The South Londoner - August 2023

Switch

We could be great together...

Scan the QR code to compare us to your current provider and see if you’d be better off with us

150 Mbps

Fibre Broadband

24 months

£20 .00 /month* then £22/month

Avg. download & upload 150 Mbps (wired) 150 Mbps (WiFi)

1 Gbps

Fibre Broadband

24 months

£25 .00 /month* then £27/month

Avg. download & upload 920 Mbps (wired) 400-650 Mbps (WiFi)

3 Gbps

Fibre Broadband

24 months

£49 .00 /month* then £51/month

Avg. download & upload 3,000 Mbps (wired) 400-800 Mbps (WiFi)

£14.95 set up fee applies to all packages.

Price: Price applies to new customers joining on a 24-month contract. 150 Mbps package price is £20/month for 24 months and £22/month thereafter, 1 Gbps package price is £25/month for 24 months and £27/ month thereafter and 3 Gbps package price is £49/month for 24 months and £51/month thereafter. See website for full T&Cs.

* We may, at our discretion, from 1st April every year increase the price of our services by up to the Government published Consumer Price Index (CPI) from January of the same year plus 2.9%. For more details and a worked example see communityfibre.co.uk/legal-stuff#promotional

about us

―

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

We are proud to be a London Living Wage employer.

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

We also publish the south london Weekly and greenwich and lewisham Weekender every week.

We created the Bermondsey Biscuit and rotherhithe docker in 2018 with support from sponsors including Sellar, Grosvenor, British Land, and many more local businesses.

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

www.southlondon.co.uk

editor Holly O'Mahony design Lizzy Tweedale, Dan Martin, Ann Gravesen marketing Clarry Frewin, Katie Boyd, Sophie Ali media partnerships Anthony Phillips

finance Emrah Zeki managing directors Chris Mullany and Kevin Quinn

contact us

email hello@cm-media.co.uk

phone 020 7231 5258

twitter @insouthlndn instagram thesouthlondoner website southlondon.co.uk

contents

―

5 home secretary A crayfish party, African fashion show, car park concert and more…

6 family A family rave, tumbling circus, babyfriendly comedy shows and more…

9-13 arts & ents Highlights to catch at Peckham Festival, plus a big welcome back to Bermondsey Street Festival

14-17 food & drink The view from this summer’s hottest sky-high bar, Joia Rooftop, plus the new openings in your ‘hood

19-20 local faces Woman Up: the fitness and wellness hub for survivors of domestic abuse

21 a love letter to south london Cass Randolph, co-founder of Greenwich Comedy Festival, on her favourite things to do in south London. Plus, a round-up of who’s performing this year

25 best of brixton Meet the founders of Black Seed, a Brixton-based enterprise helping Black founders get their business off the ground

26 locally sourced Is it time to invest in a South London Gallery membership?

the local line-up for your diary ―

BoLd Prints at duLwich Picture GaLLery

A major new show at Dulwich Picture Gallery is spotlighting new work by Syrian artist Sara Shamma. Called Bold Spirits, Sara’s exhibition is made up of paintings responding to the women depicted in the gallery’s historic collection, retelling their stories in a way she hopes will make them relatable to contemporary viewers. Famous works by Rembrandt van Rijn, Peter Lely, Anthony van Dyck and Peter Paul Rubens are among those used as inspiration. The exhibition also comes at an exciting time for the gallery: it’s just received planning permission to transform three acres of previously unused space into an interactive sculpture garden and a building for families. So, as they say, watch this space.

Dulwich Picture Gallery, London SE21 7AD.

September 9 - February 5 2024, TuesdaySunday, 10am - 5pm. Admission: FREE. www.dulwichpicturegallery.org.uk/whats-on/ displays/2023/september/sara-shamma/

swaP concert haLL for car Park with the muLti-story orchestra

Don’t miss Multi-Story Orchestra’s last summer concert, performed not in a concert hall but in the acoustically charged car park of Bold Tendencies in Peckham. The ensemble, which is made up of over 100 members, often stages work with a message of social justice behind it. Their latest project In Too Deep centres around a conflict we can all relate to: addressing the tension of change and facing the unknown. The piece has been devised by the orchestra’s young creatives with the help of singer-songwriter Fran Lobo, composer Kate Whitley and percussionists Joe Richards and Elsa Bradley.

Bold Tendencies, 95A Rye Lane, Levels

7-10, London SE15 4ST. August 24 & 25, 6pm - 8pm. Admission: £6. www.multi-story.org.uk/upcomingevents

sustainaBLe fashion throuGh an african Lens

At the Southbank Centre, nonprofit cultural production company Creative Resilience is hosting a fashion show platforming designers with a focus on sustainability and upcycling. Among the artists exhibiting work are Re:I.D, Denim Recon, George Adesegun and Anita Quansah. To add an audio element to the whole experience, the show is being accompanied by singer-songwriter Sodi Cookey, who writes protest songs about climate change and the devastating impact of the oil industry on the Niger Delta. Running as part of the Southbank Centre’s Planet Summer programme, this is a fashion show presenting visions of a more eco-friendly future. The Clore Ballroom, Level 2, Royal Festival Hall, Southbank Centre, Belvedere Rd, London SE1 8XX. August 26, 7pm. Admission: FREE. www.southbankcentre.co.uk/whats-on/ performance-dance/africa-fashion-stylingtomorrow?eventId=953125

Beers and BiZ at GyPsy hiLL Brewery

Anyone who’s been to Gypsy Hill Brewery in Crystal Palace will vouch for the fact it’s not just a taproom but a community hub running a steady rotation of interesting worldly events. Saturday September 30 will be no different: the site is throwing a mini day festival, with the chance to shop from small businesses and tuck into a whole host of food and drink. Browse for clothes, ceramics, art, jewellery and homeware, and then cheers your purchases with a pint brewed on site (IPA fans should make a beeline for the Hepcat), a gin and tonic, or a hot drink of your choice. Street food specialists KERB+ are on site too, with stalls dishing up flavours from around the world.

Gypsy Hill Brewery, Unit 5, 160 Hamilton Road, Norwood, London SE27 9SF. September 30 & October 1, 11am - 4pm. Admission: FREE. www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/salad-days-festivalsmall-biz-market-street-food-and-craft-beerstickets-596019920627

myths and LeGends at Brixton house

Ooh, here’s a show that sounds promising: over at Brixton House, actress Sutara Gayle (also known as the reggae star Lorna Gee), is presenting her debut show as a writer-performer with the help of director Jo McInnes, and it’s a mythical affair. Set in Tiruvannamalai, India in the midst of a storm, The Legends of Them follows a woman, also called Lorna, who must face her demons, but with the help of three fierce legends of her life: her mother, sister and ancestor Nanny of the Maroons. With Sutara’s musical talents, audiences can expect a show fuelled by songs, too.

Brixton House, 385 Coldharbour Lane, London SW9 8GL. September 14 - 30, 7:30pm. Admission: £21/£17 concessions. www.brixtonhouse.co.uk/ shows/the-legends-of-them/

crayfish craZy at tate modern

In Sweden, August is all about celebrating the humble crayfish. Seriously! They throw parties for the crustacean, sing songs about them, raise a glass of ‘snaps’ to them, and, you’ve guessed it, eat them. Bringing a taste of this tradition to the Thames is the Tate Modern, where a Swedish Crayfish Festival coupled with an Ice Cider Masterclass brings the chance to experience a Kraftskiva crayfish party without hopping on a plane to Scandinavia.

Attendees will have the chance to visit the Tate’s current b exhibition after dark.

Tate Modern, Bankside, London SE1 9TG. August 29, 7pm - 8pm. Admission: £49.95. www.tate.org. uk/whats-on/tate-modern/hilma-af-klint-pietmondrian/kraftskiva-swedish-crayfish-festival

family events

yoGa meets storytime

Are you a yogi with a little one aged 2 - 6? Give them their first taste of a yoga class at Peckham Levels, where primary school teacher and mum Sophie runs The Moon Bear Yoga Stories. The sessions fuse children’s yoga with storytelling to help focus their attention and regulate their emotions as well as providing all the strength training that comes with a regular yoga class. Let their yoga journey start here.

Peckham Levels, 95A Rye Lane, Level 5, London SE15 4ST. Thursdays and Fridays, 10:30am - 11:10am. Admission: £7.50. www.happity.co.uk/the-moon-bear-yoga-stories

Join Zoe on a Journey throuGh time

Join Zoe on a time-travelling adventure in this imaginative, puppetry-led show at the Southbank Centre, suitable for little ones aged six and up. She’ll need all the help she can get solving riddles and understanding the meaning of her mysterious mission if she wants to get back home. We’ve heard the journey takes her through a disco-lit washing machine to an island made entirely of plastic and later, under the sea… are you ready?

Purcell Room at Queen Elizabeth Hall, Southbank Centre, London SE1 8XT. September 1 - 3, times vary. Admission: £12. www.southbankcentre.co.uk/whats-on/familyyoung-people/zoes-peculiar-journey-throughtime?eventId=950231

find your Groove at a famiLy rave

Big Fish Little Fish family rave turns 10 this year and to celebrate a whole decade of proving there’s no need for parents to party only when their little ones are tucked up in bed, the team behind it are hosting an age-inclusive shindig, the Beats and Blooms Family Rave, in the gardens outside the Horniman Museum. It’s set to be quite the mini festival, with DJs playing, face painting, quizzes and the chance for the whole family to make colourful feathered rave crowns. It’s the line up, though, that’s likely to pull in the grown ups: sets are promised from Croydon dubstep pioneer DJ Chefal and Perry from the rock band Pendulum! Street food and on-site bars will keep your whole brood sated throughout the day.

Horniman Gardens, 100 London Road, London SE23 3PQ. September 9, 2pm - 6pm. Admission: £15/£12.50 children.

www.horniman.ac.uk/event/horniman-family-ravewith-big-fish-little-fish/

the circus comes to town

Having begun its national tour of 2023 on Blackheath Common over Easter, Zippos is still doing the rounds, and is returning to south London late this September for a week at Peckham Rye. The latest show from the long-standing, international troupe celebrates the concept of circus as a nomadic way of life. It features a special performance from Mongolian group the Temujin Troupe, whose aerial acts are quite something. Meanwhile, back by popular demand is the motorbike Globe of Death from Brazil, plus further danger in the form of knife throwing and whip cracking from the Czech Republic. Acrobatics come by way of the Kenyan Timbuktu Tumblers, and for the adrenaline seekers, there’s a Wheel of Death act from Colombia. Also joining the circus this year are Ukrainian dancers Diana and Sophia. Repping the UK, meanwhile, is comedian Whimmie Walker and aerial daredevil Jackie. Peckham Rye, Strakers Road, Peckham, London SE15 3UH. September 28 - October 2, performance times vary. Admission: £13 - £23. www.zippos.co.uk/locations/peckham-rye

Learn to street dance

Kids aged 6 - 11 are invited to get a taster of street dance – for free! – with Upside Down Dance Academy in Elephant and Castle. If you like what you try, then there are lessons twice a week, on Wednesdays and Fridays at 6pm. The teachers specialise in hip-hop, breakdancing, afro and more. Those who come along regularly will get to sample them all. The sessions are a chance for your kids to make new friends, meet professional dancers and take their first steps towards becoming a dancer or choreographer themselves.

St John's Centre, 64 Larcom Street, London SE17 1NQ. Wednesday and Friday, 6pm - 7:30pm.

Admission: FREE first session, then £9 per class. www.usddacademy.co.uk/dance-classes/free-dancetaster-for-kids-and-teens/

BrinG your BaBy to a comedy niGht

The UK’s original baby-friendly comedy club is back in south London, with shows announced in Clapham (Sep 13), Crystal Palace (Sep 26) and East Dulwich (October 12). It’s a chance to see big name comedians in a tot-inclusive environment welcoming of breastfeeding and even nappy changing. Expect soft flooring, buggy parking, baby changing facilities and a fullystocked bar. The show lasts 90 minutes and features two acts plus additional material from a compere. Suitable for babies up to 15 months.

September 13, 11:30am at Clapham Picturehouse, 76 Venn Street London SW4 0AT; September 26, 12pm at Bridge House, 2 High Street London SE20 8RZ; October 12, 11:30am at East Dulwich Picturehouse & Cafe, 116a Lordship Lane London SE22 8HD. Admission: £13/FREE for babies.

www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/bring-your-own-babycomedy-54187625643

Find

Find out more about our work and future plans

Annual Public Meeting

Wednesday 13 September 2023

Annual Public Meeting

Wednesday 13 September 2023

In person at St Thomas’ Hospital and virtually via Microsoft Teams

In person at St Thomas’ Hospital and virtually via Microsoft Teams

Meeting 6pm – 7.30pm

Meeting 6pm – 7.30pm

Speakers include:

Speakers include:

 Charles Alexander, Chairman

 Charles Alexander, Chairman

 Dr Ian Abbs, Chief Executive

 Dr Ian Abbs, Chief Executive

 John Powell, Lead Governor

 John Powell, Lead Governor

There will also be an opportunity to submit questions to the Trust Board

There will also be an opportunity to submit questions to the Trust Board

To attend, please email annualpublicmeeting@gstt.nhs.uk so we can send you joining instructions

To attend, please email annualpublicmeeting@gstt.nhs.uk so we can send you joining instructions

Peckham Festival returns for 2023, repurposing railway arches, sprucing up warehouses, and taking over rooftops in a three-day celebration of the hyper-local talent bursting out of SE15.

Established in 2016 by Tim Wilson and Jordana Leighton, the festival aims to support a more cohesive and diverse multi-generational community through the arts. It attracts around 15-20,000 visitors each year with its programme of free events and the chance to shop the wares of local businesses.

There’s live music to bop to, open studios to explore, talks to listen in on and, well, lots more, including family-friendly activities to keep little visitors engaged. Aiming to appeal to visitors of all ages, it’s a chance to meet the diverse body of artists keeping this nook of south-east London in a constant state of creative regeneration.

Here are some highlights not to miss at this year’s festival…

keeping it local: peckham festival returns for 2023 ―

pan-African organisation The Culture Tree, and also from the Dope Readers Club: a platform raising awareness of Black and POC (person of colour) authors, with a focus on those writing for young adults. Uniting the LTBTQ+ community, meanwhile, are queer tarot readings, poetry circles and drag acts hosted by local institution John the Unicorn.

the festivaL staGe

In charge of keeping the beats pumping and the good vibes flowing at the the festival’s music hub this year are local music connoisseurs GALA and Balamii Radio, but in keeping with the stage’s strong community angle, audiences can also expect performances from Peckham Chamber Orchestra, Nunhead Community Choir and Theatre Peckham. Even the bar is being run by local favourites: the teams behind trendy pub the Prince of Peckham and uber cool listening bar Jumbi joining forces to offer cocktails, local brews and DJ sets.

coPeLand GaLLery

Art fans should pay a visit to Copeland Gallery, where local businesses Palace of the Dogs and Don’t Touch my Heritage have pulled together an engaging lineup of performances, talks, family workshops and art.

the community huB

The heartbeat of the festival, the Community Hub is once again transforming Copeland Park into a hive of small businesses and community groups. Shop the latest ranges from Black-owned brands at the Ourhood Community pop-up store, where the artist Exhibit 69 can also be spotted creating a live painting and taking part in a Q&A.

A further highlight comes by way of Voir X, a fashion platform hosting a live fashion show in support of emerging designers and independent labels.

There’s a bunch of free art workshops to get involved with here too, including a session in ‘natural indigo dyeing’ and another in ceramics, while Southwark Foster Care is encouraging visitors to take a break from their busy thoughts with a class in breathing and meditation.

Got some little tagalongs in your care? There’s a djembe drumming circle they can join, plus skateboarding and street art workshops hosted by Clown Skateboards. Listen out for storytelling from

A highlight comes from Tony Fairweather, curator of the Black Cultural Archives’ (BCA) current exhibition Home: Remembering the Windrush Generation, who is bringing his nostalgic recreations of a Caribbean front room, kitchen and bedroom to Copeland Gallery. He’ll also be reading from his debut novel Twenty Eight Pounds, Ten Shillings, a reimagining of stories and experiences from passengers on board Empire Windrush.

made in Peckham

Want to meet and support local businesses? Made in Peckham is the umbrella term for a collection of artists’ studios opening their doors as part of the festival. You’ll find them at the Bussey Building, Blenheim Arches, Print Village and the Pexmas makers market at Copeland Park. Over 150 creatives are taking part, so as the saying goes, there’s bound to be something for all tastes.

Peckham Festival is running out of locations across SE15. September 15 - 17, times vary depending on event. Admission: FREE.

www.peckhamfestival.org/

1. Peckham Levels

Your one-stop-shop for all things culture: there’s art classes, open mic nights, gigs, family events, music workshops – you name it. There’s a steady rotation of events here, so check the website before you visit, but you could basically spend an entire day and evening in this former multi-story carpark, where the phrase ‘I’m bored!’ doesn’t exist.

Peckham Levels, Centre Carpark, F1-F6, 95A Rye Lane, London SE15 4ST. Tuesday - Thursday, 9am - 11pm; Friday 9am - 1am; Saturday 10am - 1am; Sunday 10am - 9pm. www.peckhamlevels.org/ whats-on

2. Supa Ya Ramen

Listen up, noodle lovers: the original Supa Ya Ramen bar in Dalston saw queues winding down the street when it opened last year. Now, a second branch has opened in Peckham – and it’s good news for the organised, because it welcomes bookings. This hip, no-frills restaurant from chef Luke Findlay serves ‘proudly inauthentic’ ramen dishes – like autumn’s bowl of maple-glazed pumpkin and chilli crunch ramen – but the quality of the noodles and intensity of the flavours is what makes it such a winner. Small plates and sides are not to be missed (we’re looking at you, fried chicken with apricot, and you, kohlrabi and radish salad) and nor is the dessert of noodle ice cream with miso caramel. Drinks wise, try their punchy cocktails.

Supa Ya Ramen, 191 Rye Lane, London SE15 4TP. Tuesday - Friday, 6pm - 10pm; Saturday 12pm - 3pm & 6pm - 10pm; Sunday 12pm - 3pm & 6pm - 9pm. www.instagram.com/supa_ya_ramen/

places to wine, dine and recline in Peckham

By Holly O'Mahony

It’s been a rollercoaster of a year for listening bar Jazu, which has found a new home in the revamped Market Place Peckham after taking down the disco ball at its Camberwell pop-up late last year. It’s back, it’s ready to party and it’s inviting you to drop in for cocktails, vinyl and the occasional special event (like the recent margarita masterclass). Take your partner, your best mate or even just your pooch, and soak up some funk.

Jazu, Market Peckham, 133a Rye Lane, London SE15 4BQ. Tuesday - Thursday, 8am - 11pm; Friday 8am - 12am; Saturday 9am - 12am; Sunday 9am - 6pm; Monday 9am - 6pm. www.instagram.com/jazu.bar/?hl=en

4. Peckham Arches

A sister site to Peckham’s recently opened listening bar Skylarking and west London’s The Hawk’s Nest, Peckham Arches is a multi-purpose event space taking over five railway arches and two disused yards, right by Peckham Rye station. The 600-capacity venue boasts a dance floor and screening room as well as a strong cocktail and street food offering. Stretching its appeal beyond the party crowd, Peckham Arches offers events including quizzes, comedy nights and weekend markets. Check their Instagram page for details. Peckham Arches, 26 Blenheim Grove, London SE15 4QL. Tuesday & Wednesday, 4pm - 10:30pm; Thursday & Friday, 4pm - 12am; Saturday 12pm - 12am. www.skylarkingpeckham.com/

5. Peckham Cellars

Want to treat yourself to some seriously tasty flavours in a setting you’ll wish you could replicate in your own home? Head to Peckham Cellars. Far from the madding crowd, the restaurant and wine bar has straddled the corner of Queen’s Road and King’s Grove for the best part of four years, having been opened in November 2019 by hospitality pros Helen Hall, Luke West-Whylie and Ben McVeigh. Its wine list, boasting at least one English sparkling, will excite those who care about the vino, while the small plates are inventive, generous and ever-changing, meaning there’s always something to come back for.

Peckham Cellars, 125 Queen's Road, London SE15 2ND. Tuesday - Friday, 5:30pm - 11pm; Saturday 12pm - 11pm. www.peckhamcellars.co.uk

6. Market Place Peckham

Peckham street food hub Market Place Peckham closed earlier this year for a revamp, but now it’s back, with all-new management and some exciting new traders, too. Among the 10 stalls dishing up cuisines from around the world, there’s Nigerian street food specialists Suya and Lobster; Los Tacos serving Mexican street food; Brixton favourite Baba G’s plating up their BBC Million Pound Menu-winning Indian inspired burgers; exoticsounding Hawaiian street food from Huli Huli; Indo-Chinese from Pepper Spice; Mediterranean from Farm House Kebab; fire-cooked specials from Argentinian Grill; complex Thai plates from KraPow; and indulgent sweet treats from Dum Dum Donutterie. No frills, no fuss: just grab your dish of choice and chow down at a long, sharing table. A line-up of DJs promises to lend the foodie hub some atmosphere. Oh, and did we mention it’s dog friendly?

Market Place Peckham, Unit 10, The Aylesham Centre, Rye Lane, London SE15 5EW. Open daily, 11am - 11:30pm. www.marketplaceuk.com/locations/peckham

7. Funkidory

If the cheesy name (a play on hunkydory and funky, of course) sounds familiar, you may have visited this late-night spot in its pre-pandemic guise, but the long lockdowns gave owners Sergio and Anna, a local couple with plenty of experience in the hospitality sector, time to rethink their vision for their bar, and a trip to Funkidory now comes coupled with the chance to listen to vinyls while sipping on natural vinos. Do opt for a seat at the bar, where you’ll be spoiled by barmen enthusiastically regaling the drinks list and, once you’ve tried a glass of the exceptional chilled red wine, do move onto cocktails: the frosé paloma (rosè, 100% Agave Blanco Tequila and homemade pink grapefruit cordial) is summer debauchery in a glass. You’ll lose hours and make hazy memories here.

Funkidory, 42 Peckham Rye, London SE15 4JR. Tuesday - Thursday, 5pm - 11pm; Friday & Saturday, 5pm - 12am. www.funkidory.com/

3. Jazu

Bermondsey’s ‘village fete’ is back with a bang (and a bark!)

By Holly O'Mahony

Peckham Festival isn’t the only spirit-raiser in south-east London this month. Bermondsey Street Festival is also back with a bang after last minute cancellations last year.

Spread across three locations in SE1, the daylong festival promises village fete vibes and a host of live entertainment – from theatre to maypole dancing via Moroccan music and breezy jazz – as well as its piece de resistance: the dog show.

Here’s what’s brimming out of each location…

Leathermarket Gardens

Leathermarket Gardens is the throbbing heart of the festival. Here, you’ll be forgiven for thinking you’ve stepped into olde worlde village life,

because entertainment takes the form of a maypole dance, followed by a dog show hosted by pooch accessories shop Holly and Lil. Cheer loudly for the Best in Show.

The action doesn’t stop there, either: roaming the streets are some intriguing characters, including an 8ft tall Victorian tea lady with a free-wheeling cake trolley; a pair of cavalry horse guards on hobby horses and a towering Elizabeth I accompanied by a less imposing Sir Walter Raleigh.

tanner street Park

In Tanner Street Park, you’ll find street food galore as well as fully stocked bars and the chance to kick back listening to live music.

Bermondsey square

Bermondsey Square is hosting a riot of musicians throughout the day. Bring a blanket and a picnic, and settle yourselves down for the chance to listen to ‘jazz, blues and grooves’, with a rotation of performances taking crowds from morning ‘till evening.

Bermondsey Street Festival is taking place in Bermondsey Square, SE1 3FD; Tanner Street Park, SE1 3GS; and Leathermarket Gardens, SE1 3HP. September 16, 11am - 7pm.

Admission: FREE.

www.bermondseystreetfestival.org.uk/

review:

Joia rooftop Bar: a sky-high party in Battersea

By Holly O'Mahony

What’s the natural progression for a pair of hospitality pros after setting up a trendy fried chicken shop? Probably not opening an elegant French bistro. And yet, this is exactly what Matt Harris (once head chef at Lamberts in Balham) and Tommy Kempton have done. With their ‘dirty done proper’ burger and wings bar Other Side Fried thriving in Brixton, the duo have turned their attention to the mountainous Jura region of eastern France, opening a French small-plate restaurant, Ploussard, in Battersea Rise.

It’s in the glossy lobby of the new Battersea branch of European hotel chain Art’otel that I realise my reservation at its rooftop bar, attached to the hotel’s 15th floor restaurant, Joia, and overlooking the newly renovated Power Station, is akin to gold dust.

It’s a hot day, more muggy than sunny, and Londoners all over the city are desperately searching for bodies of water and a breeze. Joia’s rooftop bar

promises both: not only is it sky high, but it boasts an affinity pool with views across London. Granted, said pool is for hotel guests only, but proximity to it is enough to cool down just a bit, right?

My reservation, I add with more than a touch of guilt, comes as part of an agreement with bar’s PR team to write about it for this publication. Joia’s rooftop bar is ordinarily a walk-in only affair, so ahead of me are several groups of hopeful punters, who on this sticky, sweaty Saturday, are being turned away because the bar has reached capacity – despite a note on the website reading ‘plenty of space so in the rare case of a queue, you won’t be waiting long’.

The gatekeepers take some convincing, but once I’ve scrolled through my inbox and found email evidence that I really do have a table at the rooftop with my name on it, they politely guide me to the lift.

Up top, we find the bar in full-blown party mode. The decks are spinning, the bar is jumpin’ jumpin’, 

©Rebecca Hope

and fortunately our table – right next to the speaker where, as Will from The Inbetweeners wryly noted, “if anything, it’s too loud!” – is indeed waiting. The bar supposedly takes its inspiration from ‘Lison’s vibrant rooftop culture’, but between the R&B tracks and the crowd, it has a distinctly London feel. In fact, as a drunk man fresh from the pool swaggers over to the neighbouring table dancing ‘big fish, little fish, cardboard box’, I feel a little like I’ve wandered into London’s answer to Ibiza.

The smokers on the next table are making me feel tetchy. I need a drink, and fortunately the service here is miraculously attentive given the number of people packed around each table.

Everyone seems to be on the Aperol Spritz train, but we go against the grain and order pimentas: the bar’s riff on spicy margaritas, made with tequila, agave and chilli. They hit the spot and we soon begin to mellow.

Joia the restaurant opened some weeks before the bar, and to much fanfare. Its arrival marked the first London outpost of two Michelin-starred Portuguese chef Henrique Sá Pessoa, and promised a menu

inspired by his travels across the country’s Iberian Peninsula, but made with British-grown ingredients.

Luckily for visitors to the rooftop bar, Henrique’s menu supplies the bar snacks. First comes a generous plate of charcuterie, its trio of meats glistening in the heat, but presumably no more so than it would in sunny Portugal. With them are pickles which could knock you sideways with the salt, but they’re a pleasing contrast to the rounds of meat. Fresh and crispy patatas bravas, sauced with dollops of alioli and salsa, add to the beach bar feel of the whole experience. Of course, you can’t visit an Iberian restaurant and not order Iberico croquetas. Henrique’s answer to the Spanglish favourite come laced with papada iberica and iberico ham, and practically dissolve on the tongue.

We’re ready for another drink – ideally one with similar properties to an ice lolly. Our waiter had recommended the strawberry margarita slushies, which we’d previously pooh-poohed, what with fancying ourselves serious cocktail aficionados (my guest, I should mention, is a certified drinks writer). But these were sticky, sweaty times. So we took the plunge (and

the risk of looking like basic b*****s), and sunnies off to the waiter, because these punchy, flavourful slushies proved a delight – nay, a must, for a hot summer’s drinking sesh.

Do stick around for the sunset, if you visit, because with central London in the distance and the stark columns of the Power Station punching towards the sky right in front of you, it’s all rather striking.

So bravo, Joia Rooftop, for offering another place to party south of the river and bringing something different to London’s al fresco bar scene. As for you, reader, if you’re hoping to visit on a sunny summer’s Saturday, pitch up at midday when the bar opens, or risk being left grounded. I don’t recall seeing a single group leave during our visit. And why would they? Up top has everything you need to ride out a heatwave in style.

Joia Rooftop Bar, 15th Floor, 1 Electric Blvd, Nine Elms, London SW11 8BJ. Open daily, 12pm - 10pm. www.joiabattersea.co.uk/rooftop-bar/

the damage (for 2)

Two Pimentas = £30

Peach daiquiri slushy = £14

Strawberry margarita slushy = £15

Iberian charcuterie = £22

Iberico croquetas = £9

Patatas bravas = £9

TOTAL: £99

Food & Drink: «««

Ambience: ««««

Value: «««

Disabled access: YES

Disabled toilet: YES

Booking: NO

“fresh and crispy patatas bravas, sauced with dollops of alioli and salsa, add to the beach bar feel

 ©Rebecca Hope

Bitesize

―

By Holly O'Mahony

kanPai’s on the move

Seven years after setting up the UK’s first sake brewery in Peckham, British couple Tom and Lucy who fell in love with Japan’s signature rice wine while exploring the country, are moving their business Kanpai to London Bridge. We know, it’s a big loss for SE15. But they haven’t left just yet. In fact, they’re hoping you’ll pay them a visit and help them drink the taps dry. The bar’s last hurrah coincides with Peckham Festival on September 15 - 17. If you can’t make it, be sure to check out the new site at the top of the Bermondsey Beer Mile on Druid Street, where there will be plenty of launch events in the lead up to World Sake Day on October 1. Here’s hoping they’re taking their high-tech, bottom-warming Japanese toilet with them.

Kanpai at Druid Street, London SE1 2EZ. Opening late September. Kanpai remains at Copeland Park, Southwark SE15 3SN until September 17. www.kanpai.london/

souvLaki street Becomes evi’s and finds a home

The first bricks-and-mortar site of Evi Peroulaki and Conor Mills’s hugely popular Greek street food stand opens its doors on East Dulwich’s North Cross Road this month. Trading out its old name Souvlaki Street for a new one, Evi’s, the neighbourhood restaurant promises freshly-made pitas stuffed with spice-rubbed meats or halloumi; chips; zingy dressings and flame-scorched veg.

18 North Cross Road, London SE22 9EU.

Opened August 3. www.evisrestaurant.com/

taca tacos comes to Peckham

It’s only been a year since Thorne Addyman brought his authentic, Cali-style tacos to Deptford Market Yard under the name Taca Tacos. The restaurant was itself an evolution of Thorne’s pop-up series Taco Shack. Well, having won over diners in SE8 and lured in Londoners from far and wide to try his green chile pork, chicken pibil, beef birria and more, the taco connoisseur is launching a new restaurant in Peckham, following yet another successful pop-up at Brick Brewery. We’ll gladly raise a margarita to that – and we hear they’re pouring a fair few variations.

200 Rye Lane, London SE15 4NF. Opening in August 2023. www.tacatacos.co.uk/

chow down at kachori

By all accounts, this chic new Indian restaurant in Elephant and Castle is a winner. Here, blushing clay-like walls meet a black and white chequered floor, and the food menu is just as much a fusion of east-meets-west with the likes of a railway cutlet burger, guinea fowl tikka and smoked chicken salad among the highlights. If this sounds like tricky territory to navigate without butchering multiple cuisines, then let us reassure you, because in charge of the food is Brinder Narula, former head chef at Michelin-starred Gymkhana and Benares. With Kachori something of a diamond in the ruff, bag a table while you can.

12 Ash Avenue, London SE17 1GQ. Open daily, 12pm - 10:45pm. www.kachorirestaurant.com/

share your Love of naturaL wine

Natural wine buffs, unite! The latest iteration of wine sampling event Corked! is popping up at 133 Copeland Road, against the somewhat unlikely backdrop of the crossfit gym, Crank. Don’t worry, there won’t be any lifting weights or dropping into burpees on September 9, though, instead, you’ll be mingling over natural wines while a DJ spins the decks.

133 Copeland Road, Unit 1, London, SE15 3SN. September 9, 6pm - 2am. Admission: FREE.

www.copelandpark.com/events/23670/corkednights-at-the-nook/

Gin rummy

What’s your favourite tipple? If it’s a gin and tonic, or a dark and stormy, or any concoction that’s gin or rum based, then you’ll want to pay a visit to the Kia Oval on September 23, where a touring Gin and Rum Festival is calling in for one day only. Sip your way through samples and discover new varieties – there’s over 120 to try in total – while also having a boogie to music spun by the festival’s resident DJ. Not a fan of either but dutifully accompanying someone else? You’re in luck: an allrounder bar is serving sipping tequilas, beer, prosecco and more. All merrymakers will be given a reusable stainless steel straw to carry with them throughout the day. The Oval, Kennington Oval, London SE11 5SS. September 23, 12:30pm - 5pm or 6:30pm - 10:30pm. Admission: £15. www.ginandrumfestival.com/festival-tickets/

Battersea Gets a Branch of arcade food haLL

With its Tottenham Court Road site a thriving hub where JKS-approved food traders do sterling business every night, Arcade Food Hall has launched a new site in area du jour: Battersea Power Station. Just like the original one in the towering Centre Point building, Arcade Battersea looks like a trendy, late-night canteen. But unlike your regular food hall, the fodder here is of the gourmet, fashionable variety: Insta-famous chef Thomas Straker is lending his name to a flatbread stand, Siu Siu is dishing up Cantonese comfort food and, in keeping with the original site, there will be more fiery Thai, this time from Phed Power.

1st Floor, Boiler House, Battersea Power Station, 330 The Power Station, Circus Rd S, London SW11 8DD. Monday - Wednesday, 11am - 10pm; Thursday - Saturday, 11am - 11pm; Sunday 11am - 7pm.

www.arcadefoodhall.com/battersea

 ©Edmund Dabney

clay kiln craft

Pottery Teaching School + Open Access Membership + Commissions

Pottery classes, courses & open access studio

South London Business Accountants

We are a small independent pottery teaching school offering one-off classes, courses & open access membership studio for beginners, enthusiasts, amateurs and semi-professionals in a friendly and relaxed environment.

Check out our website for a full list of all classes & courses plus dates & times: claykilncraft.com

facebook: Clay Kiln Craft at Do and Play twitter: @ClayKilnCraft instagram: @claykilncraft phone: 07976 290735 web: claykilncraft.com email: claykilncraftpottery@gmail.com

20 Church Road, Crystal Palace, London SE19 2ET

www co-accounting co uk/southlondon

Woman Up: fitness and wellness for survivors of domestic abuse

By Holly O'Mahony

Women Up, a fitness and wellness institution with hubs in Peckham, Nunhad, Tooting, Wandsworth and beyond, runs on an important mission: to support survivors of domestic abuse and put an end to violence against women and girls.

The core offering here is group Zumba classes, but they’re as much about fostering a sense of community as taking part in 60-minutes of fitness. Woman Up offers counselling sessions and runs a podcast too, featuring interviews with women about their personal stories. There are also plans in the pipeline to offer corporate packages in the future, supporting women in the workplace.

The South Londoner spoke to Tricia Wallace, a fitness instructor and core member of the Women Up team, to find out more…

How did you first come together as a collective?

We wouldn’t know each other were we not all Zumba fitness instructors. We came together in

2021, over Zoom, to deliver a special celebration Zumba fitness class to celebrate International Women’s Day and to raise funds for the charity Refuge, which supports women and children who have experienced domestic abuse. We didn’t realise how much it would resonate with women and men in our classes, or how empowering it could be, but that is the feedback we got, so we’ve continued to grow it as a movement.

You support women and girls, many of whom are survivors of domestic abuse, through fitness and wellness. What sort of activities do you offer?

Through the joy of Zumba we have discovered a great love for each other as a team of women, a shared story, a common experience and a shared hope for an end of violence and violation against women and girls. Within these classes, we have created a safe space where we can share stories, support survivors and raise our voices for empowerment through joy.

When we meet we dance, talk, share, cry, scream, breathe, support, love and grow. Ultimately, we rise.

Do you work with survivors of particular kinds of trauma, or are your classes open to everyone?

It's not always a horrific and heartbreaking story of domestic violence, it’s sometimes the culmination of incessant micro violations that we are all taught to tolerate and take responsibility for, as if we’ve done something wrong. For example, women are told to look down, carry their keys in their hand, and smile when they’re facing unwanted advances. So the message is to be silent, be small, and be to blame. We were probably all still in school uniform the first time we were cat called or wolf whistled.

How does fitness and wellness benefit people who are recovering and moving on from a trauma?

Healing can take a lifetime. This type of trauma isn’t something we can fix with pain killers. It's a long

journey of self-acceptance, of truth, and of removing blame and responsibility when it’s not ours to own. Movement and joy are key to this release. When you dance, run or swim, you don’t need words but you open channels for release and create avenues for trauma to exit your body.

Fitness endorphins, the euphoria of music, the permission to dance wildly without judgement are all so freeing. When you combine them and have them at the heart of a Woman Up class, you create a community of joy.

What sort of emotional support do you offer for people around the fitness aspect of the class?

For some people, that 60 minutes is their respite; their momentary escape that is helping them prepare to step into freedom from abuse. When the release comes, we cry together, distribute hugs, cups of tea, lend a listening ear and will hold your hand. We will sit in the darkness with you, saying nothing if that is the support you need. And then 

there is breathwork, mindfulness and the mental and emotional realignment you need to compliment your changing body.

How do people typically find you?

We are small in stature and are still at the start of a journey but the door to our classes, events and activities is always open. We can be found on Instagram (@womanupoffical), Facebook (@WOMANUP) or via our website (www. womanupuk). We run drop-in classes and support community events, especially over the summer where we have community days and a festival. We recommended that people contact us and let us know what class and location they are interested in, and we match them up with a class. Our new timetables will be listed on our social media bios and the website from September. If you can’t find us then invite us – we’ll come.

How do you foster a sense of community at Woman Up?

We have created a community through our classes and by sharing our passions. Our classes are not just 60-minute fitness sessions, they are the time before and after when you have a chat and make everyone welcome. Our class leaders make the effort to remember not just the names of their participants but also the little details in their lives. It’s also about how we respond to their revelations and outpourings – it’s our privilege to be there to help, to signpost and to keep going.

You also offer counselling. Do sessions take place in a group format or a one-on-one basis?

Within our team we have coaches and counsellors. Our wellness sessions are group based but we always designate a quiet space should anyone need to have a private moment with support. Where we can’t provide sufficient support on site, we signpost to more appropriate clinical and crisis services.

Obviously in an ideal world, an organisation like yours wouldn't have to exist. But what are your goals as an organisation for the next five years?

We hope to grow, form regional bases around the country and to be able to offer an affordable retreat where we can create a getaway for women to switch off, focus on their own needs, tap into their power and return home recharged and ready to raise their voices.

Before all of this, however, we are upgrading Halloween and having ourselves a twin city Zumba extravaganza, ‘Halloqueen’, on November 25 – the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. Proceeds will be donated to our designated charities for 2023.

Woman Up UK, 120 Peckham Hill Street, London SE15 5JT. For information on how to get involved, visit: www.womanupuk.org/get-involved

“we have created a community through our classes and by sharing our passions

a love letter to south London

―

As told to Holly O'Mahony

“It’s a way of life for us and I can’t imagine us doing anything else” – Cass Randolph, one half of the sibling duo behind Greenwich Comedy Festival, which she runs with her brother Will Briggs, shares her south London secrets.

You've been running Greenwich Comedy Festival for 15 years now. What inspired you to set it up in the first place?

Will and I grew up in and around Greenwich, and spent a lot of that time at our stepdad Malcolm Hardee’s comedy club Up The Creek. Will went on to start the Sunday Specials night there, while I was off in the music industry working on events like the BRIT Awards.

We’d go up to the Edinburgh Fringe each year, and while there in 2008 realised how weird it was that London didn’t have anything like it. We were both up for taking on a new challenge and so set about starting something, Greenwich seemed like the natural place to do it.

What's the best thing about running Greenwich Comedy festival?

That it’s been a huge success! We’ve certainly put the effort in over the years and are thrilled that it’s so established now. We've always presented great line-ups, and now, thanks to years of experience, we've figured out what we feel is the best way to present them, though we're always looking for ways to improve.

We weathered the pandemic years ok, it was tough but the experience forged our determination, and this year we’re bringing back the Big Top which is a cathartic full circle. We can't wait to get the shows back under cover. The atmosphere is totally electric; we have big crowds but the energy is just like the intimate (sometimes rowdy!) club gigs we grew up with at Up The Creek.

How do you spend the rest of the year?

Following the success of Greenwich we gradually expanded and now have comedy festivals in Bristol, Brighton, St Albans and Manchester, with a few more locations planned for next year. So our lives are basically non-stop, year-round comedy, comedy, comedy. We don't seem to have an off button; we grew up

around a lot of creative and bizarre people whose lives and work were intertwined, and that seems to have rubbed off. It’s a way of life for us, and I can't imagine us doing anything else.

What does a typical week in south London involve for you?

At this time of year it’s all work, either in our studio near Borough or on location at one of our festivals.

What are your favourite south London eateries?

Meze Mangal in Brockley is a classic that never disappoints, the vegan roast at Mere Scribbler in Streatham is also a winner. Mercato Metropolitano is a great food hall just down from our studio and a regular lunch spot. Also, a special mention to Mr Bao in Peckham, where we head for our post-Greenwich Comedy Festival crew dinner every year.

Where do you shop for clothes and homeware in south London?

Vintage shopping in New Cross is a good catch-all for this.

And your favourite south London landmark?

Greenwich Park and the Horniman Museum and Gardens are stand out favourites, both with exceptional views across London. Also the Dinosaur sculpture park in Crystal Palace never fails to amuse. This is a very park-centric list, and sounds like we’re on the hunt for more comedy festival locations!

Have any events or festivals been a help or inspiration to your vision for Greenwich Comedy Festival?

Going to festivals and gigs has always been a big part of our lives. Our mission with the comedy festival formula was to combine two of our favourite things:

the atmosphere of a music festival and the energy of a comedy club, and I think we’ve come pretty close to achieving that.

What’s the one place, thing or activity south of the river that everyone should try at least once?

It’s got to be a day out in Greenwich. Coming in across the park or by boat, tucking into a street food lunch and shopping in Greenwich Market, afternoon tea at the always excellent Royal Teas, a wander around the Cutty Sark and Old Royal Naval College and, of course, finishing up with an outrageously good night of comedy at Greenwich Comedy Festival!

Greenwich Comedy Festival is running outside the National Maritime Museum, London SE10 9JW. September 13 - 17, times vary depending on event.

Admission: £26 per show.

www.greenwichcomedyfestival.co.uk/tickets

 Cass Randolph and Will Briggs ©Lloydwinters

who’s playing at Greenwich comedy festival?

The 15th annual Greenwich Comedy Festival is due to unfold in a riot of laughs outside the National Maritime Museum this September, with seven shows spread over five days, and headline sets from Stewart Lee, Russell Kane, Simon Amstell and more. Here’s who you can see and when…

Wednesday September 13, 7:30pm

The festival kicks off on Wednesday September 13 with an evening headlined by Live at the Apollo star and host of the chart-topping Off Menu podcast Ed Gamble. Joining him is an equally impressive line-up of guests: Last Leg and Have I Got News For You favourite Maisie Adam, mover and shaker Kyrah Gray and stand-up pro Sean Mcloughlin, with rising favourite Chloe Petts hosting.

Thursday September 14, 7:30pm

On Thursday, darling of the comedy circuit and TV regular Phil Wang is leading the laughs. Supporting him are star of Alan Partridge (among various other shows) Tim Key, Edinburgh Comedy Award winner Sam Campbell, and Taskmaster champion Sophie Duker, with Kiri Pritchard-Mclean – who kept comedy alive during lockdown via her virtual comedy club – as host.

Friday September 15, 7:30pm

You’ve seen him on 8 Out Of 10 Cats Does Countdown and in his own Channel 4 show Along For The Ride, now see Irish export David O’Doherty in the flesh as he headlines Friday’s line up. Joining him are Jamali Maddix of Viceland and Never Mind The Buzzcocks acclaim, stand-up stud Daniel Foxx, and Taskmaster’s Lou Sanders, with Live At The Apollo’s Jen Brister stepping in as host.

Saturday September 16, 1pm

The first of three shows on Saturday sees the one and only Russell Kane headline, while joining him is the multi award-winning Reginald D Hunter, newcomer Morgan Rees and Radio 4 regular Shaparak Khorsandi, with internationally adored Stephen K Amos playing host.

Saturday September 16, 4:15pm

Who misses Father Ted? All of us? Okay, that’s settled. Well, bringing confused priest energy plus his own sharp humour to the festival is Ardal O’Hanlon (Father Dougal – yes, really!). Supporting him are ‘musical maestro’ Rachel Parris, London’s personal mick-taker Sikisa, and internet personality Troy Hawke, with Josh Jones of the Hard Sell podcast as host.

Saturday September 16, 7:45pm

Saturday night audiences are in safe hands (well, so long as you’re not sitting in his eyeline!), because master-of-deadpan Jack Dee is making his Greenwich Comedy Festival debut. Also on the bill are Mock the Week’s Rhys James, Edinburgh Comedy Award nominee Amy Gledhill, and fresh-faced talent Dan Tiernan, with roof-raising Thanyia Moore playing host.

Sunday September 17, 4:15pm

Who’s that keeping spirits raised on Sunday afternoon? It’s only Simon Amstell. The Netflix and BAFTA star has been peddling the circuit for some time now, but he’s always got new material up his sleeve. Joining him are ventriloquism maestro Nina Conti, Qi regular Sindhu Vee, and rising talent Tadiwa Mahlunge, with the electric Jayde Adams as host.

Sunday September 17, 7:45pm

Closing the festival with his signature brand of meta, deadpan comedy is the nation’s long-standing favourite Stewart Lee. He’s a Greenwich Comedy Festival regular who always delivers a memorable show. Here, he’ll be joined by Scottish star Fern Brady, French newcomer Celya AB, and Aussie stand-up Ray Badran, with ever reliable posh boy Ivo Graham bringing it all together as host.

Greenwich Comedy Festival is running outside the National Maritime Museum, London SE10 9JW. September 13 - 17, times vary depending on event. Admission: £26 per show. www. greenwichcomedyfestival.co.uk/tickets

 Stewart Lee

 Sophie Duker

 Simon Amstell ©Harry Carr

black seed: meet the brains behind the venture capital firm exclusively supporting black businesses

―

It was the lack of funding and support for Black-owned businesses that led Cyril Lutterodt, Yvonne Nagawa and Karl Lokko to take matters into their own hands and set up Black Seed in 2021.

Karl had been working as a local government consultant and special adviser to Prince Harry, Cyril was looking to secure investment for his own tech business and Yvonne was working in finance at the time. The trio, all of whom are from south London, decided to club together and found their own organisation, which they claim is the first venture capital firm in Europe to invest exclusively in black-owned businesses.

The South Londoner spoke to the minds behind Black Seed to find out more…

Tell us in your own words the inspiration behind Black Seed…

The inspiration behind it began when Cyril approached Karl to help fund his startup. During the process, they realised that there was no existing solution for black founders to access funding. They believed they could leverage their network to provide funding for black founders. Two years later, they launched their inaugural fund of £10 million, which has reached a first close.

How would you describe the organisation's mission in a sentence?

Our mission is to empower Black founders to build

the global businesses of the future.

How does it work in practice?

We ask all companies interested in pitching for funding to go to our website and select ‘submit pitch’. We consider businesses at various stages, from the idea stage to the product stage to being market-ready. If the business is a tech or techenabled venture with an opportunity to scale and become a generational company, we would love to have a chat.

As well as supporting businesses, you also host events…

Yes, we do. We host monthly events at our offices in Brixton and an annual pitch event every October called Brixton Startup Weekend where we give away £10,000 equity-free to promising business ideas.

Who are your events aimed at?

The events are aimed at aspiring and existing founders who want to support, learn and grow within the Black founder ecosystem. We bring successful entrepreneurs from our community to share words of wisdom, provide access to

their network, and help with building the right proposition for prospective investors.

Are there any particular industries you're especially keen to work with?

We are especially keen to work with public-facing institutions like banks, private equity funds and pension funds, as well as AI companies and tech companies.

What do fledgling businesses gain from working with Black Seed?

A portfolio company would receive a capital infusion, access to office space, and wrap-around support to help grow and scale their business.

Lastly, what's your hope for Black Seed over the next five years?

We are rooted in Brixton but have global ambitions. We want to scale globally into Europe, Africa and North America.

Black Seed, Brixton Village, Coldharbour Lane, London SW9 8PS. www.blackseed.ventures/

 Black Seed Team from L to R, Cyril Lutterodt, Yvonne Nagawa and Karl Lokko

LOCALLY SOURCED

South London Gallery Membership: £40 - £90

With a membership to the South London Gallery in Peckham, you or a loved one can enjoy:

ticket discounts for all talks, films and events

ticket discounts for sLG skills creative workshops

10% off at SLG shops (excluding artist editions)

10% off all food and drink at the sLG’s café for you and a guest

invitations to special members’ events including exclusive curator-led tours

regular members’ updates about our forthcoming programme

membership card and card holder

If the bright colours and giddy entertainment of Peckham Festival has left you keen to explore more of south-east London’s art scene, why not invest in a membership to its local art hub, the South London Gallery? Membership options start at £40, and if you’re treating a loved one, for an extra £15 you can turn your present into a gift bundle, with a South London Gallery tote back and a book thrown in for good measure.

www.southlondongallery.org/shop/gift-membership-the-gift-of-inspiration/

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.

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, 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

#theplacetobeyou

Post 16: 28th September 2023

Key Stage 4: 18th October 2023

Sign up to visit: joinbrit.eventbrite.co.uk

Follow @TheBRITSchool

Open Sessions 2023 pen

James Allen’s Girls’ School Autumn Open Events

BOOK ONLINE

Year 7 Open Events

Friday 22 September 2023

Friday 6 October 2023

Friday 20 October 2023

Open mornings 9:30am – 11:30am

Saturday 30 September 2023

Open day 9:30am – 12pm

Thursday 5 October 2023

Open evening 5pm – 7pm

Book now to attend an open event for admission to Westminster City School in September 2024. Tour the school, meet the Headteacher and speak to staff and current students.

Book now: www.wcsch.com

Congratulations to Westminster City School’s Sixth Form, class of 2023, on their exceptional and richly deserved A-level results. Against a backdrop of grade deflation where the proportion of top grades in England has fallen significantly, the school saw a rise in the proportion of students achieving the top A* and A grades with a quarter of all grades at this level.

Over a 1/3 of students have secured places at Russell Group or top 10 ranked UK Universities, and they will complete their studies in subjects ranging from Medicine to Theoretical Physics, and from Law to Geography. A record number of students will start degree courses at universities from Edinburgh to Exeter. Other students hold places on competitive and prestigious degree apprenticeships. Staff at Palace Street are immensely proud of all these students have accomplished throughout their two years especially as this was the first time having the experience of opening public examination results.

David, who achieved three A*s and an A will be studying Economics at the University of Bath. The moment he opened his results, he expressed his gratitude saying:

“It is important to recognise and accept when help is needed. I am grateful to all my teachers at Westminster City School’s Sixth Form who created the environment for me to be able to seek help and advice regarding my subjects during my A-levels. This provided a stable foundation which allowed me to grow and develop academically, with the ability to understand the curriculum and beyond. My seven-year journey at Westminster City School has been phenomenal, and I look back with great fondness.”

25% of grades were at either A* or A grade and over three quarters of all grades were at A* to C grades. This against a background of top grades (A* and A) falling by close to 10%.

Ana, who achieved A* A B has been offered a Digital Marketing Apprenticeship with Channel 4

improved a Level results for westminster city school’s Sixth Form

who has the UK’s biggest streaming service said:

“When I decided to join Westminster City School’s Sixth Form in Year 12 it was an anxious time, especially because I was leaving a familiar environment, I was not sure if I wanted to take the risk. However, on reflection, this was the best decision that I made and there are absolutely no regrets. The school has supported me with my apprenticeship decision and really instilled in me life skills that I will never forget. I am thankful that I have the option to also study Business Management at King’s College London.”

Caleb, who received two A’s and an A* will be studying Economics, Politics and International Studies at the University of Warwick. He said:

“I am ecstatic about the grades that I have achieved because it highlights the importance of hard work, patience, and resilience. Due to the location of Westminster City School’s Sixth Form, I was able to

get involved in a variety of extra-curricular activities which has helped me to learn new skills, develop my public speaking skills and networking skills. Additionally, my confidence has increased immensely because I was always encouraged by the teachers to say, ‘yes’ to new opportunities and come out of my comfort zone.”

Commenting on this year’s A Level results success, Headteacher, Mr Peter Broughton said:

“I am very happy indeed with the outcomes for this year’s Year 13 and delighted for all the students. The class of 2023 are our largest cohort in living memory and had the disadvantage of being a year group who were unable to sit any formal assessments for their GCSEs as well as facing two lockdowns. The improving trend in results, bucking the national picture, and the large number going onto exciting university and apprenticeships is very much in keeping with our ambition to continue being a school which inspires excellence in the heart of London. I wish every student well for the future and trust that through the school’s alumni association, they will stay in touch with the school.”

Ms Katie Dennis, Assistant Headteacher, said:

“On behalf of the Sixth Form team, we are so

proud of the achievements of these excellent students. They have achieved a set of fantastic results with some particularly impressive individual achievements. They have been studious, conscientious, and so passionate about their studies. It is particularly impressive as they also endured COVID disruptions during their GCSE years and are going onto an excellent array of courses at a range of prestigious universities. They will be deeply missed by the staff at Westminster City School.”

Westminster City School 55 Palace St, London SW1E 5HJ

www.wcsch.com