SOUTH LONDonER
January 2025 • Issue 35
IT'S FERMENT TO BE
MAKE YOUR OWN KOMBUCHA AND KIMCHI IN
PENGE
The rise of south London running clubs
Yolly Studio's local gems
by: Iris Smith
Plum Pilates opens in Peckham Review: Tamila in Clapham
Photo
Dragon Dance Lion Dance DJs
@greenwich.peninsula
Splendours of Henan: A Cultural Tapestry
Traditional Workshops
We’ve been producing independent, balanced and community-focused journalism in south London since 1987. We moved into the old Biscuit Factory in Bermondsey in 1994, and have been there ever since.
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
email hello@cm-media.co.uk
phone 020 7231 5258
twitter @insouthlndn
instagram thesouthlondoner
website southlondon.co.uk
5 HOME SECRETARY The south London events you won’t want to miss this month
6 WHAT’S ON Southbank Centre ‘Opens Doors’ with new, free public programme
8 FAMILY Things to do as a family; The South Londoner’s top picks for your little ones
9-14 WELLNESS Plum Pilates opens in Peckham and Motion London talks about finding calm in the city, plus a look at the rise of running clubs
15-17 LOCAL FACES Tia Xixa Tarot on the art of reading cards and the founder of Successful Mums talks about building confidence
20-27 FOOD & DRINK South London Ferments explains the benefits of kimchi, Calm Coffee talks decaf, discover low-carb beer with Prime Time, and we visit Tamila, plus new openings in your ‘hood
29 LOCALLY SOURCED Seasonal Fruit and Veg Box by Marvellous Greens and Beans
30 A LOVE LETTER TO SOUTH LONDON The founder of Yolly Studio shares her favourite spots this side of the river
In celebration of LGBTQ+ History Month, Royal Museum’s Greenwich’s Queen's House is throwing open its doors for a fashion show like no other.
Join Fierce Queens and Kings to celebrate LGBTQ+ History Month. Taking place every year in the heart of historic Greenwich, Fierce Queens brings together performers and historians for a night of queer liberation and LGBTQ+ representation.
Hosted by resident Drag King and Queen Adam All and Apple Derrieres, this soirée at the House of Delight invites everyone to celebrate, explore, disguise and un-masque their splendid identity(ies).
Date: Friday 28 February 2025 tickets: £16 adults, £13 concessions, companions free Romney Road, SE10 9NF www.rmg.co.uk/whats-on/queens-house/fiercequeens-en-vogue
aFForDabLe art Fair
The major spring edition of Affordable Art Fair Battersea will take place this March, bringing together a selection of leading galleries from across the UK and from around the world.
With 1,000s of affordable artworks to suit every budget – whether that's an original artwork to hang in your freshly renovated living room or a piece to provide daily inspiration for your workstation – there’s something for every art lover.
Dates: 12 to 16 March 2025
tickets: Released soon
Evolution London, Queenstown Road, Chelsea Bridge, SW11 4NJ affordableartfair.com/fairs/london-battersea-spring
oeDipus
“Vengeance will be taken on the killer, then the land will be clean. The contamination will be washed away. The rains will come and the people will be healed.” Academy Award winner Rami Malek (Bohemian Rhapsody, No Time To Die) and Olivier Award winner Indira Varma (Present Laughter, Game of Thrones) star in Ella Hickson’s version of Sophocles’ transcendent tragedy, Oedipus, at The Old Vic, co-directed by Matthew Warchus and Hofesh Shechter.
It’s a cold case but, according to the Oracle, if the murderer of old King Laius is found and punished, then all will be well.
The people turn to their new King, Oedipus, the man who solved the riddle of the Sphinx, to hunt down the perpetrator and bring salvation. He vows to succeed whatever the cost and so begins an unstoppable pursuit of the truth through a harrowing labyrinth of fear and love.
Dates: 21 January to 29 March 2025
tickets: From £30 to £130
The Cut, SE1 8NB www.oldvictheatre.com/stage/event/oedipus
Discover the textured paintings of Christina Kimeze at the South London Gallery this year, her first solo exhibition in the UK.
At the SLG, new paintings originally inspired by the resurgent popularity of roller skating in Black communities in London and beyond explore broader ideas around movement, flight and freedom.
Unusual surface materials are an important part of Kimeze’s practice. Her paintings have a soft, velvetlike texture created using dry chalk, oil pastel and wet paint applied to suede matboard, paper and canvas.
In the Fire Station galleries, other new paintings and works on paper will be shown alongside a painted folding screen, as well as a newly commissioned tapestry made by Dovecot Studios in Edinburgh.
Dates: 31 January to 11 May 2025
tickets: Free 65 Peckham Road, SE5 8UH www.southlondongallery.org/exhibitions/ christina-kimeze
Head to Clapham’s Picturehouse to watch David Tennant (Doctor Who, Broadchurch) and Cush Jumbo (The Good Wife, Criminal Record) lead a cast in a new production of Shakespeare’s Macbeth, filmed live at the Donmar Warehouse in London, especially for the big screen.
Unsettling intimacy and brutal action combine at breakneck speed as Max Webster (Life of Pi, Henry V) directs this tragic tale of love, murder and nature’s power of renewal.
The immersive cinema surround sound places the audience inside the minds of the Macbeths, asking are we ever really responsible for our actions?
Date: Released 5 February 2024
tickets: Adult £22
76 Venn Street, SW4 0AT www.picturehouses.com/movie-details/000/ HO00015513/macbeth-david-tennant-cush-jumbo
macbeth With DaviD tennant anD cush jumbo
christina Kimeze exhibition at south LonDon GaLLery
Fierce Queens
© Christina Kimeze. Matthew Hollow
southbank centre ‘opens Doors’ with new, free public programme
Take part in a series of regular, free events at the Southbank Centre with its ‘Open Doors’ programme, offering creative activities, workshops, social gatherings and family entertainment to inspire everyone.
In highlights for the upcoming months, Wednesday 29 January sees The Bitten Peach, where you can slither into the Year of the Snake with performances, workshops and new year vibes from the UK’s first queer pan-Asian cabaret company.
Aimed at children over 12, you will be entertained with a cabaret featuring the best of Asian drag, poetry from the National Poetry Library and Daddy Maki’s very own origami workshop.
On 8 February, join in with a Club Origami workshop for those aged five to 11. It invites audiences to rip, fold and crumple to see what can happen with a single piece of paper.
Following a short piece of Club Origami’s interactive dance show, audiences are invited to create their own worlds entirely from paper in a magical origami workshop.
And later in the month, on 26 February, children over 12 can take part in the free Rangoli and Rhythms events
where you will work with people around you to make two large floor rangolis using sand, grains, flowers and leaves – and get the chance to make your very own mini rangoli to take home.
Enjoy coming together to make something beautiful, listening to relaxing and meditative South Asian classical music and exploring poems from the National Poetry Library.
Elaine Bedell, CEO of the Southbank Centre, said: “What drives us here at the Southbank Centre is to make sure that every day we’re creating the conditions where new ideas are formed and individual potential is unlocked, where culture makers come to congregate, collaborate and create their best work.
“Our role is to deliver the broadest and most accessible programme in the UK, which is evident in the season highlights. With ambitious moments [such as] the longest-running artist-curated music festival in the world, Meltdown, this season demonstrates that a powerful creative voice is being amplified from within our buildings.”
www.southbankcentre.co.uk/events/open-doors
A local shop for local people
Whether you're doing Dry January or keeping it wet to match the weather, HB&B has everything you need. Stock up on an amazing array of alcohol-free beer and wine, go full-fat 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 independent.
hopburnsblack.co.uk
10 years of: Craft beer Hot sauce
Natural wine Good times #southlondonbestlondon
Family events ―
By Eliza Frost
Get lost in the Crystal Park Maze
Crystal Palace Park’s Maze is one of the largest in the country, with a diameter of 49 metres, and has been entertaining visitors since the 1870s.
Consisting of towering hedgerows and a confounding network of pathways, the Maze is free and open to all. Throw on your winter woollies and get lost in the twists and turns.
The Maze was also completely redesigned and renovated to mark the launch of Girlguiding’s Centenary celebrations in 2009. As part of the refurbishment, artists Brook & Black (Leora Brook and Tiffany Black) designed interactive artwork to run throughout. So you can get lost in the maze and explore the artwork as you go.
tickets: Free
Crystal Palace Park, Thicket Road, SE19 2GA www.crystalpalaceparktrust.org/pages/crystalpalace-maze
Out of this world
Do you have an astronomy-mad kid? Enjoy staring at the stars or recognising the moon phases? Well, the Royal Observatory in Greenwich is hosting a family workshop exploring the moons in our solar system.
This morning of science and discovery will begin in the planetarium as you explore the moons of our solar system. Then, join in for an interactive workshop as your knowledge is put to the test.
Throughout the event, you'll have the chance
to ask the Royal Observatory’s astronomers all the questions you have about space and astronomy.
Date: 18 February 2025
tickets: £5 per child, recommended for those aged 7+
Royal Observatory, Blackheath Avenue, SE10 8XJ www.rmg.co.uk/whats-on/royal-observatory/ out-world-moons
Bring Your Baby Pub Quiz
Miss your local evening pub quiz? Well, there is something to fill that gap. The Bring Your Baby Pub Quiz, hosted at The Station Hotel, aims to be an opportunity for daytime fun.
The brain-stimulating afternoon parent socials take place all over London, with this one based in Hither Green each month.
Grab your parent friends and make a team of six.
The quiz will take a slower pace than your traditional pub quiz, with two breaks to feed, change and chat –and questions repeated.
With five quiz rounds, including general knowledge, music and connection, enjoy a few hours of pub fun with little ones on your lap.
Dates: 4 February, 4 March, 1 April 2025
tickets: From £11.29
The Station Hotel, 14 Staplehurst Road, SE13 5NB bringyourbaby.org/book-a-quiz
Out into the wild
Gather your brood for an inspiring drawing workshop with beautiful birds of prey; Harris Hawks, Lanner Falcons and Eagle Owls.
In this event at Dulwich Picture Gallery, you will sketch the birds from life on their perches and be able to observe their natural behaviours, including preening, calling and even sleeping.
A world of imagination
This February half term, the Southbank Centre’s family festival returns for another year, sparking creativity with performances, art and free fun for children aged 0-11 and their grown-ups.
There is a varied programme on offer, with a selection of paid-for and free events to get involved in.
Highlights include Afro Dance With HomeBros, a free drop-in session with the dance group where little ones will learn some new moves and routines, plus settle in as Ross Collins’s beloved story There's a Bear on My Chair comes to the stage for the first time.
Not forgetting Great Big Tiny World. Sit down among hundreds of real plants to watch, hear and feel the environment come to life all around you as you get involved in this sensory show for 0- to 12-month-olds.
Plus, another free event, Singing All Over the World, which comes in preparation for International Mother Language Day. Join them in The Clore Ballroom for a celebration of little voices singing many languages.
Dates: 18 to 23 February 2025
tickets: Prices vary Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road, SE1 8XX www.southbankcentre.co.uk/events/imagine/ imagine-festival
The "models" will be accompanied by an expert falconer, who will be sharing fun facts about their hunting habits, conservation and their unique personalities.
The workshop will be hosted by wildlife illustrator Jennie Webber, who will get participants of all ages sketching with fun drawing exercises and helpful tips for drawing a moving subject.
The class is open to all those aged 7 and over and should be accompanied by an adult also taking part in the class.
All abilities are welcome. Everything is provided to get you sketching – drawing boards, paper and a wide range of materials – but you can bring along your own kit if you’d like, too.
Date: 9 February 2025
tickets: £55 for one adult and one child, £25 for one child
Dulwich Picture Gallery, SE21 7AD www.dulwichpicturegallery.org.uk/whats-on/ family-events/2025/february/wildlife-drawingfor-families
©National Maritime Museum ©Arnaud Mbaki
“It’s a really full community,” says Lola Akande, founder of Plum Pilates, of the supportive nature of the exercise.
Plum opened in Peckham in January and offers sessions for beginners with “Plum Primer” classes, “Plum Power” for those who are familiar with a reformer, and “Plum Perfect”, a class for everyone. As well as Bounce and Tower sessions, too.
Lola has been doing Pilates as a client for almost 15 years now, but when Covid-19 hit, she decided to take the exercise more seriously.
A few months into the pandemic, she found out she needed major surgery; “it changed everything for me”, she says.
During recovery, the body works to mend itself but “Pilates was the only thing that made me feel more confident and, in terms of body awareness, it healed me”.
Lola explains: “Getting back to feeling strong in my body opened a whole new world for me.”
Working in a 9-to-5 job, she came into Pilates teaching from a different background than most. And Plum had been cooking for over a year before it opened in January 2025, as Lola homed in on her teaching
plum pilates opens in peckham
―
Get ‘Plum Perfect’ in 2025 with sessions for all abilities at the new SE15 studio
practice and searched for the perfect spot.
She explains: “With Pilates, studios are popping up all over the place. I wanted Plum to be different, to be true to the principles of Pilates, which was invented by Joseph Pilates.”
What first intrigued Lola about the exercise was experiencing living with bad knees and a bad hip. In Pilates, many sessions start lying down and it is low impact.
“With entry into Pilates, you don’t have to be a ‘gym bro’ to get started. The accessibility is one thing that intrigued me, and the mind-body awareness,” explains Lola.
And what she continues to enjoy is that the learning never stops, adding: “You learn the whole repertoire of the mat and the reformer and of the tower, but there's always something to gain.
“It depends on how you're feeling that day; Pilates can really humble you. An exercise you've done 100 times before, if you're not connected to your body, it can really change the same exercise and how you feel it.”
Pilates is a “predominantly female-owned business”, as well as those who attend sessions. “As a woman, I
enjoy the camaraderie and the friendships that you make,” says Lola. “Before I was a teacher, I made so many friends in the studio, chatting to people before class started.”
Now she is a business owner, having a “really strong network of instructors who know their stuff, who are business owners and want to see you do well” has been a “special space to inhabit”, she explains.
Lola adds: “You want to be the best instructor that you can be for yourself, and also, most importantly, for your clients. It’s rewarding seeing people get stronger every day, and hear how when they come back, they don't have that lower back pain anymore, or they can do a full roll-up.”
Lola has spent the last few years living in south London, but Peckham also holds a special place for her.
She says: “I’d never really gone anywhere else, but south London is the best place…there is a vibe here that I think is really unique”.
“People are really friendly, and specifically in Peckham, I feel it's a buzzy place in terms of art, culture, small businesses and restaurants.
“Peckham is really important to me; I grew up in
Nigeria until I was seven and moved to Dagenham, but we used to come to Peckham to get food and other things.
“People call it ‘Little Lagos’ because it has a big Nigerian community, and so to me, it's also special being a Nigerian woman to set up a business here.”
You can book sessions at Plum Pilates online and join in at a level to suit your experience.
In incorporating Pilates into your exercise routine in a sustainable way, Lola says the main thing to remember is to not compare yourself to others and their journeys.
“If you’re in a session, don’t look around and think, ‘this person has a deeper curl than me’. Focus on you and if you're enjoying it, and keep doing what you're enjoying,” says Lola.
Looking to the future, Lola would like to get more involved with the local community, too. She plans to gift classes to carers and wants to incorporate offers such as this into the business authentically.
Arch 850, Brayards Road, Peckham, SE15 2AG www.plumpilates.co.uk
Finding community through running
With the rise of running clubs, ElizaFrost talks to south London groups and runners to find out more about their impact
2024 was the year of Brat, Taylor Swift’s Eras tour and celeb lookalike competitions – and the year running clubs entered our everyday.
The rise of running clubs has been seen all across south London, one being Grove Lane in Camberwell, which has seen organic growth since it started in the summer of 2022, and now hosts five runs a week.
Founder Harry Swinhoe says he got into running when his new boss asked, “Are you coming for a run?”. “It was an induction by fire,” he says. “But I soon realised that running was really good for my mental health, my physical health, and it grounded me and gave me a sense of clarity throughout the day.”
He explains how “it's nice to disconnect with the digital world and reconnect with what’s real”, adding: “I think running has been an antidote to isolation through Covid, or just too much exposure to digital and not enough real community.”
People are definitely seeking opportunities to connect, which is how run club Friday Night Lights began, too.
Sam Harridge explains that the group started as a way for sober runners to have the chance to socialise on a Friday night – without the pressure of having to “get drunk and ruin your weekend”. It is “essentially a bunch of mates who used to rave and now run”.
Sam adds of the community: “We have many people attend solo and find new friendships and communities that fit who they are, including our own FNL volunteers.”
Runner Jordayne Frizzell has been a member of a few running clubs in south London, with the longest stint being with London City Runners on the Bermondsey Beer Mile.
She says that “the running community has been transformative for me, and I feel incredibly lucky to be a part of it”.
Of running in south London, Jordayne says what she loves most is “the abundance of green spaces”, adding: “Parks like Burgess, Southwark, Wimbledon and Greenwich are so beautiful to run through, especially in the summer and autumn months.”
Running through Earlsfield, Sophie organises casual run group Wandle Runners. She says: “The word ‘communities’ gets banded around a lot, but by putting the word ‘running’ in front of it, I worry that it can make people feel categorised. In that it is something that you need to be ‘good at’ or ‘want to improve upon’ to be a part of.
“And that's not what Wandle Runners is about at all, it's just a conduit to helping people meet friends who live locally. We are a running group, but most of our socialising doesn't involve Lycra at all.”
The club doesn’t split into paced groups and they stop every couple of kilometres to allow runners of all speeds
to mingle.
The group meets at the Pig and Whistle at 7:15pm every Tuesday. And Sophie also shouts out Ceris and Lee for promoting the event in the pub and supporting the group.
Laura Pettitt is a member of Wandle Runners and says joining has been “one of the highlights of my life in London”.
“As well as running together, the other members are my friends, and on our WhatsApp group there is everything from physio and running shoes recommendations to people suggesting local plumbers and organising to go for drinks or a roast,” she explains. Laura has even signed up for a marathon in 2025, which “I never would have done if I wasn’t a member of Wandle Runners”.
Similarly, James Wyatt is unsure where he would be without his running club, Runhead AC, which meets every Tuesday at 7:30pm at the Old Nun’s Head in Nunhead, and everybody is welcome.
He joined back in 2016, “combining a bit of wellneeded fitness improvement with my love of a few beers”.
The first week, the group was “far too quick” but someone “kindly came to the back to help me get to the end”. Fast forward to today, it has been quite the turnaround for James.
He explains: “Wanting to improve as a runner has created better life habits, accountability and discipline that go beyond the hobby.
“I realise I’m far from the first person to have struggled with their mental health and found solace in running, but I dig in to running when I’m not feeling my best and is one way to deal with the highs and lows life throws up.”
Through the community, he has strengthened friendships and met “great, inspiring runners” who are now friends.
Socialising and forming friendships is a key outcome of these running groups, it seems.
Liz Fox is a member of Your Pace Or Mine (YPOM), a group based in Hither Green, and got into running in her late 40s.
Liz says: “We all socialise as well as exercise. We are such a big group, and I have seen friends go from running 1 kilometre to ultra marathons. When we see the great achievements of our friends, we feel so proud.
“I am now nearly 56, and I will never break records, but I will be forever grateful for the amazing group of people in YPOM and the fact I can complete 10ks and half marathons, even if it is partying at the back.”
Lorraine Joseph is also a member of YPOM, and she explains how she wanted to do something for herself when she started to go through menopause.
“I was very nervous to go to my first club, but I was made to feel welcome,” she says. “It was a 5k run that ended with a run up a hill road. Another runner, Tracy, stayed with me, and we walked-ran-walked-ran up that hill until we reached the top.
“The fact that she stayed with me encouraged me to come back the following week. It took me four weeks to get up that hill without walking, and Tracy and I talked and ran each time.”
And running clubs haven’t just built friendships, but romances, too. With many asking, are running clubs the new dating app? Based on what founder Tim NavinJones at London City Runners says, it could be correct.
Tim says there have been 26 marriages from those meeting at the club. Tim says this stems, perhaps, from the fact that “everyone is totally swiped out on dating apps”, adding: “They've become more vacuous than you can imagine, and people realise they want to meet someone in person.”
Better get practising that 5k PB.
Jordayne Frizzell
Your Pace Or Mine
Friday Night Lights
Lorraine Joseph
OGA | PILATES | BARRE | BREATH | SOUND | REFOR ER
N
nit 4, Camberwell Passage SE5 0AX
PENING THIS JANUARY IN CAMBER ELL
in motion
―
Co-founder and instructor
Lez Coupland on bringing movement to the community through yoga, barre, Pilates and sound bath sessions
“Motion was something that I always knew I wanted to open,” says Lez Coupland, co-founder and instructor at movement studio Motion London in Camberwell, which offers classes in yoga, Pilates and barre as well as sound bath sessions.
With a background in the arts and circus performing, Lez has always been interested in any type of movement – from gymnastics to dance.
After completing her yoga teaching course in India seven years ago, she has been running classes ever since, adding Pilates to her roster two years ago, too.
The classes at Motion are open to all people and any abilities, creating an inclusive and welcoming space where teachers will adapt exercises to your needs.
Having lived in Camberwell for almost five years, it was the perfect location to set up Motion, she says.
“We wanted to bring movement to the community here as we feel there wasn’t something like Motion in the area,” Lez adds.
Motion is embedded in the Camberwell community, fostering health and wellbeing while collaborating with local businesses to strengthen connections in the area.
Opening its doors in October, Lez says Pilates and barre classes are very popular at the moment, saying it could be because “people want that burn, but they also
want to incorporate stretching”.
Already with regulars, the offering at Motion encourages physical and mental wellbeing; “I think people are more focused on their wellbeing for a healthy mindset,” she explains, “and also building a community –I’ve noticed many people chat or get coffee after classes.”
The sound bath sessions at Motion draw in breath work, meditation and grounding. “In a busy world and a busy city, it's nice to offer that element as well”, Lez adds.
Classes at Motion are led by instructors who are “knowledgeable about the body and they work you out in different parts of the body and work on your flexibility”.
This expertise means you see benefits quickly, without injury, too, as the instructors incorporate proper warmups and stretching as part of the routine, which people may not do in the gym while exercising alone.
With many of us thinking, “new year, new me”, Lez highlights the benefits of training together in a safe space to build exercise into your routine in a way that will stick.
She says: “Exercising together with people in a welcoming environment, where you can meet others and bring in that sense of community, then that will all help build longevity.
“Having a place like motion, with an aim to be a comfortable space for everyone, I think, increases the chances of sticking it out.”
Cornerstone Studios, Studio 17, 1 Addington Square, SE5 7JZ
www.motionlondon.co.uk
successful mums ―
The south London organisation supporting new mums back into the world of work
“Many women struggle to re-enter the workforce after having time off; they often don't know where to start or who to turn to,” says Jane Knight, founder of Successful Mums.
The Successful Mums Career Academy helps women “gain clarity, receive career advice and become aware of the many part-time and flexible jobs opportunities available”.
Jane was previously a teacher and career adviser before launching the Career Academy after she became a mum.
She explains: “I noticed a significant gap in supporting mums back to work. Despite possessing a wealth of transferable skills – such as organisational skills, event management (think birthday parties), plus conflict management and negotiation – many women I spoke to in the playground had lost their confidence and career direction.
“I wanted to create a platform that would help them find their mojo and a way back into fulfilling careers.”
Successful Mums offers a number of fully funded and accredited training courses, available online and in-person, and designed to be flexible around family commitments.
You’ll find courses such as the Back to Work and Confidence Course, as well as courses in Business Startup, Digital Skills, Autism Awareness and Wellbeing and Menopause.
Jane’s goal was to originally help 100 mums and has now supported 10,000 mums – and dads – to find employment, start a business or completely change careers.
Highlighting two mums who have recently been involved in a programme, Jane explains: “Maya wanted flexible work and joined the Working in Schools programme, she now has a job she loves, working flexibly in a school.
“Jessica, a qualified Nigerian lawyer, made the brave decision to pursue a brighter future in the UK. As a single parent to a 9-year-old boy, life had thrown its fair share of challenges at her, and she found herself unemployed. She faced with the daunting task of finding her way back into the workforce, with our help, she now has a fulfilling part-time job.”
Maya says: “I’ve gained so much knowledge and confidence, met amazing women and got to do
something for me, I feel so proud of myself. I now have a clear career path mapped out.”
Jessica shares: “Through this journey, I learned the power of taking small steps every day towards my goals. My newfound skills and determination have allowed me to see a future filled with success, financial freedom and a part-time job that I truly love.”
Jane also recently won the Mayor of London Adult Learning Award for Inspirational Professional in Adult Education, which is “credit to my team, who have been key to the success”, she says.
“We will go on supporting mums in London and beyond, sharing the message that being a mum should enhance, not halt your career,” Jane adds.
www.successfulmums.co.uk
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
Are you tired of searching for top-quality meat that satisfies your taste buds? Look no further than the Proud Sow! With years of expertise and a passion for perfection, we believe in the art of butchery.
What sets us apart is our commitment to locally sourced products. We work directly with trusted farmers who share our dedication to ethical farming practices and superior animal welfare.
We take pride in creating a personal and welcoming experience for all our customers.
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!
it’s in the tarot cards
― Jessica Savi of Tia Xixa Tarot discusses the history of tarot and
what it means to people today
“Beyond its uses for prediction, it can be a valuable tool for self-reflection,” says Jessica Savi, founder of Tia Xixa Tarot and interrupter of tarot cards.
Born and raised in London, Jessica’s family is German and Brazilian, and on her dad’s side, the Brazilian aunties used to read cards for generations.
“It was something that was spoken about only within the family and not publicly,” she explains. “But I knew I was always drawn to Tarot.”
It wasn’t until she began reading for friends around five years ago that she realised she wanted to do it professionally.
Coming from a linguistics background and working as an interpreter, when the pandemic hit, Jessica realised she wanted to be an interpreter of tarot cards.
The practice, called Tia Xixa Tarot, is dedicated to her Auntie Xixa.
When doing readings, Jessica most enjoys the element of surprise that can come from the cards.
“I know many people can be scared, thinking that a ‘bad’ card might come up. And of course, there are pretty and less pretty pictures in the deck – but that’s all part of life,” she says.
“The cards don’t show something we don’t already know, they help bring to light what’s already within.”
So, unravelling the surprise in the reading is an enjoyable process; “I see it as a space for co-creation,” she says.
Also, she likes how the meanings of the cards can change depending on the context, explaining: “This is why, when we open a book or Google the meaning of a card, it’s important to keep in mind that that is the general meaning but that isn’t set in stone.”
When people seek a tarot reading, it is normally because they are going through something, says Jessica.
“It takes a lot of courage to self-reflect and in that sense, the cards can give clarity, advice and guidance,” she explains.
“The empowering part is that it is then totally up to you to take the action. And most of the time, just by having engaged with the cards, that process becomes easier.”
She adds: “I really value people’s trust when they come to me, and I get to interpret the symbolic, visual and metaphysical language of tarot.”
But what is the history of tarot? How did the cards
come to be used in modern day? Jessica says there is a myth going around among practitioners that she wants to dispel. It says that “tarot appeared mysteriously from ancient Egypt”.
Jessica explains: “If we open a history book, we will see that tarot evolved from playing cards, which were used by the Mamluks in Egypt and arrived in medieval Europe around the 14th century.
“It was a trump style card game, which is why we see
the addition of the 22 major arcana, depicting virtues or overarching life themes. The tarot has a set structure of 78 cards, which in the 1800s started to be used for other purposes such as fortune telling and divination.
“Then, in 1909, the Rider Waite Smith deck was published as one of the most influential decks in the English-speaking world, which is the one we think of today if we think about tarot.”
Jessica has been running Tarot Cafes fortnightly at RONS Coffee House in Peckham for two years, you can book to join in a group tarot session and explore different themes in the cards.
Everyone is welcome – whether you have tarot experience or not – you can sip tea blended by plant spirit practitioner Bibi and explore a variety of decks.
Another element of tarot that Jessica does is Dance the Tarot, which combines tarot cards – the modern
Claridad Deck by Bel Senlle – with somatic practices and foundations in dance movement psychotherapy.
These are monthly at Siobhan Davies Studios in Elephant and Castle and are designed as a movement oracle, says Jessica, adding: “Through the help of the space, the cards and our bodies, we open the doors for our bodies to become the oracles.”
You can also book face-to-face sessions at Jessica’s home tarot studio on Saturdays or you will find her at Alfie’s Antique Market in Marylebone on Fridays. Jessica offers worldwide sessions online in German, Portuguese, French and Spanish, too.
Get in touch with her about a full “2025 Year Ahead Reading” up until the end of January and see what the cards say about your next 12 months.
www.tiaxixatarot.co.uk
Family fun this half-term
Imagine Festival is back at the Southbank Centre this half-term from Tuesday 18 – Sunday 23 February, full of world-class theatre, comedy, music, dance, talks and activities for children aged 0 – 11 and their grown-ups!
Ross Collins’s beloved story There’s a Bear on My Chair comes to life for the first time in a brand new stage adaptation with loveable puppets from Toby Olié (Spirited Away, War Horse). Also on stage, enjoy pop-punk juggling in Rollercoaster, join a rip-roaring, prehistoric science pop gig in The Colour of Dinosaurs, and see lots of CBeebies friends and animals celebrate the natural world in music and song at the spectacular CBeebies Wildlife Jamboree
Be wowed by amazing authors and writers, including the return of award-winning festival favourite Rob Biddulph for an afternoon family session fizzing with laughs, creativity and one of the famous ‘Draw with Rob’ drawalongs. Jodie Lancet-Grant also brings a rip-roaring event of interactive storytelling and Wild West-themed games at The Wild West Twins, Dr Ronx teaches fun practical skills and useful facts at How to Save a Life, and Athena Kugblenu debunks fact from fiction from throughout history at History’s Most Epic Fibs. On top of that, celebrate the joy of dance with Yasmine Naghdi & Chitra Soundar at Ballet Besties, discover how to grow mighty ingredients to make plant-powered feasts with Darryl Gadzekpo & Ella Phillips at Plant to Plate, and enjoy Lunchtime Comedy with The Lollies, jam-packed with jokes, laugh-out-loud live drawing and fabulously funny stories.
Every day there's plenty of free things to do for a full day out, including songs with Singing All Over the World, comedy with Big Laughs for Little Bellies and storytelling
Imagine Festival
with When Stories Come Alive ! Come and dance the day away with Afro Dance With HomeBros, ZooNation's Hip-Hop Half-Term and Prancer the Dancer's DanceDanceDiscoParty FunShow. Plus, art fans can scribble, doodle, draw and create to their heart’s content at Imagine's Giant Chalkboard
The very popular REPLAY: A Limitless Recycled Playground is also back this year, perfect for little ones and their grownups to enter an endless world of play and invention.
Imagine Festival is a Relaxed festival, meaning that all performances have a relaxed approach to noise and movement in the space.
Discover more at https://www.southbankcentre.co.uk/imagine
Southbank Centre's Imagine Festival. Photo: Belinda Lawley
Draw with Rob’ draw-alongs Photo: Courtesy of the Artist
south London Ferments ―
Lorraine Liyanage on the benefits of fermented foods and how to get involved in a workshop to make your own
Fermented foods are rich in probiotics that promote gut health, improve digestion and boost the immune system. They can also enhance nutrient absorption, support mental wellbeing and contribute to better skin health, as Lorraine Liyanage of South London Ferments explains.
South London Ferments runs kimchi, hot sauce and fermented drinks workshops in Penge.
“My interest in fermenting started around 15 years ago out of pure necessity,” she tells us, “as I found myself spending an absolute fortune buying kimchi every week because I just couldn’t get enough of it.”
Growing up in a Sri Lankan household, Lorraine says she has always had a strong appreciation for bold, spicy flavours, so kimchi “felt like the perfect combination of heat, tang and umami”.
Plus, she’s always been drawn to the “unique, funky taste” that fermentation brings to food.
Lorraine has lived in south London for the past 20 years, first in Dulwich and now calling Penge home, and enjoys walking around the parks in south London with her rescue greyhound SpongeBob.
Taking a leap of faith when she hit 30, leaving her corporate job behind, she started fermenting.
From making kimchi at home, her curiosity grew, and she began exploring other fermented foods, diving deeper into the process and the “incredible flavours that come from allowing time and bacteria to work their magic”.
Lorraine has a whole home fermentation station set up, which almost takes over the kitchen. She brews kombucha, fermented hot sauce, kimchi, dill pickles and sauerkraut.
She says: “I love experimenting with different flavours for kombucha and the hot sauce and I’m always thinking up new ferments to offer for my workshops.”
Lorraine has seen the health benefits of fermented products in her own diet, too. She explains: “As I approach 50, I’ve noticed a significant improvement in my energy levels and overall wellbeing from incorporating more fermented foods into my diet.
“With my active lifestyle and passion for weightlifting, gut health has become a top priority for me – probiotics from foods and drinks like kombucha, kefir and kimchi have really helped maintain my digestion and keep my immune system strong.”
And in her love of fermented foods, she has found some “brilliant” local businesses in the south London food scene to feed her interests.
The Kombucha Shack is based on Anerley Road and trades on Sundays at Crystal Palace Park Market. “They do a fantastic selection of kombucha in large bottles that are great for bringing to a dinner party as well as smaller
©Kay Lockett
bottles in amazing flavours. I also love their tonics and fiery kombucha. There’s always something new on tap so I stop by regularly,” she says.
The Kimcheeze vegan cheese from local vegan cheese makers Palace Culture is “so delicious”, and Lorraine regularly buys this from her local deli, Penge General Store.
She also discovered Andrew’s Smokehouse in Brockley at Maple Road Market in Penge, she says: “The smoked trout pate is incredibly moreish as well as being a sustainable option to salmon.”
But how did Lorraine learn how to ferment? She tells The South Londoner that she visited her friend Olivia from Wild Cultures, who she knew was really into fermentation.
On the journey home to London, she picked up a free magazine at Brighton station and noticed she had written a recipe for kimchi in it.
“It actually didn’t sound too complicated to make so, when I got home, I gave it a go,” Lorraine explains. “The ingredients back then were not as easy to find as now but once I had assembled everything, I made my first batch, and it came out really well.”
She adds: “Pretty soon my friends were all bugging me to give them kimchi and I was giving it away for free or swaps so I put the word out as to who would like to
come for a workshop. The response was overwhelming and from the first workshop, I have been hosting them regularly for over 10 years.”
The South London Ferments workshops are for everyone – whether you're a complete beginner or a fermentation enthusiast already.
Lorraine says: “Most of the time, people come along solo, but plenty bring a friend to join in the fun. These workshops are open to anyone aged 18 and over, and we have a great time getting stuck into everything from kimchi to hot sauce.”
She also hosts a Queer Kimchi Club a few times a year, which is “always a brilliant, inclusive space for people to learn, share and connect”.
Most of the workshops take place in Penge, so it’s “a lovely local vibe” and you can expect a fun, hands-on experience where you’ll learn the art of fermentation.
In the workshops, you will be guided through the whole process, from prepping the ingredients to understanding the science behind fermentation.
With lots of workshops in the diary for 2025, try your hand at making your own fermented favourites such as kombucha and hot sauce by booking online below.
southlondonferments.wordpress.com
©Kay Lockett
©Iris Smith
Founders Harvey Armstrong and Sam Holmes explain how they
The South Londoner: What was life like before launching Prime Time?
Harvey Armstrong: Sam and I knew each other through mutual friends before we met, and we're now best mates and big beer lovers. We had different working lives before Prime Time, I worked in accounting for a big firm but had always loved the idea of doing something more entrepreneurial.
Sam Holmes: Before Prime Time, my experience has always centred around networking – whether marketing at L'Oréal or artist management at Roc Nation.
What ignited your interest in brewing?
Harvey: We first met on a train when Sam was sat with a case of beer in his lap, so it's been a common thread since the start of our friendship.
Sam: We're both into our fitness, but we equally loved a pint with mates and just found the two weren't conducive, which is what started our conversations about brewing beer.
Why was the low calorie and low carb a focal point for you?
Usually, beers leave you feeling bloated and lethargic, but we set out to change that.
Why do you think this type of beer was missing from the market?
Sam: Previously, drinkers have had to choose whether they wanted a great tasting beer or one that’s low calorie. We wanted to create a “better-for-you” option that combined the two.
How have you personally found the balance between enjoying a drink and maintaining a level of health and wellness?
Harvey: Our desire to stay fit really escalated during the pandemic where, like many people, there was a big focus on health. We felt, however, that going out and socialising over a few beers with our mates was really at odds with wanting to maintain that more balanced lifestyle.
Sam: Exactly, we wanted to create a beer that tasted great but didn’t compromise on our health and fitness goals.
Harvey: We used to struggle to find balance, we saw it as this conflicting love triangle – our love of beer, going out with mates and keeping fit. Sam: Prioritising health and general wellness is something Harvey and I are really conscious about, and it's crucial to help us bring the energy we need to work, particularly with such a rapidly growing business.
What was the process like to create Prime Time brews?
Sam: We spent around two and a half years on research and development before Prime Time was launched, travelling to different breweries across the UK and going through various rounds of recipe development to really perfect the product, because taste was always paramount.
We launched with our Lager+, the world's first caffeine-infused beer and, because this hadn't been
done before, it took time to get the product just right. Where can people find Prime Time products in south London?
Sam: We’re in Waitrose stores nationwide and served in more than 350 pubs and venues, so it’s easy to find us. We recently launched into a number of Young's pubs, including south London staples such as The Alma and The Ship.
What do you enjoy about having a drink in south London?
Harvey: I live in south London so I can say with certainty you're never far from a good boozer! Whether you're enjoying your local – like Old Town Tavern in Clapham – or heading out with friends to Megan's, you're guaranteed a cold pint of Prime Time.
primetimebeers.com
Prime Time Founders (L-R) Harvey Armstrong & Sam Holmes
calm coffee ―
Offering
four caffeine levels,
the Peckham roastery
brings an alternative for those who prefer their flat whites without the buzz
Calm Coffee is a speciality coffee roastery focusing on lower caffeine and decaffeinated coffee in Peckham.
Founded by William Whiting, Calm Coffee offers four varying caffeine levels – Decaf, Lo Caf, Half Caf and Full Caf.
Originally, William was a civil engineer but always wanted his own business, with good food and good coffee on his list of interests.
In his last engineering job, it was located right next to Borough Market where he would go to Monmouth Coffee for a drink most days. Looking like a great company to work at, he applied for a job and went on to work in their roastery, first packing and delivering to then working in the roasting team.
“I was really happy to get that opportunity and learn all about coffee roasting,” says William.
He began to notice the amount of coffee he was drinking was impacting his sleep and began searching for coffee with less caffeine. At a similar time, his wife became pregnant so he was “more interested in finding good decaf”.
“I felt like you had to look quite hard to find good decaf,” says William, which is when he saw a niche that was then filled by Calm Coffee from its first home in Peckham Levels.
Calm Coffee works with speciality-focused companies that have really good connections and relationships with the points of origin.
William says it is “really nice to work with importers who have a deep knowledge of where they're getting the coffee from, the farms, the people. Most of our coffee is traceable to farm level, too, where you know the producer by name.”
Sourcing these speciality coffees is key to Calm Coffee’s production. William offers an example of the Lo Caf, which is a “really interesting product”.
He adds: “It is coffees with naturally lower levels of
caffeine. And is perhaps interesting for people who don't want to drink decaffeinated coffee, but it's also quite a rare product.”
William also enjoys hunting for decaf with “unusual flavours that hold through the decaffeination” process, adding that is it “really nice to give someone a decaf and find them surprised, for them to not know decaf could taste as interesting”.
Calm Coffee’s range features three decafs, all with different flavour profiles: “One is a darker roast, which would be better as an espresso, but our other two are medium roast coffees with more interesting flavours,” he says.
Caffeine affects everyone differently, and it is very much a personal experimentation to find what works for you, says William.
“Decaf still has somewhere between 5-10% of the caffeine, so there is still a small amount,” he explains.
For William, he switches to decaf around midday to avoid the “lingering effects” on him personally.
Coffee has quite a few health benefits – high in fibre and antioxidants – and the good thing about decaf, he explains, is that it’s been shown that it retains those positive impacts, and it's just the caffeine that is much, much lower.
This means that those who drink decaf for a variety of reasons can still access the health benefits of coffee, “just with a calmer experience”.
The Calm Coffee offering allows you to tailor your coffee routine to your lifestyle, too, a Full Caf in the morning before moving to Lo Caf in the afternoon perhaps.
Peckham Levels has been a nice starting point for Calm Coffee, says William of being in a community of other small businesses.
William’s days are filled with roasting from the studio in Peckham Levels, packing, shipping, marketing and everything that comes with launching a small business.
With hopes to grow, you can already find Calm Coffee in local spots like Jones of Brockley and Flock and Herd.
And, of course, you can order it online as a one-off purchase or subscribe so you’re never running low.
calmcoffeeroastery.co.uk
Opened in autumn on Clapham High Street –following the success of sister site The Rose & Crown in Clapham Old Town – The Ox is inspired by great British pubs and is a proper south London boozer. It’s complete with an ox portrait painting and a stamp to brand their pies.
The gastropub has a focus on provenance of produce, with beef and lamb solely supplied from a family farm in the Scottish Borders, and dry-aged onsite. The “farm to fork” dishes include a porterhouse steak for two to share, served with sides of your choice like the farmhouse butter mash or decadent maple roast carrots. You soon realise this isn’t just any old pub.
With leather seats to lounge in and a burgundy colour scheme throughout, this is the cosiest pub to check off your list as the last winter months pass us by.
50 Clapham High Street, SW4 7UL www.theoxclapham.com
Clapham Junction is home to the first UK site for Fat Phill’s. The Dutch burger brand specialises in burgers, fries and “other lovely things”.
Everything is made fresh to order and the menu boasts tasty items like barbecue chicken wings, mac and cheese and cheese-pull mozzarella sticks. Plus, you can even order a tub of dripping cheese for dipping.
But we’re here for the burgers… try and get your mouth around the Big Belly, a quadruple patty smash burger with bacon and Phill’s special sauce. Or go spicy with Fat Phill’s take on the Nashville hot chicken burger – with coleslaw, pickles and hot sauce. If you can’t handle the heat, then get out of Fat Phill’s.
With a Philly cheese and Texas ranger sandwich also on the menu, and a hot tamale burger, this should be your next go-to location when you're craving a bun.
16 St John’s Hill, SW11 1SA fatphillsdiner.co.uk
bitesize ―
By Eliza Frost
sticKs‘n’sushi
Danish Japanese restaurant Sticks‘n’Sushi opened its 15th site in the UK at Battersea Power Station last November, bringing its combination of creative sushi and grilled sticks to diners from lunch to dinner and everything in between.
Located on Electric Boulevard just outside the South Entrance of the Power Station, the new restaurant serves up Sticks‘n’Sushi favourites, including classic sushi, sashimi, tartare, grilled sticks and set menus to suit varied budgets and tastes, available for dine-in, takeaway and delivery.
Not forgetting the signature favourites, too, such as the Momo Nanban, fried chicken thigh, sweet and sour dashi marinade, Japanese mayonnaise, onion and daikon cress, and the black cod house roll, misomarinated black cod with vegetable chips and pickled red onion.
New to the menu, the Temaki Setto invites diners to craft their own open rolls with premium ingredients like; wagyu tartare, kataifi, cress, soya sesame, avocado, sake-tamari marinated trout roe, snow crab and yuzu, all accompanied by sushi rice and crispy nori.
6 Electric Boulevard, SW11 8AL www.sticksnsushi.com
banooK baGeLs
You may recognise them from a previous cover of The South Londoner, but Banook Bagels has just opened its own bagel-making home in Peckham, serving loose bagels as well as open sandos.
Neither of the founders, Ashley and Dave, hail from New York or Montreal, but they love eating bagels and felt like they were missing from the south London scene – so they fixed that.
Their “South London Bagel” balances the fluffiness and size of a New York bagel with the density and crispness of a Montreal bagel. And now, you can pre-order a bundle to enjoy or head down to the store before they sell out.
Bagels come plain, topped with sesame, poppy seeds or everything seasoning, with interesting cream cheese combos to match – think maple, green onion, plus a monthly changing special. We’ll take a dozen.
7-17 Latona Road, SE15 6RX www.banookbagels.com
Dynamic vines
A new local spot for a vino? Don’t mind if we do. Located on Lordship Lane, Dynamic Vines has come to East Dulwich from its origin in Bermondsey, and sits in good company alongside Mons Cheesemonger and Moxon's Fishmonger.
The wine shop has a wide variety of European wines available to take home or to enjoy at the cosy bar, with charcuterie and cheese boards on the menu to dine on while you sip and enjoy tunes from the selection of vinyl.
Dynamic Vines works with independent winemakers producing delicious wine and using sustainable practices in the vineyard and minimal intervention in the cellar.
149 Lordship Lane, SE22 8HX www.dynamicvines.com/dulwich
the ox
Fat phiLL’s
Dynamic Vines
Sticks’n’Sushi
Review: Tamila
South Indian sensations at the new south of the river location from the Tamil Prince
Walking into Tamila, you’re hit with aromatic scents oozing from the kitchen. Each table was full as diners teared and shared, dipping and dunking in dishes so deliciously made that I couldn’t wait to tuck in.
Tamila serves South Indian small plates, curries and sides, and was a meal full to the brim with flavour.
It was a few cocktails to mark the start of this dinner.
A Gunpowder Margarita (£12) was smoky from the addition of mezcal and sourness from grapefruit – a blend that will keep you satisfied all evening.
We also had a Ginger Paloma (£12) that was zingy and refreshing, a slight fizz, which came to complement our selected dishes like a dream.
Everything at Tamila is made for sharing, it comes out as it’s ready, and you're encouraged to eat with your hands – with a sink in the centre of the restaurant for any drips you don’t catch.
For food, the fried baby sweetcorn (£7) saw batons of lightly battered corn arrive that were moreish from the off. Hands dived into the bowl, dipping into the spicy sauce on the side, and before we knew it, the bottom of the bowl came into sight.
We then enjoyed Tamila’s chicken lollipops (£10.50), which come with another sweet chilli chutney for dipping, and if every meal could begin with this plate, I know I would eat well each time. These were crunchy yet melted away, and had a slow heat that builds in the way a good spicy dish does. Combined with the sweetness of the chutney, each mouthful was a readymade balanced sensation.
Inside, Tamila has a cosy vibe. They’ve taken inspiration from the tradition of Indian truck art for its décor, to bring the spirit of the open road into the space.
It’s colourful and welcoming, truly transporting you by all senses.
The main sharing dishes saw a selection of the most delicious curries I have ever had. I mopped up each morsel, leaving no traces.
It was a trio of tastiness with the dhal curry (£10.50), paneer butter masala (£13.50) and a bowl of Chettinad lamb curry (£14).
The dhal with a spoonful of coconut pilau rice (£5.50) was a pure delight, the spices combined with the mellow
flavour of coconut was a match made in heaven. Then the paneer butter masala was creamy and smooth, with chunks of paneer ready for scooping, which we did with our sides of rotis. The rotis were soft and chewy, and perfectly flaky and buttery.
And a pleasant surprise came in the form of the Chettinad lamb curry. As something I wouldn’t normally order, I was easily won over by the melt-inyour-mouth pieces of lamb and the spicy and fullbodied sauce of this plate. A must-order on the menu.
On the side, the half tandoori chicken, smothered in mint chutney (£15.50), was arguably the star of the show. Absolutely bursting with flavour, a perfect charring from Tamila’s expert chefs and cooked to perfection.
As I ripped rotis and spooned pilau, going between curries, I savoured every mouthful. Tamila is clearly another hit by the Tamil Prince.
39 Northcote Road, SW11 1NJ www.tamila.uk
Seasonal Fruit and Veg Box from Marvellous Greens and Beans
The Seasonal Fruit and Veg Box from Marvellous Greens and Beans brings you the best of UK seasonal produce, grown by British farmers.
Each box is filled with fresh fruits and vegetables that reflect the changing seasons. When certain items aren’t in season locally, they carefully source them from nearby regions to keep food miles as low as possible.
The box is perfect for creating simple, wholesome meals – and it supports local growers and sustainable farming practices.
Whether you’re cooking or snacking, it’s an easy way to enjoy quality produce while being mindful of the environment.
Price: From £15.95
Available to order online: www.marvellousgreensandbeans.com
a love letter to south London
Yolanda Chiaramello, founder of Yolly Studio, spent 15 years as a photojournalist for local and national newspapers before she began “observing and obsessively documenting gardens and flowers” –and then made the career change into the world of floristry.
The South Londoner: What inspired you to start Yolly Studio?
Yolanda Chiaramello: I had two small children, and I wanted structure and stability. I was exhausted running all over London and I wanted somewhere they could sit while I served customers.
I also wanted to do something where I could create a world that transcends and allows people to have all senses evoked, to feel good. There is always a scent being burned in the shop, with beautiful and unusual blooms and focusing on working with my local community.
What do you love most about running Yolly Studio?
People, connections and conversations. I love people. My newspaper days taught me the importance of people and their stories. It’s a bit like being a hairdresser; people share their lives with you and it’s an honour.
What does a typical week in south London involve for you?
The day begins at 4:30am and New Covent Garden Flower Market. Driving back and walking the dog in one of the many beautiful parks nearby: Dulwich, Crystal Palace, the Horniman Museum and Gardens. Sydenham Woods is our favourite place.
I then head back to the studio to condition all the flowers and foliage. By this, I mean cut the stems and take the leaves off before placing them in fresh, cold water.
Then the day is checking orders for the week, making bouquets for online orders, delivering locally, making
up our weekly florals for Pantry in Forest Hill – who help us sell our flowers – and also photographing new bouquets and making sure online is up to date. If we have any window installs or events, it is working on mood boards and installing these, as well as returning to venues to derig event flowers.
I love taking on students from local schools or those who are thinking about a career change for work placements, too, as we both get so much out of the experience. We are all always learning, I’m grateful for that.
What are your favourite south London eateries?
For brunch, Good as Gold in Brockley is so good and with good vibes. St David Coffee House in Forest Hill for their mean focaccia and, of course, coffee. Aga's Little Deli has the best cinnamon buns and The Moustache for its quirky, beautifully plated salads – they are like works of art.
Petitou Cafe in Peckham – run by Thierry – is a must-try. It’s a real gem. Alexandra Nurseries in Penge; Owen and his team have created magic. And the newly opened Ancestrel, which is a beautiful wine shop that’s just opened up on Stanstead Road in Forest Hill.
Where do you shop for clothes and homeware in south London?
Ansa & Wild Horses are creating incredible pop-ups. I’ve bought some incredible pieces from their vintage clothes fairs.
ALKEMI store always has such great gift ideas. Forest in East Dulwich; I can never leave empty handed there. Plus Rye Books and Peckham Carboot –
so many treasures to be found!
And your favourite south London landmark?
Dulwich Picture Gallery is a firm favourite – its location, shop and incredible exhibitions. Also, the Garden Museum, which I adore. Horniman Museums and Gardens is where I get a lot of my bouquet inspiration from, and also Beckenham Place Park.
Have any fellow local businesses been a help or inspiration to your vision for Yolly Studio?
I love the connection with fellow business owners. They are all so inspiring. It’s a tough old business, the world of small business.
Dartmouth Road is predominantly female-led businesses, all of whom I admire tremendously. There are people who helped me through lockdown. The Moustache and Pantry have both helped me to sell my florals.
Also So Last Century vintage markets; Alan has created such a great market.
What’s the one place, thing or activity south of the river that everyone should try at least once?
Swimming at Charlton Lido! It’s the best lido, it’s heated and super clean. The staff are just so nice, too. There is also Beckenham Place Park Lake or Brockwell Lido for those who love cold water swims. Brockwell Lido also has a sauna now, too, and you can warm up in their beautiful cafe and grounds.
yolly.co.uk
