Winter 2023
Issue 18
Full of BEANS
Amarachi Clarke on her tasty Bermondsey chocolate
Shop local this Christmas with our gift guide What’s on in SE1 & SE16 this winter Bermondsey’s spicy history
contents
winter 2023
About us ―
W
e’ve been based in the old Biscuit Factory in Bermondsey since 1994. Our flagship publication, the Southwark News launched in 1987 and is now London’s only independent, paid for newspaper. We created the Bermondsey Biscuit and Rotherhithe Docker in 2018 with support from sponsors including Sellar, Grosvenor, British Land, and many other local businesses. We also publish the South Londoner each month, and the Greenwich and Lewisham Weekender and South London Weekly every week. We are proud to be a London Living Wage employer. We use 100% recovered paper from the Ortviken paper mill in Sweden, a green energy provider who use biofuel instead of oil and provide heat for 10,000 single family homes. www.southlondon.co.uk
Editor
Eliza Frost
Writers Michael Holland, Debra Gosling Design
Lizzy Tweedale, Dan Martin, Ann Gravesen
Marketing
Clarry Frewin, Katie Boyd, Sophie Ali
Media Partnerships
Anthony Phillips
Finance
Emrah Zeki
Managing Directors
Chris Mullany and Kevin Quinn
Contact us ― Email
hello@cm-media.co.uk
Phone
020 7231 5258
BermondseyBiscuit
@bermondseyBiscuit
Website
www.southlondon.co.uk
Contents ―
5-8
What’s on? The Biscuit’s rundown of everything happening in SE1 and SE16 this season – get into the Christmas spirit with tipples, Dachshunds, theatre shows and festive markets
10-17
Food & Drink We visit the beer mile to hear about the UK’s first sake brewery, plus new openings in the area, and Sticky Mango gives us the dish of the moment
19-22
Gift guide With so many amazing makers on our doorstep, we bring you a Christmas gift guide to help you shop locally this season
28-29
People Meet the local makers featured in our gift guide: Spirit of Bermondsey, Lucocoa, SE1 Candle Co. and Black Cowboy Coffee
33
Memory lane ‘It’s the place where you will find the best people in the world’: Michael Holland sits down with Rotherhithe’s Shirley Mills
37 History Debra Gosling discusses Bermondsey’s spice history 39
Printed by Ilif fe Print Published by Community Matters Media Ltd
From all the team at HAKATA Ramen+Bar, we would like to sincerely thank all our customers for supporting our business during 2023 and we wish you all a very Merry Christmas & a Happy New Year. We look forward to welcoming both new & regular customers to HAKATA in 2024. Hakata Ramen+Bar, 177 Bermondsey Street, SE1 3UW No reservations // Open 7-days // hakata.co.uk 3
Community Albin and Sons’ Annual Memorial Service, bringing the community together to remember loved ones at Christmas
winter 2023
A thank you to our sponsors We'd like to acknowledge all our sponsors and supporters for helping us bring the
Bermondsey Biscuit and
Rotherhithe Docker to life.
4
winter 2023
wHAt’s on
What’s on in se1 and se16 this season Eliza Frost
mAke your oWn WreAth
dAchshund throuGh the snoW The dashing Dachshund Christmas tour is returning to SE1 on 2 December, from 10am. Bring your pup and enjoy a meeting of sausages, the Pup Up Cafe is hosting its Christmas edition at FourPure taproom, where your pups can roam free and props will be aplenty. With over 200 sausages in attendance last year, it’s a great event to socialise your pooch and meet other Daschund owners. There will be a mingle session, photo opportunities, a free Christmas pressie for every pup, unlimited puppuccinos and lots of toys to keep your pooches entertained. www.pupup.cafe/event/london-dashingdachshund-christmas-tour 25 Bermondsey Trading Estate, Rotherhithe New Road, SE16 3LL
liGht it uP
It’s time to deck the halls… join Jemima in the Woods’ wreath-making workshops at The Old Timber Store for a fully festive affair. Located on Maltby Street, the workshops are taking place on 29 November and 6 and 13 December, from 6:30pm to 8.30pm. You’ll be given the tools and guidance, alongside refreshments and leave with a beautiful wreath.
On Friday 24 November, people of Rotherhithe and Bermondsey can meet at 5pm for the Illuminate lantern procession. Departing at 5:30pm from Southwark Park, the annual free festival for, by and with the local people of SE1 and SE16 is inspired by the histories of the Thames, the docks, migration and the Mayflower story. There will also be music and food at Southwark Park Bandstand from 6pm to 8pm, with a free lantern-making workshop, too.
jemimainthewoods.com Upstairs at Arch 48 Ropewalk, Maltby Street, SE1 3PA
FArmyArd Fun
illuminaterotherhithe.co.uk Meet at Market Place, SE16 3UQ
For Christmas fun on the farm, head on down to Surrey Docks Farm on Saturday 2 December to get in the festive spirit. Their free Christmas fair will include carol singing, craft stalls and mulled wine, plus friendly farmyard animals. You’ll be able to buy wreath-making kits and beautiful quality Christmas trees, too. Wrap up warm and enjoy a trip to the farm. www.surreydocksfarm.org.uk Surrey Docks Farm, Rotherhithe Street, SE16 5ET
Folk is the Word
Festive FridAys At mAltBy street mArket
Singer-songwriters, Neil Lemon and Angie Paice, with their wonderfully complementary vocals, together with bassist Andrew Hodgson, will be performing folk songs with a country twist and an international flavour on 14 December, at 7pm at Rotherhithe’s Finnish Church. The Lemon + Paice Band will be joined by Hungarian violinist Peter Huszar and power percussionist Roger Nunn as they perform a mix of songs with strong narratives for a folk storytime. With a new CD under their belt, the Lemon + Paice Band will be performing at Tuned.In London for the first time.
For the first Fridays in December (1, 8, 15 of the month), Maltby Street Market will be having a festive makeover as they host an intimate offering for the Christmas season. You’ll find That’s Banging, Duck Frites and Banh Mi Nen to tickle your tastebuds, as well as Viv’s Coffee serving up delicious espresso martinis until around 9pm – but don’t worry, bars and restaurants on the Ropewalk stay open ‘til late. For entertainment, Maltby Market will host Côr Y Boro (Borough Welsh Choir), who will be singing from 7:30pm to 8:30pm.
tunedin.london Finnish Church, 33 Albion Street, SE16 7HZ
maltbystmarket.squarespace.com Ropewalk, Maltby Street, SE1 3PA
5
SMITHFIELD
MEAT MARKET top quality meat at unbelievable prices
16-18 and looking to start college? C
M
Y
CM
MY
CY
CMY
turkey • poultry • game • pork • lamb • beef offal • sausages • bacon • halal • provisions
Come and see what Bosco can offer you. Places available for an immediate start in:
CHRISTMAS TRADING HOURS
Business Child Care IT and Digital Media Sport
Midnight to 7am Monday to Saturday* mornings
K
Monday 11th December to Saturday 23rd December *not all shops will open on Saturday
The Market is closed 24th to 26th December, 30th and 31st December and 1st January Nearest Underground stations - Farringdon or Barbican Free car parking for customers in the West Smithfield car park, EC1A 9DS up to 23rd December
281 Jamaica Road, SE16 4RS
Open to the trade and the public all year round
0207 232 0440
SMTA, East Market Building, London EC1A 9PQ Tel: 020 7248 3151 Email: info@smithfieldmarket.com
info@bosco.ac.uk
www.smithfieldmarket.com
Discover the people, stories & history of medicine from the Old St Thomas' Hospital in London Bridge www.oldoperatingtheatre.com Admission Charged Registered Charity Number 1155078
winter 2023
wHAt’s on
christmAs deBut The Brunels hosted the world’s first underground concert party at the Brunel Museum site in 1827 and DEBUT is continuing the tradition, bringing their unique and lively signature style concert series to the Thames Tunnel Shaft for a Christmas special on 14 December at 6:30pm. Since 2015, DEBUT has put on hundreds of shows in places like lighthouses, ancient operating theatres and Victorian merchant ships. Building on the success of their Shoreditch Treehouse concert series, DEBUT will
keeP the chAnGe, you Filthy AnimAl
invite special guests to join them at the show. Hosted by DEBUT’s founder and soprano, Lizzie Holmes, the night will include botanical cocktails at Midnight Apothecary and homemade Vietnamese with Lò Viêt. The tunnel shaft doors will open at 7pm and the concert will be in two parts. Tickets are limited, so be sure not to miss out.
In this issue of The Biscuit, you’ll find our local Christmas gift guide, including some lovely items from the Brunel Museum – but shopping just got easier… Visit the Museum’s Shop Sunday on 26 November from 11am to 3:30pm and get your Christmas shopping done early. Socks printed with Isambard Kingdom Brunel? A tea towel representing the Grand Opening of the Thames Tunnel? If you’re looking for something unusual for the engineer in your life, then head to the Brunel Museum – taking place both onsite and online.
Miracle on Leake Street – the free event that sees London’s longest graffiti tunnel transformed into the capital’s coolest alternative festive celebration – returns to Waterloo on Thursday 7 December for its fifth year. Centred around a screening of Home Alone 2, the unique event also includes free graffiti workshops, a snowboard simulator, wreath-making classes, and a Christmas craft market. Running from 7pm to 9pm, there will be Christmas craft market stalls and festive food and drink from both Lower Marsh Market traders and Leake Street Arches bars – and it all kicks off with a cabaret performance from the award-winning artist Pi the Mime. The event is free, but organisers will be collecting cash and card donations throughout the night, which will be given to Waterloo Foodbank.
thebrunelmuseum.com/events/event/museumshop-sunday/ Railway Avenue, Rotherhithe, SE16 4LF
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/miracle-on-leake-streettickets-741404389487 Leake Street Arches, SE1 8SW
thebrunelmuseum.com/events Railway Avenue, Rotherhithe, SE16 4LF
christmAs shoPPinG At Brunel museum
Get on board with London’s best views
KIDS GO FREE with a Family River Pass
7
Scan here to book your tickets
wHAt’s on
winter 2023
london illustrAtion FAir Europe’s leading illustration event celebrates its 10th year from Friday 24 to Sunday 26 November. The London Illustration Fair is an artist-led festival showcasing the creativity of emerging artists from around the world. With an emphasis on engagement and interaction, it will once again this year convene an all-star line-up of illustrators, workshops, and installations and give fans the opportunity to come face to face with their favourite artists at London’s iconic OXO Tower Wharf in Southbank. For its tenth anniversary, over 60 artists will lead with the theme of love, affection and acceptance – a theme inspired by the post-pandemic rise in exacerbated loneliness. These will culminate in an eclectic mix of interactive installations, exhibitions, music and digital visuals spread throughout the fair.
Next up is Ready Steady Lift Off ! (showing from 17 January to 18 February), an A-Line Art interactive production for 3- to 8-year-olds, where you can explore space and even build your own rocket. This is followed by the return of Stiles and Drewe’s hugely successful The Three Billy Goats Gruff (showing from 20 January to 18 February). www.unicorntheatre.com/ 147 Tooley Street, SE1 2HZ
A christmAs cArol Sink into the classic tale of Victorian Christmas and the redemption of London’s most memorable miser at the Old Operating Theatre this season. A Christmas Carol: A One-Man Performance on 13 December (6pm to 8:30pm) follows Scrooge through his encounters with the spirits of Christmas. This captivating one-man performance brings the story to life with its abundance of much-loved characters and familiar scenes that usher in the geniality and joy of the festive season. Sit back and take in this quintessential Christmas tale, reinvigorated from the author’s original words, performed in the atmosphere and history of Europe’s oldest surviving operating theatre.
www.thelondonillustrationfair.co.uk Bargehouse, Oxo Tower Wharf, SE1 9PH
Be Bold This season of shows celebrates the Unicorn Theatre’s 75th year since being established by Caryl Jenner in 1949. It sees the return of Julian Clary’s much-loved adaptation of his best-selling novel, The Bolds (showing from now until 31 December), which will play alongside the wickedly funny The Wolf, the Duck and the Mouse (also showing from now until 31 Dec) based on the cult picture-book by Mac Barnett, illustrated by Jon Klassen.
oldoperatingtheatre.com/event-posts/a-christmascarol-a-one-man-performance/ St Thomas’ Church, 9a St Thomas Street, SE1 9RY
World class indoor climbing wall in Borough, SE1.
combines bouldering, functional fitness, speciality coffee, craft beer and great pizza. 50% off Introduction to Bouldering coaching sessions. Use promo code: NEWCLIMBER3
www.the-font.co.uk/borough Unit 1b, Triptych Place, 185 Park Street, Bankside, London, SE1 9BL e: info@the-font.co.uk t: 020 8161 4450
Book here: Wandsworth: www.the-font.co.uk/wandsworth/timetable/intro-to-bouldering Borough: www.the-font.co.uk/borough/timetables/intro-to-bouldering
8
THE INVISIBLE LIGHTSWITCH® www.forbesandlomax.com London I New York I LA
What's On 23/24
Box office 020 8463 0100 • blackheathhalls.com •
Sat 17 Feb 8pm
BH Goes Gospel Sat 16 Dec 7.30pm
Tom Robinson Sun 14 Jan 8pm
Alice Roberts Crypt
BH Christmas Concert Sun 17 Dec 7.30pm
Mark Watson Search
Sat 27 Jan 8pm
Sun 7 Mar 7pm
Food & drink
winter 2023
Bitesize Eliza Frost
Longboys
La Criolla Empanadas
Borough Yards welcomed the biggest Longboys yet this October to deliver high-end doughnuts to SE1. Pastry chef Graham Hornigold’s patisserie expertise has resulted in an Éclair-doughnut hybrid and is currently the first and only dedicated finger doughnut brand in London. All doughnuts are hand-rolled fresh, every day in small batches, to create a light brioche base filled with compotes, fillings, glazes and toppings, all carefully curated in-house. With a new site opened in Liverpool Street as well, Graham says: “We want as many people as possible to enjoy our doughnuts, they’re the real deal. With more sites means more opportunity. We’d love to introduce new products and offer an interactive element to our customers in the future, watch this space.”
Empanadas are a folding pastry filled with different types of fillings, and serving these folded parcels of joy at Maltby Street Market is La Criolla Empanadas. La Criolla serves up Uruguayan/Argentinian style artisan empanadas with fillings of beef, chicken, ham, veggie – and even some sweet options. They also have a tuna Galician empanada, which is a typical pie from Galicia in the North West of Spain. Maltby Street Market, Ropewalk, SE1 3PA Every Saturday 10am – 5pm and every Sunday 10am – 4pm buyempanadasonline.company.site
Borough Yards, Unit 232a, 37 Dirty Lane, SE1 9PA longboys.co.uk
Yoyo’s Desserts For those with a sweet tooth, who are always looking for a new dessert spot, Yoyo’s Desserts is a new outlet down The Blue for just that. They serve everything from waffles stuffed with your favourite flavour, to crepes, milkshakes, sundaes, cookie dough and pancakes. But the star of the menu has to be the croffles – croissant waffles. The waffled croissants are then topped with chocolate sauces, fruits, Lotus Biscoff or Oreo. 196b Southwark Park Road, SE16 3RP Monday to Sunday 12pm – 11pm www.instagram.com/yoyosdesserts
@daviniaophotography
Pizarro Pizarro Bermondsey is José Pizarro’s second London restaurant. Found one block away from José’s original tapas bar on our beloved Bermondsey Street. The restaurant serves a menu of small tapas style and more substantial dishes, featuring José’s signature tapas dishes – such as croquetas and spicy prawn fritters – as well as Spanish classics such as cuttlefish a la plancha and ox cheek rice. The bar offers a great selection of sherries and Spanish wines, Spanish-style gin tónicas and cocktails. Window seats overlooking the church of St Mary Magdalen and the bar area with communal tables are the perfect place to enjoy a drink and tapas all day long. 194 Bermondsey Street, SE1 3TQ Monday to Saturday* 12pm – 10:45pm and Sunday* 12pm – 8:45pm (*first and last food orders) josepizarro.com/venues/pizarro-restaurantBermondsey
10
British Land pushes sport for cities For decades, people have been increasingly aware of the crucial role sport can play in an urban context, yet the UK population is roughly 20% less active than in the 1960s. In London, 38% of the population don’t participate in the recommended amount of physical activity, with the capital having the highest proportion of inactive children in the UK. This has huge implications for people’s physical and mental wellbeing. Addressing this important issue, British Land has joined forces with Art-Invest Real Estate (Art-Invest), Ryder Architecture and Future Places Studio, to unveil the first half of ‘Sport and the City’, a report setting out fresh thinking aimed at making sport more accessible and creating social value in urban spaces and communities. Sport and the City presents an innovative plan for cities to improve their approach to incorporating sport into the everyday, to establish its positive impact in an area beyond health and wellbeing. It proposes four principles of a place-based approach to providing everyday sport: • sport should be at the heart of placemaking as we design new urban spaces • urban sports facilities and clubs should reflect diverse populations and be designed with the effects of climate change in mind • urban spaces should pioneer creative approaches to integrating sport and physical activity into the everyday • sports facilities of all shapes and sizes should function as wellbeing anchors in a local urban design that’s inclusive, walkable, connected and green.
Here at Canada Water, those four principles are already being put into practice thanks to the dedicated work of some of the sports organisations British Land are proud to support: At Surrey Quays Shopping Centre, two wallball courts offer a free-to-use sports facility. Wallball is a game based on the simple concept of hitting a ball against a wall with your hands – a bit like squash without a racquet. British Land has teamed up with The Wallball courts next to Surrey Quays Shopping Centre are free to use. Bring your own ball or buy one on site for £2 UK Wallball to launch the outdoor wallball venue at Canada Water. Players can bring their own ball, or buy one for £2 from an onsite vending machine. The Arch is a 7,000 sq ft bouldering venue inside the shopping centre. The space offers a bold new vision for indoor bouldering, and a range of walls cater to all levels of ability. Sessions start from £5, while regular family days are available for the whole community and free improver sessions are available to join most days. Roosters of Rotherhithe is a boxing club that runs youth and adult sessions throughout the week. British Land supported last month’s half-term club, plus a trip to the Rumble in the Jungle experience at Dock X in Canada Water. Ballers Academy is an award-winning, fun-filled independent sports organisation. British Land sponsors their Canada Water FC under-14 team so no player misses out because they can’t afford to pay. Fisher FC is Rotherhithe’s fan-run football club. They play at the St Paul’s ground in the Southern Counties East League Premier Division. The new Canada Water Leisure Centre is expected to open its doors in early 2025, with an 8-lane swimming pool, leaner pool, 150+ station gym, sports hall and dance studios. The leisure centre will host a wide range of activities for people who live and spend time in the area, to help local people live active and healthy lives.
The Arch offers bouldering inside the shopping centre, with all levels of ability catered for
Contact us:
canadawater.co.uk
BERMONDSEY BISCUIT_NOV_2023_V15.indd 1
team@canadawater.co.uk
0800 470 4593 (freephone)
@CWmasterplan
Canada Water Masterplan
13/11/2023 17:50:02
Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle all the way... All good things are worth a wait, and one of the best things is the Annual Christmas Fair at The Finnish Church in London! Mark down the dates: Fri 24.11 12-20, Sat 25.11 12-18 Sun 26.11 12-18, Fri 1.12 12-20 Sat 2.12 12-18, Sun 3.12 12-18 Please follow us on www.finnishchurch.org.uk Twitter: @Lontoonkirkko Facebook: Lontoon merimieskirkko Instagram: @Lontoonmerimieskirkko Finnish church in London. 33 Albion Street, SE16 7HZ
Instagram: @Lontoonmerimieskirkko Finnish church in London. 33 Albion Street, SE16 7HZ
winter 2023
IN ASSOCIATION WITH TEAM LONDON BRIDGE
LONDON BRIDGE COMMUNITY
A Festive Guide to London Bridge Christmas brings out the best in London Bridge. It gives us the chance to revel in the attractions, businesses, history, architecture and community that make this bustling neighbourhood so special.
M
eet up in London Bridge this festive season for winter markets, carols, light shows and Christmas shows! Yule be sorry if you miss out…. Our festive calendar is dominated by the Winter by the River festival. Running 14th November to 1st January, you’ll find vibrant market stalls, tasty treats and pop-up bars at London Bridge City, offering views of the London skyline as you toast the season to the sound of a choir (or your friends belting out Last Christmas in the themed karaoke room!).
Team London Bridge Carols and Lantern Parade
From the river to the sky. Your eyes will be drawn to the heavens from 28th November when the Shard’s Festive Lights will run daily 5.30pm to 1.00am every evening until New Year’s Eve. 20 floors of London’s tallest building will be illuminated with three festive mosaic designs, including a snowman, festive candle and traditional Scottish pattern, developed in partnership with the London School of Mosaic. If you want maximum Christmas glad tidings delivered in just one heart-warming hour, you need to see the London Bridge Christmas
Lantern Parade, 4-5pm 7th December. Choirs from local primary schools will lead us singing a selection of traditional favourites in Potters Fields Park beside Tower Bridge before taking the merry crowd along the river. Families with younger children can rely on the Unicorn Theatre delivering festive laughs with two shows to choose from; The Bolds (for ages 6+) and The Wolf, The Duck and The Mouse (for 3-7 years). Both until 31 December – book tickets now before they sell out. Tower Bridge, HMS Belfast, the London Bridge Experience, Old Operating Theatre and The View from The Shard will all be providing a range of activities and celebrations, while gift shopping is within easy reach at the boutiques around London Bridge Station and Bermondsey Street. Try Flea Market at Vinegar Yard or the Winter Solstice celebration at London Glassblowing for a truly unique present. Feeling peckish after a busy day? Choose from local bistros, riverside dining, hearty pub food and the best international cuisine before hopping on an Uber Boat by Thames Clippers service to take you home under the ever-evolving Illuminated River artworks. Manage to do all that and you’ll have sleighed Christmas 2023! See atlondonbridge.com and follow @atlondonbridge (X and Instagram) for Christmas menus, What’s On listings and more ideas in London Bridge this Christmas.
Winter by the River
13
Shard Lights 2022
Food & drink
winter 2023
Bermondseybrewed sake Eliza Frost
the Biscuit tAlks to Founder lucy Wilson to Find out more ABout neW sAke BreWery kAnPAi on the Bermondsey Beer mile The Biscuit: Firstly, what is sake, for those who may not be familiar with the tipple? Lucy Wilson: Sake is a truly unique drink: we say it is “brewed like a beer and enjoyed like a wine”. Sake is a fermented beverage made from rice - its roots are Japanese and stretch back more than 500 years. It’s easy to drink and for smooth sipping. It is not strong like a spirit, as it is fermented it has relatively low alcohol, which is more similar to wine strength, around 15% ABV. Junmai Sake (which we mostly make) is made from only four ingredients: rice, water, yeast and koji – a magic mould, also used to make soy and miso. How is it best consumed? Most premium sakes are best enjoyed chilled in a glass – be it a small sake glass or a stemmed wine glass. When winter comes around, it’s fun to play with warming up certain sakes to different temperatures, opening up new flavours. Which is your favourite? For me, you can’t beat a namazake – this means the sake is still “alive” as it hasn’t been pasteurised. It’s what we serve on the taps, and it is always full of life, super fresh and even a bit spritzy. How did you start KANPAI and making sake? Little did we know on an intoxicated holiday to Japan that we would come back and get obsessed with making sake. A hobby turned turbo, and we haven’t looked back. Everything is brewed onsite, why is this important to you? KANPAI sake is a true craft operation – our brewers have touched every grain of rice that makes the final sakes, and it simply wouldn’t have its personality and flavours without that intimate relationship. What do you offer at the taproom? The taproom’s sake bar is within our brewery site, so the sake simply can’t get any fresher! We have indoor and outdoor tables plus a special mezzanine with a viewing
14
platform over the brewery. We run brewery tours with tastings every Saturday. We have 10 taps serving our wide range of sakes by the glass for every taste, plus additional sakes by the bottle, and a rotating list of guest sake from fellow brewers (Japanese and international). As for beers, you can always expect a special KANPAI collaboration beer alongside local craft beers. We have developed a special cocktail menu, as well as Japanese beer, whisky, gin, shochu, awamori and liqueurs. Plus, the kitchen offers a delectable menu of Japanese izakaya-inspired dishes prepared by talented chef Tai Nguyen, former head chef at Hakata and Bone Daddies. Expect the finest ingredients crafted into oh-so-satisfying sando, gyoza and chicken wings. Each dish has been carefully designed to enjoy with sake to enhance it, as well as many dishes being made with sake or sake-byproducts. What has life been like since moving to the beer mile from Peckham and your opening on National Sake Day in October? Tom [husband and co-founder] and I have spent many an afternoon on the beer mile over the years, we’ve always loved it and it felt like a natural progression for us when we outgrew our space in Peckham. The Bermondsey community is amazing, thank you for welcoming us with open arms! From neighbours Omni doing amazing print wrapping on the front to OngOng bakery making shokupan bread with our sake kasu (leftover rice from the brewing). We’ve met so many new faces and visitors are so curious about sake and open-minded to trying the range. And finally, what can people expect from KANPAI next? We are heads down in the brewery making this season’s sakes, then it’s full steam ahead arranging some fun events – keep your eyes peeled for sake-paired dinners and “Bonenkai” (Japanese “forget the year”) parties! Happy hour is every Wednesday and Thursday 5-7pm, two draft sakes for £10. Walk-ins welcome, plus bookings. kanpai.london 48 Druid Street, Bermondsey, SE1 2EZ
Pop up Christmas shop at 126 Bermondsey St for seasonal gifts, flowers, wreaths and candles
Serving up lipsmackingly good cocktails, wine, ale and free range chickens. Wednesday 5-11 | Thursday 5-11pm | Friday midday to 11pm | Saturday 12-11pm | Sunday 12-6pm 07539 142389 Now serving fabulous brunches 12-4pm Saturday and Sunday For more details, please contact us on info@poulet37.co.uk Poulet, 37 Maltby St, London, SE1 3PA
126 Bermondsey Street, London SE1 3TX Available on Deliveroo. Instagram: omoide_uk/ A small, cosy and intimate wine and cocktail bar opening soon at No 92 Bermondsey St. We will be serving delicious small French plates alongside a sensational wine selection. We look forward to welcoming you all. A Bientôt
The B Street Deli The original deli on Bermondsey Street
We are here for you and open daily! Monday - Saturday 8am - 11pm, Sundays 8am - 10.30pm 07769326455 www.bstreetdeli.co.uk/ Instagram: bstreetdelildn Twitter: BStreetDeliLDN
GIVE THE GIFT OF BRITISH HONEY & BEESWAX CANDLES
SAT UR DAY SHOP OPEN 9am - 2 p m / E n joy FR E E Hon ey Tast in gs Spa Terminu s, 1 3 6 Sp a R oad, Lon don SE 1 6 4 A E
winter 2023
food & drink
Indonesian whole boneless sea bass, barbequed in banana leaf by Sticky Mango
P
eter Lloyd, director of Sticky Mango, presents The Biscuit’s dish of the season, an Indonesian dish called Ikan (meaning to wrap in a banana leaf ) Pepes (meaning fish). Lloyd says: “During my unforgettable food tour of Bali, I stumbled upon a hidden culinary gem that left an indelible mark on my taste buds and repertoire, Pepes Ikan. It was a serendipitous discovery in the middle of Bali’s enchanting landscape and culture. “As I ventured through bustling markets and quiet rice paddies, the rich tapestry of Bali’s sights and smells overwhelmed my senses. The vivid hues of traditional sarongs and the fragrant incense wafting from temples created a captivating backdrop.
17
“Amid this kaleidoscope, I found myself at a local warung (eatery) where Pepes Ikan awaited. The first bite transported me to a world of flavours. “This Balinese dish – made by wrapping marinated fish in banana leaves and grilling it to perfection – tantalised my taste buds with its blend of lemongrass, coconut and aromatic spices. “My discovery of Pepes Ikan became a symbol of my journey, representing the connection between the flavours, smells, scenes and the people of Bali, leaving me with cherished memories of a magical food tour.” 33 Coin Street, SE1 9NR www.stickymango.co.uk/
SEAFOOD + WINE
winter 2023
GiFt Guide
shop local this christmas With so mAny AmAzinG sellers, mAkers And mArkets on our doorsteP in se1 And se16, We BrinG you the Biscuit’s christmAs GiFt Guide – helPinG you to shoP locAl this seAson…
BlAck coWBoy coFFee For caffeine lovers, Black Cowboy Coffee offers premium coffee beans in various flavour origins. Their blue bonnet coffee is a single-origin organic Colombian bean. It delivers a taste sensation of juicy apple and blackcurrant with a light aftertaste for the perfect evening espresso. Price: £9 Buy online: blackcowboycoffee.co.uk/howdy/ols/ products/ Visit Black Cowboy Coffee: Elephant Arcade, Unit 11A, 50 London Road, SE1 6FY
Brunel museum christmAs decorAtion
Bermondsey se1 BAG For liFe Re-usable Bermondsey bag for life made from a durable mix of cotton and jute. It boasts a light brown hue with contrasting black accents, and prominently displays the Bermondsey SE1 London logo. Designed for longevity and easy cleaning, it’s not only a stylish accessory but also a step towards reducing single-use plastics. Made in the UK, it champions sustainability and local craftsmanship.
Looking for a piece of history to add to your tree this season? Well, look no further than Brunel Museum’s handmade hanging decoration in the shape of Isambard Kingdom Brunel. Price: £12w Buy online: thebrunelmuseum.com/product/ coming-soon-isambard-kingdom-brunelhanging-decoration/
Price: £12.95 Buy online: www.etsy.com/uk/shop/ ShopByBSE1
Buy at Brunel Museum: Railway Avenue, SE16 4LF
Bermondsey se1 cAlendAr
rotherhithe villAGe teA toWel
Bermondsey corner Wine Enjoy a lovely bottle of Château Lafitte Jurançon Sec from Bermondsey Corner this season. A beautiful blend of Petit Manseng and Gros Mansend, this dry Jurançon offers a rather complex nose with plenty of ripe white fruit and candied citrus, as well as beeswax and gentle toasty notes and brioche. Pair with oysters or seafood, Roquefort or sheep milk cheeses, and keep for up to five years. Price: £47 per bottle Buy straight from the shelves: Bermondsey Corner, 142 Bermondsey Street, SE1 3TX
Journey through Bermondsey and SE1 in 2024 with this calendar. Explore the heart and soul of London curated especially to take you through the vibrant history of the area. Navigate each month and immerse yourself in a visual feast of beloved landmarks, hidden gems and moments that capture the inimitable spirit of this iconic location.
Beautiful and useful – this special tea towel features some of the historic buildings of Rotherhithe (including, of course, the Thames Tunnel). Great for anyone with an interest in local history, or just who might otherwise get bored while doing the drying up. Price: £5.50
Price: £17
Buy online: thebrunelmuseum.com/product/ rotherhithe-village-tea-towel-in-green/
Buy online: www.etsy.com/uk/ listing/1566449288/2024-calendar-pre-order-a3london
Buy at Brunel Museum: Railway Avenue, SE16 4LF
millWAll PhotoBook
kAnPAi BreWery tour
No One Likes Us is a photobook by photographer Jérôme Favre. No One Likes Us is an immersive photo documentary inside the world of Millwall FC football club. It’s a fresh look at Millwall supporters that re-evaluates their reputation in contemporary football culture. The book is 90 pages, printed in hardcover. Price: £15
Go behind the scenes of the UK’s first sake brewery at KANPAI on the beer mile. Join the weekly brewery tour to discover each precise stage of sakemaking with one of their passionate staff, followed by a tasting of three premium sakes. There is one tour session each Saturday, which begins at 12:30pm and lasts for two hours.
Buy online: www.jeromefavrephotography.com/ shop/
Book online: kanpai.london/toursandexperiences
Price: £30 per person
19
Is your loved one coping at home? Camberwell Lodge Care & Nursing Home Luxury residential | Dementia | Nursing | Respite Care Our care is the kind we’d all want our loved ones to receive. Camberwell Lodge Care Home provides the highest standards of family-led residential and dementia care. Our state-of-the-art home is luxurious and beautifully furnished, whilst retaining a warm family atmosphere that makes Camberwell Lodge feel extra special. • 98 Spacious en-suite bedrooms • Bistro café and themed pub • Sociable lounge and dining areas • Daily fine dining and hospitality suite
• Roof terrace and landscaped gardens • Hair and pamper salon • Tailored meaningful activities
To find out more about life at Camberwell Lodge Care & Nursing Home contact Senior Customer Relations Manager Jessica O’Connell at jessica.oconnell@countrycourtcare.com or call 07939 296 992.
020 4579 2199
Picton Street, Camberwell, London, SE5 7QH www.countrycourtcare.com
winter 2023
GiFt Guide
the mAyFloWer
neAl’s yArd dAiry community cheese oF the month selection
This print of The Mayflower pub in Rotherhithe is made by Tomartacus, a brother and sister design duo illustrating London views loved by locals. When they first started Tomartacus years ago, they wanted to create artwork of local cafes, pubs and parks that make London the city it is – and create affordable artwork capturing their favourites. The Mayflower pub in Rotherhithe is that perfect blend of being a local’s favourite steeped in history with cracking views across the Thames.
This delicious selection contains the same range as their popular Cheese of the Month Subscription, which showcases four cheeses Neal’s Yard Dairy think are tasting especially good, but the Community Subscription also includes a £2.50 donation to their charity partner, City Harvest. City Harvest works to address food poverty and food waste across London.
Price: £20.00+
For each box sold, Neal’s Yard Dairy will match this donation, meaning every order placed results in a £5 contribution overall. The Community Cheese of the Month Subscription is the perfect gift for the adventurous cheese lover in your life while contributing to a good cause.
Buy online: www.tomartacus.co.uk
millWAll shirt history muG
Price: £48
For those footy fans, this Millwall mug features every shirt that Millwall has ever worn throughout its history. Enjoy a morning cuppa while revisiting your favourite team’s kit throughout the years.
Buy online: www.nealsyarddairy.co.uk
jemimA in the Woods WreAth
Price: £11.95 Buy online: www.etsy.com/uk/listing/1149234294/ millwall-shirt-history-mug
Deck the halls, or your door, with a wreath by Jemima in the Woods. In their signature wild style, the wreaths are seasonal and sustainable. Order a bespoke design, all made on Maltby Street. Price: Varies Buy on Ropewalk: Upstairs @ Arch 48 Ropewalk, Maltby Street, SE1 3PA
jensen’s Bermondsey dry Gin Jensen’s Bermondsey Dry Gin is a quintessential classic in the world of gin. Elegant, citrusy, floral yet spicy, this is the classic gin for a Martini or gin and tonic, right from the heart of the maker’s mile in Bermondsey. Cheers to seasonal tipples!
Bucks sPritz By these dAys Bucks Fizz. A classic Christmas cocktail not often thought of as being an aperitif. Often poured for the whole party before presents are opened, it’s a touch bitter, bubbly and lower ABV, a bit like aperitivo! These Days are taking this tasty, but old fashioned cocktail and giving it a fun, orange refresh for the festive season.
Price: £32 Buy online: www.bermondseygin.com/ Buy local at: Bermondsey Distillery, The Whisky Exchange London Bridge, B Street Deli, Bermondsey Corner, Morocco Bound
Introducing the Bucks Spritz. Think, Bucks Fizz. But better. Taking a Christmas classic and making it their own, These Days first ever limited-edition release is done exactly how you’d expect using the highest quality ingredients for a refreshing drink that’s ready to serve up for guests or buy as a ready-to-drink gift.
jensen’s Gin exPerience
Price: £19.00
The Jensen’s Gin Experience starts with welcome drinks upon arrival, before they take you to the tasting table and talk about the amazing history of gin – from the early 1600s right through to the modern day. They explain where Jensen’s sits among that as a company, too. Your tour guide will then take you to Jensen’s still and explain the incredible and unique processes that go into making Jensen’s gins, before taking you down for a guided, comparative tasting of two of their flagship products. Lastly, you will be invited to the bar where you will be given a masterclass on how to make a perfect Dry Gin Martini.
Buy online: thesedaysdrinks.com Buy on the beer mile: 100 Druid Street, SE1 2HQ
se1 cAndle co. SE1 Candle Co.’s Sweater Weather Candle is made with love using 100% natural wax and toxin-free ingredients. This product is a warming and fruity blend of pomegranate, plum, amber, violet and musk – think pomegranate noir. All SE1 Candle Co. candles are made in small batches with carefully curated fragrances and essential oils, hand-poured to give the best possible finish. They’re the eco-chic candles of the future with a burn time of 45+ hours. Price: £22 (plus Biscuit readers can get 20% off and free UK delivery with code BERMONDSEY20)
Price: £60 for two
Buy online: www.etsy.com/uk/listing/1305008692/ sweater-weather-coconut-soy-candle
Book via email at tours@jensensgin.com – or Buy-A-Gift and Virgin Experiences
21
stoneWAre muG By nicolA Gillis At Provision A handmade, wheel-thrown stoneware mug covered in an ash wood glaze with black slip marks. Made by Brighton-based ceramicist, Nicola Gillis, and available to buy at SE1’s Provision. Price: £33 Buy in-store at Provision, Arch 53 Ropewalk, Maltby Street Market, SE1 3PA Buy online: www.provisionstore.co.uk
gift guide ©
Trinity25 gin
a An
y Pr
winter 2023
or
Trinity25 by Spirit of Bermondsey is a delicious gin-based Session Spirit™ with a smooth citrusy spiced kick and a blended exotic taste and aroma. With just three key botanicals – cardamom, black pepper and coriander seeds – Trinity25 is a light, delicate spirit with a dry, well-balanced taste.
Borage Honey Hamper Celebrate beautiful Borage Honey with the London Honey Co’s showcase gift hamper, including their new hand-dipped British Beeswax Candles, inspired by the vast blue fields of summer flora that the bees enjoy so much. The gift hamper includes; British Borage Honey, Summer Honeycomb, British Beeswax Candle Pair, and Nourishing Beeswax Balm. All products are sustainably produced from their beehives across the British countryside.
It’s been designed to mix perfectly with a range of mixers and perform as a central ingredient in your favourite cocktails or as an apéritif. In fact, you can have two measures of Trinity25 for every one measure of full-strength gin as it has a lower ABV.
Price: £40
Price: £26.99
Buy online: thelondonhoneycompany.co.uk/ collections/gifts/products/borage-hamper
Buy online: www.spiritofbermondsey.com
Lucocoa chocolate
Pop to the shop: Open 9am to 2pm every Saturday – with free honey tastings – at Unit 1, Spa-arch Lane, Spa Road, SE16 4RP
For the chocolate lover who wants to try it all, Lucocoa’s Cosy Collection set includes: cinnamon and nutmeg bar; orange bar; cinnamon and nutmeg hot chocolate; orange hot chocolate. This is a perfect example of different regions creating different flavours. The Cosy Collection Set sits on the base of Lucocoa’s Haitian chocolate, which has fig, dates and roasted nut notes. Then, when you add some cinnamon and nutmeg or orange to the chocolate, you get incredible winter warmer flavours.
A green-fingered gift This rubber plant ‘Ficus Elastica Melany’ is available to buy in a glazed ceramic pot from SE16’s Grow Up plant shop – and it’s the perfect present for the green-fingered loved ones in your life this Christmas. The plant is 45cm, and the pot is 15cm.
Price: Cosy bars, £5.75. Cosy Hot chocolate £7.30 Buy online: www.lucocoachocolate.com/shop
Price: £28 Buy in SE16: Grow Up, 13 West Lane, SE16 4NZ
e ©P
r te
Lay
SE16 artwork
t on
This SE16 postcode print in a stylish typography approach is available in four different sizes and in nine colour ways by E C Crafted – so there’s sure to be a size and colour to suit your Rotherhithe gallery wall.
TROVE167 scarf
Available in A5, A4, A3, A2 and A1, with framing available on sizes A5-A3, it is perfect for your home or as a gift. The print is a great way to welcome new locals to the area, or for those who have set up a home here.
A lovely basic essential from TROVE167, this unisex scarf is 80% cotton, 20% cashmere and is the perfect lightweight accessory for anyone. Offering 20 colours, from seasonal brights to the classic everyday, there will be one to suit any loved one as a gift.
Price: From £16 to £62
Price: £35 (plus Biscuit readers can get 10% off this item with the code TREASURE)
Buy online: www.etsy.com/uk/shop/ECCrafted
Where to buy: trove167.co.uk Buy on Bermondsey Street: 167 Bermondsey Street, SE1 3UF
British Beeswax Candles Produced from London Honey Co’s own hives, their British Beeswax is pure and entirely natural – and made into these British Beeswax Candles. This gift product includes: two 8-inch Giant Stubby Candles, with organic cotton wicks wrapped in branded tissue paper, plus one handcrafted embossed gift box and a background information leaflet.
London Glass Blowing This beautiful Turquoise Glacier Perfume Bottle by Peter Layton is a special gift for a special someone this Christmas. These freeblown and individually signed perfume bottles make exquisite gifts. Available in a range of Peter Layton’s signature designs and colourways, this piece is made at London Glass Blowing’s Bermondsey Street studio and is both functional and decorative.
Using organic cotton tips, the Giant Stubby Beeswax Candles are slow burning and will release a glorious and naturally purifying scent, which will cleanse the air around you.
Price: £300
Price: £23
Buy online: londonglassblowing.co.uk/pages/ collections
Buy online: thelondonhoneycompany.co.uk/products/ Pop to the shop: Open 9am to 2pm every Saturday – with free honey tastings, too – at Unit 1, Spa-arch Lane, Spa Road, SE16 4RP
Buy in SE1: London Glassblowing Gallery, 62-66 Bermondsey Street, SE1 3UD
22
southbank advertorial
winter 2023
Until Sun 7 Jan 2024
Southbank Centre’s Winter Festival has returned, sprinkling magic across our site Come together this winter for spellbinding shows, glorious music and choirs, luminous art, festive family fun and our wondrous Winter Market and pop-ups. Wondrous Winter Market Stroll along the Thames under twinkling lights at our Winter Market, where you can sample delicious drinks and street food or browse for Christmas gifts. At our seasonal pop-ups, take part in alpinethemed curling at The Curling Club, toast marshmallows at Fire & Fromage and enjoy more goodies at Beltane & Pop, Choco Fruit and The Thirsty Farrier. Festive family fun Little ones will love Bluey’s Big Play, as Bluey, Bingo, Bandit and Chilli are brought to real life in a brand-new theatrical adaptation of the hit TV show. Follow Marinka, a young girl trying to find her feet in The House with Chicken Legs, featuring puppets, projection and live music. And start your family’s New Year celebrations early at our free daytime party Kids’ Countdown with Len Blanco. Spellbinding shows Dive into a glittering winter wonderland at an immersive reimagining of the festive classic Nutcracker, packed with hope, heart and humour. After the Nutcracker performance ends, the Tuff Nutt Jazz Club transforms into a speakeasy, with new jazz musicians playing every evening. Australian comedian Reuben Kaye brings brutally funny comedy and cabaret to the Purcell Room with Reuben Kaye: The Butch is Back, supported by a full band. Or enjoy the ultimate festive variety show, Christmas Actually, curated by Love Actually writer and director Richard Curtis.
Free parties Witness an invigorating live performance by London’s finest young jazz musicians at Tomorrow’s Warriors Extraordinary Winter Showcase. Get your dancing shoes on for the popular Christmas Eve social Five Go Jiving plus our New Year’s Day Ceilidh, and don’t miss Heart n Soul’s Winter Rave, an evening of revelry. Bollyqueer invites you to enjoy a fun and empowering dance class with a queer dose of Bollywood entertainment. Finally, join riotous party starters Pxssy Liquor as they take over the Southbank Centre for one night only at Pxssy Liquor’s Office Christmas Party.
Southbank Centre Winter Market Photo: India Roper-Evans
Parillan shared dishes ©John Carey
Luminous art While you’re soaking up the atmosphere of our site, take in our free outdoor Winter Light exhibition. Then head indoors where there’s more art to see at the Hayward Gallery’s Hiroshi Sugimoto photography exhibition, the largest survey to date of an artist renowned for creating some of the most alluringly enigmatic photographs of our time. Also, don’t miss the free Koestler Arts: IN CASE OF EMERGENCY exhibition, curated by poet Joelle Taylor.
Winter Festival
Glorious music and choirs We invite you to join us for free choirs and concerts including winter classics at Fab-YULE-ous Voices, and our Southbank Centre Youth Voices Winter Showcase. Plus, we’ve a procession of festive classical music performances including Christmas Classics, ET in Concert with the Philharmonia Orchestra and Christmas in Tinseltown.
Come together UNTIL SUN 7 JAN
Find out more at www.southbankcentre. co.uk/winter 27
PeoPLe
lucocoa
What is the best part of your job? Having people try our chocolate for the first time and watching their faces light up because they have never tasted chocolate like we make before. We work with many other brands and companies, and sometimes they want a bespoke recipe and to play around with different flavours. How the cocoa bean can complement other flavours is really fascinating.
oWner AmArAchi clArke tells the Biscuit ABout the tAsty Bermondsey chocolAte
The Biscuit: What inspired you to start Lucocoa? Amarachi Clarke: Lucocoa became London’s first bean-to-bar chocolate maker back in 2015 (not to be confused with a chocolatier) and was founded under three principles of disrupting the chocolate industry: • To show that you don’t need child and slave labour in the chocolate supply chain. We want to show that you can make incredible chocolate tastings without unethical practices. • Make great chocolate without refined sugar. We don’t use white refined sugar but coconut sugar and a superfood fruit from Peru called Lucuma. • Change the narrative of chocolate. You often get told that dark chocolate is supposed to be bitter, that milk chocolate is too sweet, and that white chocolate isn’t chocolate. None of this is true. Chocolate is actually like wine and coffee. Different regions create different flavours; all this is based on where the beans are grown. ©Ana Pryor
spirit of Bermondsey director BrAd cromPton exPlAins hoW the Gin BrAnd stAnds For the sPirit oF se1
The Biscuit: How does the Spirit of Bermondsey embody the spirit of Bermondsey, the area?
Times are changing, and most of the UK wants to moderate their alcohol intake. However, their options with spirits are limited. They either enjoy less of what they love or alternate with lesser-tasting alcohol-free drinks. We give them the freedom to moderate with consistency.
Brad Crompton: Bermondsey was the epicentre of 19thcentury gin production and the warehouses along Shad Thames stored some of the new spices being introduced to Britain from around the world. We have adopted some of those spices (cardamom, coriander and black pepper) and used them as botanicals in our Session Spirit made with London Dry Gin. Every sip of Trinity25 embodies a rich history combined with a modern way of life.
As it’s the season of tipples, what do you think is the best Christmas-themed gin drink to enjoy? A spiced negroni goes down a treat around Christmas. It’s warm, it’s short and the spice adds a nice edge. If you want a classier drink, try a French 25 (it’s our take on a French 75).
What is your favourite thing about your job and what you make?
And finally, where in Bermondsey would you ideally consume this drink?
My favourite thing is that we’ve really managed to provide people with the best of both worlds and unlocked a realm of possibility for people who want to enjoy a perfectly crafted taste with flexibility and freedom.
Anywhere that suits! A local bar such as the bar in Hakata, among the old warehouses overlooking the Thames, or cosied away in your living room if you’re lucky enough to call the area your home.
Trinity25 is a lower ABV gin, with more people enjoying a lifestyle with less alcohol, -why is this product important to make?
www.spiritofbermondsey.com
28
If you could pick, what is your dream flavour combination? We do like to experiment, but I really love the flavour of the chocolate to speak for itself. To be honest, I really love nuts in chocolate. We have two in our range, and I would love to have more – I’m thinking of a nutty milk chocolate. How does Bermondsey play a role in your business? Oh, a massive one. Look where we are, surrounded by incredible food producers. Not much manufacturing happens in London anymore, so it’s great to be surrounded by businesses that take their craft seriously. It can be tough sometimes, but you can always rely on someone having something you need. And finally, as it’s Christmas, what is your favourite way to spend the season? I really do embrace it. I love the Christmas season, the food, the music, seeing family and having the annual friends’ Christmas lunch. I even wait for Mariah Carey’s annual “It’s Time!” to officially trigger the Christmas season. I just love getting into the whole Christmas spirit. www.lucocoachocolate.com
winter 2023
Black Cowboy Coffee The Biscuit meets director of the SE1 coffee spot, Emeka Kuizhi Otagburuagu
The Biscuit: Why did you start Black Cowboy Coffee? Emeka Kuizhi Otagburuagu: I come from a background in the arts, retail management, and trucking in Texas and the contiguous USA and Canada. After a sudden exit from Texas, I found myself back in the UK after 14 years. I had not lost my entrepreneurial zeal, despite the unfortunate circumstance of my departure from Texas. I secured a government loan to start a business. I named that business Black Cowboy Coffee – the idea was conceived in 2013 and became a reality in 2015. Black Cowboy Coffee is based on the hidden story of Black Cowboys in the USA. I wanted a business that would allow me to be authentic, a business with a real message of human resilience, a business that is based also on my life experience in America as an “asphalt cowboy” and from my experience traversing the entire USA as an independent truck driver. Can you explain the flavour of the Black Cowboy Coffee roast? I currently have seven different speciality coffee beans from around the world. I have five different types in the grinder in the café, to give my customers a choice
of flavours for their lattes, cappuccinos, flat whites and espressos. I particularly love the single-origin Brazilian and the organic Ethiopian beans. What do you love about coffee culture – and how does Black Cowboy Coffee embody that? Coffee has been a part of my life for far too long for me to remember. My interest expanded during my time as a trucker in the States. Coffee culture in the UK is still in its infancy. I feel that I have a great opportunity to be involved in the evolving creativity of the café concept. Can you name your top three locations to visit in SE1? Imperial War Museum, Black Cowboy Café, and the Elephant and Castle Pub. As it’s the festive season, what do you think is the perfect coffee for a winter’s morning? Hazelnut latte with oat milk, or dark hot chocolate with a shot of Baileys Irish Cream.
SE1 Candle Co.
Elephant Arcade, 50 London Road, SE1 6FY www.blackcowboycoffee.co.uk
Candlemaker Emily Kendall talks about her local business The Biscuit: What is your favourite scent and why? Emily Kendall: It's so hard to pick just one! I'd have to say that burning Evening Light and Salty Shores together is a feast for the senses. They're the first two scents I created and they balance each other out so well. What do you love about candle making? I find it really therapeutic. It's a chance to slow down, get away from screens and get creative. A lot of research and testing has to go into making a high-quality candle, but the end result is so worth it and it's so satisfying when you see (and smell) the end product. How has SE1 influenced your brand? I would say SE1 oozes creativity. Being in central London, there's always something new popping up and I'm constantly inspired by everything around me and by other local makers. I wanted to create something luxurious but also quite minimalistic.
29
Sustainability is also at the heart of the brand and it's great that so many Londoners are more mindful of the importance of this now. Where is your favourite place to spend your downtime in SE1? As a foodie, I'm a big fan of Borough Market and Bermondsey Street on the weekends. But also exploring the little streets around the river, like Shad Thames and Borough Yards is fun, too! I find being near water especially calming so the river is where I'll go if I need a bit of head space. As it’s Christmas, what do you think the best stocking filler is? Sweater Weather, Gingerbread House and Winter Wonderland are real crowd-pleasers at this time of year! (Classic me, why choose just one?) www.etsy.com/uk/shop/se1candleco
taking care of business
IN ASSOCIATION WITH TEAM LONDON BRIDGE
LONDON BRIDGE COMMUNITY
The King of Rock‘n’Roll Eliza Frost
A major retrospective exhibition exploring the life of Elvis Presley has opened at new venue Arches London Bridge
Elvis on stage ©Graceland
D
o you have an Achy Breaky Heart over not being able to visit Elvis’ homeland of Memphis? Do you ask yourself If I Can Dream of visiting one day? You’re in luck, Direct from Graceland: Elvis is bringing the story of the King of Rock‘n’Roll to SE1. The exhibition sees a significant collection belonging to Elvis Presley to ever leave Memphis, including instruments, stage outfits and personal belongings. Hosted at new arts and culture venue Arches London Bridge, the Graceland Archive has assembled a powerful narrative for fans, exploring Elvis’ meteoric career, larger-than-life persona, influential sense of style, life at Graceland, plus lesser-known aspects of his early years, hobbies and personal life. In the converted tunnels of London Bridge, Arches London Bridge is a new cultural hub for London, and
provides a cavernous gallery space for the over 400 artefacts owned by Elvis. Direct from his Graceland home in Memphis, Tennessee, visitors will find his military uniforms, TCB Super Trike Motorcycle and Ferrari Dino GT4, and an amazing array of his famous jumpsuits – plus personal items like Lisa Marie’s baby clothes, Elvis’ first job application and the crayon box he took to school. In a time before celebrity stylists, Elvis carefully crafted his own look, borrowing from eclectic sources to perfect his style. Among the items from Graceland are Elvis’ red MG automobile as featured in his classic film Blue Hawaii, a gold-plated rotary dial telephone from Elvis’ upstairs bedroom, the keys to Graceland and his gold microphone used on stage in Las Vegas in 1969.
Some of the most recognisable items travelling from Memphis to London are the Gold Lamé Suit worn by Elvis in the 1950s, plus one of the two jumpsuits he used for his 1973 Aloha from Hawaii television special and the cape he famously tossed into the audience at the end of the show. The Aloha from Hawaii special was the world’s first satellite concert televised live, watched by 1.5 billion people. Angie Marchese, Vice President of Archives and Exhibits at Elvis Presley Enterprises, said: “Through our archives and collection, we keep the past alive by preserving, and most of all by sharing the stories these objects represent through amazing exhibits. Preserving the past, rekindling memories and creating new ones. Elvis put so much of himself into his work and communicated so much with his audience on an intimate level.”
30
Liz Koravos, managing director of Arches London Bridge, said: “What really makes this exhibition special is the glimpse each visitor gets behind the public persona, behind the image of Elvis. “He famously said at his Madison Square Garden press conference in 1972, ‘Image is one thing and a human being is another’. Direct From Graceland: Elvis gives you a peek backstage to meet the human being who is also the King of Rock‘n’Roll.” Open until 26 February 2024. Tickets from £19.90 for adults and £16.90 for children aged 5-15. elvislondonbridge.co.uk Arches London Bridge, 8 Bermondsey Street, SE1 2ER
AdvertoriAL
winter 2023
Greystar – Building connections through the Bermondsey Project GreystAr is thrilled to Be deliverinG the lonGAWAited Bermondsey Project And BrinGinG the Buzz BAck to Bermondsey’s historic Peek FreAns Biscuit FActory site.
O
ver the next four years, the Bermondsey Project will deliver over 1,500 new rental homes to Bermondsey. Through construction and following delivery, hundreds of training and job opportunities will be created for local people, new connections will be established through the area, and retail, shops and public spaces will work together to revitalise the neighbourhood. The Bermondsey Project will reflect the local spirit that Bermondsey is known for. Seamlessly weaving together new offices, shops, cafes, parks and play spaces, the reinvigorated site will encourage existing and new communities to come together and contribute towards its sustainable long-term growth. Greystar is committed to investing in the long-term growth and success of the Bermondsey community. Through our build-to-rent approach, we will continue to own and operate the Bermondsey Project site once construction is completed and are committed to being long-term members of the community. We are working hard to get to know and build relationships with local people and groups. In October, we hosted a Halloween themed Autumn get together, and we’ve enjoyed getting involved with some of the Saturday morning Blue Market events in recent months too. We are truly committed to ensuring that our investment in the community complements the existing neighbourhood and we are working with and supporting other local community-led initiatives, promoting social value for everybody in Bermondsey. This includes our on-going involvement with the Blue Bermondsey BID as well as working with local organisations including Big Local Works to ensure that local Bermondsey people benefit from training and employment opportunities generated through the Bermondsey Project.
We want to ensure that benefits and opportunities created by the development are wide reaching and long-term. Recently we’ve been in discussions with local people to develop our Local Legacy Strategy, which focuses on four key areas: • Community Wellbeing • Education • Skills Development & Employment • Business & Enterprise
with members of the local community wherever possible, so please sign up to our email distribution list via our Bermondsey Project website (https:// www.greystar-bermondseyproject.com/) if you’d like to hear more about opportunities to get involved. Bermondsey is truly a place for everybody, and we are excited to see the long-awaited shared vision now coming to life. Stay up-to-date
In practice, among other things, this involves working to deliver the long-awaited railway arch connections between North and South Bermondsey; promoting the growth and success of existing businesses and community groups; and working with established local education and employment providers, charities, and other community groups to provide over 400 jobs, apprenticeships, and training opportunities onsite. We are keen to fill these roles
Visit our website to read more about the Bermondsey Project. You can also sign up to our mailing list to stay up-to-date on the latest news from site. W: www.greystar-bermondseyproject.com/ E: info@greystar-bermondseyproject.com P: 020 3900 3676
31
In August we submitted a planning application to Southwark Council to make some minor changes to the previously approved plans. You can find out more about the changes we are proposing to make to the previously consented plans on our website (https://www.greystar-bermondseyproject. com/) or view and comment on the full application on the Southwark Council website, using the reference 23/AP/2124.
F.A.A.
F A ALBIN & SONS Family Run Funeral Directors
Serving the people of Bermondsey & Rotherhithe for over 200 years
welling 4 Welling Way, Welling, KENT, da16 2Rj T: 020 8856 7514
020 7237 3637 rotherhithe 52 Culling Road, London, SE16 2TN OuR OThER bRaNCh addRESSES aRE: sidcup 163 Station Road, Sidcup, KENT, da15 7aa T: 020 8308 0015
eAst london 378 barking Road, Plaistow LONdON, E13 8hL T: 020 7476 1861
MottinghAM 54-56 Mottingham Road, LONdON, SE9 4QR T: 020 8857 0330
deptford 164 deptford high Street, LONdON, SE8 3dP T: 020 8694 1384
wAlworth 88 brandon Street, LONdON, SE17 1Nd T: 020 7313 6990
crAYford 30-32 Crayford high Street, Crayford, KENT, da1 4hG T: 01322 533012
www.albins.co.uk
winter 2023
memory lane
Shirley’s story Michael Holland
‘It’s the place where you will find the best people in the world’: the biscuit sits down with Rotherhithe local Shirley Mills
S
hirley Rose Mills was one of 10 siblings living in a two-bedroom flat in Rye House on the Swan Lane Estate with their parents. The flat where Shirley was born during the war was just 50 yards from where we now sit at her niece’s flat in Sandwich House, on the same estate built in 1907 to rehouse the Rotherhithe people displaced by the construction of the Rotherhithe Tunnel. Sadly, Shirley’s dad died in the war and her mum was left to bring up all the children: “There was six of us girls and four boys”. No easy task with Hitler’s Luftwaffe trying to demolish Rotherhithe and its people on a regular basis. There was no escape to the country with evacuation either, as Mrs Mills would not see her children split up into different towns, villages and households. “She was always baking and making stews for us,” remembers Shirley. “When the air raids came, we would all run down the shelters, which were just there,” she points towards the square that now doubles as a car park for residents, but was once her playground in peacetime and where families could hang out their washing. As the older ones grew up, they moved out into other flats on the estate or very close by. “My brothers and sisters all ended up living locally, and me, my brother and my mum moved to Beech House in Canon Beck Road about 60 years ago, where I still live now.” Shirley went to St Mary’s School, which once stood on Lower Road, and enjoyed it there. “I liked going to school just as much as I liked playing out with my mates,” she says with a smile. Shirley stayed at St Mary’s until she was 15. Playing out with friends also meant going to the youth club, which was based in Albion Street School: “Lots of us used to go there as they had a lot of things that we could do.” As a young woman, Shirley would go swimming in Southwark Park Lido and ice skating in Streatham – “I used to be good at skating,” she recalls now. And it was as a teenager that the young Shirley Mills came into her own, the time when rock’n’roll came to town in the shape of Cliff Richard (“He was lovely, wasn’t he?”) and our very own local singing sensation Tommy Steele (“I loved Tommy Steele”). Shirley’s eyes lit up and sparkled as her mind wandered back: “A few of us went to see Cliff at the Trocadero, up the Elephant. He was on with Wee
Willie Harris, who used to work in Peek Freans.” Thinking of other singing stars from Shirley’s Golden Years, she said: “Max Bygraves used to live over there”, waving her thumb towards Winchelsea House as if living among famous stars was the most natural thing to do. Like many Bermondsey families, the Mills would go down hopping every year. The few weeks picking hops in Kent would often take the place of a proper holiday, although Shirley does remember days out at Southend, Margate and other seaside resorts favoured by Londoners. In later years, Shirley would fly to Spain and enjoy proper holidays where you did not have to pick hops to pay your way. As Shirley got older, her options changed but her horizons stayed very much the same. The first pub she used regularly was The Adam and Eve: “That was a good pub then,” she says with a nostalgic look in her eyes. Then a list of other local pubs tripped off Shirley’s tongue: “The Nelson, The Albion, The Neptune…” All well-known Rotherhithe haunts that are no longer open as pubs. Shirley’s employment was pretty much kept local as well because she was living with and looking after her mum. Office cleaning jobs were always handy for those who had to be on hand to help out at home. Shirley and her sisters would all meet up in the early hours to get their cleaning done before the office workers turned up for work at 9 o’clock. There was also work for the Mills sisters in the lard factory near
Shirley at St. Mary’s (second from right, front)
Shirley (left), Babsy (sister) and Patty (niece)
Albion Street. These days, Shirley spends her time with the friends and family who still live in her little patch of Rotherhithe, where she stops and chats with just about
33
everyone she passes, even the children, who all know her. It’s the place where she believes you will find the best people in the world.
A Unicorn Theatre Production
11 NOV – 31 DEC
A Unicorn Theatre Production
17 NOV – 31 DEC
THE WOLF, THE DUCK
AND THE MOUSE
★★★★★
‘A genuine Christmas cracker’ WhatsOnStage
★★★★ ★★★★ ★★★★ The Times
The Telegraph
UNICORNTHEATRE.COM
ReviewsHub
For everyone 6+ Tickets from £16.50
For ages 3 – 7 Tickets from £14
★★★★ Time Out
020 7645 0560
All photos are of our classes
Adult Learning Lewisham
DAY, EVENING AND WEEKEND COURSES
Our courses can help you develop your creativity or gain the skills and qualifications you need for work and further education. Enrol now for January. More information is available at: www.lewisham.gov.uk/adultlearning Adult Learning Lewisham ALL TOGETHER WE FLOURISH
Igloo Flowers The Igloo team have been creating bespoke floral wonders from their workshops and branches in bustling Bermondsey Street and vibrant Clapham Junction for over sixteen years. Our Urban Garden Centre at 64 Druid Street SE1 selling a huge variety of garden and indoor plants, pots and homewares.
Christmas trees from 3ft to 10ft arriving 21st November Igloo Flowers 64 Druid St, SE1 2HQ The Flower Pitch Bermondsey St / Tanner St park iglooflowers.com 07497 190613
Register now for a place in our Nursery or Reception for September 2024 Find out more about life at Rosemead at an upcoming open morning Find out more and book at www.rosemeadprep.org.uk Dulwich, London SE21 8HZ
LONDON’S MOST PROGRESSIVE SCHOOL - Private Education Awards 2023
11+ SCHOLARSHIPS AND BURSARIES AVAILABLE Find out more about life at St Dunstan’s at one of our upcoming open events this November. Registration for 11+ entry in September 2024 closes on Monday 20 November 2023. To find out more, please visit www.stdunstans.org.uk Stanstead Road, London, SE6 4TY
winter 2023
HistorY
spice as nice Debra Gosling
C
hristmas is looming, and along with it will come the spicy smells of the season: warm mulled wine, oranges, cinnamon, fancy teas and Christmas pudding. Everything is spicy and warm, in a cosy, fluffyslippers kind of way. Hot toddies around the fire, a nice steaming cup of tea on a frosty morning and cinnamon-buttered toast. How very agreeable. When Bermondsey had factories, they relied on a constant supply of spices and, right up until the 1980s, the warehouses and wharves simply sang with the aroma of spices, tea and coffee. Have you any idea how many spices make up an authentic curry? Ginger, liquorice, cardamom, cumin, turmeric and saffron are just a few tasty ingredients – and they used to be stored in these warehouses and wharves. If you walk around Dockhead, you’ll see places such as Cinnamon Wharf and The Clove Building, which remind us of the large sailing ships from lands afar that blew in on the breeze laden with goodies. Hay’s Wharf took deliveries of tea, coffee, cocoa and, umm, cocaine in Victorian times. They built speedy clippers to get their produce back in record time from abroad and even had races! John Horniman was a successful tea merchant who had warehouses in Hay’s Wharf, and it was he who founded the Horniman Museum in Dulwich. He
grew very rich and collected all sorts of odds and sods from around the globe, which are now on show for all to see. During the eighteenth century, many local men went to sea aboard the “spice islands” ships, which returned six months later with spices, Indian cottons, Chinese silks, fine chinaware, tea and lacquer work boxes to put it in. Some stood on the riverfront watching all these luxurious goods being unloaded who would never be able to afford such luxuries – and by 1752, a proper Customs and Excise body was patrolling the waters watching for smugglers and river pirates. One night they pounced on three men unloading Indian silks and tapestries from Cherry Garden Stairs.
Upon discovery, the thieves threw all the goods into the river and made off. What a waste – all those beautiful things that had been handcrafted by hardworking people were left to sink into the mud. In 1765, a woman who appeared heavily pregnant arrived at Rotherhithe stairs where she was stopped by customs as she got out of a ferryboat. As it was put in a newspaper of the time, “by the dexterity of the revenue officers, she was safely delivered of a large pillowcase containing Indian handkerchiefs and muslins to a considerable value”. Sailors also brought their own exotic wares home for their families: a pocketful of peppercorns was a portable and valuable commodity – and so easy to sneak in.
37
In Victorian times, the Bermondsey factories relied on the docks to bring in the ingredients needed for household favourites: Mrs Peek’s Christmas pudding needed so much fruit and spice! Where would Pearce Duff have been without a large crate of vanilla for their custard? And Shuttleworth’s without a vat of cocoa for their chocolate? Once all the spice traders had moved out, it was years before the aromas of cinnamon, cloves and ginger finally left the building. But if you want to reproduce the smells of Bermondsey’s spicy history, just have a sniff in your food cupboard – Earl Grey, ground coffee, hot chocolate, cinnamon, allspice, coriander, paprika, turmeric, garam masala, nutmeg.
‘Pupils are rightly very proud of their school. They really enjoy their learning and talk with enthusiasm about the school’s culture of mutual respect and inclusivity.’ Ofsted 2023 Kingsdale is Outstanding in every area (Ofsted 2023) and presents extraordinarily rich opportunities to challenge students of all abilities including providing options to study Latin, Economics and Psychology. There is also the choice to learn two languages from the start of Year 7 for gifted & talented linguists. Kingsdale attracts many able students and operates a diverse, expansive curriculum to meet the particular needs and aspirations of all of our students and their families. The school offers a wide variety of academic subjects including 4 or 5 optional courses selected by each child in addition to co-curricular activities every day. ‘Pupils achieve exceptionally well in a wide range of subjects and attain highly at GCSE and A level.’ Ofsted 2023 Kingsdale is rated as a very high performing non-selective school. It has a very impressive track record of being one of the foremost schools, in the locality, for outcomes at Key Stage 5 with some truly outstanding academic results.
‘Leaders aim to nurture the talents of pupils through their scholar programmes in mathematics, music, art and sport.’ Ofsted 2023 ‘Pupils’ behaviour is exemplary…At break times, pupils use the space available to them sensibly. They chat with friends, have lunch together, read or play sports outside.’ Ofsted 2023 Subsidised excursions to amazing destinations such as Malaysia, Namibia, Brazil, the USA and the French Alps are an essential element of the school’s Trips of a Lifetime programme. Kingsdale is a dynamic, remarkably popular and progressive school that has invested over £30 million to develop an award-winning educational learning environment.
Kingsdale had an incredible history of regularly producing the top achieving individual student in the country at GCSE during the pre-pandemic period! The school has one of the best pupil to teacher ratios of any mainstream secondary school in South London.
Harnessing Sixth Form Talent Take advantage of the chance to visit Kingsdale Foundation School’s purpose built Sixth Form Site. See for yourself how we bring the best out of our students and why our post 16 provision is so popular and so heavily oversubscribed. We invite you to apply for a Sixth Form Scholarship worth up to £1,000 per annum. For more details email: sixthform@kingsdale.southwark.sch.uk Our Year 12 Sixth Form Open Day for 2024: Wednesday 29th November 2023 1.30-6.30pm Visits by Appointment Only. Virtual tours will be taking place and broadcast live during each event!broadcast live during each event!
For further information, please visit www.kingsdalefoundationschool.org.uk
winter 2023
coMMunitY
the brightest star Eliza Frost
every yeAr, FunerAl directors AlBin And sons hold A service in their memoriAl GArden, BrinGinG the community toGether to rememBer loved ones
T
he festive season is a joyous occasion, but we’re often also reminded of those who can’t be with us as we celebrate with family and friends with empty seats at the table. Taking time to remember those people and shining a light on their lives is important. That is why, since 1999, funeral directors Albin and Sons has hosted a memorial service in their memorial garden for the people of Bermondsey. For 2023, the Memorial Garden Remembrance Service will be held on Wednesday 6 December. Gates open at 6pm and the memorial will begin at 7pm. Simon Dyer, joint managing director at Albin and Sons, tells The Biscuit that they’ve been doing the service since they opened the Memorial Garden all those years ago, “and it’s grown and grown into quite a big event”. The service welcomes a crowd of up to 2,000 people, and they also run a live stream for those who struggle to attend in person. This year, those attending the service will enjoy a gospel choir as part of the event. Simon tells The Biscuit: “The garden is a special place
“the memorial service is a journey of emotions for families” that my father created in the heart of Bermondsey so people could have their loved ones close by. “It’s a small place, Bermondsey, but it’s quite a big place at the same time. Many people have connections to the area, come from the area and come back to the area. “The garden is an important place now, and the service is an opportunity to give back to the community, celebrating and remembering all of those loved ones we’ve lost. People really appreciate coming together at this time of year.”
He explains of the event: “There is a Christmas tree up in the gardens from early December where families can collect little gold stars to write a message to their loved ones on. They hand them to us on the night and, during the service, we put them up on the tree. “The ashes of all of the stars from previous years are gathered together in an ark, which is brought out for the service every year.” As Simon reflects on previous years, he tells us that it is a “really lovely event”. He says: “It’s a warm atmosphere of people coming
39
together to remember their loved ones. It’s very emotional, we try to keep happy memories at the forefront but there are some very sad moments. It’s a journey of emotions for families, but we try to finish on a bit of a high. “We have mulled wine and Christmas puddings to warm people up after the service, too.” The event is free but, on the night, Albin and Sons will be accepting donations, which will be given to the local Bermondsey and Rotherhithe Foundation and charity Child Bereavement UK. Albin and Sons has also had an extension this year, which Simon says should be open by the Memorial Service and hopes to use it for guests on the night. Albin and Sons Memorial Garden Remembrance Service 2023 will be held on Wednesday 6 December. Gates open at 6pm. The service will commence at 7pm www.albins.co.uk Albin Memorial Garden, 52 Culling Road, SE16 2TN