Meridian Magazine July 2016 by Meridian Magazine

Meridian July 2016 Â£1.00

Your Local What, Where and When Magazine

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LOVE LOCA L

LOVE LOCAL

Celebrating 20 Years of Meridian

LOVE LOCAL

INof W Bottle

A Champagne

HELLO As we blow the candles out for our 20th birthday, we take a look at how things have changed over the last two decades here in SE London. We also chat to some of the local businesses who have been with us from the very beginning; see how the riverside has been transformed at Royal Arsenal (you won’t recognise what it looked like in ‘96); and reflect on the big events that were happening 20 years ago. But, of course, it’s not all about us - in Beach Ready, we’ll making sure you’ll be hitting that beach with beautifully smooth legs, a subtle base tan and looking polished from head to toe. While intu’s in-house stylist makes sure you’ll be dressed to impress this season. And it’s not all about you, either. We’ve also researched who is best to look after your beloved cats and dogs this summer, depending on their personalities and how long you’re away for. In Love Local, we have interviews with A.P.T Gallery and Studios’, Liz May; and Zeytin Restaurant’s, Mr Gelman. Lucy Husband enjoys a day out on Royal Victoria Docks, exploring water-sports, afternoon tea under-the-sea and great places to enjoy the sun. And we rediscover the culinary joy of Farmers’ markets.

There’s fantastic news from Greenwich Theatre, and plenty to keep you entertained, this month in our events guide. In readiness for the Greenwich Comedy Festival, Valerie Breese speaks to comedian and south Londoner, Arthur Smith, who talks ‘Mindlessness’ and getting into mischief in Greenwich. The Meridian team will be at the Greenwich Comedy Festival and On Blackheath, this year. When you spot us, come over and have your photo taken in our giant frame and wish us Happy Birthday! We’d love that! Before we let you enjoy this issue we want to say a big thank you. We could not have endured the past 20 years without our wonderful advertisers or our equally wonderful readers, so a huge, huge thank you for your continual support. An independent publication supported by and supporting other local independent businesses is a powerful and, unfortunately, rather rare concept in 2016. But here we are, still going strong and loving what we do!

Thank you all! The Meridian Team xx INSIDE THIS ISSUE....

TWENTY FUN PACKED YEARS P16-17

BEACH READY P23

AT THE DOCKS P11

CONSERVATION COUNTS P20-21

LOVE LOCAL EAT P35

WHAT TO DO P38

Meridian MAGAZINE J U LY 2 0 1 6 Publisher: Joy Johnston Editor: Valerie Breese Art & Production Director: Paul McPherson Display Sales: Cheryl Voller Emma Forbes April Hartley-Watson Sarah Smith Classified Sales: April Hartley-Watson Sarah Smith Social Media Melissa Wright Contributors: Claire McKinson Al Barker James Haddrell Lucy Husband Accounts: Janet Franklin Printing: Headley Brothers Ltd Distribution CWT Meridian Line Publishing Ltd 68 Summerhouse Drive, Bexley, Kent DA5 2EE Tel: 01322 557794 Email: enquiries@meridian-magazine.co.uk

www.meridian-magazine.co.uk facebook.com/meridianmagazine

MeridianmagLDN Meridian Magazine is for you, published monthly and distributed to selected residential properties and businesses within the Royal Borough of Greenwich and in Blackheath, Westcombe Park, Charlton, Eltham, Lee, Hither Green, Bromley and Chislehurst. Copies also go to Greenwich Tourist Information Centre, libraries and leisure centres, pubs, restaurants and hotels. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part (including advertisement designs) without prior written permission will result in legal action. The opinions expressed in this publication are not necessarily shared by the editor or the publisher.

E V O L L A C LO Meridian is celebrating its twentieth with a look at how our local areas have changed over that time

Flourishing Blackheath In the late 17th century, the area around the heath was one of Londonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most wealthy suburbs, when houses began to appear around the north-west corner of Greenwich Park, and Lord Dartmouth enclosed some land on the western edge of the common and built Dartmouth Row. The Heath became a public open space in 1871, and is now administered by Lewisham and Greenwich Councils as it falls within both Boroughs. Now a popular place for recreation., fairs were (and are) held here, and many sports, like the first game of golf, were played on the heath. Greenwich Park and the Heath are now synonymous as the starting point for the annual London Marathon.

The Blackheath Society was founded in 1937 and itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s seen by many as the guardian of the heath - fighting off numerous damaging development proposals since 1985. Twenty years ago they were preoccupied with talk of the A2 becoming a red route and a Greenwich lorry ban, concerns about the Millennium celebrations and the impact on the village. Twenty years on, and Blackheath Village is flourishing, and we can look forward to a new food festival on the heath this month, followed by the return of the popular OnBlackheath Music Festival in September before village life returns to its state of equilibrium.

SUN Ya www.meridian-magazine.co.uk

Royal Greenwich The now Royal Borough of Greenwich has seen an amazing change over the last twenty years. We welcomed the Dome, as well as the Millennium, hosted the Olympics and Greenwich joined an exclusive group as the fourth local authority to become a royal borough and the first new one for more than 80 years. The new legal status was made official with a Royal Charter signed by the Queen, in recognition of the close links between Greenwich and royalty, since the Middle Ages.

The honour is also in recognition of the boroughâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s global significance as the home of the Prime Meridian, Greenwich Mean Time, and the Unesco World Heritage Site. The Cutty Sark is completely restored and looks magnificent with its glass bow wave and The Tall Ships have become a regular visitor to Greenwich. The Queens House is about to reopen and the Painted Hall at the Old Royal Naval College is in its second phase of restoration.

The creation of a new wing for the National Maritime Museum, named the Sammy Ofer Wing â&#x20AC;&#x201C; after the international shipping magnate and philanthropist Sammy Ofer has been a great success. Away from the riverside, the covered market has had a make over and has a new, separate food area with seating. On the periphery of the market are many small, unique shops, from latest fashion to artisan breads and an open-air antique market, which give Greenwich a reputation for a lively, diverse retail area.

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Transformation of Royal Arsenal Riverside A lot can happen in 15 years. Royal Arsenal Riverside marks the halfway point in Berkeley Homes’ 30-year, £1.2 billion regeneration project, delivering a new way of life to south-east London.

The Royal Arsenal site 15 years ago

The site has retained the rich history which first made it famous. Over the last 15 years, Berkeley Homes has meticulously restored over 20 Grade I and II listed buildings which now sit in harmony among sympathetically designed new homes, parkland, commercial and cultural space. Berkeley Homes is working in partnership with the Royal Borough of Greenwich to develop a new Cultural Quarter as part of the Royal Arsenal Riverside Explore (RARE) commercial offer, attracting visitors as well as residents to this firstclass destination. In February this year, Dash Arts announced the creation of a new performance centre at Royal Arsenal Riverside, set to open in the future. At the time of the announcement, Councillor Miranda Williams, former Cabinet Member for Culture and Creative Industries, and now Cabinet Member for Children and Young People at the Royal Borough of Greenwich, said: “This is an incredibly exciting vision. It’s about putting Woolwich and the borough firmly on the map as a leading cultural destination and it is an important part of our wider regeneration story. “We’re bringing some beautiful disused buildings back into use which offer a unique facility and a

LOVE LOCA L

How Royal Arsenal Riverside will look in 2030

perfect setting for an arts and culture base. The Royal Arsenal is being transformed with new homes and high quality open spaces, all set along a wonderful riverfront.”

an on-site Thames Clipper pier and London City Airport just eight minutes away, meaning residents can enjoy easy access to the whole of London and beyond.

The riverside location regularly hosts international events – and this July, the Greenwich Dockland International Festival will be taking place in Artillery Square, at the centre of the development, while the historic Tall Ships Festival attracted over 35,000 visitors a day. An even bigger festival is planned for April 2017, when 40 ships from around the world will descend on Greenwich and Royal Arsenal Riverside to mark the 150th Anniversary of the Canadian Confederation.

In 2018, Royal Arsenal Riverside will also become home to the new Royal Arsenal Woolwich onsite Crossrail station, making it one of the best connected areas in London outside of Zone 1. Journey times to Canary Wharf will fall to only eight minutes, Liverpool Street to 14 minutes and Bond Street to just 21 minutes.

All of this has helped to create a real vibrant community on the development. Local residents Christian Hughf and Lizzie Hopley have made it their home, saying: “When you walk onto Royal Arsenal Riverside you feel like you are in a haven. Everything seems to have personal touch and it feels like nowhere else we have ever been.”

A regular farmers’ market takes place twice a month, while homes are complemented by a range of bars and restaurants, a doctor’s surgery, dentist and on-site Tesco store, while both Marks & Spencer and Sainsbury’s will soon open their doors to customers. For more information about the properties available at Royal Arsenal Riverside, please visit: www.royalarsenalriverside.co.uk or call 020 8331 7130.

Royal Arsenal Riverside provides a wealth of transport connections for its 5,000 residents in the form of the DLR and National Rail station on its doorstep, local buses just a short walk away,

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M E R IDIA N OUT & ABOUT

A Day Out on the Docks Lucy Husband takes a dip into one of London’s hidden gems

Five years ago, I swam in the Thames. No, I didn’t fall in. And no, I didn’t do a “David Walliams.” I took part in an annual event, run by British Gas, called the Great Swim Series: a series of swims in open water around the UK throughout the summer, in places as far afield as Loch Lomond, Windermere and The Royal Victoria Docks in Newham.

Since then my family and I have been frequent visitors to the docks. It has become easier (and more fun) to get there because of the Emirates cable car, which links the Greenwich Peninsula to the docks. The cable car gives you a sense of the history of the area - you can really see the industrial nature of the dock’s history when you are soaring above it.

At the time, I was looking for something to get me into shape. When a friend told me about it, I had the same initial reaction as most people, “Isn’t it dirty?”, I asked. “No more dirty than a swimming pool”, my friend replied. “Is it cold?”, I went on. “A little, but you have to wear a wetsuit.” The seed was planted and I signed up. I spent the next few months training myself until I was ready.

We’ve found a lovely little Lebanese restaurant, Al Masar, which we go to as a family treat. The last time we went we were surprised to see a person with a jetpack flying around on the water. I’ve since discovered that there is a water sports centre at the docks offering: wake boarding, knee boarding, sailing, kayaking and water skiing; to name but a few. There are regular open water swimming events there too, (besides the Great Swim) including triathlons.

When the day came, I was astonished. I was expecting a few people in a dirty, run-down area doing the swim and going home. It was quite the opposite. There was a wave of about 100 swimmers being sent into the water every hour. Spectators lined the edge of the dock, enjoying a variety of street entertainers and food outlets. The surrounding docklands were modern, clean and thriving with bars and restaurants. After the swim, my family and I took advantage of one of the many bars and had a few celebratory drinks, as did many of the other participants.

More than just a place for water sports, the docks also have The Excel Centre, the Sunborn and The Crystal. Whether you visit an event at the Excel, look around the world’s largest exhibition on the future of cities at the Crystal or enjoy an ‘afternoon tea under the sea’ aboard the Sunborn - London luxury yacht hotel: there is always something going on. So the next time you’re looking for a day out around the Greenwich area, maybe give the docks a try and you will uncover one of London’s hidden gems.

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ME RID IA N INT ERIO RS

Open up to the garden

With bi-folding doors, once these smart doors are open, the boundary between garden and living space disappears completely

A more versatile glass door: the bi-fold, has surpassed the French window in recent years. This nifty piece of design combines high-performance with good looks and brings a range of benefits to your home. Where a French window could only partially open up a section of floor-to-ceiling glazing, the bi-fold opens fully thanks to its concertina design, transforming a wall of glazing into a wall of, well, nothing! Bi-fold doors are a superb way to bring the outdoors in, helping exterior space function as an additional room that flows off the interior. They also

work beautifully when closed, offering big views of the outside and pulling in lots of light, thanks to their full-height and width glazing. The benefits for small spaces, such as courtyard gardens of the Victorian terrace, are a particular positive of bi-fold doors. They offer a great visual aspect to the outside and, if you’re short on room indoors, they help create the illusion of space. Corner systems are another innovation; they involve two sets of doors that meet at a corner.

A supporting column remains in place where the two windows meet. But it is possible to have a completely open corner, as long as you have the steelwork and right structure in place. Doors are typically made in aluminium, timber or a combination of both. Purely timber frames are a little heavier because they are solid wood, while aluminium systems are lighter.

Lighting, take the advice of an expert Garden lighting can transform your garden into a glowing living space you can use after dark, but don’t be tempted to trail electrical cables or extension leads from indoors. Better to be safe than sorry and get a qualified electrician to run an armoured cable into your garden to power your lighting. Landscaping your garden? Don’t forget to work integrated garden lighting into your design as these final details will really set-off your scheme and create a stunning effect in the garden by night. Go for smart spotlights in walls and pathways to light your way and uplighters to accentuate beautiful architecture, water features and sculptural planting. Outdoor light pollution with too much light or poorly installed lighting, can create unwanted light pollution that shines into indoor rooms, washes out the view of the stars, creates glare that temporarily blinds people, upsets the neighbours and wastes energy and money.

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ME R IDIA N LOV E LO CAL

LOVE LOCA L

Twenty fun-packed years Local companies help Meridian celebrate twenty years of business Twenty years ago, boy band Take That were splitting up plus a couple Royal weddings were too! The birth of Dolly the sheep made headlines, and the Spice Girls started their amazing musical career. At the same time, the Meridian magazine was launched. Over the twenty years that Meridian magazine has been published, our loyal readership has grown with the magazine. We would like to offer the opportunity for three readers to win a bottle of champagne to celebrate our twenty years with us. To enter go to www.meridian-magazine.co.uk/win, or alternatively email your name, address and daytime number to win@meridian-magazine.co.uk or send a postcard with your details to Meridian magazine, 68 Summerhouse Drive, Bexley Kent DA5 2EE.

LOVE LOCA L

LOVE LOCAL

A Bottle of Champagne

Here are a few of the companies that have been with us from the beginning...

Lordship Flooring Beige and more beige was the order of the day 20 years ago when we occupied one small corner of Lordship Lane in Dulwich. Natural flooring was considered revolutionary and striped carpets were just a crazy dream. The rise of interior design shows started the wave of demand for homeowners to add individuality to their interiors and so flooring manufacturers took note and got braver, bolder and more colourful with their offerings. www.lordshipflooring.com 020 8852 8109 Brigade St, Blackheath, London, SE3 0TW

As our surrounding neighbourhoods have evolved, so have we. Our Dulwich branch is twice as big, now featuring an Amtico design centre, and our Blackheath branch is going from strength to strength as the village becomes an interior design hotspot destination. Together we have the largest selection of all kinds of flooring in the area, ensuring each of our customers gets the best floor to suit their needs and individuality.

BMI Blackheath Hospital Fiesta Kitchens Ltd BMI The Blackheath Hospital is part of BMI Healthcare; the UK’s largest private hospital group formed in 1970. Right in the heart of Blackheath Village, BMI The Blackheath Hospital has been treating patients since the 1980s. BMI The Blackheath Hospital offers a fast, efficient and high quality service with prompt appointments and leading consultants covering a wide range of specialties. The hospital also has a walk-in Urgent Care Centre. The hospital facilities include an imaging department and a high dependency unit to help patients receive the best care possible. A variety of services are provided to make sure patients have a pleasant stay. To find out more about BMI The Blackheath Hospital visit our website: www.bmihealthcare.co.uk/Blackheath 020 8297 4500 40 - 42 Lee Terrace Blackheath London SE3 9UD

Fiesta Kitchens Ltd is a small family run business; with more than thirty five years experience, specialising in home design and renovation. Through their carefully selected team of designers and craftsmen, they provide a meticulous service in designing and installing kitchens, bathrooms and bedrooms. The company’s reputation is built on providing unrivaled customer service, top quality products and installations to suit any lifestyle; from cutting-edge, contemporary designs and products to traditional favourites.

Sun Ya. The longest established Chinese restaurant and take away in Blackheath Standard. Open since 1973, with our current chief of 20 years, Sun Ya have been happily committed to always offering great food, quality ingredients and a friendly service for our customers to enjoy. We are currently making updates to our restaurant and hope to see you there soon. www.sunya.org.uk. 020 8858 0728 9-10 Stratheden Road, Blackheath Standard SE3 7SX.

“A great all round service with design, construction, fitting and project management from start to finish, which made my life much easier despite undertaking major works in the kitchen, living area and bathroom.” Ms. Winchester, Blackheath. www.fiestadesign.co.uk 0208 302 1368 Fiesta Kitchens Ltd, 29-31 Leith Hill, Orpington, Kent BR5 2RS

Locale

Locale is situated in the heart of Blackheath village; and has been a firm fixture on the Blackheath restaurant scene for many years.

www.localerestaurants.com 020 8852 0700 1 Lawn Terrace, London SE3 9LJ

Sun Ya

This amazing, one kilo ‘Tomahawk’ steak is the star of the show at Locale’s great new summer menu. The succulent, oversized, on-the-bone, grainfed Australian steak for two to share is certainly a cut above the rest, with amazing depth of flavour and great marbling. Also on the menu are great new seafood dishes including fruit-de-mer platters, fresh scallops in the shell, ceviche and the signature ‘Mussels and Clams in the Josper’. To complement the menu, Locale’s bar mixologists have created a dynamic new fresh and lively cocktail menu for summer, including house favourite: ‘Melon & Sage Smash’.

The Mogul The mogul is an independent Indian restaurant that has been in the heart of Greenwich town centre for over 25 years. Set over three floors, each with its own distinct ambiance, from the basement with cosy alcoves, a light and modern street level and a private dining room with views of St Alfege church. Home delivery and catering are available from the Trafalgar Road branch found at number 192. Recent guests who have dined at the restaurant include Phil ‘The Power’ Taylor and former Prime Minister, John Major who left with a doggy bag and a smile. www.mogulindian.co.uk. 020 8858 6790. 10 Greenwich Church Street, Greenwich SE10 9BJ

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M E RID IA N PRO PERT Y

CHISLEHURST - £3,200,000 An elegant substantial 5 bedroom, 3 bathroom Victorian house which has been refurbished by the current owners to a high standard. Many character features remain in this 5,341 sq ft home which are complemented by the contemporary necessities of 21st Century living. 100’ garden and swimming pool. Excellent location close to village centre common & ponds. Less than a mile to the station. EPC rating F

‘Shall I stay or shall I go’ By the time this magazine is printed we will know the answer to the question posed by The Clash, although they weren’t singing about the EU. Much has been said about the consequences either way, so it will be interesting to see how things pan out. Only time will tell if we have done the right thing or not.

BLACKHEATH VILLAGE Guide Price £1,900,000 - £2,000,000

Detached 5 bedroom family home situated in the heart of Blackheath. Located just around the corner from the Heath and only a 10 minute walk into the village and the train station. Spacious accommodation over 3 floors, patio garden and off street parking. EPC rating D

CHISLEHURST – £785,000

This luxury 2 double bedroom second floor apartment is situated within a modern gated development only half a mile from Elmstead Woods station and local shops. Features include underground parking, a large kitchen/diner, 2 bathrooms and 2 balconies. End of chain. EPC rating B

Feel free to contact Richard Piddock or Jonathon de Maid for any further help or to arrange a free valuation of your home. Richard can be contacted at Blackheath 020 8463 0091 richard@jdmestateagents.com Jonathon at Chislehurst 020 8325 8000 jonathon@jdmestateagents.com

CHISLEHURST – £1,900,000

A substantial family home built to a traditional style with a large welcoming panelled entrance hall. Spacious lounge with inglenook fireplace, quality fitted kitchen with recycled glass worktops. 6 bedrooms and 4 bathrooms on the upper floors. Excellent location good for the station. EPC rating D

Established 1996

STRETTON MANSIONS – oieo £500,000

Very well presented, bright and spacious 2 bed, 2 bath, 1st floor apartment, on the sought after Millennium Quay development which fronts onto the river, with impressive views of Canary Wharf. Large, well maintained communal garden areas and a picturesque river walk to Greenwich. EPC rating C Blackheath 020 8463 0091

Locksbottom 01689 880440

Bromley 020 8313 6800

Petts Wood 01689 819819

Chislehurst 020 8325 8000

Lettings 01689 838040

ME R IDIA N CULT URE

Conservation Counts Al Barker highlights some of the great local restoration projects

Restoration work under way at the Painted Hall

Well. twenty years of Meridian magazine seems to have gone by in a flash. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s nothing, of course, in the context of Greenwich itself, just a blink in the hundreds of years that Greenwich has been standing here by the river.

Meridian magazine might not have lasted such an admirable stretch of time without a few make-overs though, a new look for the covers, a new layout here and there, perhaps a different typeset - and the same can be said of Greenwich. Without some constant care and conservation the areas outstanding buildings would be in a sorry state.

Conservation team working on the Flagmen portraits

Improved Greenwich Market

Stunning 400 year old Queens House staircase

The most recent round of conservation, improvement and innovation is either already underway, or about to get started. Or, in the case of Greenwich Market - virtually complete. If you’ve been into the market in the last few months you’ll have noticed that there’s much more light flashing around the place than previously. That’s because the old, dirty, pigeon-scrabbled roof has been replaced with sparkling new glass. The walkways along the sides of the market area have also been glassed over for the first time, so you’ll never get wet while you’re window shopping. It’s part of what has been a complete restoration for Greenwich Market and Durnford Street, the road that leads to Greenwich Church Street from the Market. The roof structure was also taken down, cleaned and restored before being re-mounted and fitted with the new glass. The cobbles were taken up and cleaned, and an extra market area, plus new shopping units were added on Durnford Street. The results are fantastic – the market retains all its atmosphere and buzz while becoming a much more pleasant place both for shoppers and traders. The Painted Hall at the Old Royal Naval College is another great Greenwich location which is up for its own transformation soon. The fabulously decorated ceiling and walls have picked up layers of dirt over the centuries and dulled the bright colours and drama of the pictures. Once the restoration is complete, visitors will be able to see the full spectrum of the colours and hues used by James Thornhill, when he painted the hall. It’s not a quick job – Thornhill took 18 years to produce the original artwork and there’s 40,000 square feet to clean– so the Painted Hall will be closed for some periods of the work. But it’s going to look absolutely beautiful when it’s done. It’s not cheap either, the Heritage Lottery Fund have awarded £3.1 million to cover this next phase of work – the total amount needed for the entire project is more like £7 million.

permanent galleries at the National Maritime Museum. The new ‘Endeavour Galleries’ will focus on exploration, investigation and discovery and showcase Pacific exploration, polar exploration and Tudor and Stuart seafarers. Another 1000 artefacts will be going on display when the galleries are finished, sometime in mid-2018, just in time for commemorations marking 250 years since James Cook set out on the first of his Pacific voyages. And, because the National Maritime Museum is generous with its incredible collection, some of the most fascinating and unusual objects will be going on tour to several partner museums. So, even if you can’t get to Greenwich, you’ll be able to take a look at these amazing maritime pieces. You should still come to Greenwich, if you don’t already live here though, the museum has lots of incredible items on display already. Probably the most high profile restoration going on in the area right now is at the Queen’s House, which is being completely refurbished for its 400th anniversary. The elegant Tulip Stairs are getting lots of attention as are the floors, windows and galleries including the splendidly named King’s Presence Chamber. Royal Museums Greenwich, who manage the Queen’s House, National Maritime Museum, Cutty Sark and the Royal Observatory Greenwich, are concentrating on making the most of the museum’s world class art collection as part of the refurbishment. Paintings are being hung in the newly decorated rooms, illustrating the kings, queens, consorts and courtiers associated with the house and Greenwich during this period, some of them loaned from the Royal Collection by Her Majesty The Queen. There’s also some brand new art from Turner Prize winner, Richard Wright, who’s been commissioned to work on the ceiling of the Great Hall, the first time an artist has worked on the ceiling of the glamorous room since 1639. Lucky Richard. So, you see, conservation counts. Whether you’re a unique historical building, a magnificently decorated hall, an internationally renowned museum, a favourite market or, of course, a lovely local magazine celebrating twenty years in the business! Al Barker

The Heritage Lottery Fund has also earmarked funding of £4,981.100 towards an £11.9 million project to create four new

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ME RID IA N HEALT H

Beach Ready You’ve been looking forward to hitting the beach through all of those chilly, rainy winter months and not so warm British summer, so far.

Looking chic and sun-kissed while you’re lounging, however, takes a little bit of work. Shake off those winter blahs and perk up your look for beach weather. You’ll feel great and you may even get a little bit of attention when you look good at the beach. Unwanted hair The quickest method is waxing, with hair regrowth expected from 4-6 weeks. A more effective way is with Ellipse IPL hair removal treatment which offers a safe and effective longterm removal of unwanted hair after only 4-6 treatments; studies have proven that, even after 10 years, 77% of unwanted hair does not grow back.

absorption in the epidermis. Immediately after the treatment, the skin is particularly sensitive to UV light. A sunscreen of at least factor 30+ must be used for the next 30 days. Sun-ready skin Sunbathing will give you back your summer glow, but you don’t want to make your seasonal beach debut looking pasty. Exfoliate and moisturise your skin to get rid of winter dryness before you treat yourself to a salon spray tan. Alternatively, apply a good selftanning treatment at home to tide you over until the sun’s rays take effect.

Owing to Ellipse’s square pulse technology and dual-mode filtering, hair removal by Ellipse systems is practically pain free in contrast to many laser treatments.

Never forget sunscreen. All of your effort to look fabulous will be wasted if your skin is burnt or peeling. For very pale skin that burns easily, use a sunscreen of SPF 30 or higher (don’t worry, you will still tan).

Avoid tanning one month before and during the entire treatment scenario to avoid excessive light

Darker, or very dark skin tones, are fine with regular SPF 15 sunscreen, but very dark skin

tones should avoid using titanium-based sunscreen because as it can show up white/ashy on your skin after being in the water. Final touches Drink plenty of water as staying hydrated will keep your skin looking its best. Go for a manicure and pedicure before you head for the beach. You’ll need flawless feet and gorgeous hands to go with that new swimsuit. Opt for Shellac nails, which are a blend of gel and nail polish. It’s a gel-based polish that adds strength and durability. Choose from this season’s colours to put yourself in a summer frame of mind. Choose natural-looking make-up. Play-up your long lashes with waterproof mascara or even eyelash dye. A tinted lip balm that’s at least SPF 15, will protect your lips and swap thick foundation for a tinted moisturiser with sun protection.

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M E R IDIA N HEALT H PRO MOTIO N

Has the Gym Evolved? Well perhaps itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s time for a change; now is the time for a new refreshing style of gym facility that offers you moreâ&#x20AC;Ś When we think of a gym the majority of us think of rows of treadmills, exercise bikes, steppers and other cardiovascular machines. Greenwich Fitness and Performance is the evolution from the traditional, overly populated gyms that are designed for maximum usage but not focused on member and client results, into a custom designed, training facility and gym with the primary number one goal being the success of every client and members achieving their personal goals. Gym owner and operator, Adam Ringshall has been a professional trainer and coach for more than 15 years and has worked with, coached and helped thousands of people to achieve their goals, improve their health, increase their fitness and look and feel at their best.

Adam has an extremely strong team of expert trainers and coaches with a wealth of experience, expertise and knowledge in areas such as, sports and athletic performance, weight/fat loss, strength and conditioning, natural body building, injury rehab and nutrition! If you want results, in a motivating, friendly and supportive atmosphere, check out Greenwich Fitness and Performance. A state-of-the-art athletic performance, strength and conditioning, results-focused gym, right in the heart of east Greenwich. Visit them today to find out how they can help you achieve YOUR goals. www.GreenwichFP.com Greenwich Fitness and Performance, Unit 22 Angerstein Business Park, Horn Lane, Greenwich, SE10 0RT.

ME R IDIA N PARENT ING

Fostering Could you provide stability and support for children? There will be times when children and young people whose families are having problems need to live somewhere else. Foster carers give them a safe and caring home during this time. Maybe you enjoy being around children? Maybe you want to give a young person a fresh start in life? Or maybe you simply want a new, challenging and rewarding career? Foster carers from all walks of life are playing a vital role in the lives of tens of thousands of young people and children who come into local authority care, for a wide variety of reasons. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not about your circumstances, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s about the support you can offer a child. Whether youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re old or young, married or single, male or female, gay or straight, renting or a homeowner - you can foster. Foster carers give children the secure, caring family base they need to build their lives upon. Depending upon the circumstances, fostering can involve caring for children for a very short time, such as an overnight stay, perhaps a few days or several months. Sometimes it can mean fostering a child for many years until they are able to live independently. Fostering provides stability and support for children from a wide range of families. It is not always easy. It can sometimes be demanding, even stressful. But it can also be great fun and extremely rewarding.

ME RID IA N PET S

Going away? Wondering how to have your pets looked after?

Don’t panic! Every solution has good points and drawbacks. What you need is the right solution for you. And pet owners themselves adopt one solution one time, and another the next. It all depends on the circumstances! Boarding facilities for dogs and cats

Kennels and catteries specialise in looking after pets in purpose-built premises when their owners are away. These are sometimes criticised but they can be establishments of the highest quality run by skilled professionals who are real animal lovers. Benefits of boarding You can be sure a close watch is kept over your pet. Individual kennels may lead onto small open areas where dogs can breathe fresh air and meet

companions. In most good kennels, dogs are let out once or twice a day to run in a special compound. Boarding is a practical solution for repeated and short-term absences. Drawbacks Some pets find it difficult to acclimatise. Cats in particular don’t like being moved from their familiar surroundings. Being kept cooped-up, especially for more than a few days, can be difficult for cats to bear, especially if they are used to roaming free. Some dogs are stressed by being moved to new surroundings and by the barking of other dogs, which they are unaccustomed to.  The cost of boarding (charged by the day) can take a big chunk out of the holiday spending budget.

Calling on a pet-sitter

A pet-sitter is someone who will look after dogs or cats in your home, in most cases coming round for short periods only. Often these are young persons who like animals and look after pets for pocketmoney. But, you can find professional pet-sitters.  Pet-sitters drop by to feed the dog or take it for a walk if it is left too long alone (when the owner comes back late from work, for example). Petsitters will visit your home and check the cat is well, give it the affection it needs, clean its litter and feed it as and when necessary. Benefits of pet-sitting As someone is in the neighborhood to look after your pets when left on their own all day, it’s a practical option. Pet-sitting is recommended for cats, who are territorial and don’t like being moved out of their normal surroundings. Drawbacks If the owner is away for a few days or more, short daily visits may not be enough. Pets may not like feeling their home is empty. Pet-sitters are generally paid by the hour or day, so can be costly when you go away on holiday.

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www.devernois.fr

42 Tranquil Vale, Blackheath SE3 0BD, (T) 020 8318 5998 , Mon - Sat: 10am-6pm, Sun: 11am - 4pm

M E R IDIA N FASHIO N

Step into Summer It’s summer again! As we warmly welcome brighter days and milder evenings, our diaries become filled with gatherings and events, giving us the perfect excuse to indulge in some well-deserved retail therapy. Sometimes it can be difficult to find the perfect outfit, especially if you’re in a bit of a style rut or just need some inspiration. intu Bromley, offers a free and independent personal stylist service, designed to help you understand what suits your figure, personality and lifestyle. The two-hour appointment includes a 30 minute consultation, followed by a bespoke shopping session with intu’s stylist, Juliet, who will help you find the right colours, cuts and key pieces to create your perfect summer wardrobe. We have teamed with Juliet to bring you the best advice on how to nail all your summer events. From a casual roof top party to a dressier day at the races, intu has got you covered!

Day at the beach

Garden party Summer days call for garden parties, filled with family and friends, good food and laughter. Ditch your florals and try something new at intu Bromley! I love Spanish-inspired outfits like this embroidered, black and white co-ord so chic!’ says Juliet. Pair it with golden espadrilles and a necklace with elements of the sea, for a Mediterranean touch.

The races

We all know how tricky it is to find the right beach attire! If you’re looking for a bikini, Juliet recommends mix and match options at intu Bromley, where you find separate top and bottom to best fit your shape. A huge trend for the past few seasons have been high-waisted bottoms which help with smoothing the tummy area. ‘Opt for stripe on stripe for a vintage, sophisticated feel’ says Juliet. A ‘ dding more stripes with a see-through kaftan will create a different pattern and add movement to the whole outfit. Throw on a red straw hat for extra va-va-voom and you’re ready to go!’

‘We’ve seen dip-hems everywhere this season and they’re incredibly flattering as well as being very practical’, comments Juliet. You can mix and match top and bottom and pick the right size and style for your body shape. ‘For this particular outfit, I want the skirt to do the talking, so everything needs to flow in terms of colours and shapes without being too matchy.’ The feathers on the hat evoke the brush strokes on the skirt and the colours of the flowers. Add a pop of colour with bright lemon yellow shoes, available at intu Bromley.

Rooftop party Hone the colour block with this green and white number. The two-in-one blouse has an elegant shrug for those chilly evenings and Juliet paired it with a cream pencil skirt and crocodile heeled sandals to give edge and personality. ‘I love womanly pieces like this top and the pencil skirt adds a touch of sassiness without being too revealing’ says Juliet. The purse is actually a make up bag from intu Bromley, but it looks great as an evening bag. All the items included in this article are available in store at intu Bromley. Some are currently in the sale, so hurry and grab yourself a bargain! For more information and to book your FREE appointment, visit: www.intu.co.uk/bromley/centre-information/shopping-at-the-centre

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ME R IDIA N LOV E LO CAL EAT

Farmers’ markets and Street Food Farmers’ markets put you in direct contact with the farmers, fishermen, growers and bakers, so you know where the food in your hand has come from. Every week, car parks, school playgrounds and town squares blossom into communities where you can talk to the farmers, discuss recipes, get advice and fill your shopping basket with the freshest produce available. Every Sunday, between 10am and 2pm, Blackheath Station car park hosts a farmers’ market with a great selection of farm produce on offer. Look out for fresh farm milk from Sussex, Andrew Linghams great beef pasties and fresh fish from the east coast. Rain or shine, there will be an indoor and outdoor zone to explore the market at the Royal Arsenal Riverside in Woolwich – both of which will have a sensational variety of food and drink on offer. Everything from West Indian delicacies, to Spanish tapas, Asian dishes and American BBQ platters. You can head to the chill out zone where you can take a seat whilst you eat. London’s Royal Docks, east London’s vibrant new spot, is the latest location in the Street Food

Market family. Mouth-watering global food will be on offer from Panzerotto Blues (Italian pies), Himalayan Tiffin (Himalayan style), OneLuvKitchen (Caribbean Jerk), Red Pot Chef (Polish Dumplings), together with killer cocktails and health-packed juices. For further information, visit: www.streetfoodmarkets.co.uk. intu Bromley has been at the heart of the local community for the past 25 years, with an annual footfall of 18 million visitors. This July, the centre will be adding a host of new tastes to the town’s menu with the opening of an alfresco restaurant terrace overlooking Queen’s Garden. Joining the intu family are Byron Burger, Ed’s Diner, Giraffe, Project Pie and Wagamama. The five new restaurants complement the already wide choice of in-centre dining options, including: Belgo, Carluccio’s, Joe’s Kitchen and YO! Sushi. The development will enhance Bromley’s increasingly vibrant food scene and locals will be able to enjoy London’s favourite world-cuisine without travelling further afield. From July 4, dining hours will be extended until 11pm and car parking will be available until midnight; drawing commuters from central London and boosting the town’s nightlife.

Summer Dining You can’t fail to have noticed the latest Aqua Mediterranean Bar and Grill restaurant in Station Square, Petts Wood; especially if you do the daily commute. It’s the perfect stop-off for weary commuters opting for dining out rather than going straight home, and I can’t blame them. Arriving early, we settled in to read the menu over glasses of chilled Prosecco, the perfect cooler on a warm night. The Mediterranean menu offers a good range of starters and we quickly decided on a caprese salad and Cornish crab with avocado and herb crostini, but if you can’t make your mind up, you can choose between an Italian or Greek meze sharing platter. Sitting back and taking in the interior, you can’t help but admire the colour combination and how it all works together to create a smart, yet comfortable feel. As it’s a Monday night, my fellow diner can’t resist the half priced steak offer, while I opted for tagliatelle with smoked chicken. As the main course arrived, we both admired one another’s plate of food. The

Blackheath Farmers Market

Project Pie Pizza

fillet steak was cooked to perfection and the al-dente pasta would win praise from an Italian. The wild mushrooms and pesto cream sauce were creamy, light and not clawing. The dessert menu is a minefield - what’s not to like. So, salted caramel cheesecake and Baileys crème brulee won the day, followed by coffee, which concluded a very enjoyable meal.

Maze Hill

By now, the restaurant had a buzz and most tables were full, as was the outside terrace - a great space for al fresco dining. The waiting staff were attentive and friendly, adding a personal touch to the dining experience. Look out for the special offers, including: Monday nights 50% off all steaks, set lunch menu from £12 for two courses, dinner from £15 for two courses and their popular Sunday roast. Aqua Mediterranean Bar & Grill The Estate Office Station Square, Petts Wood Kent BR5 1LZ 01689 666220 pettswood@aquabarandgrill.co.uk

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M E R IDIA N LOV E LO CAL EAT

Zeytin A traditional Turkish restaurant and meze bar in Greenwich, Meridian talks to owner, Mr Gelmen, over a cup of Turkish coffee

Can you tell us a little about your background? I have been in the catering/restaurant sector for over 30 years, now. I came to London in the mid80’s and started my first business in south east London, supplying Turkish restaurants and mini markets (very few back then) with fresh fruit and vegetables.

Zeytin has a very authentic Turkish feel. Was the original aim to give diners a real Turkish experience? Most of the dishes on our menu have very traditional roots. We want our diners to experience good Turkish food, whilst enjoying Zeytin’s modern feel.

What part of Turkey are you from? A southern region of Turkey, from a city called, Antakya: a historic place and especially significant for the birth of Christianity.

Does Zeytin’s menu include any unusual specialities? One dish, which is particularly unusual, is ‘Icli Kofte’: fried oval balls made of fine bulgar wheat, filled with mince lamb, onions, pine kernels & spices. This is widely known in Turkey, however, the best recipe and makers of this are from my hometown, Antakya.

Why is Greenwich so special to you? I ran a small café here from 2007-2012. Also, my family have fond memories of Greenwich, as my eldest son took his first steps in Greenwich Park. Are your family involved in Zeytin, too? Both of my sons are involved in the Zeytin project on a day-to-day basis.

Do you have a favourite dish, One of my favourites is a dish called ‘Kisir’. My mother used to make this dish and it was the best mid-afternoon snack. It is made from fine bulgur wheat along with homemade tomato paste, spring onions and parsley. You would normally have this with cold gem lettuce. It’s just perfect for summer.

Turkish food is very popular here in London, how does Zeytin stand out from the others? I believe it is important to be consistent, both in quality and the dining experience. We pride ourselves on making everything from scratch and we use locally sourced produce. Many of your diners will have been to Turkey on holiday; they must appreciate the varied menu and authentic dishes... Our diners enjoy the selection very much, and appreciate that we serve Turkish beers, wines and hot beverages. Most say ‘we’ve been to Turkey and back, this evening’. www.zeytinrestaurant.co.uk 020 8692 2458 Zeytin Restaurant 63 Greenwich High Road, Greenwich SE10 8JL

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ME RID IA N OUT & ABOUT

Family fun with English Heritage Families looking for an adventurous summer need look no further than English Heritage’s Eltham Palace and Gardens in Greenwich, London.

Fire up your imagination this summer!

Throughout the summer holidays, visitors can explore this fascinating 1930s show-piece, with its unique combination of a medieval great hall and beautiful gardens. There are plenty of rooms to discover, including Virginia Courtauld’s walk-in wardrobe -featuring glamorous costumes to try on, a luxury wartime bunker, and you may even spot the Courtauld’s pet lemur, Mah-Jongg!

Explore the most iconic of all English fortresses, commanding the gateway to the realm for nine centuries. Climb the Great Tower and delve deep into the Wartime Tunnels within Dover’s White Cliffs. Roam through centuries of history from the Romans to the Cold War, in an action-packed day out.

Children will love the summer adventures planned, including the popular ‘Kings and Queens’ event on Monday 1 - 3 August, hotly followed by the ‘Ugly Bug Safari’ on Monday 8 - 10 August.

Get kitted out for action this summer as the mighty Roman army invades at Roman Festival on 30 - 31 July, witness the drama of siege warfare at Siege of 1216 on 13 – 14 August, or experience the ultimate historical adventure through time at Castle Live! between 27– 29 August.

Curtains rise for mini leading men and daring divas at ‘Curtain Up for the Theatrical 30s’ on Monday 15 -17 August. New for 2016, children need to choose their side and start their training at ‘Heroes and Villains’. Summer is rounded off with ‘Train the Troops’ on Monday 29 – 31 August.

Decide which gladiators live or die, roam among gruesome history, or take a journey back to the Iron Age. Every weekend, the castle’s own artillery unit perform a 1pm gun drill at the WWI Fire Command Post. There is just so much to see - head to Dover Castle to enjoy your finest hours this summer.

Families can also enjoy the café’s seasonal produce, browse a range of gifts in the shop and, most importantly, let the children loose in the round the world themed playground.

Book online for event tickets at: www.english-heritage.org.uk/dover.

For more details on what’s on, visit: www.english-heritage.org.uk/eltham. You can also find Eltham Palace and Gardens on Facebook.

WIN! For your chance to win a family ticket to any of this summer’s action packed events at the castle, visit: www.meridian-magazine.co.uk/win; email your name, address and daytime number to: win@meridian-magazine.co.uk or, alternatively, send a postcard with your details to: Meridian magazine, 68 Summerhouse Drive, Bexley Kent DA5 2EE.

THINGS TO DO OVER THE SCHOOL HOLIDAYS SAT 9 JUL THE ALBANY SUMMER SEASON LEWISHAM’S PEOPLE’S DAY

FROM 13 JUL – 30 AUG URBAN LONDON BEACH

LIFE BOAT

WED 27 JUL LOVE2DANCE: HONOR OAK

Join in with the craft, workshops and events hosted by Meet Me at the Albany, Now Festival and Hothouse and find out what’s coming next. A pop up installation, with a boat-like playground to explore at your own pace, relax in and play on. Hang out in the Life Boat’s hammocks, bang the drum, rattle the chains and have fun. Free. All ages welcome, no booking required just turn up. 12pm – 8pm. Mountsfield Park, Catford.

A stretch of sandy beach that provides a great day out with family and friends. Build a sandcastle and enjoy an ice cream on London’s beach. The easiest way is to fly the Emirate cable car from North Greenwich. 10am- 8pm Mon – Sun. Free. Royal Docks, London.

Free taster sessions: 12-4pm (12-2pm: 8-12’s, 2-4pm: 12-18’s) and on Tuesday 16 August 12pm (12-2pm: 8-12’s, 2-4pm:12-18’s). Weekly classes start on Monday 12 September: 4-6pm ages 8-11, 6-8pm ages 12-18. Honor Oak Community Centre, 50 Turnham Road, SE4 2JD. Sessions in Sydenham and Deptford, for dates and times call 07984 355 826.

UNTIL 29 AUG ABOVE AND BEYOND

This family friendly exhibition, created in collaboration with NASA, hopes to inspire the next wave of engineers, pilots and astronauts by taking visitors on an exciting aerospace journey.10am-5pm.Adults £9, Child £6. www.rmg.co.uk for further details. National Maritime Museum, Greenwich SE10.

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WH AT TO DO W HERE & WH E N

ARTHUR SMITH – COMEDY LEGEND AND MINDLESSNESS GURU VALERIE BREESE CAUGHT UP WITH ARTHUR SMITH, JUST AHEAD OF THE GREENWICH COMEDY FESTIVAL

You’re appearing as a special guest at the Greenwich Comedy Festival on Saturday 30 July, you must be looking forward to it. Yes, I love Greenwich; I’ve spent a lot of time there and have some good memories. Good memories, that sounds interesting... Up until I was nine years old I lived in Bermondsey and then we moved to Kidbrooke where I went to the Roan Grammar School for Boys. I became Head Boy; I had the badge and everything, which I actually found recently. Maybe I should wear it. I wonder how much I’d get on eBay for it? I had my first pint in Blackheath and got barred from a pub for the first time there, too. In a sense, I had my first ever gig in Greenwich. I was a student at East Anglia, Norwich and came back during the summer to work. Me and a couple of friends started busking outside the Cutty Sark and were swiftly moved on. So we went round to the pub, the Cutty Sark and made about 17/6 in old money. That was my first professional engagement. I have a lot of affection for the river and I was a cross-country runner, so I know Greenwich Park very well. I must have run around it 1,000s of times. I live in Balham now, still in south London, I don’t approve of north London but if I didn’t live in Balham, I’d quite happily live in Greenwich. As a child did you ever think that you would grow up to be a comedian or did you ever use comedy to get out of trouble? As a boy, about eight years old, I was in a school play, Peter Pan. I was playing Captain Hook, and my mum had made a hook for me out of a wire coat hanger. I remember going on stage with the idea of terrifying everyone and I could just hear them laughing, I really enjoyed the sound of the laughter.

I wasn’t bullied at school, I made myself popular; I realised early on you could get out of doing things by being funny. I’ve worked on that theory ever since and its worked for me. Laughter is my work in a way. Public speaking is the thing most people are absolutely terrified of; so, I often get dragged into public speaking or asked to say something at funerals because. I think people are scared or worried that they’ll be too upset. I’ve worked out that by being the community speaker or comedian, you can get away without having to get up too early, having to do too much or doing any real jobs. After the Greenwich Comedy Festival you’re straight off to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe with your show ‘Mindlessness: a beginners Guide’. Can you tell us briefly about it and any thoughts on mindfulness and meditation? ‘Mindlessness’ is my own sort of therapy - you don’t have to do too much; you can sit on a bench, you don’t have to go up a mountain or meditate. You can set the bar quite low, just getting up in the morning is a good start, give yourself a round of applause. My plan is to create an app and make a few million pounds. I notice in your list of gigs that in September you are off to Greece, to a retreat with ‘Mindlessness: a course in laughter’. That sounds interesting – who would benefit from this course? I’m taking my ‘mindlessness’ to a lovely Greek island; it’s an alternative retreat with yoga and courses in a variety of subjects, attended mainly by women, some newly retired others needing to learn to laugh again. I’ve been three times in the past with a course in being funny and doing stand up, this time it will be my ‘mindlessness’. 26-31 JULY GREENWICH COMEDY FESTIVAL 2016 www.greenwichcomedyfestival.co.uk

ONGOING ART, DRAMA, MUSIC, COURSES

One-to-one instrumental & vocal tuition for all age groups, plus a range of courses. The Conservatoire, Lee Road Blackheath, SE3. Info: 020 8852 0234 or info@conservatoire.org.uk

BLACKHEATH DECORATIVE & FINE ARTS SOCIETY

Stimulating lectures and intriguing outings. Fourth Thursday of the month except Aug and Dec. 2.30pm. www.artsinblackheath.org.uk St Mary’s Hall, Cresswell Park, Blackeath SE3.

GREENWICH DECORATIVE & FINE ARTS SOCIETY

Monthly lectures at King William Court, Room 315, University of Greenwich, Old Royal Naval College, Greenwich, SE10. 8pm on 2nd Monday of the month, except April & August. Refreshments from 7.15pm. 020 8852 7873 or www.gdfas.org

EVERY MON ROTARY CLUB OF LEWISHAM & PENGE

Local businessmen and women giving help locally, national and internationally. We meet at 7pm for a dinner, with speakers on a variety of subjects. Contact Peter Earl on 020 8303 3361 or Alan Davis 020 8467 2032. Bromley Court Hotel, Bromley.

WOOLWICH SINGERS

A community choir. No audition required to join. The aim is to sing together and have fun! £2 per week, refreshments provided. 6.30pm-8pm. Call 07812 477 775 Public Hall, Wellington St, Woolwich SE18 6PW (entrance via Town Hall).

EVERY TUES LADIES BELLY DANCE GROUP

Fun and gentle exercise with well known dancer and performer Maria Louisa. Ladies of all ages, shapes and sizes are invited to join! Call Age Exchange for info on 07802 521210. 11.45am.The Bakehouse Theatre, 11 Blackheath Village SE3 9LA.

EVERY THURS ROTARY CLUB OF GREENWICH

For like-minded business people to meet & help the community. If visiting please contact Sarah Campbell 07958527877 Old Colfeans Rugby Football Club, Horn Park, Eltham Road SE9 8UE.

EVERY FRI LUNCHTIME CONCERT

1pm – 2pm. Free. www.charlton-house.org 020 8856 3951. Charlton House, Charlton Rd; SE7

TANGOWORKOUT

Classes connecting Tango with health and well being, for men and women. 7.15pm - 9.15pm. Beginners and intermediate classes. £7. West Greenwich Commu- nity Centre, 141 Greenwich High Road, SE10 8JA.

E:MAIL events@meridian-magazine.co.uk

BROMLEY GREEN GYM

Meeting weekly to carry out wildlife gardening tasks to bring back some of the site’s heritage, and transform the space for the benefit of wildlife and the local community. www.tcv.org.uk. Free. 11am-2pm. 07740 899 689. College Green & Slip, West Street, Bromley, BR1 1PA.

CHARLTON JUDO CLUB

Judo training sessions for anyone aged 10 years and over. If you do not have a judo suit wear baggy t-shirt and old jog bottoms. From beginners upwards. 8.15-9.30pm. £3 per session. Call Lorraine on 07932767385 or email lollyjudo1975@aol.com. NCCA Community Hall, 217 Maryon Road, Charlton SE7 8DB.

EVERY 2ND SAT BOOK SALE

Friends of Age Exchange. www.friends-of-age-exchange.org.uk. 10am-4pm. Bakehouse Bookshop, Blackheath Village SE3 9LA.

EVERY SUN CHRISTIAN SCIENCE SOCIETY

Blackheath. Services and Sunday School held at the Clarendon Hotel, Blackheath at 11am. Also at the Clarendon Hotel, our monthly Testimony Meeting is held every second Wednesday of the month at 8pm.

BLACKHEATH QUAKERS

Meeting for worship. 10.30am-11.30am every Sunday. Visitors welcome. For more details, including room hire on 07908 587 695 or email quakerhall@aol.com. Quaker Meeting House, Lawn Terrace, Blackheath SE3 9LL.

UNTIL 29 AUG ABOVE AND BEYOND

The ultimate, family friendly interactive flight exhibition created in association with Boeing and in collaboration with NASA, hopes to inspire the next wave of engineers, pilots and astronauts. 10am-5pm. Adult £9, Child £6 for further details visit www.rmg.co.uk. National Maritime Museum, Greenwich.

UNTIL SUNDAY 31 JULY PARKSFEST

A series of local festivals in Greenwich’s parks, pleasaunces and commons. Drawing local residents in to watch live performances within easy reach of their homes featuring local performers and groups. The programme is co-ordinated by the Greenwich Parks Forum, a network of twenty four Friends of Parks groups and covers 12 parks. See www.parksfest.org for more info.

UNTIL 31 JULY BEHIND THE SCENES

A collection of candid black and white photographs of film and theatre actors, directors, writers, including Dame Judi Dench, Ben Whishaw, Sir David Hare, and many more by Laura Marie Minck. 10am – 5pm. Free Café Bar Blackheath Halls, 23 Lee Road London SE3 9RQ.

UNTIL 4 SEPT HOW DOES YOUR GARDEN GROW?

This exhibition celebrates gardeners and, through some 400 objects, tells their story throughout the twentieth century. 10am-5pm. £10, under 16s /concs £8 & family £30 ( 2 adults and up to 3 children).01322 526 574. Hall Place & Gardens, Bourne Road, Bexley DA5 1PQ.

TO SPACE AND BEYOND

TUES 5, 12, 19 & 26 JUL LEARN TO DANCE WITH CEROC

Stars in the Universe © ESA NASA (taken by Tim Peake)

Beginners class 8pm and freestyle from 9.30pm. £9 ( £2 membership). No need to book. www.thebeaverwoodclub.co.uk for details. The Beaverwood, Beaverwood Road Chislehurst BR7 6HF.

THURS 7 JUL THE MODS SUMMER SPECIAL

Expect classics from the 60s and 70s that encapsulate the true essence of Mod music and its evolution through the late 60s summer of love into the heavier 70s. 7.30-11pm. £10 in advance/£12 on the Door. www.thebeaverwoodclub.co.uk for details. The Beaverwood, Beaverwood Road Chislehurst BR7 6HF.

THURS 7,14, 21, 28 JUL & 4 AUG LUNCHTIME RECITAL

Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance. Visit trinitylaban.ac.uk/whatson for details. 1.05pm. Free. St Alfege Church, Greenwich Church Street, Greenwich SE10 9BJ.

FRI 8 JUL BEAVERWOOD CLUB NIGHT

Come and have some fun at the best party in town with DJ Dave Collins. Age restriction 30+. £8 members?£10 non-members. www.thebeaverwoodclub.co.uk for details. The Beaverwood, Beaverwood Road Chislehurst BR7 6HF.

FRI 8 -10 JUL FOODIES FESTIVAL

Feast in the Street Food Avenue, enjoy afternoon tea in the Vintage Tea Tent; taste wine, champagne and craft beer in the Drinks Theatre; buy from local producers in the Artisan Market, enjoy live music on the Unsigned Music Awards Stage, and have a fun day out. www.foodies.seetickets.com. Blackheath Common.

SAT 9JUL TRINITY LABAN RECITAL

Cyril Ibraham – piano. 1pm. Free. St Alfege Church, Greenwich Church Street, Greenwich SE10 9BJ.

SUN 10, 17. SAT 23, SUN 24 & 31 JUL BANDSTAND CONCERTS

The Friends of the Park are staging a full progamme of afternoon concerts at the Greenwich Park bandstand from the end of June to the end of August. Visit www.friendsofgreenwichpark.org.uk for detailse. 3pm. Free. Greenwich Park

British European Space Agency astronaut, Tim Peake’s, returned to Earth last month, but before he did the Royal Observatory Greenwich and the UK Space Agency quizzed him on which of his breath-taking images taken from the International Space Station (ISS) he would enter into the Insight Astronomy Photographer of the Year 2016 competition. Held in association with Insight Investment and BBC Sky at Night Magazine, the Observatory’s competition is an annual global search for the most beautiful and spectacular visions of the cosmos, from striking pictures of vast galaxies millions of light years away, to dramatic images of night-time landscapes taken by spaces enthusiasts from around the world. Since arriving at the ISS, Tim has been keen to share his unique views from space with

TUES 12 JUL BACH TO BABY

Classical Concert series for Baby and You founded by concert pianist and mum, Miaomiao Yu. 10.30am. £10. 020 8858 1749. Bromley United Reformed Church, 20 Widmore Road, Bromley BR1 1RY.

TUES 12,13, 15 & 17 JUL OPERA FOR ALL

Bizet’s Carmen performed by members of the community aged from 8 to 80 performing alongside a wonderful cast of professionals. 7pm and 2.30pm on Sunday. £18, £15 concs, under 12s £6. Box office 020 8463 0100. Great Hall, Blackheath Halls . 23 Lee Road, SE3 9RQ.

everyone back on Earth, taking photos on a daily basis. From the huge array of images, Tim chose a spectacular sunrise seen from the enviable position of his post on the ISS, and a photo akin to a sweeping scene from a sci-fi movie, as the stars of the Milky Way glisten over the curved horizon of our home planet as the ISS soars above it. Now in its eighth year, the competition, has attracted the highest number of entries since it opened with over 4500 aweinspiring images have been submitted this year from 80 countries across the globe. The winning images will be announced on 15 September and later showcased in the annual free exhibition at the Royal Observatory Greenwich. Meanwhile, the winners from the 2015 competition will be on display at the Observatory until 7 August 2016.

THURS 14 JUL BACH TO BABY

Classical Concert series for Baby and You. Be amazed at how your child will love Bach, Beethoven and Brahms. 4pm. £10. 020 8858 1749. Mycenae House, 90 Mycenae Road, SE3 7SE.

JOE JAMMER’S ALLSTAR CHICAGO R&B REVIEW

Worked with Zeppelin, Hendrix,The Who, Supertramp, Joe Cockers, Mick Jagger and more – get ready to rock. 7.30-11pm. £10 in advance/£12 on the Door. www.thebeaverwoodclub.co.uk for details. The Beaverwood, Beaverwood Road Chislehurst BR7 6HF.

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W H AT TO DO W HERE & WH E N FRI 15 JUL BLACKHEATH FLOWER CLUB

3 ‘F’s: Fun, Friendship, & Flowers. Margot Cooper. 2-4pm. £5. Mycenae House, Mycenae Road, Blackheath SE3 7SE.

THE CROSSNESS ENGINES

Nina Conti

TAKING CENTRE STAGE

BY JAMES HADDRELL, ARTISTIC & EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF GREENWICH THEATRE Unless you are an actor, working in theatre means throwing a spotlight onto somebody else, create a show and then bring people together to watch that show played out on a stage. But this month, Greenwich Theatre itself gets the chance to step into the spotlight. This summer, we are delighted to announce that Royal Greenwich has agreed an investment of £400,000 into a package of repairs at Greenwich Theatre, to get us started in a much larger fundraising campaign to carry out a host of improvements at our historic venue. Alongside that, we are in negotiation with the council over a 25 year lease, so we are finally in a position to secure both the building and the future of our company here in Greenwich. We are closed for 12 weeks this summer while we complete the first phase of building repairs – crucial, but many of them invisible to most audiences. We will be repairing the theatre roof, rewiring much of the building and carrying out some initial front of house improvements. This will get us started on a longer project to reclaim the theatre’s rightful position as one of London’s finest theatres.Throughout that time and the months ahead, we will be embarking on a fundraising campaign to support the next phase of improvements. This is an ambitious time for us, a time when we can look to the future while other theatres around the country are struggling with reductions in funding. We are not immune to that – our public revenue funding has dropped in the last ten years from 60% to 10% of our turnover – but we have progressively grown in strength, in artistic integrity and in stability year on year. Now, we are seeking partners to work with us as we move forward. Whether this is businesses interested in reaching our audiences through sponsorship, donors excited by what we have achieved and what we can still look to achieve, and most of all, a continued partnership with our audiences, sharing the shows that we support, that we create, that we discover and present to ever growing numbers of people and securing the future of the theatre here in Greenwich. To get involved in the future of Greenwich Theatre, email: j.haddrell@greenwichtheatre.org.uk or call James on 020 8858 4447

The Crossness Pumping Station is a former sewage pumping station designed by the Metropolitan Board of Works’s Chief Engineer Sir Joseph Bazalgette and architect Charles Henry Driver. CET Guided tous – Prince Consort Static. Visitors are advised to wear trousers and flat shoes.10.30-5pm. Last entry 4pm. Adults only, £12. Tea & biscuits included. www. crossness.org.uk. The Crossness Engine Trust, Crossness STW, Bazalgette Way, Abbey Wood, SE2 9AQ.

SAT 16 JUL BERKELEY HOMES KIDBROKKE SUMMER FAIR. All the fun of the fair. 12noon – 6pm. Cator Park, Kidbrooke Village SE3.

TRINITY LABAN RECITAL

Jane Gamble – organ. 1pm. Free. St Alfege Church, Greenwich Church Street, Greenwich SE10 9BJ.

SUMMER CONCERT

Eltham Choral Society with the Amadeus Orchestra. English choral music by Purcell, Tallis, Vaughan-Williams and McDowall. 7.30pm. £10/£12. www. elthamchoral.org.uk or 020 8850. Holy Trinity Church, Southend Crescent, Eltham SE9 2SD.

HSDY SUMMER BALL

Kick off the summer holidays with vinyl DJs, dance line ups, best outfit competition, free retro sweets and ice pops. Tickets available online from www. haventstoppeddancingyet.co.uk or call 0796 716 3247. 7.30pm – midnight. £15. Trafalgar Tavern, Park Row, Greenwich SE10.

SAT 16 & SUN 17, 30 & 31 JUL SUMMER JOUSTING TORURNAMENTS

The Knights of Royal England return to battle it out at the annual Jousting Tournament. Spectators will be treated to a thrilling display of action, stunts, falls and fights in an authentic arena complete with Royal Box. Info & prices www.hevercastle.co.uk. Hever Castle & Gardens, Edenbridge Kent TN8 7NG.

SUN 17 JUL MUSIC FOR A SUMMER’S EVENING

A concert of varied instrumental and vocal music to suit all taste. 7pm. £12.50 includs a glass of wine/ fruit juice. Children £5. In aid of the font and organ restoration work. 020 8856 7373. St Luke’s Church, The Village, Charlton SE7.

TUES 19 JUL GARDEN TOUR

Join the head of Estates on this walk to explore the inspirational and award winning gardens. Followed by a hot drink and slice of cake from the café. 2.30pm. £12 in advance to book call 01322 621238. Hall Place, Bourne Road, Bexley DA5 1PQ

THURS 21 JUL VOODOO ROOM

Features all your favourite ‘Hendrix’ & ‘Cream’ tunes, performed with energy abd virtuosity. 7.3011pm. £10 in advance/£12 on the Door. www. thebeaverwoodclub.co.uk for details. The Beaverwood, Beaverwood Road Chislehurst BR7 6HF.

FRI 22 JUL BEAVERWOOD CLUB NIGHT

SAT 23 JUL TRINITY LABAN RECITAL

Victoria Edge - soprano. 1pm. Free. St Alfege Church, Greenwich Church Street, Greenwich SE10 9BJ.

SUN 24 JUL LOCALE LIVE MUSIC

Lennox Cameron is a multi-instrumentalist that has played with the likes of Lionel Richie, Tom Jones and Barry White. Bringing a smooth, soulful vibe with a touch of jazz to your Sunday afternoon. Lunch reservations 020 8852 0700. Locale Restaurant, 1 Lawn Terrace, Blackheath Village SE3 9LJ.

THE CROSSNESS ENGINES

The Crossness Pumping Station is a former sewage pumping station designed by the Metropolitan Board of Works’s Chief Engineer Sir Joseph Bazalgette and architect Charles Henry Driver. See the Prince Consort engine under steam. Visitors are advised to wear trousers and flat shoes.10.30-5pm. Last entry 4pm. Adults £8, Children 5-16 £2. www.crossness.org.uk. The roossness Engine Trust, Crossness STW, Bazalgette Way, Abbey Wood, SE2 9AQ.

TUES 26 – 31 JUL MAGNERS GREENWICH COMEDY FESTIVAL

Live from the National Maritime Museum lawns with even more legendary line-ups in the Big Top and Apple Top venues. Satisfy your comic cravings with the provocative Reginald D Hunter, British Comedy Award winner Nina Conti, one-liner maestro Milton Jones, lo-fi genius David O’Doherty, self-styled German Comedy Ambassador Henning Wehn plus many more. For info & tickets www.greenwichcomedyfestival.co.uk.

E:MAIL listings@meridian-magazine.co.uk

WED 27 JUL TEA DANCES

Compaered by Mr Wonderful Dancing, There’s sequence dancing, quickstep, cha cha cha and much more. 2-4.30pm. £5. Great Hall, Blackheath Halls, 23 Lee Road SE3.

THURS 28 JUL BLACKHEATH DECORATIVE AND FINE ARTS SOCIETY Valerie Woodgate, Blackheath’s own outstanding lecturer, will talk abou Joseph Wright of Derby, the artist who found beauty in the Industrial Revolution. Refreshments 2pm for 2.30pm. Visitors £7.www. artsinblackheath.org.uk. St Mary’s Church Hall, Cresswell Park, Blackheath SE3.

MOTOWN TRIBUTE

An evening of Motown hits with dinner.£39 per head. Dinner reservations 020 8852 0700. Locale Restaurant, 1 Lawn Terrace, Blackheath Village SE3 9LJ.

FRI 29 – SUN 31 JUL CHILLED IN A FIELD FESTIVAL

Family friendly dance, live musiv & arts festival, where you can play all day and dance all night.Info & tickets www.chilledinafieldfestival.co.uk. The Hop Farm, Paddock Wood, Tonbridge  Kent  TN12 6PY.

SUN 31 JUL SUNDAY LUNCH + LIVE JAZZ

See www.thebeaverwoodclub.co.uk for details. The Beaverwood, Beaverwood Road Chislehurst BR7 6HF.

ART LISTINGS UNTIL 31 JUL GREENWICH PRINTMAKERS

Featured artist. Until 10 Jul Peter Wareham. 12 Jul – 31 Jul Sue Whitmore. Tues – Sun, 10am-5.30pm. www.greenwich-printmakers.co.uk. 020 8858 1569. Greenwich Printmakers Gallery, 1A The Market, Greenwich SE10 9HZ.

21 JUL – 11 SEPT INGREDIENTS, METHOD, SERVING SUGGESTIONS

By artist Alaena Turner, which explores the ways in which contemporary artists have engaged with the format of the recipe, questioning the relationship between process and product. The exhibition features new work by 18 emerging and major UK visual artist. www.aptstudios.org. A.P.T Harold Wharf, 6 Creekside Deptford SE8 4SA

UNTIL 2 AUG THE GREENWICH GALLERY

Exhibits mostly photographic work and has hosted more than 50 shows. It specialises in solo exhibitions of themed, cutting-edge work. Current exhibitions are; Until July 10th - Greenwich Community College July 19th - August 2nd - Dave Mason 020 8465 5968 Linear House, Peyton Place, London SE10 8RS

Jane Edden, Lift Off, 2008, Mixed media construction in box frame, 44 x 32 x 8 cm, © Jane Edden, Courtesy of Flowers Gallery London and New York

AVIAN FORMS UNTIL SUN 9 OCT

A collection of beautiful and intriguing avian inspired work by artist Jane Edden and explores her fascination with the relationship between nature and culture, and the human desire to collect and categorise. In this small display, Jane draws inspiration from the science of comparative anatomy, in particular the work ‘A Comparison of the Skeleton of Birds and Man’ by Pierre Belon published in 1555, and the folklore, myths and legends involving winged flying humans that appear across cultures, to create works that inhabit a space between avian and human. Free. The Gallery, Horniman’s Natural History Gallery, 100 London Road Forest Hill SE23.

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ME R IDIA N ART & DESIGN

A.P.T Gallery and Studios We talk to Liz May at the Art in Perpetuity Trust, a charity that encourages participation in the visual arts through creative practice, exhibitions and education

A.P.T Gallery and Studios is based at Harold Wharf on the banks of Deptford Creek, between the Ha’penny Hatch footbridge and The Birds Nest Pub.

It’s this year’s A.P.T Curatorial Fellowship winner, awarded to artist Alaena Turner, who will curate the exhibition.

In 1995, after a two-year search a group of 30 Greenwich-based artists finally found a suitable building to convert into studio space. Harold Wharf was initially leased by A.P.T and the artists converted the warehouse (formerly a barge chandlery and then a light engineering company) into studios and a gallery. When an artist joins A.P.T they become part of a strong and secure community and a member of the charity. They also take part in the annual Open Studios weekend at the end of September.

Liz explained, A.P.T launched its visual arts Curatorial Fellowship is 2012; the programme is part-funded by A.P.T and offers a two-month exhibition opportunity and is available to curators and artists.

I met up with Liz May, the Studio and Gallery Manager for A.P.T, the Art in Perpetuity Trust, a charity based in Deptford at the gallery. With a guided tour, I got to see for myself the large gallery space, with an amazing ceiling height of 5m and a hanging space of just under 160 sq. m, making it one of the largest galleries in south east London. The studio complex is now home to 44 artists. Between exhibitions at the moment, the empty gallery feels enormous and filled with natural light it is the perfect showcase for any artist. The next exhibition to go up is ‘Ingredients, Method, Serving Suggestion’ (21 July – 11 Sept) featuring new work by 18 emerging and major UK visual artists.

Does education play an important role with A.P.T Yes, it does, many of our artists are tutors and we often work with students and graduates from Goldsmiths, Camberwell and The Slade. We also deliver lots of different education programmes for schools and our local community. Recently, Halstow Primary School enjoyed a two-day workshop on construction using 8ft high bamboo poles and cable-ties to create their own structures and shelters, and deal with problem solving.

When did you join A.P.T and do you have an artistic background? I joined in 2002, before that I trained as a jeweller and silversmith at The Cass in London and following my degree I went on to work at the Design Council. During my time there I set up a number of initiatives designed to support inventors and as Head of Awards & Industrial Exhibitions, I managed the British Design Awards and the Prince Philip Prize for Designer of the Year. What does your role at A.P.T entail? For the past 14 years, I’ve administered the charity for the trustees and artist-members and managed the gallery and studio complex. I organise the Creekside Open competition for APT and over the years I have worked with guest choreographers from Trinity Laban on site-specific dance performances in the A.P.T Gallery and in Deptford Creek, and supported Deptford X with the delivery of art education projects.

Liz continues to make jewellery and each year makes a new collection, which she shows at Dulwich Artists Open House.

Find out more at: www.aptstudios.org 020 8694 8344 Art in Perpetuity Trust Harold Wharf, 6 Creekside Deptford, London SE8 4SA

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ME RID IA N PRO PERT Y

Hilton Ingram talks Commercial Sense Want a higher return on your buy-to-let? Why not try commercial Dilapidations

Damage by a tenant in a residential property can be deducted from their deposit. With a commercial property any damage or wear and tear must be made good, as requested by the landlord, at any time and paid for by the tenant. Commercial property can sometimes be purchased with residential properties attached giving a further return on the investment. However, with the relaxation of the planning laws, the permitted development use (PDU) of offices above shops has now made it possible to buy a commercial property and convert the offices above it into a residential space without full planning. Selling the residential property separately and retaining the commercial unit would help to build a strong commercial property portfolio. If the owner is lucky enough to acquire a tenant who is part of a high street brand, then it is easy to see that regular income is received with little or no effort. Should the owner seek further funding from any major lending organisation, then they look upon lending more favourably.

This property is currently on offer for rent by Heath Estates Commercial property has always been thought of as a poor relation in the property industry but with better yields and changes to permitted development use, it becomes an attractive vehicle for very solid investments and very good returns. Here, Hilton offers a flavour of the benefits of building a commercial portfolio.

Yield

Yields vary from area to area, however, in the Blackheath area, residential yields are approximately 3 to 4 % and commercial yields are approximately 5 to 6 %.

Tenancy term

Residential tenancies have an average term of approximately one year, whereas commercial leases generally are taken out for 10 to 15 years, with rent reviews undertaken every three years.

Maintenance

When purchasing a residential property there is normally an element of refurbishment at the beginning and as time passes an element of maintenance becomes the responsibility of the

owner to ensure that the property is kept in a habitable condition. This has a cost and time ramification. When purchasing a commercial property, as a rule, there is no refurbishment and no maintenance as the tenant signs an FRI (Full Repairing and Insuring) Lease, making the tenant responsible for all works. This means that the ownerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s property is refurbished and maintained to a high standard which, in turn, improves the value of the property at no cost to the owner.

Security of tenure

If a residential tenant chooses not to pay their rent and stay in the property, they must be two months in arrears before eviction proceedings can be started. It may take approximately three to six months to regain possession and sometimes it can take even longer. If, for example, a commercial tenant does not pay their rent on or before the agreed rent day or does not comply with any of the terms in their lease, then they are in breach of their contract and can be removed.

Many commercial investments are funded through a self-invested personal pension (SIPP) and with the change in UK law in respect to pensions, many investors now buy commercial property because of good capital growth and regular income. Please contact a reputable pensions advisor for further information.

Heath Estates is expanding and has recently formed a new Commercial company and we would like to take this opportunity to welcome Peter Wilson to our very experienced Heath Estates team. Peter has been in the industry since 1973 and has experience in both domestic and commercial property in and around the south east London area. Should you wish to find out more about the commercial market please call Peter at our new commercial office on 020 8856 1122 www.meridian-magazine.co.uk

ME R IDIA N PRO PERT Y

How does shared ownership work?

Shared ownership is a government-backed initiative that helps you to become a home owner. Sometimes known as ‘part-buy part-rent’, you buy a percentage share in a brand new home (or a resale), as much as you can afford, and pay a subsidised rent on the remaining share.

If you buy a home through shared ownership...

Your monthly mortgage and rent can work out cheaper than buying outright. Sometimes the costs of shared ownership are the same, or cheaper, than privately renting. It is a good idea to work out your own calculations and comparisons, depending on where you wish to live. An independent mortgage advisor (IMA) can help you work through these calculations.

You buy as much of the property as you can afford:

You can buy a larger share in the property at a later date (this is called “staircasing”). You can either staircase all the way to 100% ownership in one go, or in stages. The more shares you buy, the less rent you pay. We will help you when you are ready to staircase.

Staircasing is the process by which you can increase the percentage share that you own in your home. Details of staircasing are provided to you within your shared ownership lease. It is a good idea to make plans for staircasing at the time when you first buy your shared ownership home. Talk to your independent mortgage advisor about your plans and intentions. You can staircase by buying further shares in your property, with the amount you pay based on the market value of your property at the time you apply to staircase. The value is determined by an independent RICS (Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors) qualified surveyor. As the share you own increases, so your rent reduces proportionately. You can take your ownership up to the full 100% value of the home if you choose, meaning you would then pay no rent. At Moat, we encourage home owners to increase the shares in their homes, so they can build a better future for themselves and their families. This is especially important as you approach retirement age if you are close to paying off your mortgage and wish to avoid paying rent out of your pension.

The more shares you buy, the less rent you pay – although your mortgage payments may increase for the period of the mortgage term. Service charge payments and buildings insurance payments remain the same. We recommend you make plans early to increase your shares to eventually own your home outright. Historically, and generally-speaking, house prices have a tendency to rise at a more rapid rate than incomes; as a result, shared owners who delay decisions to staircase are less likely to be able to afford to buy extra shares in their homes as the price of these could be outside your affordability range. As a charitable housing association, Moat supports the development of mixed tenure communities and is proud to provide homes for affordable rent and shared ownership across the South East of England. We are here to guide you through the process and to help you find a suitable and affordable home. Find out more at: www.moathomes.co.uk

“Shared ownership is one of the most affordable home ownership options. Other options are outlined at HelptoBuy.org.uk.” www.meridian-magazine.co.uk