Forest Hill | Kirkdale | Sydenham
@SEE3PortasPilot
Business Spotlight
Each Month we will put a spotlight one of the High Street traders
Dragonfly Yoga
Dragonfly launched in 2016, by Mark Lancaster, a sports coach and physio and founder of Gmax Trackstars Athletics Academy. This registered charity supports local young people, providing coaching in running, jumping and throwing. They train with professional coaches with many competing at national level thanks to the charity’s stewardship. Dragonfly Yoga was set up as a community initiative and fundraising activity for Gmax. Apart from running costs, 100% of the profits are driven back into the charity. DragonFly offers Chair Yoga, Iyengar Yoga, Pilates, Meditation and various other Yoga classes. The newest is
Pain relief Yoga with Dora Kisyakova.
Dora has been practising yoga for over 15 years. After developing Rheumatoid Arthritis that causes restriction of movement her love for yoga led her to enrol in a BWY Foundation course continuing her education with IYTT. Dora's health improved significantly through the course reigniting her passion for teaching. Dora encourages students to focus on deepening physical awareness and alignment, to reveal and release the natural freedom of the body, particularly the spine that results in a calmer mind, increased energy, and ease of movement. This is a slow and gentle practice. It is suitable for people living with chronic pain such as arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and joints issues.
Fridays at 12pm
www.dragonfly-yoga.org/sydenham
Instagram: @dragonfly_yoga_london
Zer0Waste
Tucked away inside the community space that houses Dragonfly Yoga Centre and Leo’s Cafe, is Zer0Waste EcoCorner. Offering sustainable, ethical, plastic free, locally sourced products, as well as a 'refillery – where customers can refill their own containers with harsh-free chemicals household products and personal care necessities (skincare included) to reduce packaging waste. By bringing and using your own container, you not only save money but you also actively participate in saving your planet.
This cozy establishment was opened May 2023 by Maree Sala and the emphasis is on sustainable quality and reduction of plastic use.
Zer0Waste EcoCorner
Dragonfly Yoga Centre, 22a-24 Sydenham Road SE26 5JE
Wednesday 1.30 - 7pm
Thursday 11am - 6pm
Friday 11am - 5pm
Saturday 9am - 5pm
Sunday 10am - 2pm
Closed Monday & Tuesday
POODLE CLUB
The Poodle Club is Sydenham's own comedy club bringing live stand-up to the high street every weekend.
Opened in 2016 by Karen O Novak, a veteran of the London comedy scene along with her husband Darren and expert barman Noel from the Golden Lion, the club prides itself on showcasing a diverse range of comedy talent. They present the same acts you would see in the West End, but right here in Sydenham for a fraction of the price.
It's a swanky retro boutique nightclub with vintage poodle-themed decor and a friendly little poodle who greets guests upon arrival. With top comedians, great music and reasonably priced drinks and tickets, the Poodle Club has firmly established itself as one of Sydenham's favourite nights out.
Their annual charity Halloween Haunted House raises hundreds of pounds every year for Lewisham Food Bank with families queuing round the block to be terrified by spooky ghouls and zombies.
Poodle Club is open every Friday & Saturday night, doors at 7pm, show at 8pm. Shows often sell out in advance, so be sure to reserve tickets online to avoid disappointment.
167 Sydenham Road SE26 5HB
FOREST HILL & SYDENHAM WOMEN"S INSTITUTE
Forest Hill & Sydenham Women’s Institute is a really friendly group of local women from all walks of life who meet on the 2nd Monday of the month at The All Inn One Pub on Perry Vale SE23. Every month we organise talks or workshops of all different kinds eg. gardening, massage, cross stitch, home spa and croquet. In July we have a picnic in Mayow Park and this year we will also do some watercolours.
September is chaired by Chair Yoga with Elizabeth. Elizabeth has been teaching yoga for 14 years. She teaches is Hatha Yoga, and specialises in back care, sleep recovery, and fertility. On Monday 11 September, we’ll all take part in a session doing stretching, strengthening and a brief mindful meditation practice. Wear something that allows you to lift your arms overhead. This will be a gentle session and should suit everyone regardless of age, fitness or health conditions.
Next Meeting Monday 11 September
All Inn One Pub 53 Perry Vale SE23 2NF
Facebook @Forest Hill & Sydenham WI
instagram @Wiforesthillsydenham on
KIRKDALE BOOKSHOP
Probably the oldest independent bookshop of South East London. Open since 1966, it has expanded over the years to include an extensive range of new and second-hand books over two floors, as well as a well-stocked children’s section. Kirkdale also stocks a beautiful range of greetings cards, wrapping paper alongside an excellent and ever changing selection of gifts, from candles, bookmarks, mugs, to soaps & hand creams. We cater to all readers and we try and keep it well stocked with an array of books that reflect the world around us by supporting and stocking works by authors of colour and LGBTQIA+ authors.
Kirkdale runs a loyalty scheme. Collect stamps on every purchase of £9.99 or more, and after six stamps, get a £5 voucher on your next purchase (of £9.99 or more). Stamps are earned on everything in the shop, except book tokens, other vouchers & postage stamps.
Kirkdale Bookshop has become a focal point in the community, hosting many cultural events, including author signings, local artists’ exhibitions and children’s events. We run two book groups every other month, including an open book group, where we read both new and old fiction and an LGBTQIA+ group with a focus on queer narratives and experiences.
KITCHEN SKILLS
Kitchen Skills is a cooking school in on Kirkdale that caters to teens, youth and adults to spark a passion, develop skills and help people, young and old, to get to grips with using healthy ingredients and recipes. With Kitchen Skills you will empower and teach you the critical skills to healthy cooking that is tasty and fun so you can make informed decision to nutritious recipes for a lifetime of wellness and tasty meals.
kitchenskills.co.uk
Instagram @kitchen.skills
Facebook @Kitchen Skills
134 Kirkdale, SE26 4BB
JOURNEY CAFE
Journey cafe is a family owned and run cafe that was established in May 2017. The simple menu is made and baked fresh everyday on the premises with love and passion. Journey uses only the best ingredients available and considers the time of year in establishing its daily menu; offering soups in winter and salads in summer with homemade pastries, cakes and sandwiches with vegetarian and vegan options on hand.
Journey cafe is a comfortable and beautiful community cafe, welcomes small children or homeworkers who want to spend a few hours on the computer. It is a great community space that is welcoming and friendly.
Mondays to Saturdays 8:30-16:00
110 kikdale, SE26 4BG
Facebook@thejourneycafekirkdale
instagram@thejourneycafekirkdale
BETTER THINGS
Launched in November 2022, Better Things is a new retail space on Forest Hill's Dartmouth road, celebrating independent makers and creators. Stocking UK-based brands that make beautiful, considered homeware, self-care and gifting items – it is also a space that hosts workshops & pop-ups. Better Things showcases a rotating array of products so there is always something new to see every couple of months. Shop the latest curation of brands in-store and online now; think homeware, tableware, skincare, jewellery, artwork and experiences you won’t find everywhere else.
10am-5pm Wednesday - Saturday
11-3 Sunday & Bank holidays
Closed Monday & Tuesday
105 Dartmouth Road, SE23 3HT
Everything available to shop at betterthingslondon.com
Instagram @betterthingslondon
Sign-up to the newsletter for a 10% discount off your first online purchase
GROW MAYOW
Grow Mayow Community garden located in Mayow Park was founded in 2008. Once an old park keeper's depot, it was transformed into what is now an award winning non-profit community garden. There are weekly activities like Foxglove Forest school, Little Folk Sing along, volunteer workdays and open days available for a small fee that goes towards maintenance of the garden.
Grow Mayow is the perfect place to learn, relax. It is a favourite for kids, local families, gardeners and wildlife watchers from further afield. Community gardens are an important part of urban living, for those not so fortunate to have a garden that rely on the parks and community gardens for fresh air and wellbeing,
Community gardens are not just about growing plants but for community gathering that offer a green oasis and wildlife in the city. In our garden you will find a range of inspiring mini habitats, lots of wild flowers, ponds and a bee hive. There is plenty of seating outside but also have indoor barns.
We look forward to your visit.
For more information visit www,growmayow.org
contact us at Growmayow@gmail.com and
follow us on Instagram @growmayow
SYDENHAM ARTS
Sydenham Arts is a registered charity providing arts activities and events all year round from our permanent home and performance space at the Sydenham Centre. We are committed to providing a platform for emerging, local artists as well as bringing in high quality, established artists to the area. Our mission is to ‘provide, promote and advance the Arts’ for the benefit of the community in Sydenham and South East London’.
From festival extravaganzas to projects supporting those most in need in our community, our flagship programmes include The Artists Trail, Film Screenings, START: Creative Futures, Moving with Parkinson's, and Street SmART. We aim to make Sydenham a better place by making the Arts part of our lives throughout the year.
We are based at the Sydenham Centre
44a Sydenham Road, SE26 5QF
Email: enquiries@sydenhamarts.co.uk
Website: https://sydenhamarts.co.uk/
Instagram: @sydenhamartsofficial
Facebook: SydenhamArts
Twitter: @SydArts_
LAZY CAT YOGA
Lazy Cat Yoga is for all ages, shapes and fitness levels.
Our Hatha yoga classes invite you to be present in the moment, to help you create space and connection both on and off the mat. We start with a gentle grounding warm up, followed by breath-led standing and seated sequences and end with restorative poses to bring balance and ease to body and mind.
Our Menopause Yoga classes are for women at any stage of the menopause journey. Learn how to alleviate symptoms through yoga practices, breathing and education with other like-minded women in a safe and supported space.
Come join us on
Tuesdays 9.30-10.30am at Friend’s Meeting House,
Thursdays 6.15-7.15pm Menopause yoga at Forest Hill Library
Fridays 9.30-10.30am on Zoom
Bring a mat, any props you like to use, a smile and an open heart. Book via lazycat.yoga
BEETROOT+BEANS
Beetroot + Beans is a zero waste green grocer, refill shop that has been open for the last three and a half years.
You can come and buy everything by weight without packaging: You can refill your empty bottles and jars with washing up liquid, laundry detergent, fabric softener, shampoo, conditioner, hand soap and lots of other beauty and cleaning products. We sell plastic free home products as well.
We also do veg boxes which we deliver free of charge on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays. We donate one free veg box a week to anyone who is struggling. All our fresh produce are grown organically without chemicals and pesticides.
We also do workshops for primary school children in local school to teach them about plastic free life and shopping.
Open Tuesday -Saturday
10-5pm
57A Dartmouth Road Forest hill SE23 3HN
Instagram @beetrootbeans
Facebook @ Beetroot&Beans
Mabel’s Five & Dime
100 Kirkdale
Mabel’s has been open for 6 years and is a vintage & retro emporium, selling everything from bric-a- brac, vintage clothes, mid- century furniture to fabric, haberdashery & vinyl.
You can even visit the courtyard garden for garden pots galore, rustic ladders & garden furniture.
Keep an eye on Instagram for latest stock and quirky finds @mabelsfiveanddime
Sydenham-based Spontaneous Productions is a not-for-profit theatre company, committed to creating original work for adult and family audiences alike. Founded in 2008 it has staged a series of hugely popular shows initially in the Dolphin Pub's garden before becoming the in-house producing company at Sydenham Arts Festival. In 2017 it began staging regular events at Sydenham Centre and later in Mayow Park and more recently Home Park. Its shows are extremely popular, inclusive and celebrate our diverse community. Every Christmas, with support from Lewisham Council and SEE3, it stages a 'pay what you can' Panto, such as last year's Beauty and the Beast. Recently Spontaneous Production has launched a "TheatreGiving" scheme, that distributes free tickets, thru its partner organisations, to families hit hardest by the financial crisis.
Ignition brewery and taproom are based in the centre of Sydenham offering locally crafted beer brewed by people with learning disabilities. We have a relaxed taproom which opened in 2018 and was refurbished last year. We have regular quizzes, music and random events, as well as offering a quiet pint on a Saturday afternoon.
All our team, who are paid the London Living Wage (or above), are from the borough of Lewisham and we love being part of the Sydenham community. Sydenham is the California of Lewisham and we hope that our fresh beer helps to strengthen that sense of a relaxed, happy and friendly place to be.
New Business
Studio 275 is a unisex hair salon that is the latest addition to vibrant Kirkdale in Sydenham. Jo, Jane and Monika are best friends and an established part of the community. Born and bred in Sydenham, Jo and Jane met at primary school and started working together as hairdressers in their teens and Monika later came and made the trio. Decades later, their ambition to be their own bosses has finally come true.Sustainability is at the heart of everything they do. When they took over the existing derelict salon, recycling was a key part of the plan. The result is stunning and a welcomed addition to the area. The interior styling is cool and industrial, with a bar area for clients. Building lasting relationships is important to them. "We wanted to create an amazing experience for our clients. We want people to enjoy the visit and leave feeling glamourous."Giving back to society is also important to the team. "We decided that every month, we would donate £1 from every haircut to a charity that is special to us. In our opening month, we chose Breast Cancer Now. In December, we're supporting Trussell Trust as we want to help those struggling at this time of year. The charity for January will be Mind. Lockdown has been challenging for so many people and we want to contribute to getting people the help that they need."
In January, Studio 275 are offering 10% off your first haircut with them. Just quote 'Kirkdale' when booking.