old photos of Central Kennington

Posted on July 25, 2018 by Kennington Runoff

Last photos for now from the soon-to-be relaunched Lambeth Archives website

Kennington Cross, 1960. That lady looks like she’s moving at a leisurely pace. No way she’s going to make it all the way across in one journey.

from Kennington Cross towards Imperial Court, 1930

the Elephant end of Kennington Lane, 1970

pretty much the other side of the top of Kennington Lane, 1905

The Windmill Fish Bar, 1972 – they should have kept that wonderful frontage

Kennington Theatre, later a cinema, now a block of flats, Kennington Park Road, 1930

The Salvation Army Citadel, 93 Kennington Lane, 1966

what is now Pelican Nursery at Kennington Cross, 1972

more shops at Kennington Cross, 1972

amazing mural depicting a mediaeval village scene in Durning Library, 1952

Granada Bingo, Kennington Road, 1960, now Tesco Express

Oli Food Centre and Turkish Corek bread

Posted on January 31, 2016 by Kennington Runoff

We are huge fans of the Kennington Baker and occasionally buy a loaf from The Old Post Office Bakery who have a stall on Saturdays at Oval Farmers Market. But neither of those fine establishments will sell you much for less than £2. What about if you’ve only got 50p to spend?

Well, you need to get yourself along to Oli Food Centre, a Turkish shop at 332-334 Walworth Road, London SE17 2NA.

Head to the back of the store and next to the entrance to the kitchens you will find the corek bread for, yes, just 50p a loaf. That’s it on the middle shelf:

It’s a white loaf covered in sesame seeds and something fearsomely addictive – possibly black caraway seeds, or crack cocaine. It really is extraordinarily tasty and extraordinarily good value for money.

Oli Food Centre sells all kinds of weird and wonderful products you won’t see elsewhere, including about 57 varieties of halloumi. We once bought a six pack of glasses emblazoned with the logo of BJK, then panicked in case this turned out to be an objectionable political party. Panic over – it’s a football team.

Oli Food Centre is open 24 hours – where else can you buy amazing bread at 4am, for 50p?

great things we have eaten or drunk in Kennington recently

Posted on December 18, 2015 by Kennington Runoff

Bao pao with sea bream from Marcel & Sons:

Poitiers bread with sunflower seeds from the Kennington Bakery:

Apple and cinnamon stuffed French toast with candied walnuts at Counter (although the service still leaves something to be desired).

The 70% Ecuador and 82% Madagascar hot chocolate from Vanilla Black Coffee & Books are both great.

Oh, and we aren’t big meat eaters but we were going to order a Christmas turkey from PJ Frankland & Sons butchers (6 Jonathan Street), and were midway through writing a blog specifically about this 31 year old shop when we stumbled across this piece.

Kennington Bakery

Posted on June 6, 2015 by Kennington Runoff

Butcher, baker, candlestick maker? Kennington has them all, and now we have a baker of organic sourdough breads as well – Kennington Bakery.

John will bake your choice of loaf to order then leave it for collection in the afternoons from various locations around Kennington. They’re also stocked by Italo Deli, Sally White and the Kennington Coffee Shop.

His full range of breads is here, and will expand over time. As you can tell from his descriptions, John really knows his bread, and if you can describe it, the chances are he’ll be able to bake it for you flawlessly.

Our favourites so far are the Saratoga, a “San Francisco-style” sourdough:

The Agincourt, “An open crumb white loaf similar to a French Pain au Levain. But better.”:

The Blenheim is great too for fans of caraway, and for those avoiding wheat, some of his breads are 100% rye.

John is primarily a baker of bread but he also did some mean hot cross buns earlier in the year:

Oh, and we like their flier, clearly inspired by Peter Saville’s work for Factory Records:

This morning (Saturday) you can meet John and sample his wears on a stall outside Sally White. This was his stall at the Kennington Village Fete:

The Kennington Observer (formerly Kennington Runoff)

Surreptitiously observing Kennington, including the suburbs Vauxhall, Oval, Walworth, and Elephant since 2012

Tag Archives: Kennington Bakery

old photos of Central Kennington

Oli Food Centre and Turkish Corek bread

great things we have eaten or drunk in Kennington recently

Kennington Bakery