Category Archives: buildings

J- Seven

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For purposes relating to our  wholly scientific and profoundly subjective top 10 list of the best places to eat in Greater Kennington (+ a Sunday roast) The Kennington Observer (formally known as the Runoff)  just paid a TKO visit to hot new Chinese restaurant J –Seven in Vauxhall. Our top ten list kicks off in a couple of weeks. But will it make the cut? 

J-Seven occupies one of the arches in Albert Embankment, and the arches typify the evolution of our storied manor. Previous inhabitants have included coal, railway sidings, gyms, motorbike shops and nightclubs. J-Seven has now pitched up in one of the arches offering upmarket(ish) Mandarin cuisine with the totally intoxicating element of lounge singers in the evening. Sadly we attended in the daytime with no singer evident. But the helpful manager Bear explained that there are singers most nights. 

J-Seven presents itself in that wonderfully Chinese restaurant manner of seeing customers as a slight inconvenience, and they prove this by plopping an Ipad in front of you to order. As Ipads came about only twelve years ago, we are very much up with the kids and your scribe ordered the slow braised brisket with rich sauce. This was proper slow braised beef with juicy fat on the sides, served with Chinese rice and a firey spicy cabbage which was delicious when mixed with the stewed meat juice. 

Very few of us at the Observer have real life partners as we’re overworked. However, you are luckier than us we again J-Social for a date owing to its banging cocktail bar in the front, the precise menu, low romantic lighting, and the food is properly Chinese. And when under the arches think about all those amazing women and men who might have worked there shovelling coal, building a railroad, dancing or just buying a motorbike. Our evolution continues.  

Bert Hardy, Chronicler of Greater Kennington

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From the archives, the fourth of our month of best history posts

Bert Hardy (1913-1995) was a self trained photographer and resident of Elephant and Castle who worked as chief photographer for the Picture Post during a pivotal moment in the history of the UK. Hardy travelled the world photographing wars and current affairs and closer to home covered the D-Day landings and a certain royal wedding. Closer to home ever still, he was commissioned a series of photographs called ‘Life in the Elephant’ over a three week period in 1949 depicting working class life in the Elephant.  

Set amidst a backdrop of bombs and building sites, Hardy captured the backdrop of a seemingly unchanged pattern of life….horse drawn carts, trams, kids playing…juxtaposed against a community that was changing radically. The wintry weather had a great deal to do with the effect of these photos, as did Hardy’s predilection for haze and smog. The photos below are just a snippet of those generated for the Post. We invite you to Google the man and you might just find yourself down your own time consuming but very enriching rabbit hole. Meanwhile enjoy the photos below.

A small boy reads a newspaper at the kitchen table while his mother opens a tin of food at their home in the Elephant and Castle area of London, 8th January 1949. Original publication: Picture Post – 4694 – Life In The Elephant – pub. 1949 (Photo by Bert Hardy/Picture Post/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

Kennington Post Office Possible Closure

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For many of our younger readers, a place where you put things in the post, get out cash and obtain foreign currency is about as relevant as, well, Jeremy Clarkson or ‘Chico Time’. But for those not fortunate enough to whiz about on scooters to return their Asos delivery at Tesco, the Post Office is an  important place, and the Kennington Post office is on a list to be closed and they need our help! 

Kennington Post Office was earmarked for closure 10/11 years ago and was saved following local engagement and subsequently given a glow up and has ended in its current form. At the time our local MP, Councillors, two petitions (2000 signatures) and local responses to the formal consultation  influenced the outcome.  To find out more about the campaign follow the large, clown like QR code below. If you find QR codes a bit scary and prefer the comfort of a post office/website, you can join here. 

The Future of 409 Kennington Road

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The Runoff recently attended a consultation for the proposed development of what is probably the ugliest building in Greater Kennington. That of course is the Job Centre Plus at the corner of Kennington Road and Kennington Park Road, across from the post office.  However, it appears that the new erection might just be uglier than the one it replaced, but we’ll leave that up to you. 

Now you see, now you don’t!

409 Kennington Road is the name of the project proposed by Standard Securities Ltd, who now own the site, and their concept is to provide 200 student rooms over 16 floors. After consultation (this is where you come in) the build will commence in 2028 with completion the following year. The general rule of these developers is that that they sweeten the deal by telling local stakeholders that in a sense the building will be benefitting them. So with classic Runoff candour, at the consultation we handled this head on. 

Developers – The ground floor will be commercial. Probably something like local businesses.

Us – You mean like Papa Johns? That’s a local business. 

Developers – Ummm no. More like a place where local people can get together.

Us – Oh you mean like Starbucks?

Developers – Umm….no. 

As a rule the Runoff doesn’t lodge an opinion on planning matters as we want to leave it up to our readers. However, as nice as it is to see rosy cheeked 20 years bopping around with their youthful exuberance and great hair, they don’t exactly contribute much to our community and have a niggling habit of moving on after a few years. There is already an abundance of student housing in Greater Kennington and we wonder if this is another example of cramming as many people as possible into a small space. In addition to the building being, well, brown. 

The 409 Kennington team want to hear your thoughts, and this can be undertaken by giving feedback at the bottom of their website or emailing them at 409kenningtonroad@kandaConsulting.co.uk . But before you go all full Guardian reading NIMBY mode, remember that real people read these emails and the most effective course of action is subtle discretion. Just like us at the Runoff. 

For the history buffs amongst you, for centuries the site was home to the beautiful Horns Tavern and a massive, 1000 seat assembly hall (where the present day Nisa foods current resides) next to it. A community gathering spot and the place where Surrey cricket club was founded,  the Horns was rebuilt several times, most recently in 1887. It was bombed during the Blitz but the damaged building remained well into the 1960’s. But unlike mini skirts,  Victorian architecture wasn’t exactly in vogue in 60’s Britain and the building was destroyed. 

Kachori, Betty & Joan

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Karchori 

It is now established dogma that a place is in trouble when they start to have bingo nights. And they’re in even more trouble if anything they do involves a drag queen. So when our friends over at Kachori, the newish Indian in Elephant Park that we checked out last year, announced they will be having a drag bingo night, we knew that something very dire was happening and here’s how you can help. 

Drag bingo is hosted by Party with Ginger and for £45 a head you have a two course, drag inspired meal (???!!) with free flowing prosecco. On top of a £10 admission this comes up to £110 a couple. Now we would never tell you how to spend your dosh, but for that kind of money we reckon you could get Ginger herself over to your gaff to rustle up a few curries while shouting out numbers. However,  this for a good cause so please support them if you can by popping in for a poppadum or a drink. Drag Bingo at Karchori is on 30 October and tickets can be grabbed on their website. 

Another reason we can’t allow Kachori to fall by the wayside is that its perhaps the only restaurant in London where you can eat the table wear. We kid you not. 

BETTY AND JOAN

Staying in Elephant Park and remaining on drag, a new bar and comedy club is opening and we couldn’t be more excited. The bar is listed as being gay, with cabaret and drag, but if that’s not your handbag the comedy appears to be more mixed. They’re having an opening party on 11 December and if you want to join the waiting list then enter your details over on their website. They fling open their majestic doors later this year, so stick that in the little sparkly diary we’ve been telling you to buy for ages. 

The School of Historical Dress

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If you’ve never heard of the School of Historical Dress across from the Imperial War Museum then you’re in very good company. It’s very rarely open to the public but we were able to tour the building during London Open House weekend, and over the next few weeks they have a petite, pop up exhibit that will allow you to see a portion of it as well. 

The School is not for profit and operates as both a school and a resource for textile professionals to research how garments were made. They also publish books about the history, cut and construction of garments through the years and have a database of books (lots of them) and material/outfits accumulated over the years. We’ve also accumulated a huge amount of old outfits over the years, but this relates more to the fact that the management at the Runoff pay us in vapour and we can’t buy anything new. But we digress. 

Over the past few years the School has had small, one room exhibits dedicated to colour and until 13 October the exhibited colour is red. On display are vestments, undergarments, and small maquettes which at first we thought were dog outfits but are in fact studies for larger pieces. Included in this exhibit is Jude Law’s Henry VIII outfit which they created for the very current film Firebrand. If one of the volunteers is present they can detail how the fitting was undertaken and the research required to create the garment. 

The building that houses the School is as interesting as the edifice across the road from it. Built in 1841, it was originally the medical dispensary for the Royal Bethlem Psychiatric hospital (from where we get the name ‘Bedlam’), which is now the Imperial War Museum. Latterly it was utilised as a home for shell shocked men after WW1, a canteen for doctors, and until 2016 a residential facility for adolescents. Staff at the School are very proud of their digs, and on our tour proclaimed that the reason the building is a form of gray is that this is how all of the buildings of the time would have originally looked,  the ‘Dulux White’ colour of other homes in the terrace being a 20th century conceit. We have put this in the ‘who knew’ filing cabinet at Runoff towers.  

If you want to attend one of the periodic events held at the School, follow them on Instagram or join their mailing list at info@theschoolofhistoricaldress.org.uk. The little show is open Friday from 4pm to 8pm and Saturday/Sunday from 1pm to 5pm

Free Culture Week 3 – Open House London 2024

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It’s that time of year again and one of our favourite activities here at the Runoff…..sticking our noses where they don’t belong! From this weekend (14-15 September) to next weekend (21 and 22 September) is the Open House London Festival, celebrating London’s housing, architecture and neighbourhoods by flinging open doors and streets not usually open to the public. We have a few suggestion for you and they are all FREE, and we love free. 

Most Open House venues have friendly staff on hand to tell you more about what you’re seeing and there are often things to read. If you look on the website you’ll see some local bookable things, but we’re afraid you’ve missed the boat on those babies. The localish venues listed below are open to the public on specific dates, so look at opening times. However, if you possess the audacious gaul to travel out of Greater Kennington you might find there are hundreds more free things to stick your head into around the capital. But we couldn’t possibly encourage that kind of behaviour.

London Fire Brigade Memorial Hall Vauxhall (we’ve been, recommended)

St. Paul’s, Walworth Walworth (we’ve been, recommended, pic above)

Florence Nightingale Museum – Waterloo (usually not free but it is for Open House)

Anderson WW2 Bomb Shelter – Oval

The Beaufoy (Diamond Way Buddhist Centre) – Vauxhall (we’ve been, recommended, pic below)

St. Giles Parish Church – Camberwell

Southwark Heritage Centre and Library – Walworth (we’ve been, recommended)

Beaufoy Institute

Collective in Kennington Park

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With a sense of unencumbered shock we recently realised that it’s been over four years since KR visited the pizza and cake establishment Collective, which occupies the lovely cottage at the back of Kennington Park and owned by three locals. So we recently made another trip in order to see how they size up to the increasingly competitive Greater Kennington pizza market.  

The day in question was ‘stapling day’ for Karen from Finance, so we asked her to join us to break up the tedium and avoid RSI. . She chose the Tuxford Tommi blue, perhaps the most indulgent pizza on the menu featuring tomato sauce, quality mozzarella, Napoli salami, Tuxford Tommi blue cheese, garlic and Bee Urban (which is behind Collective) rosemary. Organic, sustainable and free range are all buzzy words for Collective so you can tell the focus is in ingredients, and we found that to be true with the pizzas that we enjoyed

Your scribe ordered the Napolitana, which was an umami kick of anchovies, capers and black olives, augmented by mozzarella and tomato.  It was a proper, thin Neapolitan crust with raised blistered edges, almost to the level of Theo’s, which KR adore. All ingredients were good quality and this creative combination worked very well, provided you like a pizza with a bit of punch and salt. 

We also ordered a Caprese salad. It was very generously sized and one could be shared. It offered abundant segments of tomato, combined with torn buffalo mozzarella pieces, basil and olive oil. The tomatoes were slightly, lets say ‘Tescoesque’ (even if organic) and the buffalo mozzarella less creamy than some, but overall with the basil and olive oil it hit most of the right notes and was good alongside the top notch pizza. 

Collective if you are reading this (and why wouldn’t you?) we love your, well, collective nature as its nice to see a place where folks can easily work on their laptops, catch up with friends, and where dogs are celebrated. However, what we don’t love is your lack of recycling bins. We were compelled to schlep our recyclables back to Runoff towers, but others were just chucking their cans in the bin. So we’re wagging our oily, pizza engorged finger at you! 

Collective is open daily and until 20:00, so is a viable dinner option. The pizzas are midsized, mostly individual affairs, so Karen and I could have our own. And of course, if you don’t fancy pizza they also have a keen looking selection of pastries. 

On the Trail of William Blake

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Some of us are lucky enough to spend at least a portion of our week working from home. If you’re anything like us (and you are, trust us) you might be a bit fed up with the same circuitous lunchtime walk around Greater Kennington. Well the other week we were able to squeeze a little time between sending endless faxes and stapling, and we discovered a little surprise that that could be a stimulating lunchtime destination for you. If hanging out under railway arches is your thing. 

William Blake was a true Renaissance man of late 18th century London, and spent his most creative and expressive years (1790 – 1800) living in Hercules Road in Lambeth North. A visionary poet, printmaker and painter, Blake was undoubtedly a genius and is now considered a titan of poetry. But in his day he was misunderstood, ridiculed, and criticized as a menace to society. So a bit like the staff here at the Runoff. 

Of his many great visual works produced in Greater Kennington, the best known is probably ‘Newton’ (below), depicting Issac Newton with an outstretched hand holding a compass. This work was a favourite of Eduardo Paolozzi who immortalised it in bronze, and now sits mightily in the forecourt of the British Library. Some of Blake’s best known illustrations have been recreated in mosaic tiles and now decorate a railway arch that leads off of Hercules Road. Together they create the sort of urban derelict atmosphere that Blake himself was drawn to, and are well worth a lunchtime wander. 

Some of Blake’s most vivid poems of this time celebrate the rural idyll of what is now Lambeth North.  In his words from ‘Jerusalem’ “We builded Jerusalem as a City & a Temple; from Lambeth We begin our Foundations: lovely Lambeth”. However, by the end of the 18th century times were a changin’ and factories began to occupy the green and pristine land around Hercules Road. Blake took his fertile brain and never returned.  The great man’s spirit lives on in the William Blake Estate and in this suitably eerie picture of his home, which was pulled down in 1917. More info on the route here.

Women’s Books at Lambeth Palace Library

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Located at the very pinnacle of the Runoff catchment area, you might not know about the nine storey Lambeth Palace Library. In fact, you’re probably thinking ‘SAY WHAT, there’s a nine storey library in Greater Kennington?!’ The massive structure opened in 2021 in a pocket of Archbishop’s park and is a victory of understatement (a bit like us). While it’s a research library primarily, they allow access to us pesky Greater Kenningtonians when they have an exhibit  and is now an establish part of the Kennington cultural scene (it’s a thing). 

‘Her booke’ Early Modern Women and their Books at Lambeth Palace Library  is the petite yet perfectly formed exhibit currently on in the exhibition room.  Focussing on a time when female erudition was viewed with suspicion, this exhibition highlights material owned, written, commissioned, and translated by women from the 15th to early 19th centuries. It celebrates the ways in which women and their books were an integral part of England’s devotional, intellectual, and bibliographical cultures. Insightful little sections outline the production and use of books for personal and spiritual practices; books as a statement of power and piety; books as a site to demonstrate women’s intellectual ability; and the material evidence of women’s book ownership.


Items on display in this almost complete dark but still legible exhibit include correspondence from a future Archbishop of Canterbury about Jane Austen; first editions of the works of Mary Wollstonecraft and her daughter Mary Shelley including a first edition of Frankenstein which we naughtily photographed, and books translated for Elizabeth I.  They’re displayed alongside other works related to known and unknown women from the collection (not all religious). And if you can’t get enough there are a selection of free talks about women and books  that  can be booked on the website. 

‘Her booke’ Early Modern Women and their Books at Lambeth Palace Library is on now until 21 November and is totally free. Entering the building is a bit daunting as you need to get buzzed in, but just say you’re going to the exhibit and the guards will merrily show you the way. And don’t miss the quiet lily pond studded lake when you walk up the stairs. And you can have some random fun by scoring some King Charles honey in reception.