Always Be Comedy

Posted on July 16, 2021 by Kennington Runoff

At Runoff Towers we are haltingly reentering the galaxy of semi normality and now attending Greater Kennington’s own top flight comedy night Always Be Comedy in person. Over the past 16 months MC James Gill and his ever optimistic team made a noble attempt to make ABC a virtual experience but it was a bit like watching stand up in a toilet cubicle, so it was refreshing to see a return to face to face laughing.

On Monday night we saw the irrepressible Joe Lycett and the hilarious Sarah Pascoe, and on previous trips we’ve seen the likes of Harry Hill, Katherine Ryan, Russell Howard, Romesh Ranganathan, Josh Widdecombe (whoops – better pick up those names we just dropped!), all for a tenner. The only trick is you need to be quick off the mark, and also some are billed as ‘secret’ so it is probably a good idea to be on their mailing list. And if you’ve never heard of the comedian, you might discover somebody new and only exerted a walk over and hobble back from The Tommyfield pub in Kennington Cross in the process.

The demographic at ABC does makes you feel a bit like you’ve stumbled across reunion of contestants from ‘The Apprentice’, but if you can move beyond that and a the pricey pints then it’s a fun night. At the moment the seating is limited and socially distanced and people wear masks when they are milling around, and as expected you’re expected to tap in when you arrive and this will continue to be the case next week.

Jadon Sancho, From Kennington with Love

Posted on July 8, 2021 by Kennington Runoff

We have to admit that the Runoff does not possess a great deal of knowledge about sport, as it usually begins and ends with ‘what’s all that shouting from over Oval way….has there been some kind of accident’? However, we’re aware that there is a specific buzz in the Greater Kennington air at the moment and our crack team of investigators have established a link between the England team and our hallowed pocket, and his name is Jadon Sancho.

England midfielder Sancho was born in Camberwell but spent his early and formative years in Kennington, stating ‘growing up in Kennington has made me the man I am today’. His pitch was what he refers to as the ‘Blue Park’ which we’ve deduced is Kennington Park Extension, where he played with older boys and his talent was discovered and nurtured. Follow the links to discover much more about young Jadon.

In addition to being an excellent footballer and an all around well grounded and seemingly nice young man, we at the Runoff were inordinately excited to discover that Jadon has HIS VERY OWN LINE OF SE11 KENNINGTON THEMED FOOTWEAR! And not only that, he even has his own line of Kennington inspired clothing! Most of the staff here aren’t not exactly the ranges’ ‘target demographic’, but if you see someone strutting their stuff around Kennington Cross in Jadon’s clobber over the next few weeks it could just be one of us. Or somebody else as you don’t know what we look like.

Best of luck to Jadon Sancho and all the other players on Sunday evening! Pass the Sancho sauce!

Damien Hirst at Newport St.

Posted on October 9, 2020 by Kennington Runoff

Without a great deal of fanfare, on Wednesday Newport Street Gallery reopened with a survey of Damien Hirst’s early work called ‘End of a Century’. The timing of this retrospective might be a coincidence or an intentional and very prescient observation of the world around us in 2020, as Hirst’s early work explored themes of death, healing, life saving medication, infection, and anatomy. We checked out the show on it’s opening day.

In the first gallery we were introduced to one of Hirst’s trademark dissected animals; this one being a baby shark in formaldehyde. Moving into the main galleries you might think you’d just wandered into aisle three at Iceland, as there were several freezers stuffed with frozen cow heads (we asked, and they are real). Also on show were Hirst’s trademark medication cabinets and a variety of medical implements. After an enormous anatomical model we’re left to ponder the slightly humorous ‘Shut Up and Eat Your Fucking Dinner’ (pictured at bottom) which was fashioned as a butcher shop window featuring a variety of meats encased in formaldehyde. Is meat murder?

On the first floor we got to grips with several of Hirst’s spin paintings and dot paintings, with one actually spinning in the room. Surprisingly, there were several cubist inspired collages of found materials which Hirst created before he was a student at Goldsmiths, even then showing his early interest in mortality and resurrection. The most arresting work upstairs was ‘A Hundred Years’, in which a bloody severed cow head is being eaten by maggots who turn into flies who then get executed by an inect-ocutor. We’re not making this up.

Some of these works are almost 30 years old and don’t have the shock value they once possessed. But if your artistic taste embraces decapitated cow heads, meat, pills, blood, dead flies, and medical implements then this show will be right up your street. Vegetarians might want to steer clear. And lest you don’t give your mortality much of a thought during the pandemic, this show is a reminder of the profound fragility of organic matter.

End of a Century is on now and until the end of March, 2021. Tickets are free and can be booked here.

Once upon a time in Kennington

Posted on April 13, 2020 by Kennington Runoff

Once upon a time it was possible to go to a place and have a drink with other people. One of those places was in central Kennington and called ‘The Tommyfield’ and they had a cracking stand up night called ‘Always Be Comedy’. We wrote about ABC in July and have been regulars since its inception eight years ago. We’re big fans of the evening as it’s always nice to see up and coming comics in addition to big names, and of course they’re honoured to be in our manor.

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Last week ABC started a virtual comedy night and we popped along, partially out of curiosity and partially to avoid watching another episode of ‘Tiger King’. They had a few tech problems but considering that they were switching between three comics and the MC, it went pretty well. They have a few upcoming shows and we highly recommend them for a change of pace.

Wed 15 April – Josh Widdicombe and others

Wed 22 April – Sara Pascoe, Nick Helm, and a ‘mystery guest’ (usually a pretty big name)

Wed 29 April – James Veitch and others

Wed. 6 May Iain Sterling (the guy who does the voiceover for Love Island….not that we watch it) and others.

All shows run from about 8 to 10 and the best bit is you can watch in your underwear without being picked on by the comedians. Tickets are a fiver and can be purchased here.

When this mayhem has subsided places like The Tommyfield and ABC will need our patronage more than ever. When it’s possible to go in the flesh again ABC has a good atmosphere with a fun mix of people. However, on your first visit it’s hard to escape the eerie notion that you’ve just stumbled into a reunion of contestants from ‘The Apprentice’.

Hang in there, folks. After all, by invoking that wartime spirit we all got through the great toilet roll crisis of late March.

Meet the Locals 2 – Caroline Butler of Earl of Bedlam

Posted on December 11, 2019 by Kennington Runoff

Last week we were invited into the verdant, sartorial wonderland that is fashion house ‘Earl of Bedlam’ to have a mint tea and chat with its founder Caroline Butler. In addition to being a Kennington based designer, she is also the bona fide Doynne of Kennington*, having lived in our hallowed patch for over 40 years.

We have to admit that we don’t know a great deal about fashion. In fact, someone once referred to a male member of the KR team as ‘the muse of Blue Harbour at M&S’. Whatever. Amongst the vast array of mannequins, needles, swatches and swag , Caroline explained that she and partner Mark specialise in bespoke suits for both men and women and have been inspired by the music, club life and characters of their past. Caroline emphasised that the suits aren’t intended to shock, and are rather ‘less showy and more about turning heads’; she used the evocative phrase ‘think Gangs of New York meets Oliver Twist’. Their made to measure wear, Caroline continued, is totally bespoke so it doesn’t come cheap, but is 1/3 the cost of Saville Row.

For those of us not quite in the price bracket to swing a bespoke suit, the Earl also sell scarves and a range of T-shirts and knitwear. A number of these pieces are inspired by their dog Brian, and a canine sensibility permeates this work.

The amount of local good deeds that Caroline and Mark engage in seem limitless, and includes the dog show at Lambeth Palace (which we wrote about over the summer), clothing the staff at the Three Stags Pub, and initiating a campaign to have a local information stall or stone permanently placed in front of St. Anselm’s (we’ll write about this next month). They are also a perennial presence at the Cleaver Square Fete.

Any person who’s lived here for 40 years must be brimming with local recommendations, so I asked Caroline where the Earls go when the needles come down. They have an affection for often missed Indian joint ‘Ishtak’ in Kennington Road, The Kennington Coffee Shop, Windmill Fish Bar (apparently it’s cool again), Windmill Flowers and the Three Stags. In addition to talks at Durning Library.

Viva Earl of Bedlam, and may you long reign over the Kingdom of Kennington!

*There are several people at KR Towers also vying for the title of ‘Doynne’ who might throw us under the #3 bus if they find out we’ve given it to somebody else.

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Always be Kennington

Posted on July 4, 2019 by Kennington Runoff

Are you aware that you have top flight, A lister comedy our doorstep? The Tommyfield has a magnificent comedy on Thursday (and other) and it’s called Always be Comedy. We at KR have been frequenting it since it’s inception eight years ago and have seen the likes of Russell Brand, Katherine Ryan, Jimmy Carr and others. A few weeks ago we even saw Harry Hill

The first thing you notice about the ABC crowd is that it feels like you’ve just crashed a reunion of previous contestants from ‘The Apprentice’. That disquiet can be absolved by a few (not so cheap) bevies. Your MC and ABC creator is one James Gill, who is on hand to deliver games, anecdotes, foibles and all around mirth. James isn’t the kind of comic who picks on people in the front row, but you might be called upon to take part in a round of golf out of the window or the ‘how posh is your name’ quiz. You might even win a Kinder egg.

The remaining Thursdays are taken up by comics doing one hour sets, consisting usually of new material. This material might then be used on TV, radio or in Edinburgh. If a joke is received by a collective cough it will be classed as ‘Kennington Exclusives’. Late August sees a resumption of usual shorter sets, with great folk like Sara Pascoe.

Always be Comedy tends to sell out, so book some dates here and put them in your little diary. If you’re anything like us you’ll then forget about until the day before, and then it feels like a little Kinder Egg Christmas present.

The ‘mystery guests’ are usually somebody big, so if you’re short on time watch out for those.

James Gill

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The last time I tried to papp a comedian a got dragged onstage and subjected to ritual humiliation. This crap photo of Mr. Hill is therefore explained.

The Gardening Museum and a Scary Tony Blair Gnome

Posted on June 11, 2019 by Kennington Runoff

Our second gardening blog in a week, you lucky devils! Over the weekend we popped over to the Gardening Museum to inspect it’s not so recent (2017) renovation and to see if it’s worth getting your hands dirty for.

The museum is set within a 12^thcentury church next to Lambeth Palace (and visitors can climb the original tower). Surprisingly, the church was almost demolished in the 1970’s but saved by gardening enthusiasts (and Charlie Chaplin) keen to preserve the memory of John Tradescant, who’s garden themed tomb still stands in the outside garden. The deconsecrated church setting is one of the primary features.

The museum itself is on the small side and encompasses bedding design, implements, seeds, and how ‘plant hunters’ brought plants to the UK from around the world which still flourish to this day. There are also paintings and sketches. The exhibits also includes interesting displays of old lawn mowers, FlyMo’s and even (wait for it) a collection of garden gnomes! Our favourite is a slightly psychotic gnome which bears an uncanny resemblance to Tony Blair:

The author of 90% of content here on the Runoff was undertaken by my brilliant predessesor who heretofore shall be referred to as ‘Jamie’. Jamie was a big fan of the café at the Gardening Museum and s/he made it their number one pick for best local restaurant earlier this year (In case you wondered Jamie isn’t dead). It is bright, open to the gardens and very informal if not a bit pricey. A little courtyard in the middle of the restaurant is dominated by the tomb of William Bligh (of Mutiny on the Bounty fame) and family. The inscription to his wife being every bit as moving as that of his on the front.

At £10 the museum is a bit on the steep side but if you want to get the dirt on gardening it is certainly the place to be. And it has a nice shop!

The top ten best restaurants in Kennington – no. 3 – Brunswick House

Posted on February 24, 2019 by Kennington Runoff

Positives: Brunswick House has an utterly unique and magical interior, courtesy of LASSCO the architectural reclaim shop, and the building it takes its name from, a Georgian mansion with a colourful history. The atmosphere is always good, the food is inventive and seasonal, and the clientele is cultured – when Florence Welch wants to meet Lena Dunham for dinner, this is where they go.

Brunswick House restaurant - kenningtonrunoff.com

Negatives: Since founder Jackson Boxer, a Kennington resident, started opening hot new restaurants outside of Kennington and became a cover star (and what a dashing one too), we have to say the food is not quite as great as it was, and still expensive. So we’re not the regular visitors we once were – but if you’ve never been, you really should…

Salsify, cauliflower and olive at Brunswick House – kenningtonrunoff.com

Newport Street Gallery

Posted on October 19, 2015 by Kennington Runoff

Those of you who follow us closely on Twitter will know that our invite to the opening of Damien Hirst’s Newport Street Gallery (NSG) got lost in the post despite months of blatant solicitation. Nonetheless, we picked ourselves up and dragged ourselves along on the first day it was open to the public.

NSG is a great building – lighter and more inviting than the Saatchi Gallery to which it has been compared (both having been built by rich people to show their huge collections of contemporary art).

Well done to Damien who has certainly not skimped on this, and architects Caruso St John who were also behind the revamp of Tate Britain. The Guardian recently published an interesting article about the building and NSG’s issues with community outreach.

The first exhibition is Power Stations by the late John Hoyland, whose huge, colourful but foreboding canvasses suit the space so well that it’s hard to imagine how smaller works will fare.

If you don’t like Hoyland’s stuff then you have a long wait for something else – this exhibition runs until April of next year.

Damien’s involvement in NSG is relatively inconspicuous until you enter the shop where there are eye-wateringly expensive skulls and jewellery galore. Newport Street Gallery’s shop is not the much-needed replacement for Kennington Bookshop as a place to buy a present a tenner – more like ten grand.

The first day crowd was large and varied, and Beaconsfield, further down Newport Street, was the busiest we’ve ever seen it. We have no doubt NSG’s arrival will spark a new level of boom for the once-neglected area we call North West Kennington, others call Lambeth, and, in a blatant land grab of which we would have been proud, Vauxhall’s developers have decided is called Vauxhall. We’ll see about that:

The first floor of NSG is taken up by a restaurant named Pharmacy 2, a sequel to Damien’s Notting Hill restaurant that was open from 1998 to 2003. Whatever next – Fat Les reforming to play the opening party? Just as long as we’re invited that’s fine by us – and we mean now, not next year when Pharmacy 2 finally opens to the public. Altogether now: “Where on earth are you from?/We’re from Kennington”.

Elephant Days

Posted on September 2, 2015 by Kennington Runoff

AKA North Kennington: The Maccabees’ Documentary.

Anyway, this looks great:

More info from here.

Kennington Runoff

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

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