Head down to at Arch 33 at (Flat Iron Square’s sister venue) every Tuesday for “Never Going To Quiz You Up” ????
Real people, no cheats, facing off for the best quiz for miles. Test your knowledge and win big prizes and even bigger bragging rights!
Tons of miscellaneous knowledge rattling around your brain? Put it to good use and join us under the arch every Tuesday from 7 pm.
To highlight World Water Day and raise funds for WaterAid, Belu have teamed up with award winning Mancunian artist Venessa Scott, who will paint a large, colourful piece live in central London at Borough Yards. Venessa will paint from 20-22nd March and her work will be on display until 31st March. Come along and see the artwork come together.
There will be a donation point alongside the painting for people to discover more and donate to WaterAid. The piece will be auctioned following World Water Day, with all monies going to WaterAid. The auction will take place online from Thursday 23rd March at and close on Friday 31st March.
There will also be a chance to win a ‘Mix It Good’ pack of 10 Belu mixers and tonics, all vegan and gluten free, including their Lively Lemonade and Fiery Ginger Beer.
The Hilton Bankside have created a fabulous map with local illustrator Rosie Brooks, inviting people to discover the some of the ‘Inspirational women of Bankside’. You can pick up copy from their concierge throughout the month of March, or you can download a copy here.
Take your mum on a nice day out on the river on Thames Clippers and why not make it extra special with a glass of wine. On 18th and 19th March, enjoy 2 for 1 on 18.7cl bottles of wine at their onboard café bar.
Sneak inside one of London’s most unusual locations, after-hours, for a thrilling site-responsive experience.
This spring, Kirkaldy’s Testing Works – an historic, Grade II* former workshop and museum in the heart of Bankside – will open its doors for five exclusive, fun but slightly surreal pop-up performances over three days.
Set in the world’s first independent, commercial materials testing works, audiences will join in with a surprise extravaganza that’s been 200 years in the planning. Come and mingle with eccentric Victorian characters and test your mettle in an entertaining hour-long immersive drama.
What you will experience:
Celebrated Victorian engineer David Kirkaldy is having a surprise party – and you’re invited, but only if you come up to scratch! This immersive experience offers guests the opportunity to secretly join the celebrations. Once inside The Testing and Experimenting Works, challenge your strength and wiles against Kirkaldy’s scrutiny and the mighty million-pound Universal Testing machine… A proper Victorian knees-up lies in wait for those who pass the test.
Guests will weave their way through rooms in this unique and atmospheric former 19th century factory including Kirkaldy’s office, the factory workshop and the basement, all filled with music, soundscapes and the Scottish engineer’s original testing machines, including the 14.5m-long Universal Testing Machine he had designed, commissioned and patented in 1863.
‘Facts not Opinions’: Stretched to the limit has been created by theatre makers and performers Sammy Kissin and Al Barclay, as part of Blackfriars Stories commissioned by Southwark Council.
The show is inspired by the link between Blackfriars Bridge and Kirkaldy’s Testing Works and was originally conceived to mark the 200th anniversary of David Kirkaldy’s birth.
Sammy, who studied at LAMDA and Manchester University, said: “We really wanted to honour Kirkaldy’s world view that ‘Facts not Opinions’ matter. It is a celebration of the dynamism of the man, that idea of strength and how strength can be tested.”
Guildhall alumni Al added: “We have all been tested to destruction recently. We were interested in confronting this in a place designed to break the indestructible – and question, who are we?”
The present Blackfriars Bridge is the second bridge to bear that name; the first being deemed unsafe due to poor construction. The new bridge, built in 1869, employed the newly established Testing and Experimenting Works on Southwark Street to test its wrought iron framework and ensure its long-term viability.
Times
Thursday and Friday – 7pm, 8.30pm; Saturday – 3pm, 7pm and 8.30pm
Educational Programme
A free educational programme for more than 100 local secondary school pupils will run alongside the performances.
Renowned illustrator, set designer and creative director Emma Rios will be delivering a series of arts and engineering workshops for children, plus guided tours of the museum. Visitors will be taken back in time to the industrial revolution when building specimens from all over the world were tested to destruction in Kirkaldy’s workshop.
Emma, who is known for her paper sculpting installations and illustrations, has worked with clients ranging from Tatler and the Wall Street Journal to the V&A and Historic Royal Palaces, Liberty, Harrods, as well as fashion brands including Myla and Saloni.
About Kirkaldy’s Testing and Experimenting Works
A museum has been running at the site since 1984 run entirely by a team of volunteers. It is one of the few places in the world where you can get up close and hands on with working, historic machines – and yes, break something!
Kirkaldy opened the world’s first purpose-built independent testing site at 99 Southwark Street, London in 1874. He pioneered a real change in thinking – that all components had to be tested to a pre-existing standard, and facts were more important than opinions. The famous inscription above the door reads ‘Facts not Opinions’.
Today Kirkaldy’s advances in science and engineering are celebrated by the Institution for Civil Engineers and the Engineering Hall of Fame.
For further information visit:
Climbing is the perfect way for little ones to exercise body and mind. Let them climb our walls, not yours!
At The Font Borough, SE1’s very own rock climbing gym, we’ve scheduled a bumper week of Junior climbing sessions for the February Half Term. From Monday 13th Feb to Friday 17th Feb we’ll be running sessions every day for those aged between 8-18 years.
Visit our website for more details: the-font.co.uk/borough/junior-timetable
Bankside’s Golden Hinde presents a night of delectable debauchery, featuring first class performers from across the cabaret and performing arts industry.
Line up includes:
Matt Skully – boylesque and sideshow
ZeeZee Stardust – comedy burlesque and stand up
Welcome anti-valentine’s cocktail included in ticket price.
Happy unimaginative consumerist entirely arbitrary interpretation of romance day!
ADULTS ONLY 18+
Mulled drinks in all their forms were a popular choice to stay warm on the ice during the Frost Fairs. Join The Rake as they take you on an exploration of all things mulled with a guided tasting through three traditional, forgotten mulled drinks including Germanic Gluhkriek, Scandinavian Glugg and English Lambswool.
This event is free, but booking is required through link below.
This event is part of the Frost Fair which Better Bankside is running across December and January. Frost Fair is a homage to the area’s unique history, celebrating the characters and fascinating stories from past winters in the Southwark borough. There’s lots more happening across the area, find out more here.
Join The Bridge for their first ever supper club offering healthy plant based food that is good for you and the planet.
Guests will be joined by bestselling author and botanist Michael Holland. Michael wrote the best selling book I Ate Sunshine for Breakfast. If you are botanically curious then join us to hear from Michael as he shares his knowledge and passion in the incredible power of plants.
Cost: Pay-what-you-feel
One business that is glad the Thames is not frozen during our modern day Frost Fair is Uber Boat by Thames Clippers! Make travel time part of your London adventure and head to Bankside by boat this winter to experience all the fun of the Frost Fair. You’ll see the best views of the capital’s major sights as you set sail.
Look out for special Frost Fair films on board and get involved in their tasty Frost Fair offer:
Orange Gin Hot Chocolate – £5
Upgrade your hot chocolate on board this Frost Fair with Sipsmith’s Zesty Orange Gin. Resulting in a deliciously indulgent yet zesty warming sip.
Gingerbread biscuits – £1.50
This trip is part of the Frost Fair which Better Bankside is running across December and January. Frost Fair is a homage to the area’s unique history, celebrating the characters and fascinating stories from past winters in the Southwark borough. There’s lots more happening across the area, find out more here.
Frost Fairs were a time for feasting on traditional English fayre. In this half day workshop, you’ll bake four English classics. From the classic overnight white loaf to Bath buns and Devonshire splits to lardy cakes (trust us, they’re delicious), this course celebrates the very best of English baking.
This baking workshop is suitable for all levels of experience and runs for 3 hours.
Allergen information: this course uses wheat, dairy, egg and sulphites. One of the recipes in this class uses lard (pork) so is not vegetarian, kosher or halal. Unfortunately we aren’t able to tailor recipes for substitutions or alterations, as these can fundamentally change the composition and outcome of the recipes. For more information regarding our ingredients, please contact us before booking your course.
Nothing says Frost Fair like a mince pie and a warming nip of whiskey. If you’re also partial to this timeless combination, this is the perfect masterclass for you
We believe in simple quality ingredients at Bread Ahead, food should be enjoyed in its purest form. We apply this approach to everything we do, so we’re delighted to team up with fellow artisan producers Redbreast whiskey.
Join our expert bakers for a mince pie and whiskey masterclass. We’ll be demonstrating how we create our classic mince meat and ultimately our mince pies followed by the all important whiskey tasting.
Sat 10 December 2022, 7:00pm – 8:30pm
Sun 11 December 2022, 3:30pm – 5:00pm
In 1814, at the very last Frost Fair, it is reported that an elephant walked across the ice from north to south of the river. South African artist Jason Slabber has brought the ghost of this elephant back to the streets of Bankside using CGI and AI-driven illustration and animation.
The elephant will be projected into Dirty Lane at the new Borough Yards complex. Peek in to see it stomp its way over the ice through the Borough Yards gate under the Clink Street tunnel at anytime in the day, but from 18.14 – 18.30 (6.14pm – 6.30pm)every evening, the gates will be opened so you can see the elephant in all its glory and celebrate its moment in the 1814 Frost Fair.
No booking necessary, just turn up at 18.14 each day until 31 January.
Borough Market’s annual Evening of Cheese is back. Get ready for a cheese-themed shopping extravaganza led by our community of cheesemongers. Enjoy tastings, seek expert advice and put together a festive cheeseboard featuring the highest quality cheeses from Britain, Ireland, France, Italy, Spain, Switzerland and the Netherlands. Some of the market’s drinks traders will also be on hand to keep shoppers refreshed.
This event is part of the Frost Fair which Better Bankside is running across December and January. Frost Fair is a homage to the area’s unique history, celebrating the characters and fascinating stories from past winters in the Southwark borough. There’s lots more happening across the area, find out more here.
Every Monday our eccentric quiz master Matt Allen runs an eclectic general knowledge quiz. We’re taking this opportunity to introduce a series of quizzes with a food focus – makes sense bearing in mind we are on Borough Market!
The concept is to working with a different trader from Borough for each quiz. They will produce 2 rounds of questions, one on their product and one on the area then come from within the quiz. The aim to highlight the trader and what they do, we have some 125 traders who are true experts on their products and this is an opportunity to hear from them and to expand your knowledge. The first two are:
Monday 9 Jan – Turkish Deli and The Rake Epicurean Quiz – can you tell your ekmek from your köfte?
Monday 23 Jan – The Parma Ham and Mozzarella and The Rake Epicurean Quiz – is it Buffalo or Gruffalo?
Future quizzes will be with other traders and will be expanded into other connected areas such as vegan, vegetarian, sustainability and recycling etc.
This quiz is part of the Frost Fair which Better Bankside is running across December and January. Frost Fair is a homage to the area’s unique history, celebrating the characters and fascinating stories from past winters in the Southwark borough. There’s lots more happening across the area, find out more here.
Discover Tudor Christmas traditions aboard The Golden Hinde.Throughout December take part in our 12 Days of Tudor Christmas trail. Learn all about the modern Christmas celebrations that originated during the 16th century and experience the holidays like an Elizabethan.
Perfect for all ages, the Tudor trail is included in the admission price.
Feel festive and learn a new skill as you create a beautiful botanical wreath to make sure your door is looking it’s festive best.
The Bridge is hosting this relaxed and fun workshop, where you will be shown step-by-step how to make your own unique wreath with an expert. You’ll make a wreath using festive favourites such as fresh spruce and rosemary and add texture with pine cones, and dried fruits and seeds.
You’ll be provided with all of the materials needed, and every participant can create their own wreath that will decorate their home for the rest of December!
All profits from this event support The Bridge charity.
Register for your space now at www.thebridge-uk.org/store/wreath-making-workshop-at-borough-market
17 December 2022, 2pm – 4pm
Cost: £45 per person
This workshop is part of the Frost Fair which Better Bankside is running across December and January. Frost Fair is a homage to the area’s unique history, celebrating the characters and fascinating stories from past winters in the Southwark borough. There’s lots more happening across the area, find out more here.
Feel festive and learn a new skill as you create a beautiful botanical wreath to make sure your door is looking it’s festive best.
The Bridge is hosting this relaxed and fun workshop, where you will be shown step-by-step how to make your own unique wreath with an expert. You’ll make a wreath using festive favourites such as fresh spruce and rosemary and add texture with pine cones, and dried fruits and seeds.
You’ll be provided with all of the materials needed, and every participant can create their own wreath that will decorate their home for the rest of December!
All profits from this event support The Bridge charity.
Register for your space now at www.thebridge-uk.org/store/wreath-making-workshop-at-borough-market
17 December 2022, 11:00–13:00
Cost: £45 per person
This workshop is part of the Frost Fair which Better Bankside is running across December and January. Frost Fair is a homage to the area’s unique history, celebrating the characters and fascinating stories from past winters in the Southwark borough. There’s lots more happening across the area, find out more here.
Santa is glad the Thames is not frozen during our modern day Frost Fair! He’ll be on the Uber Boat by Thames Clippers on the 17th of December; joining the passengers on a magical journey up and down the Thames to see the magical sights of Christmastime London, and Bankside’s Frost Fair.
Hop on board on 17 December and meet Santa whilst enjoying London’s iconic landmarks along the river.
Santa will be sailing up and down the river between 12-5pm on the sailings listed here. You can board and disembark Sailing Santa services at any of the piers the service is scheduled to call at.
Look out for special Frost Fair films on board and get involved in their tasty Frost Fair offer:
Orange Gin Hot Chocolate – £5
Upgrade your hot chocolate on board this Frost Fair with Sipsmith’s Zesty Orange Gin. Resulting in a deliciously indulgent yet zesty warming sip.
Gingerbread biscuits – £1.50
This trip is part of the Frost Fair which Better Bankside is running across December and January. Frost Fair is a homage to the area’s unique history, celebrating the characters and fascinating stories from past winters in the Southwark borough. There’s lots more happening across the area, find out more here.
