Meridian March Issue

Meridian March 2015 ÂŁ1.00

Your Local What, Where and When Magazine

Where Sold

Fine Table

Your Guide to the Local Dining

Kitchens

The heart of the home

Win

ÂŁ250 Cocktail Party

Call 01322 557794

www.twintec.com watersofteners@meridian-magazine.co.uk

HELLO There’s plenty to look forward to this month, as we welcome spring in with huge frosty smiles. Remember, it is Mother’s Day on the 15th so get organised now, and make sure you have plans for Easter and the bank holiday. If you don’t already, delve into this issue for ideas.

In food and drink this issue, we look at your local diningout options; from fine dining to street food (and everything in between). It may be best to read this with a snack in hand, or a phone ready to make a booking, as it will make your belly rumble.

While we’ve got your thoughts fixed on food, you’ll love our interior news. Kitchens are the heart of the home these days, so we look at how the kitchen has developed over the years to become a living/entertaining space; and how you can create more space and better functionality, while also increasing the cost of your home; all with the help of our local interior experts.

In property, with Greenwich Square almost complete, we take the opportunity to find out a little bit of the history of this area; from workhouse to infirmary, then hospital to hot property. We stay in Greenwich for our area focus too. Nicola Berry discovers why Greenwich is never is out of the news; whether it’s driverless cars or the backdrop to a Hollywood blockbuster – it’s a place that never stands still.

As we welcome the (slightly) warmer weather, you’ll see flowers are the focus of our fashion pages this issue, as we discover what’s new in store for spring. Bright, fresh and fun; we’ve chosen five pieces to compliment any wardrobe.

We are also getting ready for spring in our health and beauty pages. How do you rejuvenate your skin after winter’s central heating spell, and banish those split ends, liven up the colour and recondition your luscious locks? Our local health and beauty experts spill their secrets.

That leaves us with events! Make sure to have a real scan through our events pages. When it comes to going out, what to see and do, plus what ‘not to miss’, there is no other listings guide in SE London so comprehensive....So, what will you do this March?

The Meridian Team xx

INSIDE THIS ISSUE....

HEART OF THE HOME P12-13

FASHION P17

GREENWICH FOCUS P29

FINE TABLES P22-23

WHAT TO DO... P46

PROPERTY P50

Meridian MAGAZINE M A RC H 2 0 1 5 Publisher: Joy Johnston Editor: Valerie Breese Art & Production Director: Paul McPherson Display Sales: Cheryl Voller Emma Forbes Laurie Monshall Classified Sales: Laurie Monshall Contributors: Claire McKinson James Haddrell Nicola Berry Michael Breese Accounts: Janet Franklin Dawn Maguire 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.

M E RID IA N

HAVE YOU HEARD?

His Royal Highness The Duke of York, KG attends ‘Topping Out’ Ceremony at the Forthcoming InterContinental® London - The O2

Volunteer With Us

Join the team of friendly volunteers and be the public face of the Old Royal Naval College (ORNC). Get a lot more out of your free time and help us to engage our visitors with the fascinating history of the ORNC. The ORNC is one of London’s most popular riverside landmarks.

Sir Christopher Wren’s twin domed masterpiece attracts 1.8 million visitors a year and is one of the top 15 visitor attractions in London. The iconic buildings stand on the site of Greenwich Palace, Henry VIII’s favourite royal residence, and include the Discover Greenwich Visitor Centre, magnificent Painted Hall and Chapel.

If you are interested in volunteering with us, please email volunteer@ornc.org, call 020 8269 4794 or visit our website at www.ornc.org/about/pages/ vacancies where you will find full role descriptions and further contact details.

We look forward to having you as a member of our team.

For Sale: Chislehurst Library The future of Chislehurst Library will finally be decided following news that Bromley Council has put the freehold up for sale. This follows cuts of £300,000 from the Council’s library service in the 2014-15 budget.

Commercial and residential options will be considered but prospective developers will have to incorporate a library into the existing site or provide a new library on an alternative site. Alison Stammers, chairwoman of the Chislehurst Town Team said: A ‘ fter years of uncertainty regarding the future of the library, we are looking forward to moving towards a decision.’ She added: ‘With six local libraries already scheduled for closure, we do appreciate that this way the Council will be safeguarding our library’s future.’ The closing date for offers is 22 April and it is hoped a decision will be made by June.

Pictured L-R: Robert Shepherd - Chief Development Officer, IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group) Europe; The Duke of York, Surinder Arora Founder & Chief Executive, The Arora Group; Jason Kow - Chief Executive, Queensgate Investments LLP

Needs Your Help Local Business Sidcup & Co., a multi-purpose space designed to house and support small businesses, need 48 volunteers to take a 30-minute shift in the window to establish an exciting new Guinness World Record for a 24 hour mannequin display featuring real life models. Starting at 12pm on Thursday 12 March, volunteers from the local community will take their turn in the Sidcup & Co. window. Email sidcup@bexley.gov.uk for more details or to book a shift.

Join us to set a brand new Guinness World Record and raise money for a Red Nose Day! Sidcup & Co. 9 High Street, Sidcup.

ZIPPO’S CIRCUS

will be at Blackheath Common from Thursday 26 March to Tuesday 7 April. Featuring the world’s most dangerous circus act Team Lucius, plus the celebrated Rastellis, musical clowns extraordinaire and a dazzling troupe of aerialists, jugglers, balancers, and equines, hosted as always by ringmaster and budgie-trainer Norman Barrett MBE. The First Prize winner will be given a unique photo opportunity for yourself and your group to stand inside the motorcycle Globe of Terror and meet the daredevil riders of Team Lucius on their stationary machines.

Plus a family Ticket (2 adults and 2 children) for Zippo’s Circus. And we have two more family tickets for runners-up. To enter go to www.meridian-magazine.co.uk/win

Information and discount tickets at www.zippos.co.uk or book by phone on 0871 210 2100. www.meridian-magazine.co.uk

Today’s kitchens are for more than just preparing meals. They’re often the main focus of the home, where family and friends gather to socialise, study, eat, and more.

M E R I DI A N IN TE R IO R S

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Heart of The Home Kitchens tend to be the heart of the home and a place where we spend a lot of our time. As a new survey reveals, we walk an average of 61 miles a year around the kitchen.

Over the years. many kitchens began to open up to other rooms, yet some remained separate spaces. The average kitchen is now 11m2 (or 118 square feet).

These newer, larger, more accommodating kitchens now had space for large tables and islands were planned in, to create a natural flow for those coming and going. Much more thought was being given to kitchen design and functionality. The idea of the kitchen as a living space was becoming more and more popular and those with smaller kitchens in older homes started to take notice. As a result homeowners started to alter and enlarge their own kitchen spaces to follow the ‘trend’, both for lifestyle and resale purposes.

If your kitchen is more 19th century than the 21st, maybe its time to give it a well-deserved facelift. Depending on your budget and the enticing lower interest, you might opt for a complete reconstruction, including an extension.

Relaxed building regulations for permitted developments will help you utilise space for maximum impact.

It depends where you live: conservation areas and listed buildings have different rules, but broadly speaking extensions, loft conversions and conservatories can all be permitted developments. There are, however, restrictions when it comes to extensions and you should check with your local planning department.

Dualit Vario 3 slice Toaster in Chilli Pink ÂŁ173.95. www.selectric.co.uk.

020 8852 0119.

Selectric, 33-35 Tranquil Vale, Blackheath SE3 0BU.

ME RID IA N INT ERIO RS Design you love. Quality you expect.

Service you deserve.

Ream has been crafting bespoke kitchen designs for 35 years and we’re passionate about design.

Let us create your dream. www.ream.co.uk 020 8166 8173 Ream Kitchens 758 Sidcup Road New Eltham SE9 3NS When planning and designing a new kitchen it pays to use top quality products and material, as the most used room in the home it will need to be able to stand up to wear and tear (especially if you have a family and pets) for at least ten years. It is also a good idea to invest in longevity and consider installing a water softener in a hard water area, as it will extend the life of the dishwasher and washing machine, plus no more deposits of lime scale on taps and sink surfaces.

Kitchen floors take a lot of punishment, with spills and dirt. Hardwearing porcelain tiles with under floor heating can transform a kitchen and are very easy to maintain, and on cold days a warm floor will make the kitchen the place to be.

Dark kitchens may not seem inviting but can be brightened up with a few easy steps. Add natural light by enlarging windows or changing the exterior door to glass, this will not only brighten the kitchen, but helps to bring the vibrant colours from the outside in. Or combine a polished floor tile with a skylight to bounce the light around. While brilliant white walls and units will also make the space appear bigger. Finally, go for shiny surfaces like marble, stainless steel or mirror for an added gleam.

Take a calming colour such as James White No.2010. The green base of the colour connects it with nature and it is particularly effective in kitchens with adjoining conservatories or kitchens which lead onto gardens. Try James White No.2010 on the walls and Vert de Terre No.234 on the kitchen units to retain the ultimate feeling of calm. For wooden kitchen units, which are unpainted, try Joa’s White No.226 on the walls as it sits very sympathetically with oak, maple and cherry wood. If you have darker mahogany or walnut units, Setting Plaster No.231 works very harmoniously on the walls. Both Joa’s White No.226 and Setting Plaster No.231 have a natural warm earthiness to them, which will enhance the properties of wood.

As kitchens grow in size so does our love affair with kitchen equipment and state-of-the- art gadgets. From what was once a temple of white, we now see colour appearing and adding a vibrant look to the kitchen.

Create your own showstopper of a kitchen.

New state-of-the-art taps will transform a sink.

On a smaller budget, it’s amazing how easy it is to completely transform your kitchen. Clean and streamlined is in, and giving your kitchen an upscale, modern look can be achieved with a few simple steps.

Once you’ve eliminated the clutter, get things organised. Useful storage comes in the shape of a dresser in solid oak that will stand the test of time.

Transform old but sound counter tops with granite cladding or replace cupboard doors for a more modern design or a coat of paint in a new shade.

Crosswater Cucina Kai Lever Kitchen tap with pull out spray.

Cookery Nook Kitchen Aid food mixer £399.99. In a range of colours and finishes. www.cookery-nook.co.uk.

020 82972422 Cookery Nook 32 Montpelier Vale Blackheath SE3 0TA.

www.heolby.co.uk.

020 8690 3401.

H.E Olby 299-313 Lewisham High St SE13 6NL.

www.meridian-magazine.co.uk

15

Love Blinds range of blinds and shutters are made-to-measure to fit your windows perfectly.

Their measuring and fitting service covers a huge area and we provide a personal service like no other supplier. www.loveblindsltd.co.uk 07447 928734.

The benefits of scale free water are most obvious in the kitchen and bathroom. A quick wipe over will leave your appliances sparkling. www.twintec.com 01322 557794 Meridian Water Softeners.

www.farrow-ball.com 020 8852 9836 Farrow & Ball Showroom 48 Tranquil Vale Blackheath SE3 Vert de Terre 234

DOVETAIL JOINT COMPANY

Joa’s White 226

Stunning Oak Kitchen and Dinng Room furniture from Own Pine and Oak in Chelsfield. Numerous styles and sizes available so why not take a drive out to their picturesque barn showroom www.owenpine.co.uk 01959 534645 Owen Farm, Pump Lane Orpington Kent BR6 7PW.

Devernois

The Dovetail Joint Company, is a local bespoke kitchen maker. Our customers are closely involved at all stages of their project, from design, through to manufacture and installation. Also, being a small family run company, we are able to price our kitchens and furniture very competitively.

If you would like a stylish, practical, hardwearing kitchen, or other built in furniture, call The Dovetail Joint or visit www.thedovetailjoint.co.uk.

020 8291 5578.

www.devernois.fr

Celebrate the arrival of our Spring Collection with a special Champagne event on Friday 27th and Saturday 28th of March.

Drop by today and experience something very different.

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

www.meridian-magazine.co.uk | 7

ME RID IA N FASHIO N

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Local fashion stores have just received their spring stock, so what will we be wearing this spring?

This season’s flowers are big, bold and bright, including vivid, oversized prints at Michael Kors and pink-toned petals on a trouser suit at Victoria Beckham. But try to choose one outstanding item and keep everything else pared back to stop it looking too messy.

Flower Power seems to be blooming, with a Japanese influence. Many of the prints are based on retro styles of the 50s and 60s. Vintage clothing stores and markets are great places to find some original and quirky pieces.

Converse shoes in a range of colours. www.bullfrogs.co.uk 020 8305 1102 Bullfrogs Shoes 12 Nelson Road, Greenwich SE10.

Graphic Poppy Print £98.00.

Feminine silk-front floral-print sweater with contrast cotton-blend back and neckline. www.jigsaw.com.

020 8852 6413 Jigsaw, 5-7 Tranquil Vale, Blackheath SE3 0BU.

Vintage Trends Louche Raquel Blossom Dress £49.00.

In a Japanese inspired garden print, the dress will be your go-to choice for day or evening wear.

This contemporary print also features box pleat design details, creating an ultra-feminine full skirt: perfect for the warmer weather.

The Louche Matti Cardigan £30.00 returns this season with new colourways. Waistlength and slim-fit, an ideal cover up. www.joythestore.com 020 8293 7979.

Joy, 9 Greenwich Market London SE10 9JB

Greenwich Market has a range of small shops and stalls selling retro and vintage clothes. www.greenwichmarketlondon.com.

Greenwich Market SE10 9HZ Paraphernalia is a small, dress agency business stocking many vintage pieces. www.paraphernalia-online.co.uk.

020 8692 3545.

Paraphernalia 365 Brockley Road, London SE4 2AG www.meridian-magazine.co.uk

ME RID IA N FASHIO N

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Canary Wharf’s Spring Fashion Event Celebrate Canary Wharf’s fabulous annual Spring Fashion Event from Friday 27 – Sunday 29 March.

With discounts of up to 25% in many of Canary Wharf’s leading fashion and accessories stores, this three day shopping event provides the perfect excuse to update your wardrobe for the season ahead.

As well as the amazing store discounts on offer, enjoy live music and in mall promotions from a number of retailers throughout the malls. Fashion shows will also take place throughout the 3 day event in Canada Place and Jubilee Place showcasing the season’s latest trends.

DATES Friday 27 – Sunday 29 March Friday 9am – 8pm Saturday 10am – 6pm Sunday 12noon – 6pm Throughout Canary Wharf Shopping Malls FREE See more at www.canarywharf.com www.meridian-magazine.co.uk

ME RID IA N PRO PERT Y

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Spring is in the air, buyers are back out again.

As I write this in the middle of February, you can certainly sense that the property market is picking up again, as is traditional for this time of year. The number of buyers registering is up and activity levels in terms of the number of valuations we are doing and the number of viewings happening again is well up. Though we all wondered what this year would bring with an election not far away, at the moment the property market continues to thrive. I think the basic reason for this is we are lucky to be living in South East London and having the capital on our doorstep. With all the benefits that we take for granted sometimes, it’s a great place to live. We have also seen a number of buyers coming from other parts of London, as they feel this area represents better value for money.

It’s also incredibly cheap to borrow money at the moment.

We had a meeting with our mortgage brokers yesterday and they were saying the mortgage market is very competitive at the moment with lenders trying to outdo each other, so from that perspective it’s a great time to

get a mortgage. On a practical note, it’s always worth speaking to a broker or lender before you start looking, so that know what you can borrow and to find out about the moving costs, so that things like stamp duty don’t come as a surprise further down the process. If you would like some help on this front we work with a couple of brokers who are very good, so do give us a call.

The other big change with the property market this month has been the launch of a new property website, ‘onthemarket’, you might have seen the targets on some agents windows promoting the site. It’s been ruffling a few feathers amongst the agents, as in order to sign up with them you have to stop using either Rightmove or Zoopla. We thought long and hard about signing up with the new site, but in the end have decided to stick with Rightmove and Zoopla as we feel these are the best known property sites and we wanted to give our clients properties the best exposure possible. So it’s certainly worth checking when you appoint an agent, which sites they are going to be advertising your home on.

Feel free to call into Richard Piddock’s office in Blackheath (the old sweet shop on the corner of Wemyss Road) for a chat or contact me on.

E: richard@jdmonline.com T: 020 8463 0091 All the best Richard Piddock

Belmont Hill, SE13 OIEO £310,000

Dsan et iusto odio dignissim qui blandit praes Accumsan et iusto odio dig nisim qui blandit odio dig nisim qui blandit praesent. dolore eu feugiat nulla facilisis at vero eros et acc enpraesent. dolore eu feugiat nulla facilisis at vero eros et.

Two bedroom top floor flat in a very convenient location,close to Blackheath Village ( about 0.8 miles) and even closer to Lewisham’s excellent transport links. The DLR being just 0.5 miles. Needs some TLC.

www.webaddress.com

020 8463 0091

West Grove, SE10 OIEO £600,0000

Spacious Georgian three bedroom garden apartment, situated on the edge of the Heath and with Greenwich Park on your doorstep, it’s a fabulous spot from which to enjoy the very best of The Royal Borough.

020 8463 0091

Lee SE12 OIEO £370,000

Well presented two double bedroom Victorian terraced home. It is located in a popular residential road ideally positioned for local travel, only 0.5 miles to Lee Train Station, favoured schools and Northbrook Park. 020 8463 0091

Established 1996

Lee SE12 £410,000- £420,000

This is a charming semi-detached family home which has been refurbished and re-decorated. Decked courtyard garden. Garage via shared drive.

Only 0.4 miles to Lee Train Station and Chain free. 020 8463 0091 Blackheath 020 8463 0091

Locksbottom 01689 880440

Bromley 020 8313 6800

Petts Wood 01689 819819

Chislehurst 020 8325 8000

Lettings 01689 838040

M E R IDIA N PRO PERT Y

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CHISLEHURST - £1,750,000

Stylishly refurbished 4 bedroom Love house, on a great sized landscaped plot just 0.4 of a mile from Chislehurst. Lots of original features including a lovely Inglenook fireplace in the beautiful lounge. Dining room and bespoke kitchen/breakfast room with underfloor heating. Fabulous Orangery. Garage and plenty of parking. Such a lovely property that an internal viewing is essential.. EPC rating: E 020 8325 8000

CHISLEHURST - £550,000

CHAIN FREE Commuters take note, this 2 bedroom semi-det period cottage is less than 1/2 a mile from Chislehurst station with a 121 ft long garden.

Lovely full length lounge/dining room with beautiful oak flooring and a fireplace with a wood burner, a bay window to the front and patio doors opening into a conservatory to the rear. Refurbished kitchen and bathroom with shower over bath. EPC rating: D 020 8325 8000

CHISLEHURST - £560,000

Just 0.4 of a mile from the popular Edgebury School is this stunning 4 bedroom, 2 bathroom home with driveway to the front and garden to the rear. Sitting room with bay and open plan kitchen/dining room to the rear. Family bathroom.

You must see this property to appreciate the thought that has gone into the design and no expense spared. Viewing essential. EPC rating: D 020 8325 8000

CHISLEHURST - £160,000

A well proportioned 1 bedroom retirement flat for the fit and active elderly on the ground floor. Modern fitted kitchen with some integral appliances, fitted carpets, plenty of built in cupboards and a modern shower room. Excellent communal facilities including an attractive and spacious residents’ lounge and conservatory, laundry room, and a health and beauty salon. EPC rating: C 020 8325 8000

Chislehurst 020 8325 8000

www.meridian-magazine.co.uk

Whether you are looking for a quick and convenient bite to eat with the family or want to dress up to wine and dine, we take a look at what is available locally, from street food to fine dining.

M E R IDIA N E AT OUT

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Fine Tables Eating good food no longer means stomach churning bills or painful etiquette and fiddling with four sets of forks; it’s evolved. Eating out is now something we do much more of, and isn’t solely for birthdays or wedding anniversaries, so one restaurant type no longer fits all. It’s also more accessible, less stuffy and we have more choices, but sometimes that’s the trouble...where do you begin?

Fine Dining

This isn’t something most of us can do too often, but it’s we something foodies can do more if we are smart about it. Fine dining options can be surprisingly more affordable - if you are willing to spend just a little bit extra for exhilarating food experiences. And, luckily, we are in a position where you can find a starched tablecloth and a sommelier, not too far from home.

Where to go locally: Chapters restaurant offers all-day menus that include a great value plat du jour, as well as a superb a la carte range. www.chaptersblackheath.com.

020 8333 2666.

Chapters, 43-45 Montpelier Vale, Blackheath Village SE3

WIkN tail

Coc Master Class

Locale Blackheath

Win an amazing night with one of the Locale bartenders worth £250

For you and up to 5 friends on our bartender’s table, where our head bartender, Kane Savva, will give you a cocktail masterclass and introduce to our fabulous new cocktail list, let you try different flavours and spirits and talk you through each cocktail and how it is made. We will also throw in some great bar snacks, including our lobster sliders and homemade crab cakes.

To enter go to www.meridian-magazine.co.uk/win

ME RID IA N EAT OUT

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Street Food

Big, bold, rustic and authentic is what street food should be. Served up, no fuss, with a plastic fork, (or wrapped up and stuffed straight into a salivating mouth) and preferable eaten in the cold with the steam warming your face. Street food doesn’t need any niceties, it would only detract from savouring those electric flavours.

Street food is a concept that we Brits have only began to embrace in the last few years, but we’ve embraced it tightly. Plus, it doesn’t break the bank.

Nice as Pie

Where to go locally:

We highly recommend Greenwich Market for a range of choice (Indian, Ethiopian, Japanese, Chinese, Portuguese, British, Vegan – the list goes on). When it’s peak time you may have to queue for a short while, but watching your food being freshly prepared is insightful viewing.

Casual Dining

‘Casual’ majorly undersells this category; but it simply means less formal than the finer dining venue. Here, you can expect exceptionally good food, that is highly interesting and original but in a more laid-back setting. With stunning decor and innovative food concepts, casual dining still offers plenty of opportunity to woo, wine and dine – across a plethora of cuisine choices.

Where to go locally:

Buenos Aires Cafe Ltd - A relaxed and welcoming restaurant in the heart of Blackheath. Simple food, cooked with passion and of course genuine Argentinian beef. www.buenosairescafe.co.uk.

020 8315 5333.

17 Royal Parade, Blackheath SE3 0TL

Quality Family Dining

If you’re looking for an eatery suitable for all occasions, where everything from the staff to the decor make you (and the whole family) feel comfortable, relaxed and downright homely; this is it. It won’t surprise you that well-prepared, honest food, at decent prices, is something of a peoplepleaser.

Where to go locally:

Aqua Bar and Grill, Bromley & Blackheath - Chic style and Mediterranean fare given the expert charcoal grill treatment, alongside great mid-week lunch and dinner deals (especially their ½ price steak Mondays).

Blackheath www.aquarestaurantblackheath.co.uk 020 8318 1143.

3-5 Montpelier Vale, Blackheath, SE3 0TA Bromley www.aquabarandgrill.co.uk 0208 460 2346 4-6 Market Parade, East Street, Bromley, BR1 1QN

Special Offer

Wednesdays for Sushi: A choice of 3 sushi and sashimi plates with a glass of Prosecco for £15 per person. www.localerestaurants.com 020 8852 6839.

Locale, 1 Lawn Terrace, Blackheath SE3 9LJ.

The British Oak was known to many as a pub for the locals. Appealing to the wider audience now, the Oak has found a niche in the pub grub market with a menu of Pieminister award winning pies; their motto ...Live & eat pie!

I went with my German friend. He can be painfully honest, so I have to be careful asking what he thinks - he might just tell me.

The beer that caught our attention is made locally at Meantime microbrewery. Firstly Pale Ale, and unlike most PAs it was served cold. We downed it like Foreign Legionnaires out of the desert as we looked at the pie menu, which states that the ingredients are sourced from some of Britain’s top producers, including world-class cheese makers, award winning micro brewers and artisan charcuterie producers -all chosen for their exceptional taste and quality. Amazingly, the only national pie company to always use 100% free range British meat.

There are eleven classic pies, regulars like Kate & Sidney (steak & kidney), and quirky like; Matador, a British beef steak, chorizo, olive and butter bean pie; Deerstalker, A British venison, dry cured bacon & puy lentil pie; Wildshroom, a wild mushroom, asparagus, white wine and cream pie; also Moo and Blue, beef steak & Long Clawson Stilton pie.

Both hungry, my guest chose shamrock, a British beef steak and Irish stout pie, while I went for a free ranger-free-range British chicken & ham hock pie with leek and thyme. Both pies came on a bed of mashed potatoes with onion gravy, mine had a small pot of crisp shallots, while the other pie was a target for no 10 Chutney. Also a side of slaw, which is about as close as you can get to sauerkraut in English cuisine. Silence for a while of studious eating, the PAs bottomed out and we tried the second Meantime choice, Yakima Red. A traditional pub with traditional food and beer and friendly staff, works for me. Michael Breese britishoakblackheath.com 020 8305 1781 The British Oak 109 Old Dover Road, SE3 8SU.

www.meridian-magazine.co.uk

ME R IDIA N EAT OUT

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01 Where: The Mogul restaurant has been established for over twenty years in a four storey, grade two listed building, dating from the 17th century and located in the heart of Greenwich.

Mogul

01

02 Menu: Popular Tandoori dishes are cooked in a charcoal-fired clay oven, giving a distinctive taste enhanced by a marinade of yoghurt, spices and fresh herbs. No artificial colourings or preservatives and all our supplies are sourced locally, where possible You might like to try Chef Mohan’s weekly special - a special mogul dish created using the freshest currently available seasonal produce.

Ambience: Mogul restaurant has three floors, each of which has its own ambience. The ground floor, with its own bar and street view, moving downstairs we find the Mogul restaurant cellar, particularly popular are the long tables in cosy alcoves with their discreet lighting and which are great for groups of up to ten guests. Finally, the stylish Mogul private dining room is located upstairs, on the first floor.

03

03 02

www.mogulindian.co.uk 020 8858 6790.

10 Greenwich Church Street SE10 9BJ.

Rivington Grill Keep your eyes peeled over Easter weekend as the Rivington Easter bunny will be hiding 100 eggs throughout Greenwich Park. If you’re lucky enough to find one, return it to the restaurant to receive a choco-tastic prize, a deliciously tempting caramel-fudge hot chocolate! Adults have the option of ‘spiking’ theirs with a hit of booze too! Join the conversation @CapriceHoldings #RiviEggHunt

MOTHER’S DAY

www.rivingtongreenwich.co.uk.

020 8293 9270.

178 Greenwich High Road, Greenwich SE10 8NN.

Al Pancino

at The Spread Eagle

New deli and coffee bar serving breakfast, Lunch and afternoon tea. With an Italian chef & pastry chef onboard offering a mix of Italian, Greek and Mediterranean food including, artisan sandwiches and specialities, it’s the perfect stop for those on the go. Dog friendly during the daytime.

020 8853 4797.

1-2 Stockwell Street, Greenwich SE10 9JN.

Sticks’n’Sushi

The high-quality, fresh food based on a unique combination of traditional sushi and yakitori sticks from the grill. So for those less keen on fish, there is a selection of chicken, pork, beef and vegetable skewers - all grilled fresh to order. www.sticksnsushi.com 020 3141 8820 1 Nelson Road, Greenwich SE10 4JB.

Spoil Mum this Mother’s Day with a memorable meal at Aqua Bromley or Aqua Blackheath. Enjoy a 3 course set menu for just £26.95. Taking bookings now for Sunday 15 March.

Devernois

Call to book Aqua Blackheath www.aquarestaurantblackheath.co.uk 020 8318 1143 3-5 Montpelier Vale, Blackheath, SE3 0TA Aqua Bromley www.aquabarandgrill.co.uk 0208 460 2346 4-6 Market Parade, East Street, Bromley, BR1 1QN

www.meridian-magazine.co.uk

ME RID IA N GREENW ICH FOCUS

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Greenwich has been in the news recently, and it’s all good, as Nicola Berry reports.

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From driverless cars to the filming of Now You See Me 2 starring Daniel Radcliffe and Michael Caine, Greenwich is certainly living up to its reputation as one of London’s most exciting boroughs.

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1 Last month the launch of the Government’s drainage, power and lighting. The Market will only be open Thursdays through to Sundays while this work new driverless car trials at Greenwich Peninsular is completed, but a temporary market will operate made headline news. In fact The Royal Borough in Fry’s Court off Durnford Street and shops will be of Greenwich is the local authority partner in a Royal Blackheath Golf ClubFor further details go to: unaffected. major new project known as GATEway (Greenwich www.greenwichmarketlondon.com Automated Transport Environment project); just one of three projects chosen by the Government to trial 3 Few can have failed to notice The University automated vehicles in urban environments. of Greenwich’s ground-breaking new Campus Library and School of Architecture & Construction So how will the driverless car work? Well, it all in Stockwell Street, which opened last autumn. The sounds incredibly simple. The vehicle (aptly named building includes two lecture theatres, broadcast the Meridian Shuttle), is driven by a computer and quality TV studios, seminar space and design studios. uses lasers to see where it’s going. The idea is that With several galleries and a café which is open to residents will be able to call up the shuttle using an the public, the University says its new building is “an app; once it arrives just tap your desired destination inspiring addition to Greenwich’s architectural heritage into the onboard computer and away you go! Look and community.” out for the shuttle as it’s put through its paces around Greenwich over the next two years.

Undoubtedly the most startling feature is its fourteen 2 Greenwich is home to many historic buildings interlinked roof terraces, which together form one of Europe’s largest teaching and learning green roof within the World Heritage site, but it is also a landscapes. Almost the size of 12 tennis courts, living and evolving part of London with a thriving the green roofs create a research environment residential and commercial community. Greenwich that includes facilities for the study of aquaponics, Hospital has recently embarked on a major scheme of apiculture, algae, urban agriculture and the interaction improvements to Greenwich Market, as Gillie Bexson, of landscape with the built environment. The roof Head of Property, explains: “We are investing to terraces are also home to wetland, climate-controlled improve retail and residential accommodation, public greenhouses, an apiary of bees, an outdoor vegetable realm and the market. The vision is not to change but grid for research in to food cultivation, arid planting, to refine; sensitively, carefully and for the long term.” and herbaceous landscapes.

Work includes replacing the market roof, relaying the cobbles, refurbishing the portico and improving the

www.meridian-magazine.co.uk

ME R IDIA N HEALT H & BEAUTY

Ask the expert – What to do right now, to get your face and body ready for spring.

Winter is behind us now, and we need to condition and restyle our locks; banish those split ends and liven up the colour. Plus, how to repair the damage done by central heating to our skin and the latest treatments on offer from our local beauty salons.

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Wild Hair

The Curious Comb salon have recently introduced a new range, Davines; sulphate and paraben-free, they use essential oils to fragrance their products and are perfect for conditioning dry, brittle hair. www.thecuriouscomb.co.uk 020 8853 8282 111 Humber Road Blackheath, SE3 7LW.

Thread Veins Medical experts are still baffled as to what causes thread veins, but they have identified some common triggers.

‘Female hormones, like oestrogen, do encourage blood vessel growth, so women may be more susceptible,’ If you are pregnant, taking the Pill or undergoing hormone replacement therapy you will have increased hormone levels, which could make you more prone to developing thread veins. You could also inherit them. Other causes include too much sunbathing, which weakens the skin, and exposure to extreme hot or cold that can cause the skin to flush.

Drinking too much can also cause the fine red lines to appear on your face and cheeks. Alcohol is known to cause the blood vessels to dilate, but continued drinking can weaken the collagen - the connecting tissue in skin - so the veins stay open, increasing blood flow to the face, which causes thread veins.

www.agelessbeautyuk.com.

020 8853 4444 Ageless Beauty, 148 Trafalgar Road Greenwich SE10 9TZ

Getting Fit Can Be Fun

Manicure & Pedicure There is nothing worse for skin than a long, cold winter. The low humidity in conjunction with hot air, heat, and less fresh air can often leave your skin looking dull, dry, rough, and even wrinkled and older.

When our feet and legs aren’t on display, the way they are during warmer weather, we tend not to moisturise as much, and we don’t pay as much attention to things like dry cuticles. Unfortunately, it doesn’t take long for skin that is neglected to react, becoming dry, dull, and flaky, and sometimes even red and inflamed. If your hands and feet may be suffering from dry conditions, irritated skin and stiff muscle aches, its time for some TLC in the form of a manicure or pedicure; or perhaps both for the ultimate luxury.

First the hands/feet are soaked and scrubbed. Then a moisturising massage is applied and the nails and cuticles are clipped and any hard skin is removed. Finally, the nails are filed and a choice of this season’s polish is applied.

www.thenailandtanningsalon.co.uk.

020 8297 2799 Day Spa Blackheath 147 Lee Road, Blackheath SE3 9DJ

Before I became a fitness expert I was a size 18 gymaphobic, whose idea of exercise was pushing a trolley around the biscuit aisle in my local supermarket.

It wasn’t until my 40s that I discovered the fantastic benefits of exercise, and also that it could actually be fun.

Now, I’m a Personal Trainer, offering completely personalised, one-on-one experiences in the privacy of a private gym.

For a FREE consultation, call Alex Riley on 07845 192 653 or e-mail alexrileypt@gmail.com www.alexrileypt.com REPs registered Level 3 PT TRX Suspension Instructor (TRX FORCE L2 Qualified) Functional Performance Specialist Certified PadBox Instructor

www.meridian-magazine.co.uk

ME RID IA N HEALT H

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Preventing dental decay as we age Surprisingly, around retirement age many people who have experienced little or no decay for many years suddenly find tooth decay becomes a major problem.

There are a number of reasons why this can occur but one of the more common factors is the effect of medication on saliva. Saliva plays an important role in preventing tooth decay including balancing the mouth’s pH and supporting the remineralisation of teeth. Without saliva, teeth would simply dissolve. A lack of saliva, often referred to as ‘dry mouth’, is more common as one gets older and is a common side effect of many over-the-counter medicines, prescription medicines and dietary supplements. Some researchers suggest that up to 80% of medications reduce the quantity and quality of saliva, leading to a much higher incidence of dental decay. For people on multiple medications the effect is exponential.

A classic sign that saliva flow may be less than optimal is feeling the need to drink a lot of tea and coffee just to keep your mouth moist and experiencing a feeling of dry eyes.

There are however measures we can take to compensate for this. These include using prescription only high fluoride toothpaste, fluoride mouth rinses, applying fluoride varnishes to the teeth and using bicarbonate of soda as a mouth rinse. Making dietary changes can also have a dramatic effect. Every time we eat or drink, the pH in the mouth becomes acidic. If we eat and drink more frequently, we increase the number of acid attacks on our teeth and this coupled with reduced saliva production, escalates the risk of dental decay.

So if you suffer from dry mouth, try and reduce the number of times you ‘snack’ during the day, particularly before going to bed. Also limit your intake of sugary foods and think about using Xylitol instead of sugar as it does not affect the acidity of the mouth. Finally, there is no substitute for good dental hygiene at home and regular checkups with your dentist.

Finn Dental Specialists, Backwoods, Kelsey Lane, Beckenham, Kent BR3 3NE Tel: 020 8658 1230 www.finndentalspecialists.com

ME R IDIA N EDUCAT IO N

Transfer to Secondary School – Part 2 11+ and Applications for Independent and Grammar Schools Independent and grammar schools usually require a student to sit an assessment in English, Maths, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning.

The format varies from school to school.

Different application processes apply depending on your child’s circumstances.

Parents / carers can apply to up to six state schools on the ‘ Secondary Common Application Form’ (SCAF). Parents must apply directly to Independent Schools. These are not covered by the SCAF. Details of each school’s application procedure can be obtained from the school office, or its website.

In Bexley, Bromley and Kent many parents wish their children to sit selection tests for children transferring to secondary school in 2016. This is commonly referred to as the 11+ and the selective schools are known as grammar schools.

If your child is taking the 11+ you must list all your preferred grammar schools above any other type of school. The further down the list of preferences you need to go, the more realistic you need to be about your child’s chance of getting a place. The closing date for SCAF and SIF applications is usually during the October of the year before planned entry to secondary school – i.e. October 2015 for September 2016.

Finding the right school for your child is not an easy task. It helps to begin by thinking about your child’s talents and interests, his or her social and emotional confidence, learning style and teaching needs.

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Visit as many schools as possible and make copious notes so that you can compare them later.

All schools are inspected regularly by the Office for Standards in Education (Ofsted).

Ofsted’s aim is to help improve the quality and standards of education and childcare through independent inspection.

You can check the latest report on ant school by visiting Ofsted’s website, www.ofsted.gov.uk.

Recently Bexley Borough began using CEM style assessment papers. CEM’s aim is to develop assessments that provide as standardised an environment as possible. The content of their tests assesses performance in verbal, numerical and non-verbal reasoning. Their interpretation of verbal reasoning is broad and includes comprehension and reading skills. They strive to make the selection process fair for all candidates and the assessments are designed to enable all children to demonstrate their natural ability and achievement.

Do your research – read the secondary transfer booklet published by your LEA along with the prospectus and website of each school you wish to apply for and attend an open event at each school.

Please note that each borough & school have deadlines for exam applications.

It is recommended that you look on the website for the council your preferred school is in, for relevant information. Late applications will not be accepted !

Lin Potter. Young Education Services (YES) 1st Floor, Greenwich Station, 187 Greenwich High Road, Greenwich SE10 8JA www.youngeducationservices.co.uk

Maze Hill

ME R IDIA N EDUCAT IO N

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Art of Mindfulness at Blackheath High School Blackheath High sees the benefits of teaching the A ‘ rt of Mindfulness’ to help develop confident, happy, socially aware individuals, with high aspirations ‘Mindfulness’ is something of a buzzword at the moment. Even London-based Magic Circle law firms are embracing the use of mindfulness sessions in the workplace. Would it be unduly cynical to think that if analytical, profit-driven businesses see merit in the process, there must be something in it? The media broadcast ongoing concerns about mental health and the emotional well-being of our children, and worrying statistics show the increase of mental illness in the young.

Every school has stressed and anxious pupils from time to time, and we are no different. Right from Junior School, we try to equip the girls to cope with the ups and downs of life and our ‘Pillars of Learning’, particularly ‘Resilience’, reflect this ethos.

As the Independent School Inspectorate’s report recognised, our pastoral care is excellent: “Staff commitment to pupils’ welfare ensures that excellent support and guidance are given to pupils of all ages. Relationships between teachers and pupils are excellent, ensuring a supportive environment.” The attention we pay to pastoral care helps to ensure that our girls can develop as confident, happy, socially aware individuals, with high aspirations and a willingness to embrace new challenges and experiences. As specialists in girls’ education, we know that an all-girls environment enables us to encourage risk-taking and build resilience. In working life, these attributes are essential. Young women need to be brave enough to ask a question at a big meeting, or to disagree with the majority view. They need to be able to handle the vagaries and unfairnesses of life, to try, and fail, and try again. We take an enormous interest in the emotional well-being of the girls and the Girls’ Day School Trust (GDST) is investing in this aspect in its schools.

At Blackheath High, we use a range of approaches to develop girls’ resilience and courage, including mindfulness sessions at both Juniors and Seniors, enabling the girls to take time out to reflect and enjoy the moment. We also ensure the girls, become involved with community and charity projects. Thus providing a sense of perspective and developing an outward looking approach.

From donating school equipment to support the work of the Nasio Trust in Kenya, to giving time to support our SHINE community service programme – girls can lean about the pleasure derived from helping others and the mental health benefits that can bring.

The practice of mindfulness is another tool in our toolbox; it can boost resilience and develop hardiness, changing character traits for the better. It improves memory, increases creativity and speeds up reaction times. Mindfulness positively affects brain patterns underlying every day anxieties, to enable problems to be dealt with and to move on. In a busy school, we believe that it pays to find a moment of calmness. www.blackheathhighschool.gdst.net. 020 8853 2929.

Blackheath High School. Vanbrugh Park, London SE3 7AG.

WH AT TO DO W HERE & WH E N EVERY MON ROTARY CLUB OF LEWISHAM & PENGE

AGAINST CAPTAIN’S ORDERS: A JOURNEY INTO THE UNCHARTED

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 Earll 020 8303 3361 or Alan Davis 020 8467 2032. Bromley Court Hotel, Bromley.

LIVE MUSIC & OPEN MIC

Jive jazz hosted by Dave Silk (bass) fusing legendary and experienced musos together with first time and amateur performers. In relaxed candlelit setting. Bar opens 8pm. £10 on the door. www.jazznights.co.uk.

Mycenae Road, Blackheath SE3 7SE.

2ND TUES OF EVERY MONTH 8THE BLACKHEATH & GREENWICH AMNESTY GROUP Monthly meetings. 8pm. St. Margaret’s Church, Lee Terrace, Blackheath SE3.

DEVELOPED BY PUNCHDRUNK ENRICHMENT IN ASSOCIATION WITH THE NATIONAL MARITIME MUSEUM “Prepare to explore. To brave treacherous waters and mutinous crews. Defy ruthless pirates and fearsome captains. To discover worlds of stars and science, of waves and wonder. Places where all are either brave souls or cowardly hearts. Which will you be?” - Glan, Museum Curator.

Embark on an adventure on the high seas of maritime history with Punchdrunk Enrichment and the National Maritime Museum, in Against Captain’s Orders: A Journey into the Uncharted.

In an exclusive first for the museum industry, the National Maritime Museum is collaborating with Punchdrunk Enrichment to take six to twelve year olds and their families on the adventure of a lifetime. Against Captain’s Orders combines the National Maritime Museum’s wealth of maritime history and artefacts with Punchdrunk Enrichment’s innovative practice and commitment to creating captivating, educational experiences.

Life jackets will be donned as visitors become part of the motley crew of HMS Adventure. Taking on seafaring roles of Ship’s Watch, Navigation, Midshipmen and Salvage, the teams will be called upon to navigate through this extraordinary exhibition.

Harnessing the heroics of Grace Darling, who launched a daring rescue mission of shipwrecked sailors, the intuition of Captain Bligh, who journeyed over 4,000 miles with the help of just a sextant and compass after being abandoned by his crew, and the intellect of Sir Francis Drake, one of the first men to circumnavigate the globe, audiences will live through their very own nautical adventure.

With so much history secured in one museum, so many doorways to other times and other worlds, Against Captain’s Orders promises to be exciting, enlightening, and perhaps just a tiny bit dangerous.

Against Captain’s Orders is supported using public funding by Arts Council England.

Against Captain’s Orders: A Journey into the Uncharted. Dates: 28 March – 31 August Show times: From 10.00 daily Admission: £19.75 Visitor Enquiries: 020 8858 4422 National Maritime Museum, Greenwich www.rmg.co.uk/againstcaptainsorders

ONGOING ART, DRAMA, MUSIC, LANGUAGE & WINE COURSES

GREENWICH DECORATIVE & FINE ARTS SOCIETY

BLACKHEATH DECORATIVE & FINE ARTS SOCIETY

GUIDED WALK IN MARYON WILSON PARK

Monthly lectures at King William Court, Room 315, University of Greenwich, Old Royal Naval College, One-to-one instrumental & vocal tuition for all age groups, plus a range of courses. The Conservatoire, Greenwich, SE10. 8pm on 2nd Monday of the month, except April & August. Refreshments from 7.15pm.

Lee Road Blackheath, SE3.

Info: 020 8852 0234 or info@conservatoire.org.uk 020 8852 7873 or www.gdfas.org

With an animal park & deer enclosure. Tours held Stimulating lectures and intriguing outings. Fourth at 1.30pm every Wednesday, meet by the deer pen, Thursday of the month except Aug and Dec 2.30pm. limited to the first 50 people. Free. Maryon Wilson www.artsinblackheath.org.uk St Mary’s Hall, Cresswell Park, Thorntree Road, Charlton, SE7.

Park, Blackeath SE3.

EVERY WED KEEP FIT & IN SHAPE + LINE DANCING

10am - 12 noon. Donation £5 to Cancer Research UK. 020 8852 7127. Kingswood Hall, Kingswood Place, off Dacre Park, Lewisham SE13.

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 The Clockhouse Community Centre, Defiance Walk, Woolwich Dockyard, SE18 5QL.

EVERY THURS BLACKHEATH MORRIS MEN

Practice 8.45-10pm. St Marks Church Upper Hall, Greenwich South Street SE10. Free. Contact John on 020 8461 2440. www.blackheathmorris.com

ROTARY CLUB OF GREENWICH. For like-minded business people to meet & help the community. Fred Nunn 020 8858 6410. Charlton Football Club, Floyd Rd; Charlton SE7 8BL.

EVERY FRI LUNCHTIME CONCERT KIDS KNITTING & CROCHET WORKSHOPS

Every Fri & Sat 11am-1pm. Special discount £8/2h session (quote:MERIDIAN) Book online at www. knitshop.co.uk or call 020 8144 4523, Boutique Outlet, 326 Lee High Road, SE13 5PJ.

LEARN TAROT CARDS

Develop your intuition and communication skills.

Private tuition and workshops with an experienced reader. Email: marieclaire@tarotgift.com, www.tarotgift.com Tel: 07791 139 380, 020 8293 1737.

1pm – 2pm. Free 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 Community Centre, 141 Greenwich High Road, SE10 8JA.

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.

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

THURS 12 MAR BACH TO BABY

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.

The critically acclaimed Classical Concert series for Baby and You founded by concert pianist and mum, Miaomiao Yu. Classical music, feeding, crying, dancing and nappy changing. Be amazed at how your child will love Bach, Beethoven and Brahms. 4pm. £10. 020 8858 1749.

Mycenae House, 90 Mycenae Road, SE3 7SE.

FRI 13 MAR JAZZ NIGHTS

EVERY SUNDAY CHRISTIAN SCIENCE SOCIETY,

Featuring Jazznights Allstars and guests. Candlelit musical event occurring on the second Friday of each month.

Backed by the Phil Mead Trio, and hosted by David Silk.

8pm. £10. 01689 875 683 or visit www.jazznights. co.uk. Mycenae House, 90 Mycenae Road, SE3 7SE.

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, and 1.30pm on 2nd Tues of each month. 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 10 MAY WATERLOO LIFE & TIMES

2015 marks the bicentenary of the Battle of Waterloo and this exhibition of fans and fan leaves designed to commemorate battles and campaigns. The Fan Museum, 12 Crooms Hill SE10 8ER.

UNTIL 31 DEC 2015 INSIDE THE ARSENAL

This free exhibition tells the fascinating story of the Royal Arsenal and the Royal Woolwich Dockyard by looking across 400 years of history, from Henry VIII to modern times. You can see films and pictures, also read and listen to first-hand accounts of what life was like inside and outside the Arsenal gates. Free. 9am-5pm. 020 8854 2452. Greenwich Heritage Centre Main Gallery, Artillery Square, Royal Arsenal, Woolwich SE18 4DX.

WED 4, 11, 18, 25 MAR & 1 APR TAPESTRY GROUP

Enjoy sewing and would like to get involved with this project at St. Alfege. 10am-1pm. Caton Room, St Alfege Church, Greenwich Church Street, Greenwich SE10 9BJ.

THURS 5,12, 19 & 26 MAR 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.

SAT 7 MAR BLACKHEATH DOES BROADWAY A fun night for all the family. For a third time, the Blackheath Halls group presents the popular all-singing, all-dancing evening of musical theatre performances from the shows. £9/£7, under 12s. 7pm.

020 8463 0100. www.blackheathhalls.com.

Great Hall, Blackheath Halls, 23 Lee Road, SE3 9RQ.

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BLACKHEATH DECORATIVE AND FINE ARTS SOCIETYTHURS 26 MAR

Dr Susan Kay-Williams, chief executive of the Royal School of Needlework says that her lecture today about cloth is ‘flavoured with power, war, politics, the church, money, exploration, science and even sex.’ Tempted? Jion us at 2pm for 2.30pm. Visitors £5. www.artsinblackheath.org.uk.

St Mary’s Church Hall, Cresswell Park, Blackheath SE3.

LUNCHTIME RECITAL

Louise Cournarie, piano. 1.05pm. Free. St Alfege Church, Greenwich Church Street, Greenwich SE10 9BJ.

SAT 7 & SUN 8 MAR FAMILY-FUN WEEKEND

Musical Statues - Help bring the colourful characters in the figurehead collection to life. Make a fabulous headdress to wear in a game of musical statues underneath the ship. 11.30am-1.30pm & 2pm-4pm.

Admission charges to Cutty Sark apply; activities free with entry. The Cutty Sark, Greenwich SE10.

COUNTRY TO COUNTRY

From Nashville to Greenwich, an outstanding line-up of music stars for a music festival extravaganza. 3.30pm. £45-£75. www.theo2.co.uk. The O2, Greenwich Peninsula SE10.

SUN 8 MAR RAMBLING CLUB

A 6-mile walk from Chingford to High Beach in Epping Forest and back. Meet at 10.30am at Chingford Railway Station. Contact Rona Sullivan on 020 8850 4417 for details. New members welcome.

OPERA GALA NIGHT

The main fundraising event for Blackheath Halls Opera, and the launch of their 2015 Opera. International opera singer Matthew Rose, will be hosting the Opera Gala Night. Matthew and his colleagues from the world of opera will entertain you with an evening of wonderful singing. Doors 6.30pm, performance 7pm. £37.50, tables of 10 £325, and includes a glass of sparkling wine and a light supper. 020 8463 0100. www.blackheathhalls.com. Great Hall, Blackheath Halls, 23 Lee Road, SE3 9RQ.

MON 9 MAR BLACKHEATH HALLS LUNCHTIME RECITALS

SAT 14 MAR CONCERT

Kantanti concert. 7pm. £tba. St Alfege Church, Greenwich Church Street, Greenwich SE10 9BJ.

CÉILÍ

Celebrate St Patrick’s Day with a night of Céilí dancing and live music from Threepenny Bit. 8pm-11pm. £10/£7.50. www.greenwichdance.org.uk. 020 8293 9741.Greenwich Dance, The Borough Hall, Royal Hill SE10 8RE.

TUES 17 MAR LIVE AT TRINITY LABAN (LEWISHAM LIVE)

Annie Yim, piano. 1.10pm. Free with retiring collection for the benefit of Blackheath Halls. 23 Lee Road, Blackheath SE3 9RQ.

A fusion of live music and dance and includes performances from schools and community groups. 7.30pm. £8/£6. www.trinitylaban.ac.uk. 020 8463 0100.

Laban Theatre, Creekside SE8 3DZ.

TUES 10 MAR GREENWICH INDUSTRIAL HISTORY SOCIETY

THURS 19 MAR BLACKHEATH HALLS LUNCHTIME RECITALS

Talk on the Prefabs of Lewisham’s Excalibur Estate by Elizabeth Blanchet. 7.30pm. The Old Bakehouse (rear of Age Exchange), Bennett Park, SE3. No parking.

Eusebius Quartet. 1.10pm. Free with retiring collection for the benefit of Blackheath Halls. 23 Lee Road, Blackheath SE3 9RQ.

MOZART REQUIEM

The evenings line Up includes Rob Deering – star of celebrity Mastermind, Ben Norris - Mock The Week and toured with Ed Byrnes and Kev Mc Carthy as MC. £10. 8pm. www.trinitylaban.ac.uk. 020 8463 0100. Recital Room, Blackheath Halls, 23 Lee Road, Blackheath SE3 9RQ.

Plus Brahms: Nanie and the St. Anthony Variations performed by the Hackney Singers, Lewisham Choral Society, and the Forest Philharmonic Orchestra with conductor: Mark Shanahan. 7.30pm. £12-£32.

0844 847 9910. www.southbankcentre.co.uk.

Royal Festival Hall, Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road, SE1 8XX

WED 11 MAR ANGELL TRIO

Join Blackheath Halls regular Matthew Rose and the world-renowned Angell Trio as they return to the halls for an evening featuring the new works of the Michael Cuddigan Trust 2015 composers, John Woolrich and Kate Whitely. 7:30pm. £14/ £9. www.trinitylaban. ac.uk. Blackheath Halls, 23 Lee Road, Blackheath Park, London, SE3 9RQ

LAUGHING BOY COMEDY CLUB

FRI 20 MAR BLACKHEATH SCIENTIFIC SOCIETY

Lecture on ‘The Tooth, the whole Tooth, and nothing but the Tooth’. The dental repertoire has evolved over the years by Dr Dharaka Nathan, Dental Surgeon.

7.45pm. Visitors welcome with a donation of £3.

Mycenae House, 90 Mycenae Road, SE3 7SE.

LET US IN

Corelli College’s A-Level Drama students, guided by Lucy Cuthbertson and Molly Bertrand, explore issues of modern migration and cultural identity with stories of perilous journeys and quest for acceptance. 7.45pm. £12.50. www.rmg.co.uk/tickets. 020 8312 6608. Cutty Sark Studio Theatre, The Cutty Sark, Greenwich SE10.

www.meridian-magazine.co.uk

WH AT TO DO W HERE & WH E N FRI 20 MAR COMEDY CLUB

Regular event featuring talented comedians such as Sara Pasco & Eric Lampaert. 8pm. £9. www.mycenaehouse.co.uk/events. Mycenae House, 90 Mycenae Road, Blackheath SE3.

SAT 21 MAR LUNCHTIME RECITAL

Matthew Drinkwater. 1.05pm. Free. St Alfege Church, Greenwich Church Street, Greenwich SE10 9BJ.

LICENCE TO THRILL What makes a good musical? With an arts and culture sector adding £5.9 billion worth of gross value to the UK economy in 2011, and musical theatre representing one of the major players in the sector, there is a huge amount at stake for musical theatre producers. Getting it right could set you up for years, while getting it wrong could end your producing career.

In the West End, CATS is back at the London Palladium and has extended its run, Miss Saigon is also back and selling thousands of tickets, and Charlie & the Chocolate Factory has joined the major sellers. However, whilst these are all adaptations of sorts (of TS Eliot’s poems, Puccini’s Madame Butterfly and Roald Dahl’s book), having a recognisable source isn’t enough. The musical adaptation of the film Made In Dagenham is closing, and From Here To Eternity, The Bodyguard and The Full Monty have all closed in recent months.

At Greenwich this season we are lucky, as the two musicals we’ve secured for the Spring both come with a history of sell-out performances. First, we team up with Climar Productions and Richard Williamson to revive Thrill Me. Based on an astonishing true story, the musical by New York writer Stephen Dolginoff tells the tale of Nathan Leopold and Richard Loeb, the so-called Chicago “thrill killers” who murdered a young boy in 1924. Told in flashbacks it reveals the relationship between the boys, both wealthy, intelligent students who believed they had perpetrated the perfect crime.

Then, we welcome back Sell A Door Theatre Company with a revival of last year’s huge hit, Avenue Q. A unique musical comedy for adults, and winner of no less than three Tony Awards on Broadway, Avenue Q really is a show unlike any other.

While the West End may be gambling on which show might become the latest casualty of low ticket sales, for this season at least, at Greenwich Theatre musical theatre is looking like a sure thing.

THRILL ME, 8-18 April AVENUE Q, 12-24 May Box Office 020 8858 7755; www.greenwichtheatre.org.uk

A chance for children to find out about the wildlife in Greenwich Park. Included are craft activities and guided tours of the Nature Trail. 1-30pm. Free. The Wildlife Centre, Near the South end of the lake in the Flower Garden, Greenwich Park SE10.

SUN 29 MAR CHAMBER MUSIC ON VANBRUGH HILL

A 4-mile linear walk along the Waterlink Way, through Beckenham Place Park to Ladywell. Meet at 10.45am at Beckenham Hill Station. Contact Rona Sullivan on 020 8850 4417 for details. New members welcome.

Every month the Steinberg Duo open the doors of their purpose-built chamber music studio for a small audience to listen to an hour’s recital followed by refreshments. Violin & piano recital: Dvorak, Smetana & Suk. 6pm. £10 booked in advance on line at www. steinbergduo.com. Steinberg Studio, 137 Vanbrugh Hill, Greenwich SE10 9HP.

BLACKHEATH HALLS ORCHESTRA

MON 30 & TUES 31 MAR FAMILY EVENT

SUN 22 MAR RAMBLING CLUB

James Haddrell, Director of Greenwich Theatre, on the high stakes of musical theatre

CRAFT AT THE WILDLIFE CENTRE

Internationally renowned soloists Raphael and Elizabeth Wallfisch will perform the Bramhs Double Concerto with the Blackheath Halls Orchestra. 7.30pm. £12/£10, under 12s £5. Great Hall, 020 8463 0100. www. blackheathhalls.com. Great Hall, Blackheath Halls, 23 Lee Road, SE3 9RQ.

SUN 22, 29 & FRI 27 MAR TOSCA BY PUCCINI

The Chorus and Symphony Orchestra of Midsummer Opera will be joined by a children’s choir from St Dunstan’s College, Catford for this production. Sun 22 & 29 Mar 4.30pm, Fri 27 Mar 7pm. From £15. 020 7633 9819. www.list.co.uk. St John’s, Waterloo Road SE1.

MON 23 MAR BLACKHEATH HALLS LUNCHTIME RECITALS

Adele Paxton, soprano & Sarah Down, piano. 1.10pm.

Free with retiring collection for the benefit of Blackheath Halls. 23 Lee Road, Blackheath SE3 9RQ.

Out of this World – activities will explore comets, looking at the ongoing mission of the Rosetta spacecraft. 10am- 12.30pm. £5, £4 Members. Astronomy Centre, Royal Observatory Greenwich, SE10.

SUN 1 APR MONTHLY FARMERS’ MARKET

You can buy the best local produce and meet the farmers and producers. Try food samples and buy everything from homegrown fruit & veg to delicious cakes, bread, cheese and chutneys. 10am-2pm. Free.

01322 526 574. Hall Place and Gardens, Bourne Road, Bexley DA5 1PQ.

JAZZ

Mick Collins Modern Jazz Orchestra. 8.30-10.45pm. £6. 020 8466 1726. H G Wells Centre, St Mark’s Road, Bromley High Street South, Bromley BR2 9HG. SEND YOUR EVENTS TO LISTINGS@MERIDIAN-MAGAZINE.CO.UK

WED 25 MAR LIVE AT THE HALLS

Showcase of music making by over 200 Lewisham young people in collaboration with the Lewisham Music Service as part of the three weeklong festival of music and dance. 7pm. £7/£6. 020 8463 0100. www. blackheathhalls.com. Great Hall, Blackheath Halls, 23 Lee Road, SE3 9RQ.

FRI 27 MAR BLACKHEATH HALLS LUNCHTIME RECITALS

Minerva Piano Trio. 1.10pm. Free with retiring collection for the benefit of Blackheath Halls. 23 Lee Road, Blackheath SE3 9RQ.

SAT 28 MAR LUNCHTIME RECITAL

Palomino Quartet. 1.05pm. Free. St Alfege Church, Greenwich Church Street, Greenwich SE10 9BJ.

SUN 29 MAR EASTER EGG HUNT Our annual Easter Egg Hunt promises to be even bigger and better this year! As well as hunting for eggs there will be Morris Dancing from Greenwich Morris Men, a birds of prey display from Hawk & Hood, arts and craft stalls meet the animals, park tours, homemade food and much more to be announced! 12noon – 4pm.

Small charge for the egg hunt.

Maryon Wilson Animal Park, Flamsteed Road, Charlton SE7 8HT.

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

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ART 6-15 MAR NEW PAINTINGS BY DAVID WALSH

Meet the artist on Sun 8 Mar from 12 to 4pm and Tues 12 Mar at 7.30pm hear Michael BartholomewBiggs read from his published poetry collection ‘Pictures from a Postponed Exhibition’, inspired

by David’s earlier work. Local poets Mick Delap and Fiona Moore will also read from their latest collections. Free events, refreshments available. www.madeingreenwich.co.uk Made in Greenwich Gallery, 324 Creek Road SE10 9SW.

UNTIL 8 MAR ONLY IN

A solo exhibition of Berlin based artist Michael John Whelan. ‘Only In’ looks at Vitrine’s unique 16-metre window space as a place to re-address associations to objects, and to freeze an image/object in time.

20 MAR – 25 APR THE FACT ON THE GROUND

A solo exhibition of British artist and writer Tim Etchells.

Open 24 hours daily. 020 7407 6496. VITRINE, Bermondsey Square SE1 3UN.

UNTIL 11 APR NEW ART GALLERY

Contemporary British Abstract Painting. Saturdays 11am-3pm. Gallery, St Thomas More Catholic School, Footscray Road, Eltham SE9 2SU.

UNTIL 26 APR DEATH OF NATURE

UNTIL 31 OCT VIVIENNE WESTWOOD: CUT FROM THE PAST

This exhibition brings together for the first time a number of her groundbreaking designs, and explores the collections that were her turning point both critically and commercially. Sunday to Friday 12noon – 5pm. £8/£6, under 16 free. www.dansonhouse. org.uk. 020 8303 6699. Danson House, Danson Park, Bexleyheath DA6 8HL.

ON GOING CURRENT EXHIBITION SELECTION OF PRINTS FROM LOCAL ARTISTS Tues–Sun, 10am–5.30pm. 020 8858 1569.

Greenwich Printmakers Gallery, 1A The Market, SE10 9HZ.

SEND YOUR ART EVENTS TO LISTINGS@MERIDIAN-MAGAZINE.CO.UK

An exhibition of paintings by Michael Porter, acknowledged as being one of Britain’s leading contemporary landscape painters. Saturdays 12noon – 4pm. www.geraldmooregallery. Gerald Moore Gallery, Mottingham Lane, SE9 4RW.

THU 26 -SAT 28 MAR

An explosive brew of treachery, ambition and passion is unveiled in Tara Arts’ urban Shakespear, set in a modern Asian family. www.stratford-circus.com.

0844 357 2625. Stratford Circus, Theatre Square, London E15 1BX

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M E R IDIA N ART & DESIGN

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The Shape Arts Adam Reynolds Memorial Bursary – Accessible Design at the V&A Set up in memory of the life and work of sculptor Adam Reynolds, The Shape Arts Adam Reynolds Memorial Bursary (ARMB) is designed to support a mid-career artist or artists, looking to develop their artistic practice and build their profile by offering a three month residency at a high profile arts venue and £5000 bursary.

Now in its seventh year, the bursary has provided residencies across the UK at Camden Arts Centre, London; Spike Island, Bristol; The Baltic, Gateshead and The Bluecoat Gallery, Liverpool. This year we are delighted to be partnering with the Victoria and Albert Museum and the Helen Hamlyn Centre for Design. To mark this unique partnership, we asked artists to submit a residency proposal which has a focus on ‘Inclusive Design’.

World-renowned sculptor, Sir Antony Gormley (RA), is patron of bursary and knew Adam Reynolds personally. He commented: A ‘ dam was inspirational as an artist and a man - seeing his disability as a strength.

This bursary is the most practical and powerful way to continue doing what Adam did: to make the possible palpable.’

Image by Kristin Rochelle Lantz

The winner of the 2014 /15 Adam Reynolds Memorial Bursary, who began his residency at the Victoria and Albert Museum in January, is multidisciplinary artist, Carmen Papalia. Papalia makes experiential projects about access with regard to public space, the art institution and visual culture. His current work is focussed on developing and conducting participatory projects, which create prolonged moments of radical accessibility in institutional and non-institutional settings.

STRANGE ATTRACTION Six artists working in a variety of mediums, curated by Emily Purser,.

Drawing on Life The subject matter of Katharine Morling’s sculptural ceramics is derived from ordinary, even mundane objects, that surround us every day. However, through her acute observation they become surreal, imbued with characteristics beyond their ordinary physicality. In this exhibition at One Canada Square, our aim is to show some of this range and also to demonstrate Katharine’s sense of fun, her acute observation of everyday things, her sense of how strange things can be, and how obsessive human activity sometimes is and also how fantastic.

Until 20 March. www.canarywharf.com. Free.

The lobby of One Canada Square, Canary Wharf.

Unseen: The Lives of Looking by Dryden Goodwin Acclaimed contemporary artist Dryden Goodwin’s first feature-length film, in the striking space of the 17th-century Queen’s House, alongside an exhibition of related drawings and artefacts.

The newly commissioned film continues Goodwin’s long-term investigations into portraiture and focuses on three individuals at the forefront of their professions, each of whom have a compelling relationship to ‘looking’: an eye surgeon (Sir Peng Tee Khaw); a planetary explorer (Professor Sanjeev Gupta); and a human rights lawyer (Rosa Curling).

5 Mar – 26 Jul. www. rmg.co.uk/QueensHouse.

Queen’s House, Greenwich SE10 9NF.

A.P.T Gallery, 20th March - 5th April, 2015 Curator’s panel discussion and SLAM (South London Art Map) last Fridays, opening: 6.30pm to 8.30pm on Friday, 27th March

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Maze Hill To place your advert in Meridian call 01322 557794

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Greenwich Square - Historic Timeline

The land for the Greenwich Square development was first marked on the map as a field over 200 years ago, called ‘Catts Brains’. Originally a site where market gardeners grew fruit and vegetables, it has since been a workhouse, an infirmary, and more recently the Greenwich District Hospital.

The Greenwich and Deptford workhouse opened in 1840 on a 4-acre site at the east side of Vanbrugh Hill. Originally designed to accommodate 650 fit and 200 ill paupers, by 1851 the average number of inmates was over 1000.

By the 1870s it had become increasingly necessary to provide medical care and, in 1874, plans were drawn up for a new infirmary block so that space could be freed up in the south block of the workhouse for able-bodied inmates.

The Greenwich Union Infirmary opened in 1876 and consisted of two 3-storey pavilions, which could house 400 patients, and a 4-storey administration block, which also contained staff accommodation.

It had cost £35,000 and occupied a 3-acre site immediately south of the workhouse.

In the census year of 1881, the Union had a population of 106,000, many of whom lived in cramped and insanitary conditions and little above starvation level. In 1885, the Union raised £14,800 from the Metropolitan Board of Works to finance a scheme to expand the workhouse and its infirmary.

Two new blocks accommodating 200 chronic sick began soon afterwards. Two further ward blocks to

house 250 inmates followed in 1889. The Woolwich Road / Vanbrugh Hill workhouse later became St Alfege’s Hospital. In the late 1960s the buildings were demolished to make way for a new hospital.

MERIDIAN PICKS...

The new three-storey, 800-bed Hospital opened in 1972, having cost £6m. It was renamed Greenwich District Hospital.

The Greenwich Square team at Hadley Mace had begun a historical timeline project to document the fascinating 200-year history of the site. This has been so successful that the team, in conjunction with local resident and historian Richard Sylvester, hosted several talks on the subject last year. The history boards created at the time will find a home in the onsite library as a gift from the project team.

Greenwich Square is an exciting new residential development created around a vibrant public square, including leisure facilities, a range of retail amenities and providing a diverse mix of apartments, maisonettes and townhouses.

The new leisure centre will be opening soon to replace facilities at the Arches Leisure Centre and will include a 25-metre fitness pool, learner pool, gym and exercise studios. The 820square metre library will be modern and fully accessible, for the growing community of East Greenwich. It will replace the current East Greenwich Library. Both will only be closed once the new library and leisure centre open. www.greenwichsquare-london.com

Blackheath £1.65 million Large period family home located in sought after road a few minutes walk from Westcombe Park Station.

Easy distance to both Greenwich and Blackheath Village. In excellent condition and neutrally decorated with many period features. Two receptionsFive bedrooms-Family kitchen/ breakfast room-laundry and cloaksHuge luxury family bathroom- Shower room. Basement floor of workroom/ playroom plus soundproofed studio.

Pretty garden. www.kershaws.eu 020 8297 2922 37 Montpelier Vale Blackheath SE3 0TJ

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