Features Archive

Get Bell Soon: Campaigners hold workshop to save historic Whitechapel bell foundry

“For the bell foundry not just to survive but flourish, it must embrace the best of modern technology to transform …

by Georgina Gambetta/ December 15, 2019/ Features, General Features/

The suburb with the lowest life expectancy in London: ‘It doesn’t have that feel-good factor’

“Selhurst does not have that feel good factor” says Mark Richs, 38, owner of the Moorish Grill takeaway restaurant in …

by Eleonora Girotto/ December 15, 2019/ Croydon, Features, Health/

In 24 days of hunger strike, 76-year-old Peter Cole has brought the power of protest to the doorstep of the Tories

“It’s the power of vulnerability” says one onlooker of 76-year old Peter Cole’s solemn vigil in support of action on climate change. …

by Daisy Lester/ December 11, 2019/ Features/

Iconic grass roots music venue re-vamped by young volunteers

The 100-year-old facade of The Macbeth public house could have been carved from a Dickens tale- a sore thumb among …

by Lois Borny/ December 9, 2019/ Arts, Arts Features, Music/

Dick Whittington and His Cat: A pantomime take on Windrush at Hackney Empire

It’s 1948 in London, and if you swap the West Country for the West Indies, you have the two heroes of Dick Whittington …

by Clara Hill/ December 5, 2019/ Arts, Arts Features, Reviews/

The Street: A story of Hackney’s grit and glory

“You can’t live in Hoxton unless you’re absolutely wedged to buggery.” Joe Cooke The pie and mash in Joe Cooke’s …

by Sean Russell/ December 4, 2019/ Features, General Features/

Xmas Day meal hosted by Lemn Sissay appeals for gifts for care leavers

A Christmas Day Dinner for care leavers in Hackney which is hosted by award winning poet and author Lemn Sissay …

by Clara Hill/ December 2, 2019/ Hackney, People, Society/

Croydon Christmas Market open for business

The alpine lodges in Croydon’s North End may have been a strange sight to some; but, for those who were curious …

by Jordan Lane/ November 29, 2019/ Christmas, Croydon, Events, Holiday Features/

LGBTQI and Muslim: the charity fighting prejudice from all sides

“Not only are we fighting against homophobia, biphobia, transphobia” said Faizan, one of the founders of Imaan. “That we thought …

by Georgina Gambetta/ November 27, 2019/ Features, Uncategorized/

Traders -v- residents: traffic curbs plan divides Colombia Road community

Residents and shopkeepers on the historic Columbia Road in Tower Hamlets are divided in opinion about a new Liveable Streets proposal which aims …

by Daisy Lester/ November 26, 2019/ Features/

Community fridge dishes out a tonne of food

Since launching six weeks ago, Catford Fridge Station has redistributed 1250kg of food to vulnerable people in the community. The …

by James Bayley/ November 25, 2019/ Lewisham, Local News, People/

Deptford’s Rapman: banned film is a powerful love story, not glorification of violence

The Deptford director of a groundbreaking film about childhood friendships amid postcode wars in South London, controversially banned following a …

by Caitlin Griffith/ November 25, 2019/ Features, Lead Stories, Lewisham/

For one night only: women challenge male rule of Brick Lane curry houses

Among the Bangladeshi community in East London, it’s the skilled women who run the kitchens in their homes, buying and …

by Daisy Lester/ November 25, 2019/ Features/

We run this town! Teenagers takeover Croydon

Imagine a town run by teenagers, making tough decisions on housing to handling budgets at the Town Hall. Yesterday this …

by Evie Breese/ November 22, 2019/ Education, Features/

Clothes swap shops aim to take fast fashion out of style

Fast fashion culture has made clothing insatiable, and despite cheap clothes having an undeniable appeal, the worldwide repercussions are extremely …

by Lois Borny/ November 20, 2019/ Features, General Features, Hackney/

HOUSING CRISIS: In the middle of hipster Hackney, the squalor behind an iPhone billboard

Behind the advert, looking at the reality of the UK's housing crisis in Dalston, Hackney.

by Sean Russell/ November 19, 2019/ Features, General Features/

Hackney ‘Bros’ pick up award for unique take on tackling loneliness

Loneliness in men over 50 is a problem not often spoken about — particularly not by the men themselves. ‘Hackney …

by Lois Borny/ November 19, 2019/ Features/

Windrush scandal victim: ‘This isn’t finished for us… Will the dead have to show their passports at the gates of Heaven?

The suffering of the Windrush generation continues despite government promises of compensation and an inquiry, an event in Lewisham was …

by Caitlin Griffith/ November 15, 2019/ Features/

First there was teenager Greta Thunberg. Now Hackney’s children are encouraged to take up the climate change cause

Teenage activist Greta Thunberg has inspired adults around the world to take action over climate change. Now, the Extinction Rebellion …

by Lois Borny/ November 14, 2019/ Features, General Features/

Brockley’s Rock is a different kettle of fish

Popular Lewisham fish and chip shop, Brockley’s Rock, has been awarded the prestigious Good Food Award for Fish and Chips …

by James Bayley/ November 13, 2019/ Lewisham, Meet The Traders, Reviews/

It’s all in the feels: artist explores women and ageing in Tower Hamlets show

“It’s all in the feels,” said Àsìkò, a visual artist whose photographic work explores women and ageing. His work – …

by Kunyu Wang/ November 4, 2019/ Arts Features, Features, Tower Hamlets/

Shoreditch gets fit for charity

“Fitness found me. I used to work in psychology, hoping to become a consultant one day, I realised I could …

by Georgia Ridout/ November 4, 2019/ Features, Hackney, Local Hero/

Local church steps in to fund disabled daughter’s athletic wheelchair

A mother from Lewisham has finally raised enough money for an athletic wheelchair for her disabled daughter. Nine year-old Millie …

by Grace Hoffman/ November 1, 2019/ Lewisham, News, People/

The “stambassador” from Hoxton raising money for children who stammer

“I have had a stammer since the age of about four or five.  Whilst I was not really aware of …

by Yasmin Saffet-Marshall/ November 1, 2019/ Features, Hackney/

Friday Late kicks off the V&A East project in Hackney Wick

“It’s not the first time we’ve done a Friday Late off-site, but it’s the first time that we’ve done it …

by Kunyu Wang/ October 31, 2019/ Features, Hackney, People/

Hackney home visit library service: “Books bring the outside in”

“The first question is always – what does it cost? It’s free,” said Mo Dixon, a Community Library Service officer. …

by Kunyu Wang/ October 30, 2019/ Hackney, Local News, People, Society/

History of Printing in East London exhibition to open in Tower Hamlets

Printing has played an important role in history and has been shaping the country and its politics since the 1900s. …

by Bella White/ October 25, 2019/ Arts Features/

Lewisham mother fundraises to fulfil her disabled daughter’s dreams of becoming an athlete

A mother from Lewisham is raising money to help her disabled daughter fulfil her athletic dreams by providing her with …

by Grace Hoffman/ October 22, 2019/ Features, General Features, Lewisham, People/

From Afro hair to Soul II Soul, exhibition celebrate’s Hackney’s black cultural history

For Rebecca Odell, seeing visitors connect with Hackney Museum’s latest exhibition on a personal level is one of the most …

by Yasmin Saffet-Marshall/ October 21, 2019/ Arts Features, Features, Hackney/

Poetry festival has Croydon rhyming

A poetry festival took place at Fairfield Halls in Croydon last weekend, showcasing and celebrating the power of the spoken …

by Joshua Statter/ October 16, 2019/ Arts Features, Croydon, Features, People/

Running is my therapy: mental health advocates extol virtues of exercise

“Running is my therapy, I let go of all of my worries and struggles when I run. It is my …

by Georgia Ridout/ October 15, 2019/ Features, General Features, Tower Hamlets/

Caribbean community group in Hackney lands lottery grant

A community group which supports elderly Caribbean residents in Hackney is celebrating after securing £433,382 from the National Lottery to …

by Keji Marell Ricardo/ October 9, 2019/ Hackney, Local News, News, People/

Goldsmiths’ finest- Fine Art Lecturer named 2020 Artist in Residence for the National Gallery.

A senior lecturer in the department of Fine Art at Goldsmiths, University of London has been named 2020 Artist in Residence …

by Astra McKenzie/ September 5, 2019/ Arts, Arts Features, Lead Stories, Lewisham/

On this day in history: ‘The Stoke Newington 8’ arrested

The ‘Stoke Newington 8’ arrested 1971   On 21 August 1971, Special Branch and the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) raided a …

by Astra McKenzie/ August 21, 2019/ General Features, Hackney, Lead Stories, Local News/

On this day in history: First pedestrian in Britain to die after being hit by a car.

Woman becomes the first pedestrian in Britain to die after being hit by a car in 1896   The first …

by Astra McKenzie/ August 17, 2019/ Croydon, Features, Lead Stories/

On this day in history: The Battle of Lewisham

The Battle of Lewisham 1977   On 13 August 1977, the far-right group National Front (NF) attempted to march from …

by Astra McKenzie/ August 13, 2019/ Features, Lead Stories, Lewisham, Local News/

What’s on this Summer

by Astra McKenzie/ August 2, 2019/ Croydon, Features, General Features, Hackney, Lewisham, Summer, Tower Hamlets, Upcoming/

Great places to visit in your borough that you may have missed

Manor House Gardens Manor House Gardens is a family-friendly park which is situated in Lee. It is a great place …

by Astra McKenzie/ August 2, 2019/ Croydon, Features, General Features, Lead Stories, Lewisham, Local News, Summer, Tower Hamlets/

Tower Hamlets Council tackles child food poverty with thousands of free meals

Tower Hamlets Council is providing free meals for children across the borough during the school holidays. 11 holiday clubs opened …

by Astra McKenzie/ August 1, 2019/ Features, Lead Stories, Local News, Tower Hamlets/

Meet the three east London finalists for the Black British Business awards

With just one day to go until judges make their decisions on winners at The Black British Business Awards (BBBA), …

by Astra McKenzie/ July 26, 2019/ Features, Hackney, Lead Stories, People/