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WEEKENDER Southwark
November 2017 www.weekender.co.uk
Countdown to Christmas guide inside
New York songstress on life in Bermondsey
SUNNY DISPOSITION
Pick of the Month
Stranger Things on strings, bonfire night, and Halloween fright night By Laura Burgoine
TREASURE TOVE
Keeping it local
T
HE WEEKENDER is an independent newspaper, covering Lambeth, Southwark and Greenwich.
Dulwich Picture Gallery is exhibiting rare works of Finnish illustrator and Moomim creator Tove Jansson, from October 25-January 28. The Picture Gallery is showing 150 works, including a selection of Jansson’s self-portraits and paintings never seen before in the UK, highlighting the artist’s breadth, talent and prolific career. Adults: £15.50. Senior citizens: £14.50. Concessions: £7. Children and Friends of the Gallery: free.
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The Weekender is owned and run by Chris Mullany (left) and Kevin Quinn, who also publish London's only independent paid-for paper, the Southwark News.
SCARE FACE The London Bridge Experience is turning up the fright factor this Halloween with PHOBOPHOBIA: Night Terrors. Running from October 21-31 (6pm-10pm), the show intends to scare, terrify, and unnerve guests and is not recommended for anyone under the age of 16. Encounter the ‘lost children’ on a journey through a terrifying dark labyrinth of horror within the haunted bowels of hell. Not for the faint hearted. To book www. thelondonbridgeexperience.com
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Remember remember the fifth of November with our favourite bonfire events south of the river. The Southwark Park Fireworks display is one of the biggest free events with 30,000 people attending every year. Gates open at 5pm (last entry 6:30pm) for Southwark Park’s 14th annual bonfire night on November 5. Tickets are free for Southwark residents but must be booked in advance. For non-Southwark locals: Adults: £8.50. Children: £2.50. One of the longest running firework shows, Crystal Palace Park’s gates open at 6pm, November 5, with a quieter child-friendly display at 7pm, followed by the main display –by Selstar Fireworks- at 8:30pm. Adults: £8.50. Children: £4.50. Regularly hosting more than 80,000 people, Blackheath Fireworks is one of the largest bonfire nights, and it’s free! A day early on November 4, the funfair opens at noon, the bar opens at 5pm, and fireworks begin at 8pm. Bonfire night returns to Brockwell Park with Lambeth Fireworks’ A Night at the Movies on
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STAND UP GUY November 4 (gates open at 5pm, fireworks at 8pm). Run by Westworth Kemp events, the 25-minutes of flying sparks are set to dramatic movie soundtracks. There’s also pre-show entertainment, funfair, and London’s best street food. Adults: £10. Children: £5. www.lambethfireworks.london
FOLKTALES IN ROTHERHITHE
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STRANGER strings
The Tell Tale Tusk Quartet is playing at Sands Films in Rotherhithe for Thanksgiving. The ensemble reimagines folktales of old and gives light to folktales new. With a nod to the sailing of the Mayflower, nearly 400 years ago, they combine their award-winning threepart vocal harmonies with melodious instrumentals. Expect highly crafted harmonies, virtuosic voice blending and creative license. Wednesday 29 November at 7:45pm (doors 7:15pm). Tickets: £8-£14. tunedin.london
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ARTS FUNDING Exclusive works by over 60 UK-based and international artists, including Antony Gormley, Cornelia Parker, Jake and Dinos Chapman, Edmund de Waal, Stanley Donwood, Gillian Ayres and Quentin Blake will feature in a flagship art exhibition at the Oxo Tower Wharf’s Bargehouse in support of Freedom from Torture, the UK’s only charity dedicated to working with torture survivors. November 8-12.
The Weekender is published by Southwark Newspaper Ltd - an independent newspaper publisher, based in Bermondsey, south London. Managing Directors: Chris Mullany & Kevin Quinn
Bermondsey Street eatery Antico, which shut in September due to rising rent, is reopening as a pared down pasta and wine bar. The more casual Flour and Grape will feature eight homemade pastas for eat-in or takeaway. The new venue reopens after refurbishment on October 23. 214 Bermondsey Street, SE1 3TQ. www.flourandgrape.com
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Brixton Electric is celebrating the highly anticipated return of cult Netflix hit Stranger Things (season 2 comes out on October 27) with an orchestral rendition of the ‘80s sci-fi show’s soundtrack. Stranger Strings, on October 27, boasts a 16-piece orchestra performing the iconic theme music as well as tracks from throughout the first series (including Jefferson Airplane, New Order, Echo and The Bunnymen). Eggos at the ready. Tickets start at £10. Town Hall Parade, SW2 1RJ. 8.30pm11.30pm bit.ly/Stranger-Strings
November 2017 3
SPOTLIGHT By Laura Burgoine
God's green earth A spa retreat, barn yoga, and rambles in the Hundred Acre Woods
I
thought I was worlds away from the Hunter wellies, fourwheel-drives, and rosy cheeks that characterise the English countryside, but it’s closer than you think.
On a recent trip to Green Farm, I finished work in Bermondsey at 4pm, and by 6pm I was in Kent, surrounded by dogs, sheep, cows, ducks, chicken, bees, bats, and a bunch of kids from Southwark on a camping trip. Farm spas are having quite a moment. They combine luxury with the organic, back to nature, farm-to-table lifestyle that we dystopian city dwellers dream of (when we’re not dreaming of electric sheep). The bliss and beauty of Green Farm is a mere 27-minute train ride from Stratford train station, but before you reach the green, green grass of home you have to walk through a frenetic, tourist crammed Westfield to get to the platform. My 24-hour stint in the sticks was, as far as city breaks go, so easy. The only thing I really knew about Kent was that Dickens used to ramble there on his famous night walks; traveling on foot from London to Rochester while struggling with insomnia. What I hadn’t ever considered was how dramatically that landscape changes on that journey. The London fog quickly dissipates, replaced by wide open fields and ancient woodland. The 27-minute journey to Ashford International sped by, and after less than ten minutes in a cab, I arrived at Green Farm: a spectacular Elizabethan structure set on 33 acres of land and ancient woodlands. In the space of 24 hours, and without leaving the property, I dined on fresh wood fire oven pizzas,
had a pond-side hot tub with bats flying overhead, tasted the farm’s own duck eggs and honey, had a pedicure, joined in a morning yoga class in the barn, and went on a ramble. In 2008 owners Mary-Ann and Martin Richmond-Coggan bought the Grade II listed Kentish Hall House and three acres of land at auction, which was documented on BBC’s Homes under the Hammer. The television programme followed the refurb process. The beams are all the original oak, which they painstakingly removed black paint from as part of a three year makeover. The house was derelict when Martin and Mary-Ann moved in; one man’s job to scratch off individual pieces of leftover black paint took four months. The 15th century house looks Victorian on the outside but dates back to the 1450s. It was heritage listed as part of a series of “drive-by listings,” Martin said. Originally a Hall, it became a coaching inn from 1870. The couple has bought up more surrounding land as a way to preserve the area and avoid it being developed on. Now they have 33 acres, with 12.5
acres of ancient woodland, which is over 400 years old and full of oak and ash trees. The road they’re on leads from Romney marsh and is the main road to Rye, where merchants would historically have sold wool. Martin is originally from Kent, while Mary-Ann, a Lambeth girl, grew up on South Lambeth Road, and is a landlord for properties in West Dulwich and Peckham. She still travels to Oddono’s on Lordship Lane to buy ice-cream, which she serves at the farm. The food at Green Farm is simple, fresh and delicious; the duo make their own bread using just five ingredients (water, flour, salt, yeast, and honey). The ethos is to keep things simple, and as natural as possible, and it extends all the way from farm to table. When I arrived on a Friday night, a group of kids from Southwark and Hackney were camping on the grounds in a volunteer-led programme, where parents who’ve never taken their children camping are given a safe environment to try it out. Martin and Mary-Ann’s enthusiasm is infectious; there’s constantly people milling about the farm from the staff in the spa, to
the yoga instructor, to volunteers, and neighbours. The working farm plays host to a series of unique events: Mary-Ann and Martin hold two or three weddings a year, night-time nightingale walks, hen parties, a full-time spa with hot tub, sauna, and beauty services, pond dipping in winter, and weekly barn yoga. On a daily basis their days are spent feeding animals, looking after their three dogs and seven Labrador puppies, doing farm labour, which they share with the couple next door, making bread, growing vegetables, clipping sheep toenails, and any number of other tasks that crop up when you live off the land. When I ask Mary-Ann if she ever misses living in London she said “the city comes to me.” The wonderful hosts make you feel instantly at home while immersing you completely into farm life. It struck me as surreal that I had spent my working day at a computer in an office, and just hours later I was watching bats soar overhead. I stood in the middle of a field with sheep bleating all around me, charging for the food trough. I
helped feed the hens and ducks. I had a world-class pedicure, and an excellent homemade quinoa salad. And I walked through the beautiful Ashdown Forest that inspired AA Milne’s Hundred Acre Woods. I left feeling recharged and inspired to bring some of the country lifestyle back to the city. I’ve started buying duck eggs. For everything else, you need to visit Green Farm. Green Farm is on Church Lane, Shadoxhurst, Kent, TN26 1LS. For more information visit: www.greenfarmkent.co.uk or phone: (0)1233 733 997.
also at the farm Drawing in the Wildlife Garden Next date TBD (from 10am to 3pm) including lunch: £40 per person. Get an introduction to drawing by experimenting with different materials and take home your own interpretation of the Farm’s wonderful wildlife garden.
4 November 2017
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Your guiding light to south London and beyond Where to go? What to do? The Weekender has you covered from stand-up comedy to sit-down dinners.
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November 2017 5
6 November 2017
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ARTS & entertainment By Laura Burgoine
Guess Woo's coming to town? E
lephant and Castle local Jonny Woo is bringing back his UnRoyal Variety, expanding on the success of last year’s extravaganza, which was attended by Graham Norton, Alison Goldfrapp and Beth Ditto.
Showcasing the crème de la crème of London’s cabaret performers, Jonny is joined onstage by award-winning comic/opera singer Jayde Adams, American enfant terrible CHRISTEENE, Diane Chorley (aka the Duchess of Canvey), Bourgeois and Maurice, Richard Thomas (who wrote Jerry Springer
the Opera) and the Kate Middleton Choir. There’ll also be brand new work from Lucy McCormick, and more to be announced. “It’s my alternative to the Royal Variety,” Jonny told the Weekender. “I like that old fashioned format of variety. This is my take on it, the kind of stuff you wouldn’t necessarily put before the queen.” “I went to Edinburgh to find new acts. I just want to work with the same people I worked with last year: queer comic strips from the ‘80s and ‘90s, alternative comedians. It’s always an ensemble core cast. I’m the glue, and then we create this world
around it,” Jonny said. “It’s Victorian, really classical variety theatre. I think that’s funny, and it’s a safe format –people understand it. There’s a lot of space to be subversive. The Hackney Empire is perfect for what we’re doing.” Born in Camberwell –“my Mum used to claim I was born in Dulwich because it was Maggie Thatcher’s constituency, even though she wasn’t a Tory”-Jonny ventured to New York in 1999 and discovered underground burlesque and spoken word. “They have a much stronger tradition of performance art there,” he said. Trained in contemporary dance, Jonny moved
into the performance art scene with “short form pieces, mini variety shows, old school with lots of American tonky vibes, politics and gender stuff going on. “I got so many ideas, and brought them back, incorporated, absorbed, and did my own versions,” Jonny said. “Some venues have got to be a bit safe. Cabaret came back, and then it was a bit safe. There’s lots of skill-based acts, and that’s great, but I think when you haven’t got a circus skill to fall back on, sometimes your content becomes more interesting and subversive,” he continued. He describes variety shows as “something
slightly longer, less burlesque, less circus, all music acts, bit of stand-up, and old school magic.” The show runs for 2.5 hours –“it’s a lot of show for your money. A full theatre show,” Jonny said. “This year we’re writing songs that glue the show together and give it structure. There’s so much political agitation going on at the moment, what are we gonna do? We’ll put on a show.” Jonny Woo’s Un-Royal Variety is at the Hackney Empire, 291 Mare Street, E8 1EJ on November 3 and 4 at 7:30pm. Phone: 020 8985 2424. Admission: £10-£35. hackneyempire.co.uk
The loan arranger T
he European premiere of acclaimed playwright Kieran Lynn’s new play The Trap arrives at Clapham’s Omnibus next month. Director Dan Ayling talks to the Weekender about debt and dark comedy. Set in a payday loans company, the sharp-witted comedy features a motley crew of flawed characters and takes a closer look at debt and the ethics of capitalism. The Trap was staged first in the US in May and follows on from Lynn’s previous comedy An Incident at the Border, at the Finborough Theatre, which successfully transferred to the West End. “The world premiere was in Texas. Keiran came to me with
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the play two years ago and was interested in me directing it but we couldn’t find any venues to do it,” Dan told the Weekender. “I did my Masters in theatre directing with Marie McCarthy –Omnibus’ artistic director- so about a year ago I came to Marie and said ‘I’ve got this really interesting play’ and she said yes.” “The Trap is about a payday loan company, and the owner of the company decides to close it at short notice because the government is bringing in new regulations, tightening the restrictions on them. When Keiran was writing it a couple of years ago, this was happening,” Dan said. “What we watch is employees of the company, with different debt issues, breaking into the office one night and trying
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to steal money from the safe. It’s a heist gone wrong comedy, but they’re all at different stages and ages.” He continued: “the play is saying that we’re all affected by money, and by debt, and that is a big part of life at the moment, and has always been. And it’s a lot of fun!” “We’re doing it in the run-up to Christmas when payday loans become an issue for a lot of people. It’s a light hearted way of dealing with a dark subject.” The Trap is at Omnibus Theatre, 1 Clapham Common North Side, SW4 0QW, from October 31 until November 19.Admission: £15/£12 concessions. Phone: 020 7498 4699. www.omnibus-claphamorg
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MUSIC By Laura Burgoine
Halloween at the Hootananny
Cryptic notes
S
tranger than Paradise celebrates dead souls with a Halloween lineup at the Hootananny.
Portuguese performers La Miseria Deluxe plays a pirate tango, while French quartet Les Trois Coups are bridging the gap between Burlesque acrobatics , street theatre and music. Swiss headliners the Dead Brothers are playing death Blues funeral trash orchestra. Yazz from the Czech Republic are on cabaret duties, alongside fellow countryman, guest DJ Gadjo CZ. Tying the whole thing together are resident DJs Sacha Dieu and Ms Manray are bringing their Voodoo Gypsy Swing, Rock and Roll, and Balkan Beats.
Saturday 28 October, The Hootananny, 95 Effra Road, SW2 1DF. Admission: Free before 9pm, £6 after. www.hootanannybrixton.co.uk
50 years of funk
H
ideaway is gearing up for London Jazz Festival with performances from Pee Wee Ellis, Avery Sunshine, Soweto Kinch, Johnny Britt, and plenty more throughout November. Sax legend and former James Brown band leader Pee Wee Ellis is celebrating the 50th anniversary of
Cold Sweat, the song he co-wrote with the Godfather of soul that went on to change the face of music and triggered the birth of funk. Pee Wee’s career spans six decades, starting in ‘50s New York City to ‘60s Florida, to joining James Brown’s Sensational Revue playing alto sax in 1965. By 1970, Pee Wee was producing and directing for the likes of Brother Jack McDuff, Esther Phillips, and George Benson, and in 1979 he caught the ear of Van Morrison and began a spell as his musical director, arranging horns on albums such as Into the Music and Common One. Pee Wee Ellis presents Cold Sweat, 50 Years of Funk is at the Hideaway, 2 Empire Mews, Stanthorpe Road, SW16 2BF, on Friday 10 November at 9pm. Admission: £20. Phone: 020 8835 7070. www.hideawaylive.co.uk
South West Four raise record charity funds after festival This summer’s South West Four festival raised a record sum of £25,000 for local charity Royal Trinity Hospice. Tens of thousands of people attended the electronic music festival on August 26 and 27, headlined by Deadmau5, Pendulum, Tinie Tempah and Eric Prydz. The festival has been supporting Trinity for the past ten years. Alessandra Novelli, Corporate Partnerships Manager at Trinity, said, “We are delighted with this record result which is a testament
8 November 2017
to the hard work of the team at South West Four. We would like to thank everyone who generously donated.” A spokesman for South West Four said, “Trinity’s incredible work is something the team at South West Four have long admired. It’s therefore with great pride that we have been able to assist them over the years by helping to raise money for such a phenomenal cause. This year we collected more money than ever and would like to thank all those who helped make this happen.”
J
azz musician Dave O’Higgins has played with everyone from Jamie Cullum to Frank Sinatra. Now, he brings his quartet to Camberwell’s Crypt as part of a 34-date autumn tour. Promoting his new CD It’s always 9:30 in Zog, the saxophonist is one of the most prolific contemporary jazz musicians in the UK, with 19 albums released since 1993.
Most of the material has been original compositions and arrangements, with lineups from small group to big band, acoustic, and electric. “It’s what I do. I’ve always been proactive. I like to choose what I want to play, so running my own projects was the best way to do that,” Dave told the Weekender. “The first album I made released in 1993, All Good Things, I spent months honing material. It was entirely originals except for two songs –a similar balance to the album I’ve just brought out. Now the process is such that I trust myself to get the music together in a shorter space of time.” On this tour Dave’s also hosting masterclasses at colleges and 14 workshops. “The band plays a couple of tunes, then we talk about
stuff we’re doing, give some insights into how we got into music, what it’s like to be professionals, take questions -it’s very healthy and gives undergrads an insight into how a real working band functions,” he said. The musician took a week off work to write It’s always 9:30 in Zog. “My wife, who’s German, went home to Germany, I burnt the midnight oil, and I’m really happy with the results,” he said. “I knew exactly who I was writing it for. I knew how specific or not I needed to be to get a result from the guys in the band.” The band, recording together for six years now, is made up of Sebastiaan de Krom (drums), Geoff Gascoyne (bass) and Graham Harvey (piano). “This is the third album we’ve made with this line-up,” Dave said. “There’s more composing. I’ve kind of oscillated between albums of original material or other people’s material. This album is a quartet, basically an acoustic jazz album with fairly wide stylistic remit.” Dave has toured and recorded with artists all over the world, including John Dankworth and Cleo Laine, Jim Mullen and Martin Taylor. He’s played with Jamie Cullum, Kyle Eastwood, BBC Big Band, and Ronnie
Scott’s Jazz Orchestra. In 1992 he played with Frank Sinatra at his last London appearance at the Royal Albert Hall. “I played six nights with him. In the front row was Michael Caine, Joan Rivers, John Major, Chris Eubank,” the performer recalled. “It was a big band plus string section. He had fantastic presence. We didn’t get to interact with him socially! His son played piano and told us “Frank won’t be hanging out with you. He’ll waft in, don’t try to engage with him.” The guys with him were trained to discourage that. The bass player managed to get a picture with him,” he continued. “His voice was not at his best at that time but the phrasing, delivery, essence of it was just fantastic.” Touring the UK from top to tail: St Ives to Aberdeen, Dave is looking forward to returning to the Crypt. “It’s a nice audience there: about a third are traditional jazz aficionados who are a bit older, a third are students, and a third are local people.” The Dave O’Higgins Quartet is at the Crypt, St Giles Church, Camberwell Church Street, SE5 8RB, on October 27 at 8pm. Admission: £8.80. Phone: 07986 239182. www.daveohiggins.com
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Brixton Buzz
Gig guide 2 Empire Mews, Streatham, SW16 2BF, 9pm, £20
London African Gospel Choir at the Prince of Wales
Thu
2nd November
469 Brixton Rd, SW9 8HH, 7pm-11pm, £16.50
Sax legend and former James Brown band leader Pee Wee Ellis heads this funky party to celebrate the 50th anniversary of ‘Cold Sweat’, the song he co-wrote with the Godfather of Soul. Take it to the bridge!
Sunday 12th November, SW2
Futuregroove at Hootananny 95 Effra Road, Brixton, SW2 1DF, 9pm-midnight, Free Rootmaster presents Brixton-based Futuregroove, fronted by Helen McDonald and ripping up a set of rare groove psychedelic jazz funk.
Sunday 12th November, SW2 No Frills Sunday Session at The Windmill 22 Blenheim Gardens, Brixton SW2 5BZ, 7pm-11pm, Free
Thirty years after its release, the London African Gospel Choir perform their own powerful twist on Paul Simon’s ‘Graceland’ album, singing the entire album from start to finish. After its release in 1986, Simon faced controversy for seemingly breaking the cultural boycott imposed by the rest of the world against South Africa because of its policy Thursday 2nd November, SE24
Live Music at Off The Cuff 301-303 Railton Road, Herne Hill, SE24 0JN. 8.30pm-11.30pm, £4 A three band bill awaits in this well kitted out small venue hidden in Herne Hill railway arches. Multi-instrumentalist five-piece Quiet Boy brew up a heavy poly-rhythmic punch, backed by stern faced band Lectures, and summer infused indie-popsters The Summertides.
Friday 3rd November, SW2
Channel One x Iration Steppas x King Shilo at Electric Brixton Town Hall Parade, Brixton, SW2 1RJ, 10pm5am, £17 There’s a night of bowel-agitating, skank shuffling reggae being served up in the Electric (formerly The Fridge) with a three way tag team of Channel One, Iration Steppas and King Shiloh.
Head to the basement early to catch indie-pop rockers Best Ex play an acoustic set. The band, formed in New Jersey/New York in 2009, are better known by their former name Candy Hearts, who Billboard magazine declared as one of the top ten pop punk bands that people need to know in 2014. The venue turns into a DJ club night after the nand, and there’s a room of retro arcade games to keep you amused all night.
Saturday 4th November, SW9 Cohesion at Club 414 414 Coldharbour Lane, Brixton, SW9 8LF, 11pm-8am, £5/£10
Friday 3rd November, SE15
Best Ex at Four Quarters 187 Rye Lane, Peckham, SE15 4TP, 8pm11pm
More psychedelic than a swirly ball of multicoloured miasma balanced on a rainbow unicorn, the Cohesion gang are shimmying back in town with a bevy of psytrance acts to turn your mind into a swirling, throbbing mass of repetitive beats. Running till 8am, the line-up includes Champa and Cathar playing live, plus Thalom, N-Kore’n’more. Friendly, welcoming and laid back, the 414’s future is sadly now in doubt as evil developers want to turn it into a stomachchurning yuppie cocktail bar. You’ll kick yourself if you never experience this unique Brixton institution at least once.
Saturday 4th November, SW9 Supa Dupa Fly at Pop Brixton 49 Brixton Station Rd, Brixton, SW9 8PQ, 6pm-midnight, Free Hailed as ‘London’s best RnB night’ by Time Out, Supa Dupa Fly is all about 90s & 00s Hiphop, RnB and Garage and they’re bringing their vibes to Pop Brixton for a freebie show. On the decks will be BBC Radio 1Xtra resident Emily Rawson, conjuring up a booty shunting blend of
10 November 2017
2Pac, Lil Kim, DMX, Jay-Z, Destiny’s Child, Rihanna & more. Big Ted hosts the show with DJ Skinz & Super k & Mensa in support.
BRXTNFNK and their chums frantically rummage through their record collections like crack-addled squirrels looking for a long-buried fix at this free DJ night on t’hill.
Saturday 4th November, SE11
Thursday 9th November, SW2
Duckie at the Royal Vauxhall Tavern 372 Kennington Lane, SE11 5HY, 9pm-2am, £6 One of the most provocative and funny cabaret nights in London, the long running Duckie club mixes'n'mashes burlesque and musical acts in front of an appreciative and always packed gay/mixed crowd. This week's offbeat live entertainment comes from the smart and hilarious Katy Baird, with the Readers' Wives DJs ratcheting up the indie pop hits.
Sunday 5th November, SW16
Friday 3rd November, SE27
Stick it On at Book & Record Exchange 20 Norwood High St, SE27 9NR, 8pm-1am, Free A top notch indie record shop and bookstore by day, the vinyl racks are manfully tussled aside to create a dancefloor for music nights every other week. Tonight, the Stick It On crew invite you - the great unwashed - to haul in three monster tunes of your choosing and give them a spin on their turntables.
of apartheid, but the album went on to huge critical and commercial success. Looking to unite all denominations and nations into a singing ensemble reflecting African and Caribbean diversity, hearing the London African Gospel Choir belting out ‘You Can Call Me Al’ is going to be an amazing moment!
Sunday Best at White Lion 234 Streatham High Road, SW16 1BB, 4pm-midnight, Free Cuddle your pint and bust some Sunday night moves to DJ Sharpy Dee and London Soul Radio’s Dee Demure in this top notch south London boozer. Also spinning tunes will be guest DJ Mastermind from Mi-Soul Radio.
Monday 6th November, SE5
Folk Jam at The Old Dispensary 325 Camberwell New Road, SE5 0TF, 8pm1am, Free This small, friendly, affordable and unfussy traditional Irish boozer hosts a lovely weekly folk jam. Bring along an instrument and join in, or just sup a beer and enjoy the music.
Tuesday 7th November, SW2
Live Jazz at the Effra Hall Tavern Kellett Road, Brixton, SW2, 8.30pm11.30pm, Free One of the few traditional pubs left anywhere in the area, this locals’ boozer has regular live music nights throughout the week. On Tuesdays, it’s Afrobeat/reggae local stars The Soothsayers, with guest musicians.
Thursday 9th November, SW2 ARKIVE at White Horse 94 Brixton Hill, Brixton, SW2 1QN, 9pmmidnight, Free
House Night at Gremio de Brixton St. Matthew's Church, Effra Road, SW2 1JF, 9pm, Free DJ Lee Harris spins Spanish/Latin House music in this tapas restaurant/bar lurking in the crypt of St Matthew's Church, a short saunter from the centre of Brixton.
Friday 10th November, SE15
X-Kalay Label Night at Canavan's Peckham Pool Club 188 Rye Lane, Peckham, SE15 4NF, 10pm4am, £6 We love this unpretentious pool hall/bar/club in downtown Peckham where you can swig back your lager without fear of bumping into some hipster peacock Instagramming his ludicrous cocktail. On the ones and twos is ‘Mood Infuser’ Charlie Bones of NTS Radio maxing out the jazz, soul & disco, boogie & house.
Friday 10th November, SE11 DJ Night at the Brown Derby 336 Kennington Park Road, Oval, SE11 4PP, 10pm-1am, Free Offering a profusion of tempting spirits and ales, this retro-themed bar hosts DJs spinning selections of ska, northern soul, bluegrass and rock and roll.
Saturday 11th November, SW9
Burlesque Cabaret at Courtesan 69-73 Atlantic Road, Brixton, SW9 8PU, 9pm-2am, Free International showgirl Eliza DeLite returns to Courtesan for a night of candlelit performance and exotic music from all four corners of the globe. Exuding the atmosphere of a dark David Lynch movie set and a downtown bar in 1920s Shanghai, this recently relaunched venue in central Brixton is well worth a visit.
With roaming Brixton folkies, the No Frills Band at the helm, this lively, round-the-table session invites musicians of all abilities to join in with new and traditional songs. Like a musical Whicker’s World, expect to hear an earful of sounds from around the globe in an intimate, friendly atmosphere.
Wed 15th November, SW4
Open Mic Night at Bread & Roses 68 Clapham Manor Street, Clapham, SW4 6DZ, 8.30pm-11pm, Free Owned by the Battersea and Wandsworth Trades Union Council (the folks that run festival booze suppliers, the Workers Beer Company), this is a great place for Tory-free boozing and socialising. Test out your talents in front of a friendly crowd at their regular open mic night.
Friday 17th November, SW4
Feral Friday at Fu Manchu 15 Lendal Terrace, Clapham, SW4 7UX, 10pm-3am, Free We can’t make head or tail of the guff on their website, but “good rhythms and jams” appear to be on the cards in this curious mix of dim sum restaurant and nightclub.
Friday 17th November, SW2
Funkt at the Effra Social 89 Effra Road, Brixton, SW2 1DF 9pm-1am, Free Get ready to shake up the dance floor for a night of no-nonsense funk in this retro themed bar in an old Conservative Club. DJ Tony Thorpe from The Moody Boys hosts a monthly residency of funk, boogie and breakbeats. Just try not to think of Thatch and her beastly ensemble of milk snatchers as you gyrate around the dance floor.
Saturday 18th November, SW9
Funk to Punky, Motown to Madness at the Dogstar Ballroom 389 Coldharbour Lane, Brixton, SW9 8LQ,
Saturday 11th November, SW16 50 years Of Funk at Hideaway
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Brixton Buzz
Wonderland at the Prince of Wales
Sat
11th
469 Brixton Rd, SW9 8HH, 10pm-6am, £13.50
November
10pm-4am, £5 DJs Jizzy Rascal and Mike Urban bring the noise to the Dogstar’s busy ballroom, throwing down a swaggering, fun packed party mix of Britpop, indie, new wave, dance, drum’n’bass and floor-shaking pop anthems.
Gig guide This fantastic night sees the PoW being transformed into a magical, multi-coloured Wonderland, with an eclectic line-up of bands, burlesque performers and DJs, plus cafe and stalls. Live on stage is festival veterans They Say Jump, Balearic pint rattlers The Cracked, gypsy swing stars the Rumpsteppers and sampling whizz FlutterByOne. On the decks is OneTrickPony throwing down hip hop, pop and RnB with King Of Hearts & Benny Silver MC keeping the funk flowing. Finishing off proceedings with a burst of D&B, Electro, Garage and general bangers is Elementum & J.Ravensm backed by Disco Duzmoore’s Birthday Beats. As ever, all profits go to charity projects in the Gambia.
SW2
Moonlandingz at Electric Brixton Town Hall Parade, Brixton, SW2 1RJ, 7pm-11pm, £17 The Moonlandingz – the band born from a semi fictional concept album by Sheffield electronic analogue weirdos the ‘Eccentronic Research Council’ and fronted by Fat White Family’s legendary frontman, Lias Saoudi - headline this show at the Electric.
Saturday 18th November, SW2
Further at Portico Gallery 23A Knight's Hill, West Norwood, SE27 0HS, 7.30pm-midnight, £9 DJ Food & Pete Williams shunt out the second of their irregular evenings at the Portico Gallery, creating a temporary audio visual space to, like, meld your mind. Settle into the comfy seating and take in the films, sounds, slides and oil projections.
Saturday 18th November, SE27 Andy Quick Band at Railway Tavern 7 Station Rise, Tulse Hill, SE27 9BW, 9pm2am, Free A soul punch of indie blues and roots, Mr Quick’s eclectic electric four piece looks to get this popular Tulse Hill boozer rocking.
Sunday 19th November, SE17 Jaded with A Sagittariun at Corsica Studios
Sunday 26th November, SW11
Reggae Fraternity at Clapham Grand 21-25 St John's Hill, Clapham, SW11 1TT, 6pm-1am, £22+
Friday 24th November, SE15
Swing & Bass at Cafe Cairo 88 Landor Road, SW9 9PE, 10pm-2am, £3 Swing & Bass bring their vintage themed debauchery and madness to one of our favourite south London venues. The music policy spans Electro Swing to Drum’n’Bass, Hip-Hop, Garage, House, and more. DJs include Dan de'Lion, Fizzy Gillespie, Ekim and Ali Baba. Dressing up is encouraged, with prizes for the best effort. So no Poundland costumes, then.
Saturday 18th November, SE27
Saturday Sessions at Gigalum 8 Cavendish Road, Clapham Common, SW4 9DW, 8pmmidnight, Free DJs Hilton Caswell and Ben Yong pledge to bang out classic soulful house music in this bar by the Common.
DJ sets by Bo Ningen and PINS, plus of course, a live show from Black Lips.
5 Farrell Court, Elephant & Castle, SE17 1LB, 6am-3pm, £16
Saturday 18th November, SW9
Congo Faith Healers at the Blues Kitchen 40 Acre Lane, Brixton, SW2 5SP, 10pm2.30am, £10 An evening of ‘dirty savage swamp infested gypsy blues’ is promised by the Congo Faith Healers, who conjure up a mélange of voodoo vocals, trumpet grooves and rockabilly swing. Taking over at 1am is resident band The Beekays, who stick to a more conventional diet of classic rock and roll.
Saturday 25th November, SW4
Thursday 23rd November, SE22 For hardcore clubbers who laugh, nay GUFFAW, in the face of the daylight, Corsica Studios will be happy to keep you doing your thing till 3pm. A Sagittariun, Raymundo Rodriguez, Covariance with Emily Ono and Tim Gee will be ensuring that there’s no narcolepsy on their watch.
Watson's General Telegraph Forest Hill Tavern, 108 Forest Hill Rd, SE22 0RS, 8pm, Free Shuffle up the hill to this well stocked, ontrend bar and flap your moveable parts to the sound of hot swinging live jazz.
Sunday 19th November, SW9
Grass Roots Live Music at Club 414 414 Coldharbour Lane, Brixton, SW9 8LF, 10pm-3am, Free/donations Hosted by UB40 trumpet-player Patrick Anthony, backed by a talented house band, this you can expect a night of 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
Tuesday 21st November, SE5
Jazz Jam at The Junction 171 Coldharbour Lane, SE5 9PA, 8pm-11pm, Free The strummin’, tootin’ and percussin’ starts at 8pm and keeps on throwing shapes and improvising until close at this affordable, independent boozer. Recommended.
Wednesday 22nd November,
Hawaiian Bop 40s-60s at The Bussey Building 133 Rye Lane, Peckham, SE15 4ST, 10pm-5am, £10 Hula hoop your way down to Peck’am for a swoonsome night of Hawaiian Bop, with DJ Richio Suzuki and special guest Oscar Romp spinning Motown, rockabilly, old school R&B and rock 'n' roll - and all on delicious slabs of 45rpm vinyl. Also grappling with the decks will be Southampton-spawned Soul45 DJs Mark James and Neil Walters, throwing down a vintage selection of Soul, Funk, Reggae and Disco sharp enough to slice a pineapple. Button up your favourite eye-popping Hawaiian shirt, shimmy into the throng and say aloha to the dancefloor.
Friday 24th November, SW9
Bowie to Béyonce and Beyond at Upstairs at Market House 443 Coldharbour Lane, Brixton, SW9 8LN, 10pm-3am, £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 agitated kangaroo on uppers.
There’s nothing but reggae thumping through the speakers at this Clapham showcase, with live performances from Sylvia Tella, Kofi, Dennis Bovell, Donna Michael and Dennis Pinnock, plus a host of others. It’s a real family affair too, featuring the daughters of Dennis Brown, Alton Ellis and Levi Roots, plus parent and children combos, all backed by the RFUK Premier band. There’s also comedy from Donna Spence and Curtis Walker, with DJs Mista Stylee and Lady TLC keeping the vibes suh-weeeet.
Tuesday 28th November, SW9 Live Jazz at the Cable Bar & Café 8 Brixton Road, Oval, SW9 6B, 8pm, Free This weekly event sees jazzy/blues bands take to the bijou stage in this charming little café/bar by the Oval.
Thursday 30th November, SW9
Live Jazz at the Prince of Wales 469 Brixton Rd, SW9 8HH, 11pm-3am, Free Popular with locals and musicians, it’s perfect for night owls with an insatiable thirst for beer and live jazz. Open till 3am and admission free, but Photo ID required.
Friday 24th November, SE1
Black Lips Mega Party at The Coronet Theatre 28 New Kent Road, Elephant & Castle, SE1 6TJ, 7pm, £25 With the clock ticking on the Coronet before it gets flattened as part of the beastly Elephant & Castle gentrification, there’s a mighty rock and roll party going on, with the Black Lips taking over the venue for the night. Bizarrely described as a “huge Fluffer Pit Party,” there’s live sets from Future Of The Left, Warmduscher, Madonnatron with
Jazz at the Prince of Wales
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November 2017 13
MUSIC By Laura Burgoine
Sunny with Overnight Lows
F
ollowing a series of UK shows last month, New York songstress Sunny Ozell talks to the Weekender about her new album Overnight Lows.
The album is the first new music Sunny, who is married to actor Patrick Stewart, has released since her critically acclaimed debut album, 2015’s Take It With Me. “It’s still a work in progress,” Sunny told the Weekender. “I made it with the same group of gents I did the last record with; we’ve been together for a while now and have settled into the thing that we do well, which is kind of a roots American rock soul kind of thing. I’m not cool enough to talk about this stuff!” The musician, who started classical vocal training at eleven and played the violin from age four, describes her sound more generally as soul. “You can apply it to anything from Memphis soul to Texas soul. There’s definitely Detroit soul –it’s more mo-towny,” she explained. Growing up in Nevada, Sunny cites the Killers as Vegas’ most well-known musical export. “I grew up in Reno, which has a totally different culture –it’s an eight hour drive from Vegas. There was a small music scene in Reno. I left at 19 and went to university in Colorado–that was when everyone was doing ska, and punk was cool,” she said. “I’d done classical training, which was super challenging, until I was 18, and when I got to university I joined a blues band, and stopped doing the classical thing,” she said. “Boulder had a great live music scene –Denver and Boulder are 30 minutes apart. Bill Graham -the San Francisco promoter who put on concerts with people like the Grateful Dead and Janis Joplin- his company Bill Graham Presents was headquartered out of Denver so it was the epicentre of live music,” she said. At 26, Sunny moved from Colorado to New York. “That
14 November 2017
again was another education,” she mused. “The standard in New York is very high, and that’s great. All the gents in my band are New York musicians; we played a gig in California with a different musician and the first time we played with him he said ‘you guys sound like New York City,’ and that is such a compliment.” The core unit of Sunny’s band is four guys playing drums, bass, guitar, and keyboard. New York proved a musical education. “It’s almost as important to go out and listen to a lot of music,” Sunny said. “I was going out three nights a week listening to live music. I did the thing that a lot of creative types do: I worked in restaurants waiting tables so I could do the creative thing. The stamina I had
in those days! It was head down, ass up.” Sunny met her husband Patrick Stewart while he was playing Macbeth at the Brooklyn Academy of Music. “It was a very scary Macbeth that he did,” she said. “When we first started seeing each other, we thought ‘cool, we’re both artists, there’s so much overlap,’ but the more we get to know each other the more we understand there’s not. What he does is really solitary. Your reality as an actor seems pretty lonely. The older I get, the more I love my musicians. I love the social aspect, the camaraderie,” she said. Recently Sunny performed at Jools Holland’s studio in Greenwich. “He has this BBC Radio 2 show, and it includes singing a song on air with his band, and you haven’t met the band before,” she explained. “You carve out 20 minutes, and
it’s super fun. What I realised is musicians are musicians. Even though I didn’t know these people, we had a shorthand, a mutual respect, and are comfortable very quickly. I love other musicians. It’s such a privilege to do this.” Sunny plans to release her record first in the UK, then in the States. “I have a foot on the ground here in England. Patrick and I split our time between England and America, and the radio experience in the UK is, for us, kind of more vibrant. People tune in to the Chris Evans show, or Jools Holland to specifically get that thing that the programme does. And that’s special,” she said. "I miss living in Bermondsey, watching the river rise and fall everyday. More than once, I mudlarked along the Thames and found old bits of old things that now sit proudly in a windowsill. That neighbourhood fascinated me,
particularly the history--everything from the ruins of King Edward III's riverside manor house, to the dockside warehouses. Layers and layers of human habitation, and the neighbourhood only seemed to be getting more vibrant. I return quite a bit still to visit Borough Market and my favourite stall Da Calabria." Wherever she is, music is a constant in Sunny's life. “This record is all original. It’s very personal. It’s been a rough year, the planet seems to be under duress, much more than ever before, there’s a feeling of urgency, and turning to music has been liberating, and a relief. I’m hoping to share that with the folks. What else do we do in these times?” Overnight Lows is due for release in early 2018. The first track Take you Down is out now.
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16 November 2017
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THEATRE By Laura Burgoine
SE1's brand new theatre N
icholas Hytner and Rory Kinnear are directing the opening production at Southwark’s newest purpose-built theatre: the Bridge Theatre, with the world premiere of a new comedy: Richard Bean and Clive Coleman’s Young Marx
It’s 1850, and Europe’s most feared terrorist is hiding in Soho. Broke, restless and horny, the 32-year-old revolutionary is a frothing combination of intellectual brilliance, invective, satiric wit, and child-like emotional illiteracy. Creditors, spies, rival revolutionary factions and prospective seducers of his beautiful wife all circle like vultures. His writing blocked, his marriage dying, his friend Engels in despair at his wasted genius, his only hope is a job on the railway. But there’s still no one in the capital who can show you a better night than Karl Heinrich Marx. Before this opening show Hytner and business partner Nick Starr have had a whole lot of work to do. A site had to be found for their new venture and the new 900-seater theatre built before
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anything else. Yet they still found time to talk to the Weekender during a break in rehearsals. Nicholas Hytner and Nick Starr worked together for many years as artistic director and executive director respectively of the National Theatre, where they increased the theatre’s financial success before moving on. They know each other well and pretty much spoke as one, sharing my questions and completing answers that the other had begun. Starr arrived at the rehearsal studios early, on his fold up bike, and chatted about the new space and the new technology they have been able to install that will allow so much more than any West End theatre. As the actors poured out of rehearsals at 1.30pm we slipped in to join Nicholas Hytner. Both Nicks were keen to stress that they had been looking for somewhere out of the West End for some time now and could not be happier at the site they found at One Tower Bridge. The Bridge Theatre’s focus will be on new works and they know this is more precarious financially: “There’s always a risk but if you put on a
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diet of famous plays with wellknown actors you know you’re going to be okay but you’re never going to find that thing that will go on and have a long life,” says the director. “You can only find that by taking risks,” adds Starr. This is the pair who took a risk on Warhorse, One Man, Two Guv’nors, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time, and The History Boys, so their pedigree is well documented. “You must take risks to find that new play that becomes “unmissable’, that the wider London public want to see,” continues Hytner. The new works will be by established writers, as they do not want to put pressure on inexperienced writers to fill 900 seats for three months. Having put on around 20 shows a year at the National’s three theatres, this successful pairing will now produce just four. And those works will have to be very good to go into production. “What interests us is that sweet spot where you are producing interesting, challenging work that is also emotional work, work
with a tragic weight that can be appealing,” begins Hytner. “We’re very definitely asking writers to think about what it’s like to engage more than 70,000 people over three months before we can even think about producing it.” My interview time neared its end. Nick Starr was getting back on his bike to return and oversee the new theatre’s finishing touches, while Nicholas Hytner looked at his lunch on the table. I asked how rehearsals were going. “It’s the first play I’ve directed for three years so I’m really enjoying it…I’m optimistic.” He definitely looked happy. These must be exciting times, I said. “Very exciting, the
flexibility of this new theatre will really set it apart because we are not confined by any architecture.” Already booked to fill the gap on Mondays when theatres are traditionally closed will be music by Southbank Sinfonia, Richard Thompson and the London Jazz Festival each year. Exciting times indeed. Young Marx is on at The Bridge Theatre, One Tower Bridge, SE1 2SD from October 18-December 31 at 7:45pm (TuesdaySaturday) and 2:30pm matinees on Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday. Phone: 0843 208 1846. www.bridgetheatre.co.uk
November 2017 17
BOOKS By Laura Burgoine
POETRY IN MOTION
In light of the 50th anniversary of Poetry International, there’s a live reading of newly published letters by one of the defining poets of the 20th century, Sylvia Plath. Ranging from the personal to the literary, Plath’s letters – most of which have never been seen before – offer insights into the genesis of an extraordinary writer, and the details of a life that helped to shape an iconic sensibility. Refreshingly candid about her personal life, and written with
inimitable wit and verve, these early letters from the first volume of her collected correspondence range from key moments in Plath’s adolescence; her successful but turbulent undergraduate years at Smith College; the move to England and Cambridge University; and her meeting and marrying Ted Hughes, including unseen letters post-honeymoon, revealing their extraordinary creative partnership. From acceptance of her work, to dealing with rejection, Plath’s
letters chart the early days of a writer establishing her voice. A cast of readers featuring leading actors, authors and Plath experts presents the words of a writer who continues to captivate each new generation. Letters of Sylvia Plath: 19401956 is at the Southbank Centre, Royal Festival Hall, Belvedere Road, SE1 8XX, on October 29 at 7:30pm. Admission: £15-£35. Phone: 020 3879 9555 www.southbankcentre.co.uk
YOUNG ADULT LITERATURE WEEKENDER Meet some of your favourite YA authors, and pick up some writing tips at the Southbank Centre’s Young Adult Literature Weekender.
18 November 2017
Hanks, Hillary Clinton, and Philip Pullman to name but a few.
Jujno Dawson
Photo by Sophia Spring
The London Literature Festival is pulling out all the stops this year with Tom
This year, it takes over the Clore Ballroom for the final weekend of the London Literature Festival. The weekend features the most exciting YA novelists, poets, bloggers, illustrators, and spoken word artists, from rising stars to legends. From the young queer Greenlandic author becoming an international star, Niviaq Korneliussen, to the first book for
young adults by Tracy Chevalier (author of the Girl with a Pearl Earring), spotlights on new voices, and returning favourites including Inua Ellams, Nikesh Shukla and Tanya Byrne. Don’t miss this opportunity to meet some of your favourite writers, and learn how to become a writer yourself with workshops, the YA Market and drop-in mentoring. October 28-29. www.southbankcentre.co.uk
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BOOKS
Murder and mayhem G
ilda O’Neill (19512010) – bestselling author, journalist and broadcaster, published thirteen novels and six works of non-fiction in her lifetime, and was awarded an honorary doctorate for her research into London’s East End.
Her ironically titled The Good Old Days is a foray through nineteenth century London, with all its grit, grime and headline-grabbing debauchery. Endeavour Press will be publishing the book at the end of October ’17. The Weekender will be featuring extracts from the book in three serialization articles. From chapter 6 - 1888 — Jack’s Reign of Terror: The year 1887 might have seen the commemoration of Victoria’s Golden Jubilee, but generally the mid-1880s were not a time for celebration. The winter of 1885 — 6 had seen the worst weather in living memory, causing distress in both town and country. Snow fell from October right though until May, and in January, in just seven hours, a full foot of it fell on the capital. There was massive and escalating unemployment. Fear of mob violence was gripping the middling classes, while there were worries about the increasing radicalism among the labouring classes, as violence, riots and strikes were breaking out. There was worsening overcrowding in the slums and a rise in the numbers of homeless. In addition to this, a vicious campaign of anti-Semitism was being directed at the growing numbers of Jewish refugees who were fleeing to Britain to escape from the murderous pogroms of Tsarist Russia. All of these events, with their potential for sensationalism, were pounced on as great copy by the press. But despite all the fears and disturbances, by the August of 1888 — a far more than averagely eventful year, as William Fishman has shown in his book named for that year — they would pale into insignificance as it was realized that a serial killer had unleashed his wrath in the east of the capital. He would terrorize the people of London and beyond, capturing and horrifying the imagination of the public right around the world. The Whitechapel murders would, open a window on to another side of life, one that many Victorians had either not known existed or had simply refused to acknowledge was there. This was despite the evidence of their own eyes, as they nightly witnessed the hordes of desperate
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He would terrorize the people of London and beyond, capturing and horrifying the imagination of the public right around the world people sleeping rough in the royal parks and in Trafalgar Square, right in the midst of what had been until then the comfortably complacent West End. There continues to be wide speculation, wild theories and passionate argument surrounding the events of that autumn of 1888, mostly regarding the identity of the murderer, who had come to be known as Jack the Ripper. As well as contemporary reports, both official and otherwise, and the many books dedicated to the subject — from the ludicrous to the scholarly — there are numerous websites favouring one theory or another. One of the most thorough, which brings much of the material and references together, can be found in Casebook: Jack the Ripper at www.casebook.org. But to begin with, putting aside the identity of the killer, there isn’t even any agreement as to how many victims there were. Some extreme, self-styled ‘Ripper-ologists’ have speculated that over thirty women were murdered by the Ripper, while others contend that there were as few as three. Obviously
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three is still an appalling tally — one would have been too many — but nothing like as shocking. The general consensus, though, is that there were five victims. The first was Mary Ann Nichols, known in the Victorian tradition as Polly — as was my own Victorian grandmother, who always held that the Ripper was, in fact, a woman, a midwife driven to madness by the seemingly endless abortions she had carried out for the ‘brides’. The other four are thought to have been Annie Chapman, Elizabeth Stride, Catherine Eddowes and Mary Jane Kelly — with the deaths of Elizabeth Stride and Catherine Eddowes being known as the double killing, as they occurred on the same night. The evidence can just about be stretched to include Emma Smith and Martha Tabram, who both died before Polly Nichols — the first of the so-called canonical five — as it can for Rose Mylett, ‘Clay Pipe’ Alice McKenzie, and Frances Coles, who died after Mary Jane Kelly, the last of the five. Some of these have been dismissed because they weren’t killed at the weekend, which would spoil the
theory that the murderer was a butcher from the continental cattle boats that docked in the Thames late on Thursday evenings and left by Monday morning. Another incident that some have claimed must have been the work of Jack the Ripper is reported in the following piece from the Penny Illustrated Paper of 24 November 1888, under the headline ‘Fresh East-End Outrage’. The method of the attempted murder seems close to that used on the generally accepted five victims, and the area in which the attack took place is well within that favoured by the killer. An outrage ... was committed last Wednesday [at] about four o’clock
in the morning, a man, and a woman named Farmer, of the unfortunate class, engaged a bed at a common lodginghouse in George-street, Spitalfields. The man suddenly made an attempt to cut his companion’s throat. The woman screamed loudly for assistance. Her throat was only slightly wounded, so that she was able to exert all her strength in coping with her assailant. He hastily fled the house. Meanwhile the screaming had attracted a few persons to the locality. These gave chase to the fugitive ... [but] the man disappeared somewhere, it is said, in the direction of Heneage-street ... she gave [a] detailed description of her assailant as follows:- age about thirty, height 5ft 6in ... the woman who had so fortunately escaped is between forty and fifty years of age ... [she] declares that the same man accosted her twelve months ago. Despite the fact that the day of the week did not fit with the usual modus operandi, both the assailant’s and the potential victim’s descriptions fit well with those seen in the pattern of evidence presented in the principal five killings. The question has to be asked: did the writer of the report make the facts fit? But at least the artists responsible for the press sketches of the victims did not do them the injustice of prettifying and tidying them up to make them better copy. Unlike the representations of the women who died so horribly that are shown in popular films and described in novels, the victims were not bright young beautiful things, but were drunks in their late thirties and forties. They were living impoverished lives in every sense: separated from their families and with few possessions other than the clothes they stood up in and the few paltry items they could secrete about their persons, keeping them safe from the fingers of thieves mean enough to steal from those as poor, or even poorer, than themselves.
Endeavour Press is a leading independent digital publisher, specialising in Crime/Thrillers, Romance, Historical Fiction and History.
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November 2017 19
family By Katherine Johnston
Watch a Mountain Dragon Goose Green’s Skewbald Theatre brings Michael Morpurgo’s classic tale Mini and the Dragon to life with the help of a collection of magical puppets and music. Join Mimi as she journeys across the Swiss mountains to bravely reunite a lost baby dragon with his fearsome mother – will she succeed? Suitable for children aged three and above.October 29. Tickets £7 via www.skewbaldtheatre.com Goose Green Centre, 62A East Dulwich Road, London, SE22 9AT
Get arty
Visit Santa at Christmas fair The Love West Dulwich Christmas Fair returns on November 25, with a Santa’s Grotto, face painting. The fair will also include family friendly activities, music, dancing, food stalls, and arts and crafts market and shopping. It will run from 11am to 4pm on Croxted, Park Hall and Rosendale roads, SE21. Look up lovewestdulwich on Facebook.
Kids Kreate is a free art group for children aged 5-12. Run by volunteer artists, the group focuses on helping kids to gain skills and have fun. Founder Jackie Keane hopes to set up a charity and expand the initiative across Southwark and Croydon. Every Saturday, 10am12pm, in The Greenhouse at Pop Brixton. To book a space, email kidskreate@ hotmail.com For more information visit: www.kidscreate.org.uk 49 Brixton Station Rd, Brixton, London SW9 8PQ
Spooky house Creep down to Charlton House on 26 October to make your own spooky houses for Halloween. Drop in session. Suitable for ages four and over. All materials will be provided. Children must be accompanied at all times by their guardians. Time: 10am -1pm, Cost: £1.50 www.greenwichheritage.org
Save your squash Fireworks show This year’s Lambeth Fireworks at Brockwell Park takes inspiration from the theme ‘a night at the movies’ and will see quotes and soundtracks from a host of cinematic classics throughout the 20 minute display at 8pm. Live music, a funfair and good and drink from 5pm. November 04. Family tickets from £30 via www.lambethfireworks.london Brockwell Park, Norwood Road, London, SE24 9BJ
20 November 2017
You can learn to love your squash at Brockwell Park Community Greenhouses on November 4. You can learn about seed saving, find out how to avoid food waste, then make a delicious pumpkin soup. You can even bring your own Halloween pumpkin along and rescue it from waste. The event is from 10.30am to 12.30pm, costs £2.50 to £5 and is suitable for all ages. All children must be supervised by an adult. www.brockwellgreenhouses.org.uk
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Countdown to Christmas Our handpicked festive guide: pantomimes, gifts, and 25 days of events in Lambeth, Southwark & Greenwich
Christmas calendAr: december day by day
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SEASONAL SOUTHBANK
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WINNER WINNER CHICKEN DINNER
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SHOP LOCAL
Crafty Fox market returns to its original location, Brixton’s Dogstar, on Saturday 2 and Saturday 3 December from 11am-5pm. Support independent designer-makers and discover an inspiring mix of over 50 traders offering an eclectic mix of original gifts, homeware, jewellery, prints, and more.
This season, the Southbank Centre Winter Festival is pulling out all the stops to throw its biggest and best ever Christmas celebration, running from Friday November 10 to Thursday 4 January. There's a sack-load of Thames-side festive fun planned including one of the best Christmas markets in London, and seasonal Christmas shows.
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CHRISTMAS LIGHTS
www.craftyfoxmarket.co.uk
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5
HAVING A GIRAFFE
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Omnibus Theatre and Little Angel Theatre have joined forces to create Zeraffa Giraffa, a new play by award-winning poet and writer Sabrina Mahfouz, based on the picture book by Dianne Hofmeyr. The play is inspired by the remarkable true story of a real giraffe called Zeraffa, and her epic journey from the plains of Ethiopia to the Jardin de Plantes in France. The stage adaptation includes a cast of three performers, and an array of puppetry styles from shadow puppetry to object manipulation and live music. Running from November 25-December 17 at Omnibus theatre in Clapham. Tickets: £8 children and concession/£10 adults.
Get silly season off to a lucky start at Vauxhall City Farm’s 40th anniversary raffle where the first prize is a whopping £500. Throw your hat in the ring, and enjoy the seasonal festivities, winter crafts, and animal cuddles. Tickets are on sale for £2 each at the farm’s new gift shop and office: the Old Dairy Café. To volunteer to sell tickets email volunteering@vauxhallcityfarm.org
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Get your skates on
The Shard’s annual festive light show returns on Monday 4 December as the top 20 storeys of the building illuminate the London skyline for a fifth year. Shard Lights animate the sky from dusk until early morning with one of five colours each day on rotation. There will be an array of visual effects including gradients, patterns and sparkles throughout the evening. The show will build to a crescendo at midnight and feature special oneoff displays to mark the first night and New Year’s Eve. www.the-shard.com/shardlights
WHAT THE DICKENS
Old Vic creative director Matthew Warchus is staging Dickens’ classic Christmas Carol from November 20-January 20. In the joyous new adaptation by Jack Thorne, starring Rhys Ifans, the cold hearted miser Scrooge is visited by four ghosts, transported to worlds past, present and future. For families aged 11+ Tickets: £12-£65. www.oldvictheatre.com
8 POW WOW
Fancy whizzing around one of London’s most famous landmarks? Located in the dry moat, the Tower of London ice rink offers a grand historical setting for seasonal skating sessions, along with views of London's ancient fortress and the river Thames. Tickets: £14.50 adults, £12.50 children (13-15 years old), £10.50 children (3-12 years old). toweroflondonicerink.co.uk
Afrikan Roots are putting on a night of Afro House at Brixton’s Prince of Wales. Joined by DJs Mr Silk, Aluku Rebels, DJ Fiddla, DJ Mkhukhwini Kasiluv, Drums X Vibes promises to be an evening of African rhythm and drums from 10:30pm-5am. 467-469 Brixton Road, SW9 8HH. Tickets: £10-£15. Phone: 020 7095 1978. pow-london.com
Christmas calendAr: december day by day
9
NORTH POLE VAULTS
The Vaults in Waterloo are bringing back the Dance Before Christmas. This year involves a journey through space ending up at The Party at The End of The Universe. Expect mindblowing installations, warp drives, underwater alien caves, Martian canyons of glitter and foil, a chat with the man in the moon, a beverage on the forbidden planet and a party at the end of the universe where you'll be assured of the galaxy's greatest tracks - making it the best last party you ever had. A theatrical experience, crescendo-ing in the most wonderful dance to celebrate the festival season in the depths of Waterloo station. Complimentary punch on arrival for all guests for the first hour.
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MARKET HOUSE
MODERN MARKET
Pretty wooden chalets fill the space between the Tate Modern and the Thames for this traditional Christmas market. Shoppers can browse handmade wooden toys, accessories, intricate decorations and plenty more, before tucking into festive food and warming cups of glühwein. A Victorian carousel and festive music help add to the Christmas spirit.
Crafty Fox market returns to Peckham’s Bussey Building on Saturday 9 and Sunday 10 December, and Elephant and Castle’s Mercato Metropolitano on Saturday 16 December. www.craftyfoxmarket.co.uk
PEXMAS It’s beginning to look a lot like Pexmas –the festival returns on December 9 and 10 from 11am-9pm at Warwick Gardens. Now in its sixth year, there’s a market, mulled wine, stalls, street food, and tunes.
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CHRISTMAS CAROLS
The merriment continues at Royal Festival Hall with a traditional concert of seasonal classics, glorious carols and readings. Performers include the Philharmonic Orchestra, conductor Stephen Bell, soprano Susanna Hurrell, reader Sir Tony Robinson, the London Chorus, and the Southend Boys and Girls Choir, among others. The reportoire includes Schubert’s Ave Maria, Harold Darke: In the bleak midwinter, Handel: Excerpts from Messiah, John Rutter: Candlelight Carol, plus carols including the First Nowell; Hark! the herald angels sing; O come, all ye faithful; O little town of Bethlehem; Once in royal David's city; Unto us is born a son; O come, O come Emmanuel; Good King Wenceslas. 7:30pm. Admission: ££16.50 - £49.50
Royal Festival Hall, he Clore Ballroom, Level 2. Admission: free.
Join international development charity Feed the Minds for Southwark Cathedral’s annual Carol Concert on Tuesday 12 December. The candlelit setting will be a magical backdrop for the programme, which includes a singalong to classic Christmas carols and choral performances from the church’s Quorum Chamber Choir. Concert runs from 7pm-9:30pm. It’s been sold out for the last three years, so book your ticket to avoid disappointment.
SILENT NIGHT
London Bridge, SE1 9DA. www.eventbrite.co.uk
16
HOLIDAY HARMONY
Part of Southbank Centre’s Wintertime festival, the holidays never sounded so good. Young musicians from In Harmony Lambeth perform a rich, varied and joyful programme of music. Runs for 90 minutes, from 5:30pm at Royal Festival Hall’s Clore Ballroom, Level 2. Admission: free.
Part of the Wintertime festival, hear over 250 children from Southwark primary schools share seasonal songs old and new in a high-energy performance that follows a series of in-school workshops. Runs for 60 minutes, from 5:30pm at
CAROLS BY CANDLELIGHT
December 9 and 16 from 8pm-2am. Tickets: £10-£18. www.thevaults.london
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SOUTHWARK WINTER SPLASH
They’ve partied 244 metres above the city at the Shard and now the movers and shakers at Time Out events are sailing south with dance floor, headphones and expert DJs all in tow. The latest Time Out Silent Disco is hopping aboard the Cutty Sark in Greenwich with three channels of perfect pop tunes to keep you dancing all night long. Boppers can also venture from the dance floor and explore the rest of the ship between 8.30pm-10pm to avoid the usual crowds and pepper the partying with a little history. Tickets must be booked in advance online. Cutty Sark , Greenwich Friday December 15.
NATIVITY SCENE Nativity the Musical comes to the West End from December 13-17. The popular festive film is now a major new musical adapted for the stage by Debbie Isitt, the creator of the much-loved films. So join Mr Maddens and his crazy assistant Mr Poppy as they struggle with hilarious children, unruly animals and a whole lot of sparkle and shine to make everyone's Christmas wish come true. Eventim Apollo Hammersmith. Phone: 020 8563 3800. www.eventimapollo.com
XMAS SHOW AT THE HIDEAWAY
The swinging six piece band with a big punch are turning on the Christmas cheer at Streatham’s Hideaway jazz club. Lead by Hideaway’s resident musical director Janette Mason, top vocalists Lily Dior and Kevin Leo are grooving their way through a classic Christmas catalogue. December 14, 15, and 16. Tickets: £15. www.hideawaylive.co.uk
SOUNDS OF STREATHAM Join conductor Calum Fraser, organist Richard Leach and members of the Streatham Choral for an evening of Christmas carols, songs and readings. Members are asked to bring their own copy of "100 Carols for Choirs". Admission: £8/£6 concession. December 16 from 7:30pm-9:30pm. St Leonard's Church, Streatham High Road, SW16 1HS. www.wegottickets.com/event/418238
MOOMIN WINTER'S EVE
HORNIMAN XMAS FAIR
Enjoy talks, performances and workshops exploring the magical tales of Moominvalley. Your ticket includes all latest activities, entry to the Permanent Collection and the Tove Jansson exhibition.
The swinging six piece band with a big punch are turning on the Christmas cheer at Streatham’s Hideaway jazz club. Lead by Hideaway’s resident musical director Janette Mason, top vocalists Lily Dior and Kevin Leo are grooving their way through a classic Christmas catalogue.
6pm-10pm. Adults: £15.50, friends and concessions: £12.50. www.dulwichpicturegallery.org.uk
December 14, 15, and 16. Tickets: £15. www.hideawaylive.co.uk
Christmas calendAr: december day by day
17
XMAS CARNIVAL
Shabba and Love Kulture Project are joining forces to bring the Carnival spirit to Brixton with a festive twist at Brixton’s Prince of Wales rooftop. The venue is unveiling a new winter roof terrace with a seasonal rum shack, serving warm cocktails and jerk BBQ with Caribbean cuisine, with three stages of music, dancers and performers, carnival production, a free braid bar and much more. 8pm-5am. 467 Brixton Road, SW9 8HH.
SECRET JAZZ CLUB
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SNOW DAY
19
BRAND POWER
The multi-award winning international sensation Slava’s Snowshow returns to the Southbank Centre. A combination of theatrical clowning and stunning visual spectacle, it’s performed by a world-renowned company of clowns led by Slava Polunin, Artistic Director of the St Petersburg Circus.
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CHILDREN'S FAIR
There’s festive fun on Windrush Square with children's rides and fair amusements throughout the Christmas season. Admission: free.
in 24 Winter Greenwich
Runs from December 18-January 4. Tickets: £20-£105. www.southbankcentre.co.uk Comedian, Russell Brand is embarking on his Re:Birth tour, which poses questions like "What is real?" and "Who are we?" Journey with Russell as he talks about politics, sex, fatherhood and death.
The best and brightest from London's vibrant jazz scene are coming to Pop Brixton. Regular contributors include: Andy Davies: scintillating trumpeter in the house band at the world famous Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club, Vimala Rowe: recognised as one of the most dramatic and passionate jazz vocalists of her generation and an expert in sublime renditions of classics made famous by Ella Fitzgerald and Sarah Vaughan, Binker Golding: multiple award-winning tenor saxophonist whose intensity is reminiscent of John Coltrane. And many others. Sunday 17 December at 9pm11pm. Admission: £15. www.popbrixton.org
21
THE GREATEST CHRISTMAS SHOW ON EARTH
The Cinema Museum has compiled another great evening of top-class entertainment from all over the world for your pleasure and amusement. They’ve got internationally-renowned singers and musicians, exuberant dancing, jaw-dropping speciality acts, and comedians of the first order. Doors open at 6:30pm for a 7:30pm start. Phone: 020 7840 2200. www.cinemamuseum.org.uk
O2 Academy Brixton on December 18 and 19 at 7pm. Tickets: £32.20. www.academymusicgroup.com
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FINNISH LINE
The Queen Elizabeth Roof Gardens will be home to a Finnish sauna which overlooks the river and the London skyline, as part of Southbank Centre’s Wintertime festivities. Each 16-person session will last 70 minutes with changing and showering facilities and on hand sauna-experts as well as blankets and warming winter drinks at The Rooftop Bar for post-sauna sipping. November 10-December 30. Tickets: £15-£25. www.southbankcentre.co.uk
23 Clapham common's first ice rink
The inaugural Greenwich Wintertime Festival is set in the grounds of Sir Christopher Wren’s riverside masterpiece Old Royal Naval College. A fresh, new winter festival blending the contemporary and the traditional, the event will host a bespoke covered ice rink, high-calibre entertainment, an array of independent creative designers and brands, the very best of artisan festive food and drink, an art exhibition, plus an enchanting Father Christmas experience for all the family. Runs from December 1-31. Tickets start at £15 for adults and £8 for children. greenwichwintertime.com
25 For the first time, a magical town is springing up on Clapham Common for the yuletide. Winterville boasts an outdoor ice rink, roller disco, fairground and big wheel, plonk golf, and a Winter Night Garden courtesy of Backyard
Cinema. There’s also a food court run by Street Feast hosting some of London’s best street food traders. From November 23. winterville.co.uk
I will honour Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year.
Charles Dickens
28 November 2017
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Gifts for her, him & the kids
Whale Cocktail Shaker, National Theatre shop, £20.99 www.shop.nationaltheatre.org.uk
Helen Noakes Solo Voyager Bangle, gallery@oxo in the Oxo Tower, £360 www.oxotower.co.uk
Love print, Rigby and Mac, £17.95 www.rigbyandmac.com
Moon locket necklace, Royal Observatory shop, £25 www.shop.rmg.co.uk
Dinosaur Bottle Opener, Natural History Museum Shop, £25 www.nhmshop.co.uk
Crosley Cruiser Turntable With Three Speeds, Green, John Lewis, £58.50 www.johnlewis.com
Gold pineapple bookends, Rigby and Mac, £60 www.rigbyandmac.com
Hove laptop bag in brown, Simon Carter, £225 www.simoncarter.net
Glow in The Dark Tail Kids Size, Natural History Museum Shop, £22 www.nhmshop.co.uk
Kids Bean Bag, British Library, £150 www.bl.uk/shop
Pirate Train Cave, National Maritrme Museum shop, £37.50 www.shop.rmg.co.uk
NASA Space Helmet Royal Observatory Shop, £45 www.shop.rmg.co.uk
Disney Pixar Cars 3 Movie Moves Lightning McQueen, Argos, £34.99 www.argos.co.uk
Fisher-Price® Bright Beats Dance & Move BeatBo, Smyths Toys: £39.99 www.smythstoys.com
Playmobil Pharaoah's Pyramid, Toys R Us, £44.98 www.toysrus.co.uk
Pirate Train set, Royal Maritime Museum shop £50 www.shop.rmg.co.uk
Book your Christmas festivities on 020 7232 5174 Simplicity is open every evening from 6pm until late and open for lunch every Sunday 12-5pm. Bookings recommended. Enjoy a traditional Christmas feast at Simplicity: we use the finest ingredients, all dishes are personally prepared on the premises by our award winning chef Lawrence Lingard.
Visit www.simplicityrestaurants.com
Christmas Day Bookings essential Open 2:30 - 7pm (lunch served at 3pm)
£90 per person / Under 18 £40 / Under 8 Free
limited spaces available
Email eat@simplicityrestaurants.com
New Year's Eve
Book early to reserve your table Open 7pm - 3am £70 per person Music from our resident DJ limited spaces available
SimplicitySE16
@Simplicity_SE16
Christmas Parties 3 course set menu £35 per person We can tailor a menu to your budget
T: 020 7232 5174 1 Tunnel Road, Rotherhithe, London SE16 4JJ (Behind Rotherhithe overground station, between Brunel Rd / Rotherhithe St)
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November 2017 31
Pantos & shows Wild and Wacky Winter A Show for 4+ years tells the tale of the last two people in the World...
Trilby and The-Boot have never had a winter, or a snow ball fight, or even a pig in a blanket. What they do have, is each other and maybe, just maybe, that is enough...
Follow the two hapless heroes as they try to discover what this Crimbo-thing is really all about - ‘What are presents?’ ‘What is the point of tinsel?’ and (most importantly) ‘Will it snow?’ With silliness, light-up antlers and a whole lot of snow, our two unlikely heroes create a wintery wonderland - in a world where
Snow-Pocalypse
By Michael Holland
anything can be made from the scraps left behind and magic and mayhem is around every corner. Greenwich Theatre, Crooms Hill, SE10 8ES from Dec 8th - 30th. Various Times: 10.30am, 11am, 2pm. Admission: £13.50 adults, £8.50 children. Phone: 0208 858 4447 www.greenwichtheatre.org.uk
his festive season watch T Cinderella go from rags to riches in Greenwich Theatre’s latest all-singing, all-dancing magical pantomime. The clock is ticking! See the greatest pantomime heroine of them all as she shows what
Pinocchio O
n a quest to be truly alive, Pinocchio leaves Geppetto’s workshop with Jiminy Cricket in tow.
Their electrifying adventure takes them from alpine forests to Pleasure Island to the bottom of the ocean. This spectacular new production is brought to the stage by an extraordinary team including the director of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child and the writer of Matilda the Musical.
Featuring unforgettable music and songs from the Walt Disney film including I’ve Got No Strings, Give a Little Whistle and When You Wish upon a Star in dazzling new arrangements, Pinocchio comes to life as never before. For brave 8 year olds and above. National Theatre, Southbank, SE1 from December 1st April 7th. Times: Mon - Sat 7pm, varied matinees at 2pm. Admission: £15 - £62. Phone: 0207 452 3000 www.nationaltheatre.org.uk
can happen with a great pair of shoes and sprinkle of fairy dust. Packed full of all the amazing Greenwich pantomime ingredients, it is time to dust off your finest linens, practice your booing and join Cinders and her two horrible Step-Sisters as they embark on an adventure full of
Breaking the Ice O
valhouse's Christmas Show is Filskit Theatre’s Breaking The Ice, the incredible true story of a wild polar bear who made friends with a husky.
This is a show inspired by their unlikely friendship. Go on a journey into the snow where music,
magic, mischief and musical mayhem…! Greenwich Theatre, Crooms Hill, SE10 8ES from 17th Nov - 7th Jan 2018. Times: Various: 10am, 1pm, 2pm, 5pm, 7pm. Admission: £29, £20 concs. Phone: 0208 858 4447 www.greenwichtheatre.org.uk
shadows and projection will transport you to a place where Polar Bears and Huskies really can be friends. Then watch as your child joins in with the adventure and takes their place on Team Polar Bear or Team Husky! An interactive arctic adventure for ages 2-5. Running time 40 minutes plus 15 minutes stay and play. Ovalhouse, 52-54 Kennington Oval, SE11 5SW from Wed 13 Sat 23 December. Times: 11am (no perfs SUN or MON), Sat 16 & 23 Dec 2pm. Admission: £10. Phone: 020 7582 7680 www.ovalhouse.com
The Judge of the Divorces...y Otros T he Judge of the Divorces…y Otros returns for the Christmas period for a Spanish alternative to the pantomime.
An adaptation of two Entremeses (short plays) by Cervantes, featuring some of Shakespeare’s well-known characters, as an homage to the 400th anniversary of the
arnum tells the story B of P.T. Barnum, the Greatest Showman on
Earth, who combines razzle-dazzle with charm and brass to sell “humbug” to cheering crowds.
A joyful and moving musical portrait of the nineteenth century’s greatest show-biz legend, Barnum is a colourful, dynamic spectacle full of circus, side-show legends and heart. With music by Cy Coleman (Sweet Charity and The Life), lyrics by Michael Stewart (book writer of Hello Dolly! and Mack
Barnum and Mabel; and co-adaptor of 42nd Street), and book by Mark Bramble (co-author of 42nd Street and director of the current revival), this Tony Award-winning musical premièred on Broadway in 1980. Menier Chocolate Factory, 53 Southwark Street, SE1 1RU. Times: Tue – Sat 8pm, matinees Sat and Sun 3.30pm. Admission: £39.50 - £55. Phone: 0207 378 1713 www.menierchocolatefactory. com
deaths of these two geniuses of universal literature. Ticket includes tapas and a drink for the full entremés experience. Cervantes Theatre, 229 Union Street, SE1 0LR from 6th to 30th December. Times: 7.30pm. Admission: £25, £20 concs. Phone: 0203 633 4406 www.cervantestheatre.com
A Christmas Carol M atthew Warchus directs Charles Dickens’ timeless classic A Christmas Carol in a joyous new adaptation by Jack Thorne.
On a bitter Christmas Eve night a cold-hearted miser is visited by four ghosts. Transported to worlds past, present and future, Ebenezer Scrooge witnesses what a lifetime of fear and selfishness has led to and sees with fresh eyes the lonely life he has built
for himself. Can Ebenezer be saved before it’s too late? An uplifting story for families aged 11+, this essential festive treat is vividly brought to the stage in a big-hearted production full of music and cheer. The Old Vic, The Cut, SE1 from November 20th - January 20th 2018. Times: 7.30pm with varied matinees at 1pm and 2.30pm. Admission: £12 - £65. Phone: 0844 871 7628 www.oldvictheatre.com
Pantos & shows Dear Brutus
T
By Michael Holland
The Velveteen Rabbit
about a very shy toy rabbit who here once was a longs for nothing more than to Velveteen Rabbit, and in become real. He spends his days the beginning he was really waiting patiently on the nursery splendid. He was fat and floor, watching the Boy play with bunchy, as a Rabbit should By Michael Holland other toys and dreaming of being be; and for at least two picked up and loved. And then, hours the Boy loved him. one day, he is rediscovered and Join us as one of our biggest all his hopes start to come true... hits returns for a third time after a First published in 1922, this Broadway transfer. The Velveteen classic American tale loses Rabbit is a heart-warming story
Privates On Parade S et during the Malayan Emergency of the late 1940's, we follow the exploits of a song and dance unit during their tour of South East Asia as they provide light entertainment for the British Army. Private Steve Flowers is posted to join the small show, which is conceived by and very
remote English village, Iofnatana1917, there are rumours enchanted wood.
When, one evening, the wood miraculously appears the guests feel compelled to enter. What happens there has the power to change their lives forever… From J. M. Barrie, the celebrated writer of Peter Pan,
comes this haunting drama of self-revelation. Darkly comic, and presented in a sumptuous production for the play’s centenary year, Dear Brutus is Barrie at his most magical. Southwark Playhouse, 77-85 Newington Causeway, London SE1 6BD 29th Nov - 30th Dec. Times: 8pm. matinees 3.30pm. Admission: £20, £16 concs. Phone: 020 7407 0234. www.southwarkplayhouse.co.uk
M
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
One of the inhabitants – a mysterious old man – invites eight strangers to stay. They all have something in common.
irror, Mirror, on the wall, don’t miss the fairest pantomime of them all!
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs will be spectacularly brought to life with an abundance of comedy, sensational song and dance numbers, fabulous costumes and stunning scenery. Star of stage and screen Jessie Wallace will be joined by
comedian and magician Pete Firman as Muddles and hilarious panto dame Jason Sutton as Nurse Nancy. Throw in a magical Mirror, a beautiful princess, a handsome prince and plenty of audience participation as we outwit the Wicked Queen and let love prevail in this glittering festive treat for all ages.
Churchill Theatre, High Street, Bromley, BR1 1HA from Dec 2nd - 31st. Times. Various: 1pm, 1.30pm, 5pm, 5.30pm, 7pm. Admission: From £28 - £37. Phone: 0208 285 6000 www.churchilltheatre.co.uk
O
kot wants nothing more than to get to the UK. Beth wants nothing more than to help him.
Meet the hopeful, resilient residents of ‘The Jungle’– just across the Channel, right on our doorstep. Join refugees and volunteers from around the world over fresh baked naan and sweet milky chai at the Afghan Café. From Good Chance Theatre,
much starring the wonderfully flamboyant Captain Terri Dennis, who's cross-dressing antics are the talk of the barracks. Union Theatre, 229 Union Street, SE1 0LR from November 22nd - December 16th. Times: Tue - Sat 7.30pm, weekend matinees 2.30pm. Admission: £22.50 £20 concs. www.uniontheatre.biz
The Jungle
an immersive new play where worlds collide. In the worst places, you meet the best people. Young Vic, The Cut, SE1 from 7th December - 6th January 2018. Times: Mon - Sat 7.30pm. Admission: £10 - £38. Phone: 0207 922 2922 www.youngvic.org
nothing of its power, magic and charm in this bold and adventurefilled adaptation for the Unicorn stage. Ages 5 - Adult. Unicorn Theatre, 147 Tooley Street, SE1 2HZ from 17th Nov 31st Dec. Times: Vary from 11am - 5pm. Admission: £10 - £24. Phone: 0207 645 0560 www.unicorntheatre.com
FCUK'D C
hristmas is a time for those you love, and for those you love you do whatever it takes.
Stuck between a rock and a really hard place, a teenage boy kidnaps his little brother in a bid to flee his decrepit council flat and escape his daily encounters with the authorities. But with nowhere to go and no one to turn to, what kind of future do they face? Written entirely in verse, this candid one man show by Niall Ransome switches seamlessly between the innocence of childhood and the very real struggle of being fcuk'd by an unfair system, shining a light on the all-too-real experiences of young working-class men in Britain today. The Bunker, 53a Southwark Street, SE1 1RU from 11th 30th December. Times: Mon - Sat 7pm, Sat Matinees 4pm. Admission: £15, £12 concs. Phone: 0207 234 0486 www.bunkertheatre.com
Food & DRINK
Bring out your inner Greek
T
he Real Greek has been dishing up authentic Mediterranean cuisine since 1999; now the movers and shakers behind the chain have opened a 14th outpost in Dulwich Village with Santorini-inspired decor, low ceilings, wooden floors and white tables, writes Gabi Gheerbrant... The restaurant seats 100. At our table for two, we were
welcomed by Tonia Buxton: the London face of Greek food, who helped develop the menu. She offered us her personal recommendations, and we knew we were in safe hands. The menu is based on a sharing concept and consists of cold, hot and grilled mezes. We selected green pea fava, spicy feta dip (htipiti) and the unpronounceable melitzanosalata (smoked aubergine dip). For hot mezes
peppers, spinach and feta), pork belly, lamb cutlets, grilled octopus k e e r G and, obviously, the The Real Greek salad. , e g a h Vill The selection of 96-98 Dulwic 7AQ 1 cold starters arrived London SE2 stacked on a cake lgreek.com www.therea stand: an impressive tower of colourful dips served with warm pita bread. The signature Mediterranean flavours of salty feta, smoky garlic and aubergine, and aromatic olive oil do not disappoint. A mini wine tasting, courtesy of our waiter, involved trying two types of rosé, two reds, and one white. I’m still not convinced of the apparent Greek wine renaissance as they all tasted quite young and were a tad too acidic compared to my go-to full-bodied French or Argentinian wines. For hot mezes, the lamb cutlets served with lentils on a generous bed of Greek yogurt, and grilled octopus were definite crowd pleasers but the signature accompaniment, Greek salad, fell short with its over-ripened tomatoes bringing the mark slightly down. Though full, we insisted on dessert: caramel and pecan cheesecake, accompanied by a Greek coffee. we opted for a prawn saganaki "What do you do after dinner in (Tonia’s creation of tiger prawns Greece?" I asked our waiter, who in tomato sauce with pickled
now felt more like our accomplice. "Dance,” he said. Dancing on a school night? In Dulwich Village? Neither recommended nor possible. "One second,” he chirped, and before we knew it, he was pouring two shots of Ouzo for us. For a real taste of Greece: look no further.
the damage Green Pea Fava £4.75 Spicy Feta Dip (Htipiti) £5.00 Melitzanosalata £4.75 Greek Flatbread £3.00 Prawn Saganaki £7.00 Pork belly £6.75 Grilled Octopus £7.50 Lamb Cutlets £7.75 Greek Salad (Regular) £4.75 Caramel & Pecan Cheesecake £5.00 Makedonikos White (175ml glass) £5.50 Thymiopoulos- Atma (175ml glass) £6.50 Makedonikos Rose (175 ml glass) £5.10 Tetramythos Aghiorgitiko (175ml glass) £6.55 Total:
£79.55
Food (1-5) 0 0 0 0 0 Value (1-5) 0 0 0 0 0 Ambience (1-5) 0 0 0 0 0 Disabled access no Disabled toilet no BOOKING YES
A
leisurely Clipper ons ride up the cott use o Thames to St taff H Flags ge’s Wharf George Wharf Pier or had us sailing into the St Ge 8 2LE o.uk SW sunset and dropped rant.c u a t s off right in front of our ns-re cotto www. destination, Cottons Rum Shack and Caribbean Restaurant, writes Michael Holland... Cottons has just opened in this very smart complex of unaffordable Thames-side housing and retail units, and offers an excellent selection of cocktails, wine and Caribbean beers. I started with a Killer Duppy, a delicious cocktail mixing up four different rums, two liqueurs and fruit juices. My companion Julia went for a St George Collins which was named after the barman not our patron saint. All the starters looked good but we decided against the fingerlicking, sauce-dripping, stickyfingered wings and ribs that would leave me covered in sauce, and went for the salt fish fritters and salt and pimiento squid, both accompanied with their own chili dips. The fritters did little for me but the exquisite squid did -more so the chili dip that had the kick of Scotch Bonnet. For main courses, I picked the mixed jerk grill platter, Cottons’
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Reggae on the river signature dish that includes pork ribs, chicken, and lamb chop in a flavoursome sauce. Julia had Barbados shrimp curry with chili pineapple salsa. The curry was very nice and the meat was cooked perfectly. I would have liked the jerk to have more
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bite but that is not so important because that is just personal opinion, and I’m a glutton for chili kicks. We were both completely full by now but Julia explained that I had to be professional and have dessert. “The readers will expect it,” she said with a disapproving look. She wanted
to try the Jamaican bread and butter pudding. The addition of caramelised banana and cinnamon crème fraîche lifted it out of its home cooked vibe. It was very nice but sometimes you can tamper too much with that which is already good. Cottons is a great place to eat, drink and just listen to good music.
the damage Cocktails @ 8.50 x 2 £17.00 Salt Fish Fritters £6.00 Salt and Pimiento Squid £6.50 Barbados Shrimp Curry with Chilli Pineapple Salsa £18.50 Mixed Jerk Grill Platter £15.50 Banks Caribbean Lager £4.00 Jamaican Bread & Butter Pudding £6.00 TOTAL £73.50
Food (1-5) 0 0 0 0 0 Value (1-5) 0 0 0 0 0 Ambience (1-5) 0 0 0 0 0 Disabled access YES Disabled toilet YES BOOKING no
November 2017 39
40 November 2017
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Food & DRINK
an Courtes Road, 69-73 Atlantic PU 8 Brixton SW9 an.co.uk s e rt www.thecou
Female-only drinks list at Courtesan
D
im sum restaurant Courtesan opened on Atlantic Road five years ago, but following a revamp to its interior and menu, the venue is relaunching with a promise to be Brixton’s “newest destination”. The restaurant and bar certainly brings
The ole Rabbit H Lane Greyhound SW16 6NJ 837 0208 835 0
something a little different to Brixton’s nightlife. The interior is dimly lit with vintage décor to transport diners back to ancient China, with a downstairs late-night venue hosting live jazz, DJs, burlesque and cabaret every weekend, writes Becky Morton...
Wonderful Wonderland
A
s I fell down the Rabbit Hole with Missy G, I could see everyone was pleased to see her as she high-fived her way to the bar and ordered a Sex on the Beach and a plate of bangers and mash. Everyone cheered. I knew right then that this was going to be a good time, writes Michael Holland...
We were dining at the Rabbit Hole, the new incarnation of the old Greyhound in Streatham, a pub that has been run by the same family for many years and is now going through a transitional phase of new ideas from the young bloods in the clan. The Rabbit Hole now has an Alice in Wonderland vibe to it with some really fantastic, hand-painted murals and artefacts. And it offers up all the other aspects of pub life you desire: child-friendly garden, dining areas, quiet spaces, music, craft beer, pub games, good pub grub, a pool table, football table and ping-pong. Michelle, is a bit of a regular here so walked me round this huge pub pointing out the various
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highlights, and I could only conclude that the place had it all. We were here to check out the food and drinks, and arrived when the Tandoori menu kicked in, along with the lunch menu so we were able to have the best of both worlds. It didn’t take me long to choose a Camden Brewery Pale Ale. You don’t need to know about the sturdy hop flavour and underlying notes of tropical fruits because all we’re really worried about is finding a nice drop of beer. It’s a nice beer. My companion’s cocktail had an umbrella in it. Job done. The starters arrived: a feast of Spicy Calamari, BBQ chicken wings and macaroni cheese off the kids menu. The calamari were a touch overcooked for my liking, but that’s absolutely fine. We ate every single one of them and even had a row over the last one. The wings were cooked perfectly. The chicken just fell off the bone. The Macaroni Cheese was exactly that, two-dimensional but that’ s why Michelle loved it (“I don’t do spicy,” she said). All the family came and introduced
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The venue also claims to boast the world’s first all-female wine and spirit list, serving only drinks produced or grown by women on its extensive menu which includes cocktails and iced teas. The cocktails are potent but not overly sweet, with some unusual flavours drawing on exotic ingredients such as poppy liqueur and beetroot powder. It’s an all-female line up in the kitchen too with the chefs serving up a mixture of traditional dim sum and fusion dishes, including Italian ricotta and parmesan filled pouches and Jamaican Jerk chicken parcels in rice. The classic dishes of steamed dumplings and pork bao
themselves and made us feel at home, which was really nice. They were making an effort with all the customers. I think we have become accustomed to managed pubs and the loss of the old ‘mine host’ so it’s nice to have that personal touch again. In the lovely atmosphere, I felt a need for an Old Fashioned; I heard they go nice with Tandoori. Michelle’s Cumberland Sausage and Mash (with extra gravy) was bigger than her. Three big boy sausages sitting on top of a pile of mash in a moat of beef gravy. I’ve never seen her look so pleased with herself. She let me try the sausage; it was top of the range. I was quite jealous. My lamb tikka came with rice and salad and did the job. When you’re in a pub with good beer and good company and good food, you’ve cracked it. The Rabbit Hole is geared up for just about everything and everyone, whether it’s afternoons in the large play area for kids, skittles and darts, or clubbing in the basement club to 3.30am.
the damage Camden pale Ale Sex On the Beach Spicy Calamari BBQ Wings Kids Mac ’n’ Cheese Sausage & Mash Lamb Tikka Rice £3.50 Vodka & Red Bull x 2 Old Fashioned x 2
£4.90 £9.00 £6.00 £6.00 £4.00 £11.00 £7.00
TOTAL
£77.40
£5.00 £8.00
Food (1-5) 0 0 0 0 0 Value (1-5) 0 0 0 0 0 Ambience (1-5) 0 0 0 0 0 Disabled access yes Disabled toilet yes BOOKING no
(steamed buns) were done well and the wagyu and rib-eye sliders, served in a bao burger bun, were a surprise favourite with the succulent meat making a perfect match with the fluffy buns. There were also deep-fried offerings including sea bass and soft-shell crab as well as a selection of specials which included deep-fried frogs legs for the more adventurous. We opted for the sea bass which was deliciously crispy and went well with the sweet wasabi sauce. The prices varied at £5-6 for the more traditional dishes to £7-9 for something a bit different. You’d want about three dishes each for dinner so it could get a little on the
expensive side if you were hungry. But you could always head down for some drinks and sample a dim sum or two before one of their latenight shows. We were too early to try out the live entertainment but the food alone is reason enough to visit Courtesan.
the damage Pork & Prawn Dumplings Wagyu & Rib Eye Sliders Deep-fried sea bass Duck Puff Char Siu Buns Raspberry Hanky Panky Whisky Sour Sour Total:
£4.90 £8.90 £8.90 £4.50 £4.90 £8.20 £8.20 £48.50
Food (1-5) 0 0 0 0 0 Value (1-5) 0 0 0 0 0 Ambience (1-5) 0 0 0 0 0 Disabled access no Disabled toilet no BOOKING YES
New to Brixton
L
unching on beer and pizza is perfection. Factor in a side of triple cooked chips, a couple of cocktails, and Michelle from the office and you have struck gold. Canova Hall is a new Brixton opening, and already seems to have created a buzz by providing all of the above plus hot desking at £10 a day with non-stop coffee thrown in, writes Michael Holland...
There is a grand entrance and, inside, high ceilings, tall windows, ample seating, and the largest selection of tap wines around. Michelle doesn’t mess about; she was straight in for a red berry spritz: a fruity little raspberry vodka-based concoction that seemed to hit home. I had a draught Five Points IPA, a cloudy, flavorful 7.1 percent bad boy. The menu focuses on pizza, pasta and some nice little sharing plates. First to arrive was the rocket, fennel and roast garlic salad (surprisingly good), and the green goddess pizza: a huge beast of a thing covered in squash, beetroot, broccoli, gorgonzola, sunflower seeds, pesto and thyme on a thin base. We weren’t even half way
through the first offerings when the chips arrived and the Pecorino croquettes. The chips were top notch and the cheesy croquettes were better than I expected. I find them quite mundane usually but with a good dip that added pizzazz I quickly became a fan. As we were enjoying those little lovelies a second pizza turned up, the London field, which was much meatier and more to Missy G’s liking. And mine, to be honest. We finished off with a strawberry daiquiri for Michelle and a Bermondsey for me (a pimped up G&T which I could get quite used to). I had to order it, since Bermondsey’s my home town. Canova Hall has a mix of Victorian splendour and stripped back industrial style, an open kitchen hosting a wood fire pizza oven, and more gins than I can drink in a day, so I guess this new, funky place is sure to be a magnet for all the Brixton trendies.
Food (1-5) 0 0 0 0 0 Value (1-5) 0 0 0 0 0 Ambience (1-5) 0 0 0 0 0 Disabled access no Disabled toilet no BOOKING YES
Cano va Ha ll
250 Fe rndale SW9 8 Road 020 77 BQ 33 83 www.c anovah 56 all.com
November 2017 41
42 November 2017
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HEALTH By Anthony Phillips
3D BROWtones eyebrow enhancer Benefit £20 www.benefitcosmetics.com
Pro-Radiance Illuminating Eye Balm Elemis 10ml £35 www.elemis.com
Hollywood Beauty Highlighter Wand Charlotte Tilbury £29 www.charlottetilbury.com
Bright
Parsley Seed Anti-oxidant Eye Serum Aesop 15ml £57 www.aesop.com
EYES!
Hydraskin All Day Eye Refresh gel-cream Darphin 15ml £30 www.darphin.co.uk
Monsieur Big Mascara Lancome £21 www.lancome.co.uk
Anti-Fatigue eye care Christian Breton 15ml £38 www.feelunique.com
GinZing Refreshing eye cream Origins 15ml £20.50 www.origins.co.uk
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Eyebright soothing eye lotion Liz Earle 150ml www.uk.lizearle. com
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Vitamin E Eye Creme Jo Malone 15ml £38 www.jomalone. co.uk
Lash Alert! Mascara Eyeko £19 www.eyeko.com
Triple Action Advanced Eye Cream Zelens 15ml £75 www.johnlewis. com
November 2017 43
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November 2017 45
Looking after your own health Many winter health complaints, such as coughs and colds, will get better by themselves over time and are best treated at home, with rest. If you need advice on medicines that can help relieve symptoms, your local pharmacist can help. High street pharmacies and supermarkets stock a range of remedies for common seasonal conditions like sore throats and ear pain, and you don’t need to visit your GP to get them. Local GPs do not give NHS prescriptions for medicines for short term illnesses or conditions
that are widely available over the counter. Also, antibiotics which are only available on NHS prescription are not effective against cold and flu viruses and will not be prescribed by a GP for this purpose. A pharmacist is a qualified healthcare professional who can recognise many common complaints and recommend medicines to help you. They can advise on things you can do at home to help yourself and will tell you if your problem is more serious and you do need to see your GP. Pharmacies are usually
open later into the evening and at weekends. Instead of booking and waiting for a GP appointment, you can visit a pharmacy any time during opening hours and you don’t need an appointment. Most pharmacies have a private area where you can have a confidential chat with a pharmacist about your condition and your medication. As well as cough and cold remedies, pharmacies also stock painkillers and products for conditions such as diarrhoea, indigestion and bites and stings. At this time of year, you can also
get your annual flu vaccination from your pharmacy. Washing your hands with soap and water and teaching your children to do the same can help stop you catching and spreading infections. To help you stay healthy over the winter, now’s the time to check your medicine cabinet. The NHS recommends that everyone keeps a well-stocked medicine cabinet at home, which should contain the following: • Painkillers, such as paracetamol or ibuprofen • Antihistamine for allergies • Bandages • Rub-on anti-inflammatory
painkillers Oral rehydration salts Indigestion remedies Laxatives Anti-diarrhoea medicine Cream or spray to treat insect bites and stings, or cuts and grazes • Plasters and dressings • A thermometer Make sure medicines are kept in the right conditions (for example out of direct sunlight) and if they are past their use-by date, don’t take them. Check them regularly and stock up when you need to. For further information, visit www.nhs.uk/staywell • • • • •
Protect yourself from malaria if you are going overseas If you are planning to visit a country where malaria is found, you should seek advice about protecting yourself from infection four to six weeks before you go.
Malaria can be very serious and is found in many African countries, as well as Southern Asia, Central America, and South America. You will not be immune to malaria if you have previously visited or lived in the country you plan to visit. You need to protect yourself every time you visit a country where there is malaria. If you get ill while you are away, get medical advice straight away. It is important that malaria is diagnosed and treated as soon as possible. There is no vaccination against malaria, so it's very important to take anti-malarial medicines. These reduce your risk of getting malaria by about 90%. They should be taken before you travel, while you are away and for up to four weeks after you come back. There are many different types of anti-malarial medicines. In Southwark, they are available either over the counter from a pharmacist or through private prescription from a GP. GPs do
46 November 2017
not give anti-malarial medicines on NHS prescription. Your GP will advise you on what anti-malarial medicine would be best for you and what the side effects may be, and they can give you a private prescription if required, so you can get your medicines from a high street pharmacy. The NHS recommends that you get your medicines in the UK before you travel, as medicines abroad may be fake or substandard. You can also protect yourself from malaria by preventing mosquito bites. Sleep under a mosquito net, use insect repellent on your skin and wear long trousers and sleeves to keep yourself covered, particularly during early evening and at night. For further information, visit www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Malaria/ Pages/Prevention.aspx
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48 November 2017
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I
t’s now time to make some real decisions about your future - once you have taken your GCSEs you officially will be an adult, writes Kevin Quinn...
Mum and dad will no longer be responsible for your education, nor will the government; and believe it or not, neither will your teachers. It will be entirely up to you to decide which path you take - and while everyone including the government is heavily focused on apprenticeships, there will be many of you who will want to follow the traditional academic route. Of course the results you get at secondary school will to a large extent determine what you do in further education. But now is the time to look at what sixth forms and further education institutes are offering. Unlike secondary school admissions you have the freedom to go where you like - it does not have to be local - but bear in mind journey times. You don’t want to be exhausted before you arrive at college! Being in the final year of your GCSEs, you will have a fair idea of the results you are likely to achieve and make sure that when you call or visit a sixth form or college you find out the exact qualifications you need
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to get on the courses that you like the look of. The truth is, if you are really passionate about a course but feel that you might not get the grades, it would be worth thinking about resitting. After spending the whole of your life in school you might think that re-sitting any GCSE would
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be completely out of the question. However, at your age, making sure that you do something that you feel passionate about and enjoy is absolutely vital. Countless people have had to work that bit harder and give something a go twice before they succeed. The experience at sixth form or college will be so different to
that at school that you should find the change enough to warrant the extra effort and time it takes to re-sit an examine or start a new one to get on to the course you are ultimately after. The relationship with most of your teachers will be very different, as they will treat you more like an adult. After all you don’t have to be there - it is
your choice. This means that lessons are normally more relaxed and you usually spend more time with smaller groups than you would do at secondary school. While there is little doubt that A-levels are much harder than GCSEs, the fact that you have fewer subjects and are studying your favourite or best subjects means you will find the self-motivation to get to grips with it. The work will be much more in depth, but probably more interesting. Essay subjects at A-level are much more about analysis and evaluation than just pure facts. This means that you can no longer get away with having a basic knowledge of a subject and then blagging the exam or just learning reams of facts without actually understanding them. On the plus side you definitely get more freedom, including free periods (usually eleven or so hours a week), which allows you to plan when and how you work. As well as the courses, check out the facilities at the sixth forms and colleges you are interested in, as they can help make your whole working environment a better one.
November 2017 49
j O BS & eD U C A T I O N
j OB S & e D UC ATION
52 November 2017
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j O BS & eD U C A T I O N
PU B L IC N O T I C E Town and Country Planning (Development Management Procedure) (England) Order 2015 NOTICE UNDER ARTICLE 13 OF APPLICATION FOR PLANNING PERMISSION Proposed development at
Southbank Centre Square, Belvedere Road, London, SE1 8XX
I give notice that
Southbank Centre
is applying to the
London Borough of Lambeth
for planning permission to
“Temporary planning permission for a period from 21st June 2017 to 20th June 2022 (including installation and de-installation) for the installation of 43 concrete hostile vehicle mitigation (HVM) barriers adjacent to Southbank Centre Square.”
Any owner* of the land or tenant** who wishes to make representations about this application should write to the Council at: Planning Division, London Borough of Lambeth Council, Phoenix House, 10 Wandsworth Road, London, SW8 2LL By
16th November 2017
* “owner” means a person having a freehold interest or a leasehold interest the unexpired term of which is not less than seven years, or, in the case of development consisting of the winning or working of minerals, a person entitled to an interest in a mineral in the land (other than oil, gas, coal, gold or silver). **
“tenant” means a tenant of an agricultural holding any part of which is comprised in the land.
Signed Quod On behalf of
Southbank Centre
Date
25th October 2017
Statement of owners’ rights The grant of planning permission does not affect owners’ rights to retain or dispose of their property, unless there is some provision to the contrary in an agreement or in a lease. Statement of agricultural tenants’ rights The grant of planning permission for non-agricultural development may affect agricultural tenants’ security of tenure.
54 November 2017
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j O BS & eD U C A T I O N
CL A S S IF I E D
M OTORS
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November 2017 55
Homes & Gardens
A woman for all seasons Jackie Power
October is the best time to add new additions to the borders
S
eptember had a chilly feel with a mix of sunshine and showers. Rain and gales usually characterise October’s weather but occasionally there are spells of calm and warm conditions.
As autumn progresses light levels decrease, night-time temperatures continue to fall – hastening ‘dieback’ of remaining summer annuals/ perennials. Key areas of work are clearing the old foliage and annuals as well as raking up leaves. Ideally, any digging required needs to be completed by the end of October - to allow weathering of the soil. Once the clocks go back later in the month (29th) and day light hours continue reducing, there are less opportunities to work in the garden. During the winter months inspiration for next season’s planting can be found in books as well as the
56 November 2017
gardening catalogues. The Complete Gardener by Monty Don has sections on growing fruit, flowers, herbs and vegetables with the focus on organic cultivation. (This book would make an ideal gift). Available in paperback priced £12 or hardback (preferable for a gardening book) at £15. Another useful title is ‘RHS Pruning Plant by Plant’ DK (paperback £7.99). It is often tricky to know when and how to prune - this book is a good place to start learning how it is done - or to refresh your skills. October is the best time to add new additions to the borders, there is time for roots to become established and plants get off to a quicker start in spring; choose the summer flowering Cranesbill (hardy Geranium) and Salvia nemorosa – a multi talented plant with aromatic leaves, an attractive habit plus deep blue flowers that are present throughout summer into autumn. These perennials are about to become dormant, specimens
bought now will be roots with fading foliage. Protect the crowns in winter with compost/leaf mould. It is also time to plant wallflowers; they are available as wilted, bare rooted foliage - not very inspiring. But this is the usual condition - and once planted they become established over autumn, producing a welcome
colourful display of flowers in early spring. Suitable for container growing, the wallflowers can be tucked in with bulbs and evergreens. Flowers are getting scarce in the October garden; but there is the prolific Michaelmass Daisy associated with the start of autumn. Usually in deep blues and purples (also lavender, pink,
white) they bloom for weeks. The bees and butterflies love them. Also look out for tiny pale pink perfumed Cyclamen easy to overlook. The bold and bright Dahlias are still hanging on – just.
Aster
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November 2017 57
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58 November 2017
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Homes & Gardens
Dimplex Brayford 2kW Electric Stove £149.50 Homebase www.homebase.co.uk
Vulpes Vulpes Cushion Podarok £33 www.podarok.co.uk
Time to get
Stone pouffe £305 House of Harry Nicole www.houseofharrynicole.co.uk
COSY!
Grey Chair £319 HomeSense www.homesense.com
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Round Gold Candle, £3 Flying Tiger stores uk.flyingtiger.com
Simple Plug In Light £48.92 - £103.20 Urban Cottage Industries www.urbancottageindustries.com
November 2017 59
advertorial
UPSIZE TO SHARED OW AT OVAL Q
L
ondon’s families are feeling the squeeze, according to recent statistics by Savills which reveal ‘upsizers’ looking for an extra bedroom need to find an additional £320,000 in order to move.
A typical two-bedroom apartment in the capital costs just over £500,000, yet the average cost for a three-bedroom property is almost £820,000, leaving many firsttime buyers stuck in a home too small for their needs, especially if children arrive. Offering an alternative way to make that second step up the property ladder, a limited collection of three bedroom apartments is available at Notting Hill Sales’ Oval Quarter development in SW9, to purchase through Shared Ownership. Perfect for young families looking for an affordable way to move up the property ladder, Shared Ownership allows purchasers to buy between 25% and 75% of the
60 November 2017
property value, paying subsidised rent on the remainder. Residents can then increase their share at any time, all the way up to 100% and outright ownership. Oval Quarter is just ten minutes to the heart of the capital , yet the area is surprisingly quiet and leafy. The development brings more than 800 new homes making the area a smart, central and popular location to live, boasting 21 nurseries, primary and secondary schools within one mile, ideal for raising a family. Jenny Murphy, Head of Sales and Marketing at Notting Hill Sales, comments: “Finding an affordable home with plenty of space is so tricky in central London, which is why we’re so pleased to be offering these three bedroom apartments in SW9. Oval Quarter has been a very successful development, bringing together a range of buyer types to create a brand new community. Families will feel right at home here.”
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SW9 WITH WNERSHIP QUARTER
The last remaining three bedroom apartments in the popular enclave boast a high quality specification, with spacious, open plan living / dining / kitchen areas that allow families to spend some quality time together. Kitchens come complete with white gloss fitted units and stainless steel fixtures and fittings, plus a range of Zanussi and Smeg appliances such as dishwasher and fridge/freezer. Bathrooms are fully tiled, with crisp white suites. Oval Quarter boasts a fantastic location for local amenities. Brixton, Clapham, Stockwell and Camberwell offer a range of restaurants and eateries with cuisine from around the world, while high street stalwarts Boots, Marks and Spencer and Sainsbury’s are all close by. A Tesco Superstore and two Express mini-stores are within a short walk away for the weekly shop. The area enjoys a range of education options, with several nurseries and 15 schools catering
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to all ages, just a short walk from home. Oval station, just a short walk from home, offers connections on the London Underground by way of the Northern line, which now runs 24-hours over the weekend. Bank, London Bridge, Waterloo (for the South Bank) and the West End are all easily reachable, as well as the Eurostar from Kings Cross St Pancras. With just a quick change to the Victoria line at Stockwell, there are even more connections and destinations to choose from. Fifteen bus routes operate in the local area, including five night buses and two 24-hour services, making the area one of the most well connected in South London. Prices for the last remaining three-bedroom apartments at Oval Quarter start from £175,625 based on a 25% share of £702,500. For further information or to register your interest, visit www.nhillsales.com
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November 2017 61
advertorial
SUPER-GRAN KEY TO HAPP A NEW HOME
R
etired teacher Janis Benson, in her 70s, is showing no signs of slowing down, having recently bought a brand new two-bedroom apartment at Notting Hill Sales’ Cheviot Gardens development in West Norwood, SE27, specifically to make the most of the new amenities and join the friendly community.
Janis said: “As Cheviot Gardens designed for older people, I have plenty of support on hand should I need it, but I am appreciative of the fact that I am able to keep my independence. I’ve never been very good at sitting still; I have a very lively social life, I am a member of the local rotary
62 November 2017
club, local art history society and ladies lunch club! “My new home has a parking space which means I can continue living as actively as I was before. Being a self-contained apartment, the home suits me perfectly as everything is on hand, but also having the extra security, with gated entrances, gives me and my family peace of mind.” Cheviot Gardens is Notting Hill Sales’ new Shared Ownership development for people aged 55 and over. Comprising a selection of contemporary one and two bedroom apartments which are available to purchase through the Older Person’s Shared Ownership Scheme. The scheme allows buyers to own a 75% share in their home without paying any
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N FINDS THE PINESS WITH E IN SE27
Retired teacher Janis Benson
rent on the remaining share. The apartments have been thoughtfully designed with neutral décor throughout, benefitting from a private balcony or terrace. Kitchen areas are equipped with modern fitted units and integrated Zanussi appliances. Cheviot Gardens boasts a variety of other excellent communal facilities, which help to create a friendly atmosphere around the complex. Residents can relax together in the restaurant, café or lounge, and take full advantage of the hair salon, therapist room and IT suite,
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all conveniently on site. A flexible range of services are available, including assistance with general housekeeping, such as cleaning and laundry, and support with personal care. Prices at Cheviot Gardens start from £275,625 for a 75% share of a one-bedroom apartment (full market value £367,500) through the Older Person's Shared Ownership Scheme. For more information, contact Notting Hill Sales on 0203 815 1234 or visit www.nhillsales.com
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November 2017 63
WATERLOO
Lower Marsh, SE1
WALWORTH
£960.000
• Two Bedrooms • Two Bathrooms • Close to Waterloo • EPC Rating – B
£875,000
• Four Bedrooms • Chain Free • Off Street Parking • EPC Rating – E
KENNINGTON
Lambeth Walk, SE11
Morecambe Street, SE17
ELEPHANT AND CASTLE
£470,000
• Two Bedroom Maisonette • Balcony • Located Close to Vauxhall • EPC Rating – D
Ambergate Street, SE17
£625,000
• Three Double Bedrooms • Two Bathrooms • Roof Terrace • EPC Rating – D
Carter Street, SE17
Macleod Street, SE17
• Two Bedrooms • Leisure Facilities • 24 Hour Concierge • EPC Rating - C
• One Bedroom • Communal Garden • Allocated Car Parking Space • EPC Rating – D
LAMBETH NORTH
£399,950
Mcauley Close, SE1
Browning Street, SE17
£550 PW
LAMBETH NORTH
£425 PW
Originally a sweet shop this spacious two bedroom flat has plenty of character and charm. Offered with modern fixtures and fittings and boasting outside space as well as being located on the popular Brook drive this property will be in high demand. Call today to arrange your internal inspection. EPC Rating - C
Waterloo Branch, 42 Kennington Road, Waterloo, London, SE1 7BL T: 020 7928 2406 E: kennington@reedsrains.co.uk
Baylis Road, SE1
Lambeth North
Oakey Lane, SE1
£425 PW
• Two Double Bedrooms • Garden • EPC Rating - C
• Three / Four Bedrooms • Close to Elephant and Castle • EPC Rating – C
Brook Drive, SE11
£385,000
• One Bedroom • Period Mansion Block • Close to Lambeth North Tube • EPC Rating – G
ELEPHANT AND CASTLE
WATERLOO
£550,000
• Two Double Bedrooms • Victorian Conversion • Excellent Condition • EPC Rating – D
WALWORTH
Metro Central Heights, SE1 £410,000
LAMBETH NORTH
WALWORTH
KENNINGTON
WATERLOO
£375 PW
Situated on the first floor of this popular and sought after block which is located moments from both Lambeth North tube station and Waterloo mainline station. This well proportioned two double bedroom flat is one not to be missed. Arranged to provide a reception room with dual aspect windows, kitchen, two double bedrooms, bathroom and separate WC. EPC Rating – D
Frazier Street, SE1 • Two / Three Bedrooms • Good Condition Throughout • EPC Rating - C
£415 pw
Gerridge Street, SE1 • Two Double Bedrooms • Private Development • EPC Rating - D
£375 PW