The South Londoner - November 2023

SOUTH LONDonER

November 2023

Issue 26

INSIDE: Our south London Christmas guide: what's on, local gift ideas, pantos and eating out

RANK & STYLE tHE CABBIE BROTHERS WHO STARTED A FASHION LABEL BY MISTAKE - and are giving it all back

CHRISTMAS

WE’VE GOT COVERED

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ARTS & CRAFTS 1. Abuda Glass Workshop Charming ‘Framed Glass Octopus’ piece handcrafted locally and guaranteed to add character to any home. £105 abudaglass.com @alex_chung_abuda

2. Bruna Maria

Cute and quirky ‘Sheep with Apples’ print - limited edition, signed and numbered on the front. £68 (with frame from £98) brunamaria.com @brunamariaminozzo

3. Greenwich Print Makers Gallery

6. The Things From Trees

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BEAUTY & WELLNESS

Greenwich Printmakers Calendar 2024, featuring work by member artists, month to view. £9.50

Hand-painted oak robin figures that make beautiful ornaments for Christmas and all year round. £32 a pair

greenwichprintmakers.co.uk @greenwichprintmakers

thethingsfromtrees.com @thethingsfromtrees

Luxurious, scented aromatherapy bath bubbles that work wonders to help you de-stress and unwind. £24

4. Kimi San Bhopal

7. Unicrafts London

auraorganicscosmetics.co.uk @Auraorganicsskincare

Unique, framed A4 painting of poppies in a crushed Coca-Cola can, giving a modern take on still life. £200 kimisanbhopal.com @kimisanbhopal

5. The Motleys

Decorative, dutiful wooden Guard from The Motley’s handmade characters collection. £65 themotleys.co @the.motleys.collection

Decorative meets functional with Unicrafts handmade box covered in ornate William Morris fabric. £51 Etsy: UniCraftsCreations @unicrafts_london

8. Aura Organics

9. Mother Earth’s Beauty

Best selling, natural mango butter and saffron based moisturiser to enhance your skin’s youthful glow. £25 motherearthsbeauty.co.uk @motherearthsbeauty.co.uk

10. Pergola London

Scented, natural soy ‘Secret Garden’ candle that creates a warm, calming and relaxing aroma. £25 pergolaorganic.co.uk pergola_london

11. Tea Bird

Antique and vintage British teacups ready to light up Christmas with pure-burning candles. From £14 teabird.london @teabirdlondon

12. Wonderfully Weird

This quirky ‘Fish in Shoes’ cushion promises to be a statement piece in any home. £28 @wonderfullyweird23

13.Quirky Pixie Door

Nautical resin coated oyster and scallop shells, perfect for holding jewellery, chocolates and nibbles. From £15 @quirky_pixie_decor

CoNteNts

November 2023

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

We are proud to be a London Living Wage employer.

Editor

Holly O'Mahony

Design

Lizzy Tweedale, Dan Martin, Ann Gravesen

Marketing

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

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

Clarry Frewin, Katie Boyd, Sophie Ali

Media Partnerships

Anthony Phillips

Finance

Emrah Zeki

Managing Directors

Chris Mullany and Kevin Quinn

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.

Contents ―

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HOME SECRETARY Winter markets, charity plunges and more…

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FAMILY Immersive adventures, light shows, winter wonderlands and more…

11-20 LOCAL FACES Meet the cabbies behind not-for-profit fashion label Brixton Street Wear and the founders of 20-year-old pub group Parched

Contact us ―

22-29 FOOD & DRINK We review Solis in Battersea Power Station, plus the new openings in your ‘hood

email

hello@cm-media.co.uk

phone

020 7231 5258

twitter

@insouthlndn

instagram

thesouthlondoner

website

southlondon.co.uk

31-33 ARTS & ENTS Christmas pantos and thoroughly cosy pop-ups this way!

35-37 LOCALLY SOURCED Stocking fillers galore from south London’s reallife elves 46

Printed by Ilif fe Print Published by Community Matters Media Ltd

A LOVE LETTER TO SOUTH LONDON Cathy Slater, owner of Dulwich Books, shares her south London secrets

All photos are of our classes

Adult Learning Lewisham

DAY, EVENING AND WEEKEND COURSES

Our courses can help you develop your creativity or gain the skills and qualifications you need for work and further education.

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More information is available at: www.lewisham.gov.uk/adultlearning Adult Learning Lewisham ALL TOGETHER WE FLOURISH 3

advertorial

November 2023

4

home seCretary

the local line-up for your diary ―

diy baubles iN dulWiCh

a maZe of market stalls at Pexmas A giant Peckham warehouse with a maze of 100 stalls awaits visitors to Pexmas (PEckham at ChristMAS, get it?). An annual affair and the biggest Christmas market in SE15, Pexmas is a chance to shop for hip, design-led goods – from ceramics to wall hangings – as well as artisan food produce. If you can’t make the two-day market (but do, because they’re serving mulled wine), then head online, where Stall to Store, the market’s online alter ego, runs as a lifestyle and gift store all year round.

Copeland Park and Bussey Building, 133 Copeland Road, Peckham, London SE15 3SN. December 2 & 3, 11am - 6pm. Admission: FREE. www.pexmas.com/

take the PluNge for Charity Crisis, the charity tackling homelessness, is hosting a series of icebreaker challenges in outdoor swimming pools across London this winter, and the next one is coming to a pool near you. Head to Brockwell Lido on December 2 and take part in a cold water swim to raise money for the charity. Register in advance (and we’d recommend easing yourself in with a few cold dips in training), then on the day, all you need to do is swim a width of the pool. Oh, and fancy dress is very much encouraged.

Brockwell Park, Dulwich Road, London SE24 0PA. December 2, 11am - 12:30pm.

Admission: £15 / sponsorship target £150. www.crisis.org.uk/get-involved/fundraise/events/ swim/icebreaker-brockwell/

a Night for gaZa

a very merry eveNiNg at staNley arts

You pretty much can’t go wrong with your present buying if you source them from The Arches Studios Winter Sale. The Peckham hideaway promises a treasure trove of locally made gifts, including jewellery, ceramics and furniture. Nine professional makers are flogging their latest creations – meet them while you’re there and hear more about your chosen goods.

While the UK is getting into the festive spirit, let us not forget the terrible conflicts raging elsewhere in the world. At Peckham Levels, a night of poetry, music and art is being held in solidarity with the humanitarian crisis still unfolding across Gaza.

Award-winning poet and playwright Inua Ellams (Barber Shop Chronicles) is among those performing, as are comedians Jenan Younis and Sharifa Butterfly, and singers Matshidiso and Mezanmi. All money made from ticket sales, as well as from artworks, photographs and sculptures sold, will go to NGO Medical Aid for Palestinians.

Christmas has come early to Stanley Arts in South Norwood, where on December 1 a sprawling festive market doubles up with the switch on of the venue’s enchanting winter lights. The after-dark market (5pm - 9pm) is a chance to shop for stocking fillers, vintage clothing, artworks, toys and seasonal candles, while pausing to tuck into some homemade mince pies and a mug of mulled wine. Running simultaneously outside the Halls (6:30pm - 8:30pm), the venue’s giant trees are being lit, and panto dame Mama G is expected to make an appearance. Once the lights are glowing, stick around for music and a bite to eat. Let the merriments begin!

The Arches Studios, 48-50, Blenheim Grove, London SE15 4QL. November 25 & 26, December 2 & 3, 10:30am - 5:30pm. Admission: FREE www.thearchesstudios.co.uk/

Peckham Levels, 95a Rye Lane, London SE15 4ST. December 1, 6:30pm - 11:30pm.

Admission: £11.55+. www.peckhamlevels.org/events/hope-for-gaza

Stanley Arts, 12 South Norwood Hill, SE25 6AB. December 1, 5pm - 9pm. Admission: FREE. www.stanleyarts.org/event/stanley-arts-christmasmarket/2023-12-01/

keePiNg Christmas Classy

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Don’t fancy dusting off your old Christmas tree decorations this year? Instead of splashing out on a new set, you can personalise the whole experience at this bauble painting craft class. Under the guidance of designer ‘Hello Marilu’, write personalised messages to your loved ones or decorate yours with glittering foliage. You’ll learn some brush lettering techniques and can use Hello Marilu’s designs for guidance.

Craft kits including a pair of ceramic baubles and paints are provided.

Dulwich Picture Gallery, London SE21 7AD. November 25, 1pm - 3pm. Admission: £50. www.dulwichpicturegallery.org.uk/whats-on/adultcourses-workshops/2023/november/christmasbauble-painting/

Festive fun this december Unmissable Panto Christmas Markets Festive Concerts Santa’s Grotto Family Fun View the full list of events at www.stanleyarts.org 12, South Norwood Hill, South Norwood, London, SE25 6AB

What's On 23/24

Box office 020 8463 0100 • blackheathhalls.com •

Sat 17 Feb 8pm

BH Goes Gospel Sat 16 Dec 7.30pm

Tom Robinson Sun 14 Jan 8pm

Alice Roberts Crypt

BH Christmas Concert Sun 17 Dec 7.30pm

Mark Watson Search

Sat 27 Jan 8pm

Sun 7 Mar 7pm

family

November 2023

Family events ― Wander through a magical gingerbread house The Whippersnappers have once more taken over the old Victorian Park Keeper’s Lodge on the edge of Dulwich Park, transforming it into a Winter Wonderland for little ones aged 3 - 7. On arrival, they’ll receive a complimentary hot chocolate and a mince pie (with steaming mugs of mulled wine on hand for grown ups), before being led through a series of rooms – each filled with its own enchantments: look forward to photo opportunities by Santa’s sleigh, a popcorn-fuelled cinema experience in a cabin, gingerbread cutting with Mrs Claus, face-painting with the Christmas tree fairy and a chance to meet the big guy (Santa, of course!) himself. It’s in aid of a good cause too: Father Christmas and his elves are raising money to help Whippersnappers with their programme of activities for children with disabilities.

Whippersnappers College Lodge, Old College Gate, Dulwich Park, College Road, London, SE21 7BQ. December 2 - 23, various times between 10am and 4:30pm. Admission: £27.50 (kids) / £16.50 adults. www.whippersnappers.org/whatson/winterwonderland/

Snowball family rave

Glowing bright in the night

Prepare to throw some shapes at Peckham Levels on November 26, when the London proprietors of family raving, Big Fish Little Fish, are throwing a Christmas themed ball. Put on your Christmas best and head on down to ting your jingle bells and shake your hips to DJ sets from Mark Force (Bugz in the Attic) and Atlanta Allure, who promise sets to smooth over any generational divides. Expect a multi-sensory dancefloor featuring bubbles, giant balloons and a curious sounding parachute dance finale. There will be craft tables on site for those who arrive feeling underdressed. All ages are welcome, but it’s aimed primarily at those with kids aged 0-8.

Enchanted Eltham returns this December, transforming the grounds of Eltham Palace into an illuminated world of colour and soundscapes. On evenings between December 1 – January 1, visitors can follow a twinkling trail through the site, and see the trees lit up by mystical hues of purple, green, pink and blue. The trail leads its wide-eyed guests to a winter wonderland complete with fairground rides, festive stalls, steaming cauldrons of mulled wine and sugar-dusted mince pies. With Crystal Palace’s Lightopia having gone bust, grab your winter woolies and head to Eltham instead.

Eltham Palace and Gardens, Court Yard, Eltham, Greenwich, SE9 5NP. December 1 - January 1, 4pm 8:30pm. Admission: £19.25 - £25.50. www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/whats-on/elthampalace-christmas-2023/

Peckham Levels, 95a Rye Lane, London SE15 4ST. November 26, 2pm - 4pm. Admission: £12.91. www.peckhamlevels.org/events/big-fish-littlefish-snow-ball-family-rave

Wishmas is here The blockbuster family event of the season, Wishmas is a mega immersive experience taking over the Old Bauble Factory at Waterloo (where else?). The story behind this 60-minute walk-through world is that you’re in the land where your wishes take flight. Characters introduced along the way include Wishkeepers, Robins and Father Christmas, and there are plenty of themed rooms to poke around too. It comes from immersive experience pedigree too: former Punchdrunk mastermind Elgiva Field and the team behind Secret Cinema are bringing it to life.

Old Bauble Factory, Waterloo, London, SE1 7AD. November 14 - January 7, various times.

Admission: £29+. www.wishmas.co.uk/

Fa la la la la for families Introduce your littlest family members to the ageold tradition of gathering to sing Christmas carols, as Streatham Choral hosts both an afternoon and evening carol concert. The concerts are centred around Howard Goodall’s 'By-by, lullaby, by-by’, but expect to hear plenty of familiar songs too, plus there’s mince pies to make it merry.

St Leonard's Church, Streatham High Road, London SW16 1HS. December 16, 3pm - 5pm and 7:30pm - 9:30pm. Admission: £10/£8.50 concessions/ under 12s free. www.streathamchoral.com/comingup/2023/12/16/christmas-evening

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Meet Santa Making a list, checking it twice? Then wrap up warm and take it to Stanley Arts in South Norwood, where we hear Father Christmas has decamped for the festive season. He’s throwing open the doors to his snowy grotto throughout the month of December, inviting all good children to reel off their Christmas wish lists and receive a present made by his elves in return.

Come on December 1 to coincide your visit with the switch on of the venue’s Christmas tree lights – with plenty of music, food and panto acts to make it all merry.

Stanley Arts, 12 South Norwood Hill, London SE25 6AB. Friday - Sunday from December 1 - 23, times vary. Admission: £6. www.stanleyarts.org/event/santasgrotto-2023/2023-12-01/

southbank advertorial

November 2023

Until Sun 7 Jan 2024

Southbank Centre’s Winter Festival has returned, sprinkling magic across our site Come together this winter for spellbinding shows, glorious music and choirs, luminous art, festive family fun and our wondrous Winter Market and pop-ups.

Wondrous Winter Market Stroll along the Thames under twinkling lights at our Winter Market, where you can sample delicious drinks and street food or browse for Christmas gifts. At our seasonal pop-ups, take part in alpinethemed curling at The Curling Club, toast marshmallows at Fire & Fromage and enjoy more goodies at Beltane & Pop, Choco Fruit and The Thirsty Farrier.

Festive family fun Little ones will love Bluey’s Big Play, as Bluey, Bingo, Bandit and Chilli are brought to real life in a brand-new theatrical adaptation of the hit TV show.

Follow Marinka, a young girl trying to find her feet in The House with Chicken Legs, featuring puppets, projection and live music. And start your family’s New Year celebrations early at our free daytime party Kids’ Countdown with Len Blanco.

Spellbinding shows Dive into a glittering winter wonderland at an immersive reimagining of the festive classic Nutcracker, packed with hope, heart and humour. After the Nutcracker performance ends, the Tuff Nutt Jazz Club transforms into a speakeasy on selected nights, with new jazz musicians playing. Australian comedian Reuben Kaye brings brutally funny comedy and cabaret to the Purcell Room with Reuben Kaye: The Butch is Back, supported by a full band. Or enjoy the ultimate festive variety show, Christmas Actually, curated

by Love Actually writer and director Richard Curtis.

Free parties Witness an invigorating live performance

by London’s finest young jazz musicians at Tomorrow’s Warriors Extraordinary Winter Showcase. Get your dancing shoes on for the popular Christmas Eve social Five Go Jiving plus our New Year’s Day Ceilidh, and don’t miss Heart n Soul’s Winter Rave, an evening of revelry. Bollyqueer invites you to enjoy a fun and empowering dance class with a queer dose of Bollywood entertainment.

Finally, join riotous party starters Pxssy Liquor as they take over the Southbank Centre for one night only at Pxssy Liquor’s Office Christmas Party.

 Nutcracker Photo: Mark Senior

 Parillan shared dishes ©John Carey

Luminous art While you’re soaking up the atmosphere of our site, take in our free outdoor Winter Light exhibition. Then head indoors where there’s more art to see at the Hayward Gallery’s Hiroshi Sugimoto photography exhibition, the largest survey to date of an artist renowned for creating some of the most alluringly enigmatic photographs of our time. Also, don’t miss the free Koestler Arts: IN CASE OF EMERGENCY exhibition, curated by poet Joelle Taylor.

Winter Festival

Glorious music and choirs We invite you to join us for free choirs and concerts including winter classics at Fab-YULE-ous Voices, and our Southbank Centre Youth Voices Winter Showcase. Plus, we’ve a procession of festive classical music performances including Christmas Classics, ET in Concert with the Philharmonia Orchestra and Christmas in Tinseltown.

Come together UNTIL SUN 7 JAN

Find out more at www.southbankcentre. co.uk/winter 9

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November 2023

local faces

I

Feeling Parched? The pub group behind six successful south London boozers throws a month of 20th birthday celebrations ―

t started with four guys and a shared dream of opening a pub. Twenty years ago this November, Isaac Tooby, Michael Robinson, Neil Watson, and Shane Ranasinghe made that vision a reality, clubbing together to reopen The Roebuck in Borough. It thrived, and in the two decades since, the four have continued on what’s become their mission to take ownership of underused pubs, threatened with being shut down by developers. Under the umbrella brand Parched, they’ve since taken on The White Horse and The Montpelier in Peckham; The Railway in Streatham; the Grove House Tavern in Camberwell; and most recently, The Earl of Derby in New Cross.

Parched’s 20th birthday celebrations are a monthlong affair, taking place throughout the entirety of November. Across the six pubs, there’s quiz nights, DJ sets, beer festivals and, if you time your visit right, a chance to sip your usual brew at its 2003 price.

With the anniversary celebrations getting underway, the South Londoner spoke to the four Parched founders to find out how it started and how it’s going…

By Holly O'Mahony

Firstly, how did it all start? Were you friends before

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acquiring your first pub in 2003? If so, how did you meet?

Shane and Michael met in the early nineties in Brixton. Isaac and Neil were friends at college and moved to south London together. Our two pairs of friends then met in Clapham North in 1999.

What were you doing before taking on your first pub? Were you in the hospitality industry already or was it a career shift?

Yes, we were all working in the industry beforehand, all in slightly different ways. Shane set up a DJ bar in a Railway Arch called Arch 635, and Michael was resident DJ there. Isaac and Neil were pub managers who in their free time, came for drinks at Arch 635.

What's your criteria for the pubs you take on? Do you rename them, or do they keep their original names?

We love the traditional features of all of our pubs, it's one of the reasons that make the ‘British pub’ so famous around the world. We always try to retain as much history as possible so the name of the pub 

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brixtonhouse.co.uk

local faces

would only be changed if it wasn't the original name.

There's something very in the spirit of Christmas about saving a beloved local institution from being bought up by developers, isn’t there?

For us, the run up to Christmas is the perfect time to pause and catch up with people in the pub. Doing so also supports those institutions: over a quarter of UK pubs have closed down in the past 20 years. A lot have been developed into flats or supermarkets, leaving some communities with no communal space to meet friends and family. Pubs aren’t only places to drink; they’re part of our tradition and heritage, and something to pass onto the next generation.

Some might argue with that, as they’re essentially money making businesses. Do they really serve the community?

Our pubs are linked to the communities they serve: we host choirs, book circles, board game nights, sewing clubs, baby groups, quizzes, birthdays, wakes,

November 2023

“For us, the run up to Christmas is the perfect time to pause and catch up with people in the pub”

What are your hopes for 2024? Will you be opening any more pubs?

Absolutely, if the right site becomes available. When we know an area and community well and we have confidence a pub can thrive, we throw everything at trying to get the keys.

Christmas must be one of your busiest times. Are there any special events or initiatives at your pubs over the festive season that the south London community should know about?

christenings, wedding receptions and desk space for remote workers. We all live within 15-30 minutes of our pubs, so we really do know our local areas and what our communities are looking for.

We have set menus and buffets running at all the pubs along with festive mulled wine and cider. We really go for it on the decorations, too.

Parched celebrates its 20th anniversary this November. How have you been marking it?

Have any other south London businesses been an inspiration to your vision for Parched?

We’ve been hosting a month’s worth of events at all our pubs. We’ve been throwing club nights, comedy gigs, quizzes and supper clubs. Check our pub websites for the last remaining events!

CJ’s, which later became Brixton Brassiere, on Acre Lane circa 1993 was a golden time for Shane and Michael in Brixton. It was a melting pot of different

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types of people; it was inclusive but still edgy. It was our introduction to a pub-club hybrid: it was open really late and offered free entry, DJs and cocktails. It served urban tunes and a little bit of attitude. It really inspired us to want to own our own place one day.

The George Canning, now Hootananny, was also particularly good. It had the latest licence in the area, staying open until 12am, so we’d have a few drinks there before heading off to CJ’s.

Lastly, what's the one thing, place or activity south of the river that people should try at least once?

It’s got to be Bermondsey Beer Mile. Start nearer to South Bermondsey and work your way up for a bite to eat at 40 Maltby Street.

Parched is the pub group behind south London pubs The Roebuck, The White Horse, The Montpelier, The Railway, the Grove House Tavern, and The Earl of Derby. www.parchedlondon.co.uk/

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November 2023

local faces

Meet the brothers who started a fashion label by mistake, and turned it into a community focused not-for-profit ―

By Holly O'Mahony

 Photo and cover image by Oliver Grabowski

B

rothers Peter Adams and Daniel O’Connell could stake a claim in being the double-headed Santa Claus of fashion. Both south Londonbased cabbies in their 40s, they run the clothing brand Brixton Street Wear (BSW) in their free time, giving the bulk of their earnings to local charities.

“The DNA of the brand is community. I don’t think there’s another brand that on Black Friday brings out a collection and gives 100 per cent of the profits back,” muses Pete, when we speak in the lead up to Christmas. This year, they donated their profits to London Hoops, an organisation regenerating a basketball court in Myatt’s Field. They’ve supported a whole range of charities in the past, including Brixton Soup Kitchen, mental health charity Mind Over Matter, and Re-Soul, a charity supporting the homeless with a base in Brixton Market.

BSW was born by mistake by the brothers, who never intended to become fashion designers.

In Pete’s own words: “we’re not fashion designers, we’re not Alexander McQueen, we’re literally two brothers from south London.” The label grew out of Pete’s 40th birthday present for Dan. Working with a graphic designer, he created a logo that fused together the family initials, Pete’s birth year of 1977 and a vinyl record in a nod to his brother’s former life as a DJ. Pete had the original logo printed on a hoodie

and a snapback cap. Soon, “people started asking for it, it started picking up a bit of pace,” he recalls.

Landing on the brand name Brixton Street Wear, they sold merchandise featuring the logo out of their cabs at first. Then in 2019, they set up a website and shifted the business online.

The pair already had stable incomes thanks to their work as black cab drivers. Neither was looking for a career change, or motivated by the idea of selling their merchandise for a profit. “Then Covid kicked in and we realised we had a product that could help,” Pete recalls. “We started bringing out t-shirts and giving different local charities and community projects the profits.”

To ensure the side-hustle wasn’t loss-making, the brothers launched a permanent collection on their website, the money from which covers business costs, including stock and salaries of the photographers they use.

“We still need to pay our bills,” stresses Pete, “but we’re living proof that any brand can bring out a collection and give the profits back.” He believes the markups some brands make is “huge”, but also acknowledges that full-time designers need to make a living.

The brothers are well aware they’re not the typical demographic of early-career fashionistas. “We’re not kids designing in our bedrooms,” Pete chuckles.

“We’re middle aged, and living proof it’s not just young hipsters who can get into it.”

The brothers credit their wide local network as one reason for the brand’s success. “We collaborate with many Brixton companies: Brixton Brewery, Brixton Chamber Orchestra, lots of restaurants…

We [also] do loads of stuff with DJs now, like Fat Tony and Jumpin Jack Frost.” The collaborations aren’t overly complicated; they typically involve the brand adding their own logo to pieces of BSW branded clothing. These bespoke ranges raise the profile of both organisations, explains Pete, and can be an opportunity for the partnering organisation to also give back to charity.

How do they choose which charities to donate to? “It doesn’t matter,” says Pete, not in a flippant way, but to stress they really are happy to support any organisation helping the south London community. Further campaigns have seen them donate to Brixton Recording Studios, and to a boxer giving free lessons to kids from underprivileged backgrounds.

Division of labour between the brothers isn’t especially organised either – according to Pete, they just do what needs doing when it arises. It all sounds very harmonious, especially given it’s a well-known fact that going into business with a family member can put a strain on your personal relationship.

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But Pete and Dan’s relationship has survived bigger hurdles. Though brothers, they weren’t brought up together and were estranged until a chance encounter on Clapham Common brought them back together in their late teens. Ever since then, they’ve been inseparable.

Pete now lives just outside of Crystal Palace, while Dan has lived in the same council flat for 25 years, raising his kids there. Dan had a trickier time growing up than Pete, getting in with gangs and risking his life in fights. Now, in addition to his work as a driver and for BSW, Dan gives inspirational talks to today’s teens. It’s Dan’s lived experience that’s been a big influence on the brothers’ decision to make BSW about giving back to the community.

Will they ever go into design full time? "We love cab driving,” insists Pete. “We’re a small brand with big dreams; it’s not about getting [enough money to buy] a place in the countryside. London is in our veins.”

If the label becomes bigger and better known, their hope is that it will inspire other clothing brands to give back more.

If that’s not the spirit of Christmas, what is?

For more about Brixton Street Wear and to shop their latest collections, visit: www.brixtonstreetwear.co.uk/

Advertorial

November 2023

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isit Brixton this festive season for fantastic food,

warming beverages, unique gifts and much more!

MUSICAL BRIXTON Brixton BID present Winter Wonders with Brixton’s very own Brixton Chamber Orchestra’s Brass Band will be playing while you shop across Saturday 2, 9 & 16 Decemeber on Tunstall Square, and Brixton Station Road from 11:30am til 1pm.

LOVE LOCAL Join us to celebrate Small Business Saturday with our independent businesses on Brixton Station Road.

Craft your own gift wrapping, win prizes from local shops and shop local for your presents while enjoying delicious food and drinks with music from London All Star’s steel band.

GIFTS GALORE Looking for special gifts for your loved ones? Shop local in Brixton and have them gift wrapped for free by Brixton BID! On Sunday 3, 10 & 17 December from 12pm to 4pm bring gifts you have purchased from one of our BID members between the 3 and 17 December and our elves in Brixton Village, Market Row will beautifully wrap them for you. We will need to see receipts so make sure you have them to hand.

Image Credits: Above: Foxes from Brixton BID’s Electric Adventure illustrated by Jellyfish Pictures; Bottom right: Winter Windows 2022, photograph by Gareth Gardner.

WINTER MARKETS Brixton is the home of markets, both outdoor and covered, find wonderful gifts, unusal handmade and artisan pieces while enjoying a cup of mulled wine.

Pop in to Open Door on Saturday 9 December 2023 from 9am – 4pm, to sample coffees by Assembly and Volcano, grab a gift for your special someones, and warm up with milled wine served by Newcomer Wines.

Visit Brixton’s historical Windmill for their Winter Market and Santa’s Grotto on Sunday 10 December, 12pm to 3.30pm. Buy gifts from local makers, visit Father Christmas and enjoy a festive atmosphere with Christmas choirs, music, mulled wine and hot food.

Explore Brixton Village and Market Row both day and night. A magical place to catch up with friends, shop and dine this winter.

lights by Squire & Partners’ modelshop team.

Lighting up Brixton from Novemeber through until the new year.

WELCOME TO BRIXTON LANE Brixton House presents Cinderella! Forget the glass slipper or the pumpkin carriage this Christmas; join Sindi-Ella in this reimagined tale of Cinderella full of rap, poetry, vegetables, and vibes you can dance to!

A Brixton House Production. Script & Lyrics

by Danusia Samal. Music by Duramaney Kamara.

Direction & Dramaturgy by Ola Ince. Book your tickets now!

LOVE BRIXTON Whatever you are looking for, Brixton is waiting for you. Stay up to date with events this season by

WINTER WINDOWS Now in its seventh year, the award-winning Winter

following @brixtonbid.

Windows is a collaboration between a group of Lambeth school children and designers and model makers at Brixton-based architecture practice Squire & Partners.

For 2023, Year 6 students from Loughborough Primary School were set the challenge of creating a series of shapes around the theme of ‘Dreamland’, which have been have transformed into a set of bespoke

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Winter Windows 2022

LOVE THIS FESTIVE PERIOD

BrixtonBID

ENJOY THE WONDERS OF WINTER SAFELY Look after yourself over winter by practicing self-care and seeking NHS help when you need it.

GENERAL PRACTICE TEAM: Your

W

inter is here. Taking good care of yourself and your loved ones is even more important.

Darker days and cold weather can affect our physical, mental and emotional wellbeing. Viruses spread more easily; cold and damp weather can worsen existing health problems and make us more vulnerable to respiratory infections.

There are lots of things you can do to help yourself. Eating nutritious food, exercising regularly, getting plenty of good quality sleep and doing activities that make you happy can all help. So can getting your Covid-19 and flu vaccination and continuing with frequent handwashing. Southwark health and care providers continue to work closely together as Partnership Southwark to provide joined up care for people in Southwark.

ML4911 NHS SEL CCG Southwark Vaccine Booster Advertorial Update FIN.indd 1

GET HEALTH ADVICE AND SUPPORT WHEN YOU NEED IT SELF-CARE FIRST: If you have a cough or cold, hangover, graze, or an upset stomach you can treat the symptoms at home. In fact, staying at home and getting plenty of rest is the best place for you.

GP surgery team includes GPs, nurses, and other healthcare professionals, such as pharmacists, social prescribers, paramedics and physiotherapists. You’ll be seen by the most appropriate team member for your needs to help you get fast and effective care. To contact your GP surgery, you can call the surgery or sign up to use free, online services through the NHS App. In the NHS App, you can view and manage appointments, conveniently order repeat prescriptions, view your GP test results, and quickly check symptoms. Read more about the NHS App at www.nhs.uk. Your GP surgery will get you the right help quickly if it is urgent.

This may include an appointment out of hours through the local Extended Primary Care Services or at another local NHS service.

NHS 111: If you need urgent advice outside of GP hours, go to NHS 111 online to find out how to get the right healthcare in Southwark, including whether you need to see a GP or seek urgent care. If you don’t have the internet, call 111 to speak to a trained advisor.

The service is available 24 hours a day, every day of the year.

PHARMACY: Pharmacists are highly skilled and qualified healthcare professionals who are readily available in the community to answer questions about common health problems. You don’t need an appointment, and many are open late. If symptoms suggest it is something serious, pharmacists have the right training to make sure you get the help you need. For example, they will tell you if you need to see a GP, nurse, or other healthcare professional. Find out about the Pharmacy First scheme in Southwark at selondonics.org/ PharmacyFirst-Southwark

UTCs (urgent treatment centres): UTCs provide medical help for minor injuries and nonlife-threatening emergencies like breaks and sprains, wound dressing, or an X-ray. Read more about when to visit an urgent treatment centre (walk-in centre or minor injury unit) at selondonics.org/ NHS-urgent-treatment-centre

A&E: You should call 999 in a life-threatening emergency only. If you cannot call 999 for any reason, go straight to A&E.

31/10/2023 16:32

food & drink

November 2023

Bitesize ―

By Holly O'Mahony

New bites at Marketplace Vauxhall Already ticked Marketplace Vauxhall off your bucket list?

I’m afraid we’re sending you back to the gourmet food hall, because there’s three new traders to try. We’re eyeing up fresh sushi from Inamo Sukoshi; duck all sorts of ways courtesy of the BBC’s Million Pound Menu winners The Duck Shed; and flaming noodles of the laksa, pad thai and Singapore style varieties at Choy House. The question, really, is where to start. You can work your way through them one by one if you cajole your mates into coming along and splitting the dishes with you. Your purse will thank you for that.

Wine o’clock at Levan

 ©Nic Crilly-Hargrave

Market Place Vauxhall, 7-11 S Lambeth Road, London, SW8 1SP. Monday - Sunday, 11am - 11:30pm. www.marketplaceuk.co.uk/

Curry cravings catered for at Kokum Okay, you might have beaten us to it with this one, but it would feel wrong not spreading word of East Dulwich’s recently opened Indian restaurant that’s already got a cult following. The curry house in question is Kokum, run by chef Manmeet Singh Bali with Sanjay Gour, of Gymkhana acclaim. The whole menu, we hear, is noteworthy: from the tandoori-flamed prawns right down to the cardamom-spiced negroni. The restaurant takes its name from an Indian fruit with pharmaceutical properties. We prescribe a visit to the restaurant instead.

We’ve previously waxed lyrical about the wonders of Peckham small plate restaurant Levan. Well, it’s good news for those who want to soak up some of its buzzy, classy atmosphere without tucking into a multi-course tasting menu. Next door to the restaurant proper, on the site where the same team were running the now closed casual spin-off Larry’s until earlier this year, is Bar Levan: a Paris-inspired wine bar serving natural varieties along with gourmet bar snacks. The cheeseheavy menu includes rillettes and a Croque Monsieur, as well as charcuterie and mussels on crisps (yes, you read that right). The opening comes following a split between Levan co-founders Mark Gurney and Matt Bushnell, and chef Nicholas Balfe, who stepped away from Larry’s to focus on his new restaurant, Holm, in Somerset. Also on the menu is a relaunch of the brand’s Strictly Bangers music and wine night, which proved a hit when launched five years ago at the group’s former Brixton outpost, Salon.

Bar Levan, 12-16 Blenheim Grove, London wwwSE15 4QL. Tuesday - Saturday, 12pm - 12am; Sunday 12pm - 6pm. www.barlevan.co.uk/

Kokum, 58-60 East Dulwich Road, London SE22 9AX. Wednesday - Friday, 5pm - 11pm; Saturday 12pm - 2:30pm, 5pm - 11pm; Sunday, 12:30pm - 8pm. www.kokumlondon.com/

Eat, drink and be merry in Clapham Junction What’s the best thing to do with a failing department store? The team behind Brixton’s Canova Hall, Shoreditch’s Serata Hall, Hackney’s Martello Hall and Crouch End’s Allora Hall have an answer: turn them into restaurant-bar-nightclub hybrids, with bars and food stands to keep the crowds sated. Clapham Junction has become the latest beneficiary of this model, with Botanica Hall opening in the Grade-II listed site once home to Arding & Hobbs. The venue triples up as an allday restaurant, late-night bar and vodka distillery. Menu highlights include coal-fired pizza, truffle tagliatelle and bags of bomboloni (Italian doughnuts) with Nutella.

Announcing Brixton Farm Shop In the last edition, we gave a shout out to Brixton’s Black Farmers' Market – a periodic market that exclusively sells the produce of Black farmers. Well, out of that venture comes the Brixton Farm Shop run by Wilfred Emmanuel-Jones – aka, The Black Farmer. Opening in time for Christmas, the 5,000 sq. ft store hopes to bring the farm shop experience to the streets of SW2. If all goes to plan, he’ll open up further iterations of the shop in Birmingham, Bristol, Bath and Exeter. But first, it’s all eyes on Brixton.

Botanica Hall, 1 St John’s Road, Clapham Junction, London SW11 1QN. From November 22, Monday - Thursday, 8am - 12:30am; Friday 8am 2:30am; Saturday 9am - 2:30am; Sunday 9am - 11pm. www.botanicahall.com/

Brixton Farm Shop, Brixton Village, Coldharbour Lane, London SW9 8PS. Opening December 14. www.theblackfarmer.com/

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November 2023

food & drink

review: solis

All hail this new chicken and steak grill ―

By Holly O'Mahony

F

irst, a confession: I am neither overly fond of roast chicken or steak. Oh, I’ll eat them gladly if they turn up on my plate, but let’s just say they’re not what I would order for the table. So it was with a sense of duty over excitement that I sat down at our wipe-clean, gingham-clothed table at Solis, a new chicken and steak grill at Battersea Power Station’s ever-expanding Arcade Food Hall complex.

I’d considered moving our booking for fear of a lack of Sunday night atmosphere in the vast, shuttered (by that time) shopping complex. But I needn’t have worried: virtually every table was housing diners when we turned up at 6pm.

The restaurant is the new venture from the chef duo behind travelling kitchen concept TĀ TĀ Eatery, Ana Gonçalves and Zijun Meng. It’s named after one 16th-century explorer, Juan Díaz de Solis, who is believed to have been the first European to have landed on what we now call Uruguay. The menu joins

the dots between the Spanish and Portuguese portion of southern Europe, and the corner of Latin America Uruguay shares with Argentina.

A cross-continent affair, then, yet there’s something distinctly European about the arrival of a complementary sliced baguette, served with a salty olive oil mix. You’d be a fool to fill up on it though, as it should really be compulsory to order all four items on the ‘para picar’ (aka snacks) portion of the menu.

Beef and caramelised croquetas come with their innards soft and runny, and are all the yummier for it. ‘Huevos Rellenos’, a twist on deviled eggs with a spicy tuna filling, are another highlight. Gilda’s – skewers brandishing a punchy concoction of pickled onions, olives, anchovies and chillies – are like a heady bite of summer holiday.

Ah, but that’s only the beginning. With TĀ TĀ Eatery, the pair developed a dissolve-on-the-tongue take on the humble katsu sando, which gained its own Instagram following. Here, they’re playing with meat stuffed bread again, this time through their ‘Bocadillos’: grill-scorched, brioche rolls bulging, 

27

©Tim Atkins Photography

DANIELLE & JImmY INVITE LOcAL BErmONDSEY pENSIONErS TO ENJOY A cOmpLImENTArY XmAS DINNEr

AT THE OLD BANK 14TH DEcEmBEr 12-2 pm

Get your bonce in locs-step with Theatre Peckham this Christmas as we weave and style this modern day Hairy-tale with a few twists.

Hair We Grow Again 2023

5 - 24 DEC

“Another brilliant Christmas production from this fantastic venue”

#HAIRSTORY

THE FAMILY STAGE BOOK TICKETS NOW

221 Havil St, London, SE5 7SB

020 7708 5401 @theatrepeckham

November 2023

food & drink ©Tim Atkins Photography

Continues from page 27 in our case, with a zingy chicken salad. For someone not fussed about chicken, I gobbled my share with surprising voracity.

The Bocadillo was mercifully light – a relief when the flat-iron steak was still to come. Despite having been blown away by all that had landed so far, I was still a reluctant steak customer. That is, until I took my first bite of a thin, salty sliver.

Oh, so it can taste that good, can it? Smothered in creamy Aji-Aji sauce, the restaurant’s take on the classic entrecôte steak topper, it was even better.

There were skinny fries too, usually my favourite thing about a steak dinner (whoops, did I say that out loud?), but frankly, I wasn’t even checking for them.

There’s always room for dessert, of course, and a good thing too when Solis’s ‘Torta De Queso’, a sloppy, creamy cheesecake with a puddle of blueberry compote slipping down one side, is on the menu. I suggested my companion and I share one – a decision I regretted wholeheartedly when it vanished in seconds. Don’t make my mistake.

There were drinks, too, along the way. Jugs of finely flavoured sangrias are the main event here.

A jug of muddled gin, cava and fresh orange juice called ‘Agua de Valencia’ was light and fresh, but after sipping the perfectly balanced

The damage (for 2)

Jug of Sangria = £25 Two negronis = £20 Gilda = £7

Croquetas = £5

Huevos Rellenos = £5 Elotes Asados = £4

Chicken Bocadillo = £9

Grilled Steak Combinado = £20

Sevilla Negroni, anything would have paled in comparison.

Just when we thought the ever-growing offering at Battersea Power Station’s food court couldn't get any better, here comes a newbie that sets the bar even higher.

Torta de Queso = £7 TOTAL: £102

Food & Drink: ««««« Ambience: «««« Value: «««««

Solis, First Floor, Battersea Power Station, Nine Elms, London SW11 8AL. Tuesday - Saturday, 11am - 10pm, Sunday 11am - 8pm. www.arcadefoodhall.com/solis

Disabled access: Yes Disabled toilet: Yes Booking: Yes

APPLY NOW Post 16 by 22 Jan 2024 Key Stage 4 by 8 Jan 2024

29

November 2023

arts & ents

See the spirit(s) of Christmas on stage The Old Vic Theatre’s production of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol has become an annual highlight of the London festive calendar. Adapted by the brilliant Jack Thorne and directed by the theatre’s own Matthew Marchus, it sees a different actor step into the miserly boots of Scrooge each year, and this winter it’s Doctor Who's Christopher Eccleston who will be shouting ‘bah humbug!’. Sat in near darkness around the stage, you’ll be fully enveloped in the tale of repentance – with plenty of merriment, music and mince pies along the way.

Christmas on stage ―

F

orget the bright lights of the West End this festive season and instead turn out to support homegrown talent and local theatremakers as they conjure the magic of the season on a stage near you.

We round up the south London Christmas shows to enjoy with the whole family this year…

Old Vic Theatre, The Cut, London SE1 8NB. November 11 - January 6, 7:30pm with additional 2:30pm matinees. Admission: £13+. www.oldvictheatre.com/stage/event/a-christmascarol-2023

Frosty friendships at the Polka Theatre As those who know their theatre will tell you, Jude Christian is behind some of the classiest family Christmas shows going. She’s turned her hand to Dick Whittington and Jack and the Beanstalk in the past. This year, she’s taking on Hans Christian Anderson’s classic tale The Snow Queen in a production at leading children’s venue, the Polka Theatre. When Gerda’s best friend Kai disappears with the mysterious Snow Queen, she sets out on a mission to bring him home and prevent the little lad from being trapped in an endless winter. If that’s not friendship, we don’t know what is. Brrr!

Polka Theatre, 240 The Broadway, London SW19 1SB. November 11 - January 21, times vary. Admission: £10+. www.polkatheatre.com/event/the-snowqueen-2023/

Jack and his magic beans pitch up in Catford Pantomime returns to Catford’s Broadway Theatre this Christmas – oh, yes it does! The latest instalment of the theatre’s varied reopening programme sees the ‘Queen of Panto’ Susie McKenna bring some of the energy she injected into Hackney Empire’s hugely successful pantos to SE6. The show in question is crowd-pleaser Jack and the Beanstalk, only in this edition of the tale, Jack and his mum live in Lewishfarm – see what they did there? In a show that promises to put the world, or at least British politics, to rights, there’s an evil cockroach henchman called Boris in the mix. Oh, and a cow who may or may not become a Tikoik star before the show is out.

Broadway Theatre, Rushey Green, London SE6 4RU. December 13 - 31, various times.

Admission: £8.50 - £35. www.broadwaytheatre.org.uk/events/jack-andthe-beanstalk/

Theatre Peckham lets down its hair

A winter wonderland at Battersea Arts Centre

It’s the tale of a princess trapped in a castle with a mercifully long mane of hair that Peckham’s theatre is telling this festive season. Of course, there’s a moral message buried in this interpretation of Rapunzel, about a rich soul doing a better job at overcoming adversity than material wealth ever could. Expect to find some contemporary references weaved into this modern day ‘hair-story’ lesson too.

You won’t be nodding off at Battersea Arts Centre’s Christmas show, Solstice. This immersive experience invites the whole family to poke around the venue’s corridors and hidden spaces, with a woodland character as your guide. Part theatrical experience, part light trail, it’s the vision of immersive events company Wild Rumpus, and it should prove illuminating.

Theatre Peckham, 221 Havil Street, London SE5 7SB. December 5 - 24, various times. Admission: £7.50+. www.theatrepeckham.co.uk/show/rapunzel/

Cinderella, but in Brixton With its vegetable-growing heroine and gentrifying step-mum, Brixton House’s take on the age-old fairytale of Cinderella certainly sounds fresh. Wait, she’s not even called Cinderella you say? Sindi-Ella it is then. She’s grieving the death of her greengrocer father while trying to keep the local business alive.

She’s also got her bougie step mum to avoid, as well as her south London hating stepsister. But a chance meeting with Brixton’s biggest influencer, Charmz, has her giddy with excitement. Will she make it to their party? Perhaps her loyal houseplants can help? See the classic story updated with tonnes of local references.

Brixton House, 385 Coldharbour Lane, London SW9 8GL. November 23 December 31, 7:30pm. Admission: £15 - £44. www.brixtonhouse.co.uk/shows/cinderella/

31

Battersea Arts Centre, Lavender Hill, London SW11 5TN. December 1 - 24, entry every 15 minutes from 10am - 7:45pm.

Admission: £8 - £15. www.bac.org.uk/whats-on/solstice/

Is your loved one coping at home?

Camberwell Lodge Care & Nursing Home Luxury residential | Dementia | Nursing | Respite Care Our care is the kind we’d all want our loved ones to receive. Camberwell Lodge Care Home provides the highest standards of family-led residential and dementia care. Our state-of-the-art home is luxurious and beautifully furnished, whilst retaining a warm family atmosphere that makes Camberwell Lodge feel extra special.

• 98 Spacious en-suite bedrooms • Bistro café and themed pub • Sociable lounge and dining areas • Daily fine dining and hospitality suite

• Roof terrace and landscaped gardens • Hair and pamper salon • Tailored meaningful activities

To find out more about life at Camberwell Lodge Care & Nursing Home contact Senior Customer Relations Manager Jessica O’Connell at jessica.oconnell@countrycourtcare.com or call 07939 296 992.

020 4579 2199

Picton Street, Camberwell, London, SE5 7QH www.countrycourtcare.com

November 2023

arts & eNts

Where to feel festive

hoping to fully immerse yourself in Christmas cheer? Wrap up warm and venture here…

―

alPs-oN-thames

Christmas (luNCh) Comes early at skylight PeCkham

markets aNd more oN the south baNk

Can’t wait until the big day itself to tuck into a whopping Christmas feast? Neither can rooftop venue Skylight Peckham. It’s doing things early this year, inviting sociable diners to join its communal lunch party. Book with colleagues or friends, or go it alone and prepare to meet some new pals there while tucking into choice cuts of meat, festive tipples and more mince pies than you can shake a stick of mistletoe at. ‘Get to know you’ table games will break the ice, and a festive quiz should prove a chance for the smartest in your bunch to show off their knowledge.

Let the warm, glowing bulbs of Southbank Centre’s Winter Market lure you away from the icy, blue-lit trees lining the river beyond. Here, you’ll find alpine lodges standing shoulder to shoulder, sheltering visitors from the harsher elements and serving up all things comforting and warm, from gourmet cheese toasties to truffle burgers, hot chocolate to mulled wine. Once you’re sated, head on over to the neighbouring outdoor Winter Light exhibition, where illuminating works by Danish light artist Jakob Kvist, American artist Fred Tschida and Italian artist Marinella Senatore among several others are cutting through the dark. It’ll warm cold fingers and toes (at least mentally).

Skylight Peckham, Theatre Walk, 120 Peckham Hill Street, London SE15 5JT. December 7, times vary. Admission: £39pp. www.skylightbars.com/events/the-big-christmaslunch/

get rosy-Cheeked aNd merry over a CraCkiNg good roast

WatCh a movie iN WaNdsWorth’s sNuggly WiNter WoNderlaNd Backyard Cinema is once again immersing cinephiles in a snowy, cosy kingdom of nostalgia this winter, offering rides on an Arctic Express train set for the North Pole before depositing visitors on plump bean bags to watch their film of choice. Grab some popcorn, mulled wine or the venue’s signature ‘Gingerbreadtini’ cocktail, and nestle down for a family favourite. We’re a bit keen this year, writing our roundup before the film list has been announced, but if last year is anything to go by, rom-coms like Love Actually and The Holiday; kids’ favourites The Grinch and The Polar Express; and golden oldies Miracle on 34th Street and It’s a Wonderful Life may well be on the billing.

The Winter Market and light installations can be found at the Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road, London SE1 8XX. Market November 2 - December 26, 11am - 10/11pm; installations November 4/8 - January 8. Admission: FREE. www.southbankcentre.co.uk/whats-on

Backyard Cinema London, Armoury Way, London SW18 1SH. Screenings at various dates and times until early January. www.backyardcinema.co.uk/london

There’s nothing like a hearty roast dinner to see off winter’s chill (or Saturday’s hangover), is there? While most good pubs rustle up some gravy-drizzled roasties on a Sunday, when it comes to contenders for The Best Roast in South London, you can’t beat Stockwell gastropub the Canton Arms. Kick things off with a seasonal apéritif, and whatever else you try, leave plenty of room for the main event: sharing plates of pies, fresh fish and slow-cooked meats. If you’ve a group of four in tow, how could you resist a bubbling pot of seven-hour cooked lamb shoulder with potato and olive oil gratin?

These days, they take bookings too, so hop online and secure your table.

Prefer the cosiness of apres ski to the risky business of gliding Bambi-style down a mountain? Then save yourself the flight and curl up instead in an alpinethemed ski lodge, courtesy of pop-up entrepreneur Jimmy Garcia. The lodge plus its cluster of neighbouring snow globes are back with a theme of ‘Fire and Fromage’, inviting diners to cuddle up around fire pits, chewing on hunks of bread layered with raclette and toasting their own s’mores. Your cockles will be warmed through in no time – especially with the help of the pop-up’s lethal sounding welcome drink: a mulled cider laced with Black Cow vodka.

Jimmy’s Lodge, The Queen's Walk, London SE1 8XX. November 2 - December 31, Monday Sunday, 12pm - 10:30pm, with reduced hours on December 24 and 31, and January 1st. www.jimmyspopup.com/fire-and-fromage

diy Wreaths iN dulWiCh Make your own festive wreath to adorn your door this winter with a little help from the team at East Dulwich florist Forest. You’ll be guided through weaving dried flowers, foliage and berries together to make a classy, natural wreath fit to last for the entire festive season.

Making it a jolly event, there will be bubbles and other seasonal refreshments to fuel your creativity.

Forest, 35 North Cross Road, East Dulwich, SE22 9ET. November 30, 7pm - 9pm. Admission: £60. www.forest.london/collections/flowers/products/ dried-flower-wreath-making-workshop-30thnovember-2023-dulwich

Canton Arms, 177 S Lambeth Road, London SW8 1XP. Tuesday - Saturday, 11am - 11pm; Sunday 11am - 4pm. www.cantonarms.com/

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 ©India Roper-Evans

SE AS O N ’ S G REE T I N GS 186 Bellenden Road

PP_Dec_2023.indd 1

www.formse15.com

06/11/2023 21:18

November 2023

loCally sourCed

LOCALLY SOURCED

Gift guide

Debbie Randall Ceramics Wheel Thrown Stoneware Mugs, £18 - £25

LAMP/LDN

Cabbage Egg Cup Bordallo Pinheiro, £15

They say: “All the work is made by me in my Peckham Studio.”

Arch 226 Blenheim Court, Blenheim Grove, Peckham SE15 4QL www.debbierandallceramics.com

They say: “LAMP/LDN is a femaleowned, sustainable interiors and homeware shop based in bustling Peckham, providing a space where customers can shop for beautiful products that have been made in a way that is for the planet and kind to the people on it.”

20b Maxted Road, London SE15 4LF www.lamplondonhome.com/

Dulwich Books

The Squirrel and the Lost Treasure, £16.99 They say: “A children’s book by an East Dulwich author, Coralie Bickford-Smith.”

6 Croxted Road, London SE21 8SW www.dulwichbooks.co.uk/

Meet Bernard

The Mechanics Hat from Heimat, £55 They say: “The only beanie you’ll ever need to own, perfect size, shape and weight to see you through the winter.”

37 North Cross Rd, London SE22 9ET / 42 Lordship Lane, London SE22 8HJ www.meetbernard.com/ collections/heimat

Brixton Street Wear

T-shirts (£28) and hoodies (£55)

José Pizarro Shop

Forest

José's favourites hamper, £169.50

Aechmea Primera, £26.50

They say: “These beautifully presented José Pizarro Spanish gift boxes and hampers are full of the finest authentic, artisan food from across Spain and a bottle of one of José's favorite riojas, Marqués de Vargas Gran Reserva to decant and enjoy at home!”

104 Bermondsey Street, London SE1 3UB www.shop.josepizarro.com/

They say: “Aechmea Primera are a type of Bromeliad that enjoy bright but indirect light and moderate watering. They do best in a room with naturally high levels of humidity - the ideal bathroom plant!”

35 North Cross Road, London SE22 9ET www.forest.london/

35

They say: “At Brixton Street Wear, we do Black Friday differently, and instead of discounts and sales, we keep our products at full price but give them back to the community. This year we have chosen to support a community-driven organisation called London Hoops. They are committed to creating safe spaces for youth and communities to enjoy the game of Basketball.

All profits from the sale of these tees and hoodies will go towards the regeneration of the Myatts Fields Basketball Court.” www.brixtonstreetwear.co.uk/

CONt. 

‘Pupils are rightly very proud of their school. They really enjoy their learning and talk with enthusiasm about the school’s culture of mutual respect and inclusivity.’

Ofsted 2023 Kingsdale is Outstanding in every area (Ofsted 2023) and presents extraordinarily rich opportunities to challenge students of all abilities including providing options to study Latin, Economics and Psychology.

There is also the choice to learn two languages from the start of Year 7 for gifted & talented linguists. Kingsdale attracts many able students and operates a diverse, expansive curriculum to meet the particular needs and aspirations of all of our students and their families.

The school offers a wide variety of academic subjects including 4 or 5 optional courses selected by each child in addition to co-curricular activities every day.

‘Pupils achieve exceptionally well in a wide range of subjects and attain highly at GCSE and A level.’ Ofsted 2023 Kingsdale is rated as a very high performing non-selective school.

It has a very impressive track record of being one of the foremost schools, in the locality, for outcomes at Key Stage 5 with some truly outstanding academic results.

‘Leaders aim to nurture the talents of pupils through their scholar programmes in mathematics, music, art and sport.’ Ofsted 2023 ‘Pupils’ behaviour is exemplary…At break times, pupils use the space available to them sensibly. They chat with friends, have lunch together, read or play sports outside.’ Ofsted 2023 Subsidised excursions to amazing destinations such as Malaysia, Namibia, Brazil, the USA and the French Alps are an essential element of the school’s Trips of a Lifetime programme.

Kingsdale is a dynamic, remarkably popular and progressive school that has invested over £30 million to develop an award-winning educational learning environment.

Kingsdale had an incredible history of regularly producing the top achieving individual student in the country at GCSE during the pre-pandemic period!

The school has one of the best pupil to teacher ratios of any mainstream secondary school in South London.

Harnessing Sixth Form Talent Take advantage of the chance to visit Kingsdale Foundation School’s purpose built Sixth Form Site. See for yourself how we bring the best out of our students and why our post 16 provision is so popular and so heavily oversubscribed. We invite you to apply for a Sixth Form Scholarship worth up to £1,000 per annum. For more details email: sixthform@kingsdale.southwark.sch.uk Our Year 12 Sixth Form Open Day for 2024: Wednesday 29th November 2023 1.30-6.30pm Visits by Appointment Only. Virtual tours will be taking place and broadcast live during each event!broadcast live during each event!

For further information, please visit www.kingsdalefoundationschool.org.uk

November 2023

loCally sourCed

Weigh and Pay, Zero Waste Brixton

Afroani Mermaid Hair Comb, £14 They say: “Handmade using an eco-friendly alternative to plastic, these beautiful combs are gentle on the hair strands and great for detangling.

Better for your hair and better for the environment!”

Unit 33, Brixton Village, Coldharbour Lane, London SW9 8PS www.weighandpay.uk/products/mermaidwave-comb

MacFarlane's Delicatessen MacFarlane's Charcuterie and Antipasti Board, £22.95

They say: “A tantalising platter featuring three cured meats, pate or rillette, olives and hummus, served alongside crisp Italian flatbread.”

48 Abbeville Road, London SW4 9NF www.macfarlanesdeli.co.uk/

Scene in London

Peckham Illustration Print, £28 - £38 10% off with code 'SL2023'. valid until December 31 2023

Stems Wilder

They say: “A striking Peckham illustration print featuring popular landmarks in Peckham.

Designed and made in South London.”

Check the website for Christmas market locations www.sceneinlondon.co.uk

Candle Nutcracker Silver, £14 They say: “The perfect candle to keep you company during the cosy Christmas nights!

This nutcracker candle has an estimated burning time of 11 hours.”

Unit 80, 1 Coldharbour Lane, London SW9 8PR www.stemswilder.com/

Hiver Beers

People's Republic of London

Hiver Craft Beer Hamper, £17.50 They say: “The perfect present for any beer or bee lover, the Hiver Craft Beer Mini Hamper includes a selection of three fresh and natural honey beers, a branded pint glass, a credit card sized bottle opener, a foodmatching snack, plus free planting seeds.”

56 Stanworth Street, London SE1 3NY www.madeofengland.co.uk/hiver/

United States of South East London Sweatshirt, £40 They say: “A tribute to the centre of the universe: SE London. SW also available.” www.peoplesrepublicof.london/

Dolly Did It

Hand Painted Marbled Effect Vase, £20 They say: “Our beautiful marbled effect vases are true individual pieces of art created by hand using a mixture of painting techniques that result in stunning one of a kind designs every time!” www.dollydidit.co.uk/

Little Mouse

Little Mouse Christmas Cheese Selection, from £30 They say: “A hand-picked selection of exceptional British cheeses perfect for your Christmas cheese board.”

212A Selhurst Road, London SE25 6AQ www.littlemousecheese.com/

Burning Soul London

Wild Fig & Cassis Wine Bottle Candle, £28 They say: “Handmade using upcycled wine bottles and scented with solely natural fragrance, these gorgeous vegan candles have an incredible 70-90 hours' burn time.” www.burningsoullondon.co.uk/store

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Powered by

Our festive menus are served ‘family style’ with generous portions for the table, for two or more to share.

CHRISTMAS BY

Our festive menus are served ‘family style’ with generous portions for the table to share, for two or more.

Jerusalem artichokes, burrata & hazelnuts A plate of house smoked treacle cured pork neck, pickles & sweet mustard Overnight braised beef shoulder, horseradish cream & tarragon Vacherin dauphinoise Watercress and pickled walnut salad Sticky prune pudding, clotted cream & calvados sauce Vegetarian and vegan menus available

To make a booking, please get in touch: enquiries@thecamberwellarms.co.uk

SMITHFIELD

warm up this winter...

MEAT MARKET

with A sip of Japan in london

top quality meat at unbelievable prices

turkey • poultry • game • pork • lamb • beef offal • sausages • bacon • halal • provisions

CHRISTMAS TRADING HOURS

KANPAI sake brewery & TAproom 48 druid street se1 2ez

Midnight to 7am Monday to Saturday* mornings Monday 11th December to Saturday 23rd December

Follow us for more information: @KANPAILONDON www.kanpailondon.co.uk

*not all shops will open on Saturday

The Market is closed 24th to 26th December, 30th and 31st December and 1st January Nearest Underground stations - Farringdon or Barbican Free car parking for customers in the West Smithfield car park, EC1A 9DS up to 23rd December

Open to the trade and the public all year round SMTA, East Market Building, London EC1A 9PQ Tel: 020 7248 3151 Email: info@smithfieldmarket.com

www.smithfieldmarket.com Quarter Page Advert.indd 1

21/11/2023 11:30

advertorial

mark your calendars and prepare for a magical time in streatham!

THE MAGIC of Christmas comes alive again in Streatham this year with the help of InStreatham.

Streatham is about to transform into a haven of holiday magic, and it's not just the twinkling lights that are set to captivate children's hearts this December. With an array of enchanting events and experiences, InStreatham is gearing up to make this festive season truly special for kids of all ages.

We kick off the holiday spirit with a festive market and lights switch-on event on December 2nd - Picture yourself strolling through the market, sipping on hot cocoa, and sampling seasonal treats as you explore the charming stalls offering unique gifts and goodies. It's the perfect place to begin your holiday shopping and soak in the spirit of the season. And what's a festive occasion without the enchanting melodies of a school choir, filling the air with the joyous sound of carols?

Then get ready to be transported into the world of icy dreams as Streatham Ice and Leisure presents their epic Christmas Ice Show on December 9th, from 6pm to 8pm. This year's theme, "Saturday Night at the Movies," promises a performance that will leave you and your little ones in awe. With a stunning performance featuring the talents of our fabulous local ice clubs and skaters, this show is set to be a true spectacle for everyone in the family. Tickets start from just £8, and here's the best part – children under 5 years old are admitted for FREE! To book your tickets or find out more please call Streatham Ice and Leisure Centre, 020 8677 5758.

On December 16th, the Streatham Space Project will host a Christmas market and Santa's Grotto organised by All in One events. What makes this event even more magical is the inclusion of quiet sessions, specially tailored for special needs kids, ensuring that every child can revel in the joy of the season.

Throughout the entire month of December, Streatham will host a festive trail, inviting families to explore the high road and there's a chance to win a chocolate reindeer at the end of the trail—a sweet reward for your little adventurers.

For full details on all events, please visit instreatham.com InStreatham BID is delighted to bring you a season brimming with joyous events, all made possible by the wonderful support from our local businesses. Let's make this Christmas merry and bright by choosing to stay local and celebrate our community!

INE W D LLE MILY U A ,M OD OLE F O F H EAT HE W R G T T S , FO R F I G FUN

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ri E a t &D a t e C el eb r 11.00 - 17.00 SWITCH ON AT 16.00

02 DECEMBER

BABINGTON PLAZA

BROUGHT TO YOU BY:

INStreatham.com

16-18 and looking to start college?

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CM

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CMY

Come and see what Bosco can offer you.

Places available for an immediate start in:

Business Child Care IT and Digital Media Sport

K

281 Jamaica Road, SE16 4RS 0207 232 0440 info@bosco.ac.uk

INCLUDING:

Storytelling with Father Christmas Christmas performances Carols and Coalescence Festive Dining: Coalescence BOOK NOW: ORNC.ORG THROUGHOUT DECEMBER

You’re invited to a magical Christmas at the Old Royal Naval College.

Register now for a place in Nursery or Reception in September 2024 Find out more and apply at www.rosemeadprep.org.uk Dulwich, London SE21 8HZ

love letter

November 2023

A love letter to south London ― As told to Holly O'Mahony

W

ith business ramping up ahead of the busy Christmas period, Cathy Slater, owner of Dulwich Books, shares her favourite things about running a neighbourhood bookshop and her hot tips for things to see, do and eat south of the river…

You've been working for Dulwich Books since 2017, and took over running it in 2019. What inspired you to take that leap?

“Evi's has wonderful Greek food, Peckham Bazaar is also excellent ”

After working in the shop for a few years, the opportunity to buy it came up and it seemed too good an opportunity to miss! I was effectively in charge of the day-to-day management anyway, so it didn't seem too daunting. I did get some help from my partner on the financials and a business plan, as he had more experience in that area than me.

What do you love most about running a bookshop in Dulwich?

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

I love being part of a community, getting to know our customers and recommending books. I also love seeing the new books coming out, and deciding what to stock in the shop. I love being part of a small team, who are equally passionate about books and are brilliant at helping customers choose the right reads. Christmas in retail is a really fun and buzzy experience.

I don't spend much time shopping for clothes, but Lordship Lane has good boutiques and I have bought several lovely dresses from the Dulwich Trader. I like to have a browse of the charity shops in Lordship Lane too, where you can usually find interesting homewares.

And your favourite south London landmark?

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

It’s got to be the South Bank.

Have any fellow local businesses been a help or inspiration to your vision for Dulwich Books?

I generally work four days in the shop, and spend my evenings at home or seeing friends. My partner is a chef at Cafe Morano so when he isn't working he makes delicious meals! I enjoy dinner out as a treat with my partner or friends. I am also in a folk choir and try to do a pilates class when I have time.

Many independent bookshops, but I also have a friend who owns Brixton Wholefoods, and she was a great support during the pandemic.

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

What are your favourite south London eateries?

I love seasonal restaurant Franklins for dinner, and the new Greek restaurant in North Cross Road, Evi's, has wonderful Greek food. Peckham Bazaar is also excellent, as is pasta restaurant Padella in London Bridge. Oh, and you can’t beat Söderberg on Lordship Lane for cardamom buns.

A mooch around Borough Market, or a visit to Shakespeare’s Globe.

Dulwich Books, 6 Croxted Road, London SE21 8SW. Monday & Tuesday, 10am - 6pm; Wednesday - Saturday, 9:30am - 5:30pm; Sunday 11am - 4pm. www.dulwichbooks.co.uk/

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4. JEWELLERY & ACCESORIES 14. DeMEC Jewellers

Stunning galaxy-inspired earrings in silver and pearls. £45 demecjewellers.com @DeMECJewellers

15. Essemgé Designer Jeweller

Elegant mini heart pendant necklace handcrafted in solid silver symbolising love, friendship and deep affection. From £109 essemge.com @essemgejewellery

16. Faienne

A glamorous statement necklace, featuring a Prussian blue agate centrepiece, surrounded by freshwater pearls, kyanite stones and 14k gold-filled beads. £60 faienne.co.uk @f_a_i_e_n_n_e

17. Ginkgo London

19. Minus Cloud Nine

Cute, upcycled scrunchies, handmade from fabric offcuts to avoid excess waste ending in landfill. Neatly finished with a message of hope on the tag. £12 minuscloudnine.co.uk @minuscloudnine

20. Richard Chown Jewellery

Unique, handmade pendants inspired by nature, made from real leaves in solid pure silver.

From £35

Distinctive, ruby-eyed hare ring made of solid recycled sterling silver. Hand-sculpted stunning, original design. £150

ginkgo.London @ginkgolondon

richardchown.co.uk @richardchownjewellery

18. Meli Design

21. Vivid Knits

melidesign.co.uk @melidesignn

www.ginkgo.London @vividknitsuk

Bespoke cherry necklace, finely made of silk and viscose mixed thread using a fine crochet technique. £42

Unique and stylish handmade hat, which brings a distinctive touch to your outfit. £35

5. KIDS

7. TIPPLES

22. Little Loomers

24. Greenwich Spirits Company

Meet Holly, the little handmade reindeer doll that will melt your heart in her adorable dungarees and prove to be the perfect Christmas companion for your little ones. £15 littleloomers.co.uk @littleloomersragdolls

6. SPECIAL INTEREST 23. The Kit Box

Treat the football fanatic in your life to a personalised football KitBox. Any kit can be painted: old or new, national or local, plain, patterned or striped! Kits available with single or multiple players. £32

A timeless classic with a twist, Greenwich Gin takes you on a beautiful journey of ocean travel to discover intriguing flavours from around the world, all underpinned by a classic London Dry base.

British marine and coastal botanicals perfectly paired with the world’s most remarkable ingredients. £32 - 50cl £39 - 70cl greenwichgin.uk @greenwichspirits

thekitbox.com @thekitboxgifts

COMPETITION TIME

WI N

ONE OF 3 SACKS

COMPETITION RULES SCAN the QR code to enter via our competition post ENTER the competition by completing the following: HEAD ON DOWN to Greenwich Market and fill out your ‘Letter to Santa’.

Let him know what you wish for from the many stalls and shops in the Market. Hang it on the giant magical snowflake and hope it comes true!

1. LIKE our competition post 2. COMMENT telling us which prize you would like: Beauty, Handmade Art & Crafts or Kids 3. FOLLOW US @greenwichmarket to complete your entry!

THIS CHRISTMAS AT

S

ART

THE MUST-VISIT MARKET FOR THIS FESTIVE SEASON WITH EVERYTHING YOU COULD EVER WISH FOR! AND

TS F A CR

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ES U Q I ANT ND A LES TAB

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FOLLOW US ON OUR SOCIALS