The Bermondsey Biscuit & Rotherhithe Docker - winter 2022

We’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, and many other local businesses.

We also publish the South Londoner magazine 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. See all of our content at: www.southwarknews.co.uk

food & drink

lane

Eliza Frost

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‘tis the season

Before your diary BecoMes jaM-packed with plans for the festive season, this is what’s on in se1 and se16…

christMas on the silver screen

Whether for cocktails and nibbles with colleagues or a screening of a festive favourite with friends, Kino Bermondsey’s intimate cinema - with 48 red Italian leather seats and a large lounge bar and terrace, located in Bermondsey Square at the end of Bermondsey Street, is perfect for that Christmas party with a difference!

Plus, look out for Kino’s Christmas film programme to get you in the mood – whether you’re a Kris Kringle or a Scrooge.

Kino Bermondsey, 10 Bermondsey Square, SE1 3UN. www.kinodigital.co.uk

Making a deBut

DEBUT returns for their fun and lively signaturestyle DEBUT Christmas Concert at Brunel Museum. With festive musical favourites, four part carols and some (optional) singalong Christmas songs, it’s a night not to be missed! Mulled cider, hot toddies and mince pies are available from Midnight Apothecary. Wednesday 14 December. Tickets £35. Brunel Museum, Railway Avenue, SE16 4LF. www.debut.org.uk/brunel-concerts

Banquet under the thaMes at Brunel MuseuM

The Brunel Museum sits on the site of the Thames Tunnel, the world’s first tunnel under a navigable river. In November 1827, the Brunels hosted a banquet in the partially complete tunnel, partly to reassure shareholders understandably twitchy about recent flooding in the Tunnel.

The museum is now displaying the painting ‘Banquet in the Thames Tunnel’ by George Jones, depicting the event, until 19 February 2023.

Brunel Museum, Railway Avenue, SE16 4LF

yuletide celeBrations

It’s the return of Anspach & Hobday’s highly celebrated annual Christmas Carols. Join for carols at their taproom and spread the Christmas cheer. Plus, their Christmas beer, The Pfeffernüsse Stout, will be flowing. And they’ll be collecting for charity, too.

From 3pm. The Arch House, 118 Druid St, Bermondsey, SE1 2HH. Free entry

it’s all fairgaMe

A first of its kind, an immersive fairground experience has officially opened its doors in the heart of Canary Wharf. Following four years of development, Fairgame is revolutionising the funfair, offering guests the chance to re-awaken their inner kid in a state-of-the-art, adults-only playground – for the ultimate night out.

get crafty this criMBo

Dust off the baubles, unpack the tinsel and put on your sparkly earrings – Crafty Fox Market is getting ready for Christmas. To help crafty shoppers treat their loved ones to the finest original gifts, they’re bringing two fabulous festive markets to Mercato Metropolitano in the lead up to Christmas. Go for a browse and take your pick from presents, decorations, cards, wrap, and more.

Saturday 3 & Sunday 4, Saturday 17 & Sunday 18 December 2022, 11am-5pm. Mercato Metropolitano, 42 Newington Causeway, Elephant & Castle, SE1 6DR. www.craftyfoxmarket.co.uk

experience christMas the finnish way

Santa’s helpers have prepared a spread a king would be envious of at The Finnish Church on Albion Street; Carol singing, cinnamon buns, reindeer stew and other treats are waiting for you. Visit across two weekends (25-27 November and 2-4 December. Opening times – Friday: 12-8pm, Saturday and Sunday: 12-6pm) to treat yourself to food, sweets and Finnish gifts galore.

Finnish Church in London, 33 Albion Street, SE16 7HZ. www.merimieskirkko.fi

Fairgame brings your fairground favourites – from whac-a-mole and roll-a-ball to water gun clown –with an expertly crafted drinks menu available from the venue’s three ‘Bumper Bars’. Fairground-themed signature cocktails have been created in collaboration with Ali Reynolds – and with small-batch artisanal spirits, classic boozy slushies, and London-brewed craft beer, there’s something for everyone.

Food and drink packages can be purchased in advance, with pre-paid tokens loaded onto gamers’ cards when they check in.

Fairgame, 25 Fisherman’s Walk, E14 4DH. www.wearefairgame.com

Eliza Frost

southbank centre’s winter Festival returns

Visit the Southbank Centre this Winter (Thu 3 Nov 2022 - Sun 8 Jan 2023) to wrap yourself in the spirit of the season with joyous shows, pop-up bars, family fun, free events, brilliant art and twinkling markets.

JoYoUs shows

Travel to east Tennessee in an all-new musical twist on the classic Dickens tale from the Queen of Country at Dolly Parton’s Smoky Mountain Christmas Carol. Or join in the family fun with Duggee and the Squirrels in Hey Duggee: The Live Theatre Show.

wInteR MaRKet & PoP-UPs

Stroll along the Thames under twinkling lights and sample indulgent drinks and scrumptious street food at the Winter Market. Or enjoy the seasonal food and drink pop-ups and take part in alpine-themed curling at The Curling Club.

Party through the decades as the Royal Festival Hall is decked out in all its glory and enjoy breathtaking views of the UK’s largest annual fireworks display.

Can’t stay out til midnight with the kids? Start your family’s New Year revels early with the free Kids’ Countdown with Ida Barr.

a tRULY cLassIcaL chRIstMas

Join a procession of festive classical music performances suitable for audiences of all ages: Handel’s Messiah, Christmas at the Movies, Christmas Carol Singalong, A Dickensian Christmas and Christmas with the Philharmonia Cellos.

VeRY MeRRY coMeDY anD caBaRet

The campest, queerest and most hilarious guests London can offer, join The Guilty Feminist Presents Camp as Christmas, or go to the edge and have your preconceptions rattled as collective Not Your Circus Dog presents an evening of shameless, sexy punk-crip cabaret.

FRee FestIVe FUn

There are plenty of free musical events to raise your spirits. Bring the family and your best dance moves to Daytime Rave with Heart n Soul DJs. Go in heavy on the harmonies with an incredible line up of choirs singing classic winter numbers with Choral Winter Warmers. Need some heat? Transport yourself somewhere warmer with Just Vibez Caribbean Winter Carnival. Or be uplifted by the impeccable vocals of Soul Siren ShezAr, here to sing us into the winter season.

aRt & eXhIBItIons

Explore ‘a garden of weird and wonderful delights’ at the Hayward Gallery’s five-star exhibition Strange Clay: Ceramics in Contemporary Art featuring 23 international artists. Bring the whole family to enjoy this stimulating exhibition as under-12s go free. Take a walk near the Southbank Centre after dusk and you’ll be met by the neon glow of Winter Light, a free outdoor exhibition, and visit the free Ai Weiwei curated Koestler Arts: Freedom.

coMMUnItY sPIRIt

Looking for a cosy spot this winter season? Read your book, play a game, meet new friends or just take a moment with your thoughts in The Lounge, a free community space, open to everyone.

TO FIND OUT MORE AND BOOK TICKETS, VISIT southbankcentre.co.uk/winter*

*Please check the website for running dates and opening times.

new YeaR’s eVe sPectacULaR

Dolly Parton’s Smoky Mountain Christmas Carol

Photo by Jesse Faatza

Katherine Leedale

Fred Tschida: Sphere part of Winter Light

Pete Woodhead

view of Takuro Kuwata, Strange Clay: Ceramics in Contemporary Art at the Hayward Gallery (26 October 2022 - 8 January 2023). Photo: Mark Blower.

MaltBy street Market at christMas

Think rustic and cosy for Maltby Street Market as festivities heat up the city for locals and tourists alike.

From sausage and mash baps to the hearty slow-cooked beef stews of Ethiopia, mulled wine and UK craft beer

Musica antica in rotherhithe

Musica Antica returns to 16th and 17th Century Mexico, Bolivia and Peru with a programme of songs and dances by indigenous and Iberian composers, centred on Mexican composer Francisco López Capillas’ as-yet unrecorded Hexachord Mass. The show ‘Christmas in the New World II’ is at 7:30pm on Saturday 17 December at the Holy Trinity Church in Rotherhithe.

£10 standard ticket, £2 for students or those out of work. Holy Trinity Church, 3 Bryan Rd, SE16 5HF. www.musicaantica.org.uk

we’re not lying…

Unicorn Theatre’s artistic director Justin Audibert directs Eve Leigh’s dazzling new adaptation of this much-loved family favourite, Pinocchio. This classic story of Geppetto, a lonely carpenter who wishes that the wooden puppet he has carved and named Pinocchio, becomes a real boy.

With a touch of magic from the blue fairy, enter a world of gingerbread villages and snow-capped mountains in

old operating theatre after hours

Transport to the Victorian era and discover the surgical procedures that were done at the Old Operating Theatre Museum. The team will describe the most common surgical procedures that would have taken place in the original space nearly 200 years ago. Listen as they delve into the horrors of surgery before the arrival of anaesthesia and antiseptics, that helped pave the way for our modern medical procedures.

Shown live from the oldest surviving surgical theatre in Europe, you will see the original space located in the attic of an 18th Century church, where up to 150 medical students would have once gathered and learned their trade. This event will close its events programme dedicated to the Bicentenary of the instalment of the operating theatre in 1822.

the magic of unicorn theatre

Eliza Frost

artistic director of se1’s unicorn theatre, justin audiBert, explains how the theatre is Bringing the arts to young people, discusses latest show pinocchio and why working there Brings joy to his heart

“Being artistic director, you do have the worry about the toilets and staff turnover, and funding, but seeing kids going to a show and being excited before they go in, and then coming out buzzing, that is magic,” explains Justin Audibert, artistic director at Unicorn Theatre in SE1.

You can feel the magic of Unicorn Theatre when speaking to Justin, he says “it really is the best audience – definitely in London – but I would probably say the best audience anywhere”. Creating shows for children and young people is “responsive and live”, he tells The Biscuit. “They have no interest in being polite to you. If they don’t like what you do, they’ll tell you, very vocally. And I think it’s great to grow from it and learn to get better because you read them.”

Justin started his role as artistic director in early 2018 - fast forward and the theatre experienced the hard effects of the pandemic, which much of arts

felts. “What’s been good [post-Covid] is the hunger of parents and teachers to bring their kids to have shared experiences. It’s really heartening that people are still wanting to do that in a meaningful way,” he says.

Justin’s first experience of theatre was joining a drama society at university, where everyone took it seriously but they also had the chance to mess about, he explain. He went on to study directing at Birkbeck, a course that was set up due to a lack of socioeconomic diversity in theatre directors. The course included a year placement, which Justin did at what is now called the Leeds Playhouse. From then, he never looked back. He assisted people who were “kind and generous”, and who helped his career progress.

Bringing the arts to young people is something that Justin is very clearly passionate about, and the theatre works with local schools and the community to do just that. “We’re lucky, because Southwark is an amazing place to be, but the socioeconomic diversity ranges enormously.

“We have partner schools in Southwark, Lambeth, and Tower Hamlets who have become our creative associates. They spend time being the experts and being children, and exploring the topics and themes of the plays that we’re thinking about doing. So

that’s really key to the very essence of the work on our stages.”

What do art and culture add to the lives of young people? “It means you are a happier human being. You don’t have to make theatre, but you can go and watch it and it makes you feel more alive. It makes you feel more connected to other people, it makes you feel inspired. And that feeling bleeds into the rest of your life. I think that is vital.”

Justin explains how one of the joys of the Unicorn is that, because you’re catering for so many different audiences, “it can’t be samey”. He says: “It all has to be different because of the age groups and where children are at in their development. We don’t always get it right, but it’s great trying to figure out that puzzle.”

The latest puzzle facing the Unicorn Theatre is how to tackle lying. Writer Eve Leigh came to Justin with an adaptation of Pinocchio, which is showing at the Unicorn until Saturday 31 December 2022 – “it should be a real Christmas spectacular, plus it’s set in snowy alpine Italy.”

In Pinocchio, Eve asks the question: What is the corrosive power of lying? And why do we teach kids not to lie? “And Eve isn’t simplistic about it. It’s a brilliant investigation into what lying is and what it does to us, and how, ultimately, it corrodes us and

makes us less real.”

Justin adds: “The play isn’t just asking what it is to be a good boy but explores Geppetto and what it’s like to be an actual parent. I’m a parent to a fouryear-old, and sometimes you’re not your best self. Geppetto is not always the best parent, he’s learning. You see two people who are trying to do the right thing, but not do the right thing. Towards the end, they figure it out. The whole premise before that is them both trying and that’s really human. At the heart of it, it’s about why telling the truth matters to society and about how to be a good parent and a good child, and because it’s Christmas, of course, love saves the day in the end.”

Justin celebrates the team at the Unicorn for working to bring the arts to young people: “They are unbelievable, everyone is led by wanting to give children the best theatrical experience possible. Working in a place like this does make you bob into work with joy in your heart because everybody really cares. They are a hell of a staff.”

Pinocchio is showing until 31 December 2022. Tickets: Under 18s £13-£21, Adults £19-£29.50.

Unicorn Theatre, 147 Tooley Street, SE1 2HZ. www.unicorntheatre.com

In assocIatIon wIth teaM LonDon BRIDGe london Bridge coMMunity

Justin Audibert ©Craig Sugden

Going green at Canada Water: plans take shape for the new park

The new park will incorporate open space and woodland

With autumn transforming our outdoor environment, many of us are enjoying the changing colours, crisp mornings and spending time in the fresh air.

Getting outdoors can improve our mood, help us feel relaxed and make us feel more connected to nature and our local community. More and more people are realising these benefits, with data from the Office for National Statistics pointing to a surge in people gaining health benefits from outdoor exercise1

It’s clear that having lots of different options nearby for getting out into nature and fresh air is an important aspect of a healthy neighbourhood, and the new park coming to Canada Water aims to offer just that. It will form part of a “green link” running through the Canada Water development, which will connect the 130+ acres of parks and woodlands including Russia Dock Woodland and Southwark Park.

The park will be located across a space currently occupied by Printworks’ warehouses. The aim is for it to bring people closer to nature and wildlife through a variety of environments. It will incorporate open spaces, planting and gardens that support biodiversity and ecology, and woodland for people to enjoy. It will also include an adventure playground and other play spaces to encourage younger visitors to get active.

As well as fitting into the local ecosystem, with many existing trees retained and varied planting that flowers all season and attracts pollinators such as bees and butterflies, the vision for the park will see it draw on the industrial heritage of the area. The design will link into

the history of the landmark Printworks building and the former Quebec Dock through play spaces and by incorporating the edge of the dock into new footpaths.

The park should be a valuable space for the whole community to use, as well as a space which encourages and supports social interaction. It is important that the park is inclusive and accessible for all local people, connecting everyone regardless of age or ability.

The designs for the park have, from their very inception, been informed through extensive engagement with people locally. Hundreds of people have contributed their thoughts on what will make the park something they want to see and use, that reflects not only the rich history of the area, but the future of Canada Water.

To support delivery of the park, British Land is partnering with environmental educational charity Global Generation, whose Green Ambassadors are providing unique insights on how to shape this new public space that they will use for years to come. These young people, who live in SE16 and work with Global Generation at the Paper Garden (located adjacent to where the park will be), are working with the design team to inform how the park can best support local wildlife and ecology and celebrate local heritage.

Following the recent public consultation, plans are being reviewed before a Revised Matters Application is submitted for the park. Thank you to everyone who has taken part in shaping these to date.

For further information on the new park, get in touch with British Land using the details below.

it’s amore at flour & grape

Have you ever wondered just how much pasta your favourite Italian restaurant serves in a day?

According to the owner of Bermondsey’s Flour & Grape, it’s about 24 kilograms of the fresh stuff in a 24-hour window – with pasta production starting at 9am, and it doesn’t stop as day turns to night.

Nick Crispini is half Italian – he grew up in Guernsey with his English mother and Italian father. He tells The Biscuit, “My parents had restaurants on the island, so I was brought up in the industry, but as a stubborn teenager I didn’t want to follow in their footsteps.”

After moving to the SE1 area in 2004, Nick “quickly fell in love with it”. It wasn’t until a few years later –grown up and rid of the strong will set by his teenage self about going into the restaurant business – that he realised he wanted to open his own establishment. But he did know it was always going to be in Bermondsey.

“After going to art college, I went into IT programming, online games and web development,” Nick explains, “I always loved good food and in my late twenties I couldn’t fight it anymore and accepted hospitality was in the blood, so embarked on the idea of opening my own place, in the location that I loved. I sacrificed my successful IT career to go to catering college and trained as a professional chef. From there, I worked at various places but, most notably, Theo Randall at the InterContinental, from whom I learned so much.”

He couldn’t deny his love of food: “I live to eat, something simple but delicious is so satisfying and I love seeing others, whether it be family, friends or customers, feeling that same sense of satisfaction and joy from a simple but delicious plate of food – it’s incredibly fulfilling.”

Initially, however, Nick opened Antico in 2012, a neighbourhood Italian restaurant on the same site as

Flour & Grape sits now. He says: “It was very obvious from the start that our pasta was a firm favourite, so I began to develop the concept of a quick-serve, yet highquality pasta and wine restaurant, which I planned for a second site in 2016. Unfortunately, after the referendum result, I immediately saw rising costs across the board and, with Antico’s modest profits, I knew I had to change to the new concept at just one site.”

It was then that the idea of quality quick-serve pasta was boiled up, and served with a fresh sprinkling of parmesan: introducing Flour & Grape. But why the name? “Simple, pasta and wine – the perfect Italian duo,” answers Nick.

Nick chose Bermondsey as the home for Flour & Grape because of his growing love for the neighbourhood: “I fell in love with the area, its location, vibe, and I saw its potential. This place has grown so much since I moved here in 2004 and I’m so proud to be a part of it.”

Not forgetting the fact that it’s “just a few minutes from London Bridge”, but at the same time, Nick continues, “you can walk down the street and get a local feeling with lots of independent shops and restaurants. It’s quite special”.

The average day at Flour & Grape is “busy from start to finish”. Nick explains how, for a small restaurant, they serve an average of 2,200 customers per week. The pasta making starts at 9am and a chef will be rolling out more fresh pasta – from ravioli to pappardelle and linguine – pretty much all day, and often into the evening. “You can even watch our chefs rolling it in our huge window on Bermondsey Street,” says Nick. So, be sure to have a glance through the pane on your next visit.

The Flour & Grape menu serves small plates, recommending two to three dishes per guest. It’s a

froM it prograMMing to rolling 24 kilos of fresh pasta every day - nick crispini on his love for siMple, delicious food

Eliza Frost

tidy menu, well thought-out and bursting with flavour. Featuring a roasted pork shoulder and sage butter tortelloni, spinach, mascarpone and nutmeg fazzoletti, and preserved truffle, butter emulsion and parmesan taglierini, to name a few of their pasta plates.

But what is owner Nick’s favourite dish? “After being sent to Italy one summer, to stay with relatives when I was young, I fell in love with tomatoes. Ever since then a simple but amazingly flavourful tomato pasta is always a go-to, so our casarecce arrabiata on the menu is definitely my favourite, a true tomato bomb.”

The Biscuit asked Nick for an insider tip on how to make a great pasta sauce – what are the secrets, straight from an expert. He says: “Don’t have too many key favours in the sauce (ideally, you should have one or two), otherwise, it overcomplicates what is a simple dish.” And remember to “treat the ingredients with respect”. When cooking, Nick’s top tip is to “only lightly season the sauce,

but heavily season your pasta water!”

You can’t book a table at Flour & Grape, they use a queue system, but just downstairs, tucked away in the basement of the restaurant, is cocktail bar Two One Four. An intimate affair, it’s a perfect spot for a post-pasta tipple, or, as they recommend, a drink while you wait for your table. What is Nick’s drink of choice?

He recommends a Jensen’s Gin and Bermondsey Tonic Water, telling us how it’s “a tonic we developed for the bar, super tasty and as local as you can get”. He adds that for “post-dinner, my bar manager Amelie has recently

developed a Cognac and biscuit flavoured espresso martini for our upcoming winter menu, it takes the original to another level”.

Neighbouring Flour & Grape are some of Nick’s local favourites. We know that the Bermondsey community is tight-knit, but what are his recommendations? “I have so many! As I love food, I love to visit other local restaurants, after all, I live here, too, not just work here. We love to pop into Hakata for a bowl of tasty ramen – I can recommend the spicy miso. And also, Café Amisha for pizza – I love pizza, just not quite as much as pasta! And you can’t go wrong with a few tapas and a glass of Garnacha on a warm summer’s night at José.”

Flour & Grape seems to be thriving, as life begins to resemble some sort of normality, but what were Nick’s key learnings from running a restaurant through tough times? He learned that “trying to change a restaurant business into something that it doesn’t already do doesn’t

work. Be patient, people are people and social beings, and they will return – but that’s easier to say in hindsight and with lovely loyal customers”.

Whether you’re looking for a creamy burrata drizzled in olive oil, several plates of freshly prepared pasta, or a limoncello digestive, Flour & Grape appears to have it all.

Asking Nick what he is most excited for in the coming year, looking at what 2023 might have in store, he says: “I have plans for another venture but not necessarily another Flour & Grape, watch this space!” If it provides half of the taste and experience of Nick’s SE1 restaurant, then we’re sure we’ll be first in the queue.

And what about Flour & Grape? Nick just wants to “continue to strive for constant delicious food and wine for our customers, and at great value”.

Visit Flour & Grape at 214 Bermondsey St, SE1 3TQ. Phone: 020 7407 4682 https://www.flourandgrape.com

“our casarecce arrabiata on the menu is definitely my favourite, a true tomato bomb”

Bitesize

a trip to tworuBa

to Burger & Beyond

Sometimes, a burger is so out of this world, you lose yourself in the buns. You go to Burger & Beyond… And now, for you Borough babies, the go-to burger shack has opened a site at Borough Yards, a more recent addition to the ever-busy London Bridge dining scene. And this branch is special as it boasts an outdoor terrace!

Diners can enjoy top-quality dry-aged beef patties, creative sauces like the signature burnt butter mayo, and over-the-top American-style sides, like the muchloved dirty tots. Non-beef burger options include the krispie fried chicken, made with rice krispie fried chicken, miso maple butter and ranch pickle slaw, and the mushroom raclette with vegan cheese and smoked garlic mayo. Stack ‘em up.

share an award-winning slice

Family-run restaurant Giuseppe’s Ristorante & Pizzeria has been crowned Italian Restaurant of the Year 2022 in London in the annual Prestige Awards.

The Borough High Street restaurant was recognised by the panel for their service, quality of food, consistency in performance, and more, and came up trumps being named the Best Italian Restaurant in London and the South East.

The panel was “particularly impressed by the friendly atmosphere created at Giuseppe’s, which is committed to offering customers more than just a restaurant”. Live singers create a lively authentic Italian vibe, with many choosing the venue for their special events.

cocktail Bar fit for a king

New SE1 hotspot Oberon is a heavenly harbour, as you sail around the Elephant and Castle roundabout you’ll spot the little den – with its original 1930s stained glass windows, plus ample greenery, for you to escape the concrete jungle.

Previously known as Pineapple, Oberon is “for chaos, hilarity, and good drinks”. A multifaceted space to bring you the best night out, the best drinks, and the best company. Their curated cocktail list has been inspired by the whimsical tales of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream with main characters Oberon (Baileys, creme de menthe, vodka, cream) and Titania (colour-changing Butterfly Pea-Blossom Gin, Prosecco, Lemon) making an appearance alongside an intriguing wine list, with orange wine and English fizz coming in as early favourites.

Oberon, 16 Draper House, Elephant and Castle, SE1 6TH. Wednesday 4pm-1am, Thursday –Sunday 4pm-2am, Sunday 2pm-11:30pm. www.oberonbar.co.uk/

A short walk from London Bridge station, nestled on the ground floor of the Hilton London Tower Bridge, is cocktail bar TwoRuba – and it has a brand new food and drink menu.

Championing the history of the local area, and working with local supplies like Bermondsey’s Fourpure Brewing Co., the new menu is all about SE1. And a little bit of Kent, as they serve Balfour Winery wines.

Food highlights include a canapé of mini waygu beef sliders with balsamic young onion and sweet pepper, tuna tartare in baby gem leaves, and a mille-feuille of watermelon and vegan feta cheese. Plus Chef Conrad’s signature dish of miso-crusted cod on samphire and brown shrimp salsa.

You can hire the venue for 10-150 guests, with the offering of drink packages, canapés and more. Plus there’s a semi-private space available for hire for up to 20 guests called The Snug. Christmas party anyone?

TwoRuba, 5 More London Pl, Tooley St, SE1 2BY. Monday – Wednesday 8am-12am, Thursday – Saturday 8am-1am, Sunday 3pm-12am. www.tworuba.com/

Burger & Beyond Arch 231, Borough Yards, Bank End, SE1 9FJ. Monday – Thursday 12pm-10pm, Friday – Saturday 12pm-11pm, Sunday 12pm-9pm. www.burgerandbeyond.co.uk/borough-yard/

calling all sandwich lovers

It’s cracking news for sandwich lovers who live or work in the London Bridge vicinity: bastions of the sarnie craft Sons + Daughters have opened a second site on Stoney Street. The concept comes from the duo behind east London restaurant Pidgin, James Ramsden and Sam Herlihy, who opened the original Sons + Daughters sandwich bar in King’s Cross in 2019.

For those unfamiliar, the short, scrummy menu consists of epically proportioned, generously stuffed sandwiches, filled and, in some cases, grilled before your eyes. And their prawn mayo has actual prawn crackers in it…

Sons + Daughters, 2-3 Stoney Street, Borough Market, SE1 9AA. Monday – Sunday, 10am-6pm. www.sonsanddaughterslondon.com/

Giuseppe Rossi, who has owned the traditional Italian eatery for 30 years, said: “I’m so delighted that we have been recognised for this award, it means so much, especially after the tough times we’ve had over the past couple of years. My team works really hard to provide our customers with fantastic food and service, and I’m proud that we give our customers that little bit extra. We can’t wait to see you at the restaurant – a presto!”

Giuseppe’s Ristorante & Pizzeria, 47-49 Borough High Street, SE1 1NB. Tuesday – Wednesday 11:30am-11pm, Thursday – Saturday 11:30am-4am. www.giuseppesplace.com/

Eliza Frost

@lateef.photography

Bermondsey wine Mile

We’ve all heard of – and love – the Bermondsey Beer Mile, and craft beer is a staple in our community here. But for wine lovers, there are several spots for you, too. From organic to orange, you’ll find every taste and colour of wine at these spots.

‘do good for people and the planet’

First up is Bermondsey Corner, born during lockdown in October 2020, they have “an obvious passion for good food and wine”, taking the time to source artisan products from small, natural, and organic producers.

Since opening, “we’ve widened our vision with a clear idea in mind”, they tell The Biscuit. “We wanted to respond to our people’s demands: we started offering coffee, extended our selection of products, created hampers, and even started to have people seated inside for wine, cheese, and charcuterie”.

In the summertime, thanks to the White Cube Gallery, they have a beautiful outdoor terrace using the gallery’s courtyard. And now, after a refurb, they’ve opened seating inside. “You’ll now be able to continue journeying through different countries while sipping our wines, without shivering outside under a blanket!”

By the glass or bottle, Bermondsey Corner offers sparkling, white, red, organic, natural or even biodynamic. “It is important for us to give back and nurture the earth from which we take and do good for people and the planet at the same time.”

‘quality and drinkability’

Wine and cheese fit together like Bermondsey and Biscuit, and something that Lechevalier offers, too. Lechevalier is a vibrant independent neighbourhood wine bar and shop, serving great wines and fine cheeses, bread and charcuterie to eat in or take home.

The man behind the venture is 30 years of industry veteran Christophe Lechevalier. Christophe perfected his love and passion for wine at Borough Market for more than 15 years. His concept was and remains simple, “a welcoming environment, great wine, great food, and, most importantly, attentive service from a

team that works tirelessly to perfect their intimate knowledge of the product range available,” he says.

They have a consistently evolving wine list that is primarily made up of organic, biodynamic and natural wines, from small producers and lesser-known regions, “always with quality and drinkability in mind”.

Christophe’s business partner, Klaus Kuhnke of Artisan Foods, provides sourdough bread baked daily in East London. Charcuterie and cheeses are sourced directly from European producers and the best London suppliers. “A simple story,” says Christophe, “but one worth telling”.

‘enjoy good food and wine with

All of these places offer a lot of what we know and love – which is why we love going back to them. But have you ever heard of vinho verde? Green wine? It’s a Portuguese classic, and one that OPS Wine specialises in. They soon realised,

“there was an opportunity to bring much better quality wines from Portugal to the UK, while still making them competitively priced for shoppers”.

They say fantastic wines are in Portugal’s history. The country has over 300 native grape varieties, “but beyond that, wine has been produced in Portugal for thousands of years. It's something that is woven into our culture, and we have worked hard to hold onto our traditions. For example, we stock a particular kind of wine which is called talha wine, made using an ancient method where the wine is fermented in a large clay amphora cured with resin and beeswax. It is a technique that was handed down from generation to generation, safeguarded by the people. It's fascinating to think about.”

Walking into OPS Wine, customers should “feel at home”, with a relaxing vibe. They say that “we all live such busy lives, everyone should have somewhere where they can set aside whatever is going on and just enjoy good food and wine with good company”. And that is what OPS Wine is.

‘a natural and cleaner product’

Pitcher & Craft is an organic wine specialist in SE16, choosing organic wine “because the grapes are not sprayed with harmful chemical pesticides, fertilisers and herbicides. As a result, the wine is a natural and cleaner product to consume”.

They tell The Biscuit: “A great seller for us at the moment is Pet Nat Rosé. It’s made from organic Zweigelt and Cabernet Sauvignon grapes, with nothing added to it and nothing taken away, creating organic mouth-filling bubbles. It’s a personal favourite and one that our customers enjoy”.

Setting up shop in Bermondsey, Pitcher & Craft chose it because the area is forever evolving, which they have seen personally. They wanted to “create something completely new and fresh”, and so was Pitcher & Craft born.

Whether it’s green wine you want to try, or you’re looking for something organic, why not take a break at one of these wine pit stops on your next trip around Bermondsey?

Bermondsey Corner, 142 Bermondsey St, SE1 3TX. www.bermondseycorner.co.uk/ Lechevalier, 85 Tower Bridge Rd, SE1 4TW. https://lechevalier.co.uk/

OPS Wine, 128 Druid St, SE1 2HH. www.opswines.co.uk/

Pitcher & Craft, 262 Southwark Park Road, SE16 3RN. www.pitcherandcraft.com/

good company’

‘tis the season where red wine BecoMes the tipple of choice –Mulled, extra large glass, By a fire – But did you know BerMondsey is not only hoMe to great Beer, But great wine, too?

Eliza Frost

Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle all the way...

All good things are worth a wait, and one of the best things is the Annual Christmas Fair at The Finnish Church in London!

Mark down the dates: 25-27.11.2022 and 2-4.12.2022, Santa and his Finnish elves will be waiting for you with sausages, pastries, gift items and sweets!

Please follow us on www.finnishchurch.org.uk Twitter: @Lontoonkirkko Facebook: Lontoon merimieskirkko Instagram: @Lontoonmerimieskirkko Finnish church in London. 33 Albion Street, SE16 7HZ

ABermondsey garage that has hosted gigs for major stars in the music industry will now open its doors to local kids, with a free afterschool club, where they will be treated to top quality cuisine by a chef to the stars.

ForeverGood started in 2021 as an agency for musicians and events and rapidly made a name for themselves as a creative brand. Based in a garage at the heart of Druid Street, it has hosted gigs for major names including R&B superstar Chris Brown and Jamaican rapper Sean Paul.

Up until now 54 Druid Street has mostly been for creatives and artists, but with the cost of living soaring and times getting tougher, ForeverGood founder and CEO Sebastian Downing decided to swap the decks for dishes and give back to the community.

He said “We’re launching an after-school free meal club on Tuesdays, where Bermondsey kids can play, create and eat food cooked by a chef to the stars, Savannah John.

“With parents all across the country struggling to put food on the table, something like this is needed now more than ever. We’re in a position to be able to do it and what better way to start with people right here on our doorstep.”

Savannah John runs a catering business and has cooked for stars including actor Idris Elba and music sensation Ne-Yo. She also recently catered

for British rapper duo, Krept and Konan. “Sav was looking to start her own restaurant, so we’re giving her this space for free,” Sebastian said.

“She does soul food and she’ll be the one cooking and providing the free meals for kids at the after-school club.

“From Monday to Wednesday this space is not in use – so we want to use it for doing good for locals.”

Miles Anthony, head of production at ForeverGood, said: “Although we have always been open to anyone, because of the artists and brands we’ve worked with, ForeverGood might have been seen as exclusive up until now. But we want people to know that we are expanding and our doors are

open.”

Sebastian added that this is just the start and now that the doors are open, they’re not going to close anytime soon. “This is not a one-off moment,” he said. “It’s also an invitation for people to come to us with ideas if they want to do stuff for the local community. We’ve got the space and the resources: we want to use our contacts to provide workshops for local young people.

“We’ve had kids in here before for workshops, but it was never community-led and I want to change that.

“We have a great relationship with the whole street - so we really want to give back to them.”

Downside Youth Club, that caters for 9-21 year olds, is just across the road from ForeverGood. “They’re the obvious first port of call for the afterschool club,” Sebastian said.

Alfie Millward, youth worker at Downside Youth Club was delighted with the offer: “We all think it’s a great idea,” he said. “In this area something like this is definitely needed. Local kids will definitely be into it.”

The after-school club opened on Tuesday 8th November at 4pm, with Bermondsey young people invited to come along. They launched the soul food restaurant the week before, on the 29th.

To check out Sav’s instagram go to @savjojntz www.forevergood.co.uk

Isabel Ramirez

when hilda

hilda was born in St Olave’s Hospital to a father who worked in Lipton’s jam factory in Rouel Road and a mother who, like many women of that era, kept house and brought up the children while earning a bit of extra money on the side with a cleaning job at The Admiral Hawke pub off Jamaica Road.

Early years were spent living in Swan Lane Buildings, then the Forresters were bombed out of their next home, the middle floor of a house in Rotherhithe, before the family moved in with Hilda’s grandmother in Wilson Grove during the remainder of the war years. “I used to sometimes have to sleep in the air raid shelter,” recalls Hilda.

Like many other children, Hilda and her older

brother Barry were sometimes evacuated to escape Hitler’s bombs. “We were first sent to a children’s home in Guildford, but then stayed in a nearby village called Shalford where mum was able to stay… The toilet was a hole at the end of the garden and my mother fell in it! She had to wash out her Lisle stockings as they were so hard to get in those days.”

Another flat was found for the family “over the bagwash shop near The Greg” until 1951, when they moved into the new Neckinger Estate.

Hilda’s first school was Farncombe Street, where she enjoyed English and History: “We had a really strict headmistress, Miss Webb, but she was lovely.” From there the young Forresters moved to Keetons Road School before Hilda went to Monnow Road,

met ronnie

like Most children Born in the few years Before wwii, hilda forrester’s schooling and hoMe life were suBject to upheaval

Michael Holland

an all-girls secondary school.

Playing out with friends meant “skipping and alley gobs and things like that, and looking after my little brother in St James’s Park, where we loved going on the old slide there; Tommy Steele and his brother used to come and play – I went to his 14th birthday party in Frean Street,” she adds with a twinkle in her eye.

Mid-teens, Hilda frequented the Bermondsey Settlement youth club and the legendary Clubland in Walworth – “because they had a good dance there on Saturday nights”.

After leaving education, Hilda went to evening classes to learn typing and began a life of working in offices, including WHSmith, Bennie Lifts, and office jobs in Smithfield meat market and Hatton Garden. “At a chartered accountant’s, I had to put eight pieces of paper with eight pieces of carbon paper to make eight copies of the profit and loss balance sheets, and it was very hard to keep them all straight in the typewriter!”

Now, with a bit of money in her purse, Hilda would go to The Lilliput and the Thomas A’Becket, where someone would always get up and give a song, and also go dancing to live music around the bandstand in Southwark Park. The Savoy Club in Catford was also a favourite.

Hilda met her docker husband Ron Perry in The George in Camilla Road. “We got married in St Anne’s Church,” she says smiling at the memory.

The newlyweds first lived in “the upstairs of a gentleman’s house” in Ablett Street but, when the house was sold, the new owner put the rent up, different people moved in, and “the state they left the toilet we all shared in the backyard was too much for us, so we went back to live with my mother for a year until the Council found flats for all married couples living with a parent. We got one on the Bethel Estate.” The Perry’s next move – now with a young family – was to the Arnold Estate where “we had two lovely bedrooms”. Finally, on “10 June 1975”, the family moved on to the Rouel Road Estate, where Hilda still lives.

After Hilda had her children, Clare and David, she began working part-time in Southwark libraries as an assistant, with the role of reading to children

from local schools: “Southwark Park School, St James, Galleywall… it was lovely; when reading to young children you realise just how much they absorb. I felt very, very lucky to come into contact with so many young children.” Hilda laughs as she tells of the regular women visitors to the Blue Anchor Library who came “every Thursday for their Mills & Boons”.

Enjoying working with children so much, Hilda started up a girls’ club in the hall on her estate for 5to 15-year-olds, which she ran for about eight years. “I still get stopped in the street by some of those girls who recognise me.”

Eventually, Hilda’s love of dancing got serious when “Ron started learning sequence dancing when he was 70,” begins Hilda, “and he became very good. There were lots of local places to dance: the Assembly Hall, Beormund Community Centre, Wade Hall… The women who went on their own loved Ron because he would always have a dance with them and give them a kiss on the cheek – and one said, ‘he always smelled nice’,” Hilda chuckles softly. “He really was a lovely man… when he died I got a hundred condolence cards and 64 wreaths.”

Even now she says the highlight of her 86 years was meeting Ron, adding, in all sincerity, “I’ve had a wonderful life; lovely parents and friends and, despite the war, I remember enjoying my childhood, but, above all, I was proud of having met my husband and having such a wonderful, wonderful life with him. I feel very privileged.”

“i’ve had a wonderful life; above all, i was proud of having met my husband and having a wonderful life with him”

THE MOON RISES IN GREENWICH

your festive guide to london Bridge

We’re expecting a ‘normal’ Christmas this year, but there is never anything normal about this time of year in London Bridge! There’s festive fun that all the family will remember for many Christmases to come.

Take a trip to London Bridge City’s free Christmas by the River Festival (15 November to 2 January) for a Christmas market set against a panoramic view of London, with fairy-lit wooden cabins and yuletide treats!

Head over to Tower Bridge where a Christmas tree is up and waiting for you to snap some family Christmas photos, and if you’re looking for somewhere else to get some Christmas card pics, why not pay a trip to The View from The

Shard with a family ticket, the tallest building in London housing the highest Christmas tree in the capital!

Forget about decking the halls, come and explore the nine decks on HMS Belfast - their interactive exhibition is sure to keep the whole family entertained for hours. Keep kids on their toes at The Christmas Tales at the London Bridge Experience (on until 24 December) for a festive tour of yesteryear and a visit to Lapland Lodge, where Father Christmas awaits with gifts galore. Festivities are in full force at local theatres: Pinocchio (on until 31 December) is showing at the Unicorn, as well as Christmas in the Sunshine (on until 31 December) for kids aged 3-6, transporting you to a festive Caribbean. The Bridge Theatre’s A Christmas Carol family ticket (showing until 31 December) is the jolliest way to finish off a family trip to the area with a festive tale from the master of Christmas himself, Dickens.

See atlondonbridge.com for full festive listings in London Bridge.

london Bridge coMMunity

Bermondsey’s own wonka chocolate factory

Debra Gosling

Christmas is on the way again, which means lots of chocolate – whoopee! Until the late 1970s, the aroma of it wafting across Bermondsey was tantalising. We had our very own factory churning out all sorts of chocolate delights. Shuttleworth’s in Galleywall Road came to Bermondsey in the 1890s and stayed to tantalise the locals with its delicious smells until it moved out in 1975.

The firm was founded in 1830, not by William Wonka but by William Shuttleworth, who came from a wealthy Lincoln family of boat builders. He started his career as a tea trader and such was his success that his company became the sole contractor for the tea supply to Queen Victoria’s navy. They were also a major supplier of cocoa to the British troops fighting in the Boer War.

Shuttleworth’s moved into the mainstream chocolate market, producing penny bars, and by 1908 the size of the factory had doubled. As the demand for chocolate grew, they began experimenting with chocolate moulds in the shapes of animals, Christmas bells and Santa. The lines that followed were a chocolate lover’s dream: Brazil whirls, truffles, toffees, fruit creams – delicious! There were also expensive hand-covered sweets that were decorated by the expert staff with forks. These were packed carefully by hand in decorative boxes and sold in the more upmarket shops in the West End.

As the First World War took Bermondsey’s sons to battle, Shuttleworth’s was on hand to ensure the lads had a little taste of home in their knapsacks.

By 1935, subsidiary companies were being established: one being the Melba chocolate line that supplied Woolworths with their confectionery. This was a cheaper line that used praline, nougat, jellies, Turkish delight, caramel, and fruit creams – a thirties version of pick and mix.

In an era when companies such as Cadbury and

Fry’s were all vying for the best tasting chocolate, Shuttleworth’s employed a team of chemists to improve their brands and invested in state-of-the-art machinery. They decided to specialise in products that would lift their trade out of the normal rut of business and began supplying caterers with bulk chocolate. This was a runaway success, and the firm went on to serve top hotels, restaurants and specialist bakers.

As World War Two broke out, Shuttleworth’s, again, supplied the boys at the front with chocolate and continued production right throughout the conflict. The Christmas and Easter ranges were discontinued due to packaging restrictions and a large

portion of the staff was called up for war service.

The raids of 1940 were a challenge that Shuttleworth’s took up, ensuring the factory was patched up as soon as it was hit. September was a particularly bad time: an incendiary device fell on the boiler house but was put out by vigilant staff; a Molotov bread basket burst over the factory and thirty incendiary bombs rained down into the grounds; two V-2 rockets fell within yards of each other. The factory staff, who maintained a stiff upper lip in the direst of conditions, could hear the guns and rockets fired by the Home Guard in Southwark Park, and still, they worked on. By the end, the premises were still in a reasonable condition thanks to the loyal staff, whom Shuttleworth’s acknowledged in their 1953 relaunch brochure.

Invitations were given out to its customers to tour the factory and sample the different lines being produced – Greg Wallace would have loved it!

The firm catered particularly for women and devised shifts for working mothers. Ivy Ryan did a spate on Easter eggs and went on to foiling Christmas decorations: “We all mucked in to get the work done; one packed, one smoothed and we made sure everything was done to get our bonus. We did the Christmas stuff at Easter and vice versa so it got to the shops in plenty of time.

“We had to clock in, and we were often searched on our way out at night. The supervisor was an ex-policewoman who used to work at Tower Bridge nick. In fact, it was one of the supervisors that got caught with loads of chocolate on her. Silly really, because the chocolate was so cheap there you didn’t need to nick it. It was very strict, but it was handy for me as I could work the six ‘til 10 shift when my husband came home. I later went on to be a cleaner for the firm as they had a little café just along the road that had a flat attached for the directors. There was a boardroom and the staff acted as waitresses wearing a black and white uniform. They used to come back from a church service and have lunch there. I used to shape the butter for them.”

The company had a shop on site that sold seconds at a discount to the staff. Pauline Packer recalls her childhood experience of Shuttleworth’s: “My Mum worked in the Easter egg department and every Friday she would take us into the shop to buy our weekend’s chocolate. It was lovely; it had little ‘olde worlde’ windows and was painted green. They had little cream eggs, fondant fancies and coloured foil teddy bears and umbrellas. There were all sorts of chocolate Christmas decorations like Santas and soldiers and Christmas bells. Every day was Christmas day for us kids!”

THIS IS LGBT+ OLDER LIVING

Live with us in the UK's first LGBT+ affirming retirement community.

Tonic@Bankhouse, located in the heart of Vauxhall.

Self-contained apartments with community spaces, floating and rooftop gardens. All fully accessible and with optional care and support.

Prices of our older persons shared ownership homes start from £133,750 for 25% of a one-bedroom apartment, up to £592,500 for 75% of a twobedroom apartment. Other charges apply For

United St Saviour’s Charity is Looking for Trustees

United St Saviour’s Charity has been working to improve lives in Southwark for nearly 500 years! We’re one of the largest independent funders in the borough and we provide high-quality sheltered housing for older people.

We are looking for 3 new trustees. Ideally with a link to Southwark, we’re keen to find people who can bring a mix of perspectives and understanding.

Alongside a passion for the area and the people, we’re particularly interested in recruiting trustees who bring the following:

If you think your experience or passion might add to our work, and if you have the time and commitment for the role, we would love to hear from you.

The expectation is that trustees will attend at least 5 board meetings per year (held in the early evening) and contribute to the work of the charity between these meetings.

The trustee roles are unpaid, but they’re rewarding, fascinating – and fun!

For further information and how to apply, visit our website: www.ustsc.org.uk

The deadline is the end of December 2022.

Borough collective

Landscape print of Bermondsey Beer Mile, “one of our favourite places to spend a sunny Saturday”. Features breweries Brew By Numbers, Anspach & Hobday, Hawke’s Brewing Co, Southwark Beer Co, Hiver, Cloudwater Brew Co, Craft Beer Junction, Hop Kingdom, Bianca Road Brewing Co, Moor Beer Co, The Kernel and London Beer Factory.

Price: A4 £20 and A3 £30

Buy online: www.etsy.com/uk/shop/boroughcollective

Buy in SE1: Lovely and British, 132a Bermondsey Street, SE1 3TX

shop local this christmas

Eliza Frost

with so Many aMazing sellers, Makers and Markets on our doorstep in se1 and se16, we Bring you the Biscuit’s christMas gift guide – helping you to shop local this season…

hello aloe naturals

jeMiMa in the woods

Bespoke seasonal wreaths made sustainably with beautiful botanicals: fresh, dried and foraged. All wreaths are created by Jemima in the Woods at Arch 48 on Maltby Street, where they will be holding wreath-making workshops during the Maltby St Christmas Markets (Friday to Sunday, 2-18 December).

Price: Mini from £25, medium from £55, and large from £85

Buy from 2 December: Taylor’s of Maltby Street, Arch 48 Ropewalk, SE1 3PA or at Maltby Street Market.

jess chan textiles

Jess Chan is a designer and maker specialising in printed textiles and natural dyes, with colour playing an important role in the design and making process. This Bundle Dyed Silk Twill Scarf is made from silk twill, and bundle dyed with natural dyes.

Price: £75

the haM & cheese co.

Their truffle salami is popular on Christmas charcuteries. It is made by Mauro and Chiara Cassetta, who have a butcher’s shop in Alba, Piedmont. This salami ‘al tartufo’ is seasoned with black truffle and natural truffle oil. The flavour is unique; a real treat for anyone who likes truffles.

Price: £12.50

Buy online: www.thehamandcheeseco.com

Buy in SE16 on Saturdays: The Ham & Cheese Co ltd, Arch 10, Dockley Road Industrial Estate, SE16 3SF

This Sugarcane Body Scrub uses brown sugar and natural humectants to prevent moisture loss, and gently remove dry skin, while precious oils nourish. The wonderfully uplifting scent comes from citrusy lemongrass and herbaceous basil.

Hello Aloe’s Aloe Cucumber Night Cream is a rich and velvety buttercream that penetrates the skin easily. A deeply nourishing moisturiser that firms, tightens and protects skin against the harsh effects of environmental stressors, reducing the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines.

Price: £20 – £40. Enter ‘welcome’ at checkout for 20 per cent off your order

Buy online: https://helloaloenaturals.com/

Brunel MuseuM –london Brick soaps

For those that love a soak, make it extra special with these London Brick Soaps. In celebration of the hundreds of thousands of hand-laid bricks used to construct the Thames Tunnel, the soaps are vegetarian, vegan and cruelty-free and come in three scents: Lime Clay, Fly Ash and Hot Rose.

Price: £8

Buy online: www.thebrunelmuseum.com/product/ london-brick-soaps/

Buy at Brunel Museum: Railway Avenue, SE16 4LF

Buy online: www.jesschantextiles.com

leisure wines

I Saw Custard Creams Fall Like Lightning REMIX 2020 from Leisure Wines. 100 per cent Essex 2020 Chardonnay from Crouch Ridge Vineyard. 25 per cent carbonic, crushed, pressed and fermented in Edinburgh then bottled on the Old Kent Road. Seven days on skins, fully low intervention and aged in steel. Rich and zesty, plenty of green fruit and crunchy autumn evenings.

Price: £25

Buy online: www.leisurewine.com

linky's glitter

The perfect addition to any home: a cheetah print wax melt burner. Linky’s Glitter sells luxury wax melts, candles, and burners. Recommended with their signature fragranced wax melts to create the ultimate cosy night in.

Price: £20

Buy online: www.linkysglitter.co.uk/product/ cheetah-wax-burner/

london glassBlowing

Christmas at London Glassblowing is a special time of the year. Following tradition, London Glassblowing is excited to launch a range of heirloom baubles for 2022. Find a special gift for your loved ones this Christmas from their whole range, which is handmade in their Bermondsey Street studio.

Price: From £130

Buy online: www.londonglassblowing.co.uk

Buy from London Glassblowing Christmas exhibition until 23 December: 62-66 Bermondsey Street, SE1 3UD

Meet the maker

After discovering my lump was benign, I flew back to the UK to resume my PhD, but this time brought back some of my mum’s materials with me. Three and a half years and one doctorate later, I still make jewellery every single day. It brings me so much joy, in a way that I still find hard to describe.

BB: Why did you choose to work with pearls?

RMT: It’s all thanks to my mum.

BB: How do you want customers to feel when wearing your designs?

RMT: I want them to feel like they’ve found just the thing they were searching for, and to find comfort in knowing they’ve supported a person’s livelihood by purchasing high-quality jewellery that didn’t cost a fortune.

BB: What do you love about Bermondsey?

RMT: I enjoy mindful walks to Burgess Park, the Friday flea market in Bermondsey Square, afternoon jogs along the Thames with a picturesque view of Tower Bridge, and nights out discovering quirky restaurants on Bermondsey Street.

Morocco Bound

Run by a small, close-knit team, Morocco Bound’s books are curated by their staff and based on their belief in literature to launch meaningful political, philosophical and cultural conversations. You can find a unique collection of books spanning modern and vintage classics to poetry and short stories. Put simply, there’s something for everyone.

If books aren’t your thing, their beer selection is just as exciting. Located at the heart of the Bermondsey Beer Mile, they celebrate the best of local craft beer –exclusively stocking breweries that are within cycling distance.

Staff book picks: Elsa ‘How Music Works’ by David Byrne, Cal ‘Old Man and the Sea’ by Ernest Hemmingway, Jo ‘The Buddha of Suburbia’ by Hanif Kureishi.

Price: Books – £2.99 to £29.99. Alcohol – £2.50 to £30.

Buy in store: 1A Morocco Street, SE1 3HB. If they don’t stock the book you’re looking for, they can order it in for you!

Order a book online: www.moroccobound.co.uk

lucocoa chocolate

It’s that time of year again, and the Lucocoa Chocolate Cosy Collection is back for another cosy season. They’ve made warming hot chocolates using the Haitian base of their original hot chocolate, with two options: Cinnamon and Nutmeg and Orange. Look out for their Christmas collection, too!

Price: From £7

Buy online: www.lucocoachocolate.com/shop

Rayane Chami – or Ray Makes Thing – features in our gift guide. Working out of her home studio in Bermondsey, Ray makes beautiful pearly jewellery. We sit down with the maker to discuss pearls, designing and SE1…

Bermondsey Biscuit: How did Ray Makes Things start?

Ray Makes Things: I moved to the UK from my home in Lebanon for my doctorate degree in Psychology in 2016. Halfway through my PhD, I received a two-week suspected cancer referral from the NHS and was asked to schedule a biopsy. My parents insisted I return home for the tests. Soon after travelling home, I had the biopsy and surgical removal of the lump. I could not focus on my PhD responsibilities; my mind had been preoccupied. My mum was a pearl jeweller, so we always had a lot of jewellery-making material lying around the house. I started making in an attempt to calm my mind.

I also appreciate there are parts of Bermondsey unscathed by gentrification, where you can find many independent, family-owned hospitality venues that have been around for decades.

BB: What is your design process?

RMT: I’m quite impulsive with my designs and find that I always design as I go along! I have ADHD and think that the reason I find handmaking jewellery so enjoyable is because I can enjoy the spontaneity of the creative process, without having to plan.

BB: Do you offer custom pieces?

RMT: Yes! I’m always happy to work on custom orders and have often helped people upcycle pieces they already own, or have inherited, into pieces they are more likely to wear.

www.raymakesthings.co.uk

lucylovesthis

Celebrate Bermondsey with this hand-drawn print. Lovingly drawn by Lucy in her London studio, it includes all the places that make Bermondsey so special. Including places loved by locals, and by us: Maltby Street Market, Bermondsey Biscuit’s home at The Biscuit Factory and the Bermondsey Beer Mile.

Price: From £22

Buy online: www.lucylovesthis.com

no no coffee

The NoNo hamper is stuffed with a range of NoNo Coffee’s homemade goods, and other luxurious edible goods from local suppliers. They are a wonderful Christmas gift idea made to order, which means the contents can be tailored to your preferences. Including their speciality coffee, chai masala syrup, single-origin hot chocolate, and not forgetting mince pies.

Price: Varies

Buy in store: 12 West Lane, SE16 4NY

Eliza Frost

©Barnaby Bolton

palace culture

Treat yourself and your loved ones to a hand-selected vegan cheese Palace Culture hamper this Christmas. Their Deluxe Large Christmas Hamper includes eight of their amazing fermented cheezes, including new melting range and their own vegan smoked salmon.

The Cast: Truffle Camemvert, Smokey Melt, Sacré Bleu, Kimcheeze, Old West Smokey, Feta, Ricotta, Truffle Black Pepper, Vegan Smoked Salmon + Cracker Kitchen Crackers + England Preserves Chutney.

Price: Deluxe Large Christmas Hamper £85, Deluxe Small Christmas Hampers £70 and the Essentials Christmas Hampers £55.

Buy from stockist Giddy Grocer: 80 Bermondsey Street, SE1 3UD

Buy online: www.palaceculture.co.uk

ray Makes things

These Classic White Love Drops from Ray Makes Things are handmade using 14ct gold-filled ear findings and AAA-grade teardrop freshwater pearls.

Price: £33, including first-class UK postage. Buy online: www.raymakesthings.co.uk

strongMan’s tipple

Cocktails, but make them individual. Strongman’s Tipple pushes the boundaries of cocktail-making with their bottled drinks. Fun as small gifts or stocking fillers, or as a treat for you! Pour over ice, and enjoy. Flavours include Mango Honey Margarita, Super Cosmo, and Foraged Negroni.

Price: £5

Buy online: www.strongmanstipple.com/ publicshop

sotis studio ceraMics

The perfect centerpiece for any time of year: Sotis Ceramics creates bespoke ceramic candle stands in 24-carat gold, platinum, black and white.

Price: From £110

Buy from the showroom and studio: 1.05 Sotis Studio Ceramics, Oxo Tower, Barge House Street, SE1 9PH Website: www.sotis.co.uk

SE1 Candle Co. are luxury scented and sustainable candles to add a little eco-chic to your home. The Christmas range has just gone live and we’re sure there’ll be something to suit your taste!

The candles are made from 100 per cent natural coconut soy wax, and use carefully blended premium essential and fragrance oils. They’re made in small batches to provide the best quality and are totally toxin-free – meaning no nasties and a lovely clean burn! Recommended: Gingerbread House.

Price: £18

Buy online: www.se1candleco.etsy.com

the ringsMiths

At multiple SE1 locations, The Ringsmiths hold jewellery-making workshops that give you an insight into the life of a jeweller, all while being hosted by professional makers as you create your own beautiful piece of jewellery. They also sell At Home Kits: create bespoke and beautiful jewellery from the comfort of your own place.

Price: Workshops start from £69 per person and At Home Kits from £115.

Buy online: www.theringsmiths.com

spirit of BerMondsey

TRINITY25 is a delicious gin alternative with a smooth citrusy spiced kick and a blend of exotic tastes and aromas made by Spirit of Bermondsey. Pouring at 25 per cent ABV, you can enjoy twice as much of this beautifully distilled spirit compared to full-strength gin. It’s made like gin. It tastes like gin. It’s just lighter than gin.

Price: £25. Use code BISCUITFREE to get free shipping. Buy online: www.spiritofbermondsey.com

the raBBithole

A boutique thrift shop run on a buy-sell-trade basis, The Rabbithole sells little gems. Including royal blue vintage heels from the 1950s (£42), a vintage hardshell shoulder bag (£28 – pictured), milore evening gloves, white leather (£18), and a vintage green handbag from the 1950s (£44).

Buy in store: The Rabbithole is open every weekend as part of Flea at Vinegar Yard – 72-82 St Thomas Street, SE1 3QX

Website: www.therabbitholestore.com

se1 candle co.

©Milly Fletcher

WHERE RUSTIC DINING MEETS THE BOTANICAL

Diners are welcomed amongst the flora and botanicals that drape down from the rafters, and whilst the plates are big enough to share, they will evoke the exquisite comfort of wood-fired cooking.

London bridge | SE1 1RU

Reserve a table – inhorto.co.uk

strongman’s tipple goes from strength to strength

Bermondsey Biscuit: Tell us the story of Strongman’s Tipple…

Tomas Lenko: Lukas Etus and I set up Strongman's Tipple in 2017 to serve the events industry across the capital, offering consultancy, cocktail events, and bespoke cocktail design for some of the most exciting happenings across the city. Fast forward to 2020, the pandemic hit, lockdown ensued, and we faced either shutting down the business, or coming up with a new idea: bottled cocktails.

With a shared mission to create the most flavoursome tipples, using the very best quality ingredients, in the most sustainable ways; we spent five months locked away, creating our first range of tantalising bottled cocktails. Our Bermondsey cocktail lab is fully equipped with a centrifuge machine to separate parts of a liquid, rotovap to capture and concentrate flavours, sous vide to create intense flavours and the Cornelius carbonation chamber, which offers customers the chance to experience pure cocktail alchemy delivered to their door.

BB: Do you have a bestseller?

TL: It depends on the season but, this year, the margaritas are in high demand. We have two margaritas: Diamond Margarita, which is our take on the Tommy’s classic, and Mango Honey Margarita, which tastes as refreshing as it sounds. While we push the boundaries with flavours, the final result remains familiar, and a name people will understand. People know what they like when it comes to spirits.

BB: Why do you enjoy experimenting with flavours?

TL: Creativity! With a bit of science thrown in. Our cocktail laboratory in Bermondsey is such a fun space where we get to play with tastes and textures all day. We have real lab science equipment in there and it’s like being a big kid all over again. There’s nothing more fulfilling than creating something that makes everyone happy.

BB: How do you elevate a classic cocktail?

TL: With a lot of research and failure to get to a product that is, in the end, better than when it

started. For example, one of our bestselling cocktails is the Foraged Negroni. When you break down a classic negroni, it consists of three ingredients: gin, vermouth, Campari. If we want to elevate it, we look at what would complement these ingredients. Through a lot of trial and error, and understanding flavours that match well with each other, the Foraged Negroni has banana and fig leaf – though you can’t taste the banana, it’s there to elevate the fig and balance out the bitter aperitif – and we just love it.

We’re also very passionate about sustainability and, at every step of the creative process, challenge ourselves to produce less waste. It’s amazing what flavours can be extracted from strawberry leaves, or coffee grounds that are just thrown away as waste. Because of our cocktail wizardry (aka the fancy lab equipment), we pride ourselves on producing bottled cocktails with a long shelf life, without the need for chemical stabilisers.

BB: Why did you choose Bermondsey as your base?

TL: Even when I didn’t live in Bermondsey, I visited the area often. It’s such a great community;

it’s very much a reflection of the small and humble beginnings that I was about to take with Strongman’s Tipple. Then we had an opportunity to move here, and I’ve not regretted it for a second. I get to bike across Southwark Park every morning to work, which is, in my opinion, one of the best and most unknown parks in London.

It’s not often that people get the option to live by their work in London and I’m very grateful for it, because every precious minute is spent either at work or at home with my family. Even within the five years of living here, Bermondsey is constantly changing – more coffee shops popping up, more abandoned buildings being transformed into living space, and, most importantly, lots of great breweries!

BB: What is your favourite thing about your business?

TL: My favourite thing about running Strongman’s Tipple is that no two days are ever the same. No matter how tired you are when you wake up, once you’re in the lab, it’s super exciting because you’ll be developing a new recipe, or working with a new

client who has very specific needs. It’s like problem solving but with no straight answer, and the creativity means that Lukas and I get to play around for the most part. When you finally create something that tastes banging and the client loves it – that is the best reward!

BB: What’s next for Strongman’s Tipple?

TL: Lots! The remainder of this year will mainly be consulting with our many clients. We’re excited to get our hands on an automated production line, which means we’ll be able to produce faster, more, with more consistency.

We’re also looking to move premises! Over the years, we had lots of requests to open a bar with our next space. All I can say is, it’s in the works – and it won’t be any average bar – so stay tuned!

Cocktails are available to buy online: www.strongmanstipple.com

Follow @StrongmansTipple on Instagram for news of pop-up events

we sat down with toMas lenko, cocktail scientist and one part of the duo Behind strongMan’s tipple, to discuss flavour experiMents, BerMondsey and how to elevate a classic cocktail

Eliza Frost 

© Nic Crilly-Hargrave

Kingsdale Foundation School

First Class and Top of the Class

Applications for Sixth Form courses

Take advantage of the chance to visit Kingsdale Foundation School and see for yourself how we bring the best out of our students. A tour of Kingsdale Foundation School enables you to realise why we receive such glowing reports. In the Autumn term 2022 you will have just that opportunity as we will be holding Sixth Form Open Days for entry in September 2023. Scholarships in Mathematics and the Creative & Expressive Arts are on offer for gifted and talented candidates who meet our entry requirements. Scholars receive free individual or small group tuition provided by expert professionals to the value of £1,000 per annum.

Harnessing talent!

Kingsdale is a dynamic, exceptionally popular and progressive school that has invested £30m to develop an award-winning educational learning environment. In our specialist academic Sixth Form Campus, students study a combination of respected traditional, performing arts and creative A Levels in addition to alternative high value Level 3 courses. Our average class sizes have been as low as ten in the Sixth Form. We also pride ourselves on our excellent links to the best higher education institutions in the world. Residential trips to places such as Harvard and Yale in the USA are being organised once again subject to interest.

Prospective students are invited to come along to our Open Days or join our virtual tours to explore the fantastic opportunities and inspiring state-of-the-art facilities in our dedicated Sixth Form Centre. As Ofsted noted: ‘The range of subjects taught is imaginative, well constructed and contributes well to students’ achievement and their outstanding spiritual, cultural and moral development.’

‘This popular school is a harmonious environment where pupils learn how to be successful in modern Britain’ OFSTED 2017

are now being accepted

Amelia,