Brockley Max 2016: Jam Circus Takeover

Brock the mic right

Harry writes:

Calling all Brocklytes! We are very excited to announce the arrival of our brand spanking new Open Mic Night at Jam Circus, July 23rd from 7pm! We love musicians, poets, comedians, cabaret, burlesque, artists... anyone with a fire in their belly who's willing to truly (b)rock the mic.

So if you know any Winehouses or Wildes of SE, do nudge them our way. We'll provide the stage (and drinks) and you provide the talent. Simple as that. To sign up, drop Harry an email on harryatlee@hotmail.co.uk and he'll be happy to slot you in... Cheeky.

Pub n Play at Jam Circus

Sally writes:

Pub n Play is a new soft play session taking place at Jam Circus, launching on Thursday 3rd April, 12-5pm. We create a soft play room for 0-4 year olds, weekday lunchtimes and afternoons, so that parents can meet their friends and other parents, enjoy the food and let their kids burn off some energy afterwards in the play room!

It's almost impossible to take a toddler anywhere where there isn't something for them to climb on, it really reduces your number of options for places to go! 'Pub n Play' is a great way to allow mums and dads with young children one of the little treats they used to enjoy.

Follow us on Facebook here.

Vintage Jam, March 15th

The Jam Circus restoration

330-332 Brockley Road, SE4 2BT 
020 8692 3320 
www.jamcircus.com

Local blogger Kaja Emilie Berg has interviewed the manager of Jam Circus about her plans to restore the reopened pub's place at the heart of the community. She writes:

Fire broke out in the popular Brockley pub last year, due to electrical wiring problems. The pub’s manager, Rose Hanison (28), says it was a big job getting the place back in shape.

“We would have opened it a lot sooner, but we had a lot of different bits and pieces to do. The fire was so extensive and it took us a very long time to clean and get everything set up again,” she explains.

The pub’s got a warm feel to it and hints of vintage style with furniture from different time periods and authentic details, such as old board games and lamps.

“We haven’t actually changed that much in the style and look. The wallpaper and furniture is a bit different. But the general feeling of the pub is the same as before,” Hanison says.

Hanison says the fact that the pub is loved among locals was a motivation for reopening. “Jam Circus has always been known as a community based pub. The support on Facebook and Twitter since we reopened has been humbling.”

Jam Circus are planning to bring back the evenings and events from before the fire. The popular Pub Quiz as well as Cabaret nights where comedians, poets, writers and so on will be able to perform in an informal space, is on the agenda.

“The plans are to eventually expand a third more on the size and have a function room and a dining room at the back. This might happen in January,” Hanison reveals.

Hanison would also like the space to be used by locals if anyone needs a room for workshops.

“One of my dreams for the pub is to make it a creative space for the area. I’m open for people in the community to come to me and tell me what they want to do with the space, and if it works for us we are very happy to get it going.”

The pub also just had a brand new coffee machine fitted, for those in need of a relaxing atmosphere during the day.

“We’ll be a café and lunch area during the day time, a pub and a restaurant at night time and during the weekends we’ll give you a good party time.”

You can read Kaja's blog here.

Jam Circus reopens tonight

It's been a long-time coming, but excellent and badly-missed Crofton Park bar Jam Circus reopens tonight, more than a year after it closed due to fire. The team has confirmed that the doors open tonight at 7pm!

Jam Circus Reopens November 7th

With news so exciting that their fevered fingers couldn't type Brockley comes Antic with this Tweet:

#Bockley @jamcircus re-opening on the 7th of November.Come down and join us to welcome her back!!
— Antic London (@Antic_London) October 16, 2013

Jam Circus plans November comeback

Woot! @BrockleyCentral #brockley pic.twitter.com/pAlQezRUBB
— Molewife (@Molewife) October 10, 2013

#Brockley Looks like @JamCircus will be back in November!! Very exciting. No date yet, but I will let you know asap!
— Antic London (@Antic_London) October 8, 2013

At last!

Jam Circus not reopening any time soon

Anthony from Antic provides the following disappointing update on the fate of Jam Circus, which closed after a fire, late last year:

I’m afraid we are still waiting for the two insurance companies involved, the freeholders and the leaseholders, to decide who is paying for what following the fire. The freeholders are not willing for us to take up occupation until this is agreed, hence the delay. We are trying to get a resolution either way so that we can get on with reopening Jam. I was down there this week and it all looks rather sad… I would hope to have some further news in a month.

Brockley needs Jam Circus back in a hurry.

Jam Circus to remain closed this week

Lucy from Jam Circus updates us:

Unfortunately we had a large fire in the early hours of Sunday morning, everything is OK and no-one was hurt. We will be open as soon as possible but we will closed for the rest of this week.

If you have a booking with us we will be in touch as soon as possible. 

We would like to thank everyone for their huge show of support and we will keep you updated via twitter and Brockley Central.

The BC Drinks planned for tonight will now take place at The Orchard.

Jam Circus damaged by fire

Jam Circus was closed today as a result of a fire that took place early on Sunday morning. Staff confirm that although there was "quite a bit of damage," no-one was hurt.

Jam Circus was due to be the venue for tomorrow night's BC Drinks. We'll update you shortly about those plans.

Jam Circus - Sous chef needed

General manager Lucy Arnold writes:

Jam Circus is looking for a sous chef to work full time starting immediately. They need to be enthusiastic and passionate about delivering high quality delicious food. Anyone who is interested please drop in or e-mail us a CV.

Jam Circus' 7th Birthday Party

The Abruptly-Ending Story

Sunday, 29th April
Jam Circus
7pm – 9.30pm
£5 on the door (from 6.30pm)


This Sunday is the last in the current season of Story Jam events at Jam Circus. Alys writes:

LIP THUMB & TOE  tie up their first Season with tales of surprising guinea pigs, upside down old ladies, mutant aunts and gullible royalty.

SEEING US OUT IN STYLE... CAT GERRARD,  ALYS TORRANCE and ALICE FERNBANK of LIP THUMB & TOE Storytelling Crew will be doing their damndest to make you laugh, gasp, cheer and riot.

JOINED BY...The musical beauty and wit of LEWIS BARFOOT

AND NOT FORGETTING...THE FIVE MINUTE CHALLENGE. MIRANDA ROSZKOWSKI ambitiously attempts to tell a whole story in 5 minutes flat

WHILST YOU settle in with an excellent pint or two of beer (or a glass of wine if you're from North London).

Story Jam - Storytelling for grown-ups, in the pub

 Alys (right) with co-performer Jen Pearcy-Edwards at The Miller, London Bridge

Alys Torrance writes:

Lip Thumb & Toe storytelling collective bring you South London's own story night: in the pub, over a pint, for a laugh (and a fiver). The last Sunday of the month until April. Stories. Beer. Or wine if your coming from North London. Whimsy is barred. On 29th January, the uniquely wonderful Sarah Rundle headlines.

Expect wit and idiocy, a bit of music, great guest storytellers and a boot in the arse if they go on for over half an hour.January's guest is the remarkable sharply witty Sarah Rundle. Heckle if you dare.

NCT Bumps and New Parents Night

Kim writes:

Wednesday 03 August, 8 - 10pm, Jam Circus

This is an opportunity for you to meet each other, share information on what's going on in the local area and have some precious time to relax. New mums - feel free to just pop in for half an hour if that's all the time you have between feeds, it would just be nice to meet you. As mums ourselves, we will try to answer some of your questions about local activities.

Hope to see many of you there - do let us know if you can make it so we can make sure we've got a suitable area reserved.

Oh, ladyboys

News Shopper's PubSpy has reviewed Jam Circus and has had his mind blown by the exotic life on display in Brockley:

So, roll, roll up! Come see the amazing Brockley boozer which offers all the fun of the fairground at slightly inflated prices. At least their freak show is free.

Thank you to the Brockley MAX supporters

On your right hand side, you'll notice a new banner ad for Jam Circus. This is to thank them for their support of this year's Brockley MAX and is Brockley Central's way of helping the cause. The Orchard is another important supporter so you'll be seeing their banner soon too.

So if you like the Brockley MAX, then eat and drink at Jam Circus and The Orchard every day please. And why not buy an extra packet of crisps while you're at the bar? And one more for the road.

New Year's Eve

Please use this thread to recommend local NYE options. If you run a local venue, please tell us what you're up to.

This much we know:

Jam Circus will be staging a Roswell-themed party while The Hill Station will be having a party from 8.30pm and they're asking people to bring their own food, drink, firewood and fireworks.

Jam Circus Christmas

Jam Circus has a new manager, Polly, who's been in touch to tell readers about their Christmas plans. She writes:

We've got a brass band coming in on the 23rd in the evening to play some Christmassy songs by the fire/christmas tree (that sounds like a fire hazard..)

We've also got our fire on daily and got Mulled Wine in the bucket loads, plus lots of mince pies and our usual yummy food. New Years we are having a 1950's Roswell America themed party, it's from 4pm-3am and there's a prize for the best dressed. It's £10 entry (tickets are on sale now at Jam) and that includes a free glass of something fizzy. We're open on NY day from 12-6 for all day hangover brunch. The only day we are closed is Christmas day and open all the rest although for shorter hours.