Happy Thursday, South East London!
If I had to sum up this weekend in one word it would be MUSIC. There are so many great concerts happening, from latin jazz, to opera, to house, to Northern Soul. There’s even a second chance to see some country music in case you missed it last weekend.
AND for the theatre fans, there’s a massive new theatre opening right here in Greenwich. Scroll down to the news section for more on that.
Enjoy. Stay warm. See you next week!
-Anton
🎸 Concerts & Events
Thursday, January 29th
A Mozart opera in Blackheath. A translated rendition of Cosi Fan Tutte at Blackheath Halls. Have a sophisticated evening.
Friday, January 30th
American country music extravaganza! Second chance! To anyone who missed the country music show last weekend, this is your chance. Get tickets now from The Albany in Deptford.
Yoga, sound baths, wellbeing walks… it’s all part of mental health day in Southwark. There are TONS of low-cost or free activities across Southwark’s leisure centres in Camberwell, Canada Water, Elephant & Castle, Dulwich, Peckham, and Surrey Quays. Check out the whole list here.
Saturday, January 31st
Disco, dance floor jazz, Northern Soul… renowned DJ Dom Servini kicks off this monthly Saturday afternoon party in New Cross. And tickets are CHEAP.
House music superstar comes to Greenwich. Rossi is playing Magazine London. Regular tickets are sold out, but you can get re-sale tix through the venue’s site here.
Meditation and crafting. Those two things go together nicely, don’t they? This session explores artwork as a meditative process. Starting with a grounding session that leads into the crafting itself, this is a unique workshop that will put you in a good mood for the weekend.
A chill Saturday afternoon DJ set. Expect some Brazilian funk, Batida, hip-hop, and UK funky at Peckham Levels. Free entry. Chill by the bar and groove.
Sunday, February 1st
21-piece Latin Jazz Big Band concert. This is the way to close out a weekend. Roberto Pla and his orchestra are playing Sunday evening. Expect some salsa, some Latin jazz, some tropical rhythms and more. Get tickets here before they sell out!
The Painted Hall for a fiver! It’s First Sundays at the Painted Hall and that means the usual £17.50 ticket is slashed to only £5. Take advantage of the deal and book here.
🧒 Family-friendly Activities
Creative art class for kids in Greenwich. It’s less of an art class, and more of a confidence-building, creative-powered journey. That’s from the website and we love that, and are very jealous that it’s just for kids. Find out when it is here.
Squirrel. Need I say more? I do? Okay… An immersive play for children 6 months to 4 years old where the kids are encouraged to take part in the show. A trailer is available to see here.
Peppa Pig’s brand new show is coming to Blackheath this weekend! Critics are calling it ‘oinktastic.’… I’ll stop. There are multiple shows this weekend to choose from.
The Night of the Basilosaurus in Bexleyheath. This is a really unique activity. Dozens of families in Bexleyheath have been busy making sea creature lanters for weeks, and on Saturday, there’s going to be a parade and face painting. Find out more about this artistic endeavour and event here.
🍺 Food & Drink
A burger club special is back at Whole Beast in Brixton. The so-called Smile Meal is sort of like a super intense delicious Happy Meal for adults. Only available on Saturday. Check out what the Smile Meal includes and what exactly ‘Viking Fries’ are.
Latin street food kitchen takeover at the Pelton Arms. We usually focus on new pop-ups/menu items/openings. This is not new, but we’re excited about it all the same. A mix of Latin-flavoured burgers, tacos, and sides from Afuego Burger at this Greenwich pub. This is the menu here.
Japanese comfort food at a brewery. Okay, last not so new one, but come on, who doesn’t love a kitchen takeover? Check out this amazing food at the Kernel on Spa Road.
A pop-up bar in Catford. Servesmiths, a coffee shop on Rushey Green, is re-starting a monthly pop-up bar on Friday with a DJ spinning vinyl and an expanded drink menu. Here’s the announcement and address.
📰 News in your borough
LEWISHAM
BLACKHEATH STATION CAR PARK DEVELOPMENT DECISION DEFERRED
Lewisham councillors have deferred a decision on a controversial plan to build 45 new homes on the Blackheath station car park following a wave of over 1,200 formal objections.
Opponents, including high-profile locals like Jude Law and Dominic Cooper, argue the development would cripple the village economy by removing 141 parking spaces and threatening the long-term viability of the popular farmers' market. The committee has demanded more data on retail impact and weekend parking before the scheme can move forward.
What do you think…
Should the Blackheath development be allowed to proceed?
GREENWICH
NEW THEATRE VENUE COMING TO GREENWICH PENINSULA
The Troubadour Greenwich Peninsula Theatre has officially received planning approval to become one of London’s most significant new cultural hubs. Situated on the waterfront near the O2, this massive venue is currently on track to open its doors in late 2026.
The complex will feature a combined capacity of 3,000 across two state-of-the-art auditoriums, each seating 1,500 guests. While it won't quite dethrone the London Coliseum as the capital's single largest house, it is still a major development for the Greenwich arts scene.
SOUTHWARK
SOUTHWARK RESIDENTS GET TO ‘CALL THE SHOTS’ WITH PUBLIC LAND
Southwark Council has launched a pioneering pilot project that grants residents direct influence over the use of public land at four key sites in Peckham, Rotherhithe, and Bermondsey. The council will establish community panels to identify specific neighborhood needs rather than following traditional developer-led models.
This initiative marks a significant shift in local governance, allowing residents to "call the shots" on the future of vacant offices and community spaces. Locals will be able to apply to join these decision-maker groups, but details have not been published yet.
Before you go…
What did you think of today's newsletter?
That’s all for now. Have a great week!