Kennington architecture in the Royal Academy’s Summer Exhibition

Posted on August 12, 2013 by Kennington Runoff

This week is the last week of the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition. Its architecture section features the design of the new building where the Florence Nightingale pub and concrete monstrosity York House used to be on the roundabout at the bottom of Westminster Bridge. What’s being built in their place is a “glistening, crystalline 18-storey landmark office building” in an area already ripe with redevelopment – there are three relatively new Park Plaza hotels nearby including two on the roundabout, plus Foster & Partners’ new towers on Albert Embankment.

In the Summer Exhibition you can also see some of the alternative designs that were considered for York House, but this was the chosen design:

The Dog House: an appreciation

Posted on August 12, 2013 by Kennington Runoff

We once read something online complaining about the Dog House due to its late opening and its liberal use of the pavement for seating. These are the two best things about this Kennington institution. It’s right in the heart of Kennington at Kennington Cross, and the fact that people are always sat outside enjoying themselves until the early hours of the morning makes the area feel vibrant. It’s a little rough around the edges and we rarely visit a pub past 11pm nowadays, but when we do, it’s nice to know the Dog House will be open and buzzing. They have window boxes in full bloom at present, and they lend their tables to the Kennington Association for their occasional table top sales. Regulars at the pub include Morrissey* and Steve Lamacq**.

Flowers:

The Dog House at night:

And in the day:

* Clarification here

** Steve Lamacq actually does drink in the Dog House sometimes.

Sally White now have a rather attractive sign on their shopfront

Posted on August 10, 2013 by Kennington Runoff

For more on Sally White, see our earlier post.

Brunswick House and LASSCO

Posted on July 31, 2013 by Kennington Runoff

LASSCO is an architectural reclaim company based in Brunswick House, a cavernous Georgian mansion on the gyratory in West Kennington. If architectural reclaim doesn’t sound much fun, it really is – imagine a museum where everything’s desirable and everything’s on sale. A whole room of taps. Antique baths for only £4000. If money was no object, this is where you’d go to furnish your house.

Brunswick House is also the best restaurant in the area, with food that’s more than matched by the atmosphere as you eat amongst the antiques and curiosities – look for the price tags on your chairs and tables. The restaurant is run by one of the Boxer family, who are also behind the nearby Italian deli and cafe Italo (which is just off Bonnington Square, the best advert there could be for squatting, but more on that another time), and Frank’s Café and Campari Bar atop a multi-story car park-cum-sculpture gallery, which is leading the regeneration of Peckham. For more on the Boxer family, see here.

Adrian Amos from LASSCO was featured in this week’s ES Magazine in one of the rooms at Brunswick House:

This is the main restaurant room:

Here’s a collection of signs from the exterior wall of the house:

For more photos of beautiful LASSCO objects, click here.

Florence Welch went to South London Pacific, got drunk, and covered Daft Punk and The Gossip with the house band

Posted on July 26, 2013 by Kennington Runoff

South London Pacific (geddit?) is a tiki bar in Kennington. Florence Welch is a Kennington resident and front woman of Florence & The Machine. She jumped on stage while house band Sourberry were warming up, and performed Daft Punk’s Get Lucky and Standing In The Way Of Control by The Gossip. Highlights include her downing a tequila shot then discarding the glass, and stage diving off at the end.

This is the stuff that Kennington Runoff dreams are made of, and we’re not making it up.

n.b. should you read the Daily Mail?

The Siobhan Davies Centre

Posted on July 25, 2013 by Kennington Runoff

The Siobhan Davies Centre in North Kennington has won a RIBA Award for architecture and deservedly so. With the addition of a roof of wood and glass, this old brick building has been transformed into a beautifully light and rather magical space for dance, yoga and such like.

Our photo doesn’t really capture the full glory of the building so click here for more.

The Lobster Pot

Posted on July 23, 2013 by Kennington Runoff

The Lobster Pot is one of London’s finest seafood restaurants. It’s also arguably London’s funnest restaurant. And it’s a North Kennington institution – it has been here since 1991 and it’s frequently booked up. Really, you should just go there without knowing what to expect, but if you don’t mind a spoiler then read on.

After ringing a buzzer to gain entry (a precaution that dates back to the nineties rather than being necessary today), you will find yourself inside a ship, with port holes looking out into the sea (i.e. an aquarium):

Upstairs you are on the deck on the ship, with a view of a nearby port painted on the walls, and the sound of seagulls piped through the sound system.

Ship memorabilia is scattered throughout the restaurant:

If you order the lobster (and you should – it is excellent), you will be given a special Lobster Pot bib when it arrives:

I don’t have photos of the staff but the chef looks like Poirot, the staff dress as sailors and one of them is six foot four with model good looks. Eating here is an experience.

Fitzroy Lodge Amateur Boxing Club

Posted on July 21, 2013 by Kennington Runoff

Next door to Studio 180, under a railway arch, is one of London’s oldest boxing clubs, Fitzroy Lodge Amateur Boxing Club. It’s charitable, non-profit making, run by volunteers, and it was founded in 1908. It also looks rather cool inside.

Studio 180

Posted on July 18, 2013 by Kennington Runoff

NME cover stars Palma Violets rehearse at, and played their first ever gig at, Studio 180 on Lambeth Road. This is a house owned by Network Rail that has been converted into artists’ studios by the team behind Make Space Studios. Occasionally it plays host to gigs which are always rammed and atmospheric, not least thanks to the punch that is served. There are also yoga classes and not particularly private parties. It’s cool.

Studio 180 - kenningtonrunoff.com

Vauxhall Spring Gardens AKA Pleasure Gardens

Posted on July 17, 2013 by Kennington Runoff

Vauxhall Spring Gardens AKA Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens in West Kennington has the Vauxhall City Farm on its borders, as well as the Black Dog, the Tea House Theatre, and the Royal Vauxhall Tavern, whose customers spill out on to its edges. It is nicknamed Brokeback Mountain locally for its rugged scenery.

It is currently playing host to the Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens summer festival – details below (we borrowed the image from the excellent Tradescant Road blog).

The Museum of London have some info about the history of Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens here.

The Kennington Observer

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