The South Londoner - January 2023

SOUTH LONDonER

off to a flying start

Children's laureate joseph Coelho opens herne hill literary festival for kids

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Home secretary

A mega plant sale, an anti-Valentine’s ball, an underground performing arts festival and more

Local Faces

Florist Francesca Goldstone on the trending bouquets for Valentine’s Day plus local haunts for an original date

Family

Lego dinosaurs, two children’s festivals and BYOB* (*blanket) theatre

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the local line-up for your diary

cALLing ALL movie buFFs

Are you a cinephile and a dab hand at quizzes? Form a team of fellow movie buffs and enter Picturehouse’s Big Ritzy Quiz. Flex your film knowledge, meet like-minded cinema enthusiasts and be in with a chance of winning some topical prizes. It’s for a good cause too, with money raised going towards a charity chosen by the cinema. Ready, steady, quiz!

The Ritzy, Brixton Oval, Coldharbour Lane, London SW2 1JG. February 5, 7:30pm (and monthly on Sundays). Admission: FREE. www.picturehouses.com/cinema/the-ritzy

Pots meet PLAnts

Choose between the green shoots of 15 different houseplant shops at Peckham Grown and Thrown, a ‘mega market’ from pop-up botanical hub Green Rooms. Also on site is the Independent Ceramics market, selling all sorts of pots, planters and vases to house your new leafy friends.

Unit 8 Copeland Park, 133 Copeland Road, Peckham, London SE153SN.

February 12, 11am - 5pm. Admission: £1. www.greenroomsmarket.com/upcoming-events/ grown-and-thrown

History revisiteD At PeckHAm tHeAtre

An Anti-vALentine’s bALL

LGBTQ+ championing nightclub Vauxhall Tavern is marking the day of love with… “hate, venom and gore”. Yep, you read that right. Its popular antiValentine’s ‘Pop Horror’ show returns for the fifth year running, promising cabaret, drag acts, games and some mischievous surprises. Belt out your frustrations at its power ballad sing-a-long, then heal old wounds at its broken-hearted disco.

Vauxhall Tavern, 372 Kennington Lane, London SE11 5HY. February 14, 7pm - 12am. Admission: £10 - £15.

www.vauxhalltavern.com/events/event/pophorror/?oid=4626

tHrougH tHe Lens

oF tHe PeoPLe

The Royal Photographic Society’s Landscape Group is showcasing its members’ work in a series of outdoor exhibitions across the UK. The nearest can be found outside Southwark Cathedral, and comprises 61 prints splashed onto 22 panels – that’s 24 metres of landscape photos to ponder. Free and fully accessible to the public, the exhibition is a chance to discover new names photographing the great outdoors.

Find it at the main entrance to Southwark Cathedral, London Bridge, London SE1 9DA. Until January 31, open daily. Admission: FREE. www.rps.org/Landscape-EXPO22/

An 85-year-old play is making its UK debut at Peckham Theatre this month. Pocomania, by Jamaican writer and feminist Una Marson, is set in the aftermath of the First World War. It follows Stella Manners, a young middle-class woman who has lost the love of her life in the war, but is comforted by ancient religious traditions. As focal as its narrative is its themes of colonialism, social change and the emergence of a new middle class in Jamaica make Pocomania as much a history lesson as a piece of theatre. Suitable for ages 12+.

Theatre Peckham, 221 Havil Street, London SE5 7SB. January 31 - February 5, 7:30pm / 2pm on February 4. Admission: £6 - £20. www.theatrepeckham.co.uk/show/pocomania/

Arts unDergrounD

London’s wintertime, subterranean answer to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe is back. For the first time since the pandemic, VAULT Festival returns to the tunnels beneath Waterloo Station with over 500 acts and an all-new, 300-capacity venue, The Flair Ground, promising family entertainment by day and raucous parties by night. The festival is your one-stop-shop this month for experimental theatre, cabaret, immersive entertainment and late-night parties. Having been unable to launch for the past two years, it’s returning with a spirited theme of 'reclaiming joy and holding onto beauty in bleak circumstances'.

The Vaults, Leake Street, London SE1 8SW. January 24 - March 19, various times.

Admission: dependent on show. www.vaultfestival.com/

LUNCH TIME DEALS

imagine children’s Festival

With 11 days jam-packed with full-on fun for ages 0 – 11, come and enjoy the very best children’s theatre, comedy, music, literature, poetry and dance this February half-term at the Southbank Centre.

Imagine Children’s Festival turns 21 in 2023, but has no intention of growing up any time soon! Get ready for our annual festival for children aged 0 – 11 and their grown-ups from Wednesday 8 - Saturday 18 February: 11 days jampacked with more than 100 events, over 50% of which are completely free.

Join us for performance and dance for under-5s during the week before half-term, including Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler’s beloved Tales from Acorn Wood brought to life on stage with toe-tapping songs and puppetry.

Half-term highlights include

explores the story of life on Earth told through the major mass extinctions, and Zanib Mian celebrates the fifth book in the Planet Omar series at an interactive event. Saxophonist YolanDa returns with a live version of her CBeebies TV show YolanDa’s Band Jam, and Jarred and Hobbit are back with an all-new action-packed beatboxing and comedy hoopla with The Mighty Kids Beatbox Comedy Show Strikes Back! Plus, Tongue Fu for Kids offers a family-friendly version of one of the UK’s leading spoken word and music shows, and there’s poetry writing workshops and readings at The National Poetry Library.

For the older kids, Friday 17 and Saturday 18 February have a special focus on ages 7 – 11, with shows including Carol Ann Duffy’s dance-theatre retelling of Rapunzel, presented by balletLORENT.

Also, don't miss Everything Has Changed, a show that combines humour, theatre and spoken word, encouraging young people to reflect on recent years and share their hopes for the future.

The festival includes a wide range of free events and activities, including demos and workshops from ZooNation Youth Company and BAC Beatbox Academy, a daytime rave with the current Guinness World Record holder for the world’s youngest club DJ, an ink-filled day of illustration and storytelling, artwork from acclaimed street artist STIK, and much, much more!

Imagine Children’s Festival is a Relaxed festival, meaning that performances have a relaxed approach to noise and movement in the space, and you are free to enter and exit. A chill-out space and noise-cancelling headphones are also available for both adults and children.

Book tickets now at www.southbankcentre.co.uk/ imagine

book talks from children authors Cressida Cowell, Michael Rosen and Patrice Lawrence. Meanwhile TV personalities and Diversity street dance stars Ashley & Jordan Banjo launch their exciting new book. TV scientist Professor Ben Garrod

Children’s Festival

YolanDa’s Band Jam

Rapunzel

Neil Ferry

It was amid the great shakeup of 2020 that florist and born-and-bred south Londoner Francesca Goldstone knew it was time to realise her dream of running her own business. She’d been working in the industry for a decade, years of which were spent running the wedding department for popular boutique florist Grace & Thorn in east London. She took the plunge, setting up her eponymous floral studio Goldstones Flowers in Camberwell. Using flowers bought at the crack of dawn from wholesalers in New Covent Garden Flower Market, Francesca curates arrangements for milestone events like weddings, as well as seasonal bouquets for customers who book by appointment.

Here, she tells us about her mission to style flowers as ‘momentary pieces of art’, plus the bouquets to buy for Valentine’s Day…

Holly O’Mahony: What was your aim with starting your own floristry business?

Francesca Goldstone: I wanted to create a business where I could express my own creativity, and my love of colour theory and design, giving myself the freedom to use a wide and wild variety of flowers.

HOM: What did you want to do differently to other florists in the industry?

FG: Ultimately, I wanted a business that at the core cared about how our customers felt. Flowers play a number of different roles: they can be sent as tokens of affection, to mark a celebration, by means of deep apology, to decorate a wedding, or simply as a gift to

camberwell greens, reds and soft pinks at florist

Francesca goldstone's studio

― By Holly O'Mahony

oneself to cheer the soul. We treat each design as its own unique and momentary piece of art. It is this honest expression of our fundamental beliefs that became the foundations of Goldstones Flowers.

HOM: What are your favourite flowers at this time of year?

FG: Narcissi, specifically Paperwhites, are my favourites in late winter. Their scent is pure heaven and lifts even the greyest of February days. Our wholesalers get their cut narcissi from the Isles of Scilly, off the coast of Cornwall. Even better is to plant a few bulbs so you can watch them grow and enjoy that heady scent for a little while longer. When the flowers die the bulbs can be stored and planted anew next year.

HOM: Have you spotted any floral trends this year? What are you expecting to be popular?

FG: I think the focus is shifting towards considered, artful colour pairings within bouquets, with more of a range in flower variety. As well as this, our customers want transparency as to where their flowers come from, so I expect British flowers to become even more popular.

HOM: We're in the lead up to Valentine's Day. What bouquets are you expecting to be popular? Do you have any best-sellers?

FG: Our ‘Saint Valentine Bouquet’ is always a firm favourite. It’s a mixed bouquet with a palette of deep Continues on page 11

reds, soft pinks and natural nude tones from salmon to brown – utterly joyous! The ‘Half a Dozen Naomi Roses’ is a close, classic second.

HOM: What advice would you offer a flower novice on buying flowers for a loved one?

FG: My advice for the flower novice would be to find your local florist and have a natter with them. They can work with you and guide you on budget, colour combinations and seasonality. That added bit of rapport will make future ordering much easier!

HOM: Your studio is based in Camberwell. What’s special about running a business there?

FG: So many things! I am a born-and-bred south Londoner, originally from Clapham and now living in Herne Hill. (I didn’t get that far!) Our much-loved studio is just up the road in Camberwell, down an old cobbled street off bustling Peckham Road. Its inconspicuous turning opens up into the remnants of a beautiful old Victorian luggage factory, now home to a small community of fellow creatives – from

Five romantic things to do this valentine’s Day

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at. Past years have seen it offer special Valentine’s Day menus too, and you’ll want to book soon to nab a table –its New Year’s Eve seven-course feast sold out.

L’Oculto, 325 Brockley Road, Brockley, London SE4 2QZ. Thursday 12pm - 3pm and 6.30pm11.30pm; Friday & Saturday 12pm - 3pm and 6pm11.30pm; Sunday 12.30pm - 4pm. www.loculto.co.uk/

3 ceLebrAte Love Like A true cinePHiLe

Brixton’s Ritzy cinema is hosting a short film night in honour of Valentine’s Day: ‘Feels. For the Lovers’. Pick up some popcorn and your tipple of choice, and take your seats for an evening of flicks exploring all sorts of love and relationships – those we have with friends, family, faith and ourselves. They’ll be bringing the reels, so come with the person you, er, want to feel?

The Ritzy, Brixton Oval, Coldharbour Lane, London SW2 1JG. February 13, 6:30pm. Admission: £8. www.picturehouses.com/cinema/the-ritzy

1 stArgAze At tHe royAL observAtory

From hit series Friends to Hollywood movie La La Land, rom-coms love to show us the romantic potential for a planetarium date and a chance to gaze up at the stars together. London is home to its very own Royal Observatory, which stands atop a hill in Greenwich –home of time itself. Stand tall together on the Meridian Line, from which Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) itself is set, then cuddle up in the planetarium’s darkened auditorium and contemplate the sheer magnitude of outer space – thanking your lucky stars for the universe bringing the two of you together.

Royal Observatory, Blackheath Avenue, London SE10 8XJ. Open daily, 10am - 5pm. Admission: planetarium shows £10pp. www.rmg.co.uk/whats-on/planetarium-shows

4 mArk it WitH your gALentines

Single? Stick a middle finger up at the schmaltzy celebration of romantic love by grabbing your reliable gal-pals and heading to VAULT Festival, where a sordid evening of oversharing awaits. Comedy duo KAT & KAT are busting taboos around sex and dating with their show The Whoreing Twenties. From ‘how to be a hoe’ to advice on avoiding ‘f*ck boys’ on Tinder, no topic is off-limits in this raunchy sketch night. They say: “Everyone is welcome here, if you like sex and laughter this is the show for you!”

The Whoreing Twenties is showing at Vault Festival, The Vaults, Leake Street, London SE1 8SW. February 10, 10:30pm & February 11, 10pm. Admission: £13. www.vaultfestival.com/events/the-whoreingtwenties/

5 sAy cHeers WitH A vieW At ForzAWine

ceramicists and gardeners to set designers and artists. It is an immensely friendly oasis of calm that we are very happy to be a part of.

HOM: Where can our readers find you?

FG: Our studio is appointment only, but customers can click and collect online or email us for anything bespoke. We also run a weekly stall at Brockley Market every Saturday, 10am-2pm, with lots of flowers and plants.

Goldstones Flowers, 7K Vanguard Court Hours, 36 - 38 Peckham Road, London SE5 8QT. Monday - Friday, 10am - 6pm. www.goldstonesflowers.co.uk/

2 book A meAL to remember At L’ocuLto cocinA

This recommendation comes with our heartiest of apologies to SE4 residents, whose best-kept-secret we’re loudly tooting: tapas joint L’Oculto (meaning ‘the hidden one’), has got to be one of the most authentically romantic restaurants south of the river. A carefully selected wine list, a passionate head chef, an everevolving menu of dishes made with seasonal produce are just some of its selling points. For the more fickle, or perhaps ambience minded, so are trendy interiors (exposed brick walls, the warm glow of fairy lights) and a buzzy atmosphere. Entirely women-run, the restaurant is the lovechild of business partners Teresa Holmes and Ana Gomez, with Galician chef Irene Lorenzo Muñoz heading up the kitchen. Brockley resident or not, L’Oculto is a restaurant to celebrate and to celebrate

While its natural wines and Italian-led small plates are fit to make all foodies swoon, it’s the views at Forza Wine (and the potential to blush in front of a fiery red sunset on clear nights) that make this sky-high bar worthy of hosting your romantic night out. Leave the hustle and bustle of Peckham’s lively streets below as its lift takes you swooshing up into the air, and toast one another while enjoying a bird’s eye view of your stomping ground.

The Rooftop, 133A Rye Lane, London SE15 4BQ. Sunday - Thursday, 12pm - 11:30pm; Friday & Saturday, 12pm - 12:30am. www.forzawine.com/

“Find your local florist and have a natter with them. they can work with you and guide you on budget.”

dalodu design studio

Simple design, designed beautifully studio@dalodudesign.co.uk www.dalodudesign.co.uk

Camberwell Lodge Care Home

Derek Haynes Driving Instructor in SE London

DRIVING INSTRUCTOR Derek Haynes teaches people to drive and prepares them to confidently take and pass their driving test and drive safely for life.

For Derek, it’s more than just a job - it’s a vocation. He says: ”It’s such a rewarding career teaching people to drive and to pass their tests. I can remember taking my test all those years ago and how it felt to pass. It’s such a life-changing moment and brings freedom and independence. Also it enhances job opportunities and it in these times of rail strikes it provides independence and the ability to drive where you want, when you want!”

Derek lives in SE19 and covers the SE London postcodes, teaching manual diving in his easy-to-drive VW Polo. He works Monday to Saturday and from 08h00 to 22h00.

His tuition methods are pupil-centred which means he tailors his lessons to suit his clients’ needs and requirements. Derek describes his style as coaching, and by listening to his pupils he can deliver training sessions that ensure the lessons are enjoyable and relaxed.

Derek describes his USP - Unique Selling Pointas: “My calm manner, the fact I’m easy-toget on with and have a nice smile!”

He’s a popular and successful instructor with a current pass rate of 75%, much higher than the national average of 48%. He puts his success down to the fact that he ensures the basic fundamentals of driving are in place as a solid foundation on which to build the higher level skills of awareness, forward planning and anticipation: key skills in today’s busy traffic.

Derek is a franchisee of Estrela Driver Training. This means that although he works for himself - he’s self-employed - he’s not by himself - he’s always got the support and back up from an established and successful Driving School.

So, if you’re looking to learn to drive and pass your test in 2023, Derek is the ideal person to help you.

To book lessons with Derek, contact Estrela Driver Training on 07725 121 121

Family events

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By Holly O'Mahony

imAginAtions tHis WAy

An annual highlight of the February half-term, the Southbank Centre's Imagine Children’s Festival is a melting pot of shows, talks, music, dance and more. With over 100 events in total – half of which are free – you're sure to find something your child will like, whether they're two or 12. Highlights include an activity trail encouraging visitors to decipher mysterious scripts; a multi-sensory underwater adventure; hip-hop workshops with the youth company of leading dance troupe ZooNation and a chance to hear from leading authors.

Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road, London SE1 8XX. February 8 - 18, times vary depending on event. Admission: dependent on event. www.southbankcentre.co.uk/

A sHoW For sLeePyHeADs

It’s hard to get out of your snuggly bed on cold, dark mornings, isn’t it? But what’s life like for the animals that sleep throughout the whole of winter? Little Bulb theatre company is taking audiences into the nests of creatures famous for their hibernation habits. There’s no shame in falling asleep in this cosy production – in fact, little ones are invited to bring a blanket and their favourite cuddly toys. All performances are relaxed, with audiences invited to move around, plus there’s a special sensory-adapted performance on February 17 at 2pm.

Battersea Arts Centre, Lavender Hill, London SW11 5TN. February 14 - 18, 11am & 2pm.

Admission: recommended price £10, but pay-whatyou-can. www.bac.org.uk/whats-on/hibernation/

A soutH LonDon coming-oF-Age story

One for those aged 14 and up, Brixton House is staging young playwright Corey Bovell’s coming-ofage story and ode to growing up in south London: Chicken Burger N Chips. Directed by T.D Moyo, who is also resident director at top-notch theatre the Almeida, the comedy tells a story of gentrification and growing up in a racially uneven playing field. This is through the eyes of Corey, a teen content with hanging out in his local branch of Morley’s fried chicken shop with his friends, until Jodie comes along and gives him something of a political awakening to the changes in his home borough of Lewisham. A compelling introduction to theatre for teens.

Brixton House, 385 Coldharbour Lane, London SW9 8GL. January 31 - February 11, performances at 3pm, 7pm and 7:30pm depending on date. Admission: £21/£17 concessions.

www.brixtonhouse.co.uk/shows/housematesreturns-chicken-burger-n-chips/

meet tHe Lego DinosAurs

In a collaboration bound to delight most little ones, dinosaurs have been recreated in LEGO® form for an exhibition at the Horniman Museum. The Brick Dinos exhibition, which features over 20 dinosaur species in total, features a model of the 125-million-year-old herbivore Polacanthus among its highlights, with its spiky, armoured shell replicated in coloured bricks. While the exhibition is largely the creation of artist Warren Elsmore, it also features rarely shown items from the Horniman’s collection, including a replica skull of a Nanotyrannus – a smaller relative of king of the dinosaurs, the Tyrannosaurus Rex.

Brick Dinos is showing at the Horniman Museum and Gardens, 100 London Road, London SE23 3PQ. From February 10 - October 29, 10am - 5:30pm daily. Admission: £10/£5 children/£22 family of four.

www.horniman.ac.uk/event/brick-dinos/

celebrating storytelling at Herne Hill kids’ Lit Fest

Stepping Into Stories Kids’ Lit Fest returns to Herne Hill for the fourth year running. Children’s Laureate Joseph Coelho is opening the festival, which brings together exciting names in the world of children’s literature for a week-long celebration of storytelling. Sign your little bookworms up for workshops, performances and the all-important Stepping Into Stories competition, which invites the next generation of storytellers to create a narrative around the theme of ‘All Aboard!’. Raps, poetry, performances and songs can be submitted, as well as written stories.

Lucy Reynolds, children’s author and member of the festival’s management team, tells us more about what we can expect from the 2023 line-up…

This Herne Hill Kids' Lit Fest has been running for four years now. How did it originally come about?

The Herne Hill Kids’ Lit Fest launched in 2019 and has grown year on year since then, skipping a year for lockdown. The 2019 festival was run on a shoestring and organised in just a few short weeks. But eight local schools took part and over 650 people came along. This proved there was strong demand for a local festival like this – and a huge supply of local talent too! By 2022, we’d grown a festival that delivered 45 events to over 2,000 participants, and for 2023 we are offering 61 events with an even larger turnout expected.

It sounds like a varied programme with a great mix of workshops, talks and performances. Who is the festival aimed at?

There’s something for everyone in the programme, including some virtual sessions. We’ve got events around picture books, poetry and theatre, and sessions for middle graders, young adults and grown ups.

Children's Laureate Joseph Coelho is opening this year's festival. Tell us about that…

It’s fantastic to have Joseph Coelho opening the 2023 festival. Having grown up in a tower block with his mum and sister on the outskirts of London, Joseph came to writing and performance gradually through life, and is an exceptional talent and inspiration for children. As the Waterstones Children’s Laureate and a multiaward winning author and poet, Joseph figureheads storytelling, inspiring children to read for pleasure, and promoting the importance of books for all.

Can you give us a sneak preview of what Joseph will be presenting?

Joseph is delivering two unforgettable events on the first Monday of the festival to launch our schools’ programme: ‘Smile Out Loud’ for ages 4+, and ‘Fairy Tales Gone Bad’, for ages 7+. Both will be hosted in Station Hall with around 100 children from a range of schools attending each session. We hope this will be a truly inspirational opportunity for children to hear from Joseph and learn about his journey. We are also offering an interactive after-school session at 4pm on Monday January 30, run by our team of festival writers. Although Joseph will not be present at the after-school event, this fun and creative session celebrates his works, explores some of his best loved poems and gives children the chance to roll up their sleeves and have fun writing their own.

Why is the Kids’ Lit Fest so important?

The festival aims to ensure all children have access to amazing books and book creators, and is designed to spark a life-changing love of reading for pleasure in the children who come along. Inclusivity underpins the whole week, which celebrates the rich diversity of local communities. The line-up includes LGBTQ+ authors and illustrators; authors with disabilities; participants from diverse socio-economic backgrounds; and speakers who represent many

different cultures, ethnicities and journeys through their works. Forteen local schools are taking part, including many from some of London’s most deprived wards, and two sessions are for children with special educational needs.

Is the festival financially accessible to all?

With funding from Arts Council England and Aviva, concessions are available for all events to ensure that cost is never a barrier to people coming along. We are also partnering with The Baytree Centre, Brixton, and The Walcot Foundation to establish a young people’s writing academy in parallel with the festival for Lambeth residents from low income families. To find out more about the writing academy or to request free or concession tickets, email steppingintostories@ gmail.com and mark your email ‘Concession’.

Finally, what do you hope your attendees take away from it?

Whether children, teenagers or grown ups, we hope that all participants come away from the festival feeling inspired to create their own stories, and buzzing from an hour or two immersed in the wonderful world of books and their creators!

HigHLigHts

seven things to catch at the Herne Hill kids’ Lit Fest

Award-winning author and leading writer of LGBTQ+ teen fiction Simon James Green is giving an exclusive reading from his yet to be published new novel, Boy Like Me Feb 2, 6pm | Ages 13+

Discover how Moa fights for freedom from the sugar cane plantations with bestselling author Alex Wheatle MBE, winner of the Guardian Children's Fiction Prize and twice nominated for the Carnegie Medal. Feb 5, 2pm | Ages 11+

Patrice Lawrence MBE, winner of the Bookseller YA Prize and seven-times nominee for the Carnegie Award, is sharing the inspiring story of Ava's grandma, who came to England on the Empire Windrush boat.

Feb 5, 11am | Ages 4+

Bestselling children's author and illustrator Steve Antony presents his adored character Mr Panda with interactive drawing and storytelling. Feb 4, 10am | Ages 4+

Children’s TV presenter Cerrie Burnell gives a magical introduction to her new adventure novel, Wilder Than Midnight. Feb 5, 12pm | Ages 9+

Multi award-winning theatre company Collar & Cuffs Co present a musical, sensory retelling of The Tempest, ‘Be Not Afear’d’, fully inclusive for those with special needs. Feb 3, 4pm | Ages 0-7

Keen to break into the industry? Hear some tips at this virtual panel talk, ‘How To Get Published’, with commissioning editor and author Non Pratt, and agents Helen Boyle and Gemma Cooper. Jan 31, 7:30pm | Ages 16+

The Herne Hill Kids’ Lit Fest is running at Station Hall, Railton Road, London SE24 0JW. January 30 - February 5, times vary. Admission: dependent on event. www.steppingintostories.org/

new year, new you? three wellness professionals on how to stay mentally and physically healthy throughout the year

With January over and done with, how many of your New Year’s resolutions are still intact? All too easily, we let go of the positive changes we’ve tried to enforce as our social lives pick up, our work schedules get busy and we remember a stick of celery and some hummus is no match for a chocolate biscuit. Here to help us back on course, though, are three south London wellness warriors – an acupuncturist and two fitness coaches – who are passionate about encouraging a healthy lifestyle and helping those of us who can usually be found on the sofa overcome our stumbling blocks.

how best to approach new year’s resolutions

“I always find it useful to have a plan. Saying ‘I will be fit in the new year’ isn’t enough. Your goal needs to be more specific,” reasons personal trainer Gokay Kurtuldum, who runs body transformation and sculpting business Gokay Fitness in Dulwich, and is the author of the book Get Fit Stay Fit For Men Over 40.

“Another tip is to break down your goals. For example, if you are aiming for fitting back into those

trousers or the dress you like, your overall goal might be losing 9cm around the waist in three months. At the end of the first month, it should go down by 3cm. After the second month, it should then go down by another 3cm and a 9cm loss in total by the end of the third month.”

Dan Bevan, co-director of Dulwich Therapy Rooms and a senior acupuncturist, believes it's helpful to be realistic about what you can achieve. “I always advise patients to think about and approach resolutions in a way as to prevent the ‘all or nothing’ approach,” he says.

“Sometimes it’s better to make achievable changes such as reduced portion sizes and eating earlier in the day. Look at the times of day where you can ‘ritualise’ your down time and find time in the working day for mindful habits.” For example, “dropping your shoulders every time you take a tea break and toilet break reminds us regularly to release the physical effects of stress.”

Caitlin Kent-Halliday is just 18-years-old but in October 2022, she launched her own fitness business, CRV Coaching, teaching pilates online from her home in Beckenham. “I started my own fitness journey aged 16…fitness has helped me in many aspects of my life, both mentally and physically, but most of all it showed

me just what our bodies are capable of when we step outside of our comfort zone and put more energy into activities that strengthen us rather than drain us,” she says.

Among Caitlin’s tips for sticking with your fitness resolutions is to make it enjoyable. “If achieving your goals feels like a chore and doesn't give you an ounce of joy, you're less likely to stick with it,” she explains. Another is to “move with purpose not perfection”. She explains: “if you don't start somewhere you can’t improve, don't let the fear of not every move being perfect stop your growth”.

overcoming barriers

It feels pretty dispiriting when, after a week or so of factoring in some exercise, eating healthily or calming the mind with positive affirmations, we lose the motivation. How can we stick with our new resolves?

“We all know life always gets in the way. You need to accept it and be prepared in advance on what actions to take when you have a super busy schedule,”

 Gokay Kurtuldum of Gokay Fitness

 Dan Bevan of Dulwich Therapy Rooms



Caitlyn Kent-Halliday of CRV Coaching

sympathises Gok, who believes that where fitness resolutions are concerned, it takes four to six weeks to feel the difference. “When you are mentally prepared, you will work around those barriers. Putting ‘me time’ into your work calendar is one of the best things you can do, even if it is for 30 minutes. Consider this time as a meeting with an important client,” he suggests.

The main reason why people don’t make progress, or eventually give up, is that they are not consistent. If you are not consistent, you don’t see the result. If you don’t see the result, you give up! It’s a bit like a vicious cycle.”

Caitlin agrees. “Creating sustainable habits and routines is key to not giving up on New Year’s resolutions,” she says, adding that for each resolution you make, it’s worth doing four things: establish your goal, ask yourself why you want to achieve it, analyse your current routine to create a plan of action and hold yourself accountable to achieving it.

train with the experts

At Gokay Fitness, you can take part in five different training programmes: a 12-week, one-to-one body transformation, training up to four times a week and doing home workouts on the other days; a 12-week group body transformation programme; a six-week body sculpture programme; one-to-one personal training sessions; and group classes, which range from pilates to Boxfit and cardio workouts.

Caitlin, meanwhile, is continuing to offer her online pilates classes – which include pre and post natal sessions – and she’s also currently training to become a personal trainer and nutrition specialist. “I believe in order to give our all we need to feel our best from the inside and out. When it comes to your health it really does start from within,” she says.

Dulwich Therapy Rooms offers a whole range of holistic treatments, but new for 2023 is EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), offered by the counselling and psychotherapy team.

“EMDR is a type of therapy for the symptoms and emotional distress that often occur after traumatic experiences,” explains Dan, who is also personally looking to expand on his skillset to better understand hormonal imbalances and how best to treat them with acupuncture.

Wellness without the workout

Looking for an endorphin hit without breaking a sweat? Dan’s got some simple tricks for sparking joy. “Light a candle with breakfast, Scandinavian hygge style, or spray some essential oil room fragrance and read or meditate for 10 minutes when you get home in your favourite corner,” he suggests. “Maybe get up five minutes earlier and do a quick Qigong (moving meditation), stretch or sun salutation… The key is to make small adjustments, enough to keep the smile on your face, and move forward from there.”

Gokay Fitness, Gok's Fitness Hub, London SE21 7AF. For training plans and prices, visit www.gokayfitness.com/

CVR Coaching memberships for £20 per month. Classes available online. To book, visit www.crvcoaching.com

Dulwich Therapy Rooms, 47 Lordship Lane, London SE22 8EP. Monday - Friday, 10am - 8pm; Saturday, 9:30am - 4:30pm; Sunday open by appointment. www.dulwichtherapyrooms.co.uk/

Quirky fitness classes to try this year

flying fantastic, peckham

Learn the ropes, or should we say ribbons, at this aerial fitness school. 1 Bellenden Road, London SE15 5BA. www.flyingfantastic.co.uk/

Barepaws yoga, Crystal palace

Practice your downward dog with the help of a fluffy pup at this puppy yoga class, designed to boost your oxytocin levels and benefit your mental health. 61a Larcom Street, London SE17 1NJ. www.barepawsyoga.live.baluu.co.uk/

Cryosauna at toa clinic, Battersea What’s the opposite of sweating it out in a sauna? Freezing your extremities in a Cryosauna, apparently. The treatment will see you immersed in sub-zero temperatures for three minutes and is believed to aid weight loss, reduce cellulite, rebalance hormones, help with pain and improve skin. 154b Battersea Park Road, London SW11 4ND. www.toaclinic.co.uk/

British Barbell, peckham

Learn to powerlift like a champ at this inclusive, community-focused weightlifting club. Unit 9 Astbury Business Park, Station Passage, London SE15 2JR. www.british-barbell.co.uk/

Good Gym, lambeth, lewisham, southwark & Greenwich

Get fit while doing good deeds with this nationwide scheme. You can run, walk or cycle while helping members of your community with one-off tasks like gardening, changing light bulbs or simply dropping in for a chat.

www.goodgym.org/areas/lambeth

kelechnekoff, peckham

Practise the art, yes art, of pole dancing at this Black-owned pole dancing studio, where classes range from standard dance choreography to Vinyasa yoga. Sojourner Truth Centre, 161 Sumner Road, London SE15 6JL. www.kelechnekoff.com/

Healthy older volunteers wanted for ageing research

how the body changes with age.

#HatchSupported Rupa Ganguli Founder of Inclusive Trade

Joanna Horanin Founder of OK English

A love letter to south London

As told to Holly O'Mahony

Ryan Chandler is the owner of East Dulwich fashion store Meet Bernard. He oversees the men’s shop on New Cross Road while his wife, Daniela, runs the women’s outlet on Lordship Lane. A proper family business, the couple’s kids can be found helping out in the shops too. Here, Ryan toots his favourite places to eat out, his mustsee landmarks and the south London business that inspired his vision.

When did you open Meet Bernard in East Dulwich?

We’ve had a menswear store here for three years now and opened the women’s store just around the corner on Lordship Lane about a year ago. East Dulwich was crying out for a really fashion forward local store!

What does a typical week in south London involve for you?

Monday is usually spent resetting from a weekend of carnage with the kids and having the stores open. It’s always a juggle of kids’ football matches, training and retail as we tend to work most weekends. Tuesday and Thursday are my days off, and I usually spend them cycling to keep my body and mind strong. Wednesday is my wife Daniela's football night. She plays for the local Athenlay hens’ team, which she absolutely loves! We usually go out for dinner as a family on Thursday or Friday night. The kids love our local Japanese restaurant Monkatsu, which is just down the road from the men’s store. Sunday morning I’ll be out for a cycle again and then we finish off the week with a good roast!

Speaking of great meals, what are your favourite south London eateries?

I love Kanella for brilliant sandwiches and amazing pastel de nata; the Blue Brick Cafe for their sublime vegan food; The Actress for a classic pint and a roast; Persepolis in Peckham for Middle Eastern; and South African restaurant Kudu for something more refined.

Where do you shop for clothing and homeware? (Beyond Meet Bernard of course!)

It’s difficult to shop for clothes when you own a clothes shop, but we love interior design studio and furniture store iyouall for homeware.

And your favourite south London landmark?

It’s got to be the Rivoli Ballroom in Brockley. It’s just an insanely beautiful space with its red velvet and chandeliers, and when Andy Smith DJs there the

sprung dance floor comes in handy!

Have any fellow local businesses been a help or inspiration to your vision for Meet Bernard?

Creatively, Beckenham-based design studio Skin+Bones has helped us achieve the vision for Meet Bernard as a brand. Their creative director, Indie Mathers, is a legend and so easy to work with.

What’s the one place, thing or activity south of the river that everyone should try at least once?

A visit to our stores for the Meet Bernard experience of course! Followed by a trip to Beckenham Place Park, which is one of the most beautiful spots for hanging out. Be sure to grab a beer and pizza from The Homestead Café, and pay a visit to the second-hand record shop, Cigarette Records, in the middle.

Meet Bernard, 37 New Cross Road, London SE22 9ET (men’s store) / 42 Lordship Lane, London SE22 8HJ (women’s store).

Men’s store open Monday - Friday, 10am - 5:30pm; Saturday 9am - 6pm; Sunday 11am - 4pm. Women’s store open daily from 10am - 4:30pm. www.meetbernard.com/

School, Townley Road, Dulwich, London, SE22 8SU

skyLArking

Is this new listening bar in a Peckham archway the trendiest spot for a night out south of the river?

Quite possibly. Since opening last November, it has steadily upped its game, offering a generous happy hour (two cocktails for £12 from 5pm - 7pm) and running a quiz night on Tuesdays to make it feel like a proper neighbourhood boozer. Except, it’s much cooler than that, with guest DJs spinning the decks from a sizable record collection. There’s woodfired pizzas too, for those looking to make a night of it. The brand is clearly going places, opening a sister site, Peckham Arches (after trialling it last December), as a multipurpose event space with a dancefloor, cocktail terrace and screening room.

26 Blenheim Grove, London SE15 4QL. Tuesday & Wednesday, 4pm - 10:30pm; Thursday & Friday, 4pm - 12am; Saturday 12pm - 12am. www.skylarkingpeckham.com/

HoP burns & bLAck

Draw a venn diagram for craft beer, vinyl and niche hot sauce brands, and you’ll find a certain type of bearded hipster languishing in the middle. Okay, okay, we’re stereotyping horribly here. Perhaps a penchant for this trio means you have great taste. So thinks Jen Ferguson and Glenn Williams anyway, whose business Hop Burns & Black is banking on shoppers coming in to get their hands on all three. From New Zealand originally, the pair are long-term south London residents and have been peddling their wares since 2014. They run tasting events too, and also stock a decent selection of natural wines, ciders and spirits. Call in to their Dulwich or Deptford stores to replenish your stocks or simply to have a natter with fellow craft produce enthusiasts.

38 East Dulwich Road, London SE22 9AX.

Monday - Friday, 8:30am - 8pm; Saturday, 9am - 8pm; Sunday, 9am - 6pm. www.hopburnsblack.co.uk/

bitesize

―

By Holly O'Mahony nAiFs

Doing Veganuary? There’s no need to spend it at home sulking over tasteless seitan. London’s plant-based food scene is second to none and in January, even the meatiest of restaurants are rustling up vegan dishes. Our advice? Go with the pros, like Peckham’s family-run vegan bistro Naifs, where chef Tom Heale, his partner Anne Stokes, and his brothers Max and Finn are serving up a seasonal, rotating menu of inspiring fare. One of just two vegan restaurants in London to be featured in the Michelin Guide, Naifs is planet-friendly, special occasion dining on your doorstep.

Naifs, 56 Goldsmith Road, London SE15 5TN. Thursday - Saturday, 6pm - 11pm. www.naifs.co.uk/

It’s all systems go at the slick new branch of European hotel chain Art'otel, which opened at Battersea Power Station in December. If you don’t fancy blowing £400 to stay overnight in one of its (cheaper) rooms, then why not call in for a meal and a dose of people watching? Hoping to build a reputation as something of a gastronomic hub, its spread of restaurants cater for the drop-in diners searching for a quick but high-end bite to eat, through to those angling for a lavish dinner with rooftop views. At Tozi Grand Cafe, you can tuck into an Italian-inspired afternoon tea while your eyes flit between and impressive art collection and the flow of human traffic wandering along the Electric Boulevard beyond.

Then opening in February is Joia, the new venture from Michelin-starred Portuguese chef Henrique Sá Pessoa. Whizzing diners up to the top of the complex, where 360-degree views of London and the turquoise waters of its rooftop pool can be enjoyed, the restaurant promises to be a showcase of Henrique’s vibrant plates, and what he can do with the best of British and Iberian produce.

Tozi Grand Cafe at 3A Electric Boulevard, Nine Elms, London SW11 8BJ. Open daily, 7am - 11pm. Joia at 15th Floor, 1 Electric Boulevard, Nine Elms, London SW11 8BJ. Opening on February 21.

www.artotellondonbattersea.com/restaurants-andbars/

Art'oteL LonDon At bAtterseA PoWer stAtion

Review:

Walter’s, Dulwich

―

By Sarah Over

Looking for somewhere to feast of hearty British produce? Dulwich newcomer Walter’s hits just the right spot. Matt Lovell and Rob Hampton, of Covent Garden Oyster Bar fame, have chosen faultlessly for their second space. It’s a restaurant that caters perfectly to the Dulwich and Herne Hill neighbourhoods, filling a hole in both.

The interiors are neither high-end nor low-end. It’s darn fine tableware and top-class service – yet the tables aren’t dressed in linen, the staff are in jeans (and a cap if you’re boss Rob) and the look of the place says ‘relax’. You could come to eat in a tie or a frock if you’re celebrating something special, or join them in jeans if you’re wanting to be comfy.

The menu prices are on the higher side (starters from £9.50 / mains £19.50) but reflect the quality of produce and there’s always a set £15 lunch menu or cheaper-still brunch for those wanting the experience without the higher price tag.

Walter specialises in British produce and there

are wines from our own countryside on the menu, too. On our visit, we were happily led by the staff’s recommendations and would urge you to do the same – especially on the cocktails!

With an opening glass of champagne-like East Sussex Henners fizz, we had three superb snacks. Blue cheese arancini were crispy-on-the-outside with a soft melty centre – perfect. Green, soft, lightly charred friggitelli peppers were mild but flavourful – no worries of ‘heat roulette’ here. Grilled baby chorizo in a mouth-warming harissa yoghurt were also gorgeous, concluding a great opening.

The starters portion of the menu delighted. Beautiful, delicate ceviche arrived looking like a magical sea creature. The flavour combination of pickled cucumber and toasted buckwheat with raw fish was magical too. A home-made duck liver pate was richly gamey and came served with four of Walter’s own pickles, which were divine (but next time please give me more of those exquisite pickles!).

Spinach and ricotta gnocchi and sea bass were our mains. Both summertime on a plate – fresh, light –despite the generous size. Three courses in and there was still room for dessert.

Home-made basque cheesecake came with cherry compote and there was a great choice of chef’s icecream and sorbets. 

We gave Bergamot sorbet a go – it’s a punchy idea (but a little too aftershavey for this lass). The other flavours were on the mark: tart and fresh coconut/ lime sorbet, creamy vanilla with crunchy hazelnut and a not-too-sweet honey mascarpone.

My foodie friend and I arrived at 5.30pm, intending on an early finish. But Walter’s kept us there. It was empty-ish (as expected) at first, but from 6pm tables filled, emptied and filled again – bar stools too. The atmosphere was that of a place to be for a fine time on a Friday night. Music was spot on and, as the evening progressed, the lighting got lower and the noise got louder. Guests came for family meals, for cocktails and snacks after work, for a 3-course celebration a deux wearing shirt and tie, or alone in jeans for a one-course meals.

Whether you call in for afterwork cocktails and snacks or a multi-course celebratory dinner, Walter’s doesn’t disappoint. Well done Rob, Matt and co. With word of mouth being the main way of hearing about Walter’s, this neighbourhood restaurant is only going to get busier.

Walter’s Bar and Kitchen, 84 Park Hall Road, Dulwich, London SE21 8BW.

Wednesday - Friday, 12pm - 11pm; Saturday 10am - 11pm; Sunday 10am - 5pm. www.waltersdulwich.co.uk/

Wake up with a rise coffee box subscription

RiSE is a coffee box subscription for coffee lovers, from coffee lovers. It was founded by Ben & Alice during lockdown 2020 in south London. Their mission is to give people a fun and exciting way to discover and taste new varieties of coffee from a world of roasters and regions.

Coffee obsessed founders Ben and Alice blind

taste and handpick the best premium coffees from around the UK. From the smallest roasters nestled in the countryside to London’s largest and most popular cafés, they share their passion for discovery and the stories behind the beans in every box.

Every month, RiSE members discover two different coffee varieties and learn all about their coffee's journey from bean to bag. RiSE shares stories from their roasters, alongside tasting notes and tips for getting the most out of your coffee. They also throw in an extra treat from a favourite up-and-coming foodie brand, alongside an easy, fun recipe to try.

RiSE coffee box believes in being kind to people and kind to the planet, and always partners with roasters and brands who share in their commitment to sustainability and ethical business.

To find out more, visit: www.risecoffeebox.co.uk

L

They

Jetting off to the caribbean with sackville travel

Where do you go to book your flights? While flight comparison websites can be great for finding deals, the trials of dealing with a middle-man company (booking references going missing, or trying and failing to reach a reliable customer service helpline) is enough to put off anyone who’s fallen foul of this system once. For more expensive, long-haul trips in particular, knowing that your itinerary is in safe, experienced hands is important for peace of mind.

Enter Sackville Travel, an independent travel agency and tour operator based in Brixton with a specialism in trips to the Caribbean, USA and West Africa. IATA licensed and ATOL protected, Sackville Travel has been running for over 40 years, fostering relationships with premium airlines including British Airways and Virgin Atlantic, as well as car rental companies and tourism boards.

“Sackville Travel was established as a travel agency in 1976 on Stockwell Road, Brixton, where we remain today,” says Director of the business Laverne Walker. She’s been with the company since 1995, working her way up through a series of roles having begun part-time in the accounts department.

“In the '70s, Brixton had a large migration of Jamaicans who had settled in the area, many from the Empire Windrush, making Brixton, Clapham and Stockwell their home,” she explains. “With Sackville Travel on their doorstep, many wanted the option to send for relatives to join them in the UK.”

While discounted fares have always been part of the appeal (flights alone can cost into the thousands when travelling to the Caribbean), it’s thanks to Sackville Travel’s book-now-pay-later scheme that many of its customers have even been able to make the trip.

“Sackville Travel soon became a trusted name amongst the Caribbean community, providing good fares and the ability for customers to pay deposits and drip pay for these flight tickets," Laverne tells us.

While Sackville Travel offers a range of package

holidays, flights are its biggest business. “Many of our customers have dual nationality or they have family in the destination that they fly to so they mainly need return flights,” she says. That said, with the Caribbean islands among the most beautiful in the world, it seems many of those visiting relatives can’t resist the temptation to do a bit of exploring while they’re there. Laverne points out: “we have seen a growth in demand for twin centre holidays which takes clients to two different islands giving customers more of a broad, adventurous holiday.”

While Sackville Travel caters primarily for customers with hereditary ties to their destination, Laverne insists the company works with customers from all backgrounds, including holiday makers, business personnel and even the odd celebrity.

After three sluggish years, where travel was periodically banned because of the pandemic, business has picked up for the travel sector, with airlines reported to be cautiously optimistic about 2023. Travel agencies including Sackville Travel have noticed a surge in bookings, too.

“Thankfully business has picked up,” reports Laverne. “There is a real thirst to get away. Clients have events that they want to celebrate, family reunions or just to get away and see another part of the world. We have been very busy and almost unable to service the number of incoming enquiries, [but] we welcome the business; long may this continue.”

To help them keep up with the demand, Sackville Travel is currently looking for staff to join its 16-strong team. “Once our staffing levels are normalised, we can set sales targets which are more aligned to pre-pandemic levels,” Laverne concludes, hopefully.

Sackville Travel, 203 Stockwell Road, London SW9 9SL. Monday - Friday, 9:30am5:30pm. Saturday, 9:30am - 3pm. www.sackvilletravel.com/

At Peckham’s family-run vegan bistro Naifs, desserts are as considered as the mains – and chocolate mousse is a menu staple.

“It can be quite hard for vegans to find rich, luxurious desserts and many of them are made with coconut, so you end up having the same flavour profile over and over again,” says Anne Stokes, who runs the restaurant with her chef partner Tom Heale.

“We have had a chocolate mousse of some kind on our desserts pretty much since we opened,” she continues.

“The current iteration is chocolate mousse with date caramel and burnt chocolate. The mousse itself is made with only three ingredients: Original Bean's Beni Wild Chocolate, Medjool dates and water.

“The complexity and depth of flavour comes

the dish

from the chocolate and the dates, and we use a bit of kitchen magic to get a light and smooth texture.”

Tom adds: “The last element of the dish is a very cool, ‘cheffy’ technique where we make a toasted chocolate crumble.

“We literally just cook melted chocolate in a pan until it’s slightly toasted, then spread it out, freeze it and crumble it up.”

“This paired with the rich and sweet date caramel makes for a truly show-stopping dessert which our guests love,” says Anne.

Naifs, 56 Goldsmith Road, London SE15 5TN. Thursday - Saturday, 6pm - 11pm. www.naifs.co.uk/

nAiFs vegAn cHocoLAte mousse WitH DAte cArAmeL AnD burnt cHocoLAte