Lambeth Weekender 31.01.19

lambeth

WEEKENDER

February 2019 www.weekender.co.uk

inside:

Vaults festival returns

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The science of healthy living

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Arthur Miller at the Old Vic

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February 2019 1

2 February 2019

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Cinema ● Theatre ● Comedy ● Arts ● Music ● Food & Drink

WEEKENDER

Southwark & Lambeth

February 2019 www.weekender.co.uk

Doctor in the house Dr Michael Mosley on tour with his new Fast 800 book

4 February 2019

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Pick of the

Month

Return of the Vaults festival, a vegan hotspot, and free movies in Peckham

By Laura Burgoine

TUNNEL VISION

London’s biggest entertainment festival returns to the Vaults of Waterloo with over 400 shows and 2000 artists. The underground event runs for eight weeks with a smorgasbord of theatre, comedy, immersive experiences, cabaret, live performances and late night parties. January 23-March 17. vaultfestival.com

Editor: Laura Burgoine

T

HE WEEKENDER is an independent newspaper, covering Lambeth, Southwark, Greenwich & Lewisham.

We cover all things arts, entertainment, culture and news.

We also publish London's only independent paid-for paper, the Southwark News.

A dedicated team work tirelessly to cover as much of what is going on as possible and strive to ensure that a community-led, independent newspaper can survive and excel in a market dominated by national and multinational media groups.

FREE FILMS IN PECKHAM

Peckham Levels is launching a free family-friendly Film Club every weekend. People of all ages can head up to the Levels’ Auditorium from 2pm on Saturdays and Sundays and take in a screening of a nostalgic film. The first for February 2-3 features a Robin Williams double with Hook and Jumanji. F1-F6 Peckham Town Centre Carpark, 95A Rye Lane, SE15 4ST. www.peckhamlevels.org

If you have a story, please get in touch.

The Weekender is published by Southwark Newspaper Ltd - an independent newspaper publisher, based in Bermondsey, south London.

Weekender Editor: Laura Burgoine Advertising Manager: Tammy Jukes Media Partnerships: Anthony Phillips Advertising team: Southwark & Lambeth: Tammy Jukes Greenwich & Lewisham: Liz Gold Recruitment & Education: Nancy Simpson & Clarry Frewin Sales support: Katie Boyd Marketing: Lorraine Wood Reporters: Michael Holland; Holly O’Mahony Design Manager: Dan Martin Design team: Ann Gravesen Finance: Em Zeki Managing & Commercial Director: Chris Mullany Managing & Editorial Director: Kevin Quinn Offices at: Unit A302, The Biscuit Factory, Drummond Road, Bermondsey SE16 4DG. Printed by Iliffe Print Cambridge Ltd – www.iliffeprint.co.uk News:

ICELAND ON SHOW

VEGAN MEET UP

Vegan Clapham pop-up The Meet is opening a permanent restaurant in February. Following a hugely successful three-month residency, founders Ashley Letchford and Chef Dominic Taylor are continuing to bring their unique take on plant-based comfort food and playful vegan cocktails to SW4. Now open daily, The Meet serves a selection of small sharing plates, burgers, late night bites and bottomless vegan brunch and Sunday roasts on the weekend. www.the-meet.co.uk

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KEEPING IT REEL

Advertising: 020 7232 1639

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The beauty of Iceland is captured in a new exhibition in Dulwich. Watercolour Rivers looks at the island from a birds’-eye perspective with images

by Polish photographer Maciek Malinowski and ceramics by Nunhead-local Joanna Szwej-Hawkin.

The photos follow the crystalline water flowing from the largest glacier in Europe, which turn into rivers to reach the ocean and, during the journey, encounter thermal springs rich in various minerals, changing tone to create amazing palettes of colour.

31 January-12 February at Jeannie Avent Gallery, 14 North Cross Road, Dulwich, SE22 9EU.

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DRESSED TO IMPRESS

Rising British singer-songwriter Maisie Peters is playing at London Bridge’s Omeara as part of her debut headline UK tour. The tour kicks off on March 4 in Maisie’s hometown of Brighton, hot on the heels of the release of Maisie’s debut EP ‘Dressed Too Nice For A Jacket’, out now on Atlantic Records UK. Maisie performs at Omeara on Wednesday 6 March.

Tickets are on sale now: www.maisiepeters.co.uk/live

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Sink your teeth into a free festival of film, Virtual Reality, animation, games and sound in Elephant and Castle. As part of Reel Lives, London College of Communication is holding screenings of feature length films and documentaries, performances from leading sound artists, game jams, and discussions from black filmmakers. January 21-February 13. SE1 6SB.

February 2019 5

Spotlight

The science of living a healthy life T

here’s no slowing down medical maverick and creator of the 5:2 diet Doctor Michael Mosley.

Now with his new book Fast 800, Michael is hitting the road with a nationwide theatre tour, writes Laura Burgoine...

The TV doctor invented the iconic 5:2 diet, which involves two days a week of “fasting” on 500-600calories, six years ago.

“It was hugely popular, then I wrote a book called the 8-week

Blood Sugar Diet, where you eat 800 calories a day, and now the Fast 800 brings together all the stuff I’ve learned,” Michael told the Weekender.

“I’ll share what I’ve learnt about nutrition and exercise and get people to vote on fact or fiction, prove some myths wrong and hopefully take some questions from the audience.”

He describes this book as an update on the 5:2 and a further exploration of intermittent fasting. “The book goes into the science,” he said. “For diabetics and overweight people, this rapid weight loss approach is vastly superior to a slow and steady process,” Michael said. “It’s terribly motivating. You can lose 2-3kg a week. Your body switches metabolic mode and goes into fat burning mode because you’re not constantly storing sugar. You follow a low-carb, Mediterranean diet with the right mix of nutrients and enough protein.

The notion that the body goes into starvation mode is complete and utter nonsense.”

Michael actually started his career as an investment banker, after studying Philosophy, Politics and Economics at Oxford. He then went back to study medicine at London’s Royal Free hospital,

I’m A Doctor.

“It’s a busy life,” Michael said.

Now he’s expanding his career with his first ever theatre tour. “I was at the BBC for 32 years; I left in April. I spent ten years as a presenter, ten years as an executive, then I invented the 5:2 diet and started writing books,” Michael said.

As part of the live show, Michael will talk about his early years in television and programming, which involved creating the BBC documentary Pompeii: the Last Day. “I’ll be showing some of my other stuff from the telly.

I’ve worked with Jeremy Clarkson, John Cleese, David Attenborough, Liz Hurley…” Michael said.

“People either know me from telly or my books,” Michael said. The doctor aims to be both entertaining and enlightening and is looking forward to interacting with audiences at the Churchill theatre.

So does Michael follow his own advice? “I stick to a Mediterranean diet,” Michael said. “My wife is a GP and she puts this diet into practice with patients. Hopefully my wife will come along to some of the events; we met at medical school and she does all the recipes for my books.”

“One of my missions in life is to tell the medical professional about this,”

“It’s terribly motivating.

You can lose 2-3kg a week" qualified as a doctor and became a programme maker for the BBC, producing science and history documentaries, including Medical Mavericks, Blood and Guts, Inside Michael Mosley, Inside The Human Body, and Eat, Fast Live Longer. Michael stepped in front of the camera for the first time in Trust Me

6 February 2019

Michael continued. “I give talks to doctors and they’re very receptive.

They’ve got to be convinced it’s worth doing. Doctors are generally reluctant to give patients dietary advice.”

Dr Michael Mosley’s Trust Fast Health UK Theatre tour is at Churchill theatre, High Street, Bromley BR1 1HA, on February 4 at 8pm. Phone: 0203 285 6000. Admission: £23-£47.50. churchilltheatre.co.uk The Fast 800 is on sale now: www.thefast800.com

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February 2019 7

Fri 1st Feb, SW9

Brixton Buzz

Gig guide

Sisters of Reggae at the Prince Albert 418 Coldharbour Lane, Brixton, SW9, 10pm-2am, free

The Sisters return to the Prince Albert with all-vinyl reggae selectors including Miss Feelgood and Naoko the Rock joined by Mad-X on the mic. Get stuck into the troublingly cheap 3-shots-for-a-fiver bar deal and enjoy skanking to Ska, Rocksteady, Reggae, Roots, Lovers and Rub a Dub till 2am.

Fri 1st Feb, SE27

Mambista at Portico Gallery 23A Knight’s Hill, West Norwood, SE27 0HS, 8pm1am, £10

Sat

Live music from London’s All-Star Latin swing band Conjunto Sabroso, with DJ Gerry Lyseight rotating his well-oiled selection of Latin, African and Jazz tunes.

2nd

Fri 1st Feb, SW9

Movimientos Live Latin at Pop Brixton 49 Brixton Station Road, SW9 8PQ, 7pm-midnight, free A night of powerful Latin sounds at the perennial lossmaking Pop Brixton, mashing up traditional grooves with cutting-edge futurism. The free show features DJ/ producer Riobamba and live band Manzana Tropical mixing Peruvian Cumbia with tribal Amazonian rhythms, plus DJ Cal Jader.

Fri 1st Feb, SW9

Get Off Your Acid at Club 414 414 Coldharbour Lane, Brixton, SW9 8LF, 11pm-7am, £5/£10 “Brexit, Trump, Piers Bloody Morgan….we’ve had enough,” say the Get Off Your Acid crew, suggesting that an alternative policy of “paaaarty” would be more rewarding. If that’s your kind of politics, bundle down for a night of acid techno and techno at Brixton’s legendary two-floor Club 414. DJs spinning the Brexitbashing beats until 7am include Aaron Liberator, Birinight and Miss Monument.

Sat 2nd Feb, SW9

Burlesque at Courtesan 69-73 Atlantic Road, Brixton SW9 8PU, 8pm, free

February

Green Tea Peng at Hootananny

95 Effra Road, Brixton, SW2 1DF, 9pm-3am, £7 Three south London acts will be taking to the stage at the ever-popular Hoot, with headline act Green Tea Peng delivering a set of “mind expanding R&B” backed by gauzy synths, broken boom bap, sage-burning atmospheres and expansive THC dreams. If you, err, get our drift. Adibanti will be bringing their gusset-thrusting brand of live liquid drum and bass and Tucked away in Atlantic Road, Courtesan’s stunning interior recalls a backstreet Shanghai bar from the 1920s. Onstage, international burlesque star Marianne Cheesecake’s minxy moves and sensual shuffles evoke the golden era of sensual burlesque entertainment, with DJs ‘til close.

Sat 2nd Feb, SW2

London Punk Collective at Hand In Hand

2-step garage, while Germany based DJ Chloe Narine plays her unique dance floor edits, sauntering through Hip Hop and Dance music of the funky kind with high energy and positive vibes. Keeping the shoe leather burning will be a selection of Brixton Precision DJs throwing down Hip Hop/ Dancehall/Soulful D’n’B with a special guest MC.

61 New Park Road, Streatham Hill, SW2 4LA, 7pm11.30pm, £5 An angst-driven loud’n’lairy fivesome will be thundering forth in this no-nonsense traditional boozer, with hardcore headliners Natterers followed

by Brighton death punk gang, the Rotten Foxes, plus punky-ska rustlers Mindframe, 80s DC punks Dealing With Damage and south London Zombie death cider manglers, the Werecats.

Sat 2nd Feb, SW4

Saturday Sessions at Gigalum 8 Cavendish Road, Clapham Common, SW4 9DW, 8pm-midnight, free A night of deep house and commercial house delivered via Gigalum’s beefy Funktion One sound system with resident DJs banging out a half ton of classic tunes till close.

Sun 3rd Feb, SW9

The Streets After Party at Phonox 418 Brixton Rd, Brixton, SW9 7AY, 10pm-3am, £20 The Streets’ mainman Mike Skinner and guests shuffle across the road from their sold out Academy gig to spin tunes on Phonox’s monster sound system.

We hope he makes a bit more effort than his sulky 2013 Dogstar set which proved a miserable affair for fans.

Sun 3rd Feb, SW9

Grass Roots Live Music at Club 414

8 February 2019

414 Coldharbour Lane, Brixton, SW9 8LF, 10pm-3am, £3 Expect a night of live uplifting Blues, Reggae and Ska in front of a busy, old school mixed Brixton crowd. It’s open till late and a big hit with locals.

Monday 4th Feb, SE5

Americana Folk Jam at The Old Dispensary 325 Camberwell New Road, SE5 0TF, 8pm-1am, free This traditional Irish boozer is the perfect setting for a spirited weekly folk jam where anyone can join in with the band and sing, strum, rattle or parp to their heart’s content.

Weds 6th Feb, SW2

Brixton Blues Jam at Blues Kitchen 40 Acre Lane, Brixton, SW2 5SP, 9pm-1am, free There’s yet another Wednesday jam session starting up in Brixton, with the Blues Kitchen’s new Brixton Blues Jam inviting players to play alongside their house band. Sign up to play between 6:30pm – 8:30pm and you’ll get a free drink token for your troubles.

Weds 6th Feb, SE17

Skankandbass at Corsica Studios 5 Farrell Court, Elephant & Castle, SE17 1LB, 10pm3am, £9 Skankandbass pledge an evening of underground Drum & Bass, with unnamed big names joining Upgrade, Shyun B2B Cruk and Particle B2B Talkre.

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Drama and ingenuity in County Hall

A

dapted from one of Agatha Christie’s most ingenious short stories, ‘Witness for the Prosecution’ follows the trial of a young man named Vole who is charged with the murder of a rich, old, single heiress, writes Hannah Kelly...

The plot, developed with great drama and humour, unfurls centre court as each witness is brought to the stand. Though Christie has been adapted for the big screen, small screen and many a stage, this production’s unique draw is its setting. Staged in the Council Chamber in County Hall, once the seat of the Greater London Council, the audience is transported magically back in time, and at the end I left having to remind myself that the whole thing had in fact been a play.

Lucy Bailey’s production is not a subtle one. Dramatic lighting, booming voice-overs and exaggerated direction create an enjoyable circus out of the case being tried before us. The formalities of a courtroom lend themselves perfectly to this highly theatrical dynamic. From the posturing of the lawyers and the histrionics of the witnesses, the trial appears to make a farce out of the justice system.

Yet in many ways the dramatic overture is a cover for the ingenuity of Christie’s plot. The character of Leonard Vole is particularly brilliantly played by Daniel Solbe, whose seemingly over-played, innocent, affected manner leaves the audience dumbfounded as the story unfolds. Balancing the simplicity of the central character, Vole’s Russian wife, played

by Hollyoake’s Emma Rigby, brings all the drama. Her turn in the witness stand overthrows

Theatre

the whole first act and I spent much of the interlude in deep conversation with a fellow audience member attempting to begin a thorough character analysis.

The marvel with all of Christie’s stories is that we are left clueless right until the end. Indeed, it is an impressive feat to hold so many loose threads together in real time, but Bailey succeeds wonderfully, leaving one truly reeling as the play draws to a close. It was wonderful to be reminded again, within such an interesting setting, of the power of theatre to immerse and entertain.

Witness for the Prosecution is on at The Chamber, County Hall, Belvedere Road, SE1 7PB until 1 September 2019. Times: Tues Sat 7.30pm; Thur & Sat matinees 2.30pm; Sun matinees 3pm.

Admission: £10 £47.50.

Phone: 0844 815 7141. www.witnesscountyhall.com

Orchestral manoeuvres A

third-rate orchestra in a small French spa town plays time-worn musical arrangements to an indifferent audience.

Between musical interludes, idle chit chat reveals the power struggles that lurk behind the ensemble’s shiny veneer. A fizzing, catastrophic comedy, the Orchestra is an intoxicating symphony of piercing jealousy, gossip and thwarted emotions, writes Laura Burgoine...

Premiering at Clapham’s Omnibus theatre, the play is directed by multi-award winning director Kristine

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Landon-Smith with an eight-strong cast, including actress Stefania Licari who is also producer for this piece. “I have a double role in this play: producing and performing, which is really challenging,” Stefania told the Weekender.

Having just moved back to London, Stefania spent the past two years studying at Ecole Philippe Gaultier in Paris, where she joins a league of famous alumni including Emma Thompson and Sacha Baron Cohen.

“My character in this play is Susan, a really passionate neurotic. For all of the play she’s seeking the attention of the pianist and she always comes second in his life,”

Stefania said. “There’s something very human and easy to connect to, this desire to be seen and heard.”

“There’s an element of her that already feels like life hasn’t turned out how she would have liked. She’s a musician in a third-rate orchestra. She used to be a prodigy. All the musicians are deluded, they have this desire of being someone they’re not.”

The Orchestra is at Omnibus Theatre, 1 Clapham Common North Side, SW4 0QW, from January 29-February 17. Admission: £16/£13 concession.

Phone: 020 7498 4699. www.omnibus-clapham.org

February 2019 9

Thurs 7th Feb, SE5

Brixton Buzz

Jazz Jam at The Junction 171 Coldharbour Lane, SE5 9PA, 8pm-11pm, free

Fri 8th Feb, SW2

Brixton Buzz party night at the Effra Social 89 Effra Road, Brixton, SW2 1DF, 9pm-1am, free

Gig guide

144 Stockwell Rd, Stockwell, SW9 9TQ, 8pm-3am, free D’n’B from resident DJs and live drumming at this ever-changing boozer in Stockwell.

Sat 9th Feb, SW16

Polar Bears Can Dance at Pratts & Payne 103 Streatham High Road, SW16 1HJ, 9pm-2am, free DJs serve up soul, disco, funk and reggae in this retro chic bar stocked with lovely real ales.

Sun 10th Feb, SW2

Valentine’s Special at Off The Cuff 301-303 Railton Road, Herne Hill, SE24 0JN, 8pm11pm, £5 A dreamy romantic night of grunge and alternative punk at this independent venue, with Donna Blitzen bashing out dirty riffs, plus Bastard Man and Sadface in support.

Fri 15th Feb, SW8

Underground South at The Cavendish Arms 128 Hartington Road, SW8 2HJ, 7pm-11pm, £9

No Frills Sunday Session at The Windmill 22 Blenheim Gardens, Brixton SW2 5BZ, 7pm, free With the hard drinking No Frills Band at the helm, this jaunty, round-the-table candlelit session invites musicians of all abilities to join in with new and traditional songs.

Sun 10th Feb, SE27

Popular jazz jam, with an accomplished house band throwing more shapes than than Magnus Pyke on acid.

Fri 8th Feb, SW16

Vinyl DJ at the Rebel Inn 78A Streatham High Road, London SW16 1BS, 9pmmidnight, free Come down and shake a body part to old school funk, reggae, hip-hop and more in uptown SW16.

Friday 8th Feb, SW9

Live Music at Bar 48 46 Brixton Road, SW9 6BT, 9pm-3am, free Taking place in the basement of the Adulis Restaurant next door is this special night of live jazz with a late night jam to follow.

A night of Brixton Buzz DJs spinning floor-crunching party bangers till 1am, backed by crazy dance visuals. The music policy is: paaaaaaarty, so expect pop nipple-tweakers like Cyndi Lauper, Stones, Jackson 5, Beyonce, Bon Jovi, A-Ha, Fleetwood Mac, Dolly, Whitney, Queen, Bowie, Outkast and more.

Sat 9th Feb, SW4

Maroon Town at Bread & Roses 68 Clapham Manor Street, SW4 6DZ, 9pm-midnight, free Brixton-hewn nine-piece Maroon Town bring their saucy explosion of ska, rap and brassy dub to this handsomely stocked Trade Union owned pub.

Sat 9th Feb, SW9

Community Bass at Queens Head

Matthew Morgan show at Book & Record Exchange 20 Norwood High St, SE27 9NR, noon-2pm, free Matthew Morgan is back for a two hour midday live music radio show at the lovely Book and Record Bar in West Norwood.

Tues 12th Feb, SW9

Guilty: Student NIghts at the Dogstar 389 Coldharbour Lane, Brixton, SW9 8LQ, 10pm2am, £4 The Dogstar looks to grab a chunk of student action with this new club night offering cheap drinks, junk food giveaways and DJs. “London’s funnest student party has arrived,” insists the cringey text. Of more interest to students will be the cheap drinks, with shots at £2.50 and beer a quid more, while DJs whisk up a froth of mainstream Hip Hop, House, RnB and Party Anthems.

Underground Sound continue their Stockwell residency with rockers Sick headlining, backed by Londoners Face, funky punksters Crimson Cobra, Judas Priest-loving Kursk and Doc Snipp spinning up a platform boot-stomping mix of glam, punk and rockabilly.

Thurs 14th Feb, SE24

Fri 15th Feb, SE15

Disco Freaks - Love is in The Flare at the Bussey Building 133 Rye Lane, Peckham, SE15 4ST, 10pm-5am, £10 The Disco Freaks perambulate into Peckham and promise a glitter-laden night of seductive grooves and trouser-flapping disco from the 70s and 80s, plus funk & rare grooves - and all on delicious vinyl.

Fri 15th Feb, SE15

Journey Through DnB at Four Quarters 187 Rye Lane, Peckham, SE15 4TP, 8pm-1.30am, free Now sporting a newly refurbished basement, this night of craft beer, arcade games and future beats showcases a slew of lively DJs.

Sat 16th Feb, SW4

DJs at Fu Manchu 15 Lendal Terrace, Clapham, SW4 7UX, 10pm-3am, £10 Resident DJs churn out Commercial Anthems, Rnb, Old Skool & Club Classics in a “mysterious late night venue,” that apparently, “raises the bar.”

Sat 16th Feb, SW9

Flagz Sound at Prince of Wales 469 Brixton Rd, SW9 8HH, 11pm-5am, £10 There’s a hefty three-hour set from Caribbean sound system Flagz Sound on a night of R&B, Dancehall, Hip Hop, Soca, Garage, grime and more.

Sat 16th Feb, SW2

Funky House at Gremio de Brixton St. Matthew’s Church, Effra Road, Brixton, SW2 1JF, 9pm-2am, free DJ Yvette Lindquist spins funky vocal house and Latin beats, accompanied by a tootin’ sax player.

Sat 16th Feb, SW9

Sat

16th Pregoblin Single Launch at Railway Tavern

February

7 Station Rise, Tulse Hill, SE27 9BW, 9pm-2am, Free Pregoblin bring their brand of chaotic lo-fi disco to the Railway at what should be a must-see gig. Formed from an array of local musicians including Jessica Winters of the indie synth-pop outfit Will Sin For

10 February 2019

Love, Alex (who co-wrote the Fat White Family’s hit, ‘Touch The Leather’) and Scud FM and Meatraffle guitarist Adam Bremmer, the band combine to create an offbeat, disco-powered sound.

Tribe of Baloo at Cafe Cairo 88 Landor Road, SW9 9PE, 8pm-2am, £5 The Tribe of Baloo parade into Cafe Cairo with Brummie-bred Parallel 7 melding bass heavy sounds with a posse of MCs, vocals and electric violin. Count Bassy will be getting jiggy on the ones and twos, swerving along a beat-laden path of Latin, Afro, Reggae, Hip-Hop and Drum’n’Bass, with Selecta Mad Max summoning up tribal, percussive and bassy ragga riddims.

Sun 17th Feb, SE5

Matt Tiller and MJ Hibbett at the Joiners Arms 35 Denmark Hill, Camberwell, SE5 8RS, 7pm10.30pm, free Matt Tiller and MJ Hibbett promise songs, jokes and a guest act at this rather fabulous free double bill. Camberwell based Matt Tiller hewns ‘sharp and astutely observed’ musical jokes and songs, while cult

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February 2019 11

Brixton Buzz

Gig guide “Egzotyka,” went triple-platinum in recent months that was toured around the world.

Sun 24th Feb, SW2

Kevin Davy Trio at Upstairs at the Ritzy Brixton Oval, Brixton, SW2 1JG, 8pm-11.30pm, free London-based, jazz improviser, bandleader, composer and trumpeter, Davy takes Nu Jazz and harmony from blues, gospel and the near east up the Ritzy stairs.

Sun 24th Feb, SW2

Sunday Jam at the Hand In Hand 61 New Park Road, Streatham Hill, SW2 4LA, 8pm1am, free Hosted by fast-rising local musician Ese, this jam session sees talented local musicians and singers perform in a laid back and friendly venue.

Recommended.

Tues 25th Feb, SW2

The Soothsayers at Effra Hall Tavern Kellett Road, Brixton, SW2, 9pm-11.30pm, free Glug down a Guinness in this old-school Brixton boozer and enjoy splendid original Afrobeat and reggae-influenced grooves from local legends, The Soothsayers.

Weds 26th Feb, SW9

Brixton Late Night Jam at Club 414 414 Coldharbour Lane, Brixton, SW9 8LF, 10pm-3am, £3 A great place to listen to talented local musicians, and maybe step up on stage to take a turn, you can hear a stirring selection of jazz, and reggae till very late in a super friendly venue.

Weds 27th Feb, SE1

Joy Crookes at Omeara 6 O’Meara Street, SE1 1TE, 7.30pm, £10 Born and raised around the corner in Elephant and Castle, Joy Crookes has been drawing comparisons with Amy Winehouse and Lauryn Hill, with a bit of Nancy Sinatra lobbed in the mix which makes for an interesting proposition.

Sat

23rd

Lloyd Brown at Hideaway

2 Empire Mews, Streatham, SW16 2BF, 9pm, £20

Lloyd Brown and The Riddimworks Band will be banging out hits like ‘Main Squeeze’, ‘Sharing The Night’, ‘Love U Down’ and ‘Show Me That You Love Me.’ With a string of hit singles and indie music legend MJ Hibbett has enjoyed extensive mainstream radioplays and is a veteran of the festival circuit.

Tues 19th Feb, SE1

UV Rave at Ministry of Sound 103 Gaunt Street, Elephant & Castle, SE1 6DP, 10pm-4am, £7 No less than four rooms on offer in this midweek neon-themed bash, with Martin 2 Smoove, Andy Purnel, Paul Eden and chums waving up glowstick illuminated house, dance, rnb, trap, bass, grime, hip hop, pop and cheese.

Tues 19th Feb, SW2

Niska at Electric Brixton Town Hall Parade, Brixton, SW2 1RJ, 7pm-11pm, £25

no less than twenty critically acclaimed albums to his credit, Brown is hailed as one of this country’s best ever reggae singer/ songwriters.

Hailing from Paris, Niska is a 23 year-old rapper who has notched up quadzillions of hits on YouTube, with his single “Reseaux” becoming one of the biggest online hits of 2017, whacking up over 200 million views.

Thurs, 21st Feb, SE11

Live Music at Brown Derby 336 Kennington Park Road, Oval SE11 4PP, 8pm, free Unspecified ‘live jazz and blues artists’ bring the music to this unpretentious, 1920s-themed boozer right next to Oval tube station.

Fri 22nd Feb, SW16

Streatham Soul Club at White Lion 234 Streatham High Road, SW16 1BB, 6pm-1am, free Resident DJ Stevie Dundee and guests keep the soul hits pumping in this friendly community boozer.

Sat 23rd Feb, SE11

February

Duckie at the Royal Vauxhall Tavern

Thurs 28th Feb, SE11

Daniel Benisty at Toulouse-Lautrec 140 Newington Butts, Kennington, SE11 4RN, 7.30pm-10.30pm, free Billed as a slot-free ‘one man jukebox’ singer-pianist Daniel Benisty - has a ginormous repertoire that includes The American Songbook, Brazilian Samba, Chanson Française, Cuban Bolero, Portuguese Fado, Britpop & more.

Thurs 28th Feb, SW2

ARKIVE at White Horse 94 Brixton Hill, Brixton, SW2 1QN, 9pm-midnight, Free BRXTNFNK and their chums frantically rifle through their record collections like speed-addled ferrets up a drainpipe.

372 Kennington Lane, SE11 5HY, 9pm-2am, £6 This fabulously fun indie-gay night features live set from The Martini Encounter, bundling up a cacophony of song, ukuleles, spoon-playing & gin, plus Oberon White and Readers Daughter: Seb.

Sat 23rd Feb, SW11

Saturdays at the Clapham Grand 21-25 St John’s Hill, Clapham, SW11 1TT, 9pm-2am, £10 Get ready to sweep, strut and sashay in the direction of the dancefloor and unleash your animal loin-thrusts to an uncomplicated amalgam of crowd-pleasing party classics, with house DJs spinning Hip-Hop to House, Disco to R&B.

Sat 23rd Feb, SW9

Britpop to Beyonce at Market House 443 Coldharbour Lane, Brixton, SW9 8LN, 10pm3am, £5 There’s going to be another jam-packed night upstairs at the Market House as DJ Editor and Jizzy Rascal pump out their trademark category-catapulting selections of dance zingers and pop tunes to keep the floor bouncing like an extra-springy Zebedee after a WD40 bath.

Sat 23rd Feb, SW9

Quebonafide at JAMM 261 Brixton Road, Brixton, SW9 6LH, 7pm-11pm, £28 Founder of the QueQuality label, Polish rapper Quebonafide hit platinum with his unconventional debut album “Ezoteryka”, and his follow up,

12 February 2019

Joy Crookes at Omeara

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February 2019 13

14 February 2019

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Theatre Photo Manual Harlan

Ahead of its time

The Old Vic is turning back time with a new production of Arthur Miller’s The American Clock, writes Laura Burgoine...

In the wake of the 1929 stock market crash, the Baum family navigates the aftermath of the unprecedented financial crisis, set to a soundtrack of1920s swing and jazz.

Golda Rosheuvel plays Rose Baum, following on from past performances in Old Vic productions of A Christmas Carol, Electra and Carmen Jones. Last year saw Golda take on the title role in Othello at the Liverpool Everyman Theatre.

“I didn’t know the play,” Golda said. “I picked up the movie and found it very modern actually. It’s so ahead of its time.”

“The financial crash and economic element is very on the nose at the moment,” she continued. “Why can’t humans see the signs?”

Tony-award nominated visionary director Rachel Chavkin is putting her spin on the story of hope, idealism and a nation’s unwavering faith in capitalism “I heard Rachel was doing Hadestown at the National and I went to see it. I was viewing

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something that had never been seen in my theatre going experience,” Golda said. “It was shifting my sense of theatre and story-telling and the craft.”

“I hate to say it, but I don’t think we do it that well here,” she continued. “The classics we’re bound to, no matter how much you try to update that, the language is always there. I just played Othello, and I played her as a woman, which was fascinating and interesting and thrilling and people were like ‘this completely changed the way we see the play’ but the language is still there. It’s beautiful and very important but being modern awakens all the senses.”

“There’s something so different in Hadestown and the American grasp of theatrical telling and stories. Rachel is a visionary director and you can feel that in the room.”

The actress describes this play as “a rollercoaster.” “There’s a cast of about 17, all dancing, a revolve going around on stage, a musical soundtrack, choreography,” she said. “It’s completely changing the meaning of a musical, like Girl from the North Country.”

“In the original play there’s one

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central family, Rachel has flipped it up so there’s now three families: one Jewish, one south Asian, and one black family and it explores the American dream, race and class through these different faces,” Golda said.

“Arthur Miller was basically putting down what he saw going on at that time. It’s a really clever look at all those aspects going on for America at that time. It’s timeless.”

The American Clock is at the Old Vic, The Cut, SE1 8NB, from February 4-March 30.

Admission: £12-£65.

Phone: 0844 871 7628. www.oldvictheatre.com

February 2019 15

Half-term

Imagine Children’s festival to return with Peppa Pig and Going on a Bear Hunt Southbank Centre’s Imagine Children’s Festival turns eighteen in 2019, and is returning with children’s theatre, comedy, parties and dance – including Peppa Pig’s first concert.

The concert will include a full-size concert, conducted by Mummy Pig! Some of the best-loved names in UK children’s literature, Jaqueline Wilson, Malorie Blackman and Chris Riddell will be coming together on stage to celebrate 20 years of the Waterstone’s Children’s Laureate.

Current laureate Lauren Child, the multi-award-winning author and illustrator behind Charlie and Lola and Clarice Bean, is also in the festival line-up. She will be in conversation with Alexandra Derbyshire, the executive producer on the Paddington films, talking about her time as laureate, as well as her characters and inspirations.

Other events include Sue Perkins conducting the Orion Orchestra’s Noisy Notes, and David McKee, author and illustrator of Elmer the Elephant, in an exclusive event

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celebrating the 30th birthday of his popular patchwork friend.

The Kids Takeover returns for another year, giving a group of children the chance to take the reins of the festival alongside the Southbank Centre team, from contributing to the line-up to selling programmes and making tannoy announcements.

There will also be an interactive screening of We’re Going on a Bear Hunt, with a live orchestral soundtrack from the City of London Sinfonia, and a fun sing-along; and an actionpacked theatrical pirate adventure, Captain Flinn and the Pirate Dinosaurs 2: The Magic Cutlass.

The Imagine Children’s Festival is on from February 13-24, 2019, for a half-term week of children’s fun.

Tickets are now on sale southbankcentre.co.uk/whats-on/ festivals-series/imagine-childrensfestival/

Photo: Dan Tsantilis

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Half-term

Make your way underground for The Lovely Bug Ball The Lovely Bug Ball is coming to the Vault festival for February half-term, writes Laura Burgoine...

Down, down, in a secret world are hidden creatures with coloured curls... these creatures are the Lovely Bugs and they are on their way to the Lovely Bug Ball to dance with the Biggest Loveliest Bug of all.

An underground make and dance party, this event is specifically designed to be inclusive and Autistic Spectrum Condition friendly. With an original soundtrack from the composer Tom Ashbourne, incredible puppets and plenty of mirror ball action, this is an hour of creativity, dancing and fun.

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This show is about adults and children creating together. The relaxed and friendly show is aimed at audiences of ages 4 plus and of all abilities.

The Lovely Bug Ball is Exquisite Folly’s first outing at VAULT Festival and is proud to be a female lead production with an all-female cast.

The Lovely Bug Ball is at Cavern, The Vaults, Leake Street, SE1 7NN, on Saturday 23 at 4:30pm and Sunday 24 February at 3pm and runs for 60 minutes.

Tickets: £12 (Under 18 Months £5, use the Babes in Arms ticket type) vaultfestival.com

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Life after loss A guide to bereavement services in south London

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Life after loss

Losing a loved one is hard for everyone - and having to make difficult decisions about funeral plans at such a time can feel daunting.

A funeral can usually only take place after the death is registered. Most people use a funeral director, though you can arrange a funeral yourself.

FUNERAL DIRECTORS Choose a funeral director who’s a member of either: • National Association of Funeral Directors • The National Society of

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Allied and Independent Funeral Directors (SAIF) These organisations have codes of practice - they must give you a price list when asked.

Some local councils run their own funeral services, for example for non-religious burials. The British Humanist Association and Institute of Civil Funerals can also help with non-religious funerals.

ARRANGING THE FUNERAL YOURSELF Contact the Cemeteries and Crematorium Department of your local council to arrange a funeral

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yourself.

There are three cemeteries within Southwark. Most burials take place at Camberwell New Cemetery, although it’s still possible to arrange burials in Camberwell Old Cemetery and Nunhead Cemetery. Usually your Funeral Director will make the arrangements according to your wishes. However you can still contact their offices directly if you have any questions.

Within its remit, Greenwich has Charlton cemetery, Eltham cemetery, Greenwich cemetery, Plumstead cemetery and Woolwich cemetery. Contact

cemetery services at The Oxleas Woods Centre, Crown Woods Lane, SE18 3JA. Phone: 020 8856 0100. Email: parks@royalgreenwich.gov.uk Contact Eltham Crematorium on: 020 8921 6700 or email eltham.crematorium@royalgreenwich. gov.uk Lambeth Cemetery and Crematorium Office is at Streatham Cemetery Garratt Lane, SW17 OLT. Phone: 0207 926 4221. West Norwood Cemetery and Crematorium Norwood Rd, West Norwood, London, SE27 9JU 0207 926 7999

FUNERAL COSTS Funeral costs can include: • funeral director fees • things the funeral director pays for on your behalf (called ‘disbursements’ or ‘third-party costs’), for example crematorium or cemetery fees, or a newspaper announcement about the death • local authority burial or cremation fees Funeral directors may list all these costs in their quote. You can get quotes from several funeral directors to see what is available within your budget.

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Life after loss Continued from p19 PAYING FOR A FUNERAL The funeral can be paid for: • from a financial scheme the person had, for example a prepaid funeral plan or insurance policy • by you, or other family members or friends • with money from the person’s estate (savings, for example) - getting access to this is called applying for a ‘grant of representation’ • you can apply for a Funeral Expenses Payment if you have difficulty paying for the funeral.

MOVING A BODY FOR A FUNERAL ABROAD You need permission from a coroner to move a body for a funeral abroad. Apply at least 4 days before you want the body to be moved. Find a local coroner using the Coroners’ Society of England and Wales website. There is a different process in Scotland and Northern Ireland.

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February 2019 23

advertorial

How could the increase in probate fees affect me and my family?

T

he recent Government announcement that a new price structure for probate fees is to be introduced as early as April 2019 has been met with widespread condemnation. Kalpa Prajapati, who is the head of the Wills and Probate department at Grant Saw solicitors, explains what the increases mean and the steps which people can take to help plan for them.

At present the fee for probate is a flat £215 for individuals and £155 for those applying through a solicitor. Under the proposed new structure, the price would be linked to the value of the estate and this is the main cause of the criticism that these proposals has attracted.

Estates valued at more than £2m will now pay £6,000, while those worth between £1.6m and £2m will pay £5,000 and those between £1m and £1.6m would pay £4,000. Estates worth between £500,000 and

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£1m will have to find £2,500, while those in the £50,000 to £300,000 price bracket will pay a more affordable £250. Those valued at less than £50,000 will be exempt.

This is the second time that the Government has tried to introduce such changes. The last time was in 2017, though the maximum charge for the largest of estates, being those valued at over £2 million was the much higher figure of £20,000. These plans were unsurprisingly abandoned at the eleventh hour, due to the fast approaching general election.

Unfortunately, the Government has still not addressed how the increase in fees will be paid.

Unlike funeral expenses and inheritance tax, which banks and investment companies generally allow Personal Representatives, (who are either Executors appointed under a Will or Administrators under the rules of intestacy if there is no Will), to finance from the assets held by the deceased, the general

consensus currently is that such institutions will not agree to the probate fee being funded by the estate without the Grant of Representation (probate).

This creates a vicious cycle for Personal Representatives, as they cannot access funds without the Grant of Representation, for which they will have to pay an exorbitant fee.

In terms of planning for such

fees, it may be sensible to set up a joint bank account with a family member so that these funds can be easily accessed upon death. This is because the account will automatically pass to the surviving account holder. However, it is important that such action is not taken without specialist legal advice being sought. This is because any steps taken to organise

someone’s affairs could impact on their inheritance tax position and their Will instructions. There has also been a steep increase in the number of estates being challenged after a person has passed away and so it is more important than ever to make sure that you have sought appropriate advice to try and alleviate these risks and to ensure that your estate will pass in accordance with your wishes.

There are however steps which can be taken during someone’s life to reduce the fees payable on death.

If you are interested in finding out more about your inheritance tax position and reviewing your affairs, or need assistance with probate and dealing with the estate of someone that has passed away, please contact Kalpa Prajapati, at Grant Saw Solicitors LLP via email at probate@grantsaw.co.uk or by calling 020 8858 6971 and she or one of her team will be able to assist.

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advertorial

Wills, probate and the Lasting Power of Attorney

S

tirling Ackroyd Legal offers specialist services in Wills, Probate and Estate Planning advice.

We deal with all aspects of advice on Inheritance Tax, Capital Gains and Trusts. With over 100 years of experience rest assured you are in great hands to ensure your assets are safely protected.

Your Will It is highly advisable to make a Will, in order to assure your property and assets are safeguarded for your family. We can prepare and draft your Will, taking into account all of your wishes and offering clear advice throughout.

You can choose to appoint your own executors to administer your estate when the time comes or we can take care of this as part of our service. Once your Will is signed, you can carry on with peace of mind.

Probate Probate is the legal process

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aimed to manage the estate and the affairs of someone who has passed away. If you have been appointed an executor, our probate specialists are here to help. The rules of property sale and transfer are different when it comes to probate and we can manage this process efficiently.

Intestacy When a person dies intestate (without making a legally binding Will), the Intestacy rules govern who can be appointed as Administrator of their estate and you may find yourself in this position quite unexpectedly. This can be a complex and often very difficult.

We offer legal advice to private individuals and their families, executors and trustees from a wide range of backgrounds and cultures.

If you, a friend or a family member are looking for legal help please email us at enquiries@stirlingackroydlegal. com or call us on 0203 058 3365 for half-an-hour of free legal advice.

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LIFE AFTER LOSS Jon (left), with his father Barry and brother Simon

Thoughts on bereavement

By Jon Dyer, FA Albin & Sons “Bereavement is a darkness, impenetrable to the imagination of the unbereaved.”

These were words from Iris Murdoch, a famous novelist, extremely gifted with the ability to put her thoughts and feelings on to paper. She expresses the effect of her own grief in this small but powerful quote.

Bereavement is a very personal and indescribable journey, one that we are all afraid of having to make. The harsh reality is that at some point in our lives we will be faced with losing someone we love.

I myself grew up living above our funeral home here in Rotherhithe. I was blessed to have the best dad a boy could have asked for, he was also the greatest teacher because my whole life I have been learning from the experiences of others, but my dad helped me to understand the effects of grief in people’s lives and he instilled in me and my brother the importance of being a funeral director.

I would once have gone as far as to say that I was a bit of an expert in bereavement. How wrong I was. When my father

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passed away on Saturday 6th of June 2015, nearly four years ago, I realised very quickly that, despite my lifetime of education in and around death and care for the bereaved, I now was without my dad and felt as helpless and lost as anybody else.

You cannot prepare yourself for losing a loved one. There are no courses or lectures that will provide you with the answers to your anguish.

Doctors cannot prescribe a painkiller for your grief. There are no tools available to help you rebuild your life. The fact is when someone we love so dearly passes from this world, at that very moment it happens, our lives have changed forever. We feel numbness, sadness, shock, despair. Our minds are trying to understand what has actually happened, what it means to our future, whilst life around us moves only in one direction,

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forwards. That is the emptiness of bereavement.

People want to help. It’s our instinct as human beings to want to make things better. But in truth the best way of helping is by not making things any worse. We just need the love and support of our families and

the funeral that the journey of grief really begins. Everybody goes on with their lives and you remain empty, as the realisation of living without them becomes ever so present and we feel that separation further with every passing day.

Life moves forward at such a pace that we feel under pressure to move on with our lives but we don’t want to. Friends can often avoid us, or avoid talking about that person, when what we really need is to be able to talk about that person, to express what we loved about them and what we miss.

As I said there are no answers or cures, but I believe that encouragement from others can help us to make a positive progression in our bereavement.

Not the kind that is pushing us to go too fast but the kind that encourages us to allow ourselves to go at our own pace, to step away from responsibilities

There will be days we take steps back and feel helpless, but as long as we are getting up and taking that first step, we are moving forward friends to deflect the everyday stresses and strains of life.

We need our friends to still be friends. The funeral itself is undoubtedly hard, but the love, respect and appreciation we see from others towards our loved ones can be comforting. It’s after

and demands so that our minds can adjust to the changes our lives now face.

If we can wake up, put one foot in front of the other and begin our day, then we are moving forward. There will be days we take steps back and feel helpless but as long as we are getting up and taking that first step, we are moving forward.

Our memories are our greatest link to our loved ones. Take the time whenever, wherever, to scroll through the photo and video albums we hold in our minds. As we go on with life, our perspective adjusts in its own way to remind us that the love we have held in our hearts for that person has never left us. It is still part of who we are.

They remain with us always and there is no set time frame, just when we truly acknowledge this we can begin to find a purpose again.

All that I do in my life I do with my father in mind, I still seek his approval even though he is not physically here, his words of encouragement and his lovely ways echo in my mind. They are there for me like a personal library, I just have to take the time to feel it.

February 2019 29

Family Run Funeral Directors

“Albins were extremely supportive, attentive & caring throughout” Rotherhithe 52 Culling Road, London, SE16 2TN 020 7237 3637 Our other branch addresses are: Deptford 164 Deptford High Street, London, SE8 3DP Walworth 88 Brandon Street, London, SE17 1ND Mottingham 54-56 Mottingham Road, London, SE9 4QR Hitchcock 378 Barking Road, Plaistow, London, E13 8HL Sidcup 163 Station Road, Sidcup, DA15 7AA Welling 4 Welling Way, Welling, Kent, DA16 2RJ

www.albins.co.uk 30 February 2019

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February 2019 31

A local resource for people meeting the challenges of disability and ill-health, helping the development of skills, independence and wellbeing.

7 Ways to Wellbeing Do you, or someone you care about, wish to be more active - be more connected – to learn more - so as to improve your health, skills and wellbeing? We can help - with general exercise programmes, a specialist gym equipped for people with disabilities and with social activities.

Aspire Wellbeing offers adults with short or long term physical disabilities, and individuals with learning disabilities, services and opportunities to improve your overall quality of life, and to gain and regain the skills and abilities that will enable you to live as full and healthy a life as possible.

Our premises, including our specialist gym and meeting rooms for hire, are at: 1 Park Hall Road, London SE21 8EH. To discuss how we can support you towards greater wellbeing, please call us on 020 8265 1125 or email health@aspirewellbeing.org

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Kiehl’s, Love Oil for Lips Botanical Blush, 9ml, £18 www.kiehls.co

Jo Malone London Valentine’s Day Floral Box £140 www.jomalone.co.uk

Sanctuary Spa Lost In The Moment Gift Set, £16, www.sanctuary.com

SLIPKiss Print pillowcase, £79 www.slipsilkpillowcase.co.uk

The gift of love

Nailberry, IN LOVE, £14.50, www.nailberry.co.uk

Chanel, Chance eau Tendre Eau de Parfum, 50ml, £79, www.chanel.com

Alien Fusion Eau de Parfum, available in 60ml, £70 www.mugler.co.uk

Elemis Pro-Collagen Rose Cleansing Balm, £43 www.elemis.com

NEOM Real Luxury Multi Mineral Bath Salts, £38, 450g, www.neomorganics.com

Molton Brown, Rosa Absolute Bathing Oil, £39 www.moltonbrown.co.uk

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Clarins Glow 2 Go Blush and Highlighter Duo £26 www.clarins.co.uk

La Mer The Lip Balm £52 February 2019 35 www.cremedelamer.co.uk

Food & Drink

Park’s Ed Bar & Kitchge en

49-51 Norw ood Road Herne Hill SE24 9A Phone: 020 A 8671 030 www.parkse dgebarandk 6 itchen.com

Loving life on The Edge There were some exciting offerings on the Park’s Edge menu. Mine were especially exciting as I had allowed The Tornado to choose for me, writes Michael Holland...

The Tornado is the term of endearment awarded by her colleagues to our fireball-ofenergy waitress who, once she saw me dithering over the menu, suggested with a smile that I should entrust my choices to her.

Perfect. My dinner companion, Julia, fresh from Selhurst Park and three points in the proverbial bag, had a no-nonsense approach to proceedings, going straight for a celebratory G&T before choosing the Oxtail Ravioli, of which she declared, ‘Amazing’.

My first course turned out to be Spicy Pumpkin Soup with Dumplings, a very seasonal and tummy-warming bowl of loveliness. Our server had also chosen two nice wines to

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accompany the first courses so we were off to a good start.

Park’s Edge Bar & Kitchen is on the edge wof Brockwell Park, affording a nice vista for diners.

Inside it was busy with a pleasant atmosphere created by general conversation getting along harmoniously with the background music. Claudia and Barry keep an eagle eye on everything, ensuring their high standards are maintained. And they are.

Julia continued with her appraisal of the ravioli dish, which was now deemed ‘Delicious’, and that led on to talk of family dinners, homeopathy and then she ordered Fried Cauliflower as a main course! ‘What!’ She fought off my protestations that built a case for anything with cauliflower in can only be a side dish. How wrong was I? It arrived looking extremely intriguing, with a dribble of sauce around its edge and a crust of something else. Julia let me try a little, which only went to pique my interest

even more. What were those ingredients that created such wonderful flavours, I wondered.

We shall never know, because my Pork Shoulder with braised vegetables in a rich gravy came and I could think of nothing else except tucking right in.

The meat simply fell to pieces, and there was something special about those humble vegetables… And that gravy with its intense meaty taste was a wow… Plus, the triple-cooked chips were an added bonus!

We were quite in awe at the quality and presentation of the dishes emanating from the open kitchen, and I was transfixed by the serenity and calmness of those doing the cooking. Claudia broke my daydream with an offer we couldn’t refuse, i.e. sampling a pinot noir she was thinking of adding to the wine list. It, like everything else we had had, was really good.

It was now time for dessert but after such a feast we sensibly

the damage

decided to share the Poached Pear with Quince and Ice Cream.

There was some cheese in there too, which we weren’t sure about, but still a good ending to a great meal. This was fine dining at its best. The Caribbean twist to classic English dishes is quite niche, but it definitely works.

Now I feel a need to go back and try the rest of the menu.

Oxtail Ravioli Pumpkin Soup Pork Shoulder Cauliflower Water Wine Poached Pear

£8.95 £6.95 £17.50 £15.50 £2.50 £30.00 £6.50

TOTAL

£87.40

Food (1-5) 0 0 0 0 0 Ambience (1-5) 0 0 0 0 Value (1-5) 0 0 0 0 0 Disabled access YES Disabled toilet YES Booking RECOMMENDED

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