The inaugural Southwark Business Excellence Awards Gala Dinner and Charity Ball is the borough’s business ‘hot ticket’ of 2018.
As media sponsors of the award the News gives you the shortlist of the Southwark’s top businesses after hundreds of firms large and small entered the borough’s first ever awards.
The awards attracted 171 submissions from 122 different companies in the borough.
Compered by top financial journalist, Sally Bundock, the glittering black-tie awards ceremony on Thursday, 21st June 2018 promises to be a truly sparkling evening of celebration, networking and first-class entertainment.
Sally, a financial journalist for 20 years, joined the business team at the BBC in 2002 and has been presenting the early morning edition of World Business Report on BBC One, BBC News Channel and BBC World News for the past 10 years.
She will preside over the awards in the spectacular setting of the ballroom at London Hilton Bankside Hotel, where over 450 guests will enjoy a drinks reception, a three-course dinner with wine, as well as music and dancing to the big band sound of The Supreme Collective.
Guests at the event will also have the chance to participate in a charity auction and raffle offering amazing prizes to raise money for local good causes, including London Southwark Giving.
But the highlight of the evening will be the exclusive announcement of the winners of the first ever awards – including the premier award, the overall Southwark Business of the Year – chosen by independent judges from a shortlist of 100 businesses.
Backed by Lewisham Southwark College and Awards Partners, Southwark Chamber of Commerce, Southwark Council, and White Label Creative, the awards are sponsored by: British Land, CIT, ENGIE, Great Portland Estates, Grosvenor, Landsec, Lendlease, UAL: London College of Communication, and Sellar. The programme is supported by Jensen’s Gin, Shangri-La Hotel, and Southwark News.
For more information about the awards, contact the events team at info@southwarkawards.co.uk or call 0208 726 7968.
To book your tickets to the Gala Dinner and Charity Ball at London Hilton Bankside on Thursday, 21st June 2018 here.
The shortlist of top local businesses
COMMITMENT TO THE COMMUNITY
Sponsor, UAL: LONDON COLLEGE OF COMMUNICATION
Porters Barber & Barista: The firm’s motto is ‘More Than a Barbershop’ and Porters say that this really resonates in how the local public see and use the shop – literally as a hub for the local community.
Suzanne James, Caterers: Recently purchased its own premises in East Dulwich which offer pop-up events in support of local start-ups, artists and community groups, such as, It Takes a Village, a supportive network for new parents.
Get Set UK: Supported over 3500 people from disadvantaged backgrounds to find and remain in employment in London.
Bermondsey Project Space: Not-for-profit, cutting edge, creative platform to encourage personal development through visual art and support the fusion of art, photography and culture.
Lightbox: Property development company that brings redundant, unused and unloved parts of the community back to life, providing much needed homes locally.
Inspiring Architects of the Future: Specialise in infrastructure, urban regeneration and place making, with a wide variety of completed projects in the UK and abroad.
KFH and London Youth: One of London’s largest, independently owned property service companies, with 60 branches across the capital and employing more than 800 people.
Southwark Construction Skills Centre: Created to provide a world class training facility and deliver an innovative ‘real life’ construction experience for those who live and work in Southwark.
Rhug Organic Farm: Award-winning organic farm that sells Rhug produce from its stall at Borough Market. Rhug Energy generates electricity through renewable resources including solar, hydro, ground-source, air-source, and biomass as well as wind farm energy.
Deli Felice: Family run Italian delicatessen has a dedicated art space for local artists to exhibit and sell artworks by local artists.
Best Start-Up
Brand Academy Store: Hosts a collection of the world’s greatest brands and emerging new talent, which stand side by side in the iconic OXO Tower London.
The Garden Shack: No matter whether a customer buys a plant, or leaves with a renewed interest in and enthusiasm for gardening, The Garden Shack team believe they have achieved their objective.
Paladar: Paladar is an exciting new restaurant, wine bar and bodega offering a unique Latin American dining experience with great service.
Meet District, Peckham: Meet District restaurant and bar is a South East London casual dining destination offering the finest burgers, steaks, brunch, craft local beer and cocktails all in one place.
Neos Ventures: Neos is a brand new way to insure your home. Using smart technology to create a unique kind of home insurance that’s actively there to protect your home from the three main threats to UK households: fire, flood, and burglary. The combination of technology and insurance means that Neos customers are less likely to suffer damage to their homes and therefore, less likely to make a claim.
The Albert Arms: This charming independent Victorian pub serves new and traditional ales, with an exciting wine list and an ever-changing modern British menu.
TUPI: Located at the Heart of Peckham Rye, TUPI restaurant brings together Europe and South America with a menu that’s healthy and indulgent.
AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN LEISURE & TOURISM
The Yellow House: An independent neighbourhood bar and restaurant in Surrey Quays.
South London Gallery: One of London’s leading contemporary art galleries. The gallery welcomes 150,000 visitors annually and involves thousands more in education projects.
OXO Tower Restaurant, Bar and Brasserie: With three dynamic venues all housed on the eighth floor of the iconic Southbank landmark, OXO offers a spectacular garden terrace, panoramic views of the London skyline and the very best in modern British cuisine.
The London Bridge Experience and Tombs (TLBE Ltd): Award winning two-part attraction which takes guests an exciting interactive journey through London Bridge’s dark history.
Fit4Less Southwark: Staffed by fully qualified fitness professionals who give clients access to the best equipment and all the advice, help and support they need to reach their goals.
Simplicity: Small, independent restaurant supplying fresh, locally sourced and environmentally aware produce. In collaboration with local schools, colleges and the local charity, Time & Talents, Simplicity provides work experience and support for local people. It utilises its garden to grow herbs, fruits and vegetables to incorporate in dishes in the restaurant.
Raceways Motorcycles: Sales, rental and service business that has been established in Southwark for over 35 years.
COMMITMENT TO EDUCATION & SKILLS
Sponsor, ENGIE
Ardmore: One of the UK’s largest family-owned construction groups. Founded by brothers Patrick and Cormac Byrne in 1974.
Shakespeare’s Globe Trust: Education is central to the Globe’s mission, with over 90,000 young people and teachers visiting each year to enjoy Shakespearean workshops.
Source Marketing Direct Ltd: The business uses event based marketing and business-to-business solicitation to obtain new customers for clients across a variety of sectors.
The Old Vic: Almost 10,000 people have participated in its education, community and artists development work for this established theatre in Waterloo.
Bermondsey Community Kitchen: Not-for-profit community café and training facility with five core programs, which train unemployed people into work with free courses in a City and Guilds Level 1 and 2 Professional Cookery Qualification.
London South Bank University: One of the largest and oldest London institutions with a proud history dating back to 1892, of providing industry-recognised qualifications to learners from non-traditional and diverse backgrounds.
BEST EMPLOYER
Utility Results: Now in our fourth year, Utility Results offers expert utility infrastructure procurement and project management.
Source Marketing Direct Ltd: Meeting with customers directly allows Source Marketing Direct representatives to develop a rapport with a prospective customer, which aids retention.
CBC Dental Studio: This small, patient-friendly, modern dental practice is located in Canada Water, South-East London. CBC Dental Studio’s mission is to help as many people as possible to improve their smile and overall oral health, to enhance their personal lives and career in a very positive way.
Shangri-La Hotel, At the Shard, London Bridge: Began in 1971 and the group comprises over 102 luxury hotels and resorts around the World. Their motto is “To treat a stranger as one of our own.”
Chameleon: Chameleon is an award winning Southwark-based specialist PR agency, with a mission to make communications less beige.
Hyde Housing: Celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2017, provides homes at prices people can afford to buy or rent on long tenancies in London, the south east and the east of England.
Outstanding Branding Ltd: Professional distributor of promotional products, branded giveaways and corporate clothing, with offices in London and New York. Whether you’re a quaint, little tea shop or a global financier, their global team will be able to talk you through exactly what promotional merchandise you need.
VHR Best Employer: VHR is an international technical recruitment organisation providing solutions to the aerospace, aviation, F1, automotive, engineering, defence and marine industries across 28 countries.
Holistic: The firm’s 11-strong team is based in Southwark provides a number of services, from strategic communications consultancy to public relations and marketing.
Holistic & Beauty Therapy Ltd: This natural beauty salon, has a holistic approach, offering clients a variety of different beauty and holistic services, which allow them to relax, enjoy and forget about the busy environment outside.
INDEPENDENT RETAILER
Sponsor, LENDLEASE
Lovely and British: Independent retailer specialising in unique, innovative and top quality British made products and gifts.
G.Baldwin & Co Ltd: Have been supplying the people of South London and the world with the finest natural botanical herbs, carrier oils, pure essential oils, and a whole host of natural products and supplements since 1844.
Hop Burns & Black: Specialist bottle shop and tasting room on the Peckham Rye and East Dulwich border.
We Are Lumberjack: The team thinks the best way to build a community is to invest in each other, whether that is through a flat white, a chance to exhibit or play at the café’s jam nights, or an internship to work.
Alex Monroe Jewellery: Designs hand-makes and sells nature-inspired jewellery. Not only are the designs inherently English in style, the jewellery is made in their own Southwark workshop.
Brand Academy Store: Hosting a collection of the world’s greatest brands and emerging new talent, Brand Academy Store is located in the iconic OXO Tower London.
Cannon & Cannon Fine Foods: Retails and wholesales artisan British cured meat from its base in Borough Market playing host to butchery classes and tasting events.
Holly & Lil, The Collar Makers & Groomers: Manufacturers and retailers of unique dog collars, leads and harnesses of exceptional quality Holly & Lil’s products are both extremely durable and are Handmade in England.
Postmark – East Dulwich: Voted the UK’s ‘Best Greeting Card Retailer’ in 2017, it is constantly evolving and adding new lines, making sure there is always something fresh for everyone at Postmark.
Borough Box: Hybrid retailer and online marketplace, jam-packed with the finest food and drink from hundreds of independent producers.
SME EXCELLENCE AWARD
Sponsor, GROSVENOR
Jane Jefferson Cleaning: Domestic and commercial, launched in 2013 it now employ 45 workers, mostly women. Many have employment status for the first time. In 2015 the firm was crowned the Living Wage Champions for London.
Brandlective Communications Ltd: Digital marketing agency whose clientele are SME’s and entrepreneurs wishing to grab the attention of their audience through bold branding and edgy, thought-provoking content.
London Glassblowing Studio & Gallery: Located on vibrant Bermondsey Street, presents and represents the very best in UK glass art led by Peter Layton.
Bodytonic Clinic Limited: A multi-disciplinary clinic providing osteopathy, rehab, clinical Pilates, massage, health and skin care treatments to the local and wider community.
Global Marketing Logic Ltd: A leading growth scaler for B2B Technology, the firm works alongside foreign and local start-ups, bringing scale across all their sales, marketing, software setup and support functions. This allows small businesses to expand in the UK without the risk, while maximising their return on investment and most importantly accelerating their time to market.
Unilink Software: World-leader in prisoner self-service and offender management software. Underpinned by biometrics, its Content Management System delivers security, efficiency and value, and has allowed prisoners to submit over 1,500,000,000 transactions. In 2016 Unilink won the Queen’s Award for Innovation.
Stepladder: Builds brands for the property market.
Diespeker & Co: Founded in 1881, is a leading British company in the supply, manufacture and installation of materials, including marble, granite, conglomerate, concrete tiles, standard terrazzo, resin-based and bespoke-made terrazzo.
Holistic: The firm’s 11-strong team is based in provides a number of services, from strategic communications consultancy to public relations and marketing.
Newington Communications: A top ten UK public affairs and corporate affairs agency working with some of the biggest names in UK business. Started in 2006 by two entrepreneurs from a spare room in Peckham, it now employs 48 consultants from its headquarters near Southwark Tube Station.
BEST BUSINESS FOR TECH & INNOVATION
Sponsor, CIT
Infinty Group: Since 2002, Infinity’s large team of engineers have provided IT Support along with Telecoms Support Services and Microsoft Dynamics 365 Consultancy to over 1000 business across London.
Netwise Hosting:?With a flagship 11,000 square feet data centre in Southwark, it was founded in 2009, and started life as a passion project for school friends with a love for technology. Fast forward nearly a decade, and it is now one of the UK’s leading colocation service providers, delivering end-user content on a truly global scale.
Unilink Software:?The world-leader in prisoner self-service, communications and offender management software.
Virocom Ltd: Leading business communications technology service provider with its unique software, the owners have found it especially rewarding to be able to deliver the operational needs and service requirements of their customers, by empowering them to take the first steps towards digital transformation.
Cloudscape IT: Managed Service Provider specialising in outsourced IT solutions for small and medium sized companies.
Love2Laundry: On demand laundry and dry cleaning business. Founded in 2014, the business aims to serve its customers in a way that far exceeds expectations.
Crofton Cloud Chamber: An SME firm of consulting engineers offering structural, mechanical, electrical, and civil engineering design services for the construction industry.
CULTURAL COMMITMENT AWARD
Sponsor, BRITISH LAND
The Old Vic: Almost 10,000 people have participated in its education, community and artists development work.
Blue Elephant Theatre: A small fringe theatre located on a council estate in Camberwell offering creative opportunities to those who may not otherwise be able to access them.
London Glass Blowing Studio and Gallery: Located on vibrant Bermondsey Street, it presents and represents the very best in UK glass art led by Peter Layton.
South London Gallery: Welcomes 150,000 visitors annually and involves thousands more in education projects.
Sand Films, Rotherhithe: Since 1975, has been a producer and maker of Oscar and BAFTA nominated films, an internationally renowned costumier, a home to the Rotherhithe Picture Library, a free community cinema club, and much more.
Brunel Museum, Rotherhithe: An educational charity, the museum’s underground theatre and gallery seats 150 people and hosts regular concerts, theatre, performance, poetry, opera and community events at festivals and open days. The museum’s Community Cafe is also an exhibition space for local artists.
Bermondsey Project Space: Not-for-profit, cutting edge, creative platform to encourage personal development through visual art, and the support of the fusion of art, photography and culture.
Resonance FM: Trail-blazing, not-for-profit Community Radio station dedicated to the arts, which broadcasts on FM in Bankside and DAB across Greater London. Resonance’s pool of 200 volunteer broadcasters speaks directly and expressively to an audience of over one million.
ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR
Stacey Kehoe, Brandlective Communications Ltd: Digital marketing agency whose clientele are SME’s and entrepreneurs wishing to grab the attention of their audience through bold branding and edgy, thought-provoking content.
Nadeem Abbas, Love2Laundry: Love2Laundry is a laundry and dry-cleaning delivery service that solves the chore of cleaning clothes with a single click.
Syed Wamiq, Bluemantle Fireplaces & Antiques: One of the UK’s leading suppliers of antique/reproduction and reclamation fireplaces and antiques.
Andrew Lawson, BoroughBox: Hybrid retailer and online marketplace, jam-packed with the finest food and drink from hundreds of independent producers.
Richard Martin, WOKIT: It serves healthy and fresh Borough Market produce, cooked to order, in front of customers, with home-made Asian flavours.
Vitas Dronseika, Machine: Independent family business established in 2011 that is both a cycling cafe and a bicycle workshop.
Danny Brooks, VHR: International technical recruitment organisation providing solutions to the aerospace, aviation, F1, automotive, engineering, defence and marine industries across 28 countries.
Jason Choy, Welcome Gate: Offers tailored security packages that ensure clients’ premises are safely monitored, guaranteeing smooth day-to-day operation.
Carlos Miranda, I.G Advisors: IG Advisors’ sister company, Social Misfits Media, helps charities and social enterprises design and implement digital strategies, assisting clients use social media for campaigning and fundraising.
Colin Crooks, Tree Shepherd: The purpose is to create and protect employment for those who face significant economic disadvantage.
BEST BUSINESS FOR CUSTOMER SERVICE
Spinach: Lively informal oasis where you can eat well, relax with friends and enjoy a contemporary vegetable-centric menu.
Superlative Recruitment: Works with SMEs to help them hire the right people whilst reducing the cost and stress often associated with the recruitment process.
Hop Burns & Black: Specialist bottle shop and tasting room in Peckham Rye/East Dulwich.
Fit4Less Southwark: Staffed by fully qualified fitness professionals, Fit4Less gives you access to the best equipment and all the advice, help and support you need to reach your goals.
CBC Dental Studio: Small, patient-friendly, modern dental practice located in Canada Water, South-East London.
Archimedes Inspiration: Creates narrative escape games that bring your inner detective skills to work.
Lilas Jewels: The directors of Lilas has created a jewellery business that helps raise public awareness of responsible gemstone sourcing, Fairtrade gold and ethical metals, while showcasing reconditioned preloved jewellery.
Hobs Reprographics: Provides commercial printing services to the AEC (Architect, Engineering & Construction) markets.
The Stress Exchange: In business in Southwark for 17 years it offers a broad range of services including massage, osteopathy and physiotherapy, as well as hairstyling, and beauty treatments such as facials and waxing.
Head to Toe: Family run salon in Camberwell for over 30 years, the pride themselves on providing honest advice on styling, quality haircuts and leading-edge beauty treatments at low prices.
BEST WOMAN IN BUSINESS
Sponsor, LANDSEC
Amber Williamson, Digital Willow: Helps businesses grow leads and sales by lifting brand awareness and connecting with customers using digital media and marketing.
Clare Kelly, Anthony Gold Solicitors: Founded 50 years ago, the firm has developed industry leading sectors in clinical negligence, personal injury, family, housing and administrative and public law..
Natasha Godfrey, We Are Lumberjack: Not only here to help with your morning caffeine fix, its mission is to create great coffee in order to support young people taking a step up into employment.
Estelle Theobalds, Canopy Beer Co: Hidden under the railway arches in Herne Hill, has been making small batch beers since 2014.
Charlotte Nordone, Walk Eat Talk Eat: runs food tours taking people – tourists and locals – on walking tours of the area.
Jennifer O’Donnell, Jane Jefferson Cleaning: Domestic and commercial, launched in 2013 it now employ 45 workers, mostly women. Many have employment status for the first time. In 2015 the firm was crowned the Living Wage Champions for London.
Lorraine Liyanage, SE22 Piano School: Provides after-school piano tuition for nearly 100 musicians of all ages.
Jackie Piper, Designed In Colour: Designed in Colour designs and makes beautiful high-end homewares and gifts, selling into the table-top retail sector.
Alisha Fernandez Miranda, I.G. Advisors: Advisors is a strategy consultancy bridging the gap between fundraisers, corporates and philanthropists to maximise impact.
Anastasya Martynova, Peckham Levels: Exists to help creative and ambitious local people get their ideas off the ground. Anastasya Martynova, an award-winning designer-maker, specialising in woodcarving and gilding, runs her creative studio from Peckham Levels. The studio works with wood, gold leaf, pigments and glass, to produce sculptural, wall based works and large-scale installations to commission for interiors and commercial projects.
BEST CHARITY OR SOCIAL ENTERPRISE
Bermondsey Community Kitchen: This not-for-profit community café and training facility has five core programmes, which train the unemployed to help them into work, with free courses in a City and Guilds Level 1 and 2 Professional Cookery Qualification. The training facility supports those in low pay, or living in working poverty, to train and support them into higher paid positions. The organisation also helps to fight obesity through free nutritional workshops, cooking classes and community growing projects, while their Senior Cooking Clubs, reaches isolated elderly people.
CareTrade Answers for Autism: CareTrade develops innovative opportunities to enable young people with autism to move towards and into employment. Just 16% of adults with autism are in full-time work, compared to 48% of the disabled population and 78% of the general population. Yet 70% of children with autism attend mainstream school. CareTrade works closely with local employers to challenge and change this – the majority of young people with autism want to work and a neuro-diverse workforce is the future.
South London Gallery: A registered charity and one of London’s leading contemporary art galleries. Originally founded in the 1890s, over the past 25 years the gallery has focused on profiling contemporary artists through a rich programme of exhibitions, film, performance and residencies. This is combined with an award-winning outreach programme involving children, young people and adults, including those least likely to engage with the arts. SLG welcomes 150,000 visitors annually and involves thousands more in education projects.
Mental Fight Club: Founded in 2003. Initially concentrating on community awareness-raising about poor mental health, it went onto establish the Dragon Café in October 2012. Operating from the crypt of St George the Martyr in Southwark, from midday until 8.30pm every Monday, it now offers mental health sufferers a safe space with good cheap food and free creative and wellbeing activities. An average of 180 people a day use the cafe and 60% report an improvement in their mental health.
Westminster House Youth Club: Established in 1888, is one of the oldest youth clubs in the country. Serving a diverse and vibrant, yet also deprived and disadvantaged community in Nunhead, it currently has over 200 members. The organisation currently offers a homework club, a generic youth club, an accreditations programme including the Duke of Edinburgh Award and First Aid, Fire Safety courses and an extensive holiday programme. It also offers daytime programmes, including an Art Award, to targeted children from local schools.
Active Communities Network: ACN is a ‘sport for development’ charity which uses sport as a pathway into education, training and employment for young people across London, the UK and Internationally. The charity’sr vision is to have a world where everyone has equal opportunity to succeed regardless of their background. CAN also wants young people to know that they add value to their community.
Link Age Southwark: A small and vibrant local charity supporting lonely and isolated older people in the community. its mission is to help older people stay connected, alleviate loneliness and improve health and wellbeing. Link Age currently supports over 400 volunteers who help over 600 older people, providing services, including one-to-one befriending visits, regular social and activity groups, specialist services for people living with dementia and practical support including transport, light DIY and gardening.
Southwark Resettlement Services: Provides specialist support and housing management to 60 residents of supported accommodation in Southwark with chronic mental health conditions, some of whom have dual diagnoses challenges. The organisation’s mission is to support and empower clients to enable them to move forward with their lives into the community.
Advising Communities: Is the legal advice, support and education charity for individuals in need and the essential organisations that support them in their communities. The organisation’s mission is to tackle poverty, disadvantage and social injustice by delivering a free, confidential, face-to-face advice service across all areas of social welfare law, including debt, benefits, employment, housing and immigration. Its expert community advisers also provide a range of affordable support services to community organisations, charities and public-sector bodies across the UK.
Tree Shepherd: It’s purpose is to create and protect employment for those who face significant economic disadvantage. It supports people into enterprise and helps them create employment for other local disadvantaged people. The organisation also advocates for and advises business owners, mainly BAME, who face displacement due to regeneration. The vision in Southwark is to transform areas of deprivation to places of opportunity where residents are empowered to grow a local intergenerational economy and where existing small businesses are protected and supported.
Thames Baths CIC: Committed to delivering London’s first floating lido since 1875. The lido would have naturally filtered heated water and be accessible by all. The company is intent on reconnecting Londoners with the River Thames. The cost of swimming would be the same as council run pools and for local residents, it would be free. Accessing the deck to enjoy the river and views would of course be free too.
BEST BUSINESS FOR HOSPITALITY AND FOOD EXCELLENCE
Simplicity: This small, independent, environmentally aware restaurant supplies fresh food using local produce. It works with local schools, colleges and local charity Time & Talents to provide workplace experience and support for local people. It utilises the restaurant garden to grow herbs, fruits and vegetables for use in dishes on the menu.
Spinach: A lively informal oasis where you can eat well, relax with friends and enjoy a contemporary vegetablecentric menu. Menu changes with the seasons to showcase how exceptional and versatile vegetables really are. They also make inspired smoothies and cocktails using fresh ingredients and have an eclectic wine menu.
Shangri-La Hotel, At the Shard, London Bridge: Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts began in 1971 and the group now comprises over 102 luxury hotels and resorts around the world. Their aim is “To treat a stranger as one of our own” and characterises the hospitality clients can expect from Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts. Discerning travellers enjoy world-class service amidst tranquil surroundings, coupled with inspirational architecture and design, and the finest dining experiences at every property. But what makes each stay truly memorable is something more exquisite and rare – Shangri-La’s hospitality from the heart.
Suzanne James Catering and Events: An independent Company in East Dulwich. It caters, organises and manages events from weddings, and private parties to corporate events for many clients within the borough, continuing to build community links since 1998. The firm has recently purchased its own premises in East Dulwich, which offers pop-up events in support of local start-ups, artists and community groups such as, It Takes a Village, a supportive network for new parents.
The Table: This small, single site, chef-owned restaurant has evolved from selling sandwiches and salads, into a thriving business with a diverse menu centred on impeccable quality and sustainably sourced ingredients. Shaun Alpine-Crabtree, chef and now co-owner, helped establish The Table in partnership with architects Allies and Morrison. Supporting The Table are carefully selected British suppliers and a few innovative partnerships. It also collaborates with homeless charity, St Mungo’s, purchasing fresh herbs and vegetables grown in an allotment underneath the Shard.
Meet District, Peckham: This restaurant and bar aims to be South East London’s casual dining destination, offering the finest burgers, steaks, brunch, craft local beer and cocktails all in one place. It has a focus on great food, quality ingredients and exceptional personal service. Meet District brings together the best that London has to offer under one roof. Based in the heart of Peckham it works with the finest food suppliers to create an experience that evokes a feeling of guilt-free satisfaction.
The Begging Bowl: Opened in 2012 by Head Chef Jane Alty and business partner Jamie Younger, offering heady, authentic Thai flavours sourced directly from grocers in Bangkok coupled with fresh fish and meat from local suppliers. Sitting on a prime corner plot with a beautiful open terrace, The Begging Bowl has become part of the community in Peckham and is proud to have created a friendly, vibrant space where locals come regularly to enjoy great food and homely service.
Canada Water Café: This local Italian restaurant serves homemade food all day, seven days a week. The café’s coffee and most of its teas are organic, as is the meat served in their range of dishes. As much as possible the restaurant’s food is prepared in-house from fresh ingredients. All the pizza dough is homemade as well as most their pasta and cakes. Carefully selected cocktails, beers and wines are also available.
Walk Eat Talk Eat: Runs food tours taking people – tourists and locals – on walking tours of the area. The business encourages customer to taste great food from local, independent businesses. They also share the area’s weird and wonderful history and stories, told by locals who have lived there all their lives. The company organises private tours for ready-made groups, as well as regular tours for people who are ready to mingle.
OXO Tower Restaurant, Bar and Brasserie: Is the ideal place to enjoy dinner with live music, a cocktail after work or a relaxed lunch with friends. With three dynamic venues all housed on the eighth floor of the iconic South Bank landmark, OXO offers a spectacular garden terrace, with panoramic views of the London skyline and the very best in modern British cuisine.