Bermondsey Biscuit & Rotherhithe Docker - spring 2023

Spring 2023

Issue 15

deep down the blue

@Thomas Graham

The regeneration of Bermondsey’s Blue Market

spring 2023

SIX NATIONS 2023 ALL GAMES. ALL NATIONS. Large, Indoor & Outdoor Screens Tables & Packages

London Bridge, SE1 9HP

SCAN FOR INFO

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contents

spring 2023

About us

41-43

Down the Blue Market

Eliza Frost

W

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

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

We created the Bermondsey Biscuit and Rotherhithe Docker in 2018 with support from sponsors including Sellar, Grosvenor, British Land, F.A. Albin & Sons and many other local businesses.

We also publish the South Londoner each month, and the Greenwich and Lewisham Weekender every week.

We are proud to be a London Living Wage employer.

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

About us Editor Writers Design Marketing Media partnerships Finance Managing Directors

Eliza Frost Michael Holland, Debra Gosling Lizzy Tweedale, Dan Martin, Hakob Muradyan Clarry Frewin,Sophie Ali, Katie Boyd Anthony Phillips Emrah Zeki Chris Mullany, Kevin Quinn

Contact us Email enquiry@bermondseybiscuit.co.uk Phone 020 7231 5258 Facebook BermondseyBiscuit Instagram @bermondseybiscuit Website www.bbandrd.co.uk Printed by Ilif fe Print Published by Southwark Newspaper Ltd

Our summer issue hits the streets on May 25.

Contact us to get involved

28

Milo and the Bull

11

What’s on? Spring has sprung in SE1 and SE16 and The Biscuit’s

Zionly Manna

5-8

diary highlights include the latest theatre shows, events down the farm, and the Bermondsey Voices choir

Food & Drink There’s a meat-free focus for this issue: we speak to the

11-20

head of food development at an SE1 plant-based restaurant and give a roundup of the best vegan spots to eat at

Wellbeing We’ve got top fitness tips from Bermondsey fitness experts,

28

plus a new gym has opened in SE1

Memory Lane Michael Holland finds out how SE1 local

32-34

Loïs Acton’s passion for grassroots projects has helped to instigate change in Bermondsey

History Debra Gosling discovers the Bermondsey history of the Rolls

39

family and how they came to be Rolls-Royce

Community Rotherhithe’s Debbie Western Flowers explains about

the perfect Valentine’s Day flowers – plus, we explore the deep Blue (Market)

3

41-45

spring 2023

A thank you to our sponsors We'd like to acknowledge all our sponsors and supporters for helping us bring the

Bermondsey Biscuit and

Rotherhithe Docker to life.

4

spring 2023

what’s on

What’s on  Florilege des amours

Eliza Frost

de Ronsard. Plate 110, Henri Matisse

We have declared spring as sprung in SE1 and SE16 – and here are the new season events for your diary…

Henri Matisse exhibition Henri Matisse didn’t just draw images of people; he captured entire personalities and whole worlds with unimaginably few lines and deceptively simple shapes.

And now, his work is being shown in SE1. Eames Fine Art Gallery is showing ‘Henri Matisse: Line and Colour’ until 19 February where you will find the series of lithographs after the cut-outs that were published in ‘Verve’ Magazine in 1958, alongside highlights from ‘Florilege des Amours de Ronsard’ (published 1948), Matisse’s epic illustrations to Pierre de Ronsard’s poetry.

With the works offered in this exhibition, Matisse uses none of the usual methods employed by artists to make a work of art come to life: there is no shading; no shadows placing the figures in a three-dimensional space; no gratuitous details in the images and portraits even. But simple lines cut into paper and replicated in colour lithographs, or the waxy line of the lithographic crayon drawn directly onto stone, portray entire characters and stories with a few expert strokes making these beautiful prints by Matisse some of the most elegant and impressive ever to be made.

Down the yellow brick road Rotherhithe Playhouse welcomes two shows this February: ‘The Wizard of Oz’ is the tale of young Dorothy Gale and her dog Toto, swept away by a tornado from their Kansas farm to the magical Land of Oz. As they journey along the yellow brick road in search of the Wizard, they meet some new friends. But not everyone is friendly. Will Dorothy, Toto and their new friends make it to the Emerald City to ask the Wizard to fulfil their wishes?

Showing until 26 February, each adult ticket includes four free tickets for under 14s.

Also showing until 26 February is ‘The Doll’s House Marriage’ – Lisa Kuma’s adaptation of Ibsen’s dark winter’s tale for adults.

All tickets are pay-what-you-can, but families in receipt of subsidised school meals and anyone accessing food banks can get free tickets. Simply send an email with ‘Free tickets’ as the subject to: rotherhitheplayhouse@gmail.com including the date and the number of tickets needed.

71-75 Albion Street, SE16 7JA www.myplayhouse.uk

Old Operating Theatre restores skylight Once upon a time, an original Georgian skylight stood atop the now Grade II listed St Thomas’ Church when the Old Operating Theatre was first installed in 1822. It would have looked down upon the wooden operating table, the scene of countless lifesaving surgical procedures at the 19th-century women’s operating theatre in the attic space of the Church, once part of the old St Thomas’ Hospital.

When the Museum opened in 1962, an unsympathetic metal-framed pyramid skylight window was introduced. With this now outdated, and following the award of a government Museum Estate Development Fund grant, the museum will introduce a visually sympathetic steel and aluminium-hipped roof lantern skylight in the Georgian style.

The museum will remain closed and unveil its new roof on Saturday 1 April 2023.

9a St Thomas Street, SE1 9RY oldoperatingtheatre.com

Until 19 February. 58 Bermondsey Street, SE1 3UD www.eamesfineart.com

New Elephant home for Southwark Playhouse Southwark Playhouse has opened a second theatre in Elephant and Castle, as well as their Borough location.

Audiences are invited to ‘The Walworth Farce’ by Enda Walsh, showing from 17 February to 18 March.

This new revival of Enda Walsh’s hilarious and shocking farce is the first major production to take place at Southwark Playhouse’s brand-new venue at Elephant and Castle, sited, aptly, at the foot of the Walworth Road.

Then, from 25 March to 29 April, Southwark Playhouse Elephant is showing ‘Berlusconi’ by Ricky Simmonds and Simon Vaughan.

Dante Place, 80 Newington Butts, SE11 4FL southwarkplayhouse.co.uk

The Old Justice back in business Built in 1933, The Old Justice is renowned for its Tudor-style interior and forming the backdrop to Sir Paul McCartney’s ‘No More Lonely Nights’ music video. And now, it’s been restored to former glory by two local publicans… Head down for pints on draught and good old pub grub.

94 Bermondsey Wall East, SE16 4TY

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UNION ST. LONDON BRIDGE

spring 2023

what’s on

Enter the vault Moor Beer Vaults combine music and pints in its most natural setting… SE16. The brewery has a whole host of events coming up: 17 February, from 7:30pm, join The West Coast Jazz Trio for a night of hip takes on classic jazz tunes.

On 24 March, from 7pm, Tombstone Promotions and Moor Beer invite fans of all things hard, loud and fast for a night of punk and blackened hardcore.

And 25 March from 8pm sees Bristol thrash merchants, Overpower, bring not only their heavy crossover riffs to the Vaults, but also a special IPA collaboration.

Voices of Bermondsey Female community choir, Bermondsey Voices, is looking for new members to join their varied singing group. With an emphasis on finding your voice and singing with joy, the choir rehearses 7pm-8.30pm every Tuesday (term time) and is a non-auditioning choir.

Bermondsey Voices has performed at the Young Vic, The Lord Mayor’s Show, The Biscuit Factory, Bermondsey Carnival, Borough Market and Southwark Cathedral and is currently on the lookout for new performance opportunities in the community too.

Choir leader, Kristina Nilsson Mansbridge, says: “Choir singing is a community-building activity because we’re united in our voice. Singing in a group is scientifically proven to have many health benefits.”

Join Kristina – who trained at Guildhall School of Music & Drama and has a long history of leading choirs – and find your voice.

St James Church, Thurland Road, SE16 4AA. www.bermondseyvoices.co.uk

71 Enid Street, SE16 3RA www.moorbeer.co.uk

LUNCHTIME DEAL

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spring 2023

what’s on

Imagine Children’s Festival The Southbank Centre’s annual Imagine Children’s Festival is here until 18 February with a vibrant cross-arts programme, offering creative and playful experiences for families to make memories together and enjoy the February half term.

Imagine Children’s Festival is London’s leading arts festival for children aged 0-11 years, with a programme bursting with music, storytelling, comedy, poetry, dance, visual arts and plenty of interactive activities. With over 100 events packed into eleven days and 50% of the festival completely free, Imagine makes world-class artistic experiences accessible for everyone.

Free event highlights include One & Everything Family Trail (8-17 Feb), STIK, STAMP (8-16), Wellbeing Wind Down (12-17 Feb), The Marvellous Myth Hunters (12 Feb), and Top Draw (17 Feb).

Until 18 February. Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road, SE1 8XX www.southbankcentre.co.uk

Surrey Docks Farm We told you that spring had sprung, and what better way to celebrate the new season than a trip to the farm.

Surrey Docks Farm’s Spring Fair is on Saturday 13 May, from 11am-4pm – and it’s free entry.

An event highlight is watching the farm’s sheep receive their annual haircut. They’ll also have wool spinning demos and fair activities for all to enjoy.

@The Marvellous Myth Hunter

Rotherhithe Street, South Wharf, SE16 5ET www.surreydocksfarm.org.uk

PLAYHOUSE SOUTHWARK PRESENTS

AS A H K R A W H SOUT T R E! A E H T W E N Castle h, Elephant &

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spring 2023

Food & drink

Vegan spots in SE1 and SE16 Eliza Frost

There are health and sustainability benefits to eating meat-free, as plantbased chef at mallow, Sarah Wasserman, tells us in this issue.

But where are the best veggie, vegan and plantbased spots to eat in SE1 and SE16...?

Buddha Taste Buddha Taste is a vegetarian-vegan restaurant in SE1. Specialising in Vietnamese and Asian fusion meat-free cuisines, their passion is working to bring authentic pan-Asian flavours to people using local and fresh ingredients – completely meat-free.

They said: “We followed our minds and hearts to refine Asian cuisines with authentic herbs and spices and meat substitutes, in the hope of inspiring people to enjoy more meat-free dishes. Cutting down meat consumption one meal at a time could improve our health and help to build a greener planet.” @buddha_taste on Instagram 11:30am-9pm Monday to Sunday, 144 Tanner Street, SE1 2HG

Kegarmo

Plants of Roselyn

Kegarmo is an independent boutique vegan bakery providing us with delicious vegan sweet treats. Their main aim is to provide an alternative that doesn’t use animal products but still has an incredible taste.

They cater for all occasions, big and small, and currently trade every weekend at Maltby Street Market. Surrounded by some of the best street food, Kegarmo tells The Biscuit that they are “extremely proud to be a part of such an amazing group of food artists”.

What about menu highlights? “It ranges from our famous vegan tiramisu to our mouth-watering banana and Biscoff cake, which is our queen! If you fancy something on the fruitier side, then people can try our refreshing apple frangipane or blueberry cheesecake – all of which are, of course, vegan. It really puts a smile on our faces when non-vegans try our products but still say they are the best they have ever tried.

“We would love to welcome you to our little independent stall to try all our sweet treats.”

As well as Buddha Taste’s pan-Asian cooking, traditional Thai cookery also incorporates plenty of plant-based dishes that we enjoy daily at home. And Plants of Roselyn on Tooley Street have preserved authentic traditions and thought up wholesome recipes without compromising on customary Thai flavours. They said: “We hope you enjoy our contemporary plant-based approach to Thai cuisine as much as we do.”

New to the Blue Market in Bermondsey, Zionly Manna is available for takeaway and dine-in. They have a daily changing selection of deliciously fresh African and Caribbean-inspired curries and stews, alongside staples like Roti, rice and peas, and dumplings – all of which are entirely vegan.

@kegarmo on Instagram 10am-5pm Saturdays and 11am-4pm Sundays at Maltby Street Market, Ropewalk, SE1 3PA

@zionlymanna on Instagram 9am-10pm Monday to Saturday and 11am-5pm on Sundays, 9a Market Place, SE16 3UQ

plantsofroselyn.com Lunch 12-3pm and dinner 5-10pm Monday to Saturday, 102 Tooley Street, SE1 2TH

Zionly Manna

11

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IN ASSOCIATION WITH TEAM LONDON BRIDGE

LONDON BRIDGE COMMUNITY

Business passion, community action

W

hat can be achieved when local businesses band together to make things happen in their area?

Well, quite a lot as it happens. Especially if they share a passion for their community and believe in doing things the right way.

Like most places, London Bridge is still finding its feet after the pandemic and the cost of living is hitting local businesses hard. However, our savvy bunch of organisations are united as Team London Bridge to bring about improvements and help the area thrive.

The business community in London Bridge is entrenched in the lives of Southwark residents and this work benefits us all, whether we work in, live in or are just visiting the borough. Highlights in 2023 will include a new community festival called In a Field by a Bridge in July, and the twice-annual London Bridge Medi-Culture Festival.

For details, keep an eye on www.teamlondonbridge.co.uk

Some highlights from last year include: • • • • • • • • • •

Over 4,000 hours of additional street cleaning 8,500 new perennial plants £50,000 invested into community-led projects An arts programme enjoyed by over 1m people Two Chelsea Flower Show gardens relocated to London Bridge A new community venue – the London Bridge Hive An additional 4,000 patrol hours by business funded Police officers A routemap to reach net zero in London Bridge by 2030 An information service at London Bridge station helping over 40,000 visitors 3 water absorbing rain gardens to help prevent flooding.

Taking care of business

people

spring 2023

They call me mellow mallow Eliza Frost

Sarah Wasserman, head of food development at SE1’s mallow, tells The Biscuit why eating plant-based can help the planet, about the restaurant’s special valentine’s menu in the works and why SE1 is simply the best

The Biscuit: Tell us about yourself, Sarah...

S

arah Wasserman: Apart from a teenage babysitting gig, I have been in hospitality almost my entire working life. As a vegetarian and then vegan, I started in wholefood in North Carolina and worked in various hippy establishments in the states where you grind your own flour and make tofu brownies.

When I moved to London, I went to study art and supported myself by working as a chef. I came to Mildred’s when I was a student at the Royal Academy of Arts and gradually, the skills I learned in art school to develop and defend ideas married with my work in the kitchen. I have been a kitchen manager, head of pastry, head of central kitchen, development chef and author of two cookbooks with Mildred’s. My work always changes and has never been boring!

At mallow, you’re 100% plant-based. Can you explain why this is important in a restaurant?

We are the first fully plant-based restaurant in Borough Market and therefore opening mallow was a huge milestone for us as a business but also for the market.

The market is a celebration of food culture in the capital and mallow is an acknowledgement of the importance of plant-based food to our city.

What are the benefits of eating plant-based?

The health advantages of eating a wide range of plants are well known. A high-fibre and nutrient-dense range of plants and vegetables is good for your heart and your gut. However, there is no reason just because you eat plant-based that you will be healthier, we all have to be careful to keep our diets balanced. The main advantage to eating more plant-based meals is the huge reduction in your carbon footprint – up to 50%. So even if you choose to eat plant-based a couple more times a week, you are doing something good for the planet.

What are some menu highlights for you?

I’m really proud of our mallow menus and we have done some great things as a team. When Cedrick, our pastry chef, came up with our brioche brûlée French toast, the leek and cheddar croquettes with black butter ketchup, the five-course Tuscan-inspired Christmas tasting menu – developed with my development colleague Alessandra Malacarne – and the many variants of our beautiful market thali have been great moments Mallow strives to be as sustainable as possible – waste can be high at home and in restaurants, but can you tell us how you cut down on your waste? And why it is important?

Continues on page 17

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“My work always changes and has never been boring!”

Dock Offices doing the business 120 years on

The restoration brings a piece of history into the present

Anyone who has walked along Surrey Quays Road will recognise the iconic Dock Offices buildings, with their smart red-and-beige brickwork, white trim and clock tower.

A new chapter in the building’s 120-year life has now begun, with developer British Land having unveiled its new marketing suite following a sensitive restoration of the Grade II-listed structure.

The works, carried out by building contractor Wates and interior designers Conran & Partners, continued a project that began with renovations to the Dock Manager’s Office.

History The Dock Offices were built in 1892 as a base from which to manage the Surrey Commercial Docks. The complex was made up of a number of docks including Greenland Dock, operational since the late 17th century and used as a base for Arctic whalers, which had undergone a massive expansion during the 19th century. The enlarged dock was needed to cope with burgeoning imports of timber from Scandinavia and the Baltic, along with foodstuffs from Canada to feed London’s growing population. New docks were dug in response to the increasing volume of trade, with Canada Dock, Quebec Dock, Norway Dock and Russia Dock named after the origins of the cargoes they received. The system grew to cover 85% of the Rotherhithe peninsula, with nine docks, six timber ponds and a canal sprawling over an area of 460 acres.

During this time, the Dock Office itself became the hub of activity, with a working culture quite distinct from that of the Isle of Dogs on the other side of the river. The spirit of the time and the place was epitomised by the sight of deal porters in their protective headgear carrying vast beams of timber on their shoulders.

The docks suffered massive damage from bombing in World War II.

Contact us:

canadawater.co.uk

BERMONDSEY BISCUIT_FEB_2023_V10.indd 1

team@canadawater.co.uk

This signalled the beginning of a decline accelerated by the shipping industry’s move to container ships with their need for far larger ports, and in 1969 Surrey Commercial Docks closed. The Dock Offices building, which had been in continuous use with little alteration up to this point, then stood unused until the mid-1980s, when the interior was modernised for office use.

Today Contractors Wates worked carefully with the building’s features to sympathetically restore it to its former glory, tackling the quirks associated with a listed property. The results showcase original features rather than hide them, such as the large trusses, high archways and triple-height vaulted ceilings. Internal conversions to office space from the 1980s have been stripped out to expose the historic brickwork and celebrate the heritage of the building.

Working to a tight timescale, the contractors also incorporated sofa nooks into the alcove arches. With sustainability being a key consideration, cross-laminated timber was used in order to reduce the environmental impact of the project, and feature sky windows flood the space with natural light and provide a unique vantage of the clock tower.

Following the restoration, British Land’s new marketing suite is now open by appointment only, for people interested in purchasing a new home in the Canada Water development. The courtyard to the rear of the Dock Office has also recently been redesigned and will host a new public square and garden, for all to enjoy. The historic building continues to play a central role in the story of this neighbourhood. It looks to the future as part of a development that aims to celebrate a rich maritime legacy, a tradition that sent the pilgrim fathers to America aboard the Mayflower and connected London to the rest of the world.

0800 470 4593 (freephone)

@CWmasterplan

Canada Water Masterplan

06/02/2023 13:14:30

What's On 2023

Box office 020 8463 0100 • blackheathhalls.com •

George Hinchliffe’s Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain

Josie Long

The Smeds & The Smoos

Sat 25 Feb, 8.00pm

Thu 23 Mar, 8.00pm

Cinderella Wed 12 Apr, 3.00pm

Cara Dillon Sat 18 Mar, 8.00pm

Justin Moorhouse Sun 19 Mar, 8.00pm

Sat 29 Apr, 1.30pm & 4.00pm Sun 30 Apr, 11.00am & 2.00pm

spring 2023

people

The good habits you learn as a chef, to not waste food, are just as applicable for a home cook. In mallow, we aim to use as much of the plant as possible: using things that would usually go in the bin, like leek tops, into beautiful garnishes. Making base stocks with trimming is a chef habit that will help at home, too. I keep all of my suitable trimmings in the freezer at home so that when I have enough, I make base stock or dashi with them. Then I can knock up a tasty soup or stew at home easily.

The other major way we try to be less wasteful at mallow is by cooking seasonally and that’s something we can all do. This makes us a good reflection of the market around us.

When working on a new menu addition, can you give us an insight into the recipe-creating process?

We always start with seasonality and that gives us a framework to develop new dishes. We also try to retain a good balance of international influences and we’re so lucky to have a team of talented, inspiring chefs from all over the world whom we can turn to for help and advice with recipes. We follow our passions and a big drive for us is being able to offer something plant-based, which isn’t usually plant-based. We want people to understand that eating plant-based is not about giving anything up, it’s about opening yourself up to a world of new experiences and flavours.

And can you give us a spoiler of what might be to come to the mallow menu?

We are really having a great time developing our French cuisine-inspired offer for Valentine’s Day: a five-course

“Eating plant-based is about opening yourself up to a world of new experiences and flavours”

menu of plant-based French gastronomy featuring a beautiful pithivier and dessert, and petit four with a selection of excellent French vegan wines. It’s been a fun challenge for us, but we like a challenge.

You are also writing a third cookbook – what is the focus?

The title of the third cookbook is ‘Vegan Easy’ and it’s a passion project for us to show how approachable and simple vegan cooking can be. There are over 115 recipes, and it has something for everyone for any occasion.

Finally, what do you love about SE1?

For me, it’s a very meaningful location. My great aunt Rosemary was housekeeper to the Bishop of Southwark, though she was such a terrible cook – so much so she was sent off to do a Cordon Bleu course.

Borough attracts people from all over the world and we are proud to be an offer that welcomes everyone. The market is so beautiful and diverse, but it hasn’t always been the best place to be plant-based. As a Londoner, I’m proud we are part of the move to welcome more people to the area. mallowlondon.com 1 Cathedral Street, SE1 9DE

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spring 2023

food & DRINK drink

HAKATA Ramen+Bar Bermondsey Street

Bitesize

HAKATA Ramen+Bar brings everything that ramenya in Japan is famous for – quality ‘comfort food’, served in a warm, inviting atmosphere with friendly and efficient service.

The communal, bar-style seating ground floor restaurant specialises in Tonkotsu (pork broth) ramen and a selection of Vegan ramen styles; all accompanied by a ‘fukusai’ menu of popular Japanese dishes such as gyoza, hirata (steamed buns) and katsu sando.

And if you’re after a post-dinner tipple, just head downstairs. Think Tokyo dive bar mashed with an NYC Speakeasy for HAKATA’s bar. A low-lit, intimate space offering premium Japanese-inspired cocktails, craft beers, sake, wine and Japanese Whiskeys.

Eliza Frost

Comptoir Bakery Southwark Cathedral

Quintessentially French, the menu at Pique-Nique can be found on a black chalkboard, written in beautiful cursive and updated regularly, offering up a rustic feel to this Bermondsey location. Dishes such as pâté en croute, pheasant, bisques, soups and soufflé grace the menu – with prices ranging from £7.50 for starters to £88 sharing mains, it’s a place to come together. Tear and share and enjoy.

The family-run, independent bakery arrived in London back in 2011, and now, Comptoir Bakery has opened a new spot in the beautiful grounds of Southwark Cathedral. Having been established by Sebastien Wind in Borough Market as one of the very first stalls over 25 years ago, this authentic French bakery is now run by his son, Quentin Wind.

To mark the opening, the team at Comptoir have launched a brand new partnership with La Roulotte

by Magica, the gourmet sandwich business started by French chef, Guillaume Gillan, and former restaurant manager, Jean-Charles.

Comptoir locations offer quality coffee by SE16’s Monmouth Coffee Company along with traditional, handmade French pastries to the Cathedral visitors, members, residents, commuters and tourists.

Known best for its pain au chocolat, buttery almond croissants, cinnamon rolls and pièce de résistance pastries, all items are baked fresh each day by the talented team of pastry chefs in the original bakery in Maltby.

Tanner Street Park, SE1 3LD. Monday – Saturday 12pm-11pm; Sunday 12pm-5pm. pique-nique.co.uk

Montague Close, Cathedral Courtyard, SE1 9DF. Monday – Saturday 9am-5pm; Sunday 10am-5pm. www.comptoirgourmand.co.uk/cathedral

Pique-Nique Tanner Street

Oisoi Elephant and Castle Elephant and Castle welcomes a branch of chic, modern Asian restaurant Oisoi. Sat on wicker furniture among muted wall hangings, tuck into dishes spanning Japanese, Chinese, Szechuanese and Korean culinary influences, as well as cocktails with an oriental twist. Heading up the Elephant Park outpost is executive chef Mr Felix Yu and award-winning mixologist Mr Timothy C. 56-58 New Kent Road, Elephant Park, SE1 6FU. Monday – Thursday, 12pm-3pm & 5pm-10pm; Friday & Saturday, 12pm-3pm & 5pm-11pm; Sunday, 12pm-3pm & 5pm-9pm. www.oisoielephantpark.co.uk/

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177 Bermondsey Street, SE1 3UW. Monday – Tuesday 5pm-10pm; Wednesday – Friday 12pm3pm & 5pm-10pm; Saturday – Sunday 12pm-10pm. www.hakata.co.uk

Casse-Croûte Bermondsey Street Sister restaurant to Tanner Street’s Pique-Nique – and just a stone’s throw away – Casse-Croûte offers a ‘menu du jour’. Like Pique-Nique, it can be found written on a chalkboard – and includes plates like terrine de foie gras, côte de boeuf and tarte for dessert. The French feel flows through the restaurant from its dishes to its décor. It’s clear that French cuisine is having a renaissance in SE1.

109 Bermondsey Street, SE1 3XB. Monday – Saturday 12pm-11pm; Sunday 12pm-5pm. cassecroute.co.uk

ARTISAN FRESH PASTA SHOP Enjoy our Fresh, Homemade, Authentic Pasta which is made from

premium ingredients, inspired by traditional Italian recipes and carefully curated by our Italian chefs. @caffenommaitalian

We offer many other products including the finest Italian Vergnano 1882 coffee, sandwiches, cakes, smoothies, premium Italian Find us: Caffe Nomma Italian gelato desserts and not least unparalleled 1 Weavers Lane viewpoint of the historic London Bridge.

Caffe Nomma Italian proudly serves

Dramatically Delicious Dishes

SEAFOOD + WINE

Potters Field Park Bankside London SE1 2AA

Southwark entrepreneurs: grow your business with Hatch Enterprise.

Hatch Enterprise and Southwark Council invite local entrepreneurs to access opportunities to scale their business through the Southwark Pioneers Fund.

Accelerator Programme: An ambitious programme of support which will offer founders the chance to grow their networks, get access to one-on-one mentoring, and take part in expert-led workshops. This programme is free to attend and those who complete it will also be able to apply for a business grant of up to £10k.

WHO’S ELIGIBLE?

#HatchSupported

Joanna Horanin Founder of OK English

• You must be Southwark based • You should have a turnover of roughly £40k in the last 12 months • You might be aiming to generate employment in the next 12 months • We actively encourage women and ethnic minority founders or founders with disabilities to apply Deadline to apply: Mon 20 February 2023 Ongoing Support: a selection of year-round business support is available to all founders which allows flexibility and one-to-one options to keep upskilling on the right topics at a time that’s right for them.

This includes free online workshops and talks, supplemented with opportunities for peer mentoring and expert consultations, open to all.

For more info visit www.hatchenterprise.org info@hatchenterprise.org ∙ @HatchEnterprise

#HatchSupported

Rupa Ganguli Founder of Inclusive Trade

LSBU Marty and the Party Fri 7 – Sat 8 Apr

An adorable, cheeky show about fun, friendship and finding your groove.

LSBU Green Skills Hub The hub aims to help residents of Lewisham, Lambeth and Southwark by: • Supporting residents into new jobs within the green sectors • Facilitating the development of new green skills training including apprenticeships • Working with training providers to develop the curriculum to ensure it reflects the new green skills • Offer a range of courses for all ages and all levels of experience • Signpost residents to local organisations that are offering services in the community e.g. food banks, childcare support, employment and CV support and mental health support.

To find out how we can help you develop a green career please email us at gsh@lsbu.ac.uk or call us on 07970 607288.

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06/02/2023 13:58

LSBU Green Skills Hub The LSBU Green Skills Hub has been launched to increase opportunities for Lambeth, Lewisham and Southwark residents to gain new skills and work in the growing green sectors in London.

The LSBU Green Skills Hub is part of The Mayor’s Skills Academy and

by April 2024 aims to: • Create 382 jobs and apprenticeships and 119 work placements in the green sectors • Provide 1,230 qualifications to residents from Lambeth, Lewisham and Southwark • Organise Apprenticeship events, Jobs Fairs and Employer Workshops for Lewisham, Lambeth and Southwark residents.

In October 2021, a WPI Economics report projected the number of green jobs in London will rise from 234,000 in 2020, to 505,000 in 2030 and to over 1 million in 2050.

The training and jobs offered by the LSBU Green Skills Hub comes from a partnership of organisations including: Five education providers: London South Bank University (LSBU), South Bank Colleges, Lewisham College, the Skills Centre and The Engineering & Design Institute London (TEDI-London.

London-based businesses some of which include: Clarion, Artel, Astudio, Hill Group, 21 Construction, Equans/Engie, Keltbray, Ardmore, Waterman, Lendlease, British Land and Morgan Sindall.

Three South London councils: Lambeth, Lewisham and Southwark.

What areas will the LSBU Green Skills Hub focus on?

The Green sector is broad, and the Greater London Authority (GLA) has identified areas where there is high or growing demand for skills and jobs, including (but not limited to): • Green Construction • Green Spaces and Resilience

• Waste Reduction and Recycling • Green roles in other sectors

To find out more information email us at gsh@lsbu.ac.uk or call us on 07891 383500.

LSBU Green Skills Hub The LSBU Green Skills Hub can help your business by: • Promoting your vacancies and opportunities to the local community • Inviting you to promote your business at events created by the Hub • Offering apprenticeships from level 2-7 with our training providers • Connecting your business with other local businesses, council, and local residents • Attracting and inspiring a local talent pool

To learn more about how we can help your business please email us at gsh@lsbu.ac.uk or call us on 07423 030965.

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TT-Advert-2.pdf 1 25/06/2021 17:58:34

Tower Tandoori has a prestigious reputation as London’s Oldest Tandoori Restaurant and one of the Oldest Indian Restaurants in the capital.

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Order Online

www.towertandoori.co.uk

020 7237 2247

72-76 Tower Bridge Road, London SE1 4TP

The restaurant has recently completed a major renovation project and now boasts a Mughal themed dining room, a state of the art ‘Tandoori’ inspired kitchen, a luxury restroom block & a whisky themed bar and lounge The Bridge Bar We invite you to dine with us and experience a wholesome and authentic experience.

Please call 020 7237 2247 for reservations, takeaway and catering enquiries.

We are Open all day, 7 days a week (12pm till 11.30pm)

wellbeing

spring 2023

tailored training sessions. And I promise we have a lot of fun while we achieve them!

What does Tyers Fitness offer?

How to reach your fitness goals

One-to-one personal training sessions for everyone, from total newbies who have never trained before to advanced athletes who need an event-specific block of training. I’m a movement specialist who takes a holistic view of fitness, which means I look at nutrition, sleep and recovery, too.

What are your top tips for getting into fitness?

Eliza Frost

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he Biscuit sits down with Joanna Xenophontos, movement specialist and personal trainer behind Tyers Fitness, to discuss Bermondsey, workouts and how to reach your goals this year Tell us about yourself, Joanna…

Joanna Xenophontos: I’m a hugely energetic person with an innate desire to help people, so a career in wellness was a natural draw for me some 15 years ago. I was driven by the opportunity to learn unique methodologies and skills, and then enjoy their application via teaching and empowering others.

After finishing my corporate position last year – which I did alongside my fitness – I was in the fortunate position to open Tyers Fitness, a private, luxury space with a cool and fun vibe.

Tyers is a client-focused space where goals are achieved by the delivery of progressive yet sustainable

Milo and the Bull opens in SE1 Eliza Frost

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ith sites in both Peckham and Clapham Junction, class- and community-based gym Milo and the Bull has a new spot on Bermondsey Street. Founded by George Lowe and Richie Steele, Milo and the Bull have a “simple, honest and holistic approach to health and fitness”.

They offer inclusive and challenging workouts to suit all abilities. Head of fitness Josh Cooper says: “It’s going to be amazing to see what the Bermondsey community can bring to our new studio.”

So, how do they create that community feel? Josh explains: “We programme team workouts every week that help build the community and create lasting friendships. Every year, we host community events including summer parties, Christmas socials and workout challenges, which means people can interact outside of the studio.

“It’s always great to see relationships form inside and outside of the studio, and it’s amazing to see how members motivate and support each other through workouts.”

They also believe in great programming. All classes are programmed in a 12-week cycle, meaning each session is designed to help members progress. Plus, sessions are balanced throughout the week with highintensity workouts to get the blood pumping, and lower mobility, focusing on strength.

Also coming to the Bermondsey studio soon is Strong Mum sessions. For new mums and mums-tobe who want to train in a like-minded community, they offer strength, conditioning and yoga each week giving mums a blend of building strength and fitness while looking after body, mind and mobility. Milo and the Bull also recognise that organising childcare is often a big obstacle, but they invite you and your babies into the studio.

Josh says “you’ll end up falling in love with our studio” – and from what we’ve heard, we can see why. www.miloandthebull.com 168-170 Bermondsey Street, SE1 3TQ Two week introduction offer for £25. Founder membership is £100 per month for six months.

The general monthly membership is £160.

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I’m sure we all remember our first trip to the gym and how intimidating it likely was. The environment in which you train will make a huge impact on your success. Find a gym, class or trainer that makes you feel comfortable, and that you gain enjoyment.

The old saying “consistency is key” really does hold true and the likelihood of achieving your goals is significantly increased when you find the right host.

What does the area mean to your business?

Bermondsey Street and its surrounding area is a very special place to live and work. I believe being in an area that has a connected and supportive village feel has helped me build a unique client base of entrepreneurs and fellow local business owners. @tyers_fitness on Instagram Tyers Gate, SE1 3HX

Wide range of nonsurgical medical aesthetic treatments including: > wrinkle treatments > dermal fillers > Hydrafacial > hair restoration > hair removal > EMsculpt > body contouring

Book online at www.seanwhiteaesthetics.com Phone 020 8050 4065 Email info@seanwhiteaesthetics.com

World class indoor climbing wall in Borough, SE1.

combines bouldering, functional fitness, speciality coffee, craft beer and great pizza. www.the-font.co.uk/borough Unit 1b, Triptych Place, 185 Park Street, Bankside, London, SE1 9BL e: info@the-font.co.uk t: 020 8161 4450

Valentine’s Day Surprise your loved ones with a fabulous selection of flowers from Igloo

Valentine’s Day at Tuesday 14 th February Poulet presents a sensational soiree of entertainment and 3 course meal - £75 Book yourselves a table Thursday-Friday 5-11pm Saturday 12-11pm Sunday 12-6pm Please put contact us at;

Igloo Flowers 64 Druid St, SE1 2HQ The Flower Pitch, Bermondsey St / Tanner St park iglooflowers.com 07497 190613

Beautiful chirashi sushi bowls and dashi, freshly prepared to order on Bermondsey Street

info@poulet.biz poulet.biz 07539142389 service charge @12.5 %

126 Bermondsey Street, London SE1 3TX Available on Deliveroo.

Instagram: omoide_uk/

The B Street Deli The original deli on Bermondsey Street

126 Bermondsey Street, London SE1 3TX Available on Deliveroo. omoide_uk/

We are here for you and open daily!

Monday - Friday 8am - 11pm, Sundays 8am - 10.30pm 0207 4033 943 www.bstreetdeli.co.uk/ Instagram: bstreetdelildn Twitter: BStreetDeliLDN

memory lane

spring 2023

Loïs and the Lamp Post kids Michael Holland

Loïs Acton is passionate about grassroots projects and is always looking for ways to help and instigate change, which she has been doing all her adult lifE...

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oïs Acton has lived a full and active life that is showing no signs of stopping. Her early years were spent living in diverse places such as India, Wales and a village near Bognor Regis. A landmine accident meant her father could no longer work, so the money dried up and at a young age Loïs realised friends and neighbours treated them differently. It is no surprise that after witnessing the caste system in India and seeing her family become victims of class snobbery in Britain, Loïs’s driving force became challenging injustice and achieving change; two things that she has been doing all her adult life.

Loïs studied politics, sociology, economics and history at the University of Exeter and then majored in geography. Of course, she was in the students’

 Gary & Carleen Beadle

©M Holland

union. “And captain of Netball!” she was keen to add.

While at school, Loïs did her first charity walk with school friends: “I realised then that if you work in a group, you can do amazing things.”

Aged just 18, Loïs ran an old people’s home; at 19 she was assistant matron at the first boarding grammar school for girls with ability challenges caused by severe physical mobility issues.

After graduation, she wanted to make “exciting geographical and environmental films with and for young people from different backgrounds. In order to understand the potential audience, I applied to work in a school and did my teaching and youth work qualifications on the job in Bermondsey, Walworth and Rotherhithe from 1970 – and never left!”

Her Lamp Post School came about when she started talking with the kids who hung around outside her Bermondsey Street flat that she shared with a doctor at Guy’s and a dental nurse.

“Word got around that I was a youth worker and a teacher – that was unusual in the area – so when

I got home from teaching at Aylwin School,” explains the lifelong activist, “I’d chat with them. It was a unique learning curve for me to discover so much from the young people and hear of their dreams and aspirations, and some of the life difficulties that were thrown across their paths.

Leaving my Aylwin job and joining forces with them seemed a logical move!”

It was not long before the Lamp Post School became well known.

“Children self-referred,” says Loïs.

“Right from the beginning I was joined by other teachers and volunteers, and we were all clear that young people had to want to come, and that we would not accept referrals from agencies, like social services or probation.”

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 Loïs Acton as assistant matron in older people’s home

Come and enjoy traditional Finnish Easter treats and delicious food and pastries from our Cafe and Shop. Outside BBQ area offers a wide selection of drinks and food, inside we also have a wide range of Finnish gift items for yourself or a loved one.

Fri 24th March, 12:00 -20:00 Sat 25th March, 12:00-18:00 Sun 26th March, 12:00-17:00

memory lane

It was a free school but money was necessary.

“Finance came in the form of donations of money and equipment, some grants and a little money from the Inner London Education Authority for milk, etc.

Borough Market would give us food, as would the local bakeries and Alpino Gibbs Food Wholesalers – now Zandra Rhodes’s residence and Fashion and Textile Museum!”

Loïs instilled confidence in the students. They built a stage out of palettes on waste ground in Bermondsey Street and produced their own plays.

David Essex and Alfred Molina would go along to help out. “Barristers opened their chambers to us; we had trips to the Old Bailey as well as to the Young Vic; to UK farms and France – and camping in my mum’s garden!”

As the school developed so larger premises were required. “We found an old bakery in Long Lane, which we were leased on a peppercorn rent.

Southwark Council were our landlords.” There were always problems but the Lamp Post continued for about ten years. A decade that Loïs is very proud of.

Proud for the achievements of the former pupils and for the achievements she collaborated on: “Together with residents of Tyers Estate, Whites Grounds and Bermondsey Street, we closed the street without permission and held the first-ever Bermondsey Street Festival. Collaborating with others we



©M Holland

spring 2023

TV Diversity and Disability Networks, the Carlton Diversity Awards and the Carlton Trust. She made a programme on young carers because she knew the hardships they faced. “[ITV and Carlton] gave £50,000 to set up a website for carers, and also produced a teaching pack for teachers to understand the difficulties of pupils who had caring duties in the family.”

Over the years, Loïs has managed music festivals, arts and theatre events and was behind the Guns on Our Streets documentaries. She is passionate about grassroots projects and is always looking for ways to help and instigate change.

Today, 40 years on from the Lamp Post School, Loïs is fighting to save the Beormund Community Centre from developers.

But it will perhaps be the Lamp Post School that Loïs will be remembered for. She is certainly proud of what the school, its staff and its pupils achieved.

At a recent 50th anniversary of the school, you could see the pride in her eyes as she caught up with the Lamp Post kids and what they were doing now. And each one of them claims Loïs had a positive effect on their lives.

I asked her for some final words: “I want to thank all the people and families that I met in the 1970s for what they have taught me and the love that they have shown me.”

founded the Bermondsey Community Association and were instrumental in getting funding from the Greater London Council to build the Bermondsey Village Hall and landscape Leathermarket Gardens with hills! We were also members of the North Southwark Community Development Group,

“If you work in a group, you can do amazing things” helping to achieve wins on planning decisions and preserving areas like Mint Street Park and playground, Tanner Street Park, and the Coin Street social housing and community centre. The list is endless,” Loïs says as she runs out of breath. “Because of those collaborations, we forged the legacies that still exist.”

After Lamp Post, Loïs went into television, making “social issue programmes… I always wanted to give people a voice.” Her television work included supporting the launch of the MOBO Awards, the

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 Loïs graduating from Exeter

 Loïs building a road in Switzerland at an International Voluntary Service workcamp

PECKHAM

GENERATION N*XT A range of dramatic training courses for 6 to 24-year-olds

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BECOME THE NEXT GENERATION OF PERFORMANCE TALENT 120 Peckham Hill Street, London SE15 5JT • mountview.org.uk/gen-nxt • 020 8881 2201

spring 2023

southbank advertorial

Imagine Children’s Festival With 11 days jam-packed with full-on fun for ages 0 – 11, come and enjoy the very best children’s theatre, comedy, music, literature, poetry and dance this February half-term at the Southbank Centre.  Tales from Acorn Wood

Imagine Children’s Festival turns 21 in 2023, but has no intention of growing up any time soon! Get ready for our annual festival for children aged 0 – 11 and their grown-ups from Wednesday 8 - Saturday 18 February: 11 days jampacked with more than 100 events, over 50% of which are completely free.

Join us for performance and dance for under-5s during the week before half-term, including Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler’s beloved Tales from Acorn Wood brought to life on stage with toe-tapping songs and puppetry.

Children’s Festival INSPIRING CREATIVITY FOR AGES 0 – 11

E FRE W I T H S FO R T N EVE -FILLED N A FU -TERM F HAL

 YolanDa’s Band Jam

Half-term highlights include book talks from children authors Cressida Cowell, Michael Rosen and Patrice Lawrence.

Meanwhile TV personalities and Diversity street dance stars Ashley & Jordan Banjo launch their exciting new book. TV scientist Professor Ben Garrod explores the story of life on Earth told through the major mass extinctions, and Zanib Mian celebrates the fifth book in the Planet Omar series at an interactive event. Saxophonist YolanDa returns with a live version of her CBeebies TV show YolanDa’s Band Jam, and Jarred and Hobbit are back with an all-new action-packed beatboxing and comedy hoopla with The Mighty Kids Beatbox Comedy Show Strikes Back! Plus, Tongue Fu for Kids offers a family-friendly version of one of the UK’s leading spoken word and music shows, and there’s poetry writing workshops and readings at The National Poetry Library.

For the older kids, Friday 17 and Saturday 18 February have a special focus on ages 7 – 11, with shows including Carol Ann Duffy’s dance-theatre retelling of Rapunzel, presented by balletLORENT.

8 – 18 FEB Imagine Children’s Festival characters © Jon Burgerman

 Rapunzel © Neil Ferry

Also, don't miss Everything Has Changed, a show that combines humour, theatre and spoken word, encouraging young people to reflect on recent years and share their hopes for the future.

The festival includes a wide range of free events and activities, including demos and workshops from ZooNation Youth Company and BAC Beatbox Academy, a daytime rave with the current Guinness World Record holder for the world’s youngest club DJ, an ink-filled day of illustration and storytelling, artwork from acclaimed street artist STIK, and much, much more!

Imagine Children’s Festival is a Relaxed festival, meaning that performances have a relaxed approach to noise and movement in the space, and you are free to enter and exit. A chill-out space and noise-cancelling headphones are also available for both adults and children.

Book tickets now at www.southbankcentre.co.uk/ imagine

 ZooNation Youth Company © Helen Murray

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Healthy older volunteers wanted for ageing research •

Help us to understand the effects of physical activity on how the body changes with age.

•

Are you aged over 64, consider yourself to be in good health, but do not perform regular exercise (e.g. you do not go to the gym, run or cycle) and do not smoke?

•

•

•

Midday Meal Supervisor x3 Start date: ASAP London Living Wage: £11.05 per hour

We are conducting research on how physical activity effects the body as we grow older and are undertaking a detailed laboratory study comparing people who don’t exercise with very active older cyclists.

Hours: 7.5 hours per week 12.30pm to 2.00pm Monday to Friday, Term Time, 38 weeks per year We are looking for 2 Midday Meal Supervisors to join our current team at this 11-19 comprehensive school for girls. Duties will include supervision of students both indoors and around the school grounds.

This is an opportunity for you to get to know more about how your body ages, with your results being made available to you after testing.

You will need to be an enthusiastic, motivated and committed individual with good communication skills to join our team. You will be working in a friendly and vibrant environment. You will, as part of your role ensure the security, welfare, safety and good conduct of our students during the midday break. You will need to have a confident and positive approach to dealing with students of secondary school age.

Your expenses for two days of testing at King’s College London (Guy’s Campus, London Bridge) will be covered.

Shortlisted candidates invited for an interview will be given the opportunity to experience a lunchtime session first-hand.

The closing date for all applications is Friday 17th February 2023

For further information please contact:

Interviews will be held w/c: Monday 20th February 2023

Our school is committed to the safeguarding of students so all our appointments are subject to medical clearance, two references and a satisfactory enhanced DBS check. We are a London Living Wage employer and we are committed to Equal Opportunities.

healthy-ageing@kcl.ac.uk

Flyer_A5.pdf

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12/10/2021

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www.bedehouse.org 0207 237 3881

Bede House, 351 Southwark Park Road, London, SE16 2JW Registered charity no. 303199

Bede House Association is a multi-purpose charity working with the local communities of Bermondsey and Rotherhithe in the London Borough of Southwark. We are looking for support workers to join our Learning Disabilities team Support workers are part of a flexible team working with adults who have learning disabilities, who use the Bede Centre in Bermondsey SE16.

We are growing!

Come and join us.

We work in a person-centred way to enable people with learning disabilities to become as independent as possible, to make their own choices and to be fully part of the community.

We do this by supporting them to develop and maintain skills, try new opportunities, make and maintain friendships and spend their time in ways valued by them and the community. We work in partnership with other local charities, to provide as many social, volunteering and work opportunities as we can to the people that come to Bede.

We are looking to people that can work a variety of shifts, including full-time, part-time or flexible sessional cover. Our core service runs Monday-Friday, 9:30am-3:30pm, and we also support other projects and social clubs in the late afternoons. You can see more information about the service at https://bedehouse.org.uk/programmes/learning-disabilities/.

16-18 and looking to start college?

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Come and see what Bosco can offer you.

Places available for an immediate start in:

Business Child Care IT and Digital Media Sport

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Please visit https://bedehouse.org.uk/staff-vacancies/ for details on how to apply, or contact Gwen Green (020 7237 3881) or by email at gwengreen@bedehouse.org.

You do not have to have previous experience of this type of work to do it well, but we are looking for people that are able to do the job as outlined, and who share Bede’s person-centred approach and values. We will provide full training and support to the right candidates.

281 Jamaica Road, SE16 4RS

Deadline for applications is midnight on Sunday 12th February 2023.

Interviews will be held on Thursday 23rd February 2023.

0207 232 0440

Bede works with children and adults at risk of harm, and we have Safer Recruitment policies and procedures in place to ensure that they are protected from abuse. These roles are subject to an enhanced DBS with a possible barred list check.

info@bosco.ac.uk

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F A ALBIN & SONS Family Run Funeral Directors

Serving the local community for over 200 years WELLING 4 Welling Way, Welling, KENT, DA16 2RJ T: 020 8856 7514

020 7237 3637 ROTHERHITHE 52 Culling Road, London, SE16 2TN OUR OTHER BRANCH ADDRESSES ARE: SIDCUP 163 Station Road, Sidcup, KENT, DA15 7AA T: 020 8308 0015

EAST LONDON 378 Barking Road, Plaistow LONDON, E13 8HL T: 020 7476 1861

MOTTINGHAM 54-56 Mottingham Road, LONDON, SE9 4QR T: 020 8857 0330

DEPTFORD 164 Deptford High Street, LONDON, SE8 3DP T: 020 8694 1384

WALWORTH 88 Brandon Street, LONDON, SE17 1ND T: 020 7313 6990

CRAYFORD 30-32 Crayford High Street, Crayford, KENT, DA1 4HG T: 01322 533012

www.albins.co.uk

spring 2023

history

The Rolls behind the Royce Debra Gosling

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o much in Bermondsey reminds us of the Rolls family. For a start, Rolls Road is named after them and denotes just part of their estate.

However, they are probably better known for the family that put the Rolls into Rolls-Royce – among other things.

John Rolls started life as the son of a cow-keeper who owned The Grange, once Bermondsey Abbey farm. When he was born in 1735, his father, Aaron, was a licensed victualler and local land owner who later traded on the Old Kent Road.

John was christened on 10 March at St Mary Magdalen, his parish church, and where so many of his ancestors are buried. He would have spent his childhood days playing in the meadows of Bermondsey or studying the bible at the church. As his family owned The Grange, he would have been very familiar with milking cows and mucking out stables.

With his father running a well-respected business on the Old Kent Road, it is not surprising that young John met a pretty, rich girl across the way in Camberwell. Sarah Coysh had inherited a pile of cash and, indeed, a country pile after her uncle died.

Besides land spanning the Old Kent Road, there was a country house in Monmouthshire named The Hendre. When Sarah married John in 1767, the Rolls family must have been overcome with emotion as John automatically became the beneficiary of her assets. Aaron Rolls had died three years earlier, and the reading of his will revealed John had benefitted most, inheriting cash, The Grange and its surrounding land. And it is he who really made his mark on Bermondsey.

In the shadow of the Old Kent Road flyover is a tiny scrap of history that still survives from John Rolls’s time. Known as the White House, this unusual structure was owned by the Rolls family.

Built in the 1750s, it lies back off the main drag, protected by a square of grass and black iron railings.

When it was first built, there were fields all around it, save for the Old Kent Road, which, rather than a race track, was merely a quiet thoroughfare leading to Kent.

King George III actually visited the area when he called in on the family, who were now recognised as the landed gentry. The façade has hardly changed at all since the times of powdered wigs and walking canes.

In later years, there was to be a double funeral at St Mary Magdalen. On 7 September 1801 Sarah passed away, and the very next day John followed her.

Both were interred in the family vault of the church.

The Rolls had commissioned architect Michael Searles to develop their land – their estate roughly spanned the Bricklayer’s Arms to both sides of the Old Kent Road, with Camberwell on one side and Bermondsey on the other. Searles was the surveyor for the whole site. He built the White House on Old Kent Road, which he leased from the family to use as his residence and office. It is now used by the Light of the World Church.

In Victorian times, the family did their bit for philanthropy, letting their estate for housing or granting it for free to some organisations. In later years, the White House was used as a rent office for those living in the Rolls’ properties (up until the 1970s, no less). They even gave up some land for St Saviour’s & St Olave’s Grammar School for Girls to be built in 1903. Five years later it would be Lady Llangattock who gave prizes at the girls’ prize day.

She also donated the organ that plays the hymns in St Mary Magdalen.

What of the Rolls’ later descendants? They all had good educations and lived in great comfort but gave so much back to society. John’s great-grandson, John Allan Rolls, became the first Baron of Llangattock and concerned himself with breeding Herefordshire cattle and shire horses. Despite success and money, his two sons sadly both came to a sticky end.

Charles Stewart Rolls was a keen airman who co-founded Rolls-Royce. Unfortunately, on 12 July 1910, he died when the tail of his Wright Flyer broke off at a display in Bournemouth.

Charles’ brother, John Maclean Rolls, also met with an untimely death fighting in the trenches of the Somme in 1916.

In later years, it would be the Rolls-Royce firm that developed the Merlin engine, which was fitted in the Spitfires that fought off the Luftwaffe to keep Bermondsey safe. So even after they had left the area, their contribution was great.

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Get on board with London’s best views

Scan here to book your tickets

spring 2023

community

T

he Blue Market is to become “a thriving and authentic local market showcasing a wide variety of local traders and makers and provide a cosmopolitan community space to host regular cultural events”, as charity director of Big Local Works, Luds van den Belt, tells us.

The charity took over the running of The Blue Market in Bermondsey’s Market Place in October 2022 with the aim of rejuvenating the Blue to once again be recognised as Bermondsey’s historic town centre. Van den Belt explains: “We feel that, as a community, we can now start to reverse the downward spiral the market and local economy have seen in recent years.

“The vision is of a ‘people-powered’ regeneration here, where we want to demonstrate the utopian value of the market square as a community space for multiple generations, multiple cultures, and the crossing of boundaries through trade, shared culture, improved communication, and civic participation.”

Big Local Works is a local charity, set up in 2017, and exists to help improve the lives of local people in Southwark. Their goal is to build local people’s economic resilience, reduce poverty and its effects, and support people to become more financially independent.

In 2019, after receiving £2 million in capital funding from the Mayor of London and London Economic Action Partnership Good Growth Fund, they made substantial improvements to the marketplace and its infrastructure.

Although Luds says: “The most inspiring and ambitious aspect of the regeneration is the potential to empower and encourage local residents, entrepreneurs, and stakeholders to harness the economic and social opportunities the market will bring.

“This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to make a fresh start, establish new practices and meet new challenges, so the market can realise its full potential and evolve to become a much-needed thriving hub and kickstart the revival of the area as a whole.”

Working in a hub model allows Big Local Works to centralise the local management and provide Blue Market traders with a point of contact, more information, more services and more visibility.

Luds explains that they want The Blue Market to…

Down the Blue Eliza Frost

Bermondsey’s Blue Market has been at the heart of SE16 for over 150 years and, with new management in charge, there are high hopes for a people-powered regeneration, as The Biscuit finds…

Be an exemplar of a truly cosmopolitan marketplace: bring in, support and encourage variety and diversity.

Encourage people to trade, talk and socialise, and through this, understand, and collaborate with each other.

Be the engine of the local economy and of the community.

Thrive so that it can compete, prosper, and become the go-to market for local people and begin to attract visitors from further afield.

But how does the market actually improve the economic circumstances of the area? Luds says: “We are huge believers in the economic benefits of a thriving market to a community. From increasing access to fresh, healthy food to urban regeneration, fostering community diversity, and improving public health.

Continues on page 43

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18/01/2023 09:35

spring 2023

community

“Markets provide ideal low-risk, low-investment start-up and small business opportunities and provide a unique opportunity to interact with customers, gain face-to-face feedback and gauge client opinions on products, packaging, marketing material or service ideas. Something that is difficult to do with an online business.

“Markets also provide important revenue streams and markets positively impact local businesses on the high street.”

On the Blue, you’ll find traders like LuvVintage clothing stall and Angelitos Sweets on Saturdays, Betty’s Flowers most days of the week, L & S Caribbean Kitchen and other food stalls to tickle your tastebuds, The Fish Stall run by Russell Dryden, plus lots more.

And they are actively looking for anchor traders, such as fruit and vegetable stalls, as well as any offering start up opportunities to local residents who want to try and test business ideas, plus stalls that fit their current programming. They are running three core days at the time of print, a hot food market on a Thursday, a Friday flea market, and a community market with activities for families every Saturday.

If you’re interested in becoming a trader on the Blue, Luds says you can simply visit the market office to get things started. There is a new office space from which Luds and the team work, and from there, you can buy a day licence to trade at the market, obtain traders’ insurance and health and safety advice, get information on the Blue Market’s green and sustainable policies, plus trading equipment, administration documents, and to use facilities.

The development and regeneration of the Blue is only just beginning, with the work of Luds and Big Local Works, the market is going to become “a place with a thriving, sustainable local economy, which meets the needs and desires of local residents, and gives them opportunities to participate,” says Luds.

“We’re going to build a stronger and more connected community, and tell better stories of the mythologies of Bermondsey – different voices and the unheard histories.”

So, what’s next for the Blue? The team is looking at themed markets, such as craft and vintage markets and specialist markets for record fairs, vegan markets, farmer’s markets. Plus craft evening markets in the summer, regular culture events – including ‘Greening the Blue’ (sustainability focus), a Japanese market for Okinawa Day, Castellers of London for Catalan day, stories from around the world – as well as regular storytelling events, film screenings and fashion shows with local makers and designers. It’s all happening on the Blue!

Luds says, “We cannot champion the human, people-powered regeneration happening here at The Blue enough. It’s about creating genuine long-lasting economic and social opportunities for local people that buck the trend of developer lead regeneration or ‘gentrification’. Change is inevitable but here, it’s all about people and place, and we look forward to seeing you here ‘down The Blue’ very soon!”



Book a stall by visiting The Blue, emailing the market manager on info@thebluemarket.co.uk sor enquire on the website.

4 Market Place, SE16 3UQ thebluemarket.co.uk www.biglocalworks.org.uk

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©Thomas Graham

Camberwell Lodge Care Home Luxury residential and dementia care home 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

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

spring 2023

people

A flower is worth a thousand words Eliza Frost

We sit down with Rotherhithe florist Debbie Western Flowers to discuss Valentine’s Day and to find out how to choose the perfect bouquet

G

iving flowers brings you “that ‘feel good’ feeling”, says Debbie Western of Debbie Western Flowers. “There’s nothing better than seeing the smile on someone’s face when you knock on the door with a bouquet.”

The owner of the SE16 florist has been in the flower business since she left school at 16. Living a stone’s throw away from the shop on Albion Street, she’s lived in the area for over 30 years now.

She tells The Biscuit: “My floristry career started when I left school and did a floristry apprenticeship at a shop at Waterloo Station. I attended the local college one day a week to gain my City & Guilds qualifications, which then led to me achieving the level 5 Society of Floristry national diploma.”

Debbie worked at the Waterloo shop for 14 years and went on to teach at Southwark College for over 20 years, as well as being a national floristry examiner for City & Guilds. Her next step was to open her own shop, right here in SE16, which she did in 2016. She says the shop is in an ideal location – located near three tube stops, Bermondsey, Canada Water and Rotherhithe.

At Debbie Western, they cater for all emotions “happy times, sad times”, and everything in between. She says “every day is different, which makes it so interesting. The SE16 area is so vibrant and has such great amenities”. She says work at the florists is varied; customers go to Debbie Western for gift bouquets, collections and deliveries, weddings, funerals, and events. Their bestsellers are the Greenland Dock and Lyla-Rose if you’re looking for some inspiration…

The shop is a member of the Good Florist Guide, and they were re-awarded the status again this past November, plus they were ‘Florist of the Year’ at the 2016 Good Funeral Awards.

Debbie is joined by Joanna and Emma, two “local, talented people” who were trained by Debbie at Southwark College, who Debbie says can tend to all of your floral needs – “from a single rose to 100 or more”. With roses and lilies also being popular

“There’s nothing better than seeing the smile on someone’s face when you knock on the door with a bouquet” choices among customers.

But you should “choose flowers based on the recipient’s taste”, says Debbie. “Think about the colour scheme and what they like, do they like red roses, a symbolic flower for romance? Or would they like something different, such as a wild country bouquet?”

Debbie doesn’t actually have a favourite flower, for her, it changes with the seasons: “I love to see flowers in season… Daffodils and Narcissus in spring, alongside scented Mimosa. Peonies in May to June time. With Amaryllis and Ilex at Christmas.”

As we approach Valentine’s Day, and you’re looking to buy a bunch for a partner, friend, family member, or yourself, remember Debbie’s advice and choose with the person in mind – and you’ll be sure to see a smile on their face when you knock at the door. www.debbiewesternflowers.co.uk/ 44 Albion Street, SE16 7JQ

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taking care of business

spring 2023

IN ASSOCIATION WITH TEAM LONDON BRIDGE

LONDON BRIDGE COMMUNITY

London (Bridge) Calling

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or those SE1-ers with some pipes on them, let us introduce Soul Choirs. If you have a love of soul and pop – and want to meet new people – Soul Choirs offers a space to do just that.

The network of community choirs in London and the South East is run by professional musicians and they have just opened their 10th branch in the heart of London Bridge. Running on Tuesday evenings, this branch will be led by principal vocal tutor from the London School of Musical Theatre, Greg Davidson.

Speaking of the choir, founder and professional singer, Abi Gilchrist, said: “If you feel like starting something new and energising for 2023, joining a choir could be the answer. It’s a chance to take some time out just for you, to meet like-minded people and to be part of something very special.

“Everyone is welcome. Music is such a stress reliever and is great for our mental health. We also have loads of fun and get to sing in amazing venues, such as Koko in Camden and the Royal Festival Hall. So, why not add some fun and music to your week?”

UK Soul Choirs is completely free to try, with no obligations and no audition required. They welcome all abilities, from beginners to more advanced singers.

Eliza Frost

www.soulchoirs.com Rehearsal is 6.30pm-8pm on Tuesdays at Guy’s Chapel, St. Thomas Street, King’s College London, SE1 1UL

 LSC with Alison Limerick Koko

A hidden spot for martial arts in Bermondsey Eliza Frost

T

he Hidden Gym – the oldest gym in the area – and the Tokei Fitness Centre – the first purpose-built martial arts centre in the country – sit on Magdalen Street. Tucked away from the hustle and bustle of London Bridge, the two sites offer a whole range of classes, personal training sessions, and varying martial arts lessons.

Manager and personal trainer Clayton tells The

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Biscuit: “What makes our gym a unique feel is that minute you first walk in: it’s got that old school feeling. It’s for everyone.”

And that’s what you want for a gym, a place to feel welcome and with trainers that will get you the results you are looking for.

The Tokei Fitness Centre opened in 1975 and they offer lessons in karate, wrestling, judo, Brazilian jujitsu, San Shou Kuan, and Thai boxing.

Clayton tells us how Tokei’s offering is like no other, “there is nowhere else in the area that offers that”. Running for almost 50 years, the centre is lead by highly qualified martial artists, fitness experts and sports professionals.

Clayton says: “People want to get back to classes post-Covid and Tokei’s popularity is coming back with a vengeance. Anybody can come off the street and do it. A lot of people do the boxing for the fitness side, too.”

So whether you’re looking to hit fitness goals with a personal trainer, or try something new in the way of martial arts, it seems The Hidden Gym and the Tokei Fitness Centre are ready to welcome you in. www.hiddengym.co.uk www.tokeicentre.org Lion Court, 28 Magdalen Street, SE1 2EN

WHERE RUSTIC DINING MEETS THE BOTANICAL

Nestled between Carrubo Bar and Arch 33 sits Southwark Quarter’s diamond jewel, In Horto. Fuelled by fire, In Horto is an ode to the wild, where diners can find rustic wood-fired cooking and botanical alchemies in a beautiful verdant setting.

Ideal for sharing, the lunch and dinner menus include an array of nature’s finest.

London Bridge | SE1 1RU

Make a Reservation – inhorto.co.uk

For the unassuming wine enthusiast, Tap & Bottle is the perfect after-work and weekend hideaway from the busy streets of London.