News and Events

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

As Bethnal Green Mission Church unveils its plans for the new look Paradise Gardens, you are invited to feedback before Monday 14th May.

As you may know Bethnal Green Mission Church’s new building is nearly finished and there is a plan to re-landscape Paradise Gardens which the church’s site compound currently occupies. They’ve been working with LBTH to come up with some plans and designs for the park as a result of a public consultation last year and these changes are a direct result of what the survey revealed.

The plans can be viewed and downloaded from their website www.bethnalgreenmissionchurch.co.uk. We all have the chance to feed back before Monday 14th May and can do so either by emailing from the link or directly to paradiseparkdesign@gmail.com

This is going to make a big difference to our local green space offer here in E2, so don’t miss your chance to feed in any final comments you might have.

April is the first of 4 months to have a length of 30 days, but that’s no excuse for our slightly tardy To Do list for this month. For this, we are sorry, & hope you can find it in your pragmatic hearts to forgive us. Let’s move on. We’ve learnt our lesson.

Our flowers and our trees are going to start properly blooming and blossoming again this month. Lap it up,  get outdoors – enjoy the nature, and make the most of what E2 has to offer while you’re at it….

Bantu Continua Uhuru Consciousness (BCUC) – Rich Mix – April 10th 

Following their incredible performance at the Worldwide Awards earlier this year, and the release of critically-acclaimed second album Emakhosin, BCUC are set to play a very special live show this month at Rich Mix.

BCUC see their music as a hedonistic trance, but also as a weapon of political and spiritual liberation. Artistic heirs to Philip “Malombo” Tabane and Batsumi, they seek to give a contemporary voice to the ancestral traditions of indigenous peoples. Jazz sounds of 1970s and ‘80s productions have been replaced by hip-hop influences and a punk-rock energy.

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

STAND UP 4 MENTAL HEALTH – Backyard Comedy Club – April 15th, 7:30pm – 10pm

After their first sold out event, the Don’t Suffer in Silence team are back at the fabulous Backyard Comedy Club with another massive lineup. Some of the best comedians in the UK will be performing to shine a light on mental health awareness. Never has it been clearer that laughter is good for the mind and for the soul – get down and support.

LINE-UP:

JUNIOR BOOKER, MAN LIKE HAKS, AURIE STYLA, DEANO MAC, WHITE YARDIE, CHRISTOPHER SAVAGE, NATHAN G BOOKS, DEE KAATE, ICY JONES

Plus Trixy the Magician will be entertaining the audience.

The evening is hosted by Marcuss Tisson & Jwxtts

Backyard Comedy Club – 231 Cambridge Heath Rd, Bethnal Green, E2 0EL

COSMIC SLOP – The Pickle Factory – 21st April – 11pm – 5am

After they tested the waters late last year, it’s great news that COSMIC SLOP is making a return to Oval Space’s cooler little sister The Pickle Factory this month.

COSMIC SLOP is a fundraiser run by MAP Charity. Check out the work they do up in Leeds and their ongoing fundraising campaign to safeguard the future of the charity via the website – www.mapcharity.org

There’s been a great response to what the small team behind MAP and COSMIC SLOP are pushing this year, and LoveBethnalGreen is proud to get behind them this month and ongoing.

If you’re not familiar, find out more about the Cosmic Slop and MAP Charity via this Resident Advisor article – residentadvisor.net/features/2909 – and this Stamp The Wax documentary – bit.ly/Cosmic-Slop

Artwork above is by Johnny Cosmic

The Pickle Factory – 13-14 The Oval, London E2 9DU

‘THE GREEN’ – Tuesday 24 March – 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.

This month we’ll be discussing work that will be taking place to improve our public realm spaces – not to be missed – come and have your say.

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 Green” will meet next Wednesday 21st March, bringing together businesses, residents, organisations and representatives from the Tower Hamlets Town Centre Team.

At this meeting, we’ll be reflecting on points covered last month, looking at the East End Trades Guild “Affordable Workspace Manifesto”, and discussing what’s missing from the Bethnal Green events calendar in 2018. 

We are joined this month by John Ryan, CEO at Oxford House, who will update us on the up and coming heritage project including the building works and the community activity programme. He’ll also give us a whistle stop history of Oxford House since 1884. 

To bring any discussion points to the table this month, please email: bethnal.green@oxfordhouse.org.uk

Agenda for “The Green” 

• John Ryan – Oxford House, guest speaker 
• Actions from “The Green” in February 
• Market development work summary
  
• Window decorations and animating our town centres
  
• East End Trades Guild, Affordable Workspace Manifesto update 
• Update on Stars of Bethnal Green // Phytology // Falmouth Photo briefs
• Events in Bethnal Green > where can we take this? 
• AOB

These meetings are gathering good momentum and they feel positive. It’d be great if we could all take the chance to encourage new people to attend, and actively participate in the conversations we’re having.   

Any questions, don’t hesitate to drop us a line – bethnal.green@oxfordhouse.org.uk

We caught up with Project Officer Amber Plumbly from the aptly named ‘Volunteering Matters’, to hear about the mutual benefit that their programme ‘Positive Futures’ can bring to our community.

Hi Amber, thanks for stopping by. So tell us about ‘Positive Futures’?

Hi! It is a Lottery Funded project that works in Haringey, Tower Hamlets and Hackney. It aims to match meaningful volunteering opportunities with young people, so that they can develop their skills whilst giving back to their local community.

We also have another aspect that allows young people to create and deliver their own social action project, which could be something they are passionate about or a local issue that’s affecting the area.

Nice. & what are the overall aims of the project?

To create more intergenerational interactions between people, to build relationships and community build, to enable people to make a positive difference within their communities, to allow people to know more about their communities and feel like they can discuss important matters that affect the local area, and to increase the development of life skills for young people, to enhance the organisation by providing diversity and new ideas.

Who are the opportunities for?

Young people aged 13 – 25 from any occupation, but we are also looking for businesses and organisations that would welcome a young volunteer.

What will a young person gain from the programme?

• Skills to help them in their future in education and/or employment.
• Develop life skills and feel better prepared for adulthood.
• Leading a positive change with their community.
• Connection with their community.
• Make positive friendship with their peers.
• Increase confidence and self-worth.

& what might a business/organisation gain?

• The chance to empower and teach a young person.
• New skills, ideas and experience from the young person.
• Connection with their community.
• Increases diversity.
• Improves reputation and supports the local area.
• Makes a positive difference and build relationships with young people and the community.

How much support will the volunteer get along the way?

Volunteers are supported by the project officer throughout, with inductions, training, placements and further volunteering, employment or social action projects.

Does the young person have to complete much paperwork?

The young person has to complete a simple application form which can be done with the project officer or sent via email.  Afterwards the young person will complete an induction with the project officer, once completed the volunteer is ready to be placed.

& what about the business/organisation? What do you need from them? 

The business will have to complete a risk assessment check list form that will be sent via email and can be completed online.

For more information you can contact Amber Plumbly at amber.plumbly@volunteeringmatters.org.uk

020 3780 5915

07841494507

Spring’s basically peeping her head out from under the duvet – she’s not far off, trust us! So when you’re not hoarding daffodils, we’ve got you covered – with some choice bits and pieces to keep busy with in E2 this month.  

The Hot Red Chilli Peppers – Saturday 17th March – York Hall

As far as tribute acts go, this lot know what they’re doing! Playing all the jams from The Red Hot Chilli Peppers’ extensive back catalogue of hits and albums featuring  Californication, By The Way, Blood Sugar Sex Magic, Suck My Kiss, Under The Bridge … the list goes on and on. All in the iconic surroundings of York Hall. Ding Ding!

Event: doors at 8:00pm

5 Old Ford Rd, Bethnal Green, London E2 9PJ

The Doctor’s Orders Presents Tim Westwood – Saturday 17 March – Oval Space

Tim Westwood is one of London’s most loved Disc Jockeys, with over 30 years experience in the hip-hop, radio, TV and making your night scene. Westwood is one of the most outrageous charaters on the scene and is already a legend having interviewed everyone, from Biggie to Drake to Kanye. Westwood will be right here in Bethnal Green to deliver a 3 hour set guaranteed to get your knees juicy baby. Oh my gosh!

Event: 18+, begins at 10.00pm

29–32 The Oval, London E2 9DT

‘The Green’ – Wednesday 21 March – Oxford House

Come and take part in the monthly 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. 

This month’s guest speaker will be John Ryan, who will update on the up and coming heritage project at Oxford House, including the building works and the community activity programme. He’ll also give you a whistle stop history of Oxford House since 1884. All of this in 10 minutes!

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, United Kingdom

6pm start

Nerd Nite London – Wednesday 21st March – Backyard Comedy Club

Nerd Nite is like a series of TED talks, but with chips and drinks. 3 speakers on the night come and educate you on a topic they know way too much about, whilst you sit back, relax and cram some more detail into that tiny mind of yours. Evidence based entertainment, in a bar. Pharrell would surely approve. 

7.30pm-10.30pm, £6-£7.50

Backyard Comedy Club, 231 Cambridge Heath Road, E2 0EL

By Thufayel Ahmed

In the 2nd of our features from London College of Communication students, Amy Clarke meets black and grey tattoo royalty at Bethnal Green ink institution Lowerider Tattoo

The buzz of the needles at Lowrider Tattoo are a welcome noise to any ink lover. Situated on Bethnal Green Road, the studio boasts four talented artists; JP, Ken Carlos, Kingsley Hayward and Lux, as well as guest artists, and is open 7 days a week, 11.30 ‘til late, which is a rarity in London meaning you can have that tattoo done straight after leaving work. Pretty cool, huh?

With the founding Lowrider Tattoo shop in Los Angeles, East Londoners and those further afield in the UK can get a taste of the talent on offer right here in Bethnal Green. With superbly detailed fine black and grey work on offer, the artists are – not surprisingly – booked up well in advance, but do still offer walk-ins if there is something available. The area itself is seeing a rise in the demand for tattoos, and shops like this are producing quality work. Tattoo artist of eight years, JP, is a looming figure with his black and grey inked muscular arms, but the confident demeanor he portrays in his swagger is down to the fact he is a professional and has produced well executed work to be proud of. “A lot of people are seeing the potential of how good a tattoo can actually look, and there’s quite a few good shops in East London too. So as long as everyone keeps pushing out the quality work, the tattoo culture around here is gonna keep growing.” But has anybody ever asked for a Bethnal Green related tattoo? “Yeah, me and Lux have both done gangster tattoos of the Kray twins. Old School Bethnal Green!”

The shop is known for its relaxed, welcoming and ‘social club’ atmosphere – from friends and people popping into the studio, to the music and films playing in the background. JP knows only too well how lucky he is to be working in such a down-to-earth tattoo shop. “To be offered a spot in a shop that’s known for its luxury black and grey tattoo style, and also to work under one of the main pioneers of this sacred art, Jose Lopez, it was pretty much a no brainer for me [to join Lowrider Tattoo]. And I get to work with some of my best friends that I’ve known for six plus years. It was literally an offer I couldn’t refuse.” Most people who enter the industry take up an apprenticeship, spending months inking on anything but real skin, but it wasn’t the same for JP and his friend and fellow tattoo artist at the shop, Carlos, who found it hard to get their feet in the door. They spent days jumping from different tattoo shops, meeting and connecting with great artists. “None of the older guys wanted us youngsters getting into the game. Ken Carlos got his first tattoo machine passed onto him from a family friend [and] he did his first tattoo on me. I did mine on him and the rest is history.”

With Bethnal Green changing all the time, with its bars, cool shopping areas and local, independent businesses so close to ‘hipster’ areas like Shoreditch, and a short tube ride away from central London, it’s nice to find an area where local support thrives from business to business. “At the end of the day we’re all like neighbours so we all look after each other. We support them, they support us. It creates a better atmosphere on Bethnal Green Road.” But have they asked for a tattoo? “Of course!” JP laughs. “Some serious, and some joke about it. It’s all love.”

Lowrider Tattoo is at 311 Bethnal Green Road

Check out their instagram here 

In the 1st of our features from London College of Communication students, Joe Thompson explores the comfort and therapy that we can all draw from Lady Dinah’s Cat Emporium in E2

Ever wanted to cosy up with a cat, a cuppa and a scrumptious scone or a slice of cake? Well, then all you have to do to make all your wildest dreams come true is pay Lady Dinah’s Cat Emporium a visit. Opened in 2014 Lady Dinah’s was London’s very first cat cafe, and now has 17 cats living in residence.

The two-story café is kitted out with anything a cat or human could need, with a selection of coffee and tea as well as an appetising selection of snacks, cakes, and nibbles. Combine that with two hours of feline-loving and there’s not much more you could ask for. The £5 entry fee feels like a small price to pay for some much-needed affection to lighten up your day, particularly with the hustle and bustle of London living. The overall reception the café receives is outstanding, leaving customers raving – “Absolute cat lover heaven, all the cats are content and well cared for,” said one happy customer. “It’s so nice to think you can go there for a cuddle if you, like me, are not allowed pets in your flat! We had the most wonderful time and from the minute we arrived we were made to feel welcome.” 

The business itself began with a crowd-funded campaign online, where the business received a bountiful sum of £109,000 in donations to kick-start. This alone speaks for itself, with such overwhelming support it’s hard to believe that it took so long to become a reality. The idea originated in Japan, and owner Lauren Pears says the idea is to “give stressed out Londoners who can’t own pets a bit of animal therapy”. Pairing lovely sweet treats and refreshment with the undisputedly therapeutic and calming feeling that comes with petting a cat, Lady Dinah’s is the perfect place to make some feline friends. 

Therapy involving cats has been a growing practice in which those who suffer from anxiety, depression, and loneliness seek comfort in the company of animals. It’s been thought that coming into contact with animals can lead the body to produce oxytocin, a hormone which can help reduce levels of stress, and by reducing the levels of stress it can lower the chances of suffering with anxiety. Therefore, this cat café is a beacon of hope to those who don’t necessarily have somebody in their life who they can turn to for support in times of need. 

Lady Dinah’s Cat Emporium is at 152-154 Bethnal Green Road, and is open every day except Wednesday.

We’re really happy to announce that LoveBethnalGreen.com is working with London London College of Communication (LCC), giving students from their BA in Journalism the chance to come and immerse themselves in some east end greatness.

LoveBethnalGreen.com is an excellent vehicle for supporting the varying elements of life in E2, and this winter, we’re gathering fresh perspectives on Bethnal Green, with young writers pitching stories that shine a light on life in the area.

This could come in the form of an interview with a local hero, a favourite place to eat in profile, a contemplative piece on the changing face of Bethnal Green, or a deep dive into the history of pie and mash.  However our young writers have approached this, they’re aiming to shine a positive light on the area, giving some profile to its myriad characters and cultures.

Look out for the articles as they start to flow over the coming days and weeks, and give us a shout if you think we’ve missed out on a great story…

“The Green” will meet next Tuesday, 20th February, bringing together businesses, residents, organisations and representatives from the Tower Hamlets Town Centre Team. At this meeting, we’ll be reflecting on points covered last month, as well as hearing about offers to local businesses to save money and looking forward to valuable renovations to public spaces in the area.

Tuesday 20th February – 6pm – Oxford House
Derbyshire St, Bethnal Green, London E2 6HG

We’re delighted to say we’ll be joined by guest speaker Michael Smythe, Project Director for Phytology & the Bethnal Green Nature Reserve. Michael’s work provides a meeting place for the sciences, the arts, anthropology and social welfare – can’t wait to hear what he’s got coming up in Bethnal Green.

Next Tuesday’s agenda;

Introductions

Guest speaker, Michael Smythe from Phytology / Bethnal Green Nature Reserve

Updates from our last meeting

A word on the Zero Emissions Network

A word on the East End Trades Guild event coming up in March

The Library & Bethnal Green Gardens works

AOB

To bring any discussion points to the table this month, please email: bethnal.green@oxfordhouse.org.uk

Funded by Tower Hamlets Council
Supporting our High Streets and Town Centres

In a dusty corner of St Peter’s Church in Bethnal Green are plaques displaying the names of 168 men of the parish who fell in WWI. Of those fallen, biographies of 125 have been uncovered. There is not a single Officer amongst them.

They worked in a range of professions that existed at the bottom of society. Wood carvers, umbrella stick makers, errand boys, labourers, carmen, hamper liners and a host of professions lost to us today.

They died in the slaughterhouses of Belgium and France, in Turkey, in Jerusalem, in Basra and on ships torpedoed and sunk in the North Sea.

A group of volunteers has come together to fund-raise to erect a permanent memorial to them and to tell their stories. They were ordinary men from one of the poorest places in England, and their sacrifice should not be forgotten.

Please give generously to this campaign.

https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/ls-wilkinson

Email lindaswilkinson@gmail.com for more information

The photo features Bethnal Green soldier William Arthur Bates (1894-1969), who served in the Royal Field Artillery. He was gassed but survived the war. He’s believed to have been a horse handler at Bishopsgate Goods Yard.

We wanted to share a few last minute options for February 14th – just to show you that LoveBethnalGreen.com is still feeling the love this month;

Pub Quiz – The Old George – 14th February

If you want to test your knowledge in a classic cauldron of competition, head to The Old George for their weekly quiz, hosted by none other than Ewen Macintosh – the quizmaster better known as big Keith from ‘The Office’. Expect deadpan delivery and some genuine brainteasers in the heart of Bethnal Green.

8pm – more info here

The Old George, 379 Bethnal Green Road, E2 0AN

Moody Bright Designs – St Margaret’s House -14th February

Looking for something slightly different to spice up your Valentine’s Day? How about needlework that focuses on customisation of second hand items? Come to St Margaret’s House to learn new skills in embroidery from Moody Bright Designs. With a step-by-step guide and plenty of transfer and thread to practice your stitching on, this could be a way to find new levels of relaxation and mindfulness in 2018. With tea and other refreshments also available, St Margaret’s pull it out the bag again with a perfectly peaceful option.  

7pm – Tickets Available here.

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

Brainwash Club – V-Day Massacre – Backyard Comedy Club – 14th February

London’s top comedy/variety/oddity night is back with a world-class cast of fools for Valentines Day. Do this lot care about Valentines Day? Not especially, but getting a good Brainwash is always a treat whether drizzled in faux-romance or not, and this time around, you’re in for a treat, with a lineup featuring Trevor Lock, Shenoah Allen, Lucy Pearman, Robert White, and your hosts Ellis and Rose. Get involved!

7:30pm – Tickets Available here.

Backyard Comedy Club, 231 Cambridge Heath Road, E2 0EL

By Thufayel Ahmed