The great philosophical question of Peckham’s reinvention story might just be: did the hipsters bring the Negronis or did the Negronis bring the hipsters? Of course, it’s a moot point because both are very much here to stay. It’s happy hour somewhere and that somewhere is Peckham, a melting pot of international cuisine, art, music, underground clubs and elevated rooftop cocktails -not to mention the only place in London where you can still go to the cinema for a fiver at beloved local institution Peckham Plex.
Shop Local
For bougie food shopping, look no further than the Sourcing Table wine shop, Village Grocer,
Flock and Herd butchers and Melange chocolate. For clothes, locals love boutiques Peckham Supply, Worn not torn, and Form SE15, while L’Appartement is an oasis for plant-lovers and readers can browse the literary selections of Review book shop, and Books
(for second hand books).
View from the top
Frank’s Café -the much Instagrammed rooftop bar above the abandoned Rye Lane multi-storey carpark- played a large part in establishing SE15’s cool factor. Not-for-profit arts organisation Bold Tendencies remains based there, supporting artists who create site-specific projects and live performances for the space, like the multi-storey orchestra who fill the concrete cavern with orchestral symphonies.
Next came Peckham Levels, a project providing local talent with access to space to create thriving enterprises with a focus on small, owner-operated businesses. With nearly 100 independent creative businesses housed in the building, they’re on a mission to keep Peckham local. Levels 5 and 6 are home to bars, cafés and street food kiosks as well as a yoga studio, a hair salon, and a rolling programme of exhibitions, installations and events commissioned from local creatives and artists.
In other rooftop offerings there’s trendy hangout Skylight, laid-back cocktails and small plates at Forza Wine, summer cinema pop-up the Rooftop Film Club above the Bussey Building, and CLF Art Lounge and Roof Garden, a two-floor speakeasy and supper club, which is the brain child of DJ Mickey Smith, founder of the CLF Art Café, the Bussey Building, record bar Rye Wax and South London Soul Train, a popular Bussey Building club night that also very much put Peckham on the map. Newcomer Peckham Audio (sharing a building with co-working space Market Peckham) has also quickly established itself on the local club scene.
Movers and shakers
There’s all kinds of fitness offerings to get your heart racing in SE15, from Yogarise Peckham, Hotpod Yoga, Peckham Yoga Den and LevelSix, to CrossFit at The Yard, F45, London Community Boxing and Be Military Fit bootcamp on Peckham Rye. For those who’ve developed a head for heights from all the rooftop wining and dining, Flying Fantastic is home to the aerial arts: silks, hoops, slings, and more.
This article was brought to you from The South Londoner
