Fire at the Grove House

On Saturday night at around 8.40pm a fire broke out in the kitchen of the Grove House pub, on Camberwell Grove. Fifty staff and punters were escorted out of the building when the alarm went off, so no-one was hurt. A total of ten fire engines and 70 fire crew attended the blaze, which was finally extinguished some six hours later.

The full extent of the damage hasn’t been reported, but there is damage to the first and second floors, and the extraction system which goes to the roof. Personally speaking, I hope the damage isn’t too bad as the Grove is one of my favourite buildings in the area.

The cause of the fire has also not been reported. Update: an article in the Morning Advertiser says “fire officials believe the fire was caused by a thermostat failing on a deep fat fryer, causing the oil to catch alight”.

The pub will remain closed “until further notice”—here’s hoping they’re back on their feet soon.

You can see a couple of clips of the fire in these videos from Twitter user Rodnie Oro.

A request for help to run the social media

I first posted on this blog 13 years ago and, despite some help from many people along the way, have been running it mostly singlehandedly. There have been an awful lot of changes to the way people use the web since 2013, not least the rise of Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, and the amount of work to keep it going has increased greatly.

Lately I’ve been finding it a struggle to balance the work required to maintain a useful resource across all the platforms, as well as having a full-time job and keeping some kind of personal life. While I’m not planning to give it up any time soon, I wouldn’t mind asking for a bit of help.

I’m looking for volunteers on all the social channels. The work involved isn’t onerous; keep an eye on local news, share/retweet interesting stories, perhaps post the occasional bit of original content. If you’re a Facebook/Twitter/Instagram user who can spare a few minutes every other day or so, I’d hugely appreciate it.

It’s strictly volunteer work, unfortunately; I’m long past the stage where I could usefully earn any money from this. There are occasional opportunities to get invited along to events, but I can’t promise anything.

If you’re suitable and interested, you can leave a comment here, email peter@​camberwellonline.​co.​uk, or message me on any social channel.

Hope to hear from you.

This weekend: Camberwell Arts Open Studios

It’s the second instalment of Camberwell Arts Open Studios this weekend!

Camberwell’s artists, makers and creators will once again open their doors to art lovers, collectors and gift seekers where everything you can image will be on show:  jewellery, paintings, textiles, fashion, photography, ceramics, homewear, accessories and more.

Visit seven fantastic studios bursting with creatives:  Coldharbour Studios, Clockwork Studios, Remakery, Whirled Cinema, Warrior Studios, Artichoke Printmaking and Empress Mews, plus Richard Watkins and Nicholas Vaughan exhibiting in their own spaces.

Most studios will be hosting private views tonight (Fri 9th Dec 18:00–21:00) and will be open all weekend (Sat 10th & Sun 11th Dec 11:00–18:00).

Pick up a brochure from shops and businesses throughout SE5 (while stocks last) or download a PDF.

Want to delve deeper? Visit each of the artists’ websites directly from our open studios page.

We will also be hosting guided walks around Camberwell on Saturday 10th and Sunday 11th December at 11am from the Junction Bar on Coldharbour Lane.

We hope to see you there!

‘Blackmail’ at St Giles’

THIS WEEKEND THERE IS A CINEMATIC TREAT IN STORE…

Alfred Hitchcock’s 1929 thriller, ‘Blackmail’, will be screened and brought to life with live 8‑piece jazz band On Saturday 19th November at St Giles’ Camberwell.

Set at the height of roaring 1920’s London, Blackmail tells the story of Alice White (Anna Ondra), the daughter of a Chelsea shopkeeper.

After dinner ends in a quarrel with her boyfriend, Scotland Yard detective Frank Webber (John Longden), Alice finds herself at the centre of her very own crime scene.

But with her boyfriend on the case, will Alice’s secret stay hidden and does anyone else know about the events of that fateful night..?

 

  • Film Rated PG — Families are welcome but some scenes may be unsuitable for younger children.
  • Roaring 20s period costumes are positively encourage!
  • Doors open at 7pm — film starts 7.30pm — (80 minutes plus a 20 minute interval.)
  • Tickets online £7 www.wegottickets.com/event/377105 
  • Tickets on the door £7
  • Seating is first come, first served basis so please arrive early to avoid disappointment.
  • Licensed bar available (cash only)
  • Afterwards…Join us for a ‘speakeasy cabaret’ in the crypt with a late bar (£5)

 

Camberwell Free Film Festival 2016

NB I’d intended to write something bespoke about this, but it’s late. So here’s a lightly modified press release instead.

The 4th Camberwell Free Film Festival (CFFF) will run between Thursday 31 March to Sunday 10 April totalling 16 events over 11 days.

Now firmly established since their debut in 2013, with the aim of placing Camberwell on the cultural map of London, CFFF is back to screen a selection of classic, contemporary and cult movies at cafes, pubs, civic spaces and landmark architectural venues around SE5. Entirely curated and organized on a voluntary basis by local residents with a passion for cinema and community, the festival forms a part of the highly successful and rapidly growing Free Film Festivals family.

Highlights for 2016 include, a German themed night at Dulwich Hamlet Football Club where amongst the beer, food and music the rarely seen techno spoof “Fraktus” which is set in Hamburg will be screened. There will also be a creepy double bill over two nights at JazzLive at The Crypt underneath St.Giles Church featuring the 1962 classic “Carnival Of Souls” paired with the smash contemporary debut “A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night” by Ana Lily Amirpour. We are also delighted to revisit architectural landmark William Booth College for a closing weekend of matinees at The Salvation Army including the BAFTA nominated “Suffragette”.

You can see the full lineup on the FFF website.

For more details and updates, please check CFFF Social Media: