Find out the latest events and things to do in Bermondsey and Rotherhithe this winter…
Get in the Christmas spirit with The Biscuit’s what’s on round-up.
Light it up
On Friday 24 November, people of Rotherhithe and Bermondsey can meet at 5pm for the Illuminate lantern procession. Departing at 5:30pm from Southwark Park, the annual free festival for, by and with the local people of SE1 and SE16 is inspired by the histories of the Thames, the docks, migration and the Mayflower story.
There will also be music and food at Southwark Park Bandstand from 6pm to 8pm, with a free lantern-making workshop, too.
Meet at Market Place, SE16 3UQ
Folk is the word
Singer-songwriters, Neil Lemon and Angie Paice, with their wonderfully complementary vocals, together with bassist Andrew Hodgson, will be performing folk songs with a country twist and an international flavour on 14 December, at 7pm at Rotherhithe’s Finnish Church.
The Lemon + Paice Band will be joined by Hungarian violinist Peter Huszar and power percussionist Roger Nunn as they perform a mix of songs with strong narratives for a folk storytime.
With a new CD under their belt, the Lemon + Paice Band will be performing at Tuned.In London for the first time.
Finnish Church, 33 Albion Street, SE16 7HZ
Festive Fridays at Maltby Street Market
For the first Fridays in December (1, 8, 15 of the month), Maltby Street Market will be having a festive makeover as they host an intimate offering for the Christmas season.
You’ll find That’s Banging, Duck Frites and Banh Mi Nen to tickle your tastebuds, as well as Viv’s Coffee serving up delicious espresso martinis until around 9pm – but don’t worry, bars and restaurants on the Ropewalk stay open ‘til late.
For entertainment, Maltby Market will host Côr Y Boro (Borough Welsh Choir), who will be singing from 7:30pm to 8:30pm.
www.maltby.st
Ropewalk, Maltby Street, SE1 3PA
Make your own wreath
It’s time to deck the halls… join Jemima in the Woods’ wreath-making workshops at The Old Timber Store for a fully festive affair. Located on Maltby Street, the workshops are taking place on 29 November and 6 and 13 December, from 6:30pm to 8.30pm. You’ll be given the tools and guidance, alongside refreshments and leave with a beautiful wreath.
Upstairs at Arch 48 Ropewalk, Maltby Street, SE1 3PA
Dachshund through the snow
The dashing Dachshund Christmas tour is returning to SE1 on 2 December, from 10am.
Bring your pup and enjoy a meeting of sausages, the Pup Up Cafe is hosting its Christmas edition at FourPure taproom, where your pups can roam free and props will be aplenty.
With over 200 sausages in attendance last year, it’s a great event to socialise your pooch and meet other Daschund owners. There will be a mingle session, photo opportunities, a free Christmas pressie for every pup, unlimited puppuccinos and lots of toys to keep your pooches entertained.
www.pupup.cafe/event/london-dashing-dachshund-christmas-tour
25 Bermondsey Trading Estate, Rotherhithe New Road, SE16 3LL
Christmas DEBUT
The Brunels hosted the world’s first underground concert party at the Brunel Museum site in 1827 and DEBUT is continuing the tradition, bringing their unique and lively signature style concert series to the Thames Tunnel Shaft for a Christmas special on 14 December at 6:30pm.
Since 2015, DEBUT has put on hundreds of shows in places like lighthouses, ancient operating theatres and Victorian merchant ships. Building on the success of their Shoreditch Treehouse concert series, DEBUT will invite special guests to join them at the show.
Hosted by DEBUT’s founder and soprano, Lizzie Holmes, the night will include botanical cocktails at Midnight Apothecary and homemade Vietnamese with Lò Viêt. The tunnel shaft doors will open at 7pm and the concert will be in two parts.
Tickets are limited, so be sure not to miss out.
Railway Avenue, Rotherhithe, SE16 4LF
Christmas shopping at Brunel Museum
In this issue of The Biscuit, you’ll find our local Christmas gift guide, including some lovely items from the Brunel Museum – but shopping just got easier… Visit the Museum’s Shop Sunday on 26 November from 11am to 3:30pm and get your Christmas shopping done early.
Socks printed with Isambard Kingdom Brunel? A tea towel representing the Grand Opening of the Thames Tunnel? If you’re looking for something unusual for the engineer in your life, then head to the Brunel Museum – taking place both onsite and online.
thebrunelmuseum.com/events/event/museum-shop-sunday/
Railway Avenue, Rotherhithe, SE16 4LF
Farmyard fun
For Christmas fun on the farm, head on down to Surrey Docks Farm on Saturday 2 December to get in the festive spirit. Their free Christmas fair will include carol singing, craft stalls and mulled wine, plus friendly farmyard animals. You’ll be able to buy wreath-making kits and beautiful quality Christmas trees, too. Wrap up warm and enjoy a trip to the farm.
Surrey Docks Farm, Rotherhithe Street, SE16 5ET
London Illustration Fair 10th anniversary
Europe’s leading illustration event celebrates its 10th year from Friday 24 to Sunday 26 November. The London Illustration Fair is an artist-led festival showcasing the creativity of emerging artists from around the world.
With an emphasis on engagement and interaction, it will once again this year convene an all-star line-up of illustrators, workshops, and installations and give fans the opportunity to come face to face with their favourite artists at London’s iconic OXO Tower Wharf in Southbank.
For its tenth anniversary, over 60 artists will lead with the theme of love, affection and acceptance – a theme inspired by the post-pandemic rise in exacerbated loneliness. These will culminate in an eclectic mix of interactive installations, exhibitions, music and digital visuals spread throughout the fair.
www.thelondonillustrationfair.co.uk
Bargehouse, Oxo Tower Wharf, SE1 9PH
A Christmas Carol
Sink into the classic tale of Victorian Christmas and the redemption of London’s most memorable miser at the Old Operating Theatre this season. A Christmas Carol: A One-Man Performance on 13 December (6pm to 8:30pm) follows Scrooge through his encounters with the spirits of Christmas.
This captivating one-man performance brings the story to life with its abundance of much-loved characters and familiar scenes that usher in the geniality and joy of the festive season.
Sit back and take in this quintessential Christmas tale, reinvigorated from the author’s original words, performed in the atmosphere and history of Europe’s oldest surviving operating theatre.
oldoperatingtheatre.com/event-posts/a-christmas-carol-a-one-man-performance/
St Thomas’ Church, 9a St Thomas Street, SE1 9RY
Be Bold
This season of shows celebrates the Unicorn Theatre’s 75th year since being established by Caryl Jenner in 1949. It sees the return of Julian Clary’s much-loved adaptation of his best-selling novel, The Bolds (showing from now until 31 December), which will play alongside the wickedly funny The Wolf, the Duck and the Mouse (also showing from now until 31 Dec) based on the cult picture-book by Mac Barnett, illustrated by Jon Klassen.
Next up is Ready Steady Lift Off! (showing from 17 January to 18 February), an A-Line Art interactive production for 3- to 8-year-olds, where you can explore space and even build your own rocket. This is followed by the return of Stiles and Drewe’s hugely successful The Three Billy Goats Gruff (showing from 20 January to 18 February).
147 Tooley Street, SE1 2HZ
Keep the change, you filthy animal
Miracle on Leake Street – the free event that sees London’s longest graffiti tunnel transformed into the capital’s coolest alternative festive celebration – returns to Waterloo on Thursday 7 December for its fifth year.
Centred around a screening of Home Alone 2, the unique event also includes free graffiti workshops, a snowboard simulator, wreath-making classes, and a Christmas craft market.
Running from 7pm to 9pm, there will be Christmas craft market stalls and festive food and drink from both Lower Marsh Market traders and Leake Street Arches bars – and it all kicks off with a cabaret performance from the award-winning artist Pi the Mime.
The event is free, but organisers will be collecting cash and card donations throughout the night, which will be given to Waterloo Foodbank.
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/miracle-on-leake-street-tickets-741404389487
Leake Street Arches, SE1 8SW
