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.
A giant zoetrope of skeletons punting across the Styx, a vast chandelier with jazz musicians for candles swinging from a crane, huge trebuchet-like bells swinging too and fro, a slick of multicoloured foam, acrobats, dancers, performers, weird installations and cups of tea.
These are just a tiny fraction of the things the Greenwich + Docklands International Festival has brought to east and south-east London, almost all free to watch and thrillingly vibrant.
But don’t take my word for it.
To mark the 30 years organisers have been pulling this remarkable annual event together, large format coffee table book Above And Beyond by Fiona Hughes is set to go on sale to coincide with the launch of this year’s festival.
Frankly, I don’t envy the author.
Even with 160 pages to play with, boiling down the sheer quantity of shows performed over three decades must have been a tough assignment.
The team members behind GDIF, led by festival founder and artistic director Bradley Hemmings since the event’s inception, are not strangers to tricky issues, of course.
Yet somehow on a yearly basis they pull off a powerful programme of shows, finding funding, commissioning artists and emerging victorious over the organisational bothers.
Epiphytes features aerial performers – image by Claude Esselen
a mirror: the Greenwich + Docklands International Festival
“It’s been very interesting and sometimes challenging, but the festival is in some way a mirror of people’s social and cultural lives over the last 30 years,” said Bradley.
“If you think back to the 1990s, you’d be hard-pressed to find a place where you could have a meal on the street or in a public space outside.
“There has been such an explosion of alfresco cultural experiences and there’s now a real appetite for doing things together in the open air.
“If you think of spaces around London, like Canary Wharf, they’re now designed for outdoor conviviality.
“That’s the journey we’ve gone on in a very distinctive way and we’ve thought a lot about that during our time producing the festival.
“For what we do it’s about informality – people can come and see GDIF, meet up with friends and relax.
“It’s completely accessible. It’s something you can have a conversation about, not something where you have to sit in silence in a row.
“Above And Beyond contains gorgeous photographs and very interesting storytelling by Fiona to highlight some of the companies and people who have worked with us over the years.
“I’m so proud of them all.”
Turning Worlds will take place on Greenwich Peninsula – image by Frank Emmers
GDIF 2025: Above And Beyond
“Above And Beyond” is also the theme for GDIF 2025, which kicks off on August 22, 2025, with a performance of the same name at 6.45pm in Woolwich’s Beresford Square.
We are living in anxious times, so the idea of ‘Above And Beyond’ is that there are no boundaries or walls to define outdoor arts,” said Bradley.
“There’s a continuity and it can happen anywhere – an inn, a park, a town centre, next to a dock, on a roof, or even, as this year, up in the sky.
“The opening night will feature a specially commissioned production with eight French performers from Lézards Bleus who will create an incredible, heart-stopping Parkour presentation that will take over landmark buildings in Woolwich.
“The climax will feature a collaboration with the Greenwich-based Citizens Of The World Choir made up of sanctuary-seeking people, who’ve done all sorts of exciting things including performing at Glastonbury and recording with Ed Sheeran.”
Weight(less) will be performed as part of Greenwich Fair – image by Lina Johansson
evolution and a return to Greenwich Fair
GDIF has consistently changed and evolved over the years, taking root in all kinds of locations depending on availability and funding.
For its 2025 iteration, performances are in the main split over five chunks – one in Greenwich, one on Greenwich Peninsula (home to Bradley and the organisational team) one in Woolwich, one in Thamesmead and the last in Stratford.
First up, Greenwich Park is set to host Greenwich Fair from August 23-24 with performances at various times in the area across the two days.
Bradley said: “It’s a fantastic event but quite hard for us to resource so we had to take a break last year.
“However, we’re delighted to be working with Royal Parks and Greenwich Park, to bring it back to its original home.
“The location is where the 19th century Greenwich Fair used to happen and we’ll be bringing together a programme of street art, dance, circus and installations, with a very family-friendly character at the top of the park in celebration.”
Following on, Greenwich Peninsula will host Turning Worlds on August 30 and 31.
“We’ve moved our offices here, in the Design District and it’s a really invigorating place to work,” said Bradley.
“There are wonderful businesses and phenomenal architecture here, and there are great public spaces too.
“For Turning Worlds we’ve taken ideas of performance and engineering and it will feature a giant metal spiral, a device that enables a performer to walk on a wall and a show that involves exchanges between an acrobat and a giant robotic arm. Robopole, especially, is a phenomenal creation.”
Robopole will be performed on Greenwich Peninsula for 2025 – image by GDIF
heading to Woolwich
On September 4, it’s Woolwich’s turn with Fragments Of Us and Go Grandad Go set to both be performed twice in General Gordon Square.
“The former is a piece we’ve co-commissioned with Talawa from dance company Fubunation and director Sonia Hughes.
“It’s going to be very inspiring and thought-provoking, which will invite people into the lives of a cast of black performers who are creating and presenting the work.
“It’s a piece that will challenge traditional assumptions about black masculinity and reveal beautiful moments of poetry, and the brotherhood and connections between the people in the show.
“Then, Go Grandad Go is commission from fantastic dancer and choreographer Dani Harris-Walters. It’s hip-hop – very family-friendly and feel-good – and takes audiences into this world of relationships across the generations.
“It’s really fun and very relatable and engaging.”
The Weight Of Water is set for shows in Thamesmead – image by Campagnefoto
tilting in Thamesmead
Completing this year’s series of spectacles in south-east London will be The Weight Of Water, a giant tipping staircase of a stage where six performers will dance while battling gravity as their floating performance space.
“It’s from a Dutch company, who have created a wonderful piece of ingenious engineering, that involves a floating stage which can actually tip and change position in response to the movements of the acrobats and dancers on it.
“The show is very much urging us to be aware of the climate crisis and the impact of political indecision.
“There’s live music, dance and circus. It’s nail-biting and an incredibly surprising show which has toured widely across Europe.
“We’re thrilled we’re able to bring it to Thamesmead on September 6 and 7.”
Also taking place that weekend will be Dancing City, an extensive programme of performances on the Saturday held in various locations for the second time in Stratford.
We’ll preview this event more extensively in due course.
Greenwich + Docklands International Festival founder and artistic director, Bradley Hemmings – image by Matt Grayson
key details: Greenwich + Docklands International Festival
Greenwich + Docklands International Festival 2025 is set to run from August 22 until September 6 at various locations in south-east and east London.
“We are delighted to have completed Neptune Wharf and to be able to deliver highly specified new apartments in Deptford,” said Eli Dias, executive chairman and CEO of Galliard Homes.
Located on Grinstead Road, with Deptford Park to the north and Folkestone Gardens to the south, the scheme connects the two open spaces via a newly constructed public square, while providing more than 170 apartments spread over six buildings.
Currently on the market are 37 apartments for private sale, with Galliard recently unveiling a host of incentives for prospective buyers.
Four properties have been significantly discounted with price reductions of up to £135,000.
First-time buyers can look forward to having their Stamp Duty bills covered, while contributions to legal costs are also available for those using solicitors from a preferred panel to handle conveyancing.
There are also 100% mortgage deals available for those who meet the criteria, meaning even those who haven’t saved up a deposit could potentially purchase a home.
As for the apartments available for sale themselves, one and two-bedroom properties are available with some of the larger units laid out as duplexes.
The Galliard Homes development is located in Deptford – image by Galliard Homes
going inside: Neptune Wharf
Buyers can expect full height glazing with homes on upper levels offering direct views of Canary Wharf, the City and the surrounding open spaces.
Inside oak-style flooring, light grey walls and steel hardware present a neutral base with open-plan living areas and private balconies for all apartments.
Kitchens feature integrated Smeg appliances, navy base units and oak-style wall cupboards over stone worktops.
The homes come with a wealth of tech including LED lighting, in-built radio, TV and Sky-Q ports and kitchen taps that deliver hot, cold or boiling water on demand.
Main bedrooms boast built-in wardrobes, while bathrooms are tiled in porcelain and come with white sanitaryware, thermostatic showers and heated towel rails.
A total of 37 apartments are available for private sale at the scheme – image by Galliard Homes
The homes all achieve an Energy Performance Certificate rating of B and include central heating systems based on flat-panel white radiators.
Some apartments are available fully furnished.
Neptune Wharf is located around a 16-minute brisk stroll from three stations – Deptford, South Bermondsey and Surrey Quays – offering rail and Overground connections into central and east London.
It’s located about 15 minutes from Canary Wharf via bus and Tube.
The development is in an area that is set to see major regeneration over the coming years as schemes at nearby Canada Water and New Bermondsey, both bringing thousands of incoming residents, businesses and new infrastructure to this part of south-east London.
As an increasingly attractive part of the city, it’s therefore likely to bode well for those seeking capital appreciation as well as an interesting place to live.
Properties come with integrated Smeg appliances – image by Galliard Homes
key details: Neptune Wharf
A total of 37 private sale apartments are on offer at Neptune Wharf through Galliard Homes.
Prices start at £375,000 for a one-bedroom apartment. Two-beds, including duplexes, are also available. Viewings are by appointment.
“Greenwich Peninsula buzzes with life in the Summer, from leisurely weekend brunches by the river, to vibrant foodie experiences and unmissable performances from some of the UK’s hottest talents at our iconic jazz and food festival, Rhythm And Taste,” said Laura Flanagan, director of Greenwich Peninsula, as the area looks forward to a season of entertainment and events.
“Our 5,000-strong residential community benefits from free art, music and culture right on their doorstep and, each year, we curate a varied programme of diverse cultural experiences for everyone to enjoy and get involved with.
“Peninsula Summer is a celebration of the very best of the Peninsula, against a backdrop of – hopefully – a Great British summer.”
The brainchild of fashion designer Wayne Hemingway and Traid CEO Maria Chenoweth, this seven-week pop-up shop will sell pre-loved fashion with all proceeds going to charitable causes.
Purposeful retail that aims to do good things for people and the planet.
Canteen Courtyard, Design District – Jul 10-Aug 31- £4
The art duo Graphic Rewilding are dedicated to bringing outsize flora and fauna into urban spaces and here present a floral mini golf course for visitors to enjoy with friends.
Complementing the offering at Canteen Food Hall And Bar in Design District, visitors are invited to discover the flavours available at a pop-up fleet of street food trucks during Peninsula Summer.
Doughnuts, ice cream, pizzas, pick’n’mix, crepes, waffles and churros will all be available for hungry punters.
Visitors can enjoy The Chromatic River Walk as part of Peninsula Summer – image by Greenwich Peninsula
Open Tuesday-Saturday, this artist collective and gallery will be hosting workshops, events, exhibitions, performances and community projects throughout the summer.
The jazz and food festival promises a whole nine hours of music, roaming performers, street food, markets and meet-ups.
The programme includes shows from jazz collective Steam Down, Shunaji And Knats, Design District’s radio community Loose.fm, DJs Tim Garcia And Tina Edwards and many more.
Also on offer will be wine tasting, workshops and a pan-Asian street food and craft market.
Peninsula Square + Design District – Aug 30-31 – free
Rounding out Peninsula Summer will be the return of the Greenwich + Docklands International Festival, this year celebrating its 30th edition.
This year, Greenwich Peninsula will host a series of performances over two days including Turning Worlds, Ripple, Walking On The Wall, The Scale and Robopole.
Audiences can expect acrobatic feats, circus skills and weightless movement on a rooftop basketball court.
getting to Peninsula Summer
Greenwich Peninsula is easily accessed by Jubilee line to North Greenwich, cable car from Royal Victoria Dock, numerous bus services across south-east London and Uber Boat By Thames Clippers along the river to Greenwich Pier.
Take a putt: Wild Swing Golf – image by Greenwich Peninsula
key details: Peninsula Summer
Peninsula Summer is set to run from July 10 to August 31, 2025, at various locations on Greenwich Peninsula.
When the tools finally go back in the van, Berkeley Capital will have delivered around 5,400 new homes on the site of the Ferrier Estate in south-east London.
Spread over 86 acres, the project is one of the larger regeneration schemes in this part of London, kicking off in 2010.
It includes Cator Park (recognised with the Sir David Attenborough award for enhancing biodiversity), two schools, a nursery, a health centre and a range of commercial spaces that have attracted the likes of Sainsbury’s, YoHome and Starbucks. It even has its own pub in the shape of The Depot on Pegler Square.
Since work began, Berkeley has delivered some 1,400 affordable homes as part of the development including 645 built in partnership with the Royal Borough Of Greenwich and housing association L&Q.
Recently council leader Cllr Anthony Okereke joined representatives from the developers and local residents to mark this milestone and officially open the latest apartments.
The properties are split between London living rent, London affordable rent and shared ownership to cater for a range of needs.
Cllr Anthony Okereke celebrates the completion of 645 affordable homes with L&Q and Berkeley at Kidbrooke Village – image by Berkeley Capital / L&Q
marking delivery at Kidbrooke Village
“We’re hugely proud to complete our 645th affordable home and it’s fantastic to see more households settle in,” said Justin Tibaldi, managing director of Berkeley Capital.
“Kidbrooke Village is a compelling example of successful long-term urban regeneration and has made a hugely positive difference to this part of Greenwich.
“Partnership working has been key to that success and shows what can be achieved through a shared vision and commitment to delivery.”
Neil Davis, development delivery director at L&Q, said: “At L&Q our mission is to combine our social purpose and commercial drive to build homes and neighbourhoods everyone can be proud of and we are very proud of what this partnership has created at Kidbrooke Village.
“While this event celebrated the completion of the 645th affordable home in this superb community and almost six years of working in partnership locally, as a housing association, we will be managing these homes for decades to come.
“So we look forward to watching the community grow even further and we will continue to provide support and exemplar services for residents.”
One and two-bed shared ownership homes are currently available – image by Berkeley Capital / L&Q
shared ownership options
Currently one and two-bedroom properties are available through L&Q at Kidbrooke with three-beds expected to be released soon.
Apartments feature open-plan design and full height glazing to allow plenty of natural light in.
Locally there’s an extensive children’s playground by APES (which built the award-winning facilities at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park) and a concierge service for residents.
The development is also well connected, with an on-site rail link connecting directly to the likes of Lewisham, London Bridge, Waterloo East and Victoria. Canary Wharf is about 25 minutes away with a change onto the DLR.
Cyclists can reach the likes of Lewisham and Greenwich in 16 minutes and 21 minutes respectively.
A show home interior at Kidbrooke Village – image by Berkeley Capital / L&Q
key details: Kidbrooke Village
Shared ownership homes are currently available at Kidbrooke Village through L&Q.
Prices start at £93,750 for a 25% share of a one-bed based on a full market value of £375,000.
It’s a category that’s grown and keeps growing, meaning the organisers of the London Craft Beer Festival had to look for a larger venue.
“When we started, we attracted 2,000 people, now it’s 20,000 and there are still new people coming into the industry and doing amazing things – it’s brilliant,” said Greg, managing director of We Are Beer, which runs events in Manchester and Bristol as well as the capital.
“The decision to move to Magazine London on Greenwich Peninsula gives us a lot more outside space and that’s what our partners want so they can do bigger and better things.
“We’ve moved on from Tobacco Dock slightly south of the river, although with the way the Thames wiggles we’re actually a little further north than we used to be.
“We’ve worked with Broadwick, which owns the venue, for a long time and this is a purpose-built event space with a showground.
“You have the A2 right there and the transport links via the Jubilee line are brilliant – Canary Wharf is one stop across the water for the DLR and the Liz Line and we’re directly connected to Stratford and London Bridge.
“Our audience comes from London and the commuter belt around the city so it’s a good spot and it made sense to make the move.”
Greg Wells, managing director of We Are Beer – image by Wharf Life
celebrating a growing category at the London Craft Beer Festival
So what’s in store for the festival as it expands further east on the banks of the Thames?
“It’s grown,” said Greg. “There will be more than 200 traders there including 150 drinks brands.
“Craft beer remains the core of what we do.
“When we started there were about 20 breweries in London and there are something like seven times that number now.
“As a category it started as 0% of the market and now it’s 10% nationwide.
“It’s still the second fastest growing category, but it has inevitably slowed, with post-pandemic and the cost of living.
“There is some consolidation happening – some of the smaller operations are joining together – but the main thing is that it’s now 50% of the beer market in London.
“When you go to a restaurant or a pub in the capital, the selection is often brilliant.
“It used to be hard-to-find – something hidden – but now it’s in every supermarket.
“We’re about celebrating good beer and that’s why we have some of the more traditional brands like Timothy Taylor and exciting brewers from Europe.”
The event will feature a wide range of beers to try and plenty of entertainment – image by We Are Beer
a rundown of the event
On the face of it, the London Craft Beer Festival is a relatively simple proposition.
The ticket price covers entry and all beer with the chance to try more than 800 creations from scores of breweries.
The list is extensive, but the festival will include a strong showing from some of London’s celebrated brewers including DEYA (voted top at last year’s inaugural Top 50 UK Beers awards), Verdant and Tiny Rebel.
There will be international visitors too with beers from the USA, Europe and Australasia including New Zealand’s Garage Project new for this year.
Beyond the beer, there will also be plenty of spirits brands represented as well as wine and even sake and alcoholic tea.
In addition to the drinks, the festival offers a wealth of street food options and plenty of entertainment for those who like to dance off their drinks or even play crazy golf with Ballers.
There are four festival sessions to choose from, each lasting five hours on the afternoons and evenings of the two days.
These start at 11am or 6pm. Groups of four can also buy entry together for a discount.
Alongside all beer and cider, these also include fast track entry, a main dish and side per person from the food traders, two vouchers for non-beer drinks (think cocktails and spirits), a guided festival tour with a beer sommelier on arrival and a dedicated meeting point and host for your group.
Ticket prices include all beer consumed during each five-hour session – image by We Are Beer
primed for growth
“We’re going to be a Magazine for the foreseeable future as we continue to grow the event,” said Greg.
“We want to become a part of the Greenwich community and for as many people in Canary Wharf and the surrounding areas to join us as possible.
“We’re very much an event that’s hitting the mainstream – at 13 we’re through the toddler years and into the angry teens.
“Thinking back, craft beer used to be about being dragged along by your aficionado friends to specific establishments.
“Now, from Bermondsey to Walthamstow there are whole clusters and neighbourhoods where it runs deep – beer, brewing and the whole culture around it is integrated into the city.
“People continue to change ,as well attitudes to drinking, where consuming beer may not be the centre of the experience when visiting a venue.
“But there are many other angles and that’s going to be a big part of the next decade – those who get their taprooms rights will be the ones that flourish.
“Consumer discernment remains really high – people want quality.
“If you look at areas like casual dining or fast food, the options available now are way more nutritious and flavourful than they were 20 years ago.
“I don’t think that’s going to go away, although people will always be looking for value too. Craft beer has always been welcoming – it’s never been about being super specialist and that’s the same as our event.
“It’s going to be a whirlwind, a kaleidoscope of flavour with beer, food, music and more.
“Come and join us, it will be brilliant.”
The London Craft Beer Festival is set to take place at Magazine London – image by We Are Beer
key details: London Craft Beer Festival
The London Craft Beer Festival runs at Magazine London from July 18-19, 2025.
Individual tickets cost £64.50 per person with other options available for a five-hour session.
Group tickets for four people cost £59.50 per person.
There are also options for fast-track entry and hospitality packages for larger groups including drinks and food.
“It’s about four or five different things all smooshed together, but somehow it works really well,” said James Ross.
The co-owner of Badger Badger in Deptford is talking about “everything game” Twilight Imperium – his preferred tabletop entertainment of late, albeit one that necessitates a full day off with sessions lasting up to 14 hours to actually play.
However, he might very well have made the statement about the south-east London venue he and business partner Calum Mackinnon opened five years ago.
Today it’s a heady blend of striped mammals, Japanese street food, craft beer, board games, cocktails and co-working, all smooshed together across two conjoined commercial units in a prime location on Deptford High Street.
On the afternoon I visit, its tables are strewn with laptops as day jobs are serviced.
Later, drinkers and diners will roll in and occupy the venue’s left side, while those seeking amusement, side quests, magic and strategy will head right, to a room lined with shelves holding some 800 board games alongside a horde of trading cards, paints and other hobby paraphernalia.
There’s more in the basement, apparently.
Badger Badger co-founder James Ross – image by Jon Massey
things coming together at Badger Badger
When talking to James you get a sense that Badger Badger’s success and its current form have come as something of a pleasant, perhaps serendipitous surprise to its creators.
“I’m not one to be fond of the future or regret the past,” he said.
“Initially the idea was just to do a pub. We did lots of walking around London, finding spaces we quite liked the look of.
“We walked past this building and found the last tenant had been evicted.
“They’d sub-let the space to some gangsters who were running a brothel in it.
“We found lots of things while clearing it out – pairs of high heels, an inflatable.
“At that time Deptford was already seen as really cool – a few businesses were doing really well and it had a good feel to it.
“The train links are insanely good and the architecture on the High Street is great. It has a really strong, lovely community with lots of local businesses.
“We were after a site near a train station – that was the gameplan.”
While Calum had embarked on a hospitality career post study – initially working for hotels and restaurants before making the switch to pubs – James tried his hand at sales but found himself “indifferent at it and certainly not enthused”.
He took a year out to write a sci-fi novel.
The pub is used as a co-working space as well as serving food and drinks – image by Jon Massey
a change of direction
“Then I needed money because I’d spent all my savings and went to pull some pints at The Mitre in Holland Park, which is where Calum was working,” said James.
“We both worked our way up at various venues and wound up running a place called Mirth Marvel And Maud in Walthamstow for a company called Antic, which was like the wild west.
“It was one of these old people’s palaces – a cinema and we had a lot of control.
“It was great fun, we had a bar, a theatre and a restaurant.
“By that time I was thinking of going into business with Calum, so the long rein they gave us was good practice.”
The duo managed to ride the waves of pandemic lockdowns and restrictions, opening Badger Badger in October 2020, inviting some friends to join them with a board game offering when the neighbouring unit became available after a few months, doubling the pub’s size.
There are extensive gaming facilities at Badger Badger including more than 800 board games – image by Jon Massey
gaming and more at Badger Badger
“They then went on to other things, so we took over the gaming and now we have this weird hybrid of craft beers, gaming, co-working and events,” said James, who lives in Deptford.
“We always wanted a small line in cocktails and good wine.
“With the food, we could have done classics like fish and chips, but we couldn’t quite bring ourselves to do it.
“Instead we offer grilled yakitori skewers and salad boxes, bao buns and dishes such as tiger fries and kimchi bhajis.
“It’s American-Japanese fusion – meat and fried food, an idea our chef ran with.
“After Covid, we also thought people might still be working from home, but that they might get bored with their own four walls, so we launched co-working.
“Deptford is quite an artistic area so there are lots of people who can’t afford a gigantic flat but would like somewhere to come and work.
“People’s needs have changed from the old days when pubs were four deep at the bar.
“They want a more varied social life and that’s why we’ve had to diversify a bit. We have very loyal customers now.
“Whenever I walk in, I’ll recognise half the people in Badger Badger – we’ve created a community pub, albeit one that’s a bit unusual.
“It’s a healthy business and that’s why, nine months ago, we opened a second site in West Norwood, which also has a lovely high street.
“We’re doing very much the same thing over there and hopefully that too will build over time.”
The pub also sells trading cards, games and hobby materials – image by Jon Massey
key details: Badger Badger
Badger Badger Deptford is open 10am-11pm, Monday-Thursday, 10am-midnight on Fridays, noon-midnight on Saturdays and noon-11pm on Sundays.
The hours are the same for the West Norwood branch.
Both venues run regular gaming events and LGBTQIA+ socials with full listings online.
While the name Badger Badger has multiple influences, it owes a debt of gratitude to Badgers, an animated meme
by Jonti Picking (Mr Weebl), from 2003 featuring hype-building mushrooms and a terrifying snake. It was itself inspired by Whigfield’s Saturday Night, apparently
Rita Law wasn’t intending to start a business in London.
Having decided to take a career break, she’d booked an Airbnb for a month in the city with the idea of studying drawing.
That, however, was in February 2020 – two weeks before the UK went into a nationwide lockdown as the global pandemic washed over the country.
While she had studied in Bristol some years before, she’d only visited London a couple of times and didn’t really know the city.
Rita started off baking banana bread during lockdown and has now expanded her range – image by Rita Law
an unexpected stay
“I got stuck here because of the travel restrictions and my course was cancelled – to be honest, I started panicking a bit,” said Rita, who was born and raised in Hong Kong before embarking on an international career as an advertising producer in Poland and beyond.
“I’d only booked accommodation for a month because I thought I’d figure out which neighbourhood I’d like to spend time in later – but then I couldn’t find anywhere to stay.
“Eventually I found a place in Lewisham and lived there for the whole of lockdown.”
It was there, having found a new job in the UK in advertising, that Rita – like so many of us – started experimenting with baking.
She began with banana bread, sharing her efforts with friends and neighbours. Word started to spread.
“People loved it and started asking if they could order it,” she said.
“I didn’t know how to run a business or what the legal requirements might be, but that’s when I started to have the idea that maybe baking could be more than just a hobby.
“I wasn’t entirely thinking about it seriously at the time because I was still planning to return home but then I met my boyfriend and decided to stay.
“So, I was working full-time in advertising but I started to do some research into baking as a business and last year, in August, I launched Crumbs And Munch.
“At the moment I’m a home baker, working out of my kitchen in Canning Town.
“I was so nervous when the council came to inspect it, but I got a five-star rating.
“It’s been quite a journey. It’s really the positive feedback from my friends and family gave me the confidence to do it.”
Rita’s aim is to go into baking full time following her success selling at the market – image by Jon Massey
“The first one was so good,” she said. “It was a real shock, because I didn’t think people would buy from a nobody.
“I wasn’t established, so I only brought a few trays of banana bread and a few trays of muffins and I expected to have a lot left over, but I sold out.
“That gave me more confidence to think I could do more, so I thought about scaling the business up and making it more presentable, as well as thinking about product development.”
Having started out specialising in banana bread, Rita has since expanded her range to feature brownies, muffins, stuffed cookies and more.
She aims to trial a new product every time she trades at the market, which is also where she gets her ideas.
“I love talking to my customers face-to-face, so that I can get inspiration,” she said.
“I spend a lot of time doing that and they make suggestions – I learn so much from them.
“It takes a week for me to work on a new recipe, to test it and make sure it’s a product I can make reliably and sell and then I bring it back to the market to try it out – I love that.
“It’s like I connect with the community and I’m baking for them.
“Nothing is baked more than two days in advance because it all has to be fresh.
“I also think I’ve identified a gap, it’s not that easy to buy banana bread but it’s often something people bake at home.
“I think that connection can be quite strong for my customers.
“People get that home-baked taste and the smell and recall their childhoods.
“It’s what grabs their attention when they’re passing.
“I also think presentation is very important, being from an advertising background. I really enjoy making my stall presentable, with all the products laid out.”
Crumbs And Munch trials new products on a monthly basis – image by Rita Law
growing Crumbs And Munch
Having taken solid first steps with her fledgling business, the plan is now to embark on the next chapter.
“This is now the time to scale up and take on a more permanent site where I can connect with my customers more regularly,” said Rita.
“I know it will be a huge commitment – having a stall at an indoor market – but I’m excited to start working on it and I’ve already submitted an application for a pitch at Greenwich Market.
“Beyond that, in the future, I’m very interested in establishing a community hub where I can bring together baking with storytelling.”
In addition to finding a more permanent place to trade, Rita is also looking at moving her operation to a commercial kitchen so she can ramp up to full-time production.
The impetus, however, is the way her bakes make her customers feel.
“I’ve already bought an extra fridge, but you can only do so much in a home kitchen,” she said. “So I have that ambition.
“Selling these products on the market actually feels quite emotional for me sometimes – the people buying them are trusting me and I’m so glad they like them.
“I do feel overwhelmed at times with the positive feedback.
“It feels like I do a little magic and people really enjoy my stuff.
“Hopefully I’ll be able to take this business full-time in the second half of this year – that’s what I’m planning for.”
key details: Crumbs And Munch
Crumbs And Munch currently sells its products online and in-person at Thrive’s monthly pop-up markets at Surrey Quays Shopping Centre.
The next few are set to be held on May 31, June 28 and July 26, 2025.
Nearly 200 new homes are set to be released for sale in south-east London next month.
The one, two and three-bedroom apartments – plus duplexes – are scheduled to hit the market in June as Peabody New Homes and Lovell unveil the second phase of their joint venture to regenerate Thamesmead – Southmere.
Spread over two red brick-clad buildings, Lakeshore and Skyline, the properties are set alongside £2.5million regeneration of Southmere Lake.
The blocks boast direct views over the water with apartments that feature large windows, and private outdoor space for all residents.
Interior design firm Suna has created schemes for both buildings with distinct colour palettes for bathrooms and kitchens in green and blue to differentiate the properties on offer.
Properties have been designed with distinct colour schemes – image by Peabody New Homes / Lovell
lakeside living
“Providing lakeside living with Zone 2 convenience, we are excited to soon be launching our next phase of highly anticipated homes at Southmere,” said Raquel Soares, assistant director of sales strategy, intelligence and compliance at Peabody New Homes.
“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.
“Launching shortly, those hoping to find their place in this up-and-coming destination can register their interest now.”
Apartments come with private outdoor space – image by Peabody New Homes / Lovell
amenities at Southmere
Residents at Southmere get access to a 16-hour concierge service, a residents’ lounge, co-working spaces and a cinema room.
Those moving into Skyline will also benefit from an entertainment room.
Those living locally will also be able to take advantage of paddleboarding, kayaking and sailing facilities at a new boat club, which is set to be unveiled on Southmere Lake.
Simon Ginsburg, head of sales at Lovell said: “We’re really excited for Southmere phase two on the beautiful lakefront 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.”
Southmere is located a 10-minute walk from Abbey Wood station, which offers connections to the likes of Canary Wharf, Farringdon and Paddington in 11, 20 and 28 minutes, respectively.
The hub also offers rail services to a range of destinations and there are plans to extend the DLR to Thamesmead too.
Local amenities include the likes of The Nest Library And Community Space, a Co-Op, an Anytime Fitness gym, a health centre and a dentist as well as the open public space of Cygnet Square.
The project to regenerate Thamesmead aims to preserve as much open space in the area as possible while providing new homes for Londoners.
Residents at Southmere will be within easy reach of nature reserve Tump 53 and the ancient woodlands of Lesnes Abbey Woods.
Southmere Park boasts South London’s first ever Tiny Forest, made up of 600 trees, while walking and cycling routes offer connections to the area’s five lakes, 18 kilometres of riverside walks and 7 kilometres of canals.
Homes in the latest phase of the Southmere scheme are set to go on sale from June 21 – image by Peabody New Homes / Lovell
key details: Southmere
Prices for private sale homes in the second phase of Southmere start at £350,000. The apartments will be available from June 21, 2025.
Shared ownership properties at the development are scheduled to launch in 2026.
