What does a cup of coffee mean to you? Is it a drink that gives you a boost in the morning or a passion that drives you to give up your city career. Well for Shai Eilon of Mont58 coffee, it was the latter and ‘a no brainer’. Steve Wingrove visits Mont58 Coffee, an independent … More Mont58 Coffee – ‘Serious about coffee but not serious about life!’
Excited to welcome back the #SpotlightOn artist feature with the talented geometric abstract artist Yvette Miller, read about her mission to create a new narrative for Christian art and her inspirations; #BraveArt #FridaKhalo and her dad… #SELondonBlog #SupportLocalArtists … More #SpotlightOn Artist Yvette Miller
The inaugural Deptford Literature Festival kicks off this Saturday 14th March featuring 17 events over the day; 14 of which are free to attend. The one-day festival features local writers and artists celebrating Deptford’s literary heritage and looks to its future. There will be a host of talented writers, artists and organisations who are based … More #SpotlightOn local author Anna Sayburn-Lane
This International Women’s Day (March 8) all over the world women will be celebrated for their achievements; from the work they do, the people they care for, the innovations they create, the opportunites they give to others: a revered and celebrated way of recognising the social, cultural, political and economically achievements globally. Here at south east … More International Women’s Day: Celebrating #SELondon Women
Community and culture correspondent Julie Bird reviews You Stupid Darkness! by Sam Steiner, Southwark Playhouse, SE1 You Stupid Darkness, the first performance of which took place on 7 February 2019 at Theatre Royal Plymouth, transferred to Southwark Playhouse in London in January 2020 and is running until 22 February. The play focuses on four volunteers … More Theatre Review: You Stupid Darkness! by Sam Steiner
This is Gabriella, also known as @morewalls_art. I met Gabriella through a pal I worked with last year. She’s bright, bold, nicely opinionated and her art is work to keep an eye out for. As we tie up January, the first month of a new decade, we are proud to present Gabriella to you through … More #SpotlightOn Artist Gabriella Rosenau
Bell House is a charity based in Dulwich that supports the community with educational lifelong learning skills and various other cultural services outside of what the mainstream curriculum offers. The team reached out to us to share the good news that they had won an award from Historic Houses – ‘the Frances Garnham Award* 2019, … More Bell House, Dulwich wins Historic Houses Award for Innovation in Education
Collaboration, cool and funky are words that spring to mind when I think about Babber @ The White Horse, Peckham. The White Horse does some pretty cool takeovers, its most recent being Babber. Launched at the back end of 2019, head chef Joseph Ryan, ex Hoi Polloi and Salon, Brixton, is serving up a menu … More Babber, Peckham @ The White Horse: Restaurant Review
South east favourite 400 Rabbits is multiplying; this time hopping up in Herne Hill at the café beside the iconic Brockwell Lido. There is certainly a sweet symmetry to the idea of bringing together two local gems such as these and the reality lives up to the promise. Those familiar with the Four Hundred Rabbits … More 400 Rabbits @ The Brockwell Lido, Herne Hill: Restaurant Review
Say hi to Lizzie Lines, south east London Illustrator, Designer and Poet who I’ve yet to meet in person, but who inspired me to follow her online with her stand out illustrations, shock colours and prose. Find out what makes her tick, her love of visual metaphors and how she allows her subconscious mind to … More #SpotlightOn Artist Lizzie Reid AKA Lizzies Lines
#SpotlightOn #SELondon Artist Remi, by Marcela Ferreira. To me, one of the many advantages of living in south east London is the art. There is so much of it around. Whether it’s classic paintings at the Dulwich Picture Gallery or modern exhibitions at South London Gallery, it’s accessible to us all and usually only a … More #SpotlightOn Artist Remi Rough
Community and culture correspondent Julie Bird talks to Age Exchange about the growing older adult population and creative ways of working to help reduce loneliness and isolation often experienced by many. Founded in 1983 by Pam Schweitzer MBE, Age Exchange was formed as a response to the growing recognition of the value of reminiscence work with older adults, … More Age Exchange: Creativity and challenges to combat loneliness in older adults
Does eating food from a sustainable business taste better? Trends report that consumers are more and more looking to spend their money and associate with brands that present ethical sustainable practice and credentials, a way for consumers to also play their part in the process. For Handmade Food in Blackheath, their ethos is all about … More Handmade Food, Blackheath: Restaurant Review
Andrew McIntosh is a British artist whose new body of work re-contextualises derelict buildings in south east London, drawing on his ongoing interest in the political dispute between artists and the inevitable developments of the property market. As a fan of Urban Decay and Derelict Art, one favourite artist being J Bennett Fitts, I was keen … More #SpotlightOn Artist Andrew McIntosh, ‘I Saw This Coming’
Sprout Up is a garden design company that volunteers to help local schools and children’s nurseries have better outdoor spaces so children can freely access nature. However, in the cold light of day, lack of time and funds often means that not enough children are being reached to make a lasting difference. Last year, Sprout … More Support Future Green Spaces – Sprout Up CrowdFunder to Create RHS Hampton Court Flower Show Garden
2019 is tipped to be the year where ugly fruit and veg is no longer deemed ugly, but invaluable. To ‘through the ages’, where the focus is on enabling oneself to lead a longer, healthier life, ‘as consumers deem health and wellness a holistic, proactive and ongoing pursuit.’* Well, one south London organisation is helping … More Let’s all start cooking a bit more: Greenwich Co-operative Development Agency’s mission to create a butterfly-effect towards healthy, sustainable eating.
Argentina is renowned for its good meat and red wine, and whilst we are not in Argentina, you can find a good taste of the culture in the midst of south-east London, Greenwich, which is the location for the family-run business, Buenos Aires cafe. Reinaldo Varga and his wife, Kate set up the restaurant in … More Buenos Aires, Greenwich: A month’s meat fix in one night – Restaurant Review
This month we had the pleasure to meet Maggie Li and Frann Preston-Gannon, friends and fellow children illustrators as they prepare to showcase their work at an exhibition in Herne Hill. We were impressed by Maggie’s and Frann’s desire to educate children by raising awareness of problems in the natural world, which they are clearly passionate about. It … More #SpotlightOn Artists’ Maggie Li and Frann Preston-Gannon
Caroline Cross steps back in time with the world famous Crystal Palace park dinosaurs. Fundraising efforts have paid off for a south east London charity who has campaigned to build a bridge to connect visitors of Crystal Palace Park to the 167 year old resident dinosaurs. Friends of Crystal Palace Dinosaurs (FCPD) has been on a mission … More Walking With Dinosaurs
We are always humbled to meet local artists’ and the #SpotlightOn feature is one of our favourite highlights of the month. For the first of our 2019 series, the January issue presents Nick Richards, local Sydenham artist and fellow Crystal Palace Park running pal. Tell us about your work? I’m a painter of portraits, landscapes … More #SpotlightOn Artist Nick Richards
PizzaArte is a family friendly Italian restaurant situated on Brockley Rise, south east London. The venue is bright, airy and welcomes diners in with a well priced traditional offering. S.E.London.Blog tells you more: Service and story PizzArte pretty much does what it says on the tin, a family-friendly Italian restaurant in south east London. Set … More PizzArte, Brockley – Restaurant Review
We were recently invited to the newly opened Toomai Square in Greenwich. A family-run restaurant that brings bold pan-Asian cooking to the heart of the borough. S.E.London.Blog tells you more: Service and Story Set up by two brothers hailing from a small village in Northeast India, Toomai Square combines much-loved Thai, Chinese, Malaysian and Indonesian classics on … More Toomai Square, Pan-Asian Greenwich – Restaurant Review
Picture the setting… A cosy bar in south east London, candlelight, enthralling conversation, a charcuterie board to write home about and an abundance of great tasting wine. ‘This is not any wine tasting, this is a Clement and Black Wine Tasting.’ As we settled in for the night at Two Spoons in Honor Oak we … More A hint of Flint and a sprinkle of Asparagus – Clement & Black Wine Tasting
This week sees the launch of Glad I Did It, a creative installation by Award-winning Irish artist Christina Reihill that steps inside the mind of Ruth Ellis, the last British woman to face the death penalty. In an immersive three storey installation, the exhibition uncovers the facts about Ruth Ellis’ psyche that have never been brought … More ‘Glad I Did It’ Inside the mind of Ruth Ellis, Bermondsey Project Space
Bianco43 is one of south east London’s authentic Italian pizzeria’s specialising in traditional Italian cuisine. Massimo, Fabrizio and the team invite diners to enjoy a menu of carefully selected ingredients from specific regions of their homeland, bringing a true Italian flavour to London. S.E.London.Blog tells you more: Service and Story The Bianco43 team are friendly … More Bianco43 Pizzeria, Blackheath – Ristorante Review
This weekend DeptfordX opens, a ten-day free festival of visual arts focused on new work by emerging local artists. Every year, DeptfordX throws open its doors to contributions from independent contemporary artists in its long-running un-curated fringe festival. This year, platform artists Shawanda Corbett, Georgia Lucas-Going, David Steans, NT and Laura Yuile and Special Project … More DeptfordX – A Living Visual Arts Festival
September’s #SpotlightOn is bought to you by Marcela from @SESussed… ‘When South East London Blog got in touch about working together I jumped at the chance. I was already a big fan of Rosanna’s work and her blog was hugely informative, especially when I first started writing about the area myself. So I am thrilled to … More #SpotlightOn: Peckhamite Abstract Artist Katrina Adams
The Bridge House Penge is situated just outside of one of London’s iconic green spaces, Crystal Palace Park. The pub is a south east London hot spot where customers can grab a drink and a bite to eat from the classic pub menu or enjoy a Sunday roast with all the trimmings. Service and Story The … More The Bridge House, Penge – Restaurant Review
What do you do to help make the community greener? Recycle packaging and food scraps, use a compost or even a wormery? You may carry a reusable coffee cup, or offer those that do money off a cuppa? We’d love to know. It is always good to see individuals and local businesses moving towards a … More What do you do to help build a more sustainable, greener environment? A Spotlight On: Norwood Collective and the south London #LocalGreenHeroes
In 2017, Hatch Enterprise, a charity that supports social enterprise in South London opened 55 East: a co-working space set up as an affordable hub for the community on East Street. After a successful crowdfunding campaign, it has now launched three spaces: 55 East Studio, an affordable co-working and training space; 55 East Lounge, events and … More Look Local – 55 East: A Social Enterprise Hub, East Street, Walworth.
Last month we introduced Marcela from #SESussed. Keen to share Marcela’s ‘south east London’s entrepreneurs series with you, here is the first in collaboration with South East London Blog: Marcela interviews Nena Foster.Food. Tell us a bit about ‘Nena Foster. Food.’ Food and nutrition have always been a big part of my life as a vegetarian … More Introducing #SESussed Entrepreneurs Series: Nena Foster.Food.
First Aid Box (FAB) in Herne Hill – little sister to Shrub and Shutter – packs a mighty fine punch into the world of signature cocktails and food residencies. We ventured down to meet the guys last month, Chris and Dave, owners of Salts of the Earth drink consultancy opened this place following the opening … More Doctors orders this summer: First Aid Box, Herne Hill – Restaurant Review
Here’s some ABBA trivia for you: Did you know that London’s Met Police declined ABBA’s request to shoot the video for ‘Super Trouper’ in Piccadilly Circus? In a ten year career, ABBA only toured for three months in total. Jim Henson’s Creature Shop created puppets of the band members. The very clever teams at the Southbank Centre and Entertainment Exhibitions … More Love ABBA? Then the Super Troupers exhibition at London’s Southbank Centre may just blow your mind….
There is something to be said for an escape from London for a weekend retreat. So when The Vineyard Hotel, the UK’s wine hotel, invited me for a wine-focused night away I jumped at the chance – wine, delicious food and spa – it was hard to say no. The hotel The Vineyard is … More The Vineyard Hotel, Berkshire
Here at @SELondonBlog we’re all about community and culture and try to do a damn good job to celebrate the creative passionate individuals that make it even more brilliant to live here… We’ve met a few Shona Chambers @spaceat61, Featured in 15s Maya and Helen and we’ve still hundreds more to meet, so when we stumbled … More Step up and say hello to @SESussed
Ever wondered why it’s called Four Hundred Rabbits? It is all to do with fermentation. A process revered by the Aztecs who worshipped a goddess of alcohol and a god that discovered fermentation. The two (so folklore has it) ‘got it on’ one night and created offspring, otherwise known as the 400 rabbit gods. And there … More 400 Rabbits Crystal Palace Gets All Up In My Grill – Restaurant Review
