heating, live DJs from Thursday to Sunday each week and themed craft markets from SoLo Craft Fair every Sunday.
December will see Old Dirty Brasstards and their Christmas Anthems kicking off the month in style, followed by Prosecco Supernova: The Bottomless Britpop Brunch, Barry from Eastenders brings Barrioke to Between the Bridges, and closing the season with a bang is Swiftogeddon with non-stop Taylor.
Dates: Until 22 December 2024
Tickets: Entry is free, prices vary for ticketed events
The Queen’s Walk, SE1 www.betweenthebridges.co.uk
ceiLidh at sMaLL breW beer
The Sassenachs Ceilidh Band brings you a funky mix of traditional folk music and modern grooves for Scottish Ceilidh dancing at Small Brew Beer Taproom on the Bermondsey Beer Mile.
Ceilidh dancing gets people up and celebrating and this event is for all ages and abilities. A night with The Sassenachs involves fun, simple steps that are easy to learn, with two sets each night.
An expert caller will walk you through the steps before taking to the floor and dancing along to traditional violin music with a band of whistle and guitar, and often bass and drums to give a modern twist. It all ends singing Auld Lang Syne.
Dates: 13 December 2024 and 21 March 2025
Tickets: From £9.25 70-72 Verney Road, SE16 3DH www.ceilidh.london
the bLue Winter Fair
Head down to The Blue this December for its annual Winter Fair. From 12pm to 4pm on 7 December, you’ll be able to browse stalls at the Christmas Market, enjoy music from St. James Church Choir, take part in a wreathmaking workshop, plus more traditional seasonal delights.
Moor Beer on the Bermondsey Beer Mile has launched The Vaults, a two-level space to bring you great live music.
The Vaults space initially formed part of Moor Beer’s barrel-ageing process before its potential as a live music venue became clear.
Having built up from grassroots to become an exciting independent music venue in south London, The Vaults will host bands, DJs and musicians for gigs with a jampacked diary.
Moor Beer hosts weekly events at the site, creates new beers with local and international bands, and uses a
Monkey Music classes in tower bridge and southwark
Eliza Frost
“I truly believe in the power of music,” says Evelini Quarrell, principal of Monkey Music Tower Bridge and Southwark.
“Music makes us move, music inspires us, it helps children with their vocabulary by trying to copy sounds or by trying to copy the words, and it helps them to socialise and also engage with their carer,” she explains of the importance of music classes for babies and toddlers.
portion of proceeds to donate to cancer charities. When it comes to drinks, you’ll find proper ciders, real sours and natural wine, as well as Moor Beer beers – from Old Freddy Walker old ale to Resonance Citra golden pale, there will always be something to suit different tastes.
In upcoming events, catch The Red Hot Chili Players, a tribute to the real thing, who are making their London debut on 14 December – plus lots more to look out for.
Evelini launched her Monkey Music classes during Covid and is “so pleased” to have decided to do so as she “loves what I do, and it’s such a joy to see little ones on the street looking at me when they see me and waving”.
The classes have also built a community, she has seen many friendships grow as a result of attending the classes together. After all, “we don’t just want something fun and educational, but we also want to connect with the fellow carers”, explains Evelini.
You can attend one free trial at Monkey Music and then subscribe to classes each term, and Evelini runs sessions at different locations across Tower Bridge and Southwark, all details can be found online.
With classes available for different ages and
developmental stages – Jiggety-Jig for 2- and 3-year-olds, Heigh-Ho for from 12 months and Rock’n’Roll for from 3 months.
Evelini says it is a “joy to watch them go from just observing as a baby and tracking sounds to turning two and being able to take part”.
“That’s why we say it’s a progressive curriculum because it grows with them,” she adds.
Evelini used to take her own children to a lot of classes and learned what she did and didn’t like – and now tries to “pass that on” to new parents coming to Monkey Music.
“I know exactly how I felt when I was in the parents’ shoes,” she says. “You can tell when somebody has a bad night, and you try to encourage them, or give them a bit of space.”
Bringing that expertise together with her musical abilities and local knowledge, “that’s why I like to believe I have some special classes for little ones” – and their grownups, too.
www.monkeymusic.co.uk/area/tower-bridgesouthwark
Eliza Frost
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 date: Christmas Fair - 6-8.12
2-20 Every day
Please follow us on https://britannia.merimieskirkko.fi/en/ Twitter: @Lontoonkirkko Facebook: Lontoon merimieskirkko Instagram: @Lontoonmerimieskirkko Finnish church in London. 33 Albion Street, SE16 7HZ
Saturday Sessions
Start the weekend with creative activities and performances for children aged 5 – 11, and their families (free, no ticket required).
Adapted Relaxed Sessions take place in the morning (free, ticket required).
Sat 7 Dec, Sat 11 Jan, Sat 8 Feb, Sat 8 Mar
Creative Encounters
Find a home in the heart of London with evenings of arts, music, poetry and creative activities for all.
JOIN ODD AND THE LEGENDARY LOKI, THOR AND ODIN ON AN EPIC ADVENTURE TO SAVE THE WORLD CREATIVE CAPTIONS ON ALL PERFORMANCES
For ages 7+
£3 discount on all tickets for Access Users. Complimentary ticket for personal assistants available.
bitesize
cahoots
Special delivery to SE1, after setting up in Soho, the Scoundrels have opened the Cahoots Postal Office transforming it into their latest covert cocktail hideout on Stoney Street.
Disguised behind a seemingly ordinary shopfront, step inside and you’ll be whisked away to a raucous 1940s hub, teeming with hidden controls, rattling parcels and stacks of undelivered mail. As well as an array of home-brewed hooch and cocktails featuring smuggled ingredients from distant lands.
Keep your eyes peeled as tipples whizz overhead, delivered through a network of air-powered tubes. Now that’s a first-class service.
Labelled as a shrine to wine, Quill Wine Bar has opened in Borough Yards and is the sister site to Covent Garden’s Plume Wine Bar and Brixton’s Finch.
Expect more of the same with an expansive wine menu and inventive cocktails, too. Spiral down the staircase and get in the festive spirit with seasonal delights like the Chocolate Orange Martini, with Mikolasch vodka, Triple Sec and chocolate bitters for a decadent twist.
For food, it’s got to be the Quill hotdog: the dog topped with cheese and mustard sauce, smoky bacon jam, and a kick of pickled chillies.
1 Bank End, SE1 9BU www.quillwinebar.com
oMA
OMA sits upstairs above the Greek souvla bar AGORA. Inspired by the serenity and simplicity of the Greek isles, expect bold flavours of the Med paired with a 450+ Bin wine list filled with the minerality and salinity of the sun-washed coastlines.
Food is split into breads and spreads, crudo, smalls and clay pots. Grazing as a group is a must, in order to try a wide selection of OMA’s delicacies.
The clay pots are particularly special, serving a take on the Greek dish involving stewing and orzo pasta. You can order a squid ink giouvetsi with aioli or oxtail giouvetsi with bone marrow and beef fat pangrattato.
2-4 Bedale Street, SE1 9AL www.oma.london
Taking up residency in Bridget Jones’ flat – yes, the real one from the movie – is Khao Bird upstairs at The Globe Tavern. It serves new Northern Thai BBQ dishes, plus noodles, hotdogs and triple-fried dirty chippers with Burmese smoked mutton curry (hnat). A delicious mouthful.
From the creator of Lucky Khao in Brighton, Mike Palmer, and head chef Luke Larsson, you’ll find wonderful creations like their doughnut bao, which is a deep-fried bao served with Bermondsey ice cream (choose cinnamon or coconut choc chip).
Food is inspired by the night markets of Chiang Mai, but you’ll also find IKEA-style Shan Meatballs with a Cola glaze, and Sussex vegetable Som Tam with honey from their farm.
Upstairs at The Globe Tavern, 8 Bedale Street Upstairs, SE1 9AL www.khaobird.com
kêu
In the best of worst-kept secrets, Kêu is bringing its special selection of bánh mì to Borough after success in Soho, City and Hoxton.
It brings fresh and authentic Saigon street food to London and serves noodles and rice bowls, as well as the sarnies. Opening in November, you can expect a new menu for the Borough site – and we know it will be just as delicious as its other locations.
For a taste of what’s on offer, the Bánh mì Kêu is the original bánh mì and is made with Vietnamese mortadella, homemade chicken liver pâté, spiced pork belly, mayo and ham terrine. Or the smoky aubergine stew, Cơm cà tím kho, with organic tofu, mushrooms and scallion oil.
On the side, we’re hoping for more summer rolls as well as the wonton soup.
19 Borough High Street, SE1 9SE www.banhmikeu.co.uk
Khao Bird
Eliza Frost
khao Bird
Camberwell Lodge Care & Nursing Home
REVIEW:
café François
editOr
eLiza
FrOst
visits the neW restaurant FOr a taste OF
France On stOney street
Romantic low lighting, a walk by the river, frites and petit fours. A trip to Paris? No, this is Café François in the heart of SE1.
Pairs leant over tables, couples caught drinks in the bar before heading to dinner and groups topped up each other’s glasses; it seemed everyone was enjoying stepping inside the all-day French restaurant – as well as brasserie, deli, patisserie and bakery – on this Tuesday evening.
Sliding into a booth, the wine list open in front of my friend and me, we settled on a chilled red to mark the sweet spot between autumn and winter – before warming red season gets into full swing. It was Café François’ own bottle, nonetheless.
The Café François (£35) is a Clairet from Bordeaux, made from grapes of Merlot, Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon. It was dark pink and bursting with a ripe berry character.
In stout little glasses, sipping away at this blushing red came with an ease as if we actually were by the Seine, sitting on those seats in pairs that are always facing out from cafes.
Scanning our eyes over the food menu now, within minutes we had decided on the dishes we’d share.
To start, it was a taster of the moules marinière flatbread (£10). Large mussels sat in garlic and wine sauce, which then soaked into the fluffy flatbread, creating that feeling of mopping up the leftover sauce of the classic dish.
The comté gougères (£7) saw pastry stuffed with a sumptuous cheese, melting in your mouth like small choux balls of magic.
Slivers of anchovies sat atop a slice of fried brioche with Café de Paris (£15), a buttery sauce combining herbs and spices. The richness of the butter was cut
through deliciously in this balanced and moreish dish. And lastly, slices of saucisson sec (£8) were served with a mustardy dipping sauce that I never wanted to end.
Topping up our glasses of vino, the main dishes arrived. The Café François Caesar salad (£14) saw huge leaves of gem lettuce, with dressing, croutons and caper berries. It was everything you want from Caesar, too. Rich and crunchy and the perfect accompaniment to a frites.
And the frites that were found on the plate of steak frites with sauce au poivre (£19). A full bite of steak medium-rare, a French fry and dipped in the peppery sauce was one that I wish could last forever. Steak frites is one of those dishes that is a staple for a reason – and Café François does it very well.
Dessert saw a selection of petit fours and sweet treats to the table. Macarons of pistachio and blackcurrant (£3 each) were sugary sweet with meringue and paired perfectly with the nutty taste of pistachio or the tart berry.
Following this in the fours was a dark chocolate mendiant (£3) that was rich and decadent and a pistachio madeleine (£3.50) that was light and buttery.
The day to night Café François menu is excellent. From extravagant dinner dishes of steak tartare to breakfast pastries baked fresh every morning, the location is a must-try, at any time of day.
Have nothing in your houses that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful.
~ William Morris
Engage Katherine Blackler to help you to consciously create a calm, welcoming and organised space to live or work in 3 key steps
Declutter your physical space
We’ll tackle the jobs you’ve been hiding from; whether it’s organising one cupboard, one room or the entire house.
Organise & store your belongings
We’ll create systems and processes that work for you and your family. We’ll optimise your space by devising space-saving storage products or display solutions.
Redesign your head space
By focussing mindfully on redesigning your environment, you can gain clarity on what’s important in your life and what you can let go of. Get in touch today: katherine@sortmyspace.co.uk 07914 612531 | sortmyspace.co.uk @sortmyspaceuk
Morocco bound
LOcaL beer, GLObaL Literature and events tO sParK creativity; Jesse batesOn and Grace GOOda taLK abOut this LOcatiOn’s ‘huMbLe beGinninGs’
Sat on the corner of Morocco Street is the hyphenated venue of Morocco Bound. It’s a bookshop, beer shop and events space.
It creates a “supportive environment while connecting a local network of collaborators and friends”, Jesse Bateson and Grace Gooda who work there tell The Biscuit. Events see a range of creatives invited into the space, including musicians, authors, poets and artists. You’ll find live music, poetry nights, community events, quiz nights, tastings and a book club, plus talks, comedy, film screenings, charity fundraisers and book launches.
It has “humble beginnings as a garage”, they explain, with Morocco Bound owner, architect and novelist Jonathan Dransfield transforming it into an office space, then the bookshop, then a beer shop during Covid, “until finally we were able to come back together again, and the space transformed into a thriving community hub”.
Jesse and Grace are joined by the rest of the team –Beth, Cal, Anouska, Mila, Soniya and Flynn, and owners Kath and Jonathan.
Born from an interest in publishing, it “feels important as this is, historically, the place where leather was provided to bind books”, they explain. “This is why we champion global literature and present ourselves foremost as a bookshop so that this historical connection remains.”
They say: “There are some wonderful bookshops in south east London and we are humbled to be a part of that. We try to curate our shelves to reflect all of the communities here, of which there are many. We hope that our shelves hold something for everyone, as well as a chance to learn about people outside of one’s personal community.” The space becomes a creative hub, with its amalgamation of talent, and “it’s genuinely so enjoyable,”
they say, “among the chaos and challenges of having an independent business, we are proud to build a space that feels safe, where people can express themselves creatively and collaboratively without judgement”.
Adding that they understand how important it is for people to have a “calm space to go to in the middle of this crazy city, apart from when the staff have gossip to share, then it becomes far less calm”.
Weeks at Morocco Bound contain a mixture of creative events, the core ones being poetry open-mics, comedy, jazz nights and folk sessions. “We also curate a really exciting programme of music, celebrating and showcasing musicians from all over the world whose musical styles embrace the intimacy of the bookshop,” they add.
Morocco Bound is built on collaboration, without a management structure, but that means everyone has a say
on the events they host, and everyone gets to put forward events that they are personally excited about.
“Each member of the team brings a different interest, whether that’s the music, a love of recommending books, or knowledge of local beer,” say Jesse and Grace.
And it is the “blessing of local beer in Bermondsey” that kept Morocco Bound “afloat during challenging times such as lockdown”. Having evolved into the venue it is today, customers can try a selection of locally brewed beer.
Beyond the beer, they also explains how Morocco Bound “hosts events in some of the local taprooms, which supports both communities”. They have also recently collaborated with Bianca Road Brew Co to make their very own Morocco Bound Session IPA, “which is really nice, and you should all come and try it”.
At Morocco Bound, they try to keep everything locally sourced, and add: “How lucky are we that our neighbours produce some of the best coffee in the world. We love you Extract Coffee. Also shout out to the corner shop on Bermondsey Street for supplying us with the essentials!”
And to finish, we’ve got to ask what they are currently reading… Grace is diving into Kairos by Jenny Erpenbeck, which is the November book club choice.
She chose this title to discuss because, “selfishly, it was on my reading list”. She adds that it’s an international Booker Prize winner, written by a woman, a romance and set in the Cold War – “so essentially the perfect book”. For Jesse, it’s Tremor by Teju Cole. She picked it up because “it’s a poetic take on non-fiction exploring identity, photography and history”, adding: “I’m looking forward to reading The Island of Missing Trees by Elif Shafak next because my mum said it was good.”
1A Morocco Street, SE1 3HB www.moroccobound.co.uk
GET YOUR BEER ON
Mash Paddle Brewery in Bermondsey is the ultimate destination for craft beer lovers.
With 12 rotating lines, craft cocktails and a range of table games, it’s a fantastic place to relax and meet friends. You can even try your hand at making your own beer!
SE16 & SE1 “Local’s Discount” every day. Event and exhibition space available.
Each piece handcrafted, making your Christmas gifts truly one-of-a-kind.
Step into our Bermondsey studio and find unique treasures that will be cherished for years to come.
62-66 Bermondsey Street
London SE1 3UD
+44 (0) 207 403 2800
www.londonglassblowing.co.uk @londonglassblowing
token
directOr JinG Xue
eXPLains hOW she MaKes art and creativity
accessibLe tO aLL and Why she FeeLs berMOndsey is ‘truLy insPirinG’
On Druid Street, among the breweries and bars, you’ll find Token Studio – a creative space where director Jing Xue hosts workshops with the goal of creating unforgettable experiences where you can learn new skills and connect with others.
“The essence of Token Studio is in the name itself,” she says, “creating something meaningful that can be cherished.”
Jing tells The Biscuit about how the business has evolved over the past 12 years, its home under SE1’s arches, and what creativity means to her.
The Biscuit: What is the story of Token Studio?
Jing Xue: Token Studio was born from my lifelong passion for art and creativity. Since I was young, I’ve been immersed in various forms of art – sketching, drawing, painting, crafting and sculpting. Creating with my hands has always been an important part of my life, inspired largely by my parents who nurtured my creativity.
After moving to the UK to pursue my master’s degree in art at Chelsea College of Arts, I wanted to share my knowledge and passion with others. That desire led to the founding of Token Studio, with a mission to make art and creativity accessible to all.
What is your background and how does it tie into Token Studio now?
My background spans a wide range of artistic disciplines, from traditional fine arts to hands-on crafts. My studies and diverse experiences across various media have helped shape Token Studio into what it is today.
My aim has always been to show that all forms of art and craft are interconnected. At Token Studio, I channel this belief into offering workshops that allow people to explore different creative avenues, no matter their level of experience.
You host such a wide variety of sessions; can you explain more about what you offer at Token Studio?
We offer many workshops, which are all designed to inspire creativity and make the artistic journey accessible. We cater to all ages, skill levels and backgrounds. From painting and drawing to crafting and sculpting, there’s something for everyone.
Our workshops are designed to ensure people feel that entering the creative world is easy, without needing the years of training I went through. Whether it’s learning to paint, making your own beauty products or creating pottery, participants leave with a sense of accomplishment and joy.
How do you approach the design of each workshop?
The most important part of designing a workshop is listening to what people want to achieve and then helping them realise those goals through clear, step-
by-step instructions.
Over the years, I’ve learned that the key to encouraging creativity is giving people the confidence to enjoy the process and to celebrate even small achievements.
Our workshops focus on having fun while learning something new, and I always aim to make creativity feel natural and approachable.
What is creativity to you?
For me, creativity is about freedom of expression and visualising your potential. It’s about being able to make something tangible from an idea, and it’s something that everyone can experience if given the right guidance and environment.
What type of occasion is most suited to a session at Token Studio?
People can easily book a session online to join any of our workshops. Token Studio is perfect for a variety of events, whether it’s for birthdays, weddings or corporate team-building activities. We believe in gathering people together to create something meaningful, rather than simply chatting over social media. Our sessions encourage bonding over creativity, making them perfect for any occasion where connection and fun are the goals.
It is a vibrant area filled with great energy. The street and nightlife, including the Bermondsey Beer Mile, as well as the nearby offices, residents and its proximity to London Bridge station, make it an ideal location. It’s accessible and lively, which all contribute to the creative atmosphere at Token Studio.
I love the combination of cultures and backgrounds that Bermondsey offers, too. The area is rich in history, from the vintage markets and old warehouses to the beautiful Thames riverside. It’s a unique and attractive part of London, and the diversity here is something I find truly inspiring.
76 Druid Street, SE1 2AN www.tokenstudio.co.uk
Why is Druid Street so great for what you do at Token Studio?
Eliza Frost
studio
Goldfinch creates ethical kitchens and furniture of outstanding quality and provenance. We take great pride in our craft, understanding the intrinsic role furniture plays in our homes and businesses. Our furniture is made to live life with you, built to last and created to be admired. We are a subsidiary of London Reclaimed, an employment charity established in 2011 with a passion to help young people who struggle to step up into employment.
If you’re looking for the finest handcrafted kitchens and furniture, then please do get in touch.
• Do you have any aches or pains? niggles that will not go away? Neck, back, shoulder, ankle, Headaches? Jaw Pain? Any part of your body?
• Is it interfering in your day-to-day life? Stopping you from doing the things that you Love? Walking running, gym, hobbies, playing with your children or grandchildren?
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Nobody should have to live with pain, and at SE1 Osteopath and Rehab clinic, we work with you to investigate, diagnose and treat. We get to the root cause, and get you back to doing the things you love pain-free!
We have a team of experts (Osteopaths, Physiotherapists, Reflexologist) who have extensive training and experience in their field. SE1 Osteo and Rehab clinic can help guide you back to living a healthly and happy
the Kernel brewery
Eliza Frost
the First breWers On the berMOndsey beer MiLe; FOunder evin O’riOrdain taLKs abOut Where it aLL beGan and its brand neW taPrOOM
“It means something to us to be made in Bermondsey, to be made in London, to be made locally,” says The Kernel Brewery founder Evin O’Riordain.
The brewery was established by Evin in September 2009 in a small arch on Druid Street, and it was the first of its kind in the area.
These days, we know it as the Bermondsey Beer Mile, with taprooms to enjoy a pint and brewing happening under the arches.
The Kernel Brewery celebrated its 15th birthday earlier this year, with over 12 of those under the arches at Spa Terminus.
Customers can now also enjoy sipping on a beer in the new taproom, which opened this summer with a kitchen, too. It is “really nice to see people come in who wouldn’t come in normally because there’s food”, says Evin.
At the new taproom, Yagi Izakaya is in residence in the kitchen, serving Japanese-inspired comfort food such as gyoza, udon and karaage.
Evin says having food on offer “changes the way people drink”, likening it to how when you go out for a
drink in Spain, you always have a small tapas.
“Drinking doesn’t happen on its own and there’s a joy to that,” he says.
Its Bermondsey home happened a lot because of happenstance, he says. But “what keeps us here is the sense of community” and the connections between businesses at Spa Terminus.
But where did it all begin for The Kernel Brewery? Before brewing, Evin worked selling cheese for Neal’s Yard Dairy, “one of our Bermondsey neighbours”, he says.
While travelling for work to help Neal’s Yard customers set up shop, Evin went out in New York and learned a thing or two about beer.
He says: “At that point in time in America, craft beer was a movement. It was really exciting and something I didn’t see back here in London.
“During the day, I’d be teaching the guys about cheese, this type of milk, this type of recipe, the historical importance, this is how it ties into the land that it comes from. And then they would take me out for a beer in the evening, and tell me all those things about the beer we were drinking.”
Suddenly, Evin realised he could think about beer the same way he could think about cheese, the flavours and tastes.
When he came back, he started homebrewing. He thought how, for a city this size with lots of people, “they
have no local brew to call their own”.
As brewing expanded, Evin explains how they started making an IPA, “we didn’t invent it, but it was still completely out of tune with the rest of the country at that point in time”.
He says that these days, they do “sell a lot more pale beers because people tend to enjoy them more” but adds how dark beers in London “have a more grounding essence”.
Adding: “London water really suits dark beers; it is the home of dark beer.”
Working in brewing for over a decade, Evin has seen how tastes in beers have changed. “People always say that they like the really intense, weird, crazy flavours,” says Evin, “but if you have it out sitting on a table, you might notice that the slightly cleaner, more thirst-quenching beers will probably disappear quicker.”
He adds: “We have one house yeast that we use for 90% of our beers, and that is something that you always learn to live with. You’re always making sure that the various conditions are right for it to be healthy.
And what has brewing taught him over time, too?
“We are always discovering new things,” says Evin, “either there are technical things you can learn when you talk to other brewers and there’s equipment, which is often more on the geeky side of the spectrum.”
“And although you don’t necessarily learn anything directly each time, it’s part of the relationship with something. That’s the most rewarding bit.”
OPEN SATURDAYS and 18-20TH DECEMBER Arch 8, Spa Terminus
Extraordinary British Honey, Beeswax Candles, Unique Ceramic Goods
Local people help name new streets and spaces
With the Canada Water development creating many new streets and spaces, map-makers are going to need some need some new names. Having spoken to more than 700 local people who shared what the area means to them for the ‘Naming what’s new’ project, British Land have announced the first new place names for the development.
Rafter Walk is the name for the new 170m boardwalk that opened in early November as part of the revitalised Canada Dock. In the working docks of the 19th and early 20th centuries, rafters were workers who manoeuvred timber in the water from the ships up to the ponds where it was kept to season, hopping between the floating deal planks.
Dock Office Gardens takes its name from the Dock Office, the Grade II-listed red brick building that was the hub of activity in the bustling docks, and now serves as British Land’s project hub for the Canada Water development. The gardens have been planted with more than 90 species of plants, inspired by the pioneering botanists of the 19th century, and the name is typical of Victorian place names.
Marker Way will be a new pedestrian and cycle route connecting Deal Porters Way with Lower Road, providing access to the new Canada Water Leisure Centre. It’s named after dock workers who used to mark the timber and cargo packages as they came ashore at Surrey Docks, to show where they’d come from and where they were going. As Marker Way will feature in postal addresses, British Land needed to get this name approved by Southwark Council. They also followed Southwark Council guidance when choosing the names for Rafter Walk and Dock Office Gardens.
They
London and to nature, and say it has a calm and peaceful feel.
These names reflect the ideas gathered from 22 workshops and an online consultation British Land held earlier this year. The developer worked with agencies City ID and Plot Studio to gather perspectives from every corner of the local area. Hundreds of people shared their thoughts. People said Canada Water is a hidden gem and are proud of the Docklands heritage. They value how the area is so well connected to the rest of London and to nature, and say it has a calm and peaceful feel.
pupils at Redriff Primary School. The students engaged their peers, then presented their findings to the community. They explained how young people value fun, friendship, community, relaxation and self-care.
The project also brought in the voice of the next generation via a project with Year 5
The project also brought in the voice of the
Six big themes emerged from the workshops to inspire names for new streets and spaces: Our Place/History, Our Community, Our Culture, Our Identity, Our Wellbeing and Our Secret. These themes, along with a longlist of words and phrases that relate back to them, form a framework to be used over the coming years as new streets and spaces are created. Where a new street will feature in postal addresses, British Land will select names from this framework to submit to Southwark Council, who will make the final decision on names following consultation with the emergency services.
Read more about British Land’s naming strategy in their ‘Naming what’s new’ report, available from the downloads page at canadawater.co.uk. For more on the new names, check out the website and Canada Water’s social media channels, where British Land are exploring their history and place in Canada Water
Scan the QR code to watch Redriff Primary School pupils present a video about the new names
Rafter Walk pays homage to the dock workers of the timber trade
Dock Office Gardens was chosen to fit with the space’s Victorian vibe
Alex Monroe Jewellery is inspired by nature, and the nostalgia of a childhood spent roaming the Suffolk countryside. Every piece is conscientiously designed and responsibly handmade in England by jeweller Alex Monroe, our expert team of makers and skilled long-term partners.
Bermondsey is the home of our first ever boutique, where we offer a friendly and relaxed, personalised shopping experience, and you can discover our full collection of jewellery, beautifully displayed amongst natural and handmade props.
Whether it’s exploring our range of Wedding & Engagement rings or finding the perfect jewellery gift for a loved one, we are here to help.
And our Snowsfields store opened in 2011 and is located below Alex’s award-winning design studio and workshop, so there is always a chance you will bump into Alex himself!
37 Snowsfields, London, SE1 3SU
+44 203 117 0640
Nearest Tube Station: London Bridge
@alexmonroejewellery www.alexmonroe.com
Opening Times:
Monday: 10.00 - 18.00
Tuesday: 10.00 - 18.00
Wednesday: 10.00 - 18.00
Thursday: 10.00 - 18.00
Friday: 10.00 - 18.00
Saturday: 11.00 - 17.00
Sunday/Bank Holidays: Closed
Community. Craft. Creativity.
Celebrate the season with festive fun, creativity and a sprinkle of nostalgia. With a Winter Carousel and Market Quarter brimming with mulled wine, bratwurst, and churros, discover the magic of Greenwich Peninsula.
Nostalgic Fun
Winter Carousel & Market Quarter (Nov – Jan)
Open daily 11am – 9pm
What 's on at NOW Gallery
Socks: The Art of Care & Repair by Celia Pym
6 December – 9 March
Festive Experiences
Workshops, Holiday Postcards, Live Music & More
7 December
Gisous Magnum is a deep and complex Gamay wine with black fruit notes, graphite minerality, and a long spicy finish.
Named after his grandmother, Gisous is Sylvere’s top cuvee made from 80-year-old vines planted in clay over granite and aged for eight months in old oak. It pairs well with roast chicken or oven-baked beef shank – perfect for decadent festive dining.
Price: £85
Buy in-store: 142 Bermondsey Street, SE1 3TX
rOtherhithe artWOrK by red Faces Prints
Add a piece of Rotherhithe to your home with this print by Red Faces Prints, printed on premium fine art archive paper for vibrance and longevity.
This piece of art is from a signed and numbered run of 150 limited edition prints celebrating the local area, depicting Sufferance Wharf and St Mary’s Church.
The pink, mauve and blue colourway peps up any wall in the home, from the hall or living room to the kitchen or bathroom.
Buy your loved ones a gift voucher for a bee-rilliant experience with Hiver Beers. The beekeeping and beer tasting session includes two hours of urban beekeeping and craft beer tasting in Kennington Park. Perfect for those with a love of beer, or bees.
With an introduction to bees, a 45-minute hands-on beekeeping session and then a chance to relax over a tutored beer tasting, this is sure to be a memorable day out.
Price: £58
Buy online: hiverbeers.com
rePLica the den street siGn by handsOMe siGns
This handcrafted sign captures the spirit of Millwall Football Club in a vintage London street sign style. Painted on a sturdy MDF board, “The Den” is proudly displayed in bold black lettering on a classic white background.
The sign is bordered with a sleek black frame, while the postcode SE16 is in vibrant red, paying homage to Millwall’s south London roots. Perfect for football fans looking to bring their team into the home.
Price: £26
Buy online: www.etsy.com/uk/shop/ HandsomeSigns
aLL OF JOsé PizarrO’s FavOurite treats haMPer
For every lover of Spanish cuisine, this José Pizarro Spanish hamper is full of the finest, authentic, artisan food from across Spain and a bottle of one of José’s favourite riojas, Marqués de Vargas Gran Reserva, too.
It includes Cantabrian Salted anchovies and delicious figs covered in chocolate – perfect when accompanied by a morning coffee or an evening drink next to the Christmas tree.
The hamper also includes Jamón Ibérico, Lomo Ibérico, Espinaler mussels ‘en escabeche’ (marinated in vinegar), Perelló spicy gordal olives, Ortiz tuna chunks as well as Manchego cheese.
Packed with a selection of three fresh and natural brews, the Hiver Beers Craft Beer Christmas Hamper also includes a credit card-sized bottle opener and a delicious snack.
Known for making honey beer, this hamper features all of Hiver’s best brews – the flagship Blonde, the rich and chocolatey Amber, and the crisp and refreshing IPA. All are award-winning and all are made in the UK from locally sourced ingredients.
Price: £17.50
Buy online: hiverbeers.com
berMOndsey cOrner
british hOney triO by LOndOn hOney cOMPany
A beautiful way to experience the varied colour, taste and texture of pure and natural raw honey – the British Honey Trio by London Honey Company includes three diverse 100g jars of honey. Experience just how different honey can taste based on the location and flora available to the bees, adding a sweet touch to the gift-giving season.
Price: £18
Buy online: thelondonhoneycompany.com
snOWbOardinG PenGuin necKLace
For those who like their snow with a touch of adventure, Alex Monroe’s penguin design has had a makeover. Equipped with headphones and a snowboard, it’s time to hit the slopes…
This fun, winter sports inspired necklace is part of a limited run, so move quickly not to miss out.
The piece comes on a standard adjustable 16to 18-inch chain and is handmade in sterling silver with fair mined gold-plated details in the London workshop.
Bring a little bit of Millwall’s The Den home with you with this artistic print by Beyond Creations. Printed in high resolution onto matte cardstock with frames available, this is the perfect Christmas present for any Millwall fan.
A cosy pair of socks is always a good Christmas gift idea. This pair of Isambard Kingdom Brunel socks from Brunel Museum are 80% combed cotton, 18% Nylon and 2% elastane for that perfect fit.
Wherever you’re off to in the kingdom, pair these socks with your finest double-breasted waistcoat, tails and top hat for a look that will drive you full steam ahead.
Price: £12.50
Buy online: thebrunelmuseum.com/shop
baubLes by LOndOn GLassbLOWinG
Lovingly handcrafted on Bermondsey Street, London Glassblowing’s signature glass baubles bring timeless elegance to any festive setting. Each piece is individually blown, continuing a tradition that sees a new, limited-edition bauble released annually. These delicate treasures aren’t just decorations – they’re pieces of London-made artistry ready to become cherished heirlooms.
Price: £90 per bauble
Buy in-store: 62-66 Bermondsey Street, SE1 3UD
Buy online: londonglassblowing.co.uk
and nut
the LiOn OF berMOndsey candLe by sOuth LOndOn candLes
Although the docks have long gone, the aroma of the area’s shipping history lives on in this candle with tobacco, rum and leather.
Candlemaker Mark creates luxury candles named after areas in south London. The bestselling candles are ‘The Lion of Bermondsey’ and Peckham Spring’, with 22 candles completing the whole range.
Price: £25 THE BISCUIT READERS CAN GET £5 OFF ANY ORDER WITH DISCOUNT CODE LIONS
Buy online: www.southlondoncandles.com
berMOndsey street by tOMartacus
Brother and sister design duo Tomartacus illustrate London views loved by locals, and this Bermondsey Street print captures the vibrant thoroughfare found on this SE1 street.
You’ll find The Woolpack, charming boutiques and bustling bars and restaurants pictured, including José’s tapas bar.
For more local landmarks, such as Tower Bridge, Shad Thames and Vinegar Yard, you can view the full collection online. And if you’re looking for a lastminute gift, Tomartacus is now on Deliveroo.
Price: From £20
Buy online: www.tomartacus.co.uk
London Honey Company has packed this large jar of natural Acacia Honey with delicious pecan nuts, cranberries and orange slices, creating a luxurious Fruit and Nut Honey.
Spoon over breakfast yoghurt, use in home baking or on an after-dinner cheeseboard. It’s naturally packed with additional nutritional value and is a wonderful gift for any honey lover, packaged in a tall 350g glass display jar.
Price: £19
Buy online: thelondonhoneycompany.com
Festive Fruit
hOney by LOndOn hOney cOMPany
charLOtte stOcKLey ceraMic hanGinG decOratiOns
A selection of hand-made ceramic Christmas tree decorations with leaf green ribbon hangers by Charlotte Stockley are available at Brunel Museum. You can choose from seven classic designs in black on a cream background. Ideal for hanging on the tree, or around the home, for a festive touch.
Price: £7.50
Buy online: thebrunelmuseum.com/shop
Wreath WOrKshOP With JeMiMa in the WOOds
Join florist and art botanicals tutor Jemima of Jemima in the Woods in her beautiful studio nestled in a 19th-century railway arch above Maltby Street Market for a wreath-making workshop this winter.
Escape the busyness of city life and embark on a two-hour workshop where you’ll create beautiful natural, organic wreaths while sipping on English Sparkling Wine.
Quite the treat for yourself, or to enjoy with a friend.
Get your hands on all three of KANPAI’s premium Junmai sake in one discounted trio set.
A true taste of KANPAI, this series showcases the purity, diversity and versatility of sake. The trio includes Kumo ‘Cloudy’ Nigori Junmai, Sumi ‘Clear’ Tokubetsu Junmai, and Kaze ‘Wind’ Junmai Ginjo.
The KANPAI sakes are sulphite-free, gluten-free, preservative-free and vegan.
Price: £51
Buy in-store: 48 Druid Street, SE1 2EZ
Buy online: kanpai.london/shop/junmaiseries-trio
cashMere scarves at trOve167
TROVE167 brings you an everyday essential to gift your loved ones; its unisex cashmere scarf. It is available in multi-coloured wool and cashmere weave or in plain colourways, and brings a perfect mix of style and comfort to any winter outfit.
Price: £35 to £58
Buy in-store: 167 Bermondsey Street, SE1 3UF
Buy online: www.trove167.co.uk
tOMatO, FiG and bLacK PePPer reed diFFuser by PeLeGriMs at PrOvisiOn
Inspired by exploring the English countryside through glorious and sun-drenched days, this 250ml reed diffuser by Pelegrims smells like fresh tomato vines, luscious green leaves and fig fruit, balanced with the alluring spice of black pepper.
Made in small batches using unique ingredients, it comes with a black gift box ready to give to a loved one this season.
This is a Giclée Print of a watercolour illustration painted by Ana Gallego of historic Rotherhithe pub, The Mayflower, previously known as The Spread Eagle and Crown and originally The Shippe Inn.
It is printed on watercolour paper with a lovely coldpressed surface.
The pub is even mentioned in the books Sherlock Holmes and the Murder at Lodore Falls and also The Poisoned Island.
Price: £30
Buy online: anagallegoillustrations.com
neaL’s yard dairy cOLstOn bassett stiLtOn
The Colston Bassett Stilton you get from Neal’s Yard Dairy is unlike any other Stilton on the market. In fact, it’s unlike any other Colston Bassett Stilton on the market. Neal’s Yard Dairy has worked with cheesemaker Billy Kevan for years to develop an exclusive recipe. Expect a creamier texture, more complex flavour and tastier rind. A gift for cheese lovers everywhere.
Price: £15.65 per sixteenth
Buy in-store: Arch 10, Apollo Business Park, Lucey Way, SE16 3UF
Buy online: www.nealsyarddairy.co.uk
commitment to community:
From violin lessons to construction apprenticeships, there’s something for everyone in bermondsey
c harter s ch OOL b er MO ndsey students are disc Overin G their M usica L side thr O u G h the L aunch OF the a ndre W L LOyd Webber Music in s ec O ndary s ch OOL s’ t rust (Mi sst ) P r OG ra MM e, su PPO rted by Greystar and the b er MO ndsey Pr OJ ect.
As the winter nights draw in and we prepare for the festive season, Greystar is thrilled to see the success of the new chapter for the Charter School Bermondsey, nearly one year on from opening. Children have been enjoying their musical rehearsals as a part of the MiSST programme, supported by funding from Greystar through our pilot Community Grant Fund.
Starting in September, every year 7 student was allocated their own musical instrument to embark on a three-year musical journey, with one-to-one and small group violin lessons, and instilling good practice for taking care of their new instruments.
“Every day, as we play our violins and create music together, we are filled with gratitude for being part of this incredible journey and for having Greystar onboard supporting it. The MISST project has enriched our school and ignited a passion for music in our students.” They can already confidently play Willow Waltz and Jig with a bow, as well as St. Anthony Chorale and Manhattan Blues using pizzicato. The smiles on their faces speak volumes about the transformative power of music. As one of the students, Belle O’Hara, eloquently expressed, “I like playing the violin because it makes me explore new things. I also like how we learn to take responsibility for our violins.”
Greystar is grateful for the opportunity to continue to work with and support the Charter School Bermondsey. We look forward to hearing how the pupils continue to progress and if they learn any Christmas tunes!
Thank you to all those who have submitted applications for Greystar’s most recent round
of Community Grant funding. We are enjoying reading about all of your wonderful local initiatives and will be in touch soon to confirm our successful winter applicants.
cO nstructi O n eMPLOy M ent O PPO rtunities
Beyond the classroom, we will be creating around 1,200 new jobs and training opportunities through the delivery of the Bermondsey Project. From work experience to apprenticeships to full-time employment opportunities, we have a wide variety of vacancies for local Southwark residents.
Visit our ‘Opportunity Bermondsey’ page to read about our latest training and employment listings, and to apply.
in AssociAtion with teAM london Bridge
LOndOn bridGe cOMMunity
your Festive Guide to London bridge
Donald Campbell
christMas brinGs Out the best in LOndOn bridGe. it Gives us the chance tO reveL in the attractiOns, businesses, histOry, architecture and cOMMunity that MaKe this bustLinG neiGhbOurhOOd sO sPeciaL
At this time of year, Winter by the River brings festive cheer to one of the most stunning locations in the capital. Running until 5 January, you’ll find vibrant market stalls, tasty treats and pop-up bars just moments from the station at London Bridge City. Check listings in advance for unique experiences including wreath making, cocktail masterclasses, gingerbread decoration, ornament decoration, festive trivia night, Christmas singalongs and wine tasting! From the river to the sky. The Shard’s Festive Lights display runs daily from 5.30pm to midnight every evening until New Year’s Eve. 20 floors of London’s tallest building are illuminated with four 15-minute festive light sequences every hour, each inspired by the nations favourite Christmas Carols; We Wish You a Merry Christmas, Jingle Bells, The Twelve Days of
Christmas, and Deck the Halls.
Families with younger children can rely on the Unicorn Theatre delivering festive joy with two shows to choose from; Odd and the Frost Giant (for ages 7+) and Huddle (for ages 2-5). Both until 31 December –book tickets now before they sell out.
Tower Bridge, HMS Belfast, the London Bridge Experience, Old Operating Theatre and The View from The Shard will all be providing a range of activities and celebrations, while gift shopping is within easy reach at the boutiques around London Bridge Station and Bermondsey Street. Try Flea Christmas Market at Vinegar Yard every weekend, 7th to 22 December, to find a truly unique present and book a rink at the neighbouring Curling Club to test your Roarin’ Game skills. If you’re a bit too glamourous to do your own shopping, take in a slice of Hollywood at the Marilyn exhibition at Arches London Bridge.
Feeling peckish after a busy day? Choose from local bistros, riverside dining, hearty pub food and the best international cuisine before hoping on an Uber Boat by Thames Clippers service to take you home past London’s landmarks to end a memorable day out.
See atlondonbridge.com and follow @ atlondonbridge (X and Instagram) for Christmas menus, What’s On listings and more ideas in London Bridge this Christmas.
nine Lives
a neW bar Menu sees dishes and cOcKtaiLs that shOWcase authentic MeXican FLavOurs served in a victOrian baseMent OF berMOndsey
“I wanted the menu to give people the option to enjoy a few bites with their drink or have a full meal, bringing a more flexible approach to dining like we have in Mexico,” explains the head chef of Nine Lives.
The new food menu sees delights such as corn ribs and paloma ceviche through to Baja fish tacos and beef barbacoa, with a sparkling new drinks menu to match.
General manager William Campbell-Rowntree says Nine Lives has “huge potential and room to grow, it’s very exciting”.
Head chef Ramon ‘El Tigre’ Ramos has taken up a permanent spot in the kitchen, replacing his Tigre Tacos food truck and bringing his expertise in Mexico dishes to this Holyrood Street spot.
When creating menu items, he takes inspiration from his home of Guadalajara, explaining that “Guadalajara is known for its salsas and in this new iteration of the Nine Lives kitchen, I’m making salsas that are true to the flavours back home”.
He adds: “The salsas pack a punch and the process of making them reminds me of home. Each one brings a totally different flavour profile but right now my favourite is the pasilla salsa that I serve with the Chicken Tinga taco. It’s our spiciest salsa and it’s made with chile pasilla and árbol chile.”
In Mexico, Ramon says that “drinking culture and food culture are very intertwined”, which is why he wanted to recreate this at Nine Lives, “when you have a drink, you should always have a little something to nibble on”.
He adds that the drinks offering is a fundamental part of Nine Lives, too, with Ramon and William working together to consider the pairings between the food and the cocktails.
The two share the belief that one should not exist without the other, so you’ll see suggestions sprinkled throughout the menu.
For example, they recommend pairing the El Gobernador Taco (caramelised cheese mix, grilled prawns, salsa roja and pico de gallo) with the Sweet and Chilli cocktail, which has Don Julio Blanco Tequila, watermelon, habanero, lemon and soda water.
Ramon says: “The heat and acidity really cut through the richness of the cheese and umami of the prawns, it’s an excellent paring.”
With the recently revamped cocktail menu, William explains how it is split into sections, based on style: long or light, straight up, on the rocks, fizzie rascals and threesomes.
“It’s got a good spread now,” he says, recommending the Bermondsey Bee’s Knees cocktail, with Boatyard Double Gin, lemon and Bermondsey Street Bees Honey. And you have the choice of two different types of honey, too – one from city bees and one from country bees.
William says: “The honey is the only difference, but the difference in taste is incredible”.
Nine Lives also does a special Taco Royale every Tuesday from 5pm to 9pm with £3 tacos and £10 champagne. Now that’s a pairing you want to try.
You’ll also find DJs in the booth every Thursday, Friday and Saturday, special monthly tacos coming to the menu soon and some top-secret events in the planning stage.
William says: “Good music, good hospitality, good drinks and good food, that’s what we’re striving for. The main thing I want to bring to Nine Lives is a lot of fun. I want to see people having a great time.”
8 Holyrood Street, SE1 2EL www.ninelivesbar.com
Eliza Frost
William Campbell-Rowntree
Ramon ‘El Tigre’ Ramos
‘i
Maureen Waite
Was a JOKer When i Was a Kid, i LOved tO LauGh. i stiLL dO’: MichaeL hOLLand taKes a triP dOWn MeMOry Lane With Maureen Waite
In 1935, Maureen Waite was born in Pages Walk, the second of three children. Her father was in the army at the time but later in life sold fruit in the market. “Mum always worked as a cook.”
One cooking job was with the American Red Cross throughout the war, which came in handy when Maureen and her siblings returned from evacuation in Leicester and the family was given “blankets and a big frying pan by the Americans”.
The evacuation did not go well, the family being paid to look after them were “nicking our food!” Dad brought them home.
Maureen remembers going to Bermondsey Town Hall to collect gas masks, but Mr Waite still felt that with Hitler dropping bombs nightly he needed to move the family to a safer place. He chose Peckham.
“My mum was right upset as she was a Bermondsey Girl, but dad knew they would be bombing the railway and the docks. He was right. But only to a point because bombs did land in Peckham… At school when we heard the siren we had to run to the shelter.”
With both parents starting work early, the children had to get themselves dressed, fed and ready for school. On one occasion, Maureen and her brother were late for school when a bomb dropped. “Mum went tearing round to get us out of the debris but we weren’t there! My brother got hit round the head for that.”
Despite the dreaded Luftwaffe, Maureen loved school. “I liked art, I won a prize for maths… Wasn’t all that keen on sport, though, ‘cos you had to run around in your knickers, and I had skinny legs… But I was a joker when I was a kid, I loved to laugh. I still do.”
Playing out with friends, Maureen played the usual games: “Runouts, skipping, Tin Tan Tommy, and we used to like lighting fires over the dump. In one place we played in, we didn’t know but we were jumping over vats of acid, and we would get in these big round things and roll each other down the hill –we see no fear.”
Even when Dad built them go-karts, they lived dangerously by wheeling down mountains of bricks, using their feet as brakes, which didn’t make shoes last very long. “I came home one day with me sole hanging off and Mum had to get a
Provident cheque to get a new pair.”
At secondary school, Maureen showed herself to be an accomplished actress: “I was in every play there – I loved it!” Alas, she got slung out of the musical the school was putting on because, she says, “I wanted the star role.” One man who saw her perform said, “The stage is your place”. Something she has never forgotten.
Leaving school at 16 Maureen first worked in Samuel Jones on a production line making plastic butterflies: “I went there ‘cos all me mates were there, but it drove me mad.”
A much better job was at Corry’s in Shad Thames where Maureen sent out orders of “horticultural sundries”. “I was there for a few years; that was a triffic job.”
At Jack Mindell’s, a Peckham clothes shop, the boss took a liking to Maureen and her stylish
“runouts, skipping, tin tan tommy, and we used to like lighting fires over the dump”
teenage look, so sent his chauffeur in the Rolls Royce to take her to his other shop in The Cut where he asked her to run it for him.
She explained her lack of experience and was told, “As long as you earn me money and sort out any problems yourself, you’ll be fine.” And that was how Maureen became a shop manager with the responsibility to buy the right stock that would sell. “I ordered all things that I liked… I had the time of me life,” she recalls.
Maureen even sorted out a little deal with the milkman who would sell some bags for her on his rounds. “I used to give him about five bob a week.” It was a job Maureen had to give up when she got pregnant with Leigh, the first of her three
Maureen (right)
Maureen with baby Leigh
winter at the southbank centre!
Come together for a magical Winter at the Southbank Centre with spectacular shows, luminous art, cracking activities, a wondrous Winter Market and more festive treats making spirits bright this winter.
Winter at the Southbank Centre is here until Sunday 5 January, offering holiday fun for all to enjoy the festive magic of London.
Be wowed by sparkling theatre, dance and circus. For families, Carlos Acosta's Nutcracker in Havana and Circa's Duck Pond will be bringing exciting new takes on classic ballets. Plus, Tom Fletcher’s best-selling book The Creakers has been adapted for stage in a new musical adventure, and 1927 will take us into a magical, mischievous world with handcrafted animation in Please Right Back.
For cabaret fans in the new year, Fascinating Aïda celebrates 40 fabulous years of the beloved singing trio.
Enjoy live music spanning classical music, Christmas carols and festive favourites, featuring the London Gay Men’s Chorus, Mohit Chauhan and Sir Bryn Terfel.
Wander around the beloved Winter Market and pop-ups, offering delicious food, drink and twinkling lights right by the river. Keep your belly full with plates of truffle burgers, duck wraps, spicy chicken boxes with fresh cut Cajun fries, lobster buns, hot dogs, dutch pancakes, churros and chocolate-smothered fruit. Ward off the cold by cradling a mulled wine or hot chocolate while you browse for gifts, jewellery and decorations made by independent creatives.
Plus, there’s plenty of cracking free activities for everyone, including art and exhibitions with Winter Light and Koestler Arts: No Comment, dancing with Five Go Jiving and Mix & Move, celebrations at Kids’ Countdown with Just Vibez and New Year's Day Ceilidh,
Until Sun 5 Jan
and crafting at Winter Re-Imagined and Creative Encounters.
Alongside this, experience our must-see exhibition Haegue Yang: Leap Year at the Hayward Gallery, open until Sunday 5 January. Described as 'surreal, exuberant...uplifting, festive' in a four-star review by The Telegraph, the exhibition explores a world of inventive, immersive and multisensory installations and sculptures inspired by East Asian traditions and folklore, modernism, contemporary art history and nature. Don’t forget, under-30s can get tickets for just £9 (available Tuesday – Friday and after 5pm on Saturday), Lambeth residents can get tickets for £5 and under-12s go free.
Discover all the festive treats this winter at the Southbank Centre at https://www.southbankcentre.co.uk/winter
Kids' Countdown Photo: Alice Boagey
Winter Market Photo: Adam Luszniask
Installation view of Haegue Yang: Leap Year, 2024.
Photo: Mark Blower. Courtesy the artist and the Hayward Gallery
daughters before Tina and Donna came along because by now she had married Denis Hodges. They first met at a dance in Credon Road in their mid-teens. Maureen’s friend dared her to ask him for a dance. “I went over and asked him, and he said, ‘Piss orf!’ I didn’t like him after that.”
Their next meeting was in the Thomas a’ Becket five years later. They hit it off this time, “courted” for three years and got married in 1961.
“He proposed to me in a pub,” begins Maureen. “I met him from work, and he said, ‘By the way, we’re getting married. I’ve been down the Town Hall and booked it up.’”
Her sardonic response was, “Oh, lovely, my mum will be pleased.”
They wed in Spa Road but when she arrived, all the men were in the pub. “They sent me out a packet of crisps and a bottle of lemonade! That’s how I started my married life,” she laughs.
The newlyweds moved in with Denis’s mum in Layard Road. “He was one of 20 so there were always a lot of in-laws around: Mother’s Day was absolutely horrendous! Can you imagine?”
Kent was a favourite place for the Hodges family. They had a caravan in Minster where a lot of family time was spent, and Maureen was a keen angler. “I’ve still got all my rods and flies,” she boasts and has a plan to go fishing in Wateringbury once more.
After many happy years together, Denis sadly died in 2019. “I miss him a lot,” says Maureen with a melancholy look. “I had a terrific time with him, we argued like cats and dogs but were always laughing.”
After reminiscing about her many jobs, Maureen’s favourite was the fish stall down The Blue. “In quiet periods, with other stallholders, we’d put on plays there; we done Gone with the Wind once! Or I’d get requests off customers to sing for them… We did have a laugh.”
The stall had been handed down for generations in the Hodges family and Maureen first began work there to stand in for a sick aunt. “I didn’t know anything about fish and on the first day, some man asked me to chop a wiggling eel up for him! I was heaving as I cut it! Heaving, I was!”
Then there was a cleaning job at Bacon’s School. “I was there when [then] Prince Charles came, and I
had to run about trying to get a pint of f**king milk for him. And then he didn’t want a cup of tea!”
One of Maureen’s proudest achievements, though, is getting local kids off the street in the 1970s and into a youth club she established with a friend after they had seen them hanging about bored.
Maureen convinced the vicar at the Manor Methodist Church to let them have his hall one night a week. “They were like kids in a toy shop, messing about on the organ and all sorts,” cries Maureen.
The club took off and Maureen was soon applying for funding and grants for equipment, trips out, sports teams and pantomimes every year. She still sees former members but now they’re out with their grandchildren.
A highlight for Maureen was visiting 10 Downing Street when Tony Blair was PM with several Bermondsey Labour Party members. “I met Cherie Blair,” she says proudly, “but Tony was out.”
Maureen is still a joker, and we laughed a lot during the interview.
Last words? “I’ve never been short of anything, I’ve had a good life, kids that I adore, and I’d do everything exactly the same if I could.”
MeMory
Maureen and Dennis on their wedding day Maureen and Dennis
At the fish stall
On holiday in Minster, Kent
Maureen meeting Barbara Windsor
dancing Joy bells and enormous Puddings
Debra Gosling
The secret to a successful business is a happy workforce but, sadly, today, some employers are not interested in giving their staff a good time.
In days of yore, working hours were long, weekends started on Saturday afternoon and Christmas didn’t appear until 4:30pm on 24 December.
And yet, for the hard-working staff at Peek Frean, the weeks leading up to the big day were packed with fun things to do.
Late November saw the firm’s amateur dramatic group put on a show, normally some kind of lighthearted drama for the season. Or perhaps a song and dance production, complete with glamorous dancing girls.
This was no piffling stage with second-grade costumes; these entertainments were second only to Hollywood. Remember, Peek Frean made all their own staff uniforms, so their seamstresses had a field day with some nice fabrics for a change.
By December there were parties galore. The Peek Frean club held its first party in 1920 for all its members and threw an extravaganza every year for children. By 1936 there was also a party for teenagers working in the factory on Friday 18 December. There was some dancing, but the highlight was the “Funny Face” competition. Try that one on today’s youth.
Yet games seemed to be a big attraction at Peek Frean. The adult party had musical chairs, “Simon Says” and a “Hunt the Thimble” competition. I bet they weren’t as innocent as they sounded though...
There was plenty of dancing with the Peek Frean band in attendance, which came in handy when the company’s photographer had a technical hitch. He had to get nearly 200 rather squiffy people into some sort of order, so the band played on with community singing until the camera was ready.
Flash, bang, wallop – the photo was done just in time for the competition prizes to be given out by Mr Rupert Carr, the firm’s director.
This jolly time was rounded off by the staff singing “For He’s a Jolly Good Fellow” and they all staggered off into the night.
A report from 1931 shines a light on Christmas Eve at the factory. At knocking off time, the hooter blew and summonsed every member of Peek Frean to gather in the Central Yard. The buildings’ floodlights were switched on one by one; some were white and some rose-coloured. Searchlights picked up the top of the clock tower, which three years later had neon lighting.
In the middle of the yard stood an enormous “Santa Claus Plum Pudding”, surrounded by girls in fancy dress. Some were decked out as “Yuletide” tins, some “Joy Bells” while others were “Carol Shorties”. Music on loudspeakers began and they all danced around the Pudding before it opened up and a group of Santas stepped out to dance in a ring (someone’s been on the sherry, methinks).
When the dance is complete, the Santas pull out Christmas cards containing bonuses and distribute them to the staff before they all did a country dance.
Once all this craziness ended, everyone left for the holiday – the men for the pub and the ladies to do the shopping in The Blue. The fairytale was over for another year.
With thanks to the Peek Frean Museum.
Image copyright: Peek Frean Museum
Winter Specials Menu Now Available
Try our limited edition Orbit X HAKATA Red Ale
COCKTAIL HAPPY HOUR!
Any* 2 cocktails for only £14.00 5:00pm – 7:00pm // Monday – Friday throughout December
* See our Happy Hour Cocktail Menu for options - Normal cocktail price £10.00 each –- All spirits are served using 50ml measure as standard –
THANK YOU
From all the team at HAKATA Ramen+Bar, we would like to sincerely thank all our customers for supporting our business during 2024 and we wish you all a very Merry Christmas & a Happy New Year.
We look forward to welcoming both new & regular customers to HAKATA in 2025.
Hakata Ramen+Bar, 177 Bermondsey Street, SE1 3UW // No reservations // Open 7-days // hakata.co.uk
