#E2ToDo – September 2018
It’s September and it’s time to get back in touch with what’s happening here in Bethnal Green. As the uniforms are dragged back on and the shorts find their way back to the bottom of the drawer, we’ve picked out some key bits and pieces for the month where Virgo meets Libra. So as the signs of the Zodiac and the seasons change, we can be re-assured that #E2 is consistently delivering the goods – it’s a pleasure to shine a light on such a variety of excellent activity.
Summer Jamboree – A family day by St. Margaret’s House
Saturday 1st September – 11am – 3pm
Round off the last weekend of the school holidays with the return of St. Margaret’s ever-popular family day Jamboree.
This year they’ve curated even more excellent activities for the whole family, with a special focus on creativity and wellbeing.
They have teamed up with some long-time friends of St. Margaret’s House to bring us a wonderful mix of activities throughout the day, so make sure you get along to say farewell to the summer holidays. Booking is required for some of the sessions to avoid disappointment.
St. Margaret’s House, 21 Old Ford Road, E2 9PL
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‘Time to Talk Business’ – Leyton Orient FC
Wednesday 5th September – 12:30 – 2:30pm
Join East London Chamber of Commerce for their ‘Time to Talk Business’ event and take the opportunity to network with up to 80 local, like-minded business professionals in a relaxed and informal atmosphere. We speak from experience when we say that attending this monthly event is a great way to strengthen existing relationships and create new business opportunities. Come along and let the rest of the east end know what you’re up to here in E2. Book now, & use the free guest code TTSEP2018.
Leyton Orient Football Club, Matchroom Stadium, Brisbane Road, Leyton, E10 5NF
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Kokoroko Live – Rich Mich Centre
Saturday 15th September – 8pm
The relentlessly rhythmic and colourful sounds of Kokoroko have been captivating audiences around the London live scene for many years. Their intrepid horns, polyrhythmic percussion and Jazz arrangements coalesce to create one of the most unique and soul-lifting Afrobeat sounds around. This one is not to be missed, and to entice you in, we’ve teamed up with our pals at Rich Mix to giveaway two tickets to the show. Just subscribe to our newsletter, and we’ll pick a winner at random from our new subscribers in September. Or if you want to guarantee not to miss this show > cop your tickets here.
Inspired by the greats of West African music such as Fela Kuti and Tony Allen, the band simultaneously bring energy, atmosphere and a sense of escape to every live show.
Rich Mix, 35-47 Bethnal Green Road, London E1 6LA
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“Dissecting the Joke” – Backyard Comedy Club
Tuesday 18th September – 7:30pm – 10:30pm
Join the under-the-radar heroes at Backyard, for a night of comedy covering all things health and medicine. Contrary to popular belief (and lazy comedy writing) laughter isn’t the best medicine, but it will take your mind off the fact we’re all falling apart at the seams. An amazing lineup of comedians and doctors tell you everything you did (and didn’t) want to know about staying alive in the NHS. Below are a few of the lineup highlights – don’t miss this unique confluence of the hilarious and the biologically knowledgeable!
Nominee: Edinburgh Comedy Awards Best Newcomer 2017
Kwame is a comedy writer and performer, who works as a Junior Doctor in the NHS.
Nominee: Edinburgh Comedy Awards Best Newcomer 2018
Amused Moose National New Comic Award 2017 Finalist
Leicester Square New Comedian of the Year 2016 Finalist
Steve is a geek comedian, presenter and producer. He is the founder of Science Showoff, Museums Showoff and Bright Club.
231 Cambridge Heath Rd, Bethnal Green, E2 0EL
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Feminist Fightback Filmclub – The Common House
Friday 28th September – 7:00 pm – 11:00 pm
Join Feminist Fightback for their monthly film screening. Exhibiting anger/ joy during the film at oppressive behaviour/ high points of struggle is very much encouraged, so if you’re feeling like venting, this could be the evening for you. The group always has a discussion after the film, and drinks and snacks will be served too. For details of the film screening this month, search for ‘Feminist Fightback Film Club Presents…’ on Facebook, or email feminist.fightback@gmail.com to be added to the mailing list. There’s a lot of great stuff bubbling at TheCommon House – a real hidden E2 gem.
The Common House, Unit 5E, Pundersons Gardens, London E2 9QG
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Bethnal Greeners Series – The Beehive
Next in our Bethnal Greeners series is a new cafe offer on Cambridge Heath Road, The Beehive. Long term friends of Love Bethnal Green, it’s great to see this tasty offer emerge as the daily public face of Bethnal Green Mission Church. We caught up with Pastor Mike Houston, who told us a bit about past, present and future for The Beehive. We’re looking forward to working with Mike and the team more moving forward – look out for October collaborations…
Your history
When Annie Macpherson, the founder of Bethnal Green Mission Church, started work in Bethnal Green in the 1860s, she wanted to offer hope, love and hospitality to those living in poverty and on the margins of Victorian society. She developed a ‘Home of Industry’, where homeless children could find not only shelter, warmth, and something to eat and drink, but also an opportunity to learn new skills. Her building was known locally as ‘The Beehive’, a place of ‘industry’ that became a noted feature of Bethnal Green Road, where people could encounter a welcoming and hospitable community. Hence, our name!
Your business
The Beehive forms part of the wider charitable work of BGMC. The Beehive is a café, community hub and co-working space providing high quality food, coffee, tea and welcome. It is a not-for-profit enterprise with a desire to use any money made to drive quality and to support and equip those from disadvantaged backgrounds through partnership and opportunity.
Your passion for the area
Like many organisations in Bethnal Green, we have been around a long time in different forms. The diversity and creativity of Bethnal Green with all its paradoxes and challenges continues to inspire us to work for the well-being of all.
Your offers
As a church and charity we hope that our new building will be a creative, accessible and welcoming hub and we are open to anybody using it. We are particularly passionate that high quality, locally made food and coffee should not be set a premium cost, so we have set all our hot and cold drinks, cakes and food at prices we think most people can access.
Your future
We hope that the Beehive, alongside other projects and events running from the new BGMC building will add to the vibrancy and creativity that already exists in Bethnal Green and we look forward to partnering with others so the community can benefit from this space.
The Beehive can be found at 305 Cambridge Heath Road and is open every day of the week.
London Borough of Tower Hamlets – Business Support
There are lots of ways that London Borough of Tower Hamlets supports local business, regardless of what stage of the entrepreneurial journey they are at.
LoveBethnalGreen.com wants to provide up to date information on what those offers are, and how you can access them, so please check back to this very section of LoveBethnalGreen.com, and we will keep it up to date with the latest offers.
Have a look below at the support that’s available, and click through to find out more;
Third Sector & Social Enterprise
And if you aren’t sure what support will work best for you and your ideas, please fill out this form and someone from the Enterprise Team will be in touch.
If you would like to chat to someone at the Enterprise Team about anything you have read here, don’t hesitate to give them a call – 020 7364 2278
‘The Green’ – Tuesday 14th August, 6pm, Oxford House
It’s time to gather together for another meeting of ‘The Green’.
We’re looking forward to discussing our part in Social Saturday with you – a Saturday in October that shines a light on social enterprises in the area. We’re looking to you to help us shape up plans for that.
Plus we’re looking forward to hearing from some new businesses in the area, & also we welcome guest speaker Hannah Arnett from Phytology, who will tell us about her work on the Urban Mind project.
We’ll be covering off the agenda below – join us, and if you can’t come, please share the meeting far and wide. We all get more out of these interactions when there are more voices in the room.
Please do come armed with updates on your business and your projects – we exist to promote your work, so please make use of LoveBethnalGreen.com.
AGENDA – Tuesday 14th August – 6pm – Oxford House
1 – GUEST SPEAKER; Hannah Arnett from Bethnal Green Nature Reserve to introduce Urban Mind project to local businesses
2 – Hearing from new businesses in the area, joining us for the 1st time.
3 – Confirmation of content strands for LoveBethnalGreen.com in support of Night Time Economy, Food Businesses, Retail Businesses + #E2ToDo
4 – Key Agenda Item; Discussing plans for Social Saturday, October 13th 2018
5 – AOB
Bethnal Greeners Series – Phytology
Next in our Bethnal Greeners series are good friends of LoveBethnalGreen, Phytology, who are on the site of Bethnal Green Nature Reserve. It’s an art led project exploring the function, and value of the modern urban landscape, established and led by local artist Michael Smythe and the board of trustees. (www.phytology.org.uk)
We caught up with Hannah Arnott to hear about her research into the Urban Mind project. Hannah is a key player with Phytology, and will be at Oxford House for the meeting of ‘The Green’ on Tuesday 14th August to discuss Urban Mind and its exploration of social inclusion and neighbourhood safety in the Bethnal Green area.
Your history:
Phytology is located within Bethnal Green Nature Reserve, formally St Jude’s church before it was bombed in the Second World War. Since then, the local community have protected the land from development and in 2014 opened the successful Phytology medicine garden for local education and medicine harvesting.
Your business:
The Phytology medicinal garden provides free food and medicine. Phytology is running an Urban Mind community research project, exploring the physical and mental health benefits and challenges we all experience living in Tower Hamlets and modern cities globally.
Your passion for the area:
Bethnal Green is a vibrant and diverse neighbourhood with people connecting and experiencing with the area in many different ways. Our project wants to better understand and explore ways we can all make our neighbourhood feel safer and more inclusive.
Your offers:
Join the research project by downloading the Urban Mind app (www.urbanmind.info) and taking part in conversations on how to improve the local social environment. We invite people to participate in a group discussion at Phytology on 25th August and 8th September.
Your future:
You can help shape healthy and inclusive cities by being part of the community research, part of the international Urban Mind research project.
#E2ToDo – August 2018
This month we look forward to some lesser known happenings that E2 has to offer in August. There is such a huge amount that goes on in this pocket of London, we’re looking to really celebrate the sheer range of activity that businesses and organisations put together to keep us challenged, intrigued and inspired. Remember – if you have anything coming up that you would like us to promote on your behalf – simply tag @LoveBthnlGreen on Twitter or Instagram (no vowels in Bthnl!) and use the #E2ToDo, & we’ll help get the word out. To August!
Thai Boxing Fighters Academy AGM – Garrett Centre
Monday 6th August – 7pm-9pm
The Thai Boxing Fighters Academy isn’t nearly as mean as it sounds. The great work that founder Gohar Ghouse has delivered over the years in the borough has helped its beneficiaries with discipline and fitness, as well as supported many dealing with mental health issues back into work. Its impact is far reaching, and this AGM gives Gohar and his team the chance to reflect and look forward. Join them to hear from special guest speakers, and to have a bite to eat too on them. RSVP to thaiboxingfightersacademy@yahoo.co.uk
Garret Centre, 117 Mansford Street, E2 6LX
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Sara Pascoe – Backyard Comedy Club
Wednesday 8th August – 8pm-10pm
Sara Pascoe is becoming a staple of the panel show circuit, with regular slots on ‘Have I Got News For You’, ‘QI’ & ‘Frankie Boyle’s New World Order’. She brings a refreshing blend of matter of fact, deadpan realism to the table, and never seems to over-cook it, relying more on her capacity to connect with audiences in an understated way. Get over the intimate surroundings of the Backyard Comedy Club to see her re-work some material before heading out on tour.
231 Cambridge Heath Road, E2 0EL
Opening Night of The Bethnal Green Tavern – Bethnal Green Road
Wednesday 8th August – 5:30pm onwards
The ever-changing face of Bethnal Green Road gets another nip and tuck in the form of The Bethnal Green Tavern, which opens its doors for the first time in its new format on Wednesday 8th August. There will be music from Whiskey Symposium, as well as tasters of their food and drink menu. Come on down from 5:30pm and see what the latest pub offering on Bethnal Green Road has to say for itself…#BethnalGreenTav
456 Bethnal Green Road, E2 0EA
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‘The Green’ partnership meeting
Tuesday 14th August – 6pm-7:30pm
It’s time to get together again for our partnership meeting, bringing together businesses, organisations and individuals who live in the Bethnal Green area to hear what they’ve got coming up, and offer them support to really promote themselves via our channels and activities. This month, we’ll be looking ahead to Social Saturday in October, when we’ll be shining a light on the excellent work of social enterprises across the area. Come and have your say!
Oxford House, Derbyshire Street, E2 6HG
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MAKEMORE Festival – Victoria Park
Thursday 23rd – Monday 27th August
MAKEMORE is a new kind of festival – a festival for your hands. Come and spend the day having a go at all different kinds of making, under the expert guidance of some of the most exciting makers working today. You can discover what kind of maker you are through a series of quick hands on activities. Get inspired by the creative energy, some great live music and stand up comedy, plus the best in bars and streetfood. Get your tickets now for this unique east end gathering.
Victoria Park, E3 5TB
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Summer Fun Day & Gym Launch – Pollard Square
Monday 27th August – 11am-4pm
Join us for a day of family fun and the launch of the new outdoor gym. This is the launch of a new outdoor space for you to get fit and socialise at, with weekly classes every Monday 6-7pm & every Tuesday 1:30-2:30pm. For more information contact mileendpark@towerhamlets.gov.uk or 0207 365 5227
Pollard Square, E2 6LP