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BRIXTON BUGLE YOUR FREE
No 62 | APRIL 2018
Published monthly in and for Brixton
ISSN 2397-852X
NEW OWNER FOR BRIXTON MARKET
COMMUNITY PAPER
NATIONAL CHAMPION! Vivien is Afewee’s second
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Texan DJ pledges to secure ‘unique character’ and hold conversation with community
Start of a conversation – Taylor McWilliams (right) visits Joe Storey-Scott, owner of 20 Storey in Market Row
Brixton Market has new owner in the shape of Hondo Enterprises which is owned by the London-based Texan, Taylor McWilliams, who is also part of the four-person DJ collective Housekeeping. The market site includes both Brixton Village and Market Row. Hondo says that – together with unspecified “investors” – it has bought both the lease for the site that was owned by The Market Village Company Ltd and the freehold, that was owned by London & Associated Properties. McWilliams is the sole director of Hondo Enterprises, which describes itself as a property investment, development and asset management company specialising in “opportunistic and value-add transactions” in central London. Hondo last filed accounts – for 2016 – in September last year. It recorded itself as a “micro entity” with assets of less than £50,000. McWilliams has been the target of a political campaign by the group Class War over a development in Aldgate near the City of London and the use of “poor doors”. A spokesperson for Hondo said: “Our first priority is to start a conversation with the traders, Lambeth council and the local community about their views on the current operations of the market and how we can help enhance it for both traders and the local community. “We look forward to beginning a conversation with traders, the local community, and Lambeth council
in the coming weeks and months as we develop our plans to protect and enhance the market.” One trader told the Bugle that, until Hondo announced its purchase, traders believed that Tribeca Holdings, a vehicle for Irish-born property dealer Aidan Brooks, was to become the freeholder of the site. They expressed concern that Hondo appears to have no experience of managing a market, unlike Tribeca, which has owned Spitalfields Market in East London since 2013. It was reported earlier this year that the market had been bought by a consortium led by Aidan Brooks. Mike Ashley’s Sports Direct, which is soon to open a “luxury” Flannels store on Pope’s Road, had also been interested in buying the market. Hondo said that, under its stewardship, the market’s “unique character will be secured for the long term”. Its website lists its other properties as car parks, an “urban resort hotel and spa” and the Relay Building in Aldgate, a 22-storey-mixed-use development that has part of a London Underground carriage in the reception area. It is intended to be “a new hub for tech and creative occupiers”. A Lambeth council spokesman said: “Lambeth council intends to fully engage with the new owners. We will work to ensure that Brixton Village and Market Row remain home to our valuable local traders and remain at the heart of our town centre.”
RECORD SHOP DAY…
Where better than Brixton?
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JUST A MUM?
No way says app developer Sara 10
GOING VIRAL
At the Advocacy Academy
9
2 NEWS brixtonblog.com 2018 APRIL
BRIXTON BUGLE brixtonblog.com Proudly edited in Brixton Both website and newspaper are published by a not-for-profit community organisation run by a committed team of people from Brixton @brixtonblog brixtonblog.com
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Jenny Shramenko 07811 878394 jenny@brixtonblog.com Circulation 12,000 copies Readership: circa 15,000 EDITOR Linda Quinn linda@brixtonblog.com MANAGING EDITOR Simon Still simon@brixtonblog.com NEWS EDITOR Anna McKie newsdesk@brixtonblog.com ARTS & FEATURES arts@brixtonblog.com MUSIC Dave Randall music@brixtonblog.com FOOD Nick Buglione food@brixtonblog.com SPORT Sandra Brobbey sport@brixtonblog.com ISSUE 62 Contributors Pam Douglas Elishka Flint Sacha Harrison Frankie Holah Leslie Manasseh Tevye Markson Jamila Omar Emily Prescott Dave Randall Sue Sheehan Gemma Pasha Sub-editor: Jamila Omar Production: Alan Slingsby Distribution: Philip King A massive thank you to everybody involved in making this issue, and the Blog & Bugle project, a success If you would like to be a Bugle stockist please email distribution@brixtonblog.com
Tighter security will include searches at this year’s country show Visitors to this year’s Lambeth Country show in Brockwell Park will be subject to extra security measures, including searches as a result of advice from Lambeth council’s “health & safety partners”. The 44th show will be on Saturday 21 and Sunday 22 July with its regular attractions including The Sheep Show, vegetable carving competition, jousting and Roots Reggae Sunday on the main stage. Lambeth council said the show would have a “reconfigured larger
show layout” providing a better visitor experience. It will encourage people to come early and avoid the busiest peak times from 3 to 5pm. Last entry will be 6.30pm. Council leader Lib Peck said the show was unique and that she was proud that it remains a free event. There was controversy earlier this year when the possibility arose of the show running back-to-back with three day paid-for music events, The Field Day event in Brockwell Park takes place at the start of June.
Brixton gets two new workspace opportunities Just as workspace in Brixton was looking as hard to find as ever at reasonable rates, two new opportunities have come along together. Meanwhile Space community interest company is partnering with Lambeth council to fit out and operate the atrium of the refurbished Brixton Town Hall as affordable creative and digital workspace. Spaces are due to be ready in April and start at £150 a month. Local designers Eley Kishimoto in partnership with Dolman Bowles who created Brixton’s “flash crossings”, will
be designing the fitout of the space. To register an interest and find out more visit www. meanwhilespace. com or contact info@ meanwhilespace.com. And, just behind Brixton prison, space at 215 Lyham Road that was used by Eley Kishimoto for 20 years was opened last month as Canvas Co-working. The scheme has been brought to life by Big Issue Invest, the social investment arm of The Big Issue magazine, working with the Connection Crew that occupies the rest of the building. Connection
FREE ADULT LEARNING
Mosaic Clubhouse on Effra Road has a great adult learning programme starting in April in partnership with Morley College and the Workers’ Educational Association. Courses are free to all Lambeth residents who are receiving benefits. Details from s.obrien@mosaic-clubhouse.org or call 020 7924 9657.
Crew provide staff for events who were once homeless but who are now carefully trained specialists. Another project, the 215 Fund, was launched at the same time. It will provide support for events and installations that benefit Brixton and beyond – donating a total of 500 hours of personpower to projects in 2018. You can find out more about Canvas, Connection Crew and #215Fund at connectioncrew. co.uk or follow @ ConnectionCrew and canvasbrixton. space or follow @CanvasBrixton.
Brixton pupils put their talent on parade last month. Sudbourne, City Heights, Christ Church, Jubilee, St Lukes, Holy_Trinity and St Judes pupils went to Richard Atkins primary on NewPark Road for another Science explosion (above). And Jubilee primary on Tulse Hill was visited by a local illustrator, two children’s authors and the mayor of Lambeth its World Book Week celebrations (left).
BLING YA BIKE
The 2018 “Bling Ya Bike” project will run over the Easter holidays (3, 4 and 5 April) at Brixton Community Base on Talma Road. The free project is for local 13-18 year-olds. They will learn bike maintenance and have the opportunity to ‘bling’ their bike. See www.brixtoncommunitybase. org/news.
Black Beauty Fashion Award winners visited Marcia Cameron, the mayor of Lambeth, to discuss the value of the initiative and to share their stories (l-r) Judge Oreke Mosheshe, award winner Rumbi Serima-Fowler, Cllr Cameron, BBFA founder Cheryl Jumbo – who is from Brixton, Andrea Myers BBFA ambassador and Lambeth council leader Lib Peck
APRIL 2018 brixtonblog.com NEWS 3
Work to start soon on windmill learning centre Work is finally about to begin on Brixton Windmill’s education centre. A contractor has been chosen and construction is due to start within a month and to be completed in December. New and improved workshops for local school groups visiting the windmill will be one benefit of the centre It will also be used for classes for adults and children ranging from baking and jam making to science and art projects. Local community groups will also be able to book it events, meetings and seminars. Lambeth council will pay about £700,000 for the centre and the Friends of Windmill Gardens will manage it. Cllr Sonia Winifred, council cabinet member for equalities and culture, said: “The Friends of Windmill Gardens have worked closely with the council to make this happen and I’m delighted to get the contractor appointed and push it
forward. I can’t wait to see it open.” The construction is due to be completed in December this year. Jean Kerrigan, chair of Friends of Windmill Gardens, said: “The Friends have campaigned over many years to get to this stage. Thanks to pro-bono work by architects Squire and Partners we will have a beautiful building in keeping with the historic Grade II* Brixton Windmill that will be of great benefit to our local community. During construction volunteers will continue to open the windmill to visitors, regularly mill stoneground Brixton Windmill Flour, and organise community events in the park. The friends will also be fundraising to fit out the building and to train volunteers so that the windmill is ready for the next phase of its 202-year history. AA Food and Drink– page 18
FOODBANK’S FREEZING BRIXTON HEROES
by Tevye Markson
Heroic Norwood and Brixton Foodbank team of volunteers braved the worst of last month’s icy conditions in the Brixton Tesco car park to hand out shopping lists to freezing customers. They got a warm response as donations poured in throughout 17 March. More than six cages of food and toiletries were collected. “Thank you to everyone who ‘froze for Foodbank’ or made donations, said the food bank.
An opportunity to vote for Brixton Supporters of the many great businesses in Brixton have until 10 April to vote in the Time Out Love London Awards, with 13 categories to choose from. North and East London just about swept the board last year with Hackney, Crouch End, Muswell Hill and
Plastic straws suck, Class 5 tells Nando’s
Highbury all winning awards. Time Out says that nearly 445,000 have been cast in more than 90 London neighbourhoods since the awards began in 2014. Caroline McGinn, global editor in chief at Time Out, said: “Local businesses are the beating heart of a city’s
neighbourhoods and these awards are a way to show your love for all those hidden gems – we want to champion these independents and their entrepreneurial spirit and give them the spotlight they deserve.” AA Londoners can vote until 10 April at timeout.com/ lovelondon.
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Pupils of St. Andrews C of E Primary School in Stockwell are calling on Nando’s to stop using plastic straws. The Year 5 class, aged 9 and 10, was inspired to join the #StrawsSuck movement by the final episode David Attenborough’s BBC documentary Blue Planet II, that showed how discarded plastic is harming marine life everywhere in the world’s oceans. The pupils had been learning about animals in their science and writing classes and discussed what they could do to make a difference. Antoine, 10, said: “We came up with the idea because animals in our sea are dying from pollution. Seeing plastic
straws makes me feel sad.” A 2015 study by the US National Academy of Sciences suggested up to 90% of sea birds have pieces of plastic in their guts. This is predicted to rise to 99% by 2050 without effective waste management. Year 5’s teacher, Katy Sherratt, said: “In the UK we’re getting a lot better, but a lot of people still use plastic straws. “We’ve been noticing more and more that restaurants and bars in the area are using paper straws now and, with our help, hopefully Nando’s will too.” Restaurant chains, pubs and bars, including JD Wetherspoon and Frankie & Benny’s, have begun using paper straws instead of plastic in the past year. Noodle chain Wagamama will
start using paper straws in April. A Nando’s spokesperson said: “We have seen the petition and love how passionate the kids are.” They said the company had removed drinking straws from all drinks units across the country in an effort to reduce plastic waste a few months ago, but some customers still needed them and they would continue to provide them upon request. “We are trialling paper alternatives but haven’t implemented them across all of our restaurants yet,” the spokesperson said. The class will contact Nando’s once they reach 2,5000 signatures – and they have less than 1,000 to go. AA You can sign their petition at: http://bit.ly/StA-SUPS.
THE BUGLE
As this issue was about to go to press our editor Linda Quinn had to be taken to hospital where she is now recovering thanks to the wonderful NHS and even more wonderful staff of St Thomas’ Hospital. This has meant that this issue was delayed and we may not have been able to publish stories as we would have wished or at all. We apologise for this to our readers, advertisers and contributors.
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APRIL 2018 brixtonblog.com NEWS 5
Pam Douglas is a solicitor with local firm Wainwright & Cummins. Each month, she takes a common enquiry and asks colleagues to answer it for readers
Mediation Whether it’s striking workers, warring neighbours, divorcing couples or companies wrangling over finances, we hear a lot about mediation these days and are increasingly being encouraged to give it a try. My colleague, Aneesha Bhunjun is a trained mediator, and gives her insights on the subject … Mediation is a type of “alternative dispute resolution” or ADR which is designed to help settle disputes without the involvement or intervention of a court. It’s not new; it’s been around for many centuries all over the world in many different formats. In the UK, mediation is a recognised process embedded into the legal system, and is defined as procedure in which neutral, specially trained professionals assist parties in reaching a settlement to a dispute. The process is a voluntary one and empowers the parties themselves to be in control of the outcome rather than a judge. Nobody is obliged to be bound by the process and they are free to leave at anytime. However, where it is successful and parties do manage to arrive at an agreement, it can be formalised in writing and become the basis of a legally binding and enforceable “consent order”. There are so many advantages in opting for mediation over litigation, including cost, speed, flexibility and often the preservation of future relationships for example: employer/employee; landlord/ tenant and business partners to name but a few. Brilliantly effective though it can be, mediation may not be for everyone or for every situation. But, over the years, the courts have increasingly come to expect disputing parties to go through mediation before their arguments can be heard. Although it has, at least in theory, remained a voluntary process, there’s further “encouragement” in the form of financial penalties for those who refuse or fail to mediate without extremely good reason. The Civil Justice Council (CJC) initiated a consultation process in 2017 that appears set to go even further by making ADR and, in particular, mediation compulsory in most civil disputes. Other areas of the law, particularly matrimonial and employment disputes, already have compulsory mediation. So why not other civil disputes, such as inheritance claims, property or boundary disputes? The CJC is not suggesting that the parties must settle, only that they should be compelled to at least actively try. If you would like to discuss mediation or would like help with this issue or any other, please feel free to get in touch at info@wainwrightcummins.co.uk.
Work starts on new theatre for Brixton Work on the new Ovalhouse Theatre for Brixton is now under way, with the iconic Carlton Mansions near the junction of Somerleyton Road and Coldharbour Lane – permanent home to the Nuclear Dawn mural and temporary home to squatters for many years – being converted to workspace for the theatre. While the future redevelopment of Somerleyton Road remains uncertain after Lambeth council appeared to rule out plans advanced over many years by the community group Brixton Green, the theatre is due to be completed in 2020. The council’s plans for housing in the area are due to be announced in the summer. Carlton Mansions is being refurbished by Brixton-based Zac Monro Architects. Deborah Bestwick, director of Ovalhouse, said: “We have been working with the architects and other consultants, on exciting details of design – how to make our lighting rig accessible for people with disabilities and safe for young people in training, lots of discussions about toilets, where to put circus rigging points, do we
like carpets, (not much!) and how to create top quality facilities on a thrifty budget” Ovalhouse plans to leave its former site at the Oval in the summer of 2019, but, said Bestwick, “We have exciting plans to work in and amongst the community in Brixton for the year before we open – an extension of the work we have done on our Brixton City Festival for the last two years, with the addition of large scale work by young people”. Lambeth council leader Lib Peck said it was proud of its partnership with Ovalhouse Theatre. She was “encouraged to see progress being made on the first phase of an important wider redevelopment on Somerleyton Road”. The arrival of Ovalhouse and the new workspace in Carlton Mansions would bring employment opportunities for local people and attract more creative organisations to Brixton. AA Ovalhouse is open for business, including Random Selfies, a show for 7-13 year olds on until 7 April which was made with Lambeth primary schools.
SHARRON WALLACE
BRIXTON LEGAL
At Carlton Mansions (l-r): Deborah Bestwick, artistic director of Ovalhouse, Jacqui Henry of Lambeth Regeneration and Cllr Sonia Winifred, Lambeth council cabinet member for equalities and culture
Bigger, better, More cash for culture and creatives brighter design trail promised Brixton Design Trail’s fifth year should be bigger, better and brighter, a packed launch event at Brixton East heard. The event – from 15 to 23 September this year – will be a “design route” rather than a design district. District status meant all partners of the event had to be within 10 minutes walk of the Tube station. The new status will enable more people to take part and organisers hope to include more local businesses and creatives.
Lambeth council has said that it will develop a new “creative enterprise zone” project for Brixton after securing £50,000 of funding from the mayor of London. The project will support the area’s “growing and diverse range of creative industry jobs, create
more in workspace, help businesses network, make sure local creative talent is involved in improvements to the area” and develop new ways of improving access to jobs in the creative sector. The latest announcement follows a City Hall grant of
£200,000 to the council to support its Borough of Culture bid project, Next Generation, which will see the council work with cultural institutions to provide skills, jobs and opportunities for young people and others under-represented in the cultural workforce.
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Director and curator Binki Taylor urged anyone interested to register an interest – Get your friends, neighbours and colleagues involved in Brixton creative takeover.” The theme of this year’s trail is #WEBELONG.
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6 CREATIVE BRIXTON brixtonblog.com
2018 APRIL
VISUAL ARTS
Brixton – great place for an artistic journey
Photography: Oleg Skrinda
Leslie Manasseh meets Katia Kesic on a journey from Moscow via Brixton Katia Kesic, as an individual and an artist, represents a meeting between the East and the West – a fusion between very different artistic traditions and very different countries. Born in Moscow she began painting as a small child, attended art school and went on to win a prestigious presidential grant
to study in the UK. She moved to Brixton and began her studies in art and then architecture in Chelsea College of Art and the Metropolitan University. Schooled in a Russian tradition which emphasised formal drawing and painting techniques, she suddenly found herself in a very different environment with fewer rules and a much broader definition of artistic endeavour. The disciplined figurative and representational traditions of her country of birth were replaced with a wholly new approach in her
country of choice. Here was a much more fluid world where the emphasis was on conceptual art as an emotional experience, and where painting was simply one medium among many. The clash of traditions was also evident in her new neighbourhood. Compared with the uniformity of Moscow, Brixton opened her eyes to a world of cultural and ethnic diversity, vibrant colours and a rich street life. Her paintings use the formal techniques of her training to capture the textures of Brixton. The results are bold, confident tableaux of quintessentially Brixton moments frozen in time. She is fascinated by what she describes as the “exotic next to the everyday” which is the
basis of one of her key works Iceland and is an ever-present theme in her series of paintings of Brixton – SW9 (above) and Churchday. Katia’s work has been well received in the UK. Examples can currently be seen in exhibitions of leading British artists from 6 to 21 April in the Mall Galleries, St James’s London SW1A 2BN open daily from 10 – 5. Katia is still on a journey to develop her visual language. She describes how she began life as an artist determined to capture an almost photographic quality in her work. She is now developing a looser style based on a mix of the abstract and the figurative. She has found that Brixton is a great place to continue this journey.
Collage for the community From 9 April Brixton Library will be hosting an exhibition of collages by members of Collagistes Collective from around the world. The collective is based on the idea that collage is an accessible art form that offers creative and therapeutic opportunities and benefits to individuals who may not consider themselves as artists in a traditional sense. Specifically, the collective seeks to use collage as a way to address social problems by bringing communities together and enabling individuals to work together on creative projects. So they will be offering social fabric initiative workshops alongside the exhibition. The exhibition runs until 7 May. For further information contact Tony Gohagan, the founder and creative director of the collective, on 07708 967605 or collagistescollective@gmail.com Left: Collage by Je Lena
NEW START AT SUNSHINE ARTS April will see an exciting new start at Sunshine International Arts in Loughborough Junction. With the continued support of the Arts Council England national portfolio organisation funding programme, SIA will ExhibitB_quarter_April.indd 1
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be able to run its community arts centre Carnival Arts For Everyone (CAFE) for another four years. It reopens on 11 April, dishing up favourites like Trinidadian roti and chicken, goat, or vegan
curry alongside its carnival arts workshops. If you are interested in taking place in the carnival workshops and art-making sessions of CAFÉ’s Mas Camp, email admin@sunshineiarts.co.uk.
APRIL 2018 brixtonblog.com CREATIVE BRIXTON 7
MUSIC
BRIXTON
HI-FIVE Markie Lyrics of Universal Roots Records with a rare copy of Joe Mansano’s Brixton Cat
Follow in the footsteps of Bob Marley and Paul Simonon Dave Randall celebrates Brixton’s contribution to Record Store Day
Each month we ask a Brixton community member to choose five records and tell us why … Munira Mohamed is the learning manager and programmer at the Black Cultural Archives in Windrush Square and a Brixton resident 1. CHANGES by TUPAC SHAKUR. This is one the main songs that brought me to consciousness. Tupac was unapologetic in his lyrics and there is a certain rawness in his tone where you can really feel what he is saying. I first heard this tune when I was 13. The message about perpetuating inequality and the frustration about a lack of change spoke to me then and it speaks to me now.
2. IN THE MORNING by FUZZY LOGIC (FEATURING EGYPT) I remember hearing this when I was at university, it was the peak of the funky house era and the beat just hooked me straight away. The song reminds me of the freedoms of campus life, entering adulthood and finding yourself amongst all the noise.
3. MY FAVOURITE GAME by THE CARDIGANS This is quite random, but the rocky vibe in this song has always brought out a vibe in me. I heard this song when I was living in Denmark. Brings memories …
4. PREMIERE GAOU by MAGIC SYSTEM The melody, the instruments, the whole song is just amazing. Every time I hear this song I have to dance.
5. IF I RULED THE WORLD by NAS (FEATURING LAURYN HILL) This song is a classic, the king of hiphop and the queen of neo-soul in one track re-imaging a more just world and what it would be like if we unlocked our potential. Love it!!
I’ll be back! Author and blogger Maggie Knutson on her first, but not last, visit to Brixton
I’d never been to Brixton before, but end of February and I was here to watch Moroccan-born Simo Lagnawi Simolagnawi – The Gnawa Master of London – play at the Hootananny. I’m a big fan of gnawa music, reporting most years on the annual Essaouira gnawa and world music festival in Morocco, but had never heard Gnawa music live in the UK. Gnawa, played mainly in Morocco, is recognisable by its mixture of exciting music, spectacular dancing and
The 21st of April is Record Store Day – an opportunity to celebrate independent music retailers across the country. Therefore it seems fitting to pay tribute this month not only to Brixton’s current crop of excellent record stores and street-side music vendors, but also to those who have shaped our community in years past. We at the Bugle were very pleased to see Blacker Dread’s outstanding contribution to Brixton acknowledged in the recent film Being Blacker. For 25 years his shop was a refuge for anyone seeking great reggae music, good company and perhaps some sound advice. Other community-minded music lovers paved the way for Blacker. For three decades Red Records was Brixton’s main music Mecca, run for much of that time by Phillip Yapp. Despite the closure of the shop, Phillip still supplies a regular clientèle of Black music aficionados with choice cuts and rarities. Brixton’s most celebrated record shop of the late 1960s and 70s was Desmond’s Hip City, which traded from the arch at 55 Atlantic Road. It was part of Jamaican entrepreneur Lee Gopthal’s Muzik City chain, and was under the stewardship of Desmond Bryan. A photo of the shop taken by Brixton’s acclaimed photographer Neil Kenlock is a poignant reminder of the challenges faced by Black-owned businesses at the time. On close inspection of the print, small shards of glass can been seen on top of the car parked in front of the shop. Mr. Kenlock told me that the photo was taken in the wake of an attack on the store by a supporter of the racist National Front. The car had been driven into the shop in an attempt to destroy the business, by then a much-loved hub for Brixton’s Caribbean community. Former Brixton resident Garth Cartwright is the
beautifully ornate costumes. Simo’s aim is to spread Gnawa throughout the UK and beyond and he has played at Glastonbury and Boomtown festivals and venues around the country. Simo was introducing us to his group, Gnawa London, who play traditional Gnawa music and is comprised of Simo, Khalid Oqaidi, Youssef Al-Maghribi, Djina Jones and Moby El Gamra. Their performance was exciting and vibrant, the only disappointment was that the stage was too small
author of an excellent chronicle of record shops across the UK called Going For A Song. I arranged to meet him in Camberwell’s Rat Records to learn more about the story of Brixton’s shops. As well as Desmond’s Hip City, he told me, there was also Joe’s Record Centre which opened at 93 Granville Arcade in 1967. Joe Mansano arrived in the UK from Trinidad in 1962 and met the Jamaican entrepreneurs Len Dyke and Dudley Dryden who asked him to help run their record shop Dyke & Dryden in Tottenham. Mansano was so successful that Island Records offered to set up a shop of his own in Brixton. Regulars at Joe’s Record Centre included Bob Marley, Bunny Lee and Lee Scratch Perry. In a move that was common at the time, the store owner decided to try his hand at music production. His debut album Brixton Cat, released on Trojan records in 1969, paid tribute to his adopted home. Garth told me that Mansano increasingly found himself selling records to white music fans including the first wave of skinheads, and that Desmond’s Hip City also attracted music lovers from beyond the Caribbean community. One was the future bass player of The Clash Paul Simonon, who would meet his mates at the shop on Saturday mornings to soak up some rude boy anthems. But since his family didn’t own a record player, he never made any purchases. Whether or not you own a record player, why not follow in Simonon’s footsteps and take a browse around your local record shops. Try Supertone Records on Acre Lane; Music in Ferndale Road, run by Claudia Wilson of Pure Vinyl fame; Container Records in Pop Brixton; Lion Vibes in Brixton Village; Ticketmaster and Universal Roots Records – both in the Reliance Arcade, or one of the specialist street-side vendors in Atlantic Road. Most stock a range of formats and music merchandise and all offer the chance for a friendly chat and some top music tips.
for the dancers to show their amazing skill. Simo’s second group – Gnawa Blues All Stars – fuse gnawa with other genres, so later we had Dave De Rose on drums, Alai Sanfo and Cesare Cascarino on djembes, Nathanial Keen on lead guitar, and Karnaby Been on the saxophone and base guitar. Plus, Simo playing the guembri and singing. By now, the audience were in some kind of dancing frenzy as the beat of the djembes drove the
music forward and it felt as if we were in Africa with this most delicious music. Later on, one of the Arfoud brothers, playing a mini guembri, was invited onto the stage and his vocals and playing added an extra dimension to the music. The next morning I had the best pain au chocolat and coffee I’ve ever had at San Marino and bought a lot of beautiful African print material at African Queen fabrics. I’ll be back!
JOIN THE CREATIVE REVOLUTION! This year Brixton Design Trail is exploring what it means to live in the heart of Europe’s most diverse city and celebrating togetherness with the theme We dance and laugh and draw and paint; We gather and we get along. And We Belong. In high-rise flats and cul-de-sacs we work out what is right —and what is wrong. And We Belong. The heart of this great city beats at many bpm —we party on— And We Belong. In Albion — In Babylon. Time’s Up #MeToo LGBTI and Q, Post-Savile citizens of every hue. Rees-Mogg, Johnson, we see you Stark bollock naked—makes us spew. But us? We are the many, not the few and guess what? We don’t think that We Owe You. We dance and laugh and draw and paint; We gather and we get along. We see the common ground and organise. And we get strong. Together. We are a people-powered festival of creativity, and we need you to inspire the creative takeover of Brixton from 15 – 23 September——There are lots of ways to be involved—— showcase your talents, guide visitors on the trail, help distrubute information or organise events. Let us help you discover talents and skills you didn’t even know you had! ——brixtondesigntrail.com
—Even as we yearn for different lives— In Babylon — In Albion In —— Brixton We Belong.
APRIL 2018 OPINION 9
BRIXTON BUGLE
COMMENT What to do about change Brixton Market, the Carnegie library, a new Sports Direct shop in the heart of our town, an unwanted budget hotel next to Marks & Spencer, demolition of Cressingham Gardens – it’s a litany of change and disappointment that can seem endless. And nobody who loves Brixton and its neighbouring communities can be unmoved. From readers missing the old Carnegie library to fish-lovers mourning the disappearance of the Mash Brothers from Network Rail’s arches on Atlantic Road, there’s plenty to be sorry about. But this is Brixton. So let’s not panic and let’s be positive. This year is the 74th anniversary of some remodelling of Brixton that puts current issues in perspective. Directly opposite the town hall on Acre Lane, 72 people died when a V1 flying bomber struck a centre for people already displaced by the bombing of the Blitz. And it was 19 years ago this April that an extreme right-wing activist planted a bomb in Electric Avenue. These are real outrages that have been overcome, but not forgotten, by the communities of the time coming together. So, yes, Brixton is facing a tough time, but it’s faced tougher. The Windrush generation of Caribbean immigrants invited to Britain by a post-war government concerned about labour shortages were not universally welcomed, to put it mildly. It took 30 years and an uprising/ riot to see some of their grievances recognised and partially addressed. Today, the insane economics of a housing market that exists for profit not people is one of the greatest threats to the survival of Brixton as a unique and exciting place to live and work. Grumbling and chuntering about yuppies will change nothing and neither will encouraging development that sees established communities uprooted to make way for investment properties for wealthy absentee landlords. The problem exists at a national and international level and if Brixton can achieve anything it will be as an example of somewhere that has been in an almost continual process of change for many decades but is determined to retain its soul and originality. Regulated by IMPRESS: The independent monitor for the press 16–18 New Bridge Street EC4V 6AG 020 3325 4288 complaints@impress.press www.impress.press
Tevye Markson talks to Legally Black’s Shiden Tekle, 18, Kofi Asante, 17, and Belmiro Matos da Costa, 18 (minus fourth member Liv Francis-Cornibert, 18) about Black media representation, their now famous posters and what’s next Political posters on Brixton’s bus stop billboards sent four young south London activists viral in March. Inspired by “brandalism” the young activists recreated famous film and TV posters with Black actors, recruiting friends and family for the photoshoot. They met at Advocacy Academy, the eight-month social justice fellowship for 16-18-year-olds in South London founded by Brixton resident Amelia Viney. They were paired together based on their campaign visions. “It helps young people to turn our cold anger about injustices in the world into political activism,” says Shiden. A British Film Institute study found that Black actors played 0.5% of roles in British films released between 2006 and 2016. The 2011 UK census put the proportion of Britons who are Black at 3%. “We all thought Black media representation needed to be dealt with,” says Kofi. “For me, it was the way that we are constantly being portrayed or labelled as violent, angry or criminal. “Attaching stereotypes to roles forces actors to embody things that don’t necessarily represent them.” Belmiro: “I didn’t like colonialist ideals. Liv didn’t like misogynoir”. Shiden: “For me it was racism and colourism.” They wanted to get the posters on buses but did not have the contacts to facilitate it. Special Patrol Group, a subversive advertising group, found them online and put their posters up on bus stop billboards in Brixton on 28 February. They were up for less than a day but in that time spread all over social media. “The response was amazing,” says Belmiro. “One of the first people that tweeted the posters got 17,000 retweets. “The next day we increased our followers on Instagram from 51 to 3,000.” “Filmmakers are inviting us to their premieres,: says Shiden. “Actors want to get involved in Legally Black. I feel like they
At the Advocacy Academy (top to bottom, left to right): Amelia Viney, Ayeisha Thomas-Smith, Shiden Tekle, Zhanè Salmone, Belmiro Matos da Costa, Liv FrancisCornibert, Kofi Asante
This is just the beginning think we’re a massive organisation. They don’t know we’re four teenagers from South London who go to school. In March, they met shadow foreign secretary Diane Abbott – who was the first Black woman MP in 1987. She told them about an awards ceremony she attended. A journalist asked her if any of the young people nominated were in gangs. Abbott said “no” and the journalist left. Shiden: “If you challenge the image of
what a specific group looks like people feel threatened.” Belmiro: “People say that Black doesn’t sell but if you look at the success of Black Panther, one of the few films with a proper Black narrative, it’s ridiculous. We want to ensure that can happen in the UK as well. Shiden: “Our goal is to speak to commissioners and increase the number of films and TV with black narratives. “We have a meeting with commissioners and film producers at Channel 4 to get something going.” They four graduated from Advocacy Academy the day after the posters went up. “We were emotional, but you don’t really leave because they invite you back for meetings and residencies,” says Shiden. In April, Legally Black will deliver sessions on race and diversity at the British Film Institute to National Film and Television School scholars, of whom one in four are BAME and more than half female. “Not having role models makes it difficult to have a sense of worth and a link between your culture and who you are as a Black person in society,” says Kofi, who will be studying law at university. He performed as Prospero in The Tempest at the Shakespeare Festival and wants to continue to pursue acting at university. Months away from moving to different universities, will Legally Black continue?” Shiden: “We’ve come so far. Why would we stop?” Kofi: “This is just the beginning. Not everyone has the platform we have been given. To have that opportunity and not use it would be a waste.
Carnegie Blues – and it’s not just the cold Writer Rae Stoltenkamp on returning to the re-opened Carnegie library near her home in Herne Hill I’ve been avoiding Carnegie Library since Lambeth council announced its so-called re-opening. This morning I was forced into the ravaged building to attend a meeting. As a representative of the charity Ruskin Readers, I went to find out if there’s any hope of this ousted community group returning to the library. Standing in the icy entry way I have serious doubts. Once beyond the swing doors my fears are not allayed. Where are the librarians? Well, you’ll have to ring a number for their
assistance. Hands-on librarians will only be available at limited specified times – notified by a leaflet posted on a pillar. Together with myself and the three other meeting attendees, there are12 people in the library. Three of them are security guards – one nursing two standing heaters, another patrolling in an Arctic-style parka, a third – statuesque in a body warmer – acts as
bouncer at the entrance to what used to be the wonderful wildlife garden. The lack of people emphasises how much our community has lost by the closure of this much-loved building for far too long. My Raynaud’s Syndrome flares, despite the fact I’m wearing my obligatory fingerless gloves. There’s no way I can remove my coat
Happier times: Rae Stoltenkamp (right) and Tracey Cameron in the library before redev elopment
or beret during the course of the meeting. Besides this, I’m welling up as I remember previous vibrant Saturday mornings spent teaching an Inkhead course here, or just catching up with people during one of the regular tea and cake stalls run by the Friends. I’m heartbroken and inconsolable. So what else is missing? Well, there is no disabled access, no access to public toilets, no possibility of mums with prams gaining access, no kitchen. And what, I wonder, lurks in the screened-off side rooms? I suspect damage to walls and floors from water ingress. This is what Lambeth council considers a viable substitute to the wonderfully run Carnegie Library we once had.
10 COMMUNITY brixtonblog.com
2018 APRIL
Sue Sheehan on Incredible Edible Lambeth’s work to help low-income families be more active and eat more healthily
Design your own project Dad and baby yoga in Herne Hill
Oh, you’re just going to be a mum now – Well, no, actually, that’s not what I’m going to do Elishka Flint looks behind the success of one of the local mothers featured in the Brixton Pound Cafe’s MotherWorks exhibition Happity, an app that showcases fun things to do with babies and toddlers, is now available for parents in Brixton. Mums and dads looking for entertaining activities for kids can pop their postcode into the app and find classes and groups nearby. Happity’s trailblazing founder, South London mum Sara Tateno (right), says Brixton has an especially good variety of activities. “We see a lot of creative folk putting on activities for kids in Brixton, so it’s very unique and quirky.” Her top picks locally include PramChrous, a “bring your baby” choir, and Prasarita Yoga which runs a dad and baby yoga class on Saturday mornings in Herne Hill. The idea behind Happity came to Sara while she was on maternity leave and struggled to find good local activities for her two young children. “With my first child, I used this clunky website showing me things to do in the local area, but when we moved a few miles away suddenly there was nothing. I realised there was a real need for a professional site showing all the great activities across London and further afield.” Sara always had an entrepreneurial
streak, but had never taken the plunge, pursuing a career in consulting instead. “I’d had many moments when I’d wanted to start a business but I was always a bit scared to do it, just thinking that I didn’t have the experience or knowledge.” Luckily, when Sara had the idea for Happity, she’d just started learning to code. “I was made redundant just when I was due to go on maternity leave with my second child and lots of people told me: “Oh, you’re just going to be a mum now.’ That really pushed me to think “Well, no, actually, that’s not what I’m going to do.’” Sara knew that there were lots of
opportunities in the technology sector so she applied to Google Campus for Mums, a part-time programme where parents learn business and coding skills. She was given a place the day after her son was born. “He was born at home so Google Campus was the first place he ever went in his entire life!” This was followed by a full-time three-month developer course at Makers Academy, where Sara was the first mother to complete the programme. The intensive classes gave her most of the skills she needed to build Happity herself. The app launched a year ago in South London and attracted 2,000 users in its first month. It now has 8,000 users and is rapidly expanding across London. Sara says the most rewarding part has been creating a business with flexible roles which work for parents who want to find that balance between work and family life. “At Happity we have a team of seven and we all work remotely. We have core hours during the school day but if something comes up, people can flex their time.” This approach is one of the reasons that Sara was recently featured at the #MotherWorks photographic exhibition at Brixton Pound Cafe, which celebrated the double lives of working mums. Given the manner of Happity’s success so far, it’s easy to see why Sara was one of the stars of the show. AAwww.happity.co.uk
DO YOU HAVE A BRIGHT IDEA FOR A PROJECT THAT COULD BENEFIT OUR COMMUNITY?
FUNDING AVAILABLE
Incredible Edible Lambeth is working with Lambeth Early Action Partnership (LEAP) in four wards of Lambeth – (Stockwell, Vassall, Coldharbour and Tulse Hill), to facilitate activities for families with children under four, who are often on low incomes, and to access activities around healthy eating and being active. We are prototyping ways of working so that the families and children can design their own projects, like food-growing, cooking and eating and being outdoors appreciating nature. We are putting parents in control,and building on community assets, rather than making them recipients of services. In STOCKWELL, we worked with Oasis Nature Garden, Stockwell Partnership and residents from the Studley estate to examine how we can make better use of the outdoor space on the estate. On a very cold day in early February we took the nature garden to the estate, with teepees, tents and nature crafts. Brixton People’s Kitchen also came along to cook a healthy meal. We showed that it is possible to get children playing outside in even the worst weather, and that parents benefit too. In VASSAL ward we are working with four cafes to run healthy eating and cooking activities – Van Gogh (vegan cafe), Home N Away (Myatts Fields North centre), the Platform (Loughborough Farm), and the Little Cat Cafe (Myatts Fields Park). They are looking for ways to meet
Need a mid-day energy boost? Join our Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga class every Tuesday lunchtime 12-1pm Whether your goal is flexibility, strength, a workout, or simply clearing your mind, Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga is a great choice — a therapeutic system which assists the natural healing abilities of our bodies. Each class will end with a short Pranayama breathing practice which helps you calm and clear your mind. A great way to reduce stress during a busy week! £10 / £8 concessions ashtanga.miyoga@gmail.com
WE HAVE UP TO £6000 FOR
LOCAL PROJECTS THAT MEET OUR CRITERIA. TO APPLY
EMAIL GETINVOLVED@SW9.ORG.UK OR CALL US ON 020 7326 3700
AND ASK FOR AN APPLICATION PACK.
WWW.SW9.ORG.UK
SW9 Community Housing
the needs of families with young children like having a space for pushchairs, offering small mashed-up meals or warm milk, and being happy for people to sit with a cup of coffee for a few hours when the cafe isn’t busy. In COLDHARBOUR ward we facilitated a half term holiday meal programme at the Loughborough Community (Max Roach) One O’Clock Club and adventure playground. We trained seven parents to cook, involving families and children in the preparation of the food. We fed an average of 70 people a day on three days during half term, for less than 50p a head by accessing surplus food through networks IEL has helped set up. In TULSE HILL we are establishing a community garden at High Trees adventure playground. The new space is being set up for very young children and their parents during the day. We are training some parents in basic gardening skills so that they can grow their own veg this year, with some on-going support from Myatts Fields Park community gardener Fabrice, and Vinnie who runs a polytunnel garden project on the nearby Tulse Hill estate. AAEmail ediblelambeth@ gmail.com for more information about any of these events. If you live in one of these wards and have a child under four, then hopefully you will take part and benefit. If you would like to volunteer or get involved with any of the projects please let us know.
www.downwardfox.com
STILLPOINT YOGA BRIXTON 41-43 Acre Lane, Brixton SW2 5TN www.stillpointyogalondon.com
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We’re proud to call Brixton one of Greater London’s major centres and we have looked at marketing Brixton better, to both businesses and customers. Brixton BID is helping businesses to benefit from the increase footfall and further establish Brixton as a hub for entertainment, commerce, culture, and boosting the local economy.
With continuous investment and development in the Brixton town centre, the BID is ensuring the environment is kept clean and safe for everybody that uses it. The BID has worked with key stakeholders Lambeth Council, First Mile, and Veolia to deliver a variety of services that improve the physical and trading environment for local businesses.
We’ve created a forum for Brixton businesses to share skills and best practice, helping build closer working relationships. The BID has worked towards strengthening partnerships to reduce crime in Brixton, continue the delivery of vital services for businesses, and showcase the huge range of local businesses contributing to the thriving town centre.
2017
2018
2017
2018
2017
2018
Savings identified on utilities worth £84,000 through joint procurement
Continuation of savings on utilities
82 days of additional cleaning over weekends delivered with Veolia and Community Clean
Waste and recycling partnership
4,800 additional police hours delivered
Loss prevention work with high street retailers
Brixton Maze
Regular Friday night briefings delivered
Wayfinding and lighting strategy
Street Pastors introduced
More training including Fire Marshal, Customer Service, Hair & Beauty, and SIA Licence
Love Your Local Market Festival delivered Free advertising in the Brixton Bugle Brixton Design Trail 2017 delivered Networking and public events delivered Public realm improvements (Colourful Crossings, Pope’s Road bridge sign) delivered Christmas lights delivered
Brixton Design Trail 2018 Brixton Bridge competition Women in Business workshop Footfall workshops
‘Go Before You Go’ anti-street urination campaign launched
Anti-street urination interventions
Brixton Orchard delivered
Official Brixton Orchard launch
Transport for London walking guide delivered
Clean Air Day 2018
Click & Collect partnership launched
100 days of additional cleaning
Brixton Urban Spaces Manual delivered
130 participants trained in Personal Licence, Health & Safety, First Aid, and Food Hygiene
umn 2018 t u A in S E Y e Vot #ForBrixton
Brixton BID is a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to strengthening Brixton’s diverse business culture. We represent over 650 levy‑paying businesses in the local area and work to develop new and exciting opportunities for Brixton
Business is business BID Managing Director Michael Smith
Brixton businesses will by now have begun to receive notices for business rates and Business Improvement District (BID) levy payments for 2018/19. Brixton BID offered a 15% discount on BID levy payments in 2017 and will repeat this offer again to all businesses for 2018. The end of our first term is fast approaching and we are planning our first renewal ballot, which is scheduled for October 2018. Businesses will receive Brixton BID levy requests for a smaller discounted amount and for a shorter period in 2018 (April to December). Businesses must also check their eligibility for business rate relief on their business rate notices. Visit http://bit.ly/Lambeth-BRR. Lambeth council, like other London local authorities retains about 30% of the business rates they collect. The rest goes to the Greater London Authority and central government. Brixton businesses have expressed concern about what appears to be the threat of new charges and penalties resulting from a stricter enforcement regime. Reported cases include table and chair location, overpitching, waste collection and noise. Are local authorities like Lambeth council attempting to raise more income from enforcement than from normal licensing applications and National Non-Domestic Rates – business rates? Business rates never have been and never will be a fair way of taxing businesses. They are based not on business revenue, but purely on the rental value of properties occupied by businesses. High Street retailers and shopfront businesses bear the
brunt of business rates. Some start-ups and less visible digital businesses can be completely unaffected by local business rate collection. While the surplus from parking fine enforcement (and there is one each year in Lambeth) can only be used on defined transport schemes, what about the destination of the 30% of business rates retained by our local council? What percentage of business rates collected is reinvested directly in generating the local economy in the local area of collection? As well as providing of services, Lambeth council should also be investing some of this sum directly in promoting of local economies – matching the activities of local BIDs. Could business rate relief be used even
more creatively to support smaller businesses to pay the London Living Wage and/or to support others to take on local apprentices and creating jobs locally? Why, in recent years, has there been such a great need to penalise traders and businesses for “over-pitching” or infringing table and chairs and waste collection regulations? Enough about Lambeth council. SPRING BLAST Every year is an important year from the Brixton BID and 2018 is no exception. In 2017 we provided 82 days of additional cleaning of pavements and sidewalks. Our target for additional cleaning in Brixton in 2018 is at least 100 additional cleaning sessions, beginning with our special Spring Blast cleaning programme that is being offered to businesses with facilities for outside tables and chairs. Graffiti removal that is free to businesses
will also be added to our services. Our plan is to make Brixton even cleaner in 2018. Our Section 92 police officers, Street Pastor Services and our work with the BCRP (Business Crime Reduction Partnership) is helping to make Brixton safer both day and night for businesses, visitors and shoppers. The take-up and use by Brixton businesses of BCRP radios is way ahead of other BID areas in Lambeth. We delivered 4,800 hours of additional policing to businesses in 2017. We are planning to deliver more of the same to businesses this year. Brixton BID also provided free training for more than 130 levypaying members in 2017 in health and safety, first aid, food hygiene and personal licence. Our plan is to offer more free training to businesses with the inclusion of fire marshall training, customer care training and hair and beauty master classes in 2018. Nobody yet knows the plans for Brixton Village and Market Row under its new owner. Sports Direct has, however, clearly signalled its intention on Pope’s Road. New Look – amid some store closures elsewhere – appears to be staying open in London. Unsurprisingly another set of new landlords has appeared in Brixton with Notting Hill Housing taking over the ownership of several properties (flats and shops) on Railton Road. Lambeth council had some successes with its London Borough of Culture and Cultural Enterprise Zone bids. The Mayor of London has recognised our applications with funding for each application. But the council has had less success with its Good Growth Fund application. Not to be deterred, it is pushing ahead with other developments in the New Town Hall – where there are plans for a new enterprise hub. Finally, Coldharbour Lane is rumoured to be saturated with A3 licence (restaurants and cafes) usage. Where will the next town centre A3 licence application appear? Electric Avenue? Business is Business Michael Smith Director, Brixton BID
INSPIRING WOMEN IN BUSINESS
FREE EVENT
Pop Brixton will host a free event in April that will feature three successful businesswomen and provide inspiration to those looking to follow in their footsteps, writes Elishka Flint. The line-up includes Laverne Walker, Director of Sackville Travel Services and Treasurer of Brixton BID, and Rosie Franca, entrepreneurship manager at NatWest Bank. Also speaking will be Bryony Farmer, a young entrepreneur who started her business Precious Stars five years ago at the age of 15. She suffers from Lyme disease, a chronic illness, but has managed to build her business around her health. She now sells reusable menstrual products online via her website and exports all over the world. The event is organised by NatWest Business. Sharniya Ferdinand from NatWest says: “The aim of any of our events is to get business owners in a room together to learn and share. We also want to inspire our business owners and showcase amazing women who have created successful businesses. We want our audience to be able to relate to them.” ■■ Inspiring Women In Business is on Thursday 12 April from 11am to 2pm at Pop Brixton.
City of London Sinfonia will be performing Brass in Brixton, a free, relaxed lunchtime performance, organised in association with the BID, in Windrush Square at 1.30pm on Monday 23 April. Running time just under an hour. There will be a 15-minute post-concert session for school pupils to meet the players and to try out some instruments.
COMING HOME – CAFE RIO
WHAT WE DO – WE DO WITH HEART Since opening the doors to the Brixton community 12 years ago, Cafe Rio has been a familiar and friendly sight on Brixton Station Road. Before redevelopment, owner Mohamed Kheddache managed the cafe with his brother and nephew, serving dishes freshly cooked from scratch – the ever-popular breakfasts, grilled skewers, colourful salads and couscous bringing a slice of the Mediterranean to Brixton every day. Mohamed says that he, like Cafe Rio, is firmly rooted in Brixton and has missed the everyday contact of the cafe regulars. “I am looking forward to getting back to my customers - my people,” he says, “While the arches have been closed, I realise how much I miss Brixton life. It’s not just my work, it’s my social life – I still have to go every day to get my
daily dose!”. Rather than having a favourite spot Mohamed goes “where the wind takes him. You can’t go wrong in Brixton!”. Initially shocked by the news of the evictions, he says he was the first person to take positive action in sitting around a table with Network Rail to work out a way forward. Since vacating the Brixton arches, he has been negotiating a second branch of Cafe Rio under the arches of Queens Road Peckham station. And Mohamed intends to maintain the successful formula of Cafe Rio when he returns to Brixton so as not to disappoint his loyal customers. “It will be just the same. Everyone knows us at Cafe Rio. We are a friend, and what we do, we do with heart”.
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The March Spring Blast clean-up in Brixton saw cleansing at the Satay Bar, White Horse and other venues. Brixton BID and Community Clean offer a free service to Brixton businesses with outside tables and chairs licences. Watch our for more Spring Blast clean-up opportunities at Brixton BID or sign up at admin@ brixtonbid.co.uk
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Marc Lawrence, Safer Lambeth Manager, says businesses in Brixton are avid users of Business Crime Reduction Partnership radios. They communicate multiple times each day about concerns or problems being experienced in Brixton. Contact Marc at Marc.Lawrence@ saferlondon.co.uk or 07342 882153
Cherie Thomas is the new co-ordinator for Lambeth Street Pastors in Brixton, supporting visitors to our pubs and clubs on Friday and Saturday nights. Contact lambeth@streetpastors.org. uk or 07931 320 936.
PC Richard Weaver (right) and PC Jonathan Luckett , Metropolitan Police Officers funded by Brixton BID, provide 4,800 additional police hours annually to local businesses. BID members can contact on 07801 984841 (Jonathan) or 07801 984812 (Richard) or email sect92police@brixtonbid.co.uk.
FOR YOUR DIARY TRAINING DATES Hair advanced cutting 16 April Conflict management 16 April (hospitality industry) Food safety (level 2) 14 May Emergency first aid (level 2) 21 May Personal licence 4 June Customer care 18 June Hair advanced colouring 18 June Food hygiene (level 3) 25 June day one* Food hygiene (level 3) 2 July day two* First aid (level 3) day one* 16 July First aid (level 3) day two* 23 July Make-up masterclass 10 September Health & safety 10 September Food safety (level 2) 17 September Emergency first aid (level 2) 24 September Personal licence 1 October Food hygiene (level 3) 08 October day one* Food hygiene (level 3) 15 October day two* First aid (level 3) day one* 22 October First aid (level 3) day two* 29 October *Please note that all Level 3 courses require participants to complete both days of training.
All training takes place at Lambeth College, Clapham Centre (45 Clapham Common South Side, London, SW4 9BL) and start at 10am with a 5pm finish. These training sessions are fullyaccredited courses, free of charge to BID levy payers and are available strictly on a first-come, first served basis.
MEET THE BID MEMBERS … NEW ZEALAND CELLAR
McDONALD’S
When new Zealander Melanie Brown worked for an upmarket Marylebone restaurant with the largest selection of premium New Zealand wines of any restaurant in Europe, she realised that these wines, largely unknown in the UK, were very rarely for sale retail. So the New Zealand Cellar was born. After launching the online business from her living room, the opportunity to rent a space in Pop Brixton came up. “I have always loved Brixton,” she says. “I knew Brixton would be the perfect home to introduce a diverse selection of wines. We crowdfunded to build our unit and raised £42,500 in two weeks to fit out our store and begin trading. I was completely overwhelmed with the support we received and owe it to the amazing industry I have the pleasure of being involved with daily! Melanie’s guiding principle is to work directly with vineyards and producers to represent smaller independent wineries on a global stage. “We are an entirely New Zealand wine shop and bar. We’ve got the largest premium selection of New Zealand wine in the Northern Hemisphere – in a 20ft container
Brixton McDonald’s is the affordable social hub and meeting place on the corner of Brixton Road and Acre Lane. Although a global brand, it is actually managed on a personal level by the franchise owner Terry Eagle –a keen supporter of the Brixton community and a member of the Brixton BID board. Each year he organises a major local clean-up as part of the Love Where You Live national campaign, encouraging people to nominate particular “grot spots” around Brixton so that teams of volunteers can blitz the area clean. He also points out that every McDonald’s restaurant carries out at least three litter patrols a day around the outlet - and clean it up regardless of its origin. Brixton McDonald’s also hosts “How to get
BRIXTON – THE PERFECT HOME
SOCIAL HUB AND MEETING PLACE
in Brixton! “We love that we’ve had the opportunity to bring our collection alive. The ability to communicate, host tastings and further extend our New Zealand wine conversation makes me truly happy. “We have an evolving selection of wines we serve by the glass, and offer everyone the opportunity to enjoy food from all of our Pop neighbours in our shop and bar. The New Zealand Cellar is open 11am - late - 7days! thenewzealandcellar.co.uk Unit S15, Pop Brixton, 49 Brixton Station Road, SW9 8PQ ✭✭ 2017 IWC winner specialist New Zealand retailer ✭✭ 2017 Decanter specialist New Zealand retailer
SANTAFERENO
PRINCE OF WALES
In 2000 Doña Maria and Don Hernán Farjado realised their dream of bringing the cooking traditions of Colombia to London when they opened their Restaurante Santafereño in Brixton Village. Since then their menu of typical homecooked Latin American dishes and English café classics has attracted an enthusiastic following of Colombians and Brits alike. This is hearty fare at affordable prices. Breakfast dishes include Picada - crispy belly pork, chorizo, grilled steak and pork, plantain and corn bread for £7.50, or caldo de costilla combo - a soup of beef ribs with eggs, plantain and corn bread; and tamales - corn dough boiled in a leaf wrapper filled with different meats. The more conventional can have a Full English for £5. Sides include pastel de yuca (cassava cake stuffed with beef, rice and peas) and empanadas (beef pasties). Every variety of steak is on
Wayne Saunders took over the management of the Prince of Wales pub on the corner of Brixton Road and Coldharbour Lane six years ago. He saw the potential of the rambling 1920s building and has worked tirelessly to create a welcoming community hub with something for everyone. There is the open, airy pub at street level, upstairs an atmospheric art deco bar plus live music club with stage and sprung dance floor – all topped off by the jewel in the crown, a roof terrace that is one of South London’s go-to party destinations Wayne’s long experience in artist management and running the Comedy Cafe & Bedroom Bar in Shoreditch ensures there is a continuous festival of quiz nights, comedy (for big kids and little ones), and cabaret with regular weekly fixtures like Brixton Boogaloo for funk and soul fans, jazz jam sessions on Thursdays, Hip Hop Blingo and, soon, karaoke nights with live backing by a full gospel choir – Gospeloke. There is an impressive programme of live music launching both new talent and with visits from established artists such as Jocelyn Brown and Mica Paris, Iconic DJs like as Gilles Peterson, Norman Jay and Jazzie B are regulars along with newer names like Horse Meat Disco, Joey Negro and Crazy P Sound System.
COLOMBIA IN LONDON
Hired” training days for unemployed young people to help them develop their job interview skills. Terry began his McDonald’s career in his teens and is now the hardworking franchise holder of seven McDonald’s restaurants across South London. McDonald’s 518/522 Brixton Road, SW9 8EN Open 24/7 020 7501 6474
WARM SMILES AND GOOD MUSIC
offer on the main menu but there are also pork dishes, chicken and seafood and one lonely “plato vegetariano”. All can be washed down with Colombian beer, Colombian soft drinks, Chilean wine or a cup of Colombian coffee Doña Maria continues to command the kitchen and manages the restaurant. For more than 17 years she and Don Hernán have brought Columbian life to South London and created a cultural landmark in Brixton Village. 54-61 Brixton Village, Coldharbour lane, SW9 8PS Monday 07:30am – 5pm Tue-Wed-Thur 07:30am – 10pm Friday 07:30am – 11pm Saturday 07:30am – 11pm Sunday 08:00am – 5pm restaurntesantafereno@ hotmail.com 020 7274 9395 | 0795 655 5944
The POW also provides a launch pad for new chefs to spread their wings. When Duck Egg Cafe closed because of a rent hike, the PoW gave them a home. GoneBurger are the new pop up residents. Wayne points out that there are always challenges. His rent has doubled recently, the phone booth outside is a kiosk for drug dealers and the budget hotel tacked onto the back of the old Woolworths building next door has demanded that perspex sound screens be erected around the PoW roof top. Wayne has obliged and seems undaunted. “We want to be good local boozer with cold beer, warm smiles, good music – and clean toilets” His latest project is the Brixton Disco festival on Saturday 28 April, a multi-venue event celebrating over 40 years of disco. ■■ http://brixtondiscofestival.com 467- 469 Brixton Rd, SW9 8HH Monday – Wednesday 9:30am-12am Thursday – Friday 9:30am-3am Saturday 9am-3am Sunday 9am-12am 020 7095 1978
15 brixtonblog.com 2018 APRIL
FOOD & DRINK REVIEW: SALON
Seasons ticket Nick Buglione is reminded that meat is not always necessary – but what about the love? Salon, home to seasonal, constantly innovative British cuisine is possibly the most interesting cooking in Brixton, although I would nod to fellow travellers such as Naughty Piglets or Smoke and Salt. And you cannot argue with the quality of the food coming out of
the Salon kitchen. I tend to argue about tasting/small plate menus. Thankfully, Salon do it as well as anyone in terms of user-friendly sequencing, rather than an “all at once” deluge. But, as much to do with the practicalities of a small kitchen as anything (I presume), choice isn’t expansive. At least to this carnivore. Menus change monthly and exploit proper, committed seasonal availability. Ticks all the provenance and modern innovative cooking technique and flavour combo boxes. We are having the set menu at £36 and start with an excellent octopus, monk’s beard (Tuscan samphirelike green shoots) and blood orange creation. I can’t get my octopus this tender and forgiving so there is real skill in action here. Celeriac, spinach, almond and wild garlic reminds me meat isn’t always necessary – I’m not smart enough to second guess all the complex processes but it’s a good eat.
So on to what more or less counts as the main courses. At this point there is choice, Romanesco, Kirkham’s Lancashire cheese, red onion and buckwheat or Mrs Butler’s mutton, potato cake and savoy cabbage. My neighbours had the former and seemed happy but I saw a “puddle” of cheese sprinkled with veg so it must have been in the eating. You will be unsurprised to discover I went for the mutton (no idea who Mrs Butler is). I love “lesser” cuts of meat given the slow cooking treatment and the mutton was delightful – tender with submarine depth of flavour alongside a potato cake that blended soft and crispy perfectly. However, Mrs Butler comes with a supplementary charge so our £36 has just become a £42 menu. I suspect they could have a meat option that doesn’t cost extra, or could be a more substantial serving, but hey-ho, maybe I live in an overopinionated world of one?
Dessert comes in the form of rhubarb, crunchy almonds and a hay ice cream which divided opinions. Mrs B wasn’t sure about the ice cream and thought it one foodie twist too many. The wine list is of course excellent (as a wine shop is attached). We had a smooth Argentinian Malbec at £36 but prices go down to the early ’20s and there are good by-the-glass options throughout. Ditto cocktails which are equally impressive despite the must-have silly names. I had a fir-infused Beyond The Pines, pine vodka, Douglas fir syrup,
Talisker and pine salt. Fine pine. So, Salon did what Salon clearly does well. But, for this diner, something felt absent. I have been in classic French restaurants with the vibe “we make great food, and are prepared to bestow on you the honour of coming in and paying for it”. Maybe I just don’t warm to take it or leave it menus or the line between confident and overconfident is a blurry one. I guess I want them to love me as much as they love cooking. I doubt they are worried.
18 Market Row SW9 8LD | salonbrixton.co.uk | 020 7501 9152 | @Salon Brixton
REVIEW: PETARE
LUNCH - DINNER - APERITIVO - TAKEAWAY - CATERING
It’s a family affair Nick Buglione discovers Venezuelan arepas at Pop’s Petare Arepa! Until the other day, what I knew about Venezuelan street food you could write on a stamp. Enter Rotsen Ibarra and family, hosts of Pop’s latest arrival Petare. I know it’s borderline sacrilege to say this, but I never quite got the evangelical devotion to previous tenant Zoe’s Ghana Kitchen. I am though in danger of becoming a disciple of the arepa. Hola Caracas. Unlike some reinvented street food, which was never on a street, Petare feels like the real deal. Less of a traditional meal, more an extended small plates stop. It’s a small place with a big enthusiastic smile on its face and highly munchable munchies. The arepa, pretty much the cornerstone of Venezuelan and Colombian tables, is a
traditional fried cornbread “pouch” into which all sorts can be placed. At £6 a pop, £10 for two, you can dip in or go large and try everything. Nanana says hello to soft shell crab, spicy chipotle and lime mayo, Pollito Pio is
full of masa glazed chicken, habanero mayo and smoky corn salad. Drunken Pig comes with beer braised pork, pickled onions, sour cream and chives and, my favourite, Pelua is melty braised beef brisket, fried plantain, queso
fresco and hot avocado & coriander salsa. Think crisped up fist-sized pack-a-pocket, with deeply flavoured, loved up meaty fillings, sultry sauces and some good old fashioned kick. That’s not all they do but arepas are the beating heart of Petare. They even do a Venezuelan “chip butty” arepa for non-carnivores, cassava chips, plantain, avocado, feta and habanero mayo. Along with cachapa, a sweetcorn pancake topped with either cheese or the braised pork and you can have more or less all the fillings as a cornbread-free small plate if you prefer. Petare has family recipes, wives and sisters in the kitchen helping out and a bustling sense of joie de vivre. All within a space Houdini would think twice about working in. Pop Brixton is truly a coming together of world cuisines and Arepa has only extended that.
Unit 36, Pop Brixton SW9 8PQ | petare.co.uk | @PetareUk
Trattoria Franzina, POP Brixton, 49 Brixton Station Road SW9 8PQ. 07802 473 444 @Pop Brixton info@franzinatrattoria.co.uk www.franzinatrattoria.co.uk
OUR SPRINGTIME MENU CHANGES ALL THE TIME
56 Brixton Hill (entrance on Horsford Road) London SW2 1QS
OPEN EVENING - WEDNESDAY 25th APRIL 5-7 PM We take things to infinity and beyond for National Space Week at the UTC!
WHAT'S COMING UP?
As we strive to develop the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematic professionals of the future, events such as space week are crucial to the enrichment aspect of life at the UTC. We embarked upon our week of special events with a visit to the IMAX to watch Space Station 3D. On Tuesday we hosted Jerry Stone, former President of the European Space Promotion Organisation, who talked to students about missions to space, sharing with us items from his personal collection and photos from his visits to the Kennedy Space Centre in the US. We were fortunate to secure the loan of some very valuable and rare space artefacts, including moon rock, meteorites, and other substances from the moon. Students particpated in a number of competitions with the opportunity of winning a signed copy of Astronaut Tim Peake's book 'Ask an Astronaut'. Justin (shown left) was one of the lucky winners, guessing closest to the actual weight of a meteorite (shown on weighing scales right). Justin's guess 970g, actual weight 982g. The week culminated in a lecture from Professor Jocelyn Monroe of Royal Holloway University about dark matter. It was a useful session for A-level Physics students in particular and we think we may be developing some Buzz Lightyears of our very own here at the UTC!
WE Day UK Students are involved in a number of citizenship projects, including fundraising for the WE organisation. As a reward for their efforts, student ambassadors attended WE Day UK at Wembley Arena (pictured right) hearing inspirational talks from founders Marc and Craig Kielburger, and watching performances from Tokio Myers and Alexandra Burke. Year 12 student Felix said "it was an exciting trip which boosted our self-esteem and encouraged us that we should never give up in life."
Primary Schools STEM Fair Mon 26th/Wed 28th March Rewards Assemblies Key Stage 4 Tuesday 27th March Key Stage 5 Thursday 29th March Open Morning 9.30-10.30 am Thursday 19th April Book online @ Eventbrite
Year 12 Scholarships We are now offering scholarships to external candidates who apply to join Year 12 in September 2018. All scholars receive a number of enhanced priveleges including a laptop, text books, PPE for practical lessons and access to employer and university events. Dan Cundy, Principal said "we want to attract the brightest candidates with a passion and aptitude for STEM. We hope, by offering these scholarships, students will be incentivised to come to the UTC". Apply online www.southbank-utc.co.uk
South Bank Engineering University Technical College is a 14-19 school sponsored by leading employers in the field of engineering, as well as London South Bank University. Alongside core GCSEs and A Levels in subjects such as English, maths and science, students can study Level 2 and Level 3 technical qualifications in engineering for the building and health sectors. 020 7738 6115 I info@southbank-utc.co.uk I www.southbank-utc.co.uk
@SouthBankUTC
Southbankutc
Southbank_utc
FOOD
APRIL 2018 brixtonblog.com
& DRINK 17
REVIEW: MYATTS FIELDS COCKTAILS
High spirits We meet local boutique cocktail makers Myatts Fields Cocktails Brixtonians Clemency and Cyrus (also husband and wife) found a somewhat unusual route into boutique cocktail making. Their range of classic cocktails has taken the slightly dubious premix and elevated it into a proper high-end cocktail. Sampling a few, the Bugle team agree. We met Clemency and Cyrus to find out more. What was the ‘inspiration’ around
launching Myatt’s Fields Cocktails? Our wedding in 2016. We wanted cocktails but it was mind-bendingly expensive, so we looked at premix options. We tried everything around but decided ‘we can do better on our own’. After the wedding, there was more feedback on the drinks than anything else so we looked at each other and said ‘let’s give this a go’. We knew there was a gap in the market, because if there wasn’t we would never have made cocktails in the first place. What was the main challenge setting up a Brixton business?
Beyond the usual start-up hurdles, we had to get licensed. Lambeth council absolutely bent over backwards to help us. They really want small businesses to do well, and we say to everyone to approach them with confidence. What would you say is the ‘philosophy’ of Myatts Fields Cocktails? The philosophy of the business from the outset was that we would use the very best ingredients and the very best recipes we could possibly bring, and the money would work itself out. So many premix cocktails are a waste ground of cheap ingredients and ‘good enough’ recipes, and we wanted to be the opposite of that. Do you take classic cocktail recipes and ‘upgrade’ them? Yes, in a number of ways. The most important work we do is ageing our cocktails. When vermouth is exposed to air, it starts to oxidise and take on quite different properties. When that vermouth is already mixed with something else, like gin and amaro in a Negroni, the results can be quite beautiful and completely different to a freshly poured drink. Most of our cocktails
need to be poured over ice and stirred for 20 seconds. Definitely chill the glass, preferably for 20 minutes in a freezer. Some of our drinks go best with a twist of zest, lime, grapefruit or lemon. Mostly though, the joy of premix drinks is the work is done.
have sat in a barrel for at least six weeks prior to bottling, and that is the heart of what we do. We have just produced a Limoncello Black, where we used 10 times the amount of lemons most recipes ask for and we have a grapefruit version in the cellar at the moment, which is quite exciting. Apart from chilling the bottles and finding a good glass, what else should the ‘drinker’ do? It’s a mistake to put premix cocktails in a freezer. The cocktails
Where can you find the cocktails? Happily, Brixton is well served. You can buy direct from us at myattsfields. london, enjoy a cocktail by the glass at Whirled Cinema or the Little Cat Café on Myatt’s Fields Park. Or, alternatively, grab a bottle to take home at House of Bottles on Coldharbour Lane or Cornercopia in Brixton Village. If you live in the Herne Hill end of Brixton, head to Wild & Lees. Why do you feel cocktails have become so popular in the last few years? We are living in the golden age of gin, with sales higher even than during the famous gin craze of the 18th century. The desire to experiment with gin sits at the heart of the resurgence in cocktails. Long may it continue.
myattsfields.london | 07780 520380 | @mfcocktails
Come on down to Electric Avenue’s favourite Caribbean restaurant and takeaway. Here at Healthy Eaters we serve freshly cooked, great value, great tasting authentic Caribbean food over the counter with speedy and friendly efficiency. So stop by for a take-away or sit a while and eat in. We have a downstairs eating area and we are open early lunchtime right through the afternoon.
17 Electric Avenue
Brixton SW9 8JP www.healthyeaters.co.uk 020 7274 4521
Stafford and the team, working tirelessly for Brixton
18 FOOD & DRINK brixtonblog.com
2018 APRIL
PROFILE: BRIXTON WINDMILL
RECIPE: BRIXTON WINDMILL COB
Made in Brixton: Windmill Flour
Feel the knead
Sacha Harrison meets Shaun Wilson, Head Miller at our wonderfully unlikely urban windmill Despite the gluten free trend, Brixton’s bakeries are thriving. F. Mondays café on Brixton Hill bustles with folks ordering millionaire’s shortbread. Down on Landor Road, the Post Office Bakery has queues for its freshly baked loaves. Walk into these bready Meccas and you’ll find Brixton Windmill flour, with a carbon footprint of practically zilch, made just off Brixton Hill. No it’s not derelict, and yes windmills were originally used to make flour. Brixton Windmill has been going for over 200 years. Built in 1816, it was a working mill for nearly 50 years before it fell into disrepair. Thanks to a determined squad of volunteers, Friends of Windmill Gardens, this treasured historic landmark has been saved and renovated. Shaun Wilson, the man behind the mill, doesn’t like titles, “I’m the lead miller who leads the lead millers who lead the millers who mill.” Shaun currently has around 25 active passionate millers who make flour every fortnight. From the outside, the process looks simple: load the local organically sourced grain, flush through and test the flour with your fingers (rule of thumb).
Once you are happy with the result, it takes half an hour until you can start bagging up, enough time for a cuppa and a doughnut. But when asked how many steps they need to take to complete the entire process, he answers: “Ahhhh I think there’s about 100 maybe, there’s a lot of health and safety stuff”. At the beginning, Shaun and his team didn’t think they could actually produce flour, but after a ton of advice and restoration, the mill was fully functioning, except for the sails – there’s not enough wind. “We’re very lucky because we’re getting very good organic grain (from Harpenden) and we’ve got a very good set of stones” Shaun says. Despite the slightly daunting steps and ladders up the windmill’s four floors, the city skyline view from the top is absolutely worth the climb. Go for a tour and you can see its century-old facades, original metal work and see the milling in action. And if you want to get hands on as a local miller, get in touch at info@brixtonwindmill.org.uk. Visit on an open day for homemade rhubarb cake and freshly baked scones. Or pop into the Beer and Bread Festival on the first May bank holiday. You can buy your Brixton Windmill Flour from source on open days or from a variety of spots including Brixton Cornercopia, Brixton Pound Cafe, Brixton Wholefoods, Dugard & Daughters, F Mondays and The Old Post Office Bakery.
Windmill Gardens, Blenheim Gardens, SW2 5EU} brixtonwindmill.org
This recipe comes from one of Brixton Windmill’s volunteer millers, Angela Rouse
INGREDIENTS
¡¡ 7g (1.5 tsp) yeast ¡¡ 7g (1 tsp) salt ¡¡ 320g (1pint) warm water ¡¡ 500g wholemeal flour
METHOD 22 Dissolve the yeast in the water, then stir in the salt and immediately add this to your flour, either in a large bowl or on a clean kitchen counter. 22 Work ingredients into a ball, then place it in the bowl and cover. Leave to rest for 10 minutes to make kneading easier. 22 Knead for 10 minutes: the stickiness should give way to become smooth. Shape into a ball and pop it back into your bowl and cover again. 22 Leave to rise until it has doubled in size. This takes about an hour. 22 Sprinkle a handful of flour onto a baking tray or oil it lightly. 22 Knock the air out of your dough by
kneading it again briefly and shape it into a round ‘cob’, with any seams on the bottom. 22 Place it onto the baking tray and cover again. Leave to rise a second time until double in size, again about an hour. It has risen enough when it springs back quickly when gently poked with a finger. 22 Heat oven to 230°C (210°C fan, 450°F, gas mark 8). 22 Carefully slash a cross to signify the windmill sails onto the top using a very sharp knife and quick movements (optional). 22 Bake for 50 minutes, turning the oven down after 10 minutes to 210°C (190°C fan, 400°F, gas mark 6). Cool before slicing.
the tavern
Say hello to Brixton’s newest local
TAP ROOM & SHOP
SUMMER OPENING HOURS! FRIDAYS 6pm - 10pm* SATURDAYS 12pm - 6pm *STARTING 6 APRIL
FREE TOURS SATURDAYS AT 12.15 DRINK IN OR GRAB BEERS & MERCH TO GO!
ARCH 547, BRIXTON STATION ROAD
FOLLOW US @BRIXTONBREWERY WWW.BRIXTONBREWERY.COM
We may be just up the hill but we promise the walk is worth the effort!
Classic pub grub Great beers & wines Friendly service Live sports Weekly quiz
elmparktavern.co.uk The Elm Park Tavern, 76 Elm Park, SW2 2UB hello@elmparktavern.co.uk | 020 8671 9823
This is our
Open for radical thinking, delicious food and excellent coffee from 08:30 Monday – Friday & 09:00 Saturday. Brixton Pound Café 77 Atlantic Road SW9 8PU 020 3581 2850 brixtonpound.org
space
20 WHAT’S ON brixtonblog.com
What’s on at Whirled
2018 APRIL
Jamila Omar rounds up an eclectic April selection of gigs and more in Brixton and nearby
Highlights at Whirled Cinema this month include
FRI 30 @ WHIRLED CINEMA
Monday 2 - Wednesday 4 8pm Sunday 8 4pm
Epic action thriller Dunkirk opens with hundreds of thousands of British and Allied troops facing an apparently impossible situation. Hundreds of small boats mount a desperate rescue effort. Stars include Kenneth Branagh and local favourite Mark Rylance.
Thursday 5 8pm
Monday 9 - Wednesday 11 8pm Sunday 8 6pm
Glory is a parable about a humble man who is unwillingly promoted and is then sacrificed thanks to a combination of corruption, irresponsibility and arrogance. Remind you of anywhere?
A real-life international thriller and topical too, City of Ghosts exposes a new type of warfare: a battle over Special ideas, a fight for hearts and Monday 16 - Wednesday offer for Bugle minds, a conflict over 18 8pm clicks and views. The Sunday 22 6pm readers. For the next documentary follows a Jupiter’s Moon is a month: Whirled Cinema is handful of brave citizen supernatural thriller journalists after their with heart-pounding offering readers 10% off its homeland is taken over car chases and standard annual membership sensational gunfights by ISIS. Sure to shake audiences to their core. – mythic themes and for the first 50 people who contemporary political apply with the code Saturday 7 11am issues treated with visually What can you say … it’s mind-bending aplomb. “Bugle2018” Disney’s (and Kipling’s) The Jungle Book in a Saturday Monday 23 - Tuesday 24 8pm screening programme designed Sunday 29 6pm for kids and their families. No unaccomThelma is another supernatural thriller panied adults unless you are a Whirled about a young woman who discovers that she member. Children aged 10+ can attend has inexplicable and terrifying powers and without an adult. £3 advance £4 on door. a powerful drama exploring the dangers of repression. Whirled Cinema | 259 Hardess Street, Loughborough Junction SE24 0HN | 020 7737 6153
Dusk til Dawn presents INTIMATE, a mature over-25s only event, in this amazing arch with fantastic lighting equipment and a crazy sound system. Starting with old school garage, then deep house, ending with minimal and tech. 10pm -3am. £10.
SAT 31 @ PRINCE OF WALES
DJ, raconteur, author, producer, broadcaster and Fun Lovin’ Criminal HUEY MORGAN rocks up to the POW to throw a massive NYCstyle block party. 8pm-4am. £5-£10.
SUN 1 @ CLUB 414
Even though the previous 414 Trance Night begins at 11pm on Saturday and runs until 7am, we’ll stick with the Rebel Union after party for 25 years of Stay Up Forever and carrying straight on at 7am until 3pm with ACID TECHNO featuring guests from Austria, Barcelona, Switzerland, Ireland and Northern Ireland as well as London. £5.
MON 2 @ THE VAULTS WATERLOO
An Evening of Meat is a unique and provocative DINNER INSTALLATION – a feast of femininity where expressive dance and indulgent food meet. Having gained a cult following across the world, American director Kate March, along with her all-female creative I AM, brings her unique mixture of choreography, performance art and food to London. £35.
TUE 3 @ HOOTANANNY
Cecil Reuben presents Olas Boss and Jahrevelationmusik SKA REVIVAL night, first Tuesday of the month. Reggae, rocksteady and ska. 9pm-midnight. Free.
WED 4 @ BROCKWELL GREENHOUSES
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T: 01702 460047
10pm – 3am
It’s time to get gardening at this FAMILY GARDENING WORKSHOP for children of all ages. Join a treasure hunt around the garden to spot garden implements and match them to gardening tasks. Help dig, tidy and sort the garden, then make your very own plant pot from recycled newspaper, and plant a seed to take home and grow. 10.30am to midday or 1.30-3pm. £5 per child / £2.50 low-income.
THUR 5 @ POP BRIXTON
Pop Farm URBAN GARDENING is held every Thursday, tending to the edible and ornamental sections of the site. Learn new skills and knowledge in caring for edible plants from seed sowing, pricking out, planting out and harvesting, caring for ornamental plants and taking cuttings. 10am to midday. Free.
FRI 6 @ ELECTRIC BRIXTON Bleed Area remember to extend any colouring or images into this 3mm bleed area to avoid white lines appearing during th print finishing stages.
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414 - 416 Coldharbour Lane - Brixton - London - SW9 8LF
With 25 years of hosting Notting Hill Carnival’s largest stage, the kings of Carnival and Europe’s largest static Carnival soundsystem and stage RAMPAGE SOUND are bringing Carnival to Brixton, alongside local party-starters Shabba Party. 10pm-5am. £10-£20.
SAT 7 @ BRIXTON ACADEMY
MACKLEMORE returns to the UK in support of his new album Gemini, his first solo record in over 10 years. This’ll be the first opportunity to see the new material live, as well as hearing favourites from across the years, so don’t miss out! 7pm. £41.
WALKING
SUN 8 @ THE WINDMILL
The No Frills Folk Club offers proper, roundthe-table FOLK MUSIC. All musicians, abilities and styles welcome, from Irish, Welsh, English and Scottish, American old time, bluegrass and western swing, French, Yiddish, East European, Scandinavian, Greek, Turkish, Balkan and more. Swap tunes and songs, meet people and learn stuff. 7pm. Free.
MON 9 @ POP BRIXTON
Each Monday Gurpreet teaches VINYASA FLOW YOGA – a shared, fun, community experience that is set to an eclectic modern soundtrack. With a strong focus on the flow of breath, the classes work you hard in the early stages, slowing down into a gorgeous movement meditation to close. 6.20-7.40pm. £7.
TUE 10 @ EFFRA SOCIAL
Tuesdays mean nothing other than PUB QUIZ. Tommy McArdle hosts one of the busiest quizzes in Brixton, with a cash prize for first place and booby prizes for second and second to last place. Starts at 8pm, £2 per person.
WED 11 @ HOOTANANNY
Songwriters and Wordsmiths present Sleepy Folk, a five-piece ALTERNATIVE FOLK BAND from the land of dreamers. They journey through folk to jazz, holding your hand through a trance as you experience their creative introspection of amazing musicanship – vocals, ukulele, glockenspiel, guitar, melodica, keyboard, flute and fabulous beatboxing. 9pm-midnight. Free.
THUR 12 @ THE CAMBRIA
David hosts this popular PUB QUIZ. Teams of six or less battle it out for a cash prize, which is doubled if the winning team gambles and answers the Killer Question correctly. Second place wins a bottle of wine. Each player will receive a raffle ticket for a Meal For Two voucher. 8pm, £2 per player.
FRI 13 @ BRIXTON LIBRARY
Radical Readers discuss KILL ALL NORMIES – Angela Nagle’s controversial explanation of American right-wing populists on the internet and why they are growing in power. All welcome. Copies of the book can be collected from the ground floor desk at the library. 7pm-9pm.
SAT 14 @ BRIXTON JAMM
Craig Charles returns to Brixton Jamm for another FUNK AND SOUL party! Line up: Craig Charles (BBC 6 Music), Uncle Frank (live), DJ Cheeba (live AV show), X-Ray Ted and DJ Binge. 10pm-5am. £12-£15, more otd.
SUN 15 @ HOOTANANNY
Rootmaster presents Futuregroove, a rare groove PSYCHEDELIC FUNK force to be reckoned with, fronted by Helen McDonald. Featuring fresh and compelling drum grooves, dexterous tenor sax/flute with Lesley Booth on bass and Yul Emirali on keys. 9pmmidnight. Free.
MON 16 @ EFFRA SOCIAL
Comedy improvisation show Duck Duck Goose host their IMPROV JAM plus guests in the Effra Social’s Churchill Lounge each and every Monday. You can watch or join in! From 7.30pm. Free.
Lambeth Local History Forum has published a list of more than 60 walks that will happen throughout the borough between April and next March. A substantial number will take place in and around Brixton. Copies of the list will be available in libraries and other places like the Brixton£ Cafe. A PDF version can be downloaded from the forum website at www.llhf.org.uk.
APRIL 2018
TUE 17 @ BRIXTON ACADEMY
Timed for the centenary year of Nelson Mandela and the 2018 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, GLOBAL CITIZEN LIVE is an evening of beautiful performance and world-changing discussion. With Emeli Sande, Professor Green, Naughty Boy and more. £29-£58.
WED 18 @ QUEEN”S HEAD
This notorious Stockwell Road boozer has cleaned up its act, but still supports upcoming musicians on their OPEN MIC nights, promising a £10 meal and a free drink for acts, as well as cheap pints for punters. 8-10pm. Free.
THUR 19 @ ELECTRIC BRIXTON
Parallel Lines presents raucous SPANISH INDIE ROCK band Hinds plus guests. They’ve played with The Strokes and The Libertines and have incited many a stage invasion, so watch out! 7-11pm. £16.
FRI 20 @ THE DEPARTMENT STORE
Over 40 dynamic designers and artists gather at Brixton’s most exciting exhibition space. Curated by designer Ros Badger of Badger’s Velvet, this spring DESIGNER SALE includes Fliff Carr’s refined ceramics, Poplin’s perfect PJs, Badger’s Velvet unique homeware and jewellery and Spry traditionally inspired workwear. 6-9pm. Free.
SAT 21 @ BUSSEY BUILDING
Pop over to Peckham where the hugely popular South London Soul Train welcomes one of the true ‘Godfathers of Funk’ – ex James Brown sideman/ arranger and stage-destroying trombonist the legendary FRED WESLEY. Early live set from 8pm, then usual SLST runs till 5am. £7-£15 adv.
SUN 22 @ CLUB 414
Grassroots Live Music. A weekly Sunday night that looks set to encourage and inspire LOCAL GRASSROOTS talent. UB40 trumpeter Patrick Anthony leads the experienced house band with resident DJs and Caribbean food available too. 10pm3am. Free.
MON 23 @ POP BRIXTON
Each Monday, Daddy, Mummy and Me TODDLER YOGA focuses on the children with the encouragement of parents, guiding their child to learn and grow. It includes breathing games, yoga postures, singing, stories, yoga games and music. 11-11.45am. Free.
TUE 24 @ TRINITY ARMS
Test your knowledge to win a £25 bar tab at this weekly PUB QUIZ, held every Tuesday. 8-10pm. Free.
WED 25 @ BLUES KITCHEN
Wednesday is DANCE NIGHT in the kitchen – or you can just watch and listen – with residents Harlem Swing Train playing big band classics. Free entry. Music starts 10pm. Close midnight.
THUR 26 @ HOOTANANNY
Cecil Reuben presents a Roots Rock Reggae Special, BRITAIN’S GOT REGGAE HEAT 2. 9pm-2am. £3.
FRI 27 @ BRIXTON JAMM
GARAGE JUICE, your favourite flavour of juice, is back in stock. Get on the hype with residents DJ Luck, MC Neat & Artful Dodger and catch three of your five-a-day at Brixton Jamm once again. 10pm-5am.
SAT 28 @ BRIXTON COMMUNITY BASE
LAMBETH VINTAGE VOICES is part of a creative writing project by local residents with Sixteenfeet Productions, sponsored by Brixton Pound. It will take you through a journey of Brixton residents over many decades, showing the a variety of experiences of living in this vibrant community. 7-9pm. Free.
SUN 29 @ EFFRA HALL TAVERN
A great weekly LIVE JAZZ session at this much-loved classic Brixton boozer every Thursday night. From 9pm. Free.
MON 30 @ THE WINDMILL
All the way from Italy come instrumental (emphasis on the ‘mental’), porcine-obsessed drum and guitar POWER-DUO Zolle. Supported by Old Man Lizard and Gnob. 8pm. £7 adv, more otd.
A gym with a difference Emily Prescott runs round Brixton most Tuesdays – but it’s not just for physical exercise Digging into a slice of cake, while I’m covered in paint or mud and feeling pretty pleased with myself – this is how I usually finish my Tuesday run around Brixton. Every Tuesday at 6:45 pm I meet my running group in Papa’s Park before embarking on some random and (hopefully) helpful adventure. The group is always diverse in terms of age and ability and someone always runs at the back to ensure no one is left behind. This club is “Good Gym”, a not-for-profit organisation that combines getting fit with doing good for the community. It’s based all over the UK but the Lambeth group meets in Brixton and is particularly popular.
As a Brixton newcomer, Good Gym helped me find a sense of community and navigate … without getting lost!
From spreading wood chip in Loughborough Farm to clearing leaves from Brixton Youth Club and painting Brixton Community base, it’s been brilliant to support these community hubs. If you would prefer to volunteer
without a big group, you can choose to go for a “mission” as a pair. You will be sent on one-off jobs such as moving a bed for an older person so they can return home from the hospital. You can also be paired with an isolated older person who becomes your “running coach” and encourages you to run regularly. Coach runs can be fitted around your schedule and don’t need to take up more than 20 minutes of your time each week. Regular GG’er Victoria (inset) has been paired with a 96-year old Lambeth resident. She told me: “My coach said she feels she has made a genuine friend … she’s always excited to hear about my weekend parties, but I have to spice up the stories to keep her interested!” ■■ If want to get involved visit www.goodgym.org or call 020 3432 3920.
WHAT’S ON 21
Why not take your broken toaster to a party Remakery, the co-operative workshop space near Myatt’s Fields is to host its first Restart Party! and wants you to bring your broken appliances and take away new knowledge. It could be a toaster a mobile phone or a DVD player, just bring it along with you; and members of the Restart team and the Remakery will help you to diagnose the problem and, hopefully, fix it. In the process you’ll learn more about how your appliance was put together. The event is inspired by London’s Restart Parties – three-hour pop-up events where volunteers with technical skills help Londoners repair and maintain their electronics and small electrical appliances – for free. If you know how to repair electrical or mechanical objects you will be very welcome. Contact sam@remakery.org if you’d like to help repair things. Remakery stress that they are not repair professionals and that Restart Parties are a community self-repair space. Attending means that you take responsibility for your own gadget. So back up your data – and don’t forget to donate to support their work. The party three-hour party begins at 6pm on Thursday 19 April at Remakery’s home – Lilford Business Centre, Lilford Rd, SE5 9HY, As at any good party, there will be snacks.
Turn a blind eye – you have to… Ferodo Bridges, a theatre company founded in 2012 by an international group of artists based in London, is mounting an immersive production – The White Plague – at the re-opened Landor Space at 70 Landor Road SW9 9PH. From 7 to 22 April, audiences will experience a London beset by an epidemic of blindness. Government takes emergency action and isolates those affected – and that includes the audience – in unprepared and inaccessible facilities. The White Plague follows five of the infected left to survive in inhumane conditions. In the midst of increasing discrimination and exploitation, with basic needs and even communication between them becoming a struggle, a woman will attempt to lead them to freedom. £15/£12 concessions. Audiences will be required to wear a special mask and experience strobe light and loud noise. Tickets: http://bit.ly/LS-TWP.
22 TIME OFF brixtonblog.com 2018 APRIL GEMMA PASHA
FRANKIE HOLAH
Good fences and good neighbours
Hang out there
As my business gets back into full swing, it occurs to me that by living in London most of us live very close to our neighbours and therefore our gardens – and what we do with them – has a direct impact on others around us. I see a lot of clients who have trouble with neighbouring plants and trees which affect their light and sunshine in their garden. And therefore impact the ability to have the lovely plants that they would so like. We’ve all heard of the dreaded neighbour who got so frustrated that they cut down their neighbour’s trees overnight, or sabotaged their plants while they were away. Urban myths … mainly. But I find that most situations can be resolved with a little honesty, consideration and communication. And, on the whole, most people are reasonable and understanding. If you have a tree in a neighbouring garden that is compromising your sunlight then it is best to talk to the neighbour first and try and resolve the matter amicably. Compromise is the key here. While you want extra sunlight, they want privacy … both are valid reasons for the tree, so you will need to work to find a solution that works for both. At the end of the day, you are appealing to their good nature and therefore a nice kind approach usually gets better results. Climbers often cause problems as they can
As humans, we definitely don’t hang out enough any more ... well, at least not from a bar, tree or odd-shaped rocks on strings! More and more people are developing issues in their shoulders, necks and backs due to poor posture, phones and desk jobs! Hanging is a simple addition to training and daily life which can help with these issues … Benefits include: jj • Improved shoulder health, mobility, strength
go really wild and sometimes it is unclear which garden the plant even starts off in. If it is your garden then you can do what you want with it. But do warm your neighbours if it does go into their garden, as if you cut it down on your side … the plant will die on their side. Over zealous climbers (and storms) are the main reason for collapsed fences, so be careful what you plant and whose fence it is going to encroach on. It is always a good idea to find out who is responsible for the fencing in your garden. As a general rule of thumb, the fence to your right facing the garden is your responsibility. But there are exceptions! With regard to your garden boundary, you are perfectly within your rights to cut back anything that overhangs your boundary line. 66 If you are unsure or would like help with any overhanging climbers or general gardening work then please send a text to The Gardening Girl on 07826 551353. I will be happy to help.
TO LET / FOR SALE SHOPS & OFFICES TO LET
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and stabilisation jj An increase in grip strength – wrist and forearm strength jj Decompression of the spine... daily life loads the spine through lots of sitting, running and walking as does squatting heavy weights in the gym jj Improved posture – reduce that forward fold jj Decreased risk of back problems from lengthening the spine jj Increased core strength jj Best until last: you get to hang from things like a big kid! What’s not to love ! Even if you’re a total beginner just start hanging for as long as you can and increase your hang time gradually … Happy hanging! Frankie Holah Personal Trainer 66 frankieholah.co.uk 66 For personal training or advice: frankie@frankieholah.com 66 Follow me @frankieholah.
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FOR SALE / TO LET NEW OFFICE / RETAIL UNITS
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The Edge 86-88 Gresham Road SW9 9NP
Ground, First, Second & Third Floor Classification: Non-residential (D1) use 4,530 Sq. Ft GIA Terms: Upon Application
Office (B1), Retail (A1) Rent/Price: on application. Sizes: Reach up to 11,010 sq ft approx l New development l Vacant possession l Other uses considered (STP)
TO LET RETAIL
TO LET RETAIL
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Retail (A1), Restaurant (A3, STP) Rent: £60,000 pax Size : 1,042 sq ft approx Prime bar/ restaurant pitch.Large rear yard Suitable for A3 use (STP)
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APRIL 2018
Hill Mead HERALD
Hill Mead parent Abigaile Kanini was at the launch. She knows first-hand the power of theatre to unlock a child’s imagination. She participated along with her five-year-old daughter in the school’s Unicorn Theatre workshop and theatre trip last year.
Sir Lenny Henry visits Hill Mead for national school drama launch One of Britain’s most popular performers came to Hill Mead to promote a national school drama scheme that was piloted here. Sir Lenny Henry was launching the National Theatre’s new primary school programme, Let’s Play. Let’s Play commissions new plays with songs and music for children aged 4 to 11 to perform. It will mean
schools taking part can involve pupils in all aspects of theatre – from performing to designing costumes to operating sound. Speaking at the launch, Becky Lawrence, Hill Mead’s deputy head, said: “The Let’s Play programme has had a huge impact on the children. It has developed their speaking and listening skills, supported their
reading and writing skills and their confidence and empathy grew rapidly.” Sir Lenny Henry, who is a member of the National Theatre’s board of trustees said: “Many of us working in the arts can remember an experience at school – a theatre visit, an inspiring teacher, meeting a professional artist – as the ignition to their career or enduring passion for
the art form. Let’s Play is the perfect scheme to engage primary school children in the artistic process, It’s an essential part of a young person’s creative and artistic education.” He watched a performance by Hill Mead pupils and then led them through acting exercises that delighted them and everyone who had come to see the launch.
Lisa Burger, executive director of the National Theatre, said: “We believe all young people should have the chance to see, make and explore theatre as a core part of their education. Let’s Play is the National Theatre’s commitment to supporting schools and to develop teachers’ skills to ensure drama and theatre remain a vital part of school life.”
NOW AFEWEE HAS A FIRST FEMALE AND SECOND NATIONAL CHAMPION
BRIXTON
Bugle SPORT
Brixton’s Afewee Boxing Club saw its first female national boxing champion crowned in March at the Magna Centre in Rotherham, South Yorkshire. Junior boxer Vivien Parsons (left with Afewee head coach Bobby Miltiadous), 14, won the England Boxing “National Junior Cadet title” at 57kg, defeating her opponent from Leeds by a unanimous points decision. Vivien becomes the Afewee’s second national champion in its three-year existence as a boxing club. Male junior boxer Joel Joseph won the same title at 80kg in April last year. The club said it was continuing to thrive and bring in many young people from the local community, catering for all levels and abilities and instilling the importance of health, fitness, discipline and focus both in and out the ring.
Dulwich Hamlet were organising a “Fans United” game for supporters of other teams to show their solidarity on Good Friday when they were due to play Dorking Wanderers at their temporary home of Tooting & Mitcham. The day followed a rally (above) which saw about 1,200 fans march from East Dulwich to the locked gates of the club which is fighting to save its ground from property developers. Local MP Helen Hayes said in Parliament last month that the list of London clubs that are under pressure is depressingly long. AA savedulwichhamlet.org.uk
FOUR OUT OF FOUR FOR Fencing BRIXTON BMX’s ISLA for the Brixton BMX Club rider Isla Radcliffe had an outstanding day in the London Series Round 1 at Hayes, West London, in March to win all four races in the girls 8-to-10 year-old novice category. Sixteen riders from the Brixton club raced against
BMX riders from all over London and beyond. The club’s Jaden Higgins won three out of four races in the boys 14-to-16-year-old novice group. Ignacy Lorek also won three of four in the boys 7-yearsand under-experts group. The club’s next fixture was
round 1 of this year’s South of England regional BMX racing series at The Runnymede track at in Surrey on Easter Sunday. It will be hosting the next round of this year’s London series of BMX racing at its track in Brockwell Park (below) on Sunday 29 April.
masses
Dmitry Leus, a former fencing champion, believes that the sport could help to bring people together as well as help children through tough times and he will be testing out those ideas in Brixton. Dmitry himself came from humble beginnings and social unrest, from a town far smaller than Brixton, but, he says, through grit, determination and perseverance he became an unlikely champion. Imperium Investments, a company set up by Dmitry, wants to make the sport fun and accessible and to help everyone from kids looking to make a start all the way to those at competition level. “Fencing can benefit people physically and mentally. It’s disciplined but, most of all, it can be fun,” he says. “I want to get more kids involved, kids from all walks of life, everyone is welcome.” Imperium donated to the British Fencing Charity last week so that three of Britain’s brightest stars could attend the under-23’s European championships this year.
Dmitry Leus at the Brixton Fencing Club Later this year Imperium hopes to bring fencing to state schools across Lambeth and will be kicking off everything with an open day in Brixton.
“I believe that there is a future European, maybe even Olympic champion in Brixton and I want to find them,” says Dmitry.
Brixton Bulls to launch women’s rugby league team Brixton Bulls are to launch a women’s open age rugby league team. The community club is based in south London and plans to play in the Women’s Merit League in their first season. It currently runs mixed teams at under-7, under-9, and under-11 age
groups, as well as two men’s teams. Like the other Bulls teams, the women’s side will train and play at Woodmansterne playing fields in Streatham. Philippa Robson will coach the side and made the announcement. “With the establishment of the
Women’s Super League last year, this is a fantastic time for women’s rugby league in England,” she said. “We aspire to contribute to the growth in the women’s game by providing a sustainable pathway for female rugby league players in south London.
She encourages anyone interested in playing summer rugby at a fun, family club to get in touch to find out more. The Bulls plan to start training in early April. Anyone interested should contact brixtonbulls@hotmail.com.