Housing association NHG Homes has unveiled a winter incentive with buyers able to claim up to £6,688 cashback on selected one and two-beds when purchasing a new apartment from the organisation.
Launched in the run-up to Christmas, the offer applies to shared ownership properties at a number of developments across London.
The money can be added to a buyer’s deposit, used to purchase a larger share of the property or go towards covering legal costs for the transaction.
Alternatively, buyers can choose to keep the cash on completion of the deal and use it in whatever way they wish including buying furniture or covering moving costs.
Naturally, terms and conditions apply and buyers must complete within timescales set by NHG Homes.
Any cashback is payable up to 28 days after completion.
To give readers an idea of the kind of home they might expect to buy with the incentive here are two of the housing association’s developments where the offer is available.
The View At Aspect – image by NHG Homes
The View At Aspect
Located in Croydon and benefiting from the area’s extensive amenities, prices for a 25% share in a one-bed here start at £83,125.
NHG Homes says monthly costs for rent, mortgage and service charge start at £994 per month – around £400 less than renting a comparable property in the area – with buyers able to secure a home with a deposit of £4,157.
Prospective purchasers can expect properties featuring open-plan design, full height windows and bi-fold doors protecting private winter gardens that can be used all year round.
The scheme is located near East Croydon station which offers connections to Canary Wharf in about 20 minutes via national rail and the Jubilee line.
Those traveling further afield can get to Gatwick Airport in about 15 minutes. Wellesley Road tram stop is also nearby.
Locally, there are a wealth of restaurants, bars and attractions to explore including Boxpark, Wandle Park and concert venue Fairfield Halls.
The scheme offers a selection of residents’ facilities including a concierge service and a gym as well as landscaped communal gardens and on-site shops.
Offering one and two-bedroom pet friendly apartments, which all come with private balconies, prospective buyers can expect to pay from £1,028 per month to cover rent, mortgage and service charges.
NHG Homes says that equates to annual savings of about £6,864 compared with renting a similar property nearby.
Prices at the development start at £90,000 for a 25% share of a one-bed at the scheme, with buyers also enjoying access to the wider regeneration of the area just across the railway line.
This includes the wider open spaces of Cator Park, a pub and a collection of shops and amenities.
key details: shared ownership apartments from NHG Homes
Prices at The View At Aspect in Croydon start at £83,125 for a 25% share of a one-bedroom apartment based on a full market value of £332,500.
Prices at Kidbrooke Square in Greenwich start at £90,000 for a 25% share of a one-bedroom apartment based on a full market value of £360,000.
The veteran villain, panto writer and performer is enjoying a 48-hour period of calm before the onslaught of final tech run-throughs and then opening night for the latest festive show to flow from his pen at Greenwich Theatre.
Peter Pan: A New Pantomime Adventure is again written by Anthony and sees him take the venue’s stage for a 12th season as the main antagonist.
“Captain Hook and King Rat are the two best villains in panto,” he said.
“I’ll be using the same hook I wore at Greenwich when we did Peter Pan about a decade ago to play the former.
“I’ve kept it safe all these years just in case the Captain was ever set to appear again and – lo and behold – he has.
“It’s a really good one, made of metal with a leather surround, and it’s brilliant to point with and threaten people.
“It makes you feel a little bit evil, which is delicious and the fact I get to wear a really enormous hat helps too.
“The show contains the juxtaposition of the boy who never grows up and Captain Hook who’s afraid of growing old and the passing of time.
“Without getting too dark, it’s about the inevitability of death.
“Writing the show is about balancing those two things out – it’s a really interesting subject and a theme to play around with in panto.
“The story follows the search for the secret of Peter’s eternal youth.
“Hook is hell bent on finding it out.
“He and henchman Smee discover a map to a location that may well be the source of Peter’s power – so of course he’s obsessed with finding the X that marks the spot.
“Naturally, Peter, Tinker Bell, Wendy and all the rest of the Lost Boys are there to try to stop him – but will they be successful?
“Then as a writer it’s about getting the mix right.
“Hopefully it’s a really fun show and anyone who’s familiar with our pantos won’t be disappointed.
“Things, as always, get slightly bizarre in act two – we always try and take the audience somewhere completely unexpected.
“The first half is always about setting up and introducing the characters.
“When that process is complete, you can start to really have fun.”
The panto features a Jolly Roger set – image by Greenwich Theatre
heroes and villains
The main character energy is duly divided up with Samuel Bailey returning to Greenwich as Peter Pan after a successful stint as the titular Dick Whittington last year.
As usual, the creative team of James Haddrell as director and “Uncle” Steve Markwick as musical director will be working tirelessly to ensure the theatrics and songs land with audiences.
“We’re thrilled to have Sam back because he’s just such a natural panto performer,” said Anthony.
“It’s in him – he knows how to deliver the material and just how to pitch it for all the family.
“He’s got a great voice and he can dance too – he’s a fantastic all-rounder – and he’s playing youth, imagination and adventure.
“In contrast, I’m getting on in years now and I’m starting to feel that on stage, which is a good fit for Captain Hook – although like a fine wine I’m just getting better with age.”
The hero and villain both have their team of backers with Olivia Williamson taking on the role of Tinker Bell.
Anthony said: “Tink is there for the kids. Her lines are full of Gen-Z slang, which has been great fun. I didn’t understand half of it, but
“My brother’s eldest daughter has just turned 14, so she’s just the right age to help me out. It’s all gobbledegook to me, but she’s been translating when we Google the slang and I think younger kids will really get it.
“As Peter mirrors Hook, Tinker Bell mirrors a character called Starkey, who’s played by Paul Critoph who was last in Greenwich panto nearly 10 years ago in Cinderella.
“He’s a salty old sea dog who’s wise but perhaps one step behind everybody else.
“There’s great fun to be had by bringing a full spectrum of ages on stage and having a laugh with that.”
Also on Hook’s piratical crew, Louise Cielecki returns to the Greenwich stage as Anthony’s hapless sidekick.
“She’s playing Smee – there was no other role for her,” he said. “We get on so well and we enjoy performing together.
“We tune into each other quite quickly and can half-guess what each other will be doing on stage.
“It’s great fun to be mucking about and improvising with her again.
“When I was writing it, I had her in mind and she’s brilliant at it, playing the bumbling buffoon albeit with an amazing singing voice. She’s a great all-rounder too.
“At Greenwich the panto just gets bigger and bigger every year.
“For me, when I’m writing it, it’s always about entertaining the audience – I always have one eye on what I think they’ll enjoy.
“That’s true for Uncle Steve and James too.
“We really want to give people a good time over Christmas. People can forget their worries for a couple of hours and escape to the magical realm of the panto, which this year happens to be Neverland.
“We have some fantastic sets including an amazing pirate ship.
“The Jolly Roger is there in full splendour – it’s one of the largest sets we’ve ever had.
“As an actor, it’s the kind of set you can’t wait to get on board and be a bit silly on.
“We’ve been in tech rehearsals for the show with full lighting, pyrotechnics, puppetry and sound – the whole works.
“Even when we have a bit of time off, the stage crew don’t rest.
“They are still there, tinkering, fixing, mending, building and tweaking things.
“We have an incredible team and it’s great to hear Uncle Steve alongside guitarist Gordon Parrish and Chris Wyles on drums back together again – they’re sounding great.”
the message in Peter Pan
While the show promises a whole imaginary world of fun, flight and nonsense, there’s also a message in all the madness.
“Not all pantos have morals we should take to heart,” said Anthony.
“Take Dick Whittington, for example. That’s a story that’s all about solving your problems by becoming rich and famous.
“I didn’t think that was a very good thing to be teaching kids, so we changed it.
“Our hero was there to save the day by defeating King Rat who had a plan to take over the world.
“In contrast, Peter Pan is about growing older, the passage of time, age and how we deal with all of that. The messages are really strong.
“Pantos do allow me to release my inner child.
“You’re writing this zany, mad stuff and you have to resort to childhood and imagination to do that well.
“They’re for all ages – from two to 102 – and it’s family entertainment, but I don’t tend to write stuff that patronises the kids who come.
“You don’t need to talk down to them.
“There will be references the young people don’t get and probably some the older members of the audience can’t understand too – especially Tinker Bell’s slang.
“But in the end, I hope everyone leaves feeling thoroughly entertained.”
the ghost of panto yet to come…
Anthony has already begun work on next year’s show, but Wharf Life has been sworn to secrecy on the title, which won’t be revealed until December 5.
“What I can say is that I’m already noting down ideas for the scenes in it,” said Anthony.
“What I really enjoy about the writing process is taking those 100 things and then seeing how 20 of them fit together like a puzzle to make up the story.”
Until then we’ll just have to settle for his ridiculous headgear.
key details: Peter Pan
Peter Pan: A New Pantomime Adventure is set to run at Greenwich Theatre from November 28, 2025, all the way through until January 11, 2026.
Performance times vary but there are frequently two shows a day.
Tickets cost £43.50 for adults and £22.50 for children under 16.
Chefs Matt Lloyd and Tze-May Ng first met at the Shangri-La hotel in Sydney.
“I was working downstairs in the brasserie at the time and she was cooking at Altitude restaurant on the 36th floor,” said Matt.
“Their chefs would come down and steal all our equipment.
“It was pretty annoying until I also moved up to Altitude and then, somehow, it was fine.”
Having forged a bond at a venue overlooking Sydney Harbour and the billowing white sails of the city’s opera house, the couple resolved to move to London in 2007.
“It was all about the food,” said Matt.
“If you look back at that time it was the place to be. You had The Fat Duck and Gordon Ramsay still in the kitchen.
“If you wanted to learn about food, it was where you needed to go.”
Food has been something of a constant in Matt’s life. Born in Queensland, he spent his teenage years in Brisbane before winding up in Sydney.
“I always enjoyed cooking from a very young age and knew it was something I wanted to do,” he said.
“School wasn’t so good for me – I left at quite a young age, having arranged with the local council to do my apprenticeship and then it was straight into the kitchen.
“I was 21 when we moved to London and I worked in various restaurants around the city.”
Spells with the likes of Gary Rhodes and Michael Wignall followed, with both Matt and Tze-May cooking at the latter’s Michelin-starred Latymer in Pennyhill Park.
Matt then went on to join ETM Group, known at the time for its food-focused gastropubs, where he worked in a number of venues including running the kitchen at The Botanist in Sloane Square.
Chef Matt Lloyd – image by Jon Massey / Wharf Life
opening The Pear Tree
“A lot of chefs who have spent their time cooking eventually want to have their own place and I was the same,” said Matt.
“My dad had his own business when I was growing up – it was the main grocery store in the town.”
Having moved to the area around 2010, the couple saw an opportunity to bring a bit of Australia to south-east London.
“There were high street options like some good little cafés locally, but there were no all-day brunch restaurants, so I knew the area needed something,” said Matt.
“First we looked around Canada Water station, but the rents were a bit outrageous.
“I’d met the landowner of Greenland Place a few years earlier – we got along well and I liked her vision for the development.
“Then we had to decide what we wanted to open and, in 2016, the result was The Pear Tree.
“I really liked the idea of an Australian-inspired venue because nothing is out of place on the menu.
“We didn’t want to get stuck just doing modern British.
“Instead, we can have nice classic French dishes, Italian pasta or flavours from Polynesia or Asia.
“It’s a nice approach for a restaurant, where people can come for a full-on breakfast or a pastry with coffee or a juice.
“We’re quite lucky to have a varied audience here – some people come down with their laptops to do work.
“Younger mums visit throughout the day to socialise.
“We offer a very approachable all-day brunch menu and a wine list put together by our friends at Davy’s.
“We always have different things happening including wine nights and steak nights as well as a really popular Sunday roast.
“Then, at the front, we have a deli where we try to support smaller producers and stock a great selection of wines.”
Steak at The Pear Tree – image by A Dash And A Splash
expanding to Surrey Docks Farm
Over the pandemic the couple also started operating a venue at Surrey Docks Farm, initially as a deli and grocery and then as a full-blown café.
“If you go down to The Barn, you’ll find toasted foccacia sandwiches, which we make at The Pear Tree and deliver fresh every morning,” said Matt.
““Then there are lots of cakes, brownies and sausage rolls.
“We do many different specials throughout the week there too, depending on what’s in season.”
Now the story is set to continue, with Matt and Tze-May expanding once more to a new site.
The Village Tree is expected to open in early 2026 at the base of British Land’s flagship residential tower, The Founding.
The building is in the vanguard of the developer’s extensive regeneration of the wider Canada Water area and is located just outside the station.
“I guess you could say The Village Tree will be a mash up between our other two venues,” said Matt.
“We’re trying to give it its own identity, although visitors will find amazing fresh sandwiches, cakes and coffee, and other home-baked goods.
“We’re still working on a few different ideas for the food menu itself. We won’t have a full hot kitchen there, but we will be offering a very good selection.
“It’s not certain yet, but one of our ideas is to have pancakes or possibly waffles.
“We recently had a great trip to Belgium and we think nobody has brought that quality of waffle over here yet, so it would be wonderful to do that.”
The new venue at Canada Water will take elements from both The Pear Tree and The Barn – image by Black Ivy Design
a varied menu
What’s clear, when talking to Matt for any length of time, is that the passion he developed for food as a youngster is still the thing that drives him.
The Pear Tree’s menu is diverse, with potent dishes like Kimchi Eggs, Nasi Goreng and Dan Dan Noodles sitting next to roast grouse, smashed avocado on sourdough and steak with peppercorn sauce.
“Personally, I love the breakfast pancakes we serve until 5pm,” said Matt.
“They are my favourites, especially the top three options – Blueberry And Bacon with maple syrup, blueberry compote and fresh blueberries.
“Then there’s the Fried Chicken option with maple syrup or a really nice autumnal option with Apple And Walnut, which comes with a salted caramel sauce and a cinnamon crumble.”
key details: The Pear Tree, The Barn and The Village Tree
Serendipity is the title of Olivia Black’s new collection.
Shown during London Fashion Week at The Dixon in Southwark, the Bermondsey-based designer’s latest creations take their inspiration from classic tailoring and the contrasting colours in a magpie’s wing.
But the name of her Spring/Summer 2026 offering speaks to something deeper – the chance meetings and influences that are woven through the story of her eponymous brand, all neatly held together by a safety pin motif.
“I’m from Salford in Manchester originally and I’m a twin,” said Olivia.
“Our Nana – my dad’s mum – was a main inspiration for both me and my brother.
“We were both creative growing up – always into crafts and anything art-related from a very young age.
“Nana was a bit of an artist, and had a crystal shop in Afflecks, an indoor market in the city, but she was also a seamstress and had lived and worked in London when she was younger.
“She was part of the reason I chose to study textiles at GCSE level in school.
“I fell in love with it on my own accord, but also chose it in a bid to feel closer to her, because she’d passed away when I was nine.
“My brother also kept the creativity going and has become a graphic designer.
“It’s funny how such a short period of our lives has impacted what we’ve done as adults.”
Designer Olivia Black – image by Jon Massey / Wharf Life
from making clothes to designing them
Olivia’s passion for making clothes saw her buying patterns from the likes of Abakhan, enjoying the “meditative process of building something from scratch”.
She went on to study Fashion Design at De Montfort University in Leicester, before moving to London for a Masters at the Jimmy Choo Academy in Mayfair in Entrepreneurship With Business Innovation And Fashion.
“I was in a class of only six students, so we got a lot of attention and that was an incredible experience,” said Olivia
“They asked questions like: ‘Where do we want to be in the market? Who do we want to be as designers? What is it that you really believe in?’.
“For me, the answer lay in sustainability and gender fluidity – all these kind of activist political statements are very much a part of who I am.
“At the end of the course you graduate with a six-piece collection, which is intended to act as the launch of your brand.
“Mine was all about textile waste and reducing what gets thrown away.
“There was lots of hand painting and use of deadstock fabrics – it was very messy and rural-feeling.
“Growing up working class and shopping in charity shops I’d always enjoyed the process of finding something old and bringing it back to life.
“We always sort of treated it like a game when we did it – who could find the best thing, the designer piece that nobody’s realised is designer.
“One of my best finds ever was a Vivienne Westwood necklace.
“It was £10, they didn’t realise it was real and I have it to this day.
“I don’t wear it because it’s too good, it’s just a nice statement piece on my jewellery stand.
“So finding fabric in that way felt natural to me at university too.
“I had all these projects using bedsheets or curtains – materials that already exist – then mixed and matched them all up.”
An image from Olivia Black’s Serendipity lookbook – image – image by Francesca Stuart-Jones / @francesca_sj
Olivia Black, building a brand
After graduation, Olivia got a job at the Jimmy Choo Academy in the marketing team before moving on to lecture at The London College Of Contemporary Arts (LCCA), all while saving money to fund her own brand.
Keen to keep the momentum going, she decided to take her collection from six pieces to 20, sticking with the same theme and adding new pieces every couple of months over two years, finding as many ways to exhibit them as possible.
“I did a lot of shows including Wimbledon Sustainable Fashion Week, I Love Fashion, a few small, local London shows,” said Olivia.
“I was offered a sponsored spot on the Fashion Life Tour where I got to show all 20 of the looks, which was incredible.
“That got people’s attention and then I had a few people ask me to make pieces for them for special occasions.
“I dressed one guest at London Fashion Week then made the same client an outfit for the premiere of Mufasa: The Lion King.
“That did really well online and I got more red carpet requests from other customers.
“Then I kept doing high profile events on the regular.
“I actually used those pieces from my original collection so many times, which was great and that allowed me to show them on different bodies in various sizes, styled in multiple ways.
The proceeds and Olivia’s work in education enabled her to fund the creation of her latest collection, Serendipity.
“It had to be called that, because it’s dedicated to all the people who helped me stay on the right path,” she said.
“There were so many times when I thought: ‘It’s over, it’s never going to happen’.
“Then someone would offer their services as a makeup artist, turn out to own a factory I could use or tell me about somewhere I could get deadstock in London.
“That’s how the entire show came together.
“Everything has been collaborative. Obviously, there was a lot that needed to be paid for as well, but there was so much help from friends.
“It’s natural my brand has become about keeping the community together.
“That’s where the safety pin comes in. It’s symbolic of connecting people and keeping them together.”
Model Sienna Daniels walks in Olivia’s Serendipity show – image by Francesca Stuart-Jones / @francesca_sj
echoing down the generations
With the motif also celebrating the way her Nana’s creativity has echoed down the generations, Serendipity also brings Olivia’s varied influences together such as the silhouette of traditional dress and blazer shapes, all given a twist.
“The reason I went for an all black and white palette is because, for me, it symbolised the idea of starting fresh,” she said.
“I made my last collection last for two years, which was great but it was a graduate collection.
“It wasn’t really what I would say is my brand. I wanted to start with the clarity of black and white, to say: ‘This is who I am’.
“Also, I’ve always been inspired by birds and for this collection I looked at magpies a lot because they like to find shiny things and that related a lot to the theme of serendipity.
“Their feathers inspired the ruffles and glossy nature of the materials used in some of the pieces.
“For me, one of the highlights is the signature Maglen Dress with the Gildpin Belt featuring wool suiting and silk machine embroidery to create a pinstripe from my brand’s logo. You only see it when you look really closely.
“That was inspired by ideas of camouflage that also came from birds and the way their feathers enable them to blend in.
“Pinstripe is also very traditional and I thought: ‘What would my twist on that be?’.”
Also wrapped into the theme of serendipity, was the way Olivia connected with the factory in Stratford where her clothes are made.
She said: “When I was teaching at LCCA, one of my students turned out to be a manufacturer who owned a facility in east London.
“Even though he was already very successful, he’d been determined to return to education to get his degree.
“One of the reasons Olivia Black is a luxury brand is that we make everything in the UK. The price point is higher, but what matters to me is that my seamstresses get paid a very fair wage.
“For me, the most exciting part of being a designer is seeing my work go from a flat sketch that started life in my head to an actual physical piece. That’s the magic.”
Model Dash walks in Olivia’s show – image by Francesca Stuart-Jones / @francesca_sj
inspiration in the skyline
Olivia works from her studio in an 11th floor flat in Bermondsey that she shares with her partner, taking inspiration from its views.
The couple had their first date in Greenwich Park before setting up home in Maze Hill.
“When we moved to Bermondsey, we wanted to find somewhere with similar views,” said Olivia.
“We overlooked Canary Wharf and the Isle Of Dogs and, when we’ve had low points, because we’re at the start of our careers, we’ve been able to look out over London and realise there’s so much out there.
“It gives you faith that something is going to come, that we’ll get the jobs we need, that we’ll meet the person we need to connect with and that we’ll stay optimistic.
“We’ve found having that skyline has really kept us both going – it’s a privilege to be able to look out over it and think: ‘It’s all out there, I just need to find it’.”
Model Sian Hedger wears Olivia’s signature Maglen Dress with the Gildpin Belt – image by Francesca Stuart-Jones / @francesca_sj
key details: Olivia Black
Olivia Black’s pieces are available to buy online.
Price is a major driver when buyers are deciding to make a property purchase and one that is central to the appeal of shared ownership properties.
The scheme, which allows owners to acquire a portion of a home while paying rent on the rest significantly lowers one of the key bars to getting on the first rung of the ladder.
That’s because buyers may only need to raise a deposit of 5% of a quarter of the property’s total value.
In the case of an apartment worth £400,000, a typical deposit might be £20,000 for private sale as opposed to £5,000 for shared ownership.
But value is also about what you’re buying as well as getting a good deal on entering the market.
A show home interior at Kidbrooke Square – image by NHG Homes
connected to the capital
Located next to Kidbrooke station in Zone 3, the scheme is well connected with direct services to the likes of Lewisham, Cannon Street, Victoria and Charing Cross.
For Wharfers, the area is easily accessible via DLR and rail links in around 30 minutes.
However, prices at the development are significantly below what buyers may expect given the development’s position in the capital.
Property portal Rightmove says the average price of an apartment in Zone 3 currently stands at £631,064 based on sold prices over the last 12 months.
The entry level one-bed and two-bed homes at Kidbrooke Square are priced at £355,000 and £457,500 respectively.
NHG says buyers could expect subsidised monthly rents starting at £1,071 and £1,547 for these assuming a 25% share is owned.
This decreases if buyers increase their share through a process known as staircasing.
Mortgage payments and service charges would be on top of this, however, paying for a shared ownership property is typically less expensive than renting a similar home locally.
Newly built, the apartments come with open-plan design, wood-effect flooring, grey fitted kitchens with Zanussi appliances and private balconies with outdoor lighting.
The development is pet-friendly, with residents’ facilities including a concierge service and a gym.
The scheme is set around a central square with shops and regular markets.
It’s also close to significant regeneration just across the railway tracks as well as the open spaces of Cator Park and Sutcliffe Park.
To be eligible to purchase a shared ownership property in London, buyers must have a household income of less than £90,000 and cannot afford all of the deposit and mortgage payments when purchasing a home that meets their needs.
Other criteria apply, although it’s worth noting that those purchasing do not necessarily have to be first-time buyers.
key details: Kidbrooke Square
Shared ownership apartments at Kidbrooke Square start at £88,750 for a 25% share of a one-bed. Two-beds start at £114,375.
There are reasons that more than half of the homes for private sale in the second phase of the Southmere development have sold in a little over three months.
Peabody New Homes and Lovell’s joint venture in Thamesmead is proving popular as the area takes regenerative steps on a path that’s forecast to see 100,000 people move in by 2050.
“Providing lakeside living with Zone 2 convenience, we are excited to be selling our new phase of highly anticipated homes at Southmere,” said Raquel Soares, assistant director of sales strategy, intelligence and compliance at Peabody.
“Located at the heart of Thamesmead’s vibrant regeneration, Lakeshore and Skyline are set to the backdrop of gorgeous green and blue spaces, exciting new amenities and exceptional transport links.
“With properties in regeneration areas typically seeing an additional annual sale price performance of 4.3%, Southmere is inviting buyers to invest in a growing community.
“Now available to reserve, those hoping to find their place in this up-and-coming destination can contact us via the website now and take advantage of the Stamp Duty contribution of up to £22,000.”
The scheme’s second phase comprises 192 one, two and three-bedroom apartments – image supplied by Peabody
on the edge of the water
The scheme’s second phase comprises a pair of red-brick buildings on the edge of Southmere Lake – Lakeshore and Skyline.
Together these house a collection of 192 one, two and three-bedroom apartments and duplexes available for private sale.
All properties come with outdoor space (including some with multiple balconies) in addition to features such as Silestone worktops in the fully fitted kitchens alongside blue and green units – a theme that carries over into the homes’ bathrooms in a scheme intended to reflect the blocks’ surroundings.
Southmere sits in 590 acres of green space and is part of a £2.5million regeneration project of land around the lake.
The development is part of a 2.5million regeneration project – image supplied by Peabody
amenities at Southmere
The scheme includes a newly created public plaza – Cygnet Square – as well as amenities such as The Nest Library And Community Space, a Co-Op, an Anytime Fitness gym, a health centre and a dentist.
Also local, the Thamesmead Arts And Culture Office provides spaces for a wide range of arts events, as well as hosting a coffee shop, bakery and deli and The Lakeside Centre contains 38 artists studios, a creche and a cafe.
Perhaps the most compelling reason for moving to Thamesmead, however, is the Elizabeth Line, connecting the area via its Abbey Wood station across the capital like never before.
Canary Wharf is 13 minutes away with the City just 20 minutes direct.
What buyers who make those journeys will find at Thamesmead is plentiful open space and waterside living.
The wider regeneration project’s aim, in addition to providing housing and amenities, is also to safeguard and enhance the area’s natural beauty including nature reserve, Tump 53, the ancient trees of Lesnes Abbey Woods and 18km of riverside walks and 7km of canals.
Together, these all add up to give Southmere residents access to more than double the amount of green space than the London average.
Simon Ginsburg, head of sales at Lovell said: “We’re really excited for Southmere Phase 2 on the beautiful lake front in Thamesmead.
“Our vision is to create amazing places where people want to live and a lakeside view in London on the balcony is truly a rare find.”
The properties overlook Southmere Lake – image supplied by Peabody
key details: Southmere
Prices for apartments at Southmere start at £350,000.
Shared ownership properties for the second phase of the development are set to launch in 2026.
“Diwali is a celebration of light, joy and togetherness – and this year’s programme brings that spirit to life in a new format,” said Laura Flanagan, director at Greenwich Peninsula.
“We’ve worked closely with independent traders, artists and performers to create a day that honours South Asian heritage and showcases the richness of its traditions.
“This vibrant celebration reflects our diverse community, and we welcome people from all over London to join in and spend the afternoon eating, dancing and creating.”
Join a vibrant procession led by illuminated rickshaws, Dhol drummers and Garba dancers in traditional costume as it winds through the Design District.
Under a canopy of light, take part in a group dance that unfolds in three parts – Dandiya Raas, Garba and open free dancing, the heart of the celebration.
The event will also feature a South Asian street food market from noon-8pm in Peninsula Square and Bollywood beats and desi DJs from 4pm-9pm at Canteen Food Hall And Bar to keep the party moving.
DJs will perform at Design District’s Canteen Food Hall – image supplied by Knight Dragon
key details: Diwali at Greenwich Peninsula
Diwali celebrations on Greenwich Peninsula are set to take place on Saturday, October 18, 2025, from 2pm until 7pm.
All workshops and performances are free to attend.
“We want them to feel like they’re actually in a pub, that it’s as real as possible,” said Peter.
“They will be meeting characters, not caricatures. Everybody watching will relate to somebody in the play.”
To assist in the illusion, the play will take place in the theatre’s bar with a capacity of around 50 seats and a production design that puts the audience right at the heart of the action.
“The show isn’t in a huge amphitheatre, so everyone who comes will be in the piece – they’re literally in the pub with us,” said Peter.
“Sat at tables, we’ll be talking to them – chatting away.
“It’s a small and intimate performance and, while it’s a cliché that every show on a stage is different, this will be that multiplied by 100.
“We’ll be pulling pints and smashing glasses.
“We might have hecklers because some of the characters are not particularly nice, so you could even see someone getting told to ‘do one’.”
Kellie plays the landlady and six other parts in the play – image by Jon Massey / Wharf Life
walking into the pub
The show opens with Kellie and Peter in the roles of landlady and landlord of the pub and continues from there.
“We’ve arranged to practise at my local, the Blythe Hill Tavern in south-east London,” said Kellie.
“Terry, who runs it, does the best Guinness in London and we’ll be there in preparation because we’ll be pulling pints on the night.”
The actor, known for her portrayal of Carly Wicks in EastEnders among many other roles on stage and screen, is no stranger to Greenwich Theatre, having starred in its production of Parlour Song by Jez Butterworth earlier this year.
She said: “Artistic director James Haddrell asked me if I fancied doing Two and I was a bit scared at first but I really wanted to work with him as a director again.
“Living just up the road and working here is great because I have three kids and this gives me that balance.
“The main thing for me though was the writing.
“Jim Cartwright is a bit of a legend and the decision to stage it in a bar, done up as a 1980s pub, makes it an immersive show – it hasn’t been presented like that before.”
Cartwright – known for The Rise And Fall Of Little Voice and Road – wrote Two at a time when pubs were still the social and cultural heart of Britain before long term decline set in from the late 1980s.
Audiences at Greenwich Theatre’s show are invited to step back in time by taking a seat at the Clock And Compass, buy a pint and play pub games before the show takes over.
Peter and Kellie first met while performing at the National Theatre – image by Jon Massey / Wharf Life
audiences will literally be in the pub for Two
“The play starts behind the bar with the landlord and landlady, but other characters will be sitting at tables with the audience,” said Peter.
“The play is about a variety of different couples. Each character has a story that’s connected to somebody else – that’s why it’s called Two – whether they’re dead or alive.
“It could be a difficult relationship or a co-dependent relationship, and each one is different and complex.
“For us, the costume changes are really quick, but the way Jim has written it means there are little fillers to allow characters just enough time to do a quick change and then go straight back in.
“It’s a marathon but it’s going to be really great fun – it’s a show I’d really like to see.”
Audiences can expect to meet the likes of an old woman whose only respite from caring for her bed-bound husband is a nightly drink at the pub as well as Maudie and her philandering boyfriend Moth, who can’t resist chatting up everyone else in sight when the Clock And Compass opens its doors.
It’s apt, perhaps, that Greenwich Theatre is staging Two in this fashion – a celebration of spaces that bring people together in one that has long served as an inspiration for those who visit.
Kellie herself said it was going to pantos in theatres that first drew her to become an actor.
the power of panto
She said: “Watching those shows at Christmas was the catalyst. I couldn’t believe you could get paid for performing on stage.
“I went to the Brit School in Croydon and then became a jobbing actor, building things up, doing TV and getting to know people.
“Peter and I have been friends ever since we worked at the National Theatre together.”
Peter, known for stage roles at the Almeida and the Old Vic, also took to performing from a young age.
He said: “As a kid I was part of the choir at my school and, when I was eight, I was given the solo at a Christmas carol service.
“All eyes were on me and I got that taste for performance.
“It was an amazing feeling and I just wanted to keep doing it.
“I was in the chorus of Oliver when it came to Nottingham and then did all kinds of plays aged 12-17 before moving to London.
“I think Kellie and I have both been lucky doing lots of different things – TV, musicals and plays.
“Personally, I would rather do a challenging show than one that pays really well but where I’m just in the background.
“So when Kellie came to me with this I thought: ‘Wow, this is the biggest challenge’, because the characters I play are aged eight to 80, which is insane.”
key details: Two at Greenwich Theatre
Two is set to run at Greenwich Theatre for four weeks from August 21-September 12, 2025.
Performance times vary during the run and tickets cost £24, which includes a drink.
>> For selected dates during its revival of Two, Greenwich Theatre has partnered up with Greenwich Gin to offer audiences tutored tastings.
Taking place on Wednesday nights during the run, the add-on includes a welcome G&T, a short talk on the history of the spirit and a guided sampling of four award-winning gins.
The Greenwich Gin masterclass experiences, which should be booked via the venue’s website cost £37.50 – £13.50 on top of a standard ticket to the show.
I see what you did there. We are. The event is set to feature a diverse selection of brass collectives performing outdoors and the best thing is, it’s free to attend.
where’s this happening?
Brassworks will take place in the courtyard at Woolwich Works following a parade from General Gordon Square.
For those who’d like to dance their way through the town, the promenade performance starts at noon.
then what happens
Once the march through Royal Arsenal Riverside to Woolwich Works is done the festivities kick off with a DJ set at 12.30pm.
Then it’s a succession of live bands from 1pm.
Bollywood Brass are set to play the parade and festival – image supplied by Woolwich Works
Founded in 1901, this historic ensemble brings more than a century of tradition to the stage with everything from classical arrangements to film scores in their repertoire.
a strong start…
And there’s more to come. Bollywood Brass will combine powerful horns with dhol drumming to get the audience moving from 2pm.
This will be followed by Blow And Blast, a performance where audience members are encouraged to dust off their instruments, fill their lungs and participate.
what then?
From 4pm, Brassic Parp will perform a set of DJ-style pop medleys dressed as characters from Jurassic Park (for some reason).
Expect plenty of John Williams themes.
and rounding things off…
Then it’s up to the London Afrobeat Collective to finish things off with a headline set starting at 6.30pm.
Expect a heady blend of afrobeat, funk, jazz and Latin sounds with a performance that promises “raucous energy and danceable grooves”.
The eight-strong multinational ensemble has a solid following in the capital and has toured across Europe.
London Afrobeat Collective will headline Brassworks 2025 – image supplied by Woolwich Works
they say
“Brassworks celebrates the power, heritage and future of brass music in London,” said Liat Rosenthal, head of creative programming at Woolwich Works.
“We’re thrilled to present an inclusive line-up spanning cultures and genres, alongside opportunities for everyone to get involved.
“Last year’s inaugural event was a fantastic day and we hope to build on that success this year.”
Blow And Blast will give anyone with a horn the chance to perform on the Brassworks stage – image supplied by Woolwich Works
anything else I should know?
Yes, since you ask. You know the Blow And Blast performance at 3pm?
Well there’s a bit more to say about that.
The project is aimed at reuniting players with their brass instruments that perhaps have lain untouched for some time.
To that end, players of all levels are invited to attend a rehearsal session from 1pm-2.30pm at Woolwich Works before having the chance to play the Brassworks stage shortly afterwards.
Those interested can simply show up or find out more about the communal blow via email to rosie.gilbertson@woolwick.works
key details: Brassworks
Brassworks 2025 starts at noon on September 6, 2025, in General Gordon Square with performances at Woolwich Works from 12.30pm.
“What our volunteers always talk about is the sense of community and supporting people they perhaps wouldn’t normally meet,” said Rosie Farrer, operations manager at WeSwim.
“There’s also networking with other volunteers and participants, but really it’s just the happiness and joy they feel that keeps them coming back.”
WeSwim is coming to south-east London.
The charity supports disabled people into swimming, pairing them up with volunteers to help them get in the pool and enjoy their time in the water.
Founded six years ago, it’s grown to five clubs and will open two more this year.
The facility is set to open in early September 2025, with WeSwim sessions expected to start shortly afterwards.
Consequently the charity is looking for volunteers to help run the sessions.
The charity’s operations manager, Rosie Farrer – image by Jon Massey / Wharf Life
becoming a WeSwim volunteer
“We ask people to commit to coming twice a month, especially when first starting out,” said Rosie.
“The sessions lend themselves well to a creative mindset because it’s about supporting the person in front of you and problem solving together.
“For example, I was swimming with a guy who had limited mobility on one side of his body and we were figuring out how he could use a float because he couldn’t grip it with his hand. It was fun and collaborative.
“Some participants have particular goals they’re working on, but we have people engaged in a huge variety of activities in every session.
“For some, it might just be about getting in the water.
“People can turn up really fearing the pool and so the work is about just helping them take those first steps.
“Then it might be putting their face in the water and learning to just float on their back.
“There are lots of benefits to being in the water.
“Often the feeling of weightlessness and the support it gives them is really helpful.
“Alternatively, a participant may be recovering from a stroke and the session might be useful for rehabilitation.
“For lots of participants and volunteers alike, attending is also about the social side.
“We often focus on the exercise, but for many these sessions are a highlight in their week – getting out and seeing friends.
“The participants and volunteers are a very diverse group – we’re a big melting pot.”
For Rosie, getting involved with WeSwim brought together her passion for working for and with charities as well as her love of the water.
Volunteers assist and support disabled people in the pool during sessions – image by WeSwim
from charity work to the benefits of swimming
She said: “I have lots of experience of working with charity startups and bodies that fund projects.
“I’m also a coach and a facilitator who supports people that are perhaps a bit stuck in their lives and help them decide what they want to do next.
“I run women’s retreats too, many of which involve outdoor swimming and walking and I’m an outdoor swim coach too.
“I love the water and so the job at WeSwim has been great.
“I’ve been working with the charity for about 12 months to help it grow.
“Personally, I love the sessions. Getting in the water with WeSwim is just so joyful.
“You can have had a rubbish day at work, maybe it’s a cold January evening and then you find yourself supporting someone who wouldn’t normally be able to swim.
“It puts the rest of your life in perspective.
Volunteer Jack Cunningham, left, assist Eddie at a WeSwim session. Jack will be managing the Canada Water club – image by WeSwim
“Going to a session and seeing people’s faces always brightens up my day. It feels like the work we do as a charity has a real impact.
“All you need to do to be able to volunteer is to get in the water yourself and be confident swimming.
“Sometimes people think we are looking for swimming teachers and that’s not really it at all.
“Sometimes participants want to improve their strokes and we offer training to support that, but it’s definitely not a requirement.
“Potential volunteers might be worried about whether they will know what to do – what disabilities they may be faced with.
“Again, we provide training and we also have a strong core of volunteers that operate each club.
“They’ve been working with the charity for many years and they are very confident and able to support others in the water if there are specific issues as well as providing hints, tips and tricks to help improve participants’ experiences.
“There’s always support. You won’t be expected to get someone out of a wheelchair and into the water on your own, for example.
“For each session there’s always a safeguarding lead who knows exactly what participants’ disabilities are and will be on hand to assist if necessary.
“One of the things that’s important for us, however, is that we don’t want to lead with a participant’s disability.
“At the sessions, they explain what they can and can’t do themselves – it’s never about the disability really, it’s about the person.
“Our volunteers are wonderful people. They are mostly young professionals who are doing this after work to bring a bit of joy to their day.
“Some want to support people with disabilities and others are keen swimmers and are passionate about making sure people can access the water.”
The newly built pool at Canada Water Leisure Centre – image by Jon Massey / Wharf Life
key details: WeSwim at Canada Water
WeSwim is set to launch its Canada Water Leisure Centre club in early September 2025.
Sessions will take place on Tuesday nights from 6.45pm-8pm, priced £2 for disabled participants.
The charity is currently looking for volunteers to help run them.
Neither participants nor volunteers need to be members at the centre.
