SOUTH LONDonER
about us
We’ve been producing independent, balanced and community-focused journalism in south London since 1987.
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, as well as the quarterly Bermondsey Biscuit and Rotherhithe Docker
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 Eliza Frost
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
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5 HOME SECRETARY From exhibitions to a new car boor sale, these are the south London events you won’t want to miss
6 WHAT’S ON Brixton Life Drawing founders teach you to ‘enjoy the process’ of creativity
9 FAMILY Things to do as a family; The South Londoner’s top picks for your little ones
11 LOCAL FACES Louise Whittaker of Illustrated by Weezy talks stomping grounds
13-19 HOME We visit Each Dulwich’s Coach House, Nimtim Architects discuss creating spaces that work for you, Danielle Duggleby talks interior design trends, and Benchmark Lofts on making the most of your reno
21 A LOVE LETTER TO SOUTH LONDON The founders of Brockley co-working space Buro share their favourite spots this side of the river
23-29 FOOD & DRINk Dough Hands on bringing pizzas to The Old Nun’s Head, Dr Sting’s Hot Honey talk all things spicy, and editor Eliza Frost visits Turo Turo, plus new openings in your ‘hood
31 LOCALLY SOURCED Gladys duvet cover and ruffle pillowcases from Weirdstock
Cover: Nimtim © Megan Taylor
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 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.
Wed 15 Jan, Wed 29 Jan, Wed 5 Feb, Wed 26 Feb, Wed 12 Mar, Wed 26 Mar
Part of Open Doors
Our regular free events are open to all, and bursting with creativity
Mix & Move
Pick up new steps and meet people at our monthly dance workshops with Luanda Pau, diving into Cuban Carnival, salsa, street rumba and reggaeton.
Fri 24 Jan, Fri 28 Feb, Fri 28 Mar
Scan the QR code to see all Open Doors events
sEcrETary:
What’s on
somaya critchloW: the chamber
Dulwich Picture Gallery presents The Chamber, London-based British artist Somaya Critchlow’s debut solo show in a UK public institution, made in response to the Gallery’s Collection of historic paintings.
Having known the Collection since childhood, Critchlow exhibits a new body of work following a period of research and in-depth observation of the Old Master paintings.
The one-room display features six newly commissioned works, including three large figurative paintings. Sketches created by the artist throughout her research are also presented, alongside selected works from our Collection.
Critchlow was struck by the narrative paintings of Peter Paul Rubens, Peter Lely and Anthony van Dyck. She is intrigued by the stories behind them, which are rooted in religion, literature, history, the imagination and mythology, including Ovid’s Metamorphoses, the ancient epic poem to which Critchlow herself was continually drawn to while creating her new works. She has often contemplated how these stories can mask complex power structures.
Drawing from the classical poses and dynamic gestures of the Old Masters, Critchlow is fascinated by history painting and the nude. Her own figures hover on the threshold of allowing their stories to be known intimately, while at the same time holding their distance.
The Chamber is part of Dulwich Picture Gallery’s ‘Unlocking Paintings’ series.
Dates: Showing until Sunday 20 July 2025 tickets: Entry included with a Gallery admission ticket
Dulwich Picture Gallery, College Road, SE21 7AD www.dulwichpicturegallery.org.uk/whats-on/ displays/2025/february/somaya-critchlow-thechamber
A date for your spring diary; the outdoor spatial audio festival Polygon Live LDN is coming to Crystal Palace Park from 2 to 4 May 2025.
Enjoy performances by Arooj Aftab, Gold Panda, Halina Rice, Jon Hopkins, Nitin Sawhney, Photay and Tinariwen, plus more to be announced.
Step inside this immersive world and redefine your perception of live music. The dual-dome stage design is a hemispherical structure, with almost 100 speakers across each dome so you can expect truly earth-shattering base.
The structure also features a lattice of LED lighting that will enhance the space, enveloping audiences in a cocoon of spatialised sound and synchronised lighting.
Kick-off festival season the right way with Polygon Live.
Dates: Friday 2 to Sunday 4 May 2025
tickets: From £54.85
Crystal Palace Park, SE19 2GA polygon-productions.live
ParaDise lost
Ten years on from its first premiere, dance and theatre company Lost Dog return to Battersea Arts Centre with its staging of Milton’s poem Paradise Lost.
Featuring brand-new casting with Olivier award nominee Sharif Afifi (The Band’s Visit), Paradise Lost combines theatre, comedy and movement in a journey through the story of the creation of… everything, condensed into 75 minutes.
A single man plays all the characters, creates all the scenes and, despite his best efforts, falls a little short of perfection.
A show for anyone who has created anything (child, garden, paper aeroplane), and then watched it spiral out of control.
Dates: Tuesday 18 March to Saturday 5 April 2025, 7:30pm
tickets: Tickets: Pay What You Can (recommended Price £16)
Battersea Arts Centre, Lavender Hill, SW11 5TN bac.org.uk/whats-on/paradise-lost
©Somaya Critchlow
From the founders of Peckham Carboot, Balham Carboot is launching on 23 February.
The Carboot will be hosted at Henry Cavendish Primary School and will take place every other Sunday, alternating with Peckham Carboot.
The southwest London Carboot welcomes sellers looking to make a little extra money, buyers hunting for unique bargains, or those who just fancy a coffee and natter with some like-minded individuals –Balham Carboot is the place to be.
Explore wares from 10am to 2pm, with early bird time slots available for those who want to grab the first bargains of the day.
You will be able to grab pastries and refreshments available at Henry’s Coffee Stop and your pups are welcome to come along, too, but be sure to keep them on the lead.
Dates: Every other Sunday tickets: £7 for early bird (10am-10:30am), £5 for head start (10:30-11am), £1 from 11am onwards, under 13s free when accompanied by an adult Henry Cavendish Primary School, Hydethorpe Road, SW12 0JA www.instagram.com/balham.carboot
Shop sustainable 20th and 21st-century items in the setting of Dulwich College as Midcentury Modern returns this March.
Discover treasures as you explore the ground floor of the huge glass, brick and concrete sixties building, with top contemporary designers upstairs in the mezzanine. Plus, three rooms and corridors with more top mid-century and vintage dealers in the cloisters beyond.
You’ll find the finest examples of British, American and Scandinavian design, from Eames to Ercol, as well as contemporary pieces curated by top designers like Poppy Norton, Marque Sussex and Storigraphic.
Midcentury Modern stalls will have everything from furniture and lighting to art, fabric, jewellery and homeware, creating a haven for design enthusiasts and collectors alike.
Date: Sunday 23 March 2025, 10am to 4pm tickets: Advance tickets online £11 for 10am entry, £7 for 1pm, £12 on the door, under 14s free Dulwich College, Dulwich Common, SE21 7LD modernshows.com
Polygon live lDn
balham carboot
miDcentury moDern at DulWich college
brixton life Drawing
“Our life drawing classes are designed to inspire everyone – even those who don’t see themselves as ‘natural artists’,” explain the co-founders of Brixton Life Drawing.
“We always encourage people to give it a try; you might be surprised by what you create! It’s about expressing yourself and having fun, not about achieving perfection. After all, every artist was once an amateur,” say Anya Gomulski and Bex Dagless.
Anya, a textile designer, and Bex, a UX designer, originally met while working together and bonded over their passion for creativity and entrepreneurial spirit.
“One day, during our commute home to Brixton, we found ourselves talking about how much we missed being creative for 'fun' rather than solely for work,” they explain.
“That conversation sparked the idea of offering a space where people could unwind, explore their creative side, and connect with others in a welcoming environment –and Brixton Life Drawing was born.”
The pair have been organising in-person and online life drawing events since 2019 and recognise the “amazing community” they have built.
Anya and Bex explain: “When lockdown hit just a few months after we started, we were initially gutted, thinking it might be the end of our sessions. But instead, it opened opportunities to connect with a wider audience – sometimes over 500 people in a single Zoom session from all over the world.
“We were also able to raise over £10,000 for charities, many of them local to Brixton, such as Brixton Soup Kitchen.”
They are also proud of being able to support life models with work during a time of uncertainty.
Brixton Life Drawing classes are inclusive and laidback, say Anya and Bex. They are open to all drawing abilities – from seasoned artists to those who haven’t drawn since school.
“We provide guidance on drawing techniques and offer timed poses, but there’s never any pressure. The focus is on unwinding, catching up with friends, meeting new people and having a great time,” they add.
“While practising creativity naturally leads to improvement, the experience is about much more than that – it’s about enjoying the process.”
Every Tuesday at the in-person classes, held at Paddy’s
Yard in Brixton, attendees begin to arrive at 7:30pm and the drawing starts at 7:45pm.
You can grab a drink from the bar, chat with friends, or strike up a conversation with someone new.
The first half of the session includes short poses that gradually move into longer ones, along with some playful drawing exercises, like using your non-dominant hand, to get the creativity flowing.
A 15-minute break includes a mini gallery and the chance to check out each other’s work and feel inspired –but there is no pressure to share your work.
The second half of drawing leads up to a final look at everyone’s creations and the evening ends with a relaxed vibe, where people often stick around to chat, enjoy more drinks and soak in the creative energy.
Of bringing life drawing to Brixton, the pair say how the area is “such a creative hub”.
It is “filled with people from all walks of life pursuing their own paths and dreams”, they add.
“Whether it’s restaurant pop-ups, graffiti artists or florists, there’s always something inspiring happening. The energy and diversity of the area make it the perfect backdrop for fostering creativity.”
And what’s coming up for 2025? Brixton Life Drawing will be back at the National Gallery on 23 May hosting a free event as part of its Friday Lates series.
You can also expect pop-up events throughout the year, such as a February event with Taittinger and Waitrose.
You can also find them weekly at Brixton's Paddy's Yard as well as hosting bi-weekly online classes that are pay-what-you-can.
brixtonlifedrawing.com
family events
By Eliza Frost
Home Song at Unicorn Theatre
Enjoy an interactive musical adventure across continents with Home Song at Unicorn Theatre this spring, aimed at children aged 6- to 18-months.
In this multi-sensory show, meet young Adwoa and her mum as they embark on a journey to find the true meaning of home, from the bustling streets of Kumasi to the vibrant heart of London.
Featuring puppetry, interactive soundscapes and acapella singing throughout, Home Song creates a vivid and soothing musical experience for you and your baby to join in.
Dates: Showing until 9 March 2025
tickets: One adult and one baby £15-£19.50, two Adults and one baby £21-£25.50, Extra adult or baby £6 – contact Box Office to book Unicorn Theatre, 147 Tooley Street, SE1 2HZ www.unicorntheatre.com/events/home-song
Explore the history of Pirates at the National Maritime Museum
A major exhibition tracing the changing depictions of pirates throughout the ages and revealing the brutal history often obscured by fiction is coming to the National Maritime Museum this March.
While sometimes portrayed as tricksters or scoundrels, pirates are primarily swashbuckling adventurers associated with lush islands, flamboyant dress and buried treasure.
The Pirates exhibition – recommended for children over 10 and their adults – will deconstruct these myths and illuminate the realities of pirate life, including those of the pirates Edward
‘Blackbeard’ Teach, William Kidd, Anne Bonny and Mary Read.
The exhibition will cover piracy across the globe looking at the South China Sea, Indian Ocean and Barbary pirates who operated off the coast of North Africa.
Dates: From 29 March 2025 to 4 January 2026
tickets: Adult £15, Child £7.50, Student £11.25
National Maritime Museum, Romney Road, SE10 9NF
www.rmg.co.uk/whats-on/national-maritimemuseum/pirates
Big Fish Little Fish Family Rave
For parents who miss the party, take your little ones to a daytime rave at Peckham Levels with Big Fish Little Fish.
The car park rave is pirate-themed for the March event, with a bass-heavy set from World DMC champion DJ Mr Switch.
Aimed at families with 0-8 year olds, but all ages are welcome. Expect a multi-sensory dancefloor with bubbles, giant balloons and a parachute dance finale.
Big Fish Little Fish hosts family events for the postrave generation of parents, helping you to be responsibly irresponsible since 2013.
It’s time to walk the plank, mateys – so grab your toddler, a shot of rum and get down on the dancefloor.
Date: 16 March 2025, 2pm to 4pm
tickets: Adult £12.91, Child £9.75, Pre-walking Infants free
Peckham Levels, 95A Rye Lane, SE15 4ST peckhamlevels.org/events/big-fish-little-fish
Porcupine and Armadillo Experience at Battersea Park Zoo
New for 2025, Battersea Park Zoo has introduced a Porcupine and Armadillo Experience as part of its zookeeper animal experiences for all those over the age of 5 to enjoy.
During the one-to-one experience, you will spend time with keepers behind the scenes and meet the Zoo’s charismatic armadillos and Rico, the prehensiletailed porcupine.
You’ll get to help feed them their favourite foods, create enrichment to encourage natural behaviours and learn all about them from the experts.
Perfect for any animal-obsessed little ones who are eager to find out more about the secret lives of animals.
Dates: Vary
tickets: One participant £65, two participants £100
Battersea Park, SW11 4NJ www.batterseaparkzoo.co.uk/experiences-gifts/ zookeeper-animal-experiences/
Children’s Garden Trail at SLG
Explore the green spaces of the South London Gallery with its free, self-guided garden worksheet. All weekend, from 12pm to 6pm, children and families are invited to have fun and be creative in the Orozco Garden.
Find out more about the unique sculptural work created by artist Gabriel Orozco as you explore the grounds using a worksheet created by the SLG’s Education team.
The worksheet offers prompts for young people of all ages to explore the plants and spaces outside and is aimed at children aged 5-12 years.
Dates: Every Saturday and Sunday, 12pm to 6pm
tickets: Free
South London Gallery, 65-67 Peckham Road, SE5 8UH www.southlondongallery.org/events/childrens-garden-trail/
©National Maritime Museum
London Gallery
illustrated by Weezy ―
South London is Louise Whittaker’s stomping group; the artist discusses finding inspiration in nostalgia
“It makes my day knowing my prints are up in someone’s house and it's bringing them happiness or a smile to their face every day,” says Louise Whittaker, the artist behind lifestyle brand Illustrated by Weezy.
She creates prints that highlight the simple joy that can be found in every day – like sipping on your diet coke in peace or when the weekend comes around and it’s beers and boogie time.
Many of Louise’s designs are inspired by her most nostalgic memories. She produces an “I left my heart in…” collection, which is inspired by when she went travelling.
She says: “It’s amazing to be able to have a piece up on your wall and get flooded with those really lovely memories of being on that holiday, the drinks that you were drinking, the food you were having.”
Before launching Illustrated by Weezy, Louise studied product design at university and completed a placement at a novelty gift company where she designed items that ended up in shops such as Urban Outfitters.
“That’s when I first got a glimpse that I can create products and actually have them in shops. I really enjoyed that process because the products were fun and made people smile,” she explains.
Her designs have always been “quite tongue in cheek –I don’t like things that are too serious”, she says.
Louise went on to work in marketing before going travelling, leaving her heart in the places she visited, and spent time working in Australia.
When she got back to the UK, she couldn’t shake the itch of needing to be creative.
During the pandemic, she bought an iPad and started sharing custom portraits on Instagram. Drawing was on the back burner while she worked full time, before realising she wanted to pursue her creativity.
Louise booked her first market at Christmas time and had a month to come up with some collections. At her market, she sold around six pieces, which “is not that much, but it gave me the energy and the confidence to feel like I can actually do this”.
“I put my everything into the next year,” says Louise. “I spent 2023 experimenting and working on new collections and doing lots of markets.”
“My first year has been really enjoyable as well as, obviously with so many learnings and challenges, but it's all been worth it.”
Now, Louise has brought out many Illustrated by Weezy collections. The designs are inspired by the little things that people love to do with their friends, like drink Chicken Wine, as she plays on the simple moments of the every day that are special.
And she pays homage to where we call home across south London in her “stomping ground” series.
Louise’s “What Comes Next Will Be Marvellous” print will also “always hold a deeply special place in my heart”, she says.
She explains that the messages she has received from people who have found hope and strength in these words – whether after a breakup, losing a job or facing a life-changing diagnosis – remind her of the incredible resilience within us all.
“Knowing that this print has helped someone believe in brighter days ahead, given them a renewed sense of determination and reassured them that they can overcome anything fills me with so much joy,” she says. “The print reinforces that no matter what people are going through, the best is still to come.”
Louise’s latest collection is a nod to her, and many of our, love of a Lime bike.
“My friends and I have been Lime biking everywhere,” she says. “One of our favourite things to do at the weekend is find a new coffee shop or market and message each other: ‘Lime bike and [insert activity]’”.
The collection symbolises exploring London and the hidden places you can discover while riding a bike.
It gives you that “opportunity to get lost down cute roads” and you “actually get to see London for what it is, rather than just getting off at a busy station and going straight to your destination”, says Louise.
Of one of her favourite things to do in south London, Louise says she “absolutely loves” to visit Salad Days Markets, a market run by twin sisters Liv and Daisy.
She says: “The market is filled with incredible, unique and beautiful products crafted by small brands and it has the best atmosphere.
“When it takes place in Battersea Power Station, I love to make a day of it, cycling on a Lime bike from home, and then taking a long walk around the park with a coffee.”
Louise is also excited to be taking part in the market for the fifth time on Sunday 23 February as part of the Salad Days Sample Sale at Gipsy Hill Taproom. You’ll find samples and seconds of Louise’s work at a reduced price.
So, whether you’re looking for a homage to your stomping ground or want your own reminder that “What Comes Next Will Be Marvellous”, be sure to visit and grab an Illustrated by Weezy bargain.
illustratedbyweezy.co.uk
Kinder Design can help you with an interiors or renovation project. Based in East Dulwich, we create contemporary, colourful yet calm homes.
kinderdesign.co.uk
transforming coach house
From an old MOT garage to a family home, Leo Wood and Rupert Scott on renovating the East Dulwich plot
Coach House sits on Townsend Mews in East Dulwich. A road that owners Leo Wood and Rupert Scott named themselves.
They wanted to nod to the Horniman Museum, of which Charles Harrison Townsend was the architect, and landed on Townsend Mews.
Mews because “it gave that sense of a hidden track”, says Leo, who runs interior design studio Kinder Design.
Rupert heads up Open Practice Architecture and has been an architect for around 25 years.
Over the past 10 years, Rupert and Leo have worked on four development projects of their own; the first being a gin distillery conversion in east London, the Coach House was the second and they’ve tackled a further two together.
The East Dulwich home beams with light, coming in through the floor-to-ceiling windows as we talk about how they transformed the space.
“It was an auction property,” Rupert explains. “It's a former MOT garage and what was exciting about it was that it's hidden away.”
But they didn’t necessarily know much about the area when they bought it, and they didn’t have plans to move in either.
Making the decision to make it their home during Covid, now, “we love the area”, says Rupert. “We love the community and the vibe of south London.”
The design was “a bit of a sister project” to the gin distillery transformation.
“The palette there was concrete, wood, contemporary but warm, simple, understated, a very clever use of light. We were using the same sort of materials for the Coach House,” says Leo.
The house is actually north facing, but Rupert explains how they welcomed light in through ceiling sun lights and pockets to the rear.
The community in the surrounding area has been supportive through the process, they say. “They wanted to see a good piece of architecture that was sensitive and nicely designed,” says Rupert, as well as praising Lewisham Council.
At Coach House, they kept the back and side walls of the existing structure. “There’s a sustainability angle to reusing some of the existing building,” says Rupert.
He explains: “I think that an appreciation of historic architecture to a more recent date, for example, 20thcentury architecture and later buildings, can be really celebrated for what they were trying to be at the time –and work with them, rather than knock them down and rebuild them.”
Building Coach House saw Leo and Rupert combining their talents, “there isn't a fine dividing line between architecture and interiors”, says Rupert. Leo was involved in conversations about the overall
build and decisions throughout the house and, equally, an architect’s job “doesn't stop at a certain point – the bigger the overlapping, the better”, adds Rupert.
“There is an overlap in things like storage; an architect should be thinking about it but maybe they don't think about it in the depth that Leo might think about it, which is about exactly what's going to be stored in those cupboards, or exactly what needs to be accessible and when. Interior design can offer that human connectivity,” he explains.
When it came to decking out the interior of Coach House, everything was “fairly budget conscious”, says Leo.
She adds: “I really like buying reclaimed or vintage furniture. So, most of the pieces here I've found at antique fairs or on eBay.
“There are some really nice designer pieces that are investments, like the dining table. I've spent a long time looking for the right thing, and then if you find the right thing, it's nice to invest in a piece of furniture that you can enjoy for a long time.
“But really, the best way to do interiors is slowly and not to rush. If you've got the luxury of time, you can ask,
what's actually going to work there? Or how do I want that space to feel?”
Further advice they would share with anyone looking to take on a project such as this is that “doing your due diligence is super important”, says Rupert.
He explains there are many questions to ask before buying at auction: “Talk to a planning consultant before you buy and find out if there is a reason the plot hasn't got planning before.
“Or ask, what do you think is possible on this site? And, obviously, look at the legals of it as well – are there reasons preventing development on the site?”
Rupert adds: “Planning budgets is hugely important, too, making sure that you are leaving a lot for contingencies. If you assume you can do it for X, you've got to leave contingency on top of that, because it will be spent over time.
“And hopefully, those things taper towards spending a contingency, rather than being over budget.”
Leo says their other advice would check your specific council’s planning policy because whether or not your project is in Lambeth, Southwark or Lewisham will
make a difference.
And also to contact Rupert. “Building your own home, renovating your own home, is not to be taken on lightly,” she says.
Rupert and Leo both work as consultants.
“I offer half-day interior design consultancies, which people love, where you can bring your challenges and I can help you answer, what do I do about my living room?” says Leo. “And Rupert can run sessions to help draft a scheme or help people work out whether or not a site is viable.”
The home that Leo and Rupert now have has been a happy place. Leo says: “We've stepped a bit further out from the centre of town, but we've gained so much in terms of how calm the area is, but also just how vibrant it is, too.
“We wax lyrical about how brilliant south London is.” Looking to the future, Leo asks, do we have an appetite to build another house? And the answer? Yes.
kinderdesign.co.uk www.openpracticearchitecture.com
©Ellen Christina Hancock
5 interior design trends to look out for in 2025 with Danielle Duggleby
Interior design is the heart and soul of Danielle Duggleby. In every project, she takes the time to truly understand her clients' needs and desires, ensuring every design is deeply personal.
With a knack for creating innovative solutions, Danielle maximizes every inch of space, while seamlessly incorporating colour, pattern and texture to craft interiors that are bold, impactful and full of personality.
Looking ahead to 2025, Danielle shares her top five design trends to look out for – and that you may wish to incorporate into your own spaces…
1. Personalised design
It's time to move beyond endless Pinterest scrolling and cookie-cutter designs. Your home should tell your story – exactly how you want it. Instead of replicating someone else's vision, it's about creating a space that reflects you.
We’re seeing a shift where people no longer mimic the latest trends but instead inject their own personalities into their interiors for a space they can truly enjoy.
2. Double drenching
Colour drenching is evolving, and double drenching is leading the way. This bold design approach is all
about showcasing confidence in colour and making a statement.
By maintaining the same strong shade while varying the hue, you can enhance your space and create a striking visual impact.
3. Mixing metals
Gone are the days of matching all your metal finishes. Now, mixing metals is a chance to introduce texture, interest and depth into your interior design.
Experimenting with different metal tones can elevate your space and add a layer of sophistication.
4. Kitchen layouts that work for you
Say goodbye to outdated kitchen layouts and the traditional "kitchen triangle”. It’s time to design a kitchen that suits your needs and lifestyle.
Think about how you move in the space, what you want to see and where you want everything to be. While there are practical considerations, it’s your kitchen, so let it work for you.
5. Design for wellness and mental health
Our homes are our sanctuaries – places to retreat when we’re feeling unwell, lonely or simply in need of rest. That’s why we’re designing with wellness in mind.
Every element is crafted to create a soothing, comforting environment that embraces us and supports our mental wellbeing.
If you would like to hear more or find out how to start your design journey with Danielle, visit: www.danielleduggleby.co.uk
benchmark lofts on creating bespoke spaces
Originally a carpenter from Suffolk, Thomas Payne moved to London and began working on loft conversions as a subcontractor and, in 2012, he launched his own company Benchmark Lofts.
As the owner and director of Benchmark Lofts, he explains how, over the years, “we have built up a good reputation in south east London”.
The focus of Benchmark Lofts is to complete work to a high standard with nice detailing, says Thomas.
Working with lofts, they aren’t the biggest spaces, says Thomas. They can be awkward in shape but “there’s lots of ways we can make use of dead space in the way we build the joinery and storage”, he adds.
In terms of planning, Benchmark Lofts always try to push the limit in terms of size for the customer.
He explains that they would always recommend going down the planning application route for a project, “which may take longer and be a bit trickier, but it will give you a lot of extra space”.
One project that Thomas highlights is the renovation of a first-floor maisonette with a loft addition.
As well as the expertise of the team, Thomas works with specialists in architecture and engineering for projects, too.
“We can bring that knowledge of how to do something to a high standard because we’ve done it for a long time,” Thomas says. “There are many ways of doing things that may be different to what others would suggest, but we would recommend it as it looks nicer –even if it may be more difficult to complete.”
It’s not a one-size-fits-all approach at Benchmark Lofts either, and Thomas and the team have a bespoke approach from the outset.
“That was a nice project because we could almost completely strip it out and build as we want, which then had an all new kitchen, rewiring, replumbing,” he explains.
He says that, often, customers are surprised about the space they have opened up.
“It comes down to giving good advice at the start – about where the best place to put the bathroom is, for example – and also using all the dead space to create storage and free up the rest of the room,” Thomas adds.
Of working in south London, “one of the things I noticed when I started working here is that it has a nice atmosphere and the people are always approachable”, says Thomas.
He also enjoys going to his regular coffee shops and cafes in south, and shouts out Nunhead’s Mosey Café for a brew.
benchmark-lofts.com
www.enbeearchitectureanddesign.com
nimtim architects on creating spaces that work for you
“Our client briefing game helps us to work out and answer, how do you live now? What are you doing in those spaces? And how would you like to live?” explains Nimi Attanayake, co-founder and director of Nimtim Architects
It is an informal and playful game that Nimtim uses to assess what you need from your space.
“Sometimes people might come to you and say, I want a massive extension. But actually, if you start to ask why, what are you going to be doing in that space? You can then unpick it and discover they only need a smaller space,” says Nimi.
At Nimtim, they like to think that the projects aren’t a reflection of them, but of the people they work with; they showcase the personalities of their clients.
Nimi says: “For us, those are the ones that are really successful, the ones where we can see where little kids have left all their toys out because they just love being in that space. We find that really enjoyable and really rewarding.”
And on sustainability, she adds that all of their clients have an awareness of the climate emergency, and they all have an awareness about using more natural materials.
She adds: “Most of our clients are keen to try new materials or more recyclable or natural materials.
“I think that's because our designs respond directly to their briefs, and their briefs are developed from playing our briefing game, and so they can see a clear narrative, and then we can build on that with the materiality of the projects. And if it is more sustainability-focused, the better.”
One recent project Nimtim has worked on is with Maple Terrace. “It was a complex one,” says Nimi, “because it's a small, two-bed, ground-floor flat, and it was really dark”.
The owners were really passionate about gardening, but they felt disconnected from it, with a kitchen that
was separate from the dining space, too.
The project was about opening it up to the different functions internally, but also opening up to the external space.
Nimtim worked hard to add a utility space and a dining room with a fold-down bed that could be used as a guest room when needed.
The kitchen was then sunken, with the steps built into the architecture to be used as a window seat, which also has storage and can double up as a worktop for the kitchen.
Giving that flexibility of the space is something Nimtim strive to do, as well as work to set budgets.
Maple Terrace had a tight budget but “we wanted to do the most we could to give the biggest impact by doing the least”, Nimi explains.
Living in London is often a massive constraint and challenge when it comes to the space we live in, but also a massive opportunity, says Nimi.
“The most sustainable type of architecture is one where people can stay in that house for the next 20 or 30 years because they can see potential,” she explains.
Often, people may find their children growing up or they are feeling squashed in a space, but “there are some nice things to being really squashed”.
Of taking inspiration from their south London surroundings, Nimi explains how they live in Forest Hill and “always find it inspiring as it includes such a variety of housing typologies from almost all of London’s significant periods of building: Victorian terraces, 1960s estates, Georgian Villas, 1930s semis…”
She adds: “I’m not sure exactly the reason – I think it’s something to do with the topography and only having the material technology to produce sound foundations at different moments in history.
“For instance, Victorians didn’t really have access to concrete so had to build mostly on flat ground (East Dulwich) and Dawson’s Heights, for example, only became viable once the technology for concrete piles became widely available.
“Whatever the reasons, it has created a hugely varied context, which is in many ways a microcosm of London as a whole.”
In terms of specific buildings, they love the aforementioned Dawson’s Heights, which was designed by Kate McIntosh when she was still in her 20s, Nimi explains.
“And we also love the self-built houses in Walter’s Way: something unique to Lewisham (again an accident of topography: the land itself being too steep to interest commercial developers) and an amazing example of
what communities can achieve given the right skills and opportunities,” she adds.
Nimtim Architects has lots of exciting stuff in the pipeline this year, including a community greening project in Lewisham, a new grocery concept store in Lambeth and some retrofit projects in the Dulwich Estate.
“We have also moved into a new office in East Dulwich, and we’re excited to explore how we can use the space (formerly a Victorian Launderette) for events and for use by community groups,” says Nimi. They will be part of Open House and are keen to hear from people and organisations who might be able to use it in the future.
www.nimtim.co.uk
Photography ©Megan Taylor
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.
a love letter to south london
As told to Eliza Frost
Sarah Greene and Phil Fisk are the owners and operators of Buro, Brockley’s only co-working space.
Phil graduated from Goldsmiths in the ’90s and has had a south east London postcode ever since. Sarah was tempted south of the river from north London 25 years ago – and has never looked back. They write a love letter to south London, including the co-workers who have inspired them and the festival that is “surely a south London institution”.
The South Londoner: What inspired you to start Buro?
Buro: We wanted a business that we could run long-term alongside our day jobs – Phil is a photographer and Sarah works in events. And we know from personal experience that working from home is not all it’s cracked up to be when the only human you see all day is the delivery driver and the internet speed is rubbish.
Phil had done shoots in Dragonfly Place when they had an artists’ studio, and we already knew a few of the other businesses trading there, so when a unit came up for sale a plan was hatched… We have both experienced co-working previously and wanted to create Buro as a space where we would want to work ourselves – great that other people seem to like it, too.
What do you love most about running Buro?
Without a doubt our co-workers: they are such an interesting bunch with the most eclectic set of job titles you can possibly imagine.
The friendly vibe comes from them, which we put down to the diversity of backgrounds. We have all sorts: freelance creatives, in-house techies and a French guy who buys sushi fish for London’s Michelin-starred restaurants. And as everyone works independently of each other, there are no office politics at Buro – only an annual office party!
What does a typical week in south London involve for you?
We spend our week cycling between Brockley and our home in Gipsy Hill for work, seeing the day-to-day running of Buro and showing potential new co-workers around the space.
The weekend days are for hanging out with our teenage daughters and enjoying south London’s markets – Brockley Market for food and the Deptford High Street market for absolutely anything else.
We have also been known to hit the dancefloor at Crofton Park’s Rivoli Ballroom – it’s often sold out these days, so we need to move a bit quicker to get tickets.
What are your favourite south London eateries?
Brockley cafe Good as Gold for Sarah’s post-Lido coffee, Parlez for brunch, cocktails and dinner at Ellery’s – and we haven’t even left our postcode yet!
Can we also shout out to the excellent Skehan’s pub in Nunhead for the best pint of Guinness in London.
Where do you shop for clothes and homeware in south London?
For clothes, Meet Bernard in East Dulwich is a favourite of ours, although we also recommend the fabulous charity shops of Lordship Lane.
We have tried to kit Buro out with used items so Bambino’s in Crystal Palace is our go-to – anything you want, Andy Stem will find. And the beautiful Nunhead Gardener has provided all our greenery, along with great horticultural advice.
And your favourite south London landmark?
Crystal Palace Park is an absolute jewel. Now it is being
run by a Charitable Trust, the transformation is just beginning – it’s not just a beautiful, historic open space that is being well looked after, it’s also got a burgeoning year-around events programme, which is really putting south London on the map.
Have any fellow local businesses been an inspiration?
The light bulb moments of running Buro is when someone joins us with a job you didn’t know existed, in an industry you’ve never heard of – exciting to feel we are at the cutting edge of innovation here in SE4.
We are like proud parents of our co-workers who have moved onwards and upwards from their time at Buro. It’s a privilege to be a springboard for talent that originated in our co-workspace and gets to be seen globally.
We hate to have a favourite child but next time your eye is caught by a creative theatre poster, chances are it’s the work of Doug Kerr of Studio Doug.
An award-winning animator called Hannah LauWalker also gets a special mention for founding She Drew That, which is a community for women in the animation industry.
What’s the one place, thing or activity south of the river that everyone should try at least once?
The Lambeth Country Show. Where else but here can you find all the elements of a rural country agricultural show – think sheepdog trials and medieval jousting –alongside Brixton’s finest jerk chicken stands and reggae? Surely a south London institution!
Unit E, Emperor House, Dragonfly Place, SE4 2FL www.burolondon.co.uk
Dough hands ―
Founder and chef
Hannah Drye on The Old Nun's Head's crispy bases and the tomato she won’t compromise on
“I’m happy to be home,” says Hannah Drye, founder and chef of Dough Hands, which has just launched a residency at The Old Nun’s Head.
“It is a pub that I love, I get on really well with the landlord Allie and it’s a queer pub, which is something I want to be involved in,” she adds.
The Old Nun’s Head is also a pub that Hannah herself would want to drink at, similar to Dough Hands’ other pub residency at the Spurstowe Arms in east London.
“They're both pubs that I would want to drink in, pubs that I want my friends to come to, pubs I would take people to,” she says, adding: “I'm excited to be in a space that I love”
In terms of what you can expect from the residency, well, good pizza, of course, bringing all of what works east to south – plus some collaborations and specials that will be specific to south, too.
Hannah’s pizza making started when she first learned to sling dough at Pizzaface while studying at the University of Brighton. But she has always been interested in making food and always had the idea and desire to start her own pizza business.
During the pandemic, Hannah started making pizzas at home, using the method of baking them in a frying pan, before she managed to secure a spot for a stall in Brixton.
Using a Roccbox portable pizza oven, Hannah explains how it “would only really allow for a certain type of pizza because they get so hot”.
Cooking in around 60 seconds, Hannah worked with the equipment she had available but now, her ovens allow for a lower and slower bake, meaning a Dough Hands pizza comes out crispier than your average slice. It also meant she could introduce some different toppings and expand the offering.
When thinking of flavour combos, Hannah explains how a lot of the ideas come from her eating out a lot, cookbooks and recipes she has read and combinations that are tried and tested.
Flavours you may find on a small plate, but on a pizza. Hannah has even taken inspiration from the humble cheese and onion crisp before.
“That pizza had crisps on top and various types of cheese and different types of onions, like pickled and caramelised,” she explains. “It was a familiar combination that people already know and enjoy, but also that grabs your interest.”
She adds: “I’m not too snobby about what goes on a
pizza as long as it's done well and the flavours work.”
Hannah also enjoys doing collaborations with others because “it leads to more interesting pizzas”
When it comes to menu staples, though, Hannah highlights The Jode, which is nduja, hot honey, and lashings of stracciatella.
“I love a contrasting flavour,” she explains. “So, whether that's sweet and spicy, sweet and salty, or bitter and sweet, I think those contrasting flavours are what make you go back for more.”
There is also a veggie pizza that has “been on the menu forever”. It has a soy-roasted mushrooms with taleggio and tarragon,
Hannah explains: “When it comes to vegetables, you need to treat them as you would treat meat, you need to look after them. You need to put flavours into them.
“Putting raw mushroom on top of your pizza does nothing. We roast them off for ages with soy sauce and they go all caramelised.
“You’ve got to look after the ingredients.”
And when it comes to sourcing them, Hannah focuses on quality ingredients that are from London, and further afield when needed.
“You can taste when there has been thought put into the ingredients,” she says.
One necessary ingredient, though, is San Marzano tomatoes from Italy: “You can taste the difference, and they are expensive, but for me, it’s something I won’t compromise on.”
They also make all of their dips and sauces in-house, including garlic mayo and Dough Hands’ own hot honey – perfect for dipping those crusts.
Dough Hands is also launching a hot sauce this year, which has been developed by team member Tom in the kitchen.
The scotch bonnet fermented hot sauce – which takes a couple of weeks to produce – is fresh and fruity, says Hannah, and is currently on the dip menu. But they’re now set to bottle it up so you can buy your own for when your crusts need some attention at home.
With Dough Hands starting in Brixton, Hannah calling SW9 home, and many of her food friends being located nearby in south – like Café Mondo and TOAD Bakery – she says it “will be nice to be among good company”.
The Old Nun's Head, 15 Nunhead Green, SE15 3QQ www.instagram.com/doughhandspizza
turn up the heat
The duo behind Dr Sting’s Hot Honey talks about bringing the sweet and spicy condiment to south London
Graphic designer Jamie Kaye and chef and writer Ben Lippett met in Brighton in their early twenties and bonded over a shared enthusiasm for slurping great beers and eating delicious food.
They launched Dr Sting’s Hot Honey with the aim of building a brand that is all about fun and flavour – and one that doesn’t take life too seriously.
The South Londoner: Where did your idea for hot honey first originate?
Ben Lippett: I spent the best part of 2015/16 living in New York City, and I ate a load of pizza. I tried hot honey for the first time at a little pizzeria called Barboncino in the Crown Heights neighbourhood of Brooklyn and it blew my mind a bit.
Years later I was living back in London and having just left behind a handful of years wrapped up in kitchens and having no time to do anything about my obsession with spicy honey, I was presented with an opportunity to give it a go.
I developed a recipe and then gave Jamie a call. I asked if he'd knock up a design for a bee and that I had this idea for a brand called "Dr. Sting's". We scribbled a design on a napkin at a little bakery in Peckham and then just went for it. It grew and grew from there!
How did you go about creating Dr Sting’s?
Jamie Kaye: Ben had the recipe locked and I had a pretty good idea of what I wanted Dr. Sting's to look like, but one of the biggest hurdles to date has been finding the right packaging. When you're starting out small and ordering at low volumes, your options are limited, and you've got to run with what's available.
Our bottle is still a work in progress but has put us in great stead so far. We've made a few recipe tweaks as production has scaled up, but our main focus has been on building the brand and always ensuring that what's inside the bottle is as best as it can possibly be.
Why is it so important to be using high-quality ingredients?
Ben Lippett: You're only as good as your ingredients! It was vital that we used a seriously good raw ingredient as the foundation for the product. When your product is made of three ingredients, there's nowhere to hide. We spent months sourcing the best honey we could get our hands on. One that was rich, complex and delicious, but also didn't break the bank. We wanted to offer a product that people could actually afford.
How has it been seeing people’s interest grow in your hot honey?
Jamie Kaye: Soul hugging. We've done heaps of cool collabs with brands that we really admired before starting Dr. Sting's, such as Nando's, Patty & Bun and Willy's Pies.
It's felt really special and it's great to see that there's such an appetite for collaborations and for the product in general. I still think there's still a lot of education to be done around hot honey, especially its application; you can get so creative with it.
People are enjoying everything spicy at the moment –from hot sauce to hot honey, but what makes these hot products so hot?
Ben Lippett: I think it's equal parts people craving
convenience and folks becoming more and more exploratory in their tastes. Hot sauce is like shaking instant flavour onto your food, it wakes it up, gives it an edge and can lift a relatively normal plate into something really delicious.
I think there's something in the label design, too, kind of like the wine industry, more and more people are seeing products like these as signifiers, little status symbols. People want to try the latest hot sauce and drink the latest natural wine. It's a bit fickle, but it is fun.
How do you recommend serving Dr Sting’s Hot Honey?
Ben Lippett: The shoutline is "goes with everything" and we really back it. It'll level up your toast in the morning, your cocktails at night, a big ol' pepperoni pizza is best friends with Dr. Sting’s. We also love it mixed through salad dressings, marinades and glazes.
We made a ripper Hot Honey Ham this year for Christmas, it's actually becoming a bit of a staple! Essentially, you use it like you would regular honey or a hot sauce. It can finish a plate or be used in cooking. Dead versatile, and that's why we love it.
And do you have a favourite way to eat it?
Jamie Kaye: I'd often get roasted by Ben while we were making it as he'd catch me quite literally scraping the barrel of honey at the end of a production run and emptying the contents into my mouth.
If you don't back your product, how can you expect others to?! I love it and have it every day (sometimes just on a spoon) – but my favourite way to eat it is probably on fried chicken. I would say pizza, but that's a given. While it adds great depth to things such as dressings and marinades, I think it also really sings on simple dishes. My other answer would have to be a cheeseboard.
What is coming up in 2025 for Dr Sting’s?
Ben Lippett: Big year! We're having a little glow-up... Expect a slightly refreshed aesthetic and you might see us popping up in more and more shops! Watch this space.
Grab a bottle of your own Dr Sting’s Hot Honey from south London locations such as General Store, Mother Superior and Trude’s Grocery, to name a few, or buy it all year round online: drstings.com
©James Moyle
A local shop for
HB&B has everything you need to get through the last of the winter. Stock up on an amazing array of craft beer and natural wine, with load of great alcohol-free options or get properly on the sauce with the UK's best range of local hot sauce and Hot Ones stars, all while knowing you're supporting a true South London
brorritos
Set your alerts, Duck and Rice is coming to Battersea Power Station in 2025. You can expect signature Cantonese dishes, expertly poured Pilsner Urquell, cocktails and so much more.
On the back of the Soho branch’s nearly 10-year success, the Battersea location is being described as a "British pub and chop suey kitchen", found at the “riverside neighbourhood” on Level 1 of Turbine Hall B.
The menu is yet to be released, but we’re hoping it duplicates some of its dim sum menu – like the goji berry and spinach dumpling, crispy prawn wonton and the char siu bun – and there is sure to be variations of Cantonese roast duck on the menu.
We’ll have ours with jasmine rice on the side, some sesame prawn toast and a jasmine silver needle tea to wash it all down with, please.
Battersea Power Station, 330 The Power Station, Circus Road South, SW11 8DD theduckandrice.com/battersea
This January, Brorritos opened its third site in Clapham, following in the footsteps of locations in Eltham and Brockley.
New site but the same bros, and the same menu, because why change a good thing with Mexican food this good? Everything is made fresh every day and they don’t skimp on quality – or fillings.
Expect menu staples such as the Beef Birria Brorrito – a 12" flour tortilla, filled with birria beef, skin-on fries, cheese, sour cream, onions, coriander and chimichurri – which comes with a pot of birria broth, and you have to dip it. We didn’t make the rules, the bros did.
Not to skip on the rice bowls, tacos and sides – the popcorn cauli bowl is the perfect spicy accompaniment to any lunch or dinner dish. For dessert? Churros, of course.
13 North Street, Clapham, SW4 0HN www.brorritos.co.uk
bitesize
By Eliza Frost
br3Wery
Craft brewing company BR3WERY is a community-focused brewery that produces and delivers “good beer to the good people of Beckenham”.
And it has just opened a new space, moving its taproom next door creating the BR3WERY Bistro and bringing you more of the good stuff.
You’ll find draught beers exclusively from south London breweries and hand-crafted cocktails, a curated wine list by Crystal Palace Wine Club, plus a fresh new vibe.
For food, it’s everyone’s favourite Yard Sale Pizza that will be serving year-round slices and delivered straight to the taproom, and a selection of food vendors behind the bistro will bring more delicious eats.
The good times are truly rolling in Beckenham.
255 Beckenham Road, Beckenham, BR3 4RP www.br3wery.com
casPino
Located on the Upper Riverside of North Greenwich Peninsula, Caspino brings together the casual dining vibe of a bistro, the cosy coffee-focused atmosphere of a café, and the social spirit of a lounge.
Inspired by the rich culinary heritage of the Mediterranean and Middle East cuisines, you’ll find dishes full of aromatic spices and delicate herbs, made to bring people together.
Located close to the O2 Arena, you can add this spot next time you’re heading for a gig or playing a quick game of footy at TOCA Social.
16 Cutter Lane, Greenwich, SE10 0XW caspino.co.uk
ain’t no saints
New to Market Row in Brixton, Ain’t No Saints is London’s first themed space blending art, music, food, drinks and tattooing.
Enjoy artisan coffee and Ceylon tea by day and a curated menu of wines, whiskies, cocktails and tasty dishes by night.
The space is “in progress” but it’s already bringing good vibes to SW9 – with menu items like all-day pancakes and tapas-style dishes come evening, this is a great new spot to explore.
36 Market Row, SW9 8LD aintnosaints.com
Duck anD rice
From farm to table a local take on the trending supper club
Isn’t the best kind of dining experience the one where strangers become friends? Michelin-trained and former Pollen Street Social chef Kacper Walor and The Good Food Guide Marketing Manager Emma Rochevalier bring Gem, South London’s up-and-coming supper club.
Sourcing locally is key to Gem. Ingredients are carefully selected from trusted farmers and growers, ensuring menus are at the height of the season, all with a low-waste approach to cooking. Their next event, on Saturday 8th March at South London Louie, will feature a seasonal four-course menu, including highlights like Maldon oyster nam jim, kombu-cured Orkney scallop, and Kentish conference pear. Combining the creativity of an experienced chef with the warmth and affordability of a dinner party, Gem offers a relaxed yet refined dining experience.
So why not pull up a chair to something different and enjoy a fresh take on seasonal dining. Join the dynamic duo behind Gem on March 8th for a night of vibrant dishes, exciting flavour combinations, and lively conversation.
Event: Saturday 8 March, 7pm.
Price: £55 (including booking fee)
Follow on Instagram @gem.london
Email: gemdining@gmail.com
Scan the QR code to see the full menu and get your tickets
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When it comes to your meat, settle for nothing but the best. Trust the Proud Sow to bring you the ultimate culinary adventure. Visit us today!
Review: TuRo TuRo
Editor Eliza Frost visits the Tooting restaurant for a feast of Filipino flavours
Tooting Broadway’s Turo Turo was packed out on this Friday evening. Diners squeezed into booths and around tables, a birthday was celebrated, laughs were had and friends caught up while tasting new dishes.
Established in 2018 by chef Rex De Guzman, Turo Turo started as a single street food stall focused on cooking Filipino barbecue, with the aim of making the cuisine both accessible and affordable in London. It’s pronounced as “Tu-ru Tu-ro", which means “point point” in Tagalog. It is a general name to describe fast food stalls or diners in the Philippines where customers would point at any food on display that they would like to be served.
Street food markets turned residencies, Turo Turo took on a whole new shape when it opened in Tooting in November 2024 – and we quickly saw what all the fuss was about as we enjoyed its bold flavours over the course of the evening.
Faced with the difficult decision of what dishes to pick, we settled on starting with Turo Turo’s Salmon Kinilaw, a Filipino-style ceviche marinated in citrus vinegar (£12.50). This was sharp but with a creaminess, and came served with cubes of cucumber and tomato, which were a welcome texture contrast.
Next was the Ginger Bagoong Wings tossed in Turo Turo’s top-secret ginger and fermented shrimp glaze (£8). These were moreish and so sticky – the umami flavour
coming from the fermented shrimp found harmony with the sweetness. A flat wing hates to see me coming, but you know we cleared everything off the bone.
Finally, among the starters, was the award-winning charred aubergine in a soy glaze (£7.50). And this dish definitely received a gold medal from this table, too. The aubergine is cooked until it is almost burnt, teasing out extra smokiness and a depth of flavour that had us digging in for more. Mopping up even more of the glaze with every mouthful, this was an evening highlight.
On the barbecue and grill section of the menu, we were ready to explore flavours special to Turo Turo.
We chose the half-grilled chicken Inasal; Turo Turo’s
signature Filipino-style chargrilled chicken with pickled carrot atchara and a spicy sauce (£19.50). It was cooked to perfection, lightly charred to enhance the flavours and still soft.
If you can handle the heat, I would recommend going for the spiced version, it added an extra layer of deliciousness.
There was also a dish of the Pork Liempo, 24-hour marinated pork belly grilled glazed with a Filipino-style BBQ sauce (£21). This was served with more of the atchara, which cut through the saltiness with its perfect pickling. I wish this stuff came in a jar; it would’ve been coming home with me.
On the side was soy-drenched and garlicky stir-fried
bok choy (£4), which added a hint of green freshness to the dinner, and a heaped bowl of jasmine rice (£3.50) that was fluffy and light.
For dessert, it was Turon (£5) with two spoons because you always have to finish on something sweet. The plantain-wrapped spring roll was coated with a sticky sweet sauce, complemented by a creamy scoop of ice cream on the side.
Turo Turo started with the aim of bringing Filipino barbecue to the masses, and our eyes were truly opened to the flavour profile of the grill.
102 Tooting High Street, SW17 0RR www.turoturo.co.uk
©Devour Studio
©Lucy Richards Rex De Guzman ©Jonathan Clough
Gladys duvet cover and ruffle pillowcases in organic cotton
from Weirdstock
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"Nan's House" blends Nana-core with groovy ’70s style, bringing a playful retro vibe to your bedroom.
Prices: Super king £139 | King £129 | Double £119
Single £99 | Pair of pillowcases £60
Available to order online: www.weirdstock.co.uk
