from today’s Evening Standard, in an feature titled “Where the bright young things are…”
House of Cards starring Kennington’s own Kevin Spacey
Our previous post about Kennington resident Kevin Spacey focused more on his midnight feasts than his brilliance as an actor. So we’d like to say that we recently finished watching House of Cards season one and it’s truly gripping from beginning to end. Kevin’s character is magnificently, horrifyingly compelling, much like The Locker Room.
Kevin is expected to leave his role as artistic director of the Old Vic soon, and already their programme doesn’t seem quite as appealing as it was. Don’t leave us Kevin – South London needs you (but House of Cards season two may need you even more).
Watch House Of Cards on Netflix.
Tamesis Dock
The good ship Tamesis (formerly the English Maid) is a converted 1930s Dutch barge, moored permanently between Lambeth Bridge and Vauxhall Bridge. It’s a floating pub and party venue, with one of the most spectacular river views in London from its jolly, higgledy-piggledy deck.
There’s a lively music scene going on down at the Tamesis Dock, having seen gigs from bands – including Deap Vally and Bastille – who’ve gone on to grace much bigger stages than their cosy bunk.
If you’re worried about your sea legs, rest assured that we’ve never felt the barge shift much on the many times we’ve ventured aboard, and when the tide is out it’s just perched prettily on the sandy banks of the Thames. However, they do occasionally have their own version of a lock-in, involving going for an unannounced ride up to Tower Bridge, so if you’re drinking there late at night and need to get home, be prepared to make a leap for shore if the boat starts moving.
They have free wi fi, their kitchen stays open till 10pm, and the bar is open till 1am on Fridays and Saturdays or midnight the rest of the week, making this one of London’s most enjoyable after-hours drinking venues. Tonight they’re hosting a (free) Hallo-boaty-ween party for those who like their fun as murky as the Thames.
Baldwin’s Kidney & Gravel Pills
Oval Farmers’ Market
Since 2007, Oval Farmers’ Market has taken place every Saturday come rain or shine from 10am to 3pm in the gardens of St Marks Church, South Kennington. It’s cheaper than the likes of Borough Market and Maltby Street, popular but never overcrowded, and it sells a lot of things you just can’t get in Tesco.
Big news for lovers of cholesterol – the crodo AKA cronut has made it to Kennington:
Who knew there were this many varieties of basil?
taste the cheeses:
fresh fish at a fraction of the price of Whole Foods:
veggie roasts:
cake:
Young Fathers on Kennington’s own Big Dada Recordings
Big Dada is the UK’s leading independent hip hop label and, like its parent label Ninja Tune, it’s based on Kennington Lane. Young Fathers are an alternative hip hop group from Edinburgh and we at Kennington Runoff are big fans of their new single LOW, on Big Dada. Have a listen:
The Old Red Lion
If you like your pubs homely but lively, head to the Old Red Lion on Kennington Park Road near Kennington tube. It’s a grade II listed building full of nooks and crannies, with a kitchen serving superior pub grub, a nice beer garden, board games, books and more.
Music features prominently. They tend to play nineties indie music, and they once had a guest ale by the band Ellen & The Escapades despite the fact that we and Steve Lamacq may be the only patrons know who Ellen & The Escapades are (they’re good though – check them out).
Here’s a recent selection of real ales. We opted for Cornish Mutiny – if we’d wanted anarchy, we’d have gone to the Dog House:
In the conservatory they have a small selection of vinyl and an HMV stereogramme on which to play it. Be warned – keep the volume low or risk hearing damage – it might look like your Grandma’s dresser but this is a seriously powerful piece of kit:
The conservatory can be hired for private parties at no cost, but be sure to remind them of your booking on the day.
The piano is a new arrival:
Their monthly events include a quiz, a folk night with jam session, a vintage clothing fair, and a rock ‘n’ roll night.
The bar is two-sided in the eighteenth century style:
ArtsLav is open for business
For the past 115 years, Kennington Cross’s ArtsLav has been a used then disused public toilet. Now, thanks to the initiative of the local community, after a long period of development stretching back to 2005, it is an art gallery. Well done to all involved. We’ve been inside and it’s one of the most attractive disused public toilets we’ve visited – you can see why it’s grade II listed.
Painter Ryszard Rybicki’s Camera Obscura runs from tomorrow until October 24th, and they are hosting a weekend of family activities on October 19th and 20th as they invite everybody in the local community to create a painting together. Opening hours: Monday-Friday 11am-1pm and 2pm-5pm; Saturday and Sunday 11am-5pm.
Emanuel Peruvian restaurant
Big things are happening with Peruvian cuisine in London – Soho’s Ceviche now has its own cookbook, and Fitzrovia’s very fine Lima restaurant was recently awarded a Michelin star. But fear not – North Kennington, AKA London’s Latin American Quarter, has its own Peruvian restaurant, Emanuel on Amelia Street (in fact it has more than one, but that is for another day). We’ve never been to Peru but based on dining experiences elsewhere in Latin America, we suspect Emanuel is a lot closer to what you’ll find in Peru than Lima is. It’s not much to look at inside or out, but go there for the food and the atmosphere. We went on a Sunday lunchtime when the kitchen is open until 3pm, and it was packed with Latin Americans, including one birthday party.
While you’re waiting for your food – and it could be a while if they’re busy – they will bring you toasted chulpe corn, AKA cancha salada, Peru’s all-time favourite snack, which is like crunchier popcorn:
Ceviche (pretty different to what you’ll get in the Soho Ceviche):
Paella (pescatarians will do fine at Emanuel; vegetarians less well):
And to drink, how about an Inca Kola, a Peruvian national icon containing lemon verbena, or Cristal, a Peruvian lager (not to to be confused with the Chilean or Cuban beers of the same name):
Actually, before you order the Kola, check the nutritional advice:
The Prince of Wales
Early this year Londonist asked “What’s the best pub in Kennington and South Kennington?“. The Dog House came out top, and it’s certainly the most visited pub in Kennington. The Old Red Lion was second and has a lot going for it, including its garden and its record player. But for lovers of traditional boozers, outside drinking, and boules, there can only be one winner – The Prince of Wales on Cleaver Square.
They offer real ales from “Britain’s oldest brewery”, Kent’s Shepherd Neame. They serve a menu of high end pub classics. If you want to be outside on the square, they will serve your drink in a plastic cup and even loan you a boules set. When you’re inside the pub, you’ll feel like you could be anywhere in the countryside in the south of England, any time in the last 100 years. Their website boasts that the Richardson gang used to hang out there in the 1960s. Nowadays the Countryside Alliance gang would feel more at home there.
