News and Events

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

Retail Marketing Ready

Supply Ready 

Good premises for business 

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

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 13^th 2018

5 – AOB

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 14^th 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 25^th August and 8^th 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.

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

SummerOutdoorGym_PollardSq_A5

In our new series of longer conversations, ‘Bethnal Green; After Hours’, we’re shining a light on all of the fantastic businesses that make E2 such a vibrant place to be at night. The pubs, the clubs, the galleries, the restaurants & the bars – new & old – we’re blessed as an area with some hidden gems and some straight-up institutions that fly the flag for the ever changing, ever-beloved East End.

First up, we caught up with owner Paddy Walsh, from Cambridge Heath Road based music venue Redon. We’re lucky to have such a generous & knowledgeable music man in our midst – nice one, Paddy!

This month, we’re launching a new #Hashtag for our Love Bethnal Green To Do lists, to ensure that as many people as possible get wind of the brilliant breadth of activity going on in and around the area. #E2ToDo will be your monthly dose of what’s happening here in Bethnal Green, plus it gives everyone the chance to share their own activity with us so that we can help promote it. Simply tag @LoveBthnlGreen on Twitter or Instagram (no vowels in Bthnl!) and use the #E2ToDo, & we’ll help get the word out.

Now – to July …… & it’s a busy one

Boishakhi Mela – Weavers Fields

Sunday 1st July – 12 noon – 19:00

Celebrating Boishakhi Mela – the Bangla New Year – in the UK, dates back to when Bengali students came to study here in mid to late Twentieth Cent

ury. When Bangladesh achieved independence in 1971, these celebrations really took off in Trafalgar Square, and as the Bangladeshi community grew in east London, so did the New Year celebrations, with the largest Boishakhi Mela taking place at Brick Lane in May 1998.

This year, for the third year running, the mela returns to Weavers Fields in the heart of Banglatown. Since 2016 the mela has been organised by the council with input from a wide ranging Mela Community Engagement Group and this year yet again, we see a great blend of music, art, food, craft and family friendly activity, celebrating the very best in Bengali culture.

Weavers Fields, 22 Derbyshire St, London E2 6HJ

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TAI CHI LESSONS – St. Margaret’s House

Wednesday mornings 07:30 – 08:30am from Wednesday 4th July

You are invited to practise the martial art of Tai Chi on Wednesday mornings throughout the summer in Bethnal Green.

Start your day moving through an energising and calming session with expert James Mills. James started learning Tai Chi with Master John Ding in 2005. He is interested in bringing Tai Chi to the local community for improved health and wellbeing. He believes that Tai Chi is very systematic and holistic in its approach, allowing each student to grow in their own unique way.

This practice will take place in the garden of St. Margaret’s House, or in the Mulberry Rooms in the case of bad weather. It’s suitable for all levels, & please wear loose comfortable clothing.

Drop-in price is £5, or 6 sessions for £25 through Eventbrite.

St. Margaret’s House, 21 Old Ford Rd, Bethnal Green, London E2 9PL

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What the River Brings – St. John on Bethnal Green

Saturday 14^th July – 19:30 – 22:00

Join The Grand Union Orchestra for a spectacular new show with performers from across east London.

What the River Brings celebrates the waves of migration that have shaped east London over the centuries, and continue to do so today. 70 years on from the arrival of the Empire Windrush, we’ll be celebrating migrants past and present, & their music that’s done so much to shape our culture.

With music composed and arranged by Tony Haynes, this show will be performed by people from those communities that have settled here.

What the River Brings tells of their experience and the stories of the East End, through music and song that conjure up both the hope and the hardships felt.

St. John on Bethnal Green, The Crypt St Johns Church, 200 Cambridge Heath Rd, London E2 9PA

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The Providence Row Art Show – Rich Mix

Thursday 19th July – Monday 23rd July

East London homelessness charity, Providence Row, shares an exhibition of beautiful and innovative work by members of their learning and wellbeing groups at E2 institution Rich Mix.

Providence Row is a homelessness charity just down the other end of Brick Lane. It provides a range of services for those affected by homelessness, including a vibrant and creative learning and wellbeing programme which offers a range of groups in art, music, writing, discussion and much more. This exhibition shares with you some of the brilliant work made in these groups.

This is art from the heart of E1, & we can get behind this activity despite the postcode, because we’re so behind the cause.

Rich Mix, 35-47 Bethnal Green Road, London E1 6LA

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Love Carnival – Redon

Friday 27th July – 22:00 – 04:00

Love Carnival is a regular party providing your recommended dose of tropical uplift, bringing in top international and homebrewed guests from the world of tropical bass music. DJs on the night will be running through the spectrum of fresh tropical riddims from Cumbia to Afrobeats, Dancehall, Moombahton and much more.

This dance takes place at excellent Bethnal Green based venue, Redon, on Cambridge Heath Road. It’s well worth a look, with an exemplary soundsystem and a welcoming team, plus it’s only a short walk from Bethnal Green Underground.

We’re giving away 2 sets of tickets to Love Carnival. Just get in touch here & tell us why you should win. We’ll announce the winner on Wednesday 25th July.

Redon, Arch 289, Cambridge Heath Road, London, E2 9HA

LoveBethnalGreen.com has a new weekly interview format, which will explore the great stuff that’s happening across the E2 area. It’s for those who don’t want to go deep, but want to be in the know.

First up, we have Oxford House. We caught up with CEO John Ryan so that he could test drive the Bethnal Greeners format. Each interviewee will be given 5 simple headings to respond to in no more than 30 words, offering our readers an angle on their past, their present and their future, all shot through with why it is they love Bethnal Green. Easy as that. Here we go then….

• Your history

Oxford House was established in 1884 as the first “settlement house” where students and graduates from Keble College, Oxford undertook a period of residential volunteering to learn first-hand about the realities of urban poverty.

• Your business

We provide affordable office space to organisations. We’re also a multipurpose arts centre with a theatre, gallery and dance studio. We provide a range of volunteering opportunities where you can gain valuable work skills.

• Your passion for the area

We’re part of the furniture in Bethnal Green, & have been for over a century. We look to reflect the community in our programming and in who we host, and always will. Long live Bethnal Green!

• Your offers

As a charity, we understand the need for flexibility and the importance of good value for money. For where we are, you’d struggle to find a better deal on space and we’re proud of that.

• Your future

We have exciting times ahead, with Heritage Lottery backed renovations on our Grade II listed building starting now! (see below!) We’ll have new cafe, offices and roof terrace for the community by 2019 + a new Cultural Programmer.

Love Bethnal Green and Oxford House are looking for a Marketing & Communications Freelancer to join the team for 2 days a week between now and March 31st 2019.

We’re on the hunt for a social media savvy communications freelancer  who is passionate about east London, to join the team part time to work on the ‘Thriving High Streets’ programme – that’s our partnership with London Borough of Tower Hamlets.

This role is the ideal stepping stone for someone looking to build experience in blogging, communications, social media, as well as building an understanding of local government. 

It’s paid London Living Wage of £10.20 / hour and applications are open until noon on Monday 25th June.

Role: Marketing & Communications Freelancer (part-time)

Reporting To: Partnership Lead

Hours 14 hours per week

Salary £625 pcm, fixed term until 31/03/2019

Key Objectives: Furthering the partnership with London Borough of Tower Hamlets, supporting local business & increasing footfall in Bethnal Green.

Thank you for your interest in this role. Oxford House is looking for a social media savvy communications freelancer  who is passionate about east London, to join the team part time to work on the ‘Thriving High Streets’ programme. This role is the ideal stepping stone for someone looking to build experience in blogging, marketing, communications, social impact and public services.

This role is to be delivered on a freelance basis, and as such the successful candidate will take responsibility for paying their own national insurance and income tax contributions.

About the ‘Thriving High Streets’ strategy

The Thriving High Streets project is funded by the Greater London Authority, and Oxford House has been commissioned by and working with Tower Hamlets Council to deliver the project until the end of March 2019. The project involves supporting the delivery of a programme of activity that covers the points below;

• Business support to improve performance of local businesses
• Public realm improvements, making Bethnal Green greener, & street markets improvements
• Supporting events & activities programmes that promote the area
• Marketing & promotion of businesses and organisations to improve footfall in the area

Person Specification

• Passionate about community, with an interest in supporting local community activity.
• With a passion for Bethnal Green & for east London, the ideal candidate will live locally.
• Experienced with social media and happy to manage Love Bethnal Green’s channels independently, including Instagram, Facebook & Twitter.
• Strong communication skills, written and verbal.
• Confident and able to work autonomously, and always a positive team player.
• Organised and able to manage time very effectively.

Project Management

The role will include the following tasks, and flexibility will be required as the candidate takes on other tasks as the role and the project develops.

• Develop and keep updated a comprehensive list of businesses in Bethnal Green District Centre
• Promote participation amongst businesses and traders in business initiatives funded by the Council
• Engage with schools to get them involved in activities in Bethnal Green Town Centre
• Helping to engage with properties owners with vacant units and promote options for activating the units and adding to the offer in the town centres once the actions from the feasibility study are agreed
• Support the promotion of businesses and of the market via gathering stories and putting out messaging on social media and the Love Bethnal Green Website
• Support delivery of activities and events managed by suppliers commissioned by the High Street & Town Centres team to help animate and promote Bethnal Green District Centre

How to apply

To apply, send a short supporting letter (200 words max) explaining your suitability for the role to joe.gray@oxfordhouse.org.uk. Please include an up to date CV as an attachment (max 2 pages) with detail of 2 x referees who can be contacted upon offer of the role.

The deadline for this role is 12 noon, Monday 25th June.

Interviews will take place week commencing 2nd July at Oxford House, Derbyshire Street, E2.

Funded by Tower Hamlets

Supporting our High Streets and Town Centres

Notes from ‘The Green’ 19th June 2018

This is the first meeting we’ve had for a while, as we’ve been preparing our work for the coming year or so. We’re looking forward to sharing our plans with you, and hearing your news too – so please do come armed with updates on your business and your projects that we can then support via some promotion.

We’ll be covering off the following points on Tuesday 19th, so please do join us, and share the meeting far and wide, as we all get more out of these interactions when there are more people in the room;

• Training opportunities; what is available from LBTH for local business to access?
• Characteristics of Bethnal Green; what needs particular attention & what can be done to support?
• Markets; Our ambitions to engage with traders and inspire new ones
• Promoting footfall; Profiling local businesses, getting pragmatic around Halloween, Christmas and Valentine’s, and key events later in the year.
• What have you got coming up? Fill us in on what you’ve got coming up so that we can build stories around your activity

‘The Green’ will run for an hour or so, starting at 6pm.

The meeting takes place at Oxford House, Derbyshire Street, E2.

We look forward to seeing you.

Photo by Elliot Caunce, Falmouth University. For Love Bethnal Green, 2018

& so we move into June, a month that welcomes another outrageously over-hyped sporting gathering to our cultural calendar. The World Cup in Russia may well bring some entertainment to our screens, but that can’t take away from the frankly appalling behavior of football’s governing body FIFA. Over racism & corruption, they are peerless in how often they let the world down, so keep the football in context this month, & open yourselves up to some of the wonderful stuff happening right here on your E2 doorstep…

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RISO PRINT CLUB REVIVAL – The Common House 

Friday 15th June – 7 – 9pm

The Common House is aiming to get people involved in working collaboratively & contributing to the running of their Riso’ Print Club. If interested, you should come along & understand what they do first, learn how the print machine works & agree to teach other people how to use it in return. Once introduced, it may be possible to print some of your own work but the emphasis here is definitely on working collaboratively, creating a visual commons & becoming a contributing member rather than just a consumer. This is a gathering that would suit E2 residents interested in exploring being radical and being grass roots.

Unit 5E Pundersons Gardens, London, E2 9QG

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‘THE GREEN’ – Oxford House

Tuesday 19 June – 6pm  

Come & participate in the monthly meeting of ‘The Green’, to hear how LBTH plans for Bethnal Green are developing. If you are a business owner, come & represent your business & share your ideas with us. If you’re a resident, come & have your say on the issues that are important to you.

To get involved in the meeting & to add an agenda point you feel needs addressing please email: bethnal.green@oxfordhouse.org.uk

The strength of these meetings is in the guest list, so please do share this opportunity far & wide; businesses, residents, organisations – all welcome.

Oxford House, Derbyshire St, Bethnal Green, London E2 6HG

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Bags of Taste – Eating Better for Less; Quaker Social Action;

Wednesday 20 June for 4 weeks

Quaker Social Action provide free hands-on cooking classes, improving confidence & getting you eating better for less. Over four weeks, Bags of Taste will have you cooking great-tasting simple recipes from all over the world, all at less than £1 a head. The sessions are relaxed & friendly, no F-words – we promise! They’re filled with people who want to learn new recipes & ways to save on their food shop. Whether you’re vegetarian, vegan or eat halal, the team will have something fantastic for you.

Walter Newby Centre, Bethnal Green Methodist Church, Approach Road, E2 9JP

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An Evening of Bengali Experimental Poetry & Talks; St. Margaret’s House

Saturday 23 June, 6:30pm

This unique gathering is organised jointly by the Gronthee, a leading literary magazine, together with one of the foremost groups of little-magazine & experimental poetry in Bangladesh & RadhaRaman Society. A critically acclaimed platform here in UK will bring the splendour of Bengali Folk Music to the Bethnal Green stage. The event also offers critical discussion on the current trend of experimental poetry in Bangladesh.

The evening features performance from some of the most prominent Bengali poets of the 90s, an extremely fertile decade in Bengali poetry, The evening also includes a guest poet from Bangladesh – Zofir Setu.

The Hall at St. Margaret’s House, 21 Old Ford Road, E2 9PL

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We’re into May – the month of the double Bank Holiday, local elections and some relatively good weather. Maybe. We’re not counting our chickens on that, but instead we’re listing some genuinely zeitgeist capturing activity taking place here in E2. We’re very fortunate to live and work in an area that is pushing forward our thinking around some of today’s more pertinent and divisive topics – our health, our environment and the issues surrounding international terrorism in the 21st century. Get to know…

‘Scars’ – NR Project – until May 24th

NR Project has been running its exhibition ‘Scars’, from artist jbecerra since April – but it runs until 24th May so you’ve still got time.  ‘Scars’ is a charity exhibition of 25 artworks by jbecerra dealing with the threat of international terrorism in the 21st century. Proceeds will go to individuals affected by recent terrorist attacks. Each artwork is based on a section of Khalil Gibran’s 1923 poem, ‘The Prophet’, a series of meditations on a wide-range of topics from everyday life.

NR Project, Minerva Street, E2 9EH

Kidneys on Strike, Gene Editing, Getting to the Heart of the Matter, BG Working Men’s Club, May 14 – 16

Pint of Science is a non-profit organisation that brings some of the most brilliant scientists to your local pub to discuss their latest research and findings with you. You don’t need any prior knowledge, and this is your chance to meet the people responsible for the future of science (and have a pint with them). Our festival runs over a few days in May every year, but we occasionally run events during other months. BG Working Men’s Club continues to programme the intriguing in partnership with UCL for this one.

BG Working Men’s Club, 42-44 Pollard Row, 42-44, E2 6NB

Phytology Launch at Bethnal Green Nature Reserve, May 19th, 5pm-10pm

Bethnal Green Nature Reserve has to be seen to be believed. Fruit, veg, herbs, newts, bats, all under the welcoming if not often misunderstood banner of public art. The project is seasonal, and launches this month with previews of new works from last year’s resident artists DJ Simpson, Kathrin Böhm & Ellie Doney, plus live music from The Nest Collective.

New resident artists for 2018 include Lu Williams, Ruth Ewan, Vanessa Kisuule, The Alternative School of Economics, Sheaf & Barley + Rya. Not to be missed or undervalued. This place will understatedly blow your minds.

Bethnal Green Nature Reserve, Middleton St, London E2 9RR.

‘THE GREEN’ – Tuesday 22 May – Oxford House – 6pm

Come and take part in our monthly ‘The Green’ meeting to see how the re-generation plan is developing. If you are a business owner, come and represent your business at the meeting and share your ideas with us and members of the council. If you’re a resident, come and have your say on the issues that are important to you.

To get involved in the meeting and to add an agenda point you feel needs addressing please email: bethnal.green@oxfordhouse.org.uk

The strength of these meetings is in the guest list, so please do share this opportunity far and wide; businesses, residents, organisations – all welcome.

Oxford House, Derbyshire St, Bethnal Green, London E2 6HG

The Star of Bethnal Green Street Party 2018, 28th May, 12pm – 2am

As part of the 10th Birthday, the team at the Star lay on a family-friendly day, with lots of kids activities. Face painting, a bouncy castle and children’s entertainers will be on hand and you can get the whole family together in the photo booth and capture the moment. Delicious street food stalls will be serving up treats until late on, with Smokey Tails, the cult ‘Beats & Eats’ pop-up, well-known worldwide for its rich, authentic home-style BBQ flavours and vegan treats from SoVegan. There will be an outdoor bar serving craft beer, cocktails and soft drinks, of course, and the party heads indoors for further knees up from 9pm.

Star of Bethnal Green, 359 Bethnal Green Road, London E2 6LG 

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Lead image is some silently inflamed kidneys captured by Professor Frederick Tam

Very dope poster above is by Lu Williams for Phytology