The South Londoner - July 2026

Summer2026

Your guide to summer in Southwark .

Parks, festivals, sport, libraries, youth programmes and more, happening right across the borough,

Most of it FREE D o n’ t miss a t hi n g t hi s s umm er !

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About us

We’ve been producing independent, balanced and community-focused journalism in south London since 1987. We are proud to be a London Living Wage employer.

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

We also publish the South London Weekly and Greenwich and Lewisham Weekender every week, as well as the quarterly Bermondsey Biscuit and Rotherhithe Docker

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

We're based in Bermondsey Square - we'd love to chat if you want to pop in for a cup of coffee and tell us about your business!

www.southlondon.co.uk

Editor Kevin Quinn

Editorial Manager Katherine Johnston

Writers Evie Flynn, Gabriel Stewart, Myfanwy Flemming-Jones, Romilly Schulte,

Design Dan Martin, Ann Gravesen

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Media Partnerships

Anthony Phillips

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Contents

5-7 HOME SECRETARYNeighbourhood on Blackheath Common, meet the kids at Greenwich Theatre, new art hub at South Bank, South London wine fair, Brixton Chamber Orchestra tour, Cathedral photography exhibition

9 WELLBEINGGrit and Grace Games at Crystal Palace

13-16 WHAT'S ON -

Battersea Power Station funfair, meet the Mudlarks, art workshops in Eltham, Tower Bridge family fun, summer activities and camps

17 COMMUNITYBoutique fitness and wellness at Motion

20-28 FOOD & DRINKNew spice brand in Peckham, Victory bistro in East Dulwich, new owners at Streatham's Leigham Well pub, Brixton Brewery's new tropical lager, Blackfinger Coffee in Camberwell, Peckham Weekender, Lady of the Grapes in Borough, al fresco dining in Waterloo and Woolwich.

30-32 IT'S A SCOOPSouth London's best ice cream spots

35-38 COMMUNITY -

Paper Stories in Norwood Park, tracing Afro-Caribbean heritage in workshops

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By Evie Flynn

NEW ART HUB, SOUTH BANK:

Located between Tate Modern and Borough Market, Hypha Studios have brought their newest temporary exhibition and studios to South London.

The organisation works with landlords to use otherwise empty buildings for arts and culture. Their current exhibition, All Capitals, is running until 26 July and features work from fourteen early career artists working primarily with sculpture.

42 Southwark Bridge Rd, London SE1 9EU

NEIGHBOURHOOD ON BLACKHEATH, BLACKHEATH COMMON:

The organisers behind Blackheath’s much-loved Uptown Festival are switching it up this year to offer £10 tickets to a neighbourhood festival on the common.

Get ready to dance and sing along to the lineup and relive the music of past decades with tribute acts to ABBA, George Michael, Bob Marley, Sabrina Carpenter and K-Pop Demon Hunters. In the Big Top Arena, Massaoke will host a karaoke sing-along featuring some of the “greatest anthems of all time”, while Club De Fromage will bring a pop and fancy-dress party experience.

Sunday 26th July

Blackheath Common, Dartmouth Field, Goffers Road, Blackheath, London, SE3 0UA

£10 per ticket which will be given back in credit at the event neighbourhood.uptownfestival.co.uk

MEET THE KIDS, GREENWICH THEATRE:

Following a successful London run, Meet the Kids is returning to Greenwich Theatre for two performances on 21 – 22 August.

The original coming-of-age drama follows four South London teenagers as they navigate identity, faith, grief and friendship. Written and produced by Desiri Okobia, the play premiered in Theatre Peckham in May 2025.

Tickets cost £18.50

21 August – 22 August greenwichtheatre.org/meet-the-kids

Continues on page 7

SOUTH LONDON WINE FAIR, CRYSTAL PALACE:

The South London Wine Fair is returning to Crystal Palace Park’s iconic ‘Laptop’ stage on Saturday, August 22, bringing winemakers and enthusiasts together for an afternoon of tasting.

Upon arrival, guests receive a glass and a wristband, before heading off to taste over 100 wines, made by wineries from all over Europe. Bottles will also be available to purchase – so guests can take their favourites home. Tickets cost £51.50 and there are three 1 hour 50 minute slots available throughout the afternoon.

Saturday 22 August

Slots at 12–1.50pm, 2.10–4pm and 4.30–6.20pm

Tickets: £51.50 each southlondonwinefair.co.uk

BRIXTON CHAMBER ORCHESTRA’S SUMMER ESTATES TOUR:

The Brixton Chamber Orchestra will bring eleven pop-up performances to eleven estates across South London from Friday 17th – Sunday 26th July.

The Summer Estates Tour features the full 30-piece orchestra, who will perform a mixture of classical, pop, Grime, and R&B music. Created for estate residents and visitors, every concert is free to attend and no booking is required.

Audiences are invited to bring family members, friends, a picnic and something to sit on.

List of locations and dates: brixchamber.com Friday 17th July – Sunday 26th July

THE MARSH AT GLITCH THEATRE, WATERLOO:

The Marsh collective is bringing The Marsh, written and directed by Anna Robinson, to the Glitch Theatre on Wednesday 5 August – Monday 10 August.

Set in a courtyard off Lower Marsh market, The Marsh follows three women who work on the market - selling flowers and rags. The production explores themes of friendship, neighbourliness as a kind of family and regeneration.

Wednesday 5 August – Monday 10 August, evening performance at 7pm and matinee at 2pm

Tickets: £15

The Glitch, 134 Lower Marsh, SE1 7AE tickettailor.com/events/vaultcreativearts

SUMMER FETE, ST PETER’S CHURCH, WALWORTH:

The community at St Peter’s Church in Walworth will be hosting a summer fete on Saturday 22 August to raise money for its National Lottery Heritage Fund project.

The fete will be held over three levels of the church and there will be a range of summer fete activities and food stands.

The church has also teamed up with the local railway club to bring a unique display of model railway layouts, which will be on display throughout the day.

Saturday 22 August, 10am – 5pm

St Peter’s Church, Liverpool Grove, Walworth Road, SE17 2HH

Tickets: £5 adults, £2 children and concessions

FREE CATHEDRAL PHOTOGRAPHY EXHIBITION, SOUTHWARK CATHEDRAL:

A free exhibition is coming to London’s oldest Gothic church from 21 July to 31 August during its normal opening times. The exhibition is part of a tour of works by the late Peter Marlow: The English Cathedral, which will exhibit at each of the 42 cathedrals he visited on his photographic pilgrimage across England.

Southwark Cathedral is the 29th of the 42 cathedrals to host the exhibition, which is in the 11th year of its ongoing tour.

21 July – 31 August

Opening times: Monday to Saturday, 9am - 6pm, and Sunday 8.30am - 5pm https://cathedral.southwark.anglican.org/visiting/art-andexhibitions/the-english-cathedral/

SUMMER READING EXTRAVAGANZA, LALA BOOKS:

A big reading event is heading to LaLa books in Camberwell, with five London-based authors sharing their work and creative process. Guests will include Natasha Brown, author of Assembly and the Booker-longlisted Universality. Ben Pester, author of The Expansion Project and Sail Away Land, Aes Varfis-Van Warmelo, author of Attention Seeking Behaviour, Karishma Jobanputra, author of The Body of the Thing and Anna Brown, a new author working towards her debut novel.

Thursday 27 August

4a Grove Lane, Camberwell, SE5 8SY Lalabooks.london

asjdesign.co.uk | office@asjdesign.co.uk

‘I never thought I’d be this strong at this age’

The

new Crystal Palace fitness event bringing women over 40 together to take on a Hyrox-style challenge

By Evie Flynn

Grit and Grace Games is a one-day, accessible movement challenge for women over 40 who want to challenge themselves in a low-pressure environment.

Held at Crystal Palace National Sports Centre on Saturday, September 12, the event is inspired by founder Onika’s own fitness transformation and discovery of Hyrox two years ago.

She said: “I love Hyrox training, but it can be intimidating, especially for older women.

“I never thought I would be this strong at this age. I want to bring women into a space where they can do things they didn’t think were possible for them.”

Onika, 48 and a mum of two, wanted to create a space where women could take part regardless of their experience or fitness level.

Grit and Grace Games follows a similar format to a typical Hyrox race, but in a more accessible format. Participants can race solo, in doubles or as part of a ‘relay’ team.

The main event features eight functional challenges, including dumbbell, kettlebell and weight plate exercises, alongside eight 400m runs rather than the usual 1km distance.

The inspiration for a dedicated movement challenge began with Onika’s Wednesday fitness group. The weekly session started after she offered her husband’s aunt help with her training and it later grew into a group of 10–15 women. Some members have now gone on to compete in Hyrox relays themselves.

Onika said: “I have seen members achieve strength and fitness after never having gone to the gym, but I have also witnessed them gain confidence in other areas of their life. Things don’t intimidate them in the same way.”

Grit and Grace Games will be the first large-

scale event Onika has organised, bringing together women from across London to try something new, expand their fitness and meet like-minded people.

Onika’s own fitness journey has taken her on solo trips to compete in Hyrox events abroad and she is passionate about sharing this with others, hoping that the movement challenge can be part of that mission.

Outside her day job, Onika has dedicated her time to championing women in midlife. She qualified as a PT and started a podcast, Unshrinkable Midlife Moves, to celebrate and recognise midlife.

“Women over 40 are stepping into a new chapter in life,” she explained. “Our children may be grown up and we have more time.

“If you had told me 18 months ago that I was going to be a qualified Personal Trainer and be helping women to achieve their potential, I would have said no, that’s not me. I thought I was a corporate person by nature.”

In the future, Onika hopes to create more events and spaces where midlife women can push themselves, taking the event to new cities and creating different types of movement challenges.

Spectators are welcome to attend on the day, with a brand village and panel discussion taking place alongside the main event.

Early bird tickets are now available at www.gritandgracegames.com

Tickets cost £70 for solo entry, £60 each for doubles, or £45 for relay. 12th September

What's On Family

By Evie Flynn

ELECTRIC SUMMER FUNFAIR, BATTERSEA POWER STATION:

A summer funfair packed with family attractions is heading to Battersea Power Station from 29 July to 31 August.

Electric Summer will feature a roller rink, big wheel, dodgems, pétanque courts and a selection of street food and drinks.

The Roller Rink (from £12 per adult and £8 per child) will have sessions for all abilities and there will also be pétanque courts (from £11) – a French ball game that is often described as boules with a social twist. It is free-to-enter and pre-booking for events is available now.

Open 29 July – 31 August

Battersea Power Station, Circus Road W, London SW8 5BN electricsummer.com

MEET THE MUDLARKS FESTIVAL, SOUTHWARK CATHEDRAL:

Southwark Cathedral is hosting a Heritage Craft and Mudlarking Festival on Saturday 25th July – where you can meet mudlarks, hold items discovered in the Thames, and take part in family activities.

Activities include a family mudlark trail, make an origami Thames boat and create your own 3D bus to remember the double decker that jumped over Tower Bridge.

It is recommended to book tickets beforehand via Southwark Cathedral's Eventbrite, but there will be a small number of walk-in spots available on the day.

Tickets are £7 for adults, £6 for concessions and free for children under 18.

Saturday 25th July, 10am – 4pm Southwark Cathedral, SE1 9DA

ART WORKSHOPS AT GERALD MOORE GALLERY, ELTHAM:

Gerald Moore Gallery at Eltham College is running a series of educational art workshops for children aged 7 – 11 and 10 – 15 from 22 July.

Workshops will be small class sizes (6 –12 participants), led by experienced artists and suitable for all abilities.

Single workshops cost £44 each for ages 7 – 11 or you can purchase a set of three workshops running in a week for £108. For ages 10 – 15 they cost £30 a session.

Running from 22nd July – 6th August

Gerald Moore Gallery, 4RW, Mottingham Ln, London SE9 4RW geraldmooregallery.org

TOWER BRIDGE FAMILY ACTIVITIES:

A series of science-based family activities is coming to Tower Bridge this summer to celebrate 50 years since the bridge lifts switched from being steampowered to using electricity.

The drop-in sessions are included in the ticket price, and will be running from Thursday 23 July until Thursday 27 August. Ticket prices will be reduced during this period to £15.80 per adult (usually £18), £7.90 per child (usually £9) and family tickets will be available from £28.40. The activities will take place in the Learning Space from 10am – 4pm and no pre-booking is required.

Light up postcards- 21 July and Tuesday 28 July

Gone Fishing! - Tuesday 4 August and Saturday 8 August

Tower Bridge traffic lights- Tuesday 11 August and Tuesday 18 August

Homopolar Motors- Tuesday 25 August

Summer sorted ―

Our top picks of camps and activities for youngsters throughout the summer holidays

By Evie Flynn

FOREST CAMPS, DULWICH AND HERNE HILL:

Jolly Foresters will be hosting its forest-based summer camp, where children can learn new skills, enjoy the outdoors and develop their knowledge about nature.

The sessions are suitable for children aged 3 to 11 years. Camps run over five days and children under five are invited to attend from 9:45pm until 1:45pm and children aged five and above are invited from 9:30am until 2pm. It costs £245 for a full week or £49 per day.

Next sessions:

Mon 20 July – Fri 24th July

Mon 27th July 2026 - Fri 31st July

Mon 3rd August 2026 - Fri 7th August

Mon 24th August 2026 - Fri 28th August

South London Scout Centre, Grange Lane, SE21 7LH jollyforesters.com

DROP-OFF SPORT CAMPS,

DULWICH COLLEGE:

Dulwich College is set to host a programme of activity days during the summer holidays, to provide children aged 5 to 14 a space to play and discover.

The camp is taught by coaches from various sporting backgrounds and helps children develop their techniques or introduce them to sports they are yet to learn. The camp runs from 8am to 5pm each day and children can attend the whole five days for £255 or an individual day for £56.

Next sessions:

Mon 20 July – Fri 24th July

Mon 27th July - Fri 31st July

Mon 3rd August - Fri 7th August

Mon 10th August – Friday 14th August

Mon 17th August - Fri 21st August

Mon 24th August - Fri 28th August

Dulwich College Sports Club, Pond Cottages, Dulwich, SE21 7LE holidaydropoff.com

MORE STROLLING, LESS SCROLLING, CAMBERWELL:

The Camberwell Society is encouraging a campaign to get kids outdoors and off their screens this summer. Twenty-One Urban Strolls in Camberwell is a family-friendly walking guide uncovering local history, public art and hidden gems. Explore 21 unique routes around Camberwell, including the Pavement Art Trail, where children can hunt for 18 colourful pavement roundels and create their own art rubbings along the way.

Twenty-One Urban Strolls in Camberwell (£15) Available from: Camberwell Green Community Market (Saturdays 10am–3pm), LaLa Books and local stockists.

TULSE HILL ADVENTURE PROGRAMME:

Open during school holidays, Monday–Thursday, Tulse Hill Adventure Playground offers free play, outdoor adventures and activities for children and young people. With support from youth and play workers, children can enjoy a range of activities including sports, arts and crafts, cooking, gardening, woodwork, skating, bikes and water play. Free hot lunches and healthy snacks are provided.

Registration required before attending at high-trees.org

Tulse Hill Adventure Playground, Greenleaf Close, Tulse Hill, SW2 2EY

Continues on page 16

ACTIVE EDGE CAMPS, ROTHERHITHE AND DULWICH:

Active Edge holiday camps are inclusive sessions offering a mix of sports for children aged 3 to 12 years.

The five-day blocks will be taking place at Alfred Slater Primary school in Rotherhithe and Rosendale Primary School in Dulwich Village.

The camp will run from 10am to 4pm each day and costs £125 for the full week or £25 for a single day. Alongside sports, there will be creative activities and outdoor adventures.

Next sessions:

Mon 20 July – Fri 24th July

Mon 27th July - Fri 31st July

Mon 3rd August - Fri 7th August

Mon 10th August – Friday 14th August

Mon 17th August - Fri 21st August

Mon 24th August - Fri 28th August

Rosendale Primary School, Rosendale Rd, Norwood, SE21 8LR

Alfred Salter Primary School, Quebec Way, London SE16 7LP

TENNIS CAMP, DULWICH VILLAGE:

Dulwich Lawn Tennis club are hosting children of all levels, from 3 to 16 years old, at their summer holiday camps.

Head to the courts, tucked between Brockwell Park and Dulwich Village, to learn new skills or develop existing ones. The club is running camp days from 6 July until 14 August on a pay-as-you-go basis. Sessions are priced at £45 per day and split up into age groups.

Tots (3–5 yrs): 10–11am

Mini Red (6–8 yrs): 11am–3pm

Mini Orange (9–10 yrs): 11am –3pm Yellow Teen (11–18 yrs): 11am –3pm

Running now until 14th August clubspark.lta.org.uk/dulwichlawntennisclub

Laura's Yoga Club runs creative 'Yoga and Art' camps for youngsters aged 5 to 8 at Station Hall, Herne Hill, where they can learn poses, get creative and enjoy outside play.

The daily schedule features an hour long yoga class and children can take part in a mix of art forms and Montessori play both at Station Hall and in Brockwell Park. Parents can book single days or multiple consecutive days, with each day costing £47.50 per child. Mon 20 July – Thu 23 July, Mon 27 July – Thu 30 July, and Mon 3 August – Thu 6 August. 9am – 3:30pm

Station Hall, Railton Rd, London SE24 0JW laurasyogaclub.co.uk

FAIRY AND PIXIE LAND, DULWICH:

Whippersnappers CIC are hosting their 2026 Fairy and Pixie Land immersive experience, designed for 3 – 7 year olds.

On arrival, children are greeted with a refreshing glass of ‘Mermaid potion’ and their own customised fairy, pixie or dragon wins. They will then split into small groups to take part in a series of immersive activities in the woods. Finally, children and adults come together to enjoy a 25 minute theatre production inspired by Cornish folklore. The event is running multiple sessions a week throughout summer.

Multiple dates throughout summer, with sessions lasting 1 hour 30 minutes.

Whippersnappers, Old College Gate, College Road, London, SE21 7BQ whippersnappers.org

South London in Motion

Boutique wellness, movement and community come together at Motion, offering Reformer Pilates, Mat Pilates, Barre, Yoga and Sound Bath classes across three South London studios

By Evie Flynn

South London's boutique fitness and wellness community, Motion, is helping more people discover the benefits of movement with its welcoming approach to fitness and holistic wellbeing.

Founded by former aerialist and circus performer Lez Coupland, Motion has quickly become one of South London's leading destinations for Reformer Pilates, Mat Pilates, Barre, Yoga and Sound Bath classes.

Open to everyone and everybody, Motion welcomes complete beginners through to experienced movers, creating an inclusive environment where members can move, connect and belong.

Currently, Motion is celebrating summer with 25% off all memberships for the first two months and selected class packs until 31st August 2026, using the code Summer25 (capital 'S').

Lez opened Motion's first studio in Camberwell in October 2024, before expanding just over a year later with two boutique Reformer Pilates studios in Camberwell (five reformers) and Oval (eight reformers) in January 2026.

Before putting down roots in South London, Lez spent years performing across the world as a professional aerialist. But it was Camberwell that truly felt like home.

"I never really experienced a true sense of

community until I moved to Camberwell," she said. "I wanted to create a space where people could move their bodies, feel supported and build genuine connections."

Yoga & Pilates played a significant role throughout Lez's performing career.

"Movement was what kept me strong and injuryfree throughout my circus career. I began my Yoga & Pilates training while I was still performing and quickly realised I wanted to share those benefits with others."

Today, Motion offers a diverse timetable designed to support strength, mobility and wellbeing:

• Reformer Pilates: Low-impact, full-body workouts using specialist reformer machines to build strength, improve posture and develop core stability.

• Mat Pilates: Functional Pilates classes focusing on controlled movement, core strength and flexibility.

• Barre: A dynamic blend of Pilates, ballet-

inspired movements and strength training designed to improve endurance and tone muscles.

• Yoga: From restorative flows to more dynamic practices, helping improve flexibility, mobility and mindfulness.

• Sound Bath: Guided relaxation sessions using therapeutic sound frequencies to reduce stress, calm the nervous system and promote deep rest.

Motion's beautifully designed studios have been created to feel calm, welcoming and restorative, giving members a place to escape busy London life while prioritising both physical and mental wellbeing. However, the studio is about far more than fitness. Motion regularly hosts community events, wellness workshops and retreats, encouraging members to build meaningful friendships beyond the studio walls.

As Lez explains: "We're building much more than a fitness studio. Motion is a community where people feel welcomed, supported and inspired every time they walk through the door."

Drop in classes are £22 for mat classes and £30 for Reformer, or memberships are £75 for the first two months using the Summer25 code.

Instagram: @motionlondon_ motionlondon.co.uk

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Lordship Lane, London, SE22 8HX

in

South London studio Thumb Designs combines extensive experience in design and exceptional craftsmanship to create handmade and fitted furniture for your home.

thumbdesigns.co.uk Insta: @thumbdesigns E: tom@thumbdesigns.co.uk P: 07734535797

Anew spice brand set up by a Peckham local is now on sale in shops across South East London, including the iconic Khan’s Bargains, so you can infuse a bit of Rye Lane into your next dinner.

In June of this year, founder Juliette Dalton launched the independent spice company Peckham Heat, making premium spice rubs, finishing salts and hot honeys made from her family’s bees, all from her at-home laboratory-cum-workspace.

A self-proclaimed ‘hothead’, she felt a gap in the market for hot honey made of clean, high quality honey, and for scotch bonnet products that keep both their fruitiness and heat without additives or excessive salt.

Her Peckham Heat products are launching in independent stores in and around the South London neighbourhood she has called home for 25 years - including in Khan’s, where the ethos behind her spices began.

Juliette said: “I came to London when I was 17, and when I hit Rye Lane I was blown away by it. To be able to go into Khan’s and get any spice from all over the world, and learning from friends of African or Caribbean heritage, that taught me how to progress my cooking.

“I always felt that the scotch bonnet is the flavour of Peckham, and to be stocked in Khan’s is a real full circle moment.

“We’re so lucky to have that shop. For me, Khan’s is the heart of Peckham with its iconic building. I really want to celebrate it.” Khan's narrowly escaped major damage just weeks ago when a huge blaze broke out and was tackled by dozens of firefighters.

The honey is sourced by her own family hives in Norfolk and Suffolk, as well as from independent bee farms in Essex found through her network of beekeepers.

Rather than heating honey with fresh chillies inside, she uses unique, secret extraction methods to preserve the notes of a high-quality honey as well as the fruity scotch bonnet flavours.

“Heating ruins the quality of honey, meaning you either taste just sugar or pure heat. This way you first taste the honey, then the flavour of the scotch bonnet, and then the heat. It is a flavour journey.”

She has also begun stocking her products across SE postcodes in three of her favourite local stores: William Rose Butchers in East Dulwich, Olives & More deli in Forest Hill, and Honor Oak’s smoked and cured meat

Turning up the heat

‘Scotch bonnet is the flavour of Peckham, and to be stocked in Khan’s is a real full circle moment’

By Romilly Schulte

specialists, Smokey Yard.

As well as now being stocked in Khan’s, they will be making their debut on the shelves of Sydenham butcher and fishmonger Billings, and Farmer Tom Jones in Bermondsey’s Spa Terminus, a specialist butcher offering less-known cuts of Hereford-sourced meat that caters to top restaurants.

She said: “I wanted a really good home in Peckham, and I love working with butchers, they know about meat - but don’t want to miss out on the vegetarians as it works so well on veg!”

With an 18-spice rub that’s not too spicy for kids, a ‘heat booster’ to tailor to individual tastes and a lime, scotch bonnet and fleur de sel Finishing Salt that’s great on a spicy marg, Juliette makes small batches of 80 per week, and does everything herself, from dehydrating limes to marketing, which is aided by her background running a production company working for major

ADancing

in the park

By Molly Hunt

much-loved music series is set to return this summer as Mambista brings evenings of live outdoor music to the Brockwell Park's Community Greenhouses in Herne Hill.

Running on selected Sunday evenings from June until September, Mambista transforms the historic greenhouse setting into a unique open-air venue, pairing live music with food, drink and the relaxed atmosphere of one of South London's most cherished green spaces.

The volunteer-run community hub will host a diverse programme spanning reggae, dub, Afrobeat, gypsy jazz, salsa, soukous, blues, ska and jazz. Audiences can expect everything from the uplifting energy of Youthsayers, the youth music collective celebrating a decade of mentoring young musicians, to an evening of Gypsy jazz by guitarist extraordinaire Ducato Piotrowski.

brands.

“It's about making it easier for people to cook with less hassle, the ingredients allow you to have that melting pot of these different styles of cooking, whether it be African, French, Caribbean,” she added.

The spices have no salt, sugar or additives, and no vinegar is added to the honey to maintain a pure taste and colour.

“I am now working on an extra, extra hot honey for people who are even hotter heads. The hotness can be diluted when put over your food, but I want something that keeps it really fiery, so I am experimenting with the world’s hottest chillies," she said.

peckhamheat.com

There will also be performances from Grupo Lokito, who provide a unique blend of Congolese and Cuban rhythms guaranteed to get you on your feet, award-winning harmonica player Errol Linton with his distinctive fusion of Chicago blues, and Michael 'Bammi' Rose, founding member of Cymande and longtime collaborator of Jools Holland, whose joyful mix of jazz, ska and reggae promises a fitting finale to the summer programme.

Venue: Brockwell Park Community Greenhouses, Brockwell Park, Herne Hill, London SE24 9BN

Dates: Sunday July 26, 6.30pm, Sunday, August 16, 6.30pm, Sunday, September 6, 6pm.

Tickets: £16 / £12 conc. Available now. See individual event pages for details.

Website: brockwellgreenhouses.org.uk

Free fun by the water

Get set for six weeks of summer magic – no tickets required

Summer is well and truly here, and Canada Water is hotting up. Round The Dock at Canada Water sees the neighbourhood’s unique open spaces come alive. Set around the water and shaped by South London’s creative spirit with six weeks of live music, markets, food pop-ups, workshops and more – it’s a chance to discover something new and support small businesses.

Research shows that most Londoners feel more relaxed when spending time near water, yet there are few places in the city where people can truly unwind, enjoy culture and make the most of time outdoors by the waterside. With many feeling that London should make better use of its rivers, docks and waterways for free cultural events and activities, Round The Dock aims to show what’s possible when we harness the creativity of the capital.

Kicking off on Thursday 23 July and running until the end of August, the packed schedule of free events for the whole community takes in everything from skateboarding with Skate Haven CIC and water exploration sessions at the Discovery Pond to jazz, dance and spoken word on a floating stage in Canada Dock and outdoor films on the floating screen.

Norman Jay MBE spins the sounds of summer Front and centre of the music programme is legendary DJ Norman Jay MBE (for a one-off performance on 16 August). Steam Down presents Sounds of Diaspora – the globally acclaimed South London Afro-Punk collective known for their immersive live performances blending jazz, afrobeat, hip-hop, funk and electronic music – will take over the floating stage every Friday. The programme continues on Saturdays and Sundays with the Jazz and Soul line-up showcasing celebrated names from across the scene including Mark Kavuma, Sophie Faith and Soul Sanctuary Gospel supported by Sofar Sounds

Eat, browse, discover

At the weekends, stalls will be packed with standout flea, vintage and vinyl finds. Whether it’s discovering emerging designers at Craft & Flea hunting for one-of-a-kind vintage pieces with Bottle Factory Flea, tucking into KERB’s street food line-up alongside the East Asian makers of Urban Garden Fair, or browsing handmade goods from SoLo Craft Fair, each weekend offers a different slice of London’s vibrant market scene. Black Eats Takeover will shine a spotlight on Black-owned businesses, while Independent Label Market joins forces with N4 Makers Market for a closing weekend celebrating independent music, art and design.

Fun for all the family

Families looking to flex their creative muscles can drop in to the Dockside Den, where the line-up is designed to keep kids moving – from African drumming workshops to theatrical live science experiments to live bee encounters.

Meanwhile, our community partners are ramping up with more Thrive Markets, Rod Kitson’s Art of Isolation Gallery events, plus the return of Rotherhithe Festival and Bermondsey Carnival

All summer – there’s always something happening. Come and unwind by the water.

A victorious return ― Former Palmerston

managers have taken over the old Franklin’s site for their new bistro,

The Victory

By Myfanwy Fleming-Jones

East Dulwich has welcomed the return of acclaimed restaurateurs Jamie Younger and Rema Waterhouse and their latest venture, The Victory.

The couple, who also own Peckham favourite The Begging Bowl, are familiar faces in the local hospitality scene, having previously run The Palmerston for fifteen years until their lease was not renewed.

Now, after finding a new home in the former Franklin's premises, the pair have returned to the area.

Jamie Younger said: “This return to Lordship Lane has been so exciting, we have regular customers coming back giving us lots of love and support. Everyone seems happy to see us back on the lane again.”

The Victory takes over the venue previously occupied by Franklin's, which was run by Rod Franklin and Tim Sheehan for 26 years before closing earlier this year.

Younger, who is trained as a chef, takes pride in their sustainable sourcing of ingredients from across the UK, saying he lets the good quality speak for itself in their dishes.

The East Dulwich-born chef said the £10 chopped egg mayonnaise and Cantabrian anchovy soldiers were one of the most popular they serve.

He also mentioned the "crispy and creamy” second part of their £74 whole roast chicken experience was one not to miss.

Served in two parts, the main dish first features chicken breast with morels, Madeira and broad beans followed by cream and tarragon crisp lettuce and leg of lamb.

The menu is complemented by a wine list featuring more than 140 bottles from around the world, alongside house cocktails including the Nelson's Blood Martini.

Made with orange-infused Armagnac, Sacred Amber Vermouth and an orange twist, the drink takes inspiration from the famous naval legend surrounding Admiral Nelson's death.

With an emphasis on seasonal produce, the menu changes regularly to reflect the ingredients available from British suppliers.

“Farm to fork is a big part of our practice - we buy our fruit and veg directly and what you see on our menu is the seasonal produce we get from them”, said Younger.

The restaurant also offers a specials' board featuring sharing cuts of premium meat sourced from the Lake District, while diners looking to indulge can opt for a lobster dish for two priced at £85.

Inside, The Victory combines a zinc bar top, wooden

floors and porcelain lighting, with fresh flowers sourced from Covent Garden Flower Market to create a relaxed yet elegant setting.

Waterhouse describes the atmosphere as "fun, welcoming and friendly", accompanied by an '80s soundtrack.

Although the couple now live in Forest Hill, they still consider East Dulwich home, having bought their first property in the area more than two decades ago.

Their family remains closely involved in the business, with one of their children now working as a chef at The Begging Bowl.

With starters priced between £10 and £18 and main courses beginning at £27, The Victory brings refined yet approachable modern European dining to Lordship Lane.

Younger described being fully booked for Father's Day as "one of our first big tests since opening".

But with roast options including half a chicken with duck-fat roast potatoes and seasonal vegetables for £28, or a £34 beef roast served with Yorkshire pudding, homemade horseradish cream and all the traditional trimmings, their popularity comes as no surprise.

While bar seating and outdoor tables are available on a first-come, first-served basis, diners looking to guarantee a table can reserve one of the restaurant's 60 seats across its upstairs and downstairs dining rooms.

The Victory has quickly re-established itself as a gathering place for locals and a welcome addition to East Dulwich's thriving food scene.

157 Lordship Lane, SE22 8HX 020 8299 9598 eat@victoryed.co.uk

Lunch: Mon-Fri 2pm-2.30pm, Saturday 12pm-3pm and Sunday 12-5pm

Dinner: Mon-Thurs 6pm-9.30pm, Fri & Sat 6pm10pm, Sunday closed

Bar: Mon-Thurs 12pm-11pm, Frid & Sat 12pmmidnight, Sunday 12pm-10.30pm

Victoryrestaurant-bar.co.uk

A well good pub

Streatham's Leigham Well has new ownersand now comes with a Caribbean Sunday roast

ASouth London couple have taken over a new neighbourhood pub and built the secondbiggest beer garden in Streatham with pints under £6 - and got engaged on their opening night.

William Baker and Ellahe Azad, now to-bemarried, moved into The Leigham Well on the residential Wellfield Road back in February to get to know regulars, before reopening after a complete refurbishment.

After building a kitchen and a new garden with screens for the football, the pair are working with chef Carniel Levy to serve up classic pub fare with a Caribbean flair.

The site has been a boozer for decades, and the pair hope to keep its regular clientele as well as getting in families and young people.

They said: “We wanted to make a place for everybody: we still have the same regulars that we had before, all the old boys still come here.

“But we have everybody coming in; it’s a nice mix and a good reflection of Streatham.

“We did not want to alienate the regulars. The place had looked the same for decades, so when I said I wanted to paint the place green, they were a bit: 'what?'

"And they are all really happy with it.”

The pub’s new owners have a strong hospitality background: they managed a Holloway pub, taking sales from £5k to £20k in a week, before looking for a spot to run themselves.

“I’m from Streatham, my mum lives three roads down. I came to this pub 15 years ago with my friends. I always thought it was a great pub, but it needed a bit

of love and life. We lived together here for seven years,” said Ella.

The pair have been pouring pints of Timothy Taylor, Gamma Ray and Brixton IPA in the new refurb since March. Now they are launching a new cocktail list for the summer months.

Alongside the classics, they are promising jugs of sangria and “Streatham” spritzes - made with the Caribbean hibiscus and ginger drink called sorrel.

Their new chef Carniel, also from Streatham, has been in the cooking business for 22 years and specialises in modern Caribbean cuisine.

He said: “We want to offer easy bites with a Caribbean influence. It’s super hot right now, so nothing too heavy.

"In the winter, we’re introducing Caribbean pub classics. For instance fish and chips, but using red snapper, and the tartare is mango and scotch bonnet.”

Currently, Carniel is serving up plates like ackee and salt cod arancini, double smash burgers and jerk chicken roti, as well as West Indian-style roasts on a Sunday - think pimento and thyme beef with stout sticky toffee pudding for dessert.

The team also collaborates with Bravi Ragazzi down the road, so punters can order their Neapolitan

pizzas to the pub, which has been heralded as one of London’s best pizza spots.

“We’re clearly a pub, and we’re not trying to not be a pub. But there’s an element of trying to target younger people, young families, and those who are young at heart - not particularly one age range,” said Will.

“There’s a lot of young professionals moving in and people having their first kids. Nobody would come in here because they didn’t know if it was family friendly, or dog friendly,” he added: both dogs and children are welcome at the Leigham.

With a 1am licence at weekends, they are keen to get a lineup of events going this summer with Monday movie nights and live music in the works. They are also continuing the ever-popular Thursday night pub quiz, which has been ongoing for years.

With bottles of house wine currently at £22, pints from £5.90 and non-alcoholic lager on tap, this neighbourhood pub is one to watch this summer. They currently offer bookings on their Instagram account, where you can also keep track of their renovation.

Follow @theleighamwellpub

Feeling Electric

Brixton’s very own brewery launches new tropical lager inspired by the community, colours and flavours of Electric Avenue

By Evie Flynn

Brixton Brewery has launched a new fruitflavoured lager in honour of the vibrant fruit stalls that line Electric Avenue.

Electric Tropical Lager combines sweet mango, zingy pineapple and a hint of ginger, and marks the first new beer added to the brewery’s core range in eight years.

We spoke to Jez Galaun, co-founder of Brixton Brewery, about the inspiration behind the new flavour.

“Electric Avenue represents so much of what makes Brixton special. It’s about the energy, the flavours and the diversity of the area,” he said.

“The idea behind the lager came from walking down Electric Avenue and seeing the incredible fruit stalls with their trays of exotic fruits. We wanted to capture that feeling and create something that could transport people back to that environment.”

Jez launched Brixton Brewery in 2013 with

his partner and another couple, with the aim of putting the South London neighbourhood “on the map” for great beer.

Nearly 13 years later, the brewery remains rooted in Brixton, operating from a railway arch on Brixton Station Road.

After opening the brewery to the public on Saturdays, Brixton Brewery took the next step in 2019 by launching its first dedicated taproom in the same railway arch, which continues to welcome customers today.

Jez described the brand as a “love story” to Brixton, calling the area “unique, special, very welcoming and open-minded”. He wanted that same spirit to come through in the new beer.

Creating the new lager was not a quick process - Jez and the team wanted to do justice to the newest “Brixton blend”, with Electric Tropical Lager taking more than a year to develop.

It now joins the brewery’s core range alongside

other Brixton-inspired beers, including Coldharbour Lager, Reliance Pale Ale, Atlantic IPA and Low Voltage Session IPA – a nod to Brixton-born music legend David Bowie.

It is also the brewery’s first fruity beer, which Jez said reflects changing tastes among drinkers: “Ten years ago, craft beer was often associated with a more bitter flavour profile, but younger drinkers are looking for something different, more flavour, a little sweetness and beers that are easy to enjoy.”

So far, praise for Electric Tropical Lager has flooded in, and is being poured in around 25 pubs, with a view to reach 250 venues by the end of the year.

The beer is also available at the Oval cricket ground, as well as Brixton Brewery’s own taproom.

“The wider aim is to get the beer into more pubs because pubs are at the heart of communities,” Jez said.

“We actually met through pub culture as founders, so we know how important those spaces are for bringing people together.”

The brewery hopes to continue growing in the community where it started, with drinkers across South London encouraged to look out for Electric Tropical Lager in their local pub.

Visit the taproom: Arch 548 Brixton Station Rd, London SW9 8PF

Order Electrical Tropical lager online at brixtonbrewery.com

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Bitesize

By Evie Flynn

NANCY’S, LONDON BRIDGE:

A late-night bar has opened its doors near London Bridge station and their whole cocktail menu showcases ingredients from local Borough Market and SE1 traders.

Set in a brutalist "egg box style" building just across from Borough Market, the new bar opened on 1st June. Nancy's Dirty Martini uses local business 'Borough Olives' and the old-fashioned uses 'From Field and Flower' raw honey. There's also a private tiger-print pool room, a disco-ball dance floor and sweeping views of the city skyline. Cocktails are priced at £15 - £16 and wine starts at £8 a glass for white wine, or £9 for rose and red.

Nancy's, Colechurch House, London SE1 2SX nancys.co.uk

BLACKFINGER COFFEE, CAMBERWELL:

Camberwell’s newest coffee shop opened in the railway arches last month. The queer-owned space is built and owned by the community and it sources, roasts and supplies all of its coffee in house. Its

name is inspired by The Black Finger, a washed Colombian coffee sourced from the Antioquia and Huila regions. It has peak and off-peak laptop hours so there are dedicated times for work and social connection.

345 Camberwell Station Road, SE5 9JN blackfingercoffee.co.uk

AL FRESCO DINING, WATERLOO AND WOOLWICH:

Two south London locations have been chosen as part of the Mayor’s Summer Streets scheme.

Lower Marsh in Waterloo will be closed to traffic every Saturday from 9am to 9pm with outdoor dining, extended business trading and events including World Cup and National Theatre live screenings. Beresford Square, General Gordon Square and Powis Street in Woolwich will also be getting investment and will host al fresco dining and events including World Cup and Wimbledon screenings, markets, performances and late opening as part of Woolwich Carnival.

Lower Marsh Market, SE1 7RG. Beresford Square, Woolwich, London, SE18 6AY

PECKHAM WEEKENDER:

Nineteen restaurants in Peckham will offer £10 specials from 24–26 July, with a portion of every sale donated to a local food pantry.

Participating venues include Mr Bao, Lai Rai, Forza Wine, Peckham Cellars, NOLA, Rye Lane Bagels, Taca Taco, Ba Ba, 081 Peckham, Kruk, Connie’s, Coodie, Shorty’s, Rice Paddy, Ganapati, Maiz, Bara, En Root and Janda Diner. Simply turn up at any participating restaurant over the weekend and ask for the Peckham Weekender special.

mrbao.co.uk/peckham-food-weekend 24th – 26th July

CANTINA BOCCONE, DEPTFORD:

Cantina Boccone has just opened its doors beneath the railway arches in Deptford Yard, bringing together Portuguese wine and Italian meats and cheeses. Founders Fabio Forin, from Rome, and Gonçalo Albuquerque, from Lisbon have designed a menu to be enjoyed alongside a glass of wine.

Its staple ‘Boccone Board’, features cured meats, cheeses and bread. A selection of seasonal small plates is also available, including chouriço assado, bacalhau

à Brás, buffalo mozzarella with grilled aubergines, handmade wild boar tortelloni and Portuguese sardines. The wine list features house wine served by the glass and carafe, alongside bottles from 'lesser-seen' regions.

Arch 8, Deptford Market Yard boccone.co.uk

LADY OF THE GRAPES, BOROUGH:

After eight successful years in Covent Garden, French bistro Lady of the Grapes has opened a second venue in the historic Menier Chocolate Factory building in Borough.

Set over two floors, it continues the original venue's focus on female wine producers alongside French bistro-style dishes. Mains include poached trout (£27), Gloucester Pork Chop with boudin noir and roasted flat white peach (£37) and Wiltshire Lamb Rump with sweetbread, aubergine and mint sauce (£39). In the basement, the Forbidden Fruit bar can seat 45 people and offers cocktails from £11, a charcuterie menu and a selection of around 400 wine bottles.

Menier Chocolate Factory, 53 Southwark St, London SE1 1RU ladyofthegrapes.com

Under the arches, over the moon

Our Bermondsey production hub is opening its doors to the public soon, every Friday and Saturday. Come and see our bakery in action, meet the makers, and get our produce straight from the source.

Roll up, roll up to South London's best ice cream spots

Cone, tub or pintice cream is one of life's great joys

By Myfanwy Fleming-Jones

Fabulous Ice Fires, East Dulwich

Tucked just off Lordship Lane sits an ice cream parlour like no other, created by Taseer Ahmed, who has previously been named the UK's top ice cream maker. The gelato magician crafts classic flavours like chocolate, wild strawberry and vanilla, but he also ventures into the likes of orange coconut and pineapple sorbet, while his hokey pokey flavour is second to none. Built on a citrus base with orange blossom and lemon extract, and threaded with honeycomb, it's a unique flavour hailing from New Zealand that quickly becomes a need rather than a want. Prices range from £4.20 for one scoop to £7.50 for two and £8.50 for three.

Open daily from 12pm to 6pm (except Mondays) and 11am to 6pm on weekends at 54 East Dulwich Road, SE22 9AX.

Follow @fabicefires on Instagram

Clingy Wrap, Peckham

Toasted tea with fig leaf caramel, sour cherry labneh, ube halaya, or cheese and sweetcorn - no, this is not a shopping list, but a sample of Hilary Yip's flavours at Clingy Wrap. The business began when Hilary's 80-year-old neighbour Jason offered her a retro ice cream machine, on which she created a laughing cow cheese and corn ice cream that went viral. Clingy Wrap now has a permanent feature at Lai Rai and All Roads London in Peckham, or pre-order for pick-up at Brockley or Southwark stations, with delivery also available. Each flavour costs £8.

Available at Lai Rai on 181 Rye Lane, Peckham, SE15 4TP or at All Roads on 44 Atlantic Road, Brixton, SW9 8JN. Order via order.storekit.com/clingy-wrap/menu

Ice Cream Union, Bermondsey

Owner Alex Fibini founded the business 20 years ago and is still heavily involved in the daily production of their 2,000 litres of ice cream.

The Argentine electrical engineer began his gelato journey by testing flavours on friends, and after encouragement from chefs to pursue it further, he set out to bring the best dulce de leche ice cream to London.

Whilst many ice cream makers work from a set base, Ice Cream Union creates each batch individually, processing as little as possible. Its 50-plus flavours are made with all-natural produce and fruit and veg sourced from Bermondsey's Natoora. A small scoop is £4, a large is £6, and a 500ml tub to take away is £14.

Ice Cream Union Spa Terminus, Unit 1 Discovery Business Park, St James’s Road, SE16 4RA, Saturdays 10-4pm or at Ice Cream Union, Pavillion Road, 11am-10pm.

icecreamunion.com

"We've been in Camberwell for 18 years,” Cesar Saglan, who took over the business from his father, said. “A lot of restaurants have come and gone, but the people here are still the same in many ways. Everyone knows each other, it's like a family."

With 27 flavours on display - including a best-selling blood orange sorbet, salted caramel, and dark chocolateall their gelato is gluten-free, with vegan cones and plenty of dairy-free options too. A small, one-scoop portion is £3.50, a medium two-scoop serving is £5, and a large three-scoop tower is £6.50.

Open from 11am to 9.30pm on Mon-Thurs and Sunday, and from 11am to 10.30pm on Friday and Saturday at 23 Camberwell Green, SE5 7AA. Follow @caravaggiogelato on Instagram

Continues on page 32

La Gelatiera, South Bank

La Gelatiera was founded by software architect and engineer Antonio Parisi, whose Southern Italian grandfather passed on the gelato-making gene to him, alongside co-founder Stéphane Leyvraz.

Flavours rotate regularly to keep customers guessing, and recent offerings have included an awardwinning vegan Sicilian pistachio sorbet, fresh basil and Calabrian chilli, honey with rosemary and orange zest, and porcini mushroom and chocolate cream gelato.

"When I was 10 years old, I peeked into the kitchen of my favourite ice cream shop for the first time and discovered a marvellous world,” said coowner Antonio. Opening times vary by store, with prices from £2 for a scoop up to £25 for a take-home tub.

You can find their ice cream at OXO Tower Wharf, Unit G5 Brage House Street, SE1 9PH. Open Monday- Thursday 12pm-7pm, Friday 12pm-8pm, and Saturday & Sunday 11am-8pm. lagelatiera.co.uk

NEED Ice Cream, Bermondsey

NEED ice cream was created by painter Felix Baudenbacher in 2019 with his girlfriend, after setting out to fix what he saw as a disappointing vegan ice cream scene.

He has since made the vegan ice cream sandwich his trademark treat. “There is something about the five minutes of pleasure that ice cream gives you from the second you buy it. It is one of the very few things in life that makes everything that bit better,” said Felix. Mini tubs cost around £2, and their signature ice cream sandwiches are £3.99 and £4.99.

The Circle Store, Unit 22-23, The Circle, Queen Elizabeth Street, SE1 2JE. Sunday-Thursday 8am to 9pm, Friday and Saturday, 8am-10pm. needneed.co

Oddono's, East Dulwich

"Where once pubs used to be the main meeting spot in London, ice cream stores and coffee shops are now taking over," says Christian Oddono.

The owner of Oddono’s grew up in Italy and moved to London 30 years ago. Noticing a lack of good gelato in the capital, he took a trip back to Italy to learn the trade and opened his first store in South Kensington 22 years ago. Now they have seven. Their renowned pistachio uses nuts grown by Christian's family on the rich volcanic soil of Sicily, while their hazelnut ice cream is made with nuts from Piedmont in north-west Italy.

With more than 180 flavours on rotation, each store displays 16 at a time, four of which change weekly with the seasons - from mascarpone in winter to mint choc chip in summer. A single scoop is £4.40 and a 1.2 litre take-home tub is £30.50.

Open Monday-Thursday 12pm to 11pm, Friday 11am to 11.30pm, Saturday 11am-11.30pm, and Sunday 11am-11pm, at 147 Lordship Lane, SE22 8HX. oddonos.com

Marcelo's, Crystal Palace

Made from scratch with their own oat milk, this silky, dairy-free ice cream is hitting all the right creamy notes. Food-obsessed couple Lindsay and James, both trained chefs, opened Marcelo's in 2022 after eating three ice creams a day on holiday in Naples.

"We are still here because of the support we have had through Crystal Palace. It all started off with a message in a Facebook group and we have had people coming from then who continue to do so,” said James.

The pair churn out over 100 dairy-free flavours, including melon, lime and sea salt, cantaloupe, Valencia orange and almond, and flat peach and oolong tea. A single scoop is £3.90, a double £6.50, and winter pints around £9.50.

They can be found on Saturday 10am-5pm & Sunday 11am-5pm at Haynes Lane Courtyard, Crystal Palace, SE19 3AN. marcelosicecream.com

Badiani, Elephant & Castle

Cream, milk, sugar and eggs - that's all it takes to make Badiani's most popular flavour, Buontalenti, a world-famous trademarked recipe known for having the shortest ingredients list in gelato, and for its simple deliciousness.

The gelateria was founded in Florence in 1932 and brought to the UK in 2016 by the Pomposi family. It now has over 13 shops across London, including in Elephant and Castle. "We are a taste of Italy right in the heart of London," said Paolo Pomposi, who is following in his father's footsteps in bringing Badiani's ice cream, and the joy that comes with it, to London.

Monday to Friday: 8am to 4pm and Saturday and Sunday: 9am-4pm at Mercato Metropolitano, 42 Newington Causeway, London, SE1 6DR badiani1932.com

A Safe, Fun, and Nourishing Summer in Lambeth

Looking for ways to keep your children active, and engaged this summer?

Lambeth’s Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme is back, offering free activities for 4–16 year olds who live or go to school in Lambeth and receive benefits-related free school meals. The programme runs from 20 July to 28 August.

Children can enjoy a range of activities including sports, arts, music, drama and outdoor play, with a free healthy meal provided at every session.

HAF supports children to build confidence, develop skills, make friends, and enjoy

their holidays in a safe, inclusive environment. Dedicated places and specialist provision are available for children with SEND.

Activities take place across Lambeth in local schools, community centres, adventure playgrounds and parks, so there will be something happening near you all summer.

What to expect

• Fun, high-quality activities led by trusted local providers

• Free, nutritious meals

• Safe and inclusive settings

• Specialist provision and support for children with SEND

• Opportunities to build skills, friendships, and confidence

What to do next

• Check activities in your area

• Book early – spaces fill up quickly

• Plan your summer with ease

To find out more and book visit our website or scan the QR code below. www.lambeth.gov.uk/haf

Let’s make this a happy, healthy summer for children and young people in Lambeth.

Park life for Paper Stories

Norwood Park’s kiosk becomes the latest offering from craft cafe founder Milly Youngs

By Katherine Johnston

Norwood Park kiosk has been transformed into a new creative cafe, joining Paper Stories and Walcot Stores as South London’s latest coffee and crafting venue.

Milly Youngs followed her dream and set up Gipsy Hill’s Paper Stories as the UK’s first paper crafting cafe in 2022, followed by Kennington’s Walcot Stores two years later. Both offer children’s activities and coffee by day, and arts and wine by night. Youngs took over the kiosk earlier this year and celebrated Park Stories' official opening on June 27.

Inspired by its proximity to nature and the beautiful views of Norwood Park, she said the new Park Stories cafe would continue in a similar vein as her other outlets, serving coffee from Old Spike Roastery, providing seasonal food but also hosting outdoor workshops and events with the ‘sip, make, unfold’ mindset as its predecessors. She described it as a place “where creativity, nature and people meet”.

After a renovation, Park Stories is now open and a series of events throughout the summer will soon be published. Keep an eye on their Instagram to find out more.

Park Stories, Norwood Park Kiosk

Salter’s Hill, SE19 1DZ

Open 8am-6pm weekdays and 9am-4pm on weekends.

@parkstorieslondon

London’s much-loved cosy art cafe has made the leap south to Peckham

By Evie Flynn

Imperfect Art Cafe has opened at Copeland Park on Rye Lane, bringing its popular free-flow art sessions, themed workshops, and community events to Peckham.

Described by founder Linda Savinova-Burrow as a "creative third space", the café is designed for burnt-out Londoners looking to switch off from their phones and reconnect with their creative side. Visitors can enjoy access to unlimited art materials, tea and biscuits in a relaxed setting.

As a former management consultant, Linda found herself burned out by the corporate world. Returning to painting helped her switch off and reconnect with herself. Noticing something was missing from the daily lives of young people in the capital, she began inviting friends over to get creative together.

The concept soon grew and Linda opened her first Imperfect Art Cafe in Angel in 2025, and following its success, she has brought it south of the river.

Linda chose Copeland Park as a worthy venue for her newest cafe because of its thriving art scene, yoga studios and independent creative businesses.

The cafe itself is calm and relaxing, and the walls are decorated with the work of past visitors. Open shelves line the walls with materials laid out. The tall windows looking onto trees, warm lighting, hand

painted-lanterns, and cosy seating complete the space.

It is important to Linda that the environment remains low-pressure, with no grades or expectation to be “good”. She said: “ Our intention stays the same: come as you are, make something imperfect, and feel better after it.

“Now that we’re in a creative hub and we have a bigger space, I’m planning life drawing evenings, music nights and spoken word events.”

Imperfect Art held a buzzing opening party at the beginning of June, with more than 100 local people flocking to the space.

Now, it's open from Thursday to Sunday, Imperfect Art Cafe offers an alternative to the usual dinner-and-drinks plans.

Its most popular option is a self-guided two-hour creative session, giving visitors access to art materials, unlimited tea and biscuits, and the freedom to create at their own pace. Sessions cost £18 during off-peak hours (weekdays, 2pm–5pm) and £24 during peak times (weekday evenings and weekends).

For workshops and more information, visit imperfectart.co.uk

Yellow Stairs, Bussey Building, Copeland Park, 133 Copeland Road, SE15 3SN

Choosing the right secondary school is an important decision, and our Open Events are the perfect opportunity to discover what makes Harris Academy Bermondsey such a vibrant and inspiring place to learn.

During your visit you'll have the opportunity to tour the academy, visit classrooms and specialist facilities, meet our teachers and hear from current students.

OPEN EVENING: 4pm - 6:30pm

Thursday 17th September

OPEN MORNINGS: 9:15am - 10:30am

Tuesday 15th September

Tuesday 22nd September

Wednesday 30th September

Monday 5th October

Wednesday 14th October

A SCHOOL WHERE GIRLS FLOURISH INTO CONFIDENT, POWERFUL YOUNG WOMEN

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55 Southwark Park Rd, London SE16 3TZ 0207 237 9316

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Going back to my roots

South Londoners will be able to trace their Afro-Caribbean heritage in workshops at South Bank University this summer

By Gabriel Stewart

In 2008, when his mother suddenly became unable to talk or walk due to a debilitating illness, Adrian Stone decided he wanted to find out more about his family history.

His mother's temporary paralysis made the 52-year-old Lambeth resident think about the fact that he didn’t have many details about her life story despite her importance as the matriarch and nucleus of the family, after his father died when he was seven.

“It just made me think about where my mum actually got the strength from, who she is and to kind of tap into that to deal with what was happening,” Stone said.

“I can’t really walk in her shoes and I didn’t really know her Windrush story because she was born in Jamaica. She came to England very young, about two years old.”

What began as a personal search to understand his own Jamaican family history has grown into a mission that has helped trace more than 20,000 AfricanCaribbean ancestors across Britain, the Caribbean, Africa, and the Americas.

Now, Stone is the founder of Own History, an award-winning Caribbean genealogy organisation based in South London.

His work focuses on helping individuals and families uncover their ancestral roots, reconnect with lost family histories, and better understand the journeys that shaped their identities.

After the Windrush Scandal in 2018, he started running workshops to help descendants of the Windrush generation find their ancestral heritage.

"I just wanted to make genealogy accessible, you know, I wanted to take it out of the space where people see it as an academia thing, an academic thing, and look at it as a community thing,” he explained.

Stone’s initial investigations into his own family history led him to a surprising place: “I stumbled across the fact that you could get historical records through The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, otherwise known as the Mormons.”

The church claims to have the records of over 12 billion deceased people, some going all the way back to the 1st century CE, because of the belief in members tracing their family trees in order for families to be sealed together for eternity.

Stone said: “I had no idea about the Mormons, they tried to make me a Mormon because I was there every week doing research.”

He managed to resist but the Church’s history centre, in South Kensington, helped him piece together records with the oral history he had heard from community elders, eventually leading him to find 20,000 individual relatives covering a timeline of over 250 years.

It wasn't long before Stone became the resident expert for Caribbean history, guiding others through difficulties including their families never being registered or a lack of knowledge around birthdays.

"When I asked my grandfather for some information about his father, my great-grandfather, he said, well, he was born on a Wednesday,” he explained.

There are many difficulties around tracing AfricanCaribbean roots but especially so when navigating the history of the transatlantic slave trade, which is estimated to have taken almost 4.5 million enslaved Africans to the Caribbean.

Stone described this as a “brick wall” in many people’s trees.

“The nature of the slave trade is taking away the identity, the roots of the descendants,” he said.

“And so they don't know their history. So, it's a burning question. There's a deep desire for people to know ‘where am I from?’”

Stone himself found a reference to his fifth-generation grandmother on a plantation with her name being Ebo Venus, Ebo is making a reference to a Nigerian ethnic group.

"That was the first time I made an actual connection to a tribe, as well as finding my, you know, first African ancestors to come to the Caribbean through the slave trade."

This summer Stone will be hosting Tracing Your Windrush Roots – Back to Africa at London South Bank University at Elephant and Castle. The first was held on Saturday, June 27, while another is taking place on Saturday, August 8.

The hands-on workshops at the South Bank

University will help participants learn how to build their family trees, trace Caribbean ancestors through historical records, understand DNA results, and explore the African origins of their families.

“It’s the most empowering thing I've ever done, showing people their history in their hands and it's something that they can now take beyond the workshop,” Stone added.

“That’s where most experiences stop, you know, you have a session, and it's within that space that you enjoy it, but this is something you take home, this is something that you continue after.”

Stone himself told me that, in recent years, he had uncovered a relation to Bob Marley’s daughter and his own half-brother, which was an emotional experience all-round.

“I didn’t know his name, I found it through DNA through finding his daughter. My sister passed away a couple years ago and she met him before she passed away. That was amazing.”

Tracing Your Windrush Roots – Back to Africa

Location: London South Bank University, 103 Borough Road, London, SE1 0AA

Dates: Saturday 8 August 2026

Time: 1pm

Cost: £50 per person, £90 for two and £160 for a family ticket (four people).

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