The Blackheath Fireworks 2015

Lewisham Council have confirmed that Blackheath Fireworks is once again set to entertain thousands of people this year on Saturday 7 November at 8pm.

This fantastic event is still one of very few London fireworks celebrations which is free to enter and annually attracts over 80,000 people from all over London. Lewisham Council is once again working with a range of partners to keep this hugely popular event going.

L&Q, Royal Borough of Greenwich, Glendale, Hamptons International, The Clarendon Hotel and The Crown Pub are all contributing donations and support and there is still time for more businesses to get involved.

Richard Southall, Assistant Director, L&Q South East Neighbourhood said: ‘At L&Q Housing we’re pleased to once again be able to support Blackheath Fireworks. It’s a great community event that brings the whole borough together and helps to make Lewisham a fun place to live.’  

The dazzling display, which this year will be designed and fired by Greenwich based Emergency Exit Arts, will start at 8pm. Visitors to the event can also enjoy a funfair from 12 noon and a wide variety of food stalls and bars will be open from 5pm.

Cllr Chris Best, Cabinet Member for Health, Wellbeing and Older People said: ‘Once again we are proud to host Blackheath Fireworks and visitors can look forward to another spectacular display. Despite budget constraints which are being felt by all councils, we remain one of a handful of boroughs offering free entry to our display. However, this would not be possible without our sponsors and we’re grateful for their support again this year. Donations from residents and visitors also make a significant contribution and we are asking people to continue donating online and on the night - if every attendee donated £1, this would secure the future of Blackheath Fireworks in 2016.’

If you are planning to attend the event please show your support and donate now online at www.lewisham.gov.uk/fireworks, in person at Age Exchange in Blackheath Village or in the collection buckets at Hamptons International branches in Blackheath, Greenwich or Dulwich.

The Lewisham Police Cadets, Lewisham Council staff and community volunteers will also be lending their support by collecting donations on the night.

Charity Ball to raise money for Lewisham Hospital

Ed and Natalie write:

On Christmas day last year we had a son, Arthur, who was born 11 weeks prematurely and sadly passed away 5 days later in the neonatal intensive care unit at Lewisham Hospital. The care he received from the team there during his short time was amazing. To this end, we have decided to raise money for the unit to buy a new ventilator.

Our aim is to raise £25,000 for this ventilator by holding a charity ball at Blackheath Concert Halls on 31 October 2015 for approximately 300 people.

The Brockley Deli at the Conservatoire

More evidence that this area is a foodie centre of excellence: Brockley is exporting its deli expertise to Blackheath with the opening of The Brockley Deli at the Conservatoire in Blackheath. Ahead of yesterday's launch, founder Zoltan explained:

"The Brockley Deli at the Conservatoire' is now open for business! We are really pleased to be working in conjunction with the Blackheath Conservatoire to provide excellent coffee, food and goods to the people of Blackheath and those studying at the Conservatoire.

"We are excited that we have the opportunity to serve a much greater range of food as we'll be operating out of our own kitchen there."

On Blackheath, September 12th / 13th

Tickets for the On Blackheath music festival went on sale today. A full price weekend ticket costs £79, but there is a £10 discount for local residents, including SE4 addresses. Elbow and Kelis are among the headliners. Click here for details.

If anyone went last year, please tell us what it was like.

Brockley eclipses Blackheath in Time Out awards

Duke: He's worried! You cut him! You hurt him! You see? You see? He's not a machine, he's a man!
- Rocky IV

For the last few weeks, Time Out has been asking people to vote for their favourite local venues in neighbourhoods across London. The results are now out and despite being randomly bundled together with the big dogs of Blackheath, Brockley has scooped four out of the five awards in its category - a measure of how far the area has come in a few years.

The Orchard wins best restaurant, Arlo & Moe best cafe, Jam Circus best bar and Brockley Market best local thing. We only missed out on best shop category, thanks to a strong performance by Bookshop on the Heath, which will only compound the frustration felt by Brockley Central bibliophiles, who are almost as desperate for a local bookshop as Brockley Central gym bunnies are for somewhere to bench press.

Congratulations too to the Deptford, New Cross and Lewisham winners.

Handy tick-list for top places in the South East to hangout at the weekend... (via @TimeOutLondon) pic.twitter.com/oPPVwXqjgG

— Nick Stocker (@NickStocker) November 18, 2014

Blackheath Fireworks 2014 - Back the Bangs

Bonfire Night is apparently November 1st this year. Lewisham Council writes:

Blackheath Fireworks, one of the biggest free displays in the capital, will light up the skies on Saturday 1 November from 8pm. A funfair will be open from 4pm and food and refreshments from 5pm.

And this year, there will be specially-themed music to accompany the display, making the evening even more spectacular.

Sponsors and partners have been very important to the continued success of the event and this year, L&Q and the Royal Borough of Greenwich have been key partners along with Glendale, Hamptons International, Jo Townshend architects, Party Play Bus, The Crown, The Clarendon Hotel, Sun Ya restaurant, Davy’s wine bars and EM Highways.

Those attending the event are also being encouraged to support the display. Donations can be made online at www.lewisham.gov.uk/fireworks, at Age Exchange, Blackheath or in one of the many collection buckets on the night.

Help to Buy vs Mansion Tax

In recent days, two maps have appeared which throw a bit more light on the state of the Lewisham housing market.

The first is in The Telegraph, which has mapped the boroughs according to the number of homes bought through the Help to Buy scheme. The areas in dark red are those which have made most use of the mortgage guarantee initiative.

As you can see, South East London is the biggest beneficiary, which is to be expected given that it's still a relatively affordable area and HtB is aimed at people trying to get on the ladder. So far, 41 homes have been bought with Help to Buy backing.

Secondly, this one from City AM, examines how many homes in each borough might qualify for Labour's proposed  Mansion Tax. Data from the Land Registry suggests only 12 houses in the borough would qualify, although that seems like a massive underestimate given current house prices. The Cator Estate alone must have more than that. Anyway, the key number is 23 - that's where Lewisham ranks in terms of London boroughs with £2m+ houses.

The OnBlackheath Beach, from June 20th

To coincide with the arrival of music festival, OnBlackheath, the Blackheath Conservatoire will be turned into a beach from June 20th. They say:

"The seaside is coming to Blackheath this summer as the grounds of the Grade II Listed Conservatoire will be transformed into an urban sandy beach with a pop up café, street food, beach huts, live music, Punch and Judy, family art and music workshops and lots more!

"Sponsored by partnership OnBlackheath Festival and John Lewis – the British, Victorian inspired installation opens 20th June, National Flip Flop Day, so come prepared and enjoy the 120 square metre stretch, designed for playing, lazing, listening and learning.

"It’s bound to be a weekend hotspot and popular with all ages during the holidays. A full schedule of daily children’s activities will be on offer as well as the OnBlackheath Beach playing host to regular live acoustic evening sessions. The Friday ‘Family Food Night’ and the ‘Chill out Sunday Brunch’ will be events the whole family can enjoy together and as the great British summer can be fairly unpredictable, don’t fret, they have also prepared for rain!"

On Blackheath, September 13th / 14th

On Blackheath, the festival they tried to ban, is taking place on September 13th / 14th and tickets are now on-sale.

Free parking this Christmas for Small Business Saturday

Lewisham Council writes:

Lewisham Council is to offer free car parking on three Saturdays in the run up to Christmas.

Shoppers will be able to park for free all day in all council-run car parks in Blackheath, Catford, Deptford, Forest Hill, Lewisham and Sydenham on Saturday 7, 14 and 21 December.

The start of the free parking offer falls on 7 December – the traditional start of the Christmas shopping rush – and also the UK’s first ‘Small Business Saturday’ which is a national campaign to encourage shoppers to ‘shop local’ and use local, independent shops.

Sir Steve Bullock, Mayor of Lewisham, said: “Town centres are at the heart of our local communities and independent businesses play a huge role in making our town centres the vibrant and prosperous areas they are to work in and to shop.

“We are pleased to take part in Small Business Saturday by waiving parking charges in Council car parks during this period and I hope everyone will take this opportunity to do their Christmas shopping locally and help support local businesses.”

The free car parking offer only applies to car parks that are managed by Lewisham Council and does not include on-street parking, Lewisham Shopping Centre (which is privately owned) or Blackheath Station car park which is now owned by Network Rail.

For a list of all participating car parks visit www.lewisham.gov.uk/freeparking.

Win the chance to start Blackheath Fireworks on Saturday 2 November

After Greenwich Council realised it could free-ride on the Blackheath firework display and save its cash to splurge on regal backslapping, Lewisham Council sought innovative ways to fund the event. The Council writes:

For the first time, Lewisham Council is inviting residents to enter a prize draw with a first prize of ‘pressing the plunger’ to start Blackheath fireworks, the biggest free fireworks display in the capital.

For only £5 per entry, the lucky winner, along with five friends, will also receive a guided tour of the firing zone and an optimum viewing position within the firing zone. Fifteen runners up will be given five passes to the VIP viewing area which offers a spectacular view of the display right next to the firing zone.

As well as the display which starts at 8pm, there will be a funfair on Blackheath from 4pm and food and refreshments available from 5pm. Blackheath welcomes almost 100,000 visitors to its display - the biggest, free fireworks event in the capital.

L&Q Housing is one of Blackheath Fireworks main supporters this year whilst other local businesses are also being offered the opportunity to support the fireworks with a range of different sponsorship opportunities and premium viewing packages.

For details of the prize draw and how to enter, go to www.lewisham.gov.uk/startthefireworks

Entries close at 12 noon on Friday 28 October 2013.

Zippos Circus

Those blurry blue lights are four motorbikes riding at high speed around a small  globe, 10 feet away from the audience

Zippos is like non-league football or amateur boxing: Surprisingly entertaining, easy to park and featuring performers whose need to double as half-time ice cream sellers belies their extraordinary talent - making their displays all the more humbling.

Its star attractions include a genial Ukrainian strongman, a Cuban acrobat troop and four motorcylists who squeeze in to a metal sphere, 20 feet in diameter, and race upside down. Even the clowns made us laugh.

Note: At one point, a succession of men refused to let the clowns drag them in to the ring to serve as comic stooges. We are pleased to report that this pattern was broken by a dad we recognised from Myatt Garden, who stepped up and showed great comic timing of his own - Brockley always delivers.

Zippos is performing on Blackheath until Tuesday, April 9th. Recommended.

Two new Lewisham pocket parks created

A press release from the Mayor of London's office says:

From fruit and veg patches to water features, work is beginning on the first of the Mayor’s 100 ‘pocket parks’ – transforming underused urban spaces into mini oases across the capital in a £2m scheme.

‘Pocket Parks’, which are around the size of a tennis court, are set to reinvent some of London’s forgotten nooks and crannies and make the capital an even better place to live and work.

In Lewisham, thanks to £67,000 from the Mayor, new planting, trails, seating and lighting, will create two ‘pocket parks’. Blackheath Elliot Pits will feature sensory equipment, a Trim Trail adventure, and a play space to educate children about the pits’ ecological importance. Sydenham Literary Piazza will be a space to sit, read and reflect and link Sydenham road with Home Park, encouraging cycling and improving safety.

All 100 ‘pocket parks’ are due to be delivered by March 2015. A further funding round for community based projects will open in May.

This is also part of the Mayor’s Team London programme which is seeking to build a volunteering legacy following the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games by encouraging Londoners to do something great for their city.

Olympic Night Shift on Blackheath

Lewisham Council wants you to know about another major event they're staging as part of the Lewisham Big Screen festival on Blackheath. They say:

Classical Music: Minus the Rules. A intimate late-night concert as part of the Lewisham Big Screen

The Night Shift is London's unique classical event putting great music into an informal late-night setting.

For this intimate event, in the beautiful surroundings of a wooden Spiegeltent on Blackheath, four musicians from the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment will be joined by a guest vocalist for an evening of baroque music rooted in London.

Musicians from the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment

Please note that this is a standing event, with very limited seating.
Show finishes at 10pm.

Full SAMPLER programme at www.sampler.org.uk

Cost: £9 advance, £12 on the door, £4 full time students

Booking information:
Contact:  William  Norris
Tel: 020 7239 9370
Email: nightshift@oae.co.uk
Website: http://www.oae.co.uk/event/the-night-shift-4/

I can have another you in a minute

Troy: Millions upon millions upon millions! The cards. The stock! The clothes! The toothpaste! The guy was on the level! And you blew it! A man walks into your life who is the kindest, most polite, honest, trustworthy, incredibly rich guy you have ever met in your life!! And what do you do?! 
Eve: Have him committed...
- Blast from the Past

Dominos is moving on and moving up the hill, after it was cruelly snubbed when it tried to colonise Honor Oak Park last year.

BC reader Tyrwhitt Michael sent us this list of 60 locations the pizza giants are scouting at the moment. Honor Oak doesn't feature, although Forest Hill (and Blackheath) do. Because the truth of the matter is, replacing them is so easy. HOP, everything you own in the pizza box to the left please.

War Games

Joshua: Wouldn't you prefer a nice game of chess? 
David Lightman: Later. Let's play Global Thermonuclear War. 
- War Games

Thanks to BCer Ben, who supplies us with this photo of a very Blackheath coup taking place this afternoon. The military hardware is for the missile battery that will be stationed on the heath for the duration of the Olympics to defend the Games against terrorists.

UK I.N.T.E.L.L.I.G.N.C.E has gathered that any attack would be 9/11 times 100 - or 91,100. Basically, all the worst parts of the bible.

17-day Blackheath Big Screen festival details announced

Lewisham Council writes:

Programme details for The Lewisham Big Screen have now been announced. The 17-day festival on Blackheath will start with the Olympic Opening Ceremony on Friday 27 July and finish with the Closing Ceremony on Sunday 12 August. Alongside live BBC coverage of the Games on a giant outdoor screen will be a daily programme of entertainment, music and activities for the whole family.

A magnificent, decorated Spiegeltent will be the centrepiece for live music and entertainment alongside the big screen. Highlights in the tent will include:

- Live music, song and dance from, amongst others, members of the BBC Singers, Lewisham Live musicians, Orchestra from the Age of Enlightenment and the Icarus Club.
- Speakeasy – a day of spoken word from performance poets, storytellers, rap artists and local creative talent
- Chances to find out about lots of different sports from judo to cricket, athletics to rugby. Discover your own inner athlete and find out how easy it is to get active!

August 4 is Super Saturday when lots of medals will be won and lost, and Blackheath will host a huge number of community groups and voluntary organisations as they set out their stalls. In the Spiegeltent, local people will perform throughout the day, showcasing the best of Lewisham talent.

Different days will mean different opportunities. It might be visual arts from Deptford X, street theatre that amazes and astounds, farmers’ markets and so much more.

Throughout the Games, Blackheath will have food and drink outlets, a big wheel, carousel, have-a-go sporting activities and daily entertainment; not forgetting the great shopping, eating and refreshment areas in Blackheath Village itself – so close to the heath and part of the last mile to Greenwich Park, the Olympic venue for the modern pentathlon and the equestrian events.

Sir Steve Bullock, Mayor of Lewisham, said: "Super Saturday will be a particularly special day as we see community groups and voluntary organisations making such good use of the whole of The Lewisham Big Screen on Blackheath.”

www.lewisham.gov.uk/bigscreen

Blackheath big screen for the London 2012 Olympics

In the first real sign that this borough is part of an Olympic host city, Lewisham Council has announced plans for a Henman's Heath during the Olympics, showing all the action on a giant screen on Blackheath. They say:

As well as the extensive sports coverage, the Live Site will offer a packed line-up of entertainment and have-a-go sporting activities for all ages plus a few surprises and guest appearances along the way. 

The screen will be right on the doorstep of all of the restaurants, bars and shops that Blackheath Village has to offer making it a great day out for families and friends. 

The increased numbers coming to Blackheath should provide a welcome boost in trade for businesses in the area. As well as being great fun, events taking place at the site will be designed to encourage communities to participate in improving their health and well being, become involved in their local community and celebrate local achievements. 

The Community Live Site will provide a showcase and fundraising opportunities for local voluntary and charitable organisations. In addition to the big screen, another great attraction at the Live Site will be a beautifully decorative and rare Spiegel Tent which will play host to a range of events for all ages including tea dances, cinema, storytelling and live music. This splendid venue is so glamorous it is worth a visit in itself, even if it is to take in the surroundings, have a bite to eat or enjoy a cocktail created especially for the event. 

Sir Steve Bullock, Mayor of Lewisham, said: 

'The London 2012 Games are a once-in-a-lifetime event and we want our residents to have a great place to meet and enjoy the spectacle. And lying within the last mile of the Games venue at Greenwich Park, we can welcome the world's visitors to stop, relax and join our celebrations in Blackheath.' 

The Lewisham Community Live Site will run from 27 July to 12 August 2012. Daily opening times will vary but the Council is conscious that this is also a residential area and will make every effort to ensure that the needs of everyone attending and living around the area will be considered.

More of this kind of thing please!

Tribute to Icarus Club founder at Blackheath Halls, Feb 4th 2012

Dozens of South Londo’s finest acts, including The Portraits, Bruise, Kristy Gallacher and Mishaped Pearls, are set to play a tribute concert in memory of local music promoter Andy Ropek, who died of cancer in December 2011.

Andy, 52, was the frontman for the Icarus Club, which has been running regular live music nights at venues around the area, including Blackheath Halls, since 2004.

A Concert for Andy is in the Great Hall, Blackheath Halls, 23, Lee Rd, London SE3 9RP ( 020 8493 0100 www.trinitylaban.ac.uk ) on Sat Feb 4th at 8pm . Doors open 7pm. Tickets £8.

Other acts on Feb 4th will include The Carl Picton Cartel, Still, Jespa, The Intrepid Spaniels, Ben Butler,Jack O’Brien, Teddy Bazz, Maria Day, Beaj Johnson, Jason James Melville and Dapper Dan.

The Icarus Club will continue running local events including a new regular monthly night at the Pelton Arms, 23-25 Pelton Rd, Greenwich, SE10 9PQ starting on Weds Feb 8th (www.icarusclub.blogspot.com )

Blackheath Christmas Shopping Evening, December 1st

Our friend is helping to organise this Christmas shopping event on behalf of the Cystic Fybrosis Trust.