The new venue opens in Walthamstow this month Alex Braybrooke Soho Theatre Walthamstow is set to open its doors this month bringing new life to the historic Granada building in north London This new venue will feature a 960-seat auditorium, studio spaces, and a variety of amenities including multiple bars and a restaurant. The opening season includes a mix of theatre, comedy, live podcasts, and more, as previously revealed the building has been beautifully restored to retain its Grade II listed charm while integrating modern features having hosted legends like the Beatles and Dusty Springfield it was rescued and transformed through a community-led campaign and a partnership between Waltham Forest Council and Soho Theatre Soho Theatre Walthamstow officially welcomes audiences from 2 May Check out our behind-the-scenes tour video to see the restoration of this iconic space, along with first-look photos Looking for your next date night idea in London? Save this! Come with us for a behind the scenes look at the newly refurbished Soho Theatre Walthamstow. #London #Theatre #Walthamstow Get the best deals and latest updates on theatre and shows by signing up for WhatsOnStage newsletter today The theatre officially opens its doors on Friday May 2 Culture | Theatre Friday marks the official opening of Soho Theatre Walthamstow with the premiere of Natalie Palamides: WEER The facility which was transformed by Waltham Forest Council in collaboration with Soho Theatre the first season is jam-packed with talent Rosie Jones and Phil Wang in the comedy Neon Nights Dara Ó Briain and Tim Minchin are also set to feature Here is all the shows you can expect in the upcoming weeks at Soho Theatre Walthamstow After a successful run at the Soho Theatre and Edinburgh Natalie Palamides' tour-de-force Weer transfer to the Soho Theatre Walthamstow for a strictly limited run asks you to consider every argument from two points of view Ahir Shah is set to perform his award-winning stand-up show The show synthesises the past and present in an effort to find hope for the future YouTube cult figure and most recently Baby Reindeer actor returns to the stage after 20 years of stand-up following seasons at the comedy festivals in Adelaide Mark took some time to reflect on the uncertain future of humanity He discusses this in a usually hectic and entertaining new show along with other equally important topics like the worst term he has ever spoken in public With an all-star ensemble of comedians and some very special guests is going on tour to transform audience anecdotes into entirely improvised comic sequences Following sold-out performances in Edinburgh Kool Story Bro is the improvisational comedy act that creates spontaneous sketches based on the most bizarre and outrageous stories from the crowd These "world-class improvisers" (Corr Blimey) are going to start from scratch each show and produce a completely original and completely absurd performance with the help of an unexpected celebrity host with almost four million social media followers he is now a correspondent on Comedy Central’s Emmy and Peabody Award-winning show The Daily Show Johnson made his late-night debut in 2017 as a writer and performer on NBC’s The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon debuted on Peacock to overwhelmingly positive reviews praising Josh as a “naturally gifted story teller.” LS Lowry painting originally bought for £10 sells for more than £800,000 Wave of retailer hacking incidents ‘a wake-up call’ 'World's most famous jazz club' to open in Covent Garden despite police complaints Meal2Deal: on a mission to make food poverty history The podcast will be recorded live and in person on stage by Joe Devine They will be discussing the Premier League and Champions League finals The full list of events and tickets can be found on the Soho Theatre Walthamstow website Prince Louis steals the show at VE Day parade as he keeps dad William looking sharp and mimics brother George Prince Louis steals show with sweet antics at VE parade VE Day 2025 fashion: best looks from the day VE Day 2025 fashion: Princess of Wales to Lady Victoria Starmer UK tourists face major travel shake-up as Dubai airport set to close Ukraine 'launches stunning Kursk offensive' in major blow for Putin ahead of Victory Day celebrations Ukraine 'launches stunning Kursk offensive' in blow for Putin David Beckham’s 50th birthday bash in London 'shut down' by council over noise complaints David Beckham’s 50th birthday bash 'shut down' over noise complaints but Soho Theatre Walthamstow has finally unveiled its restoration and opens this week as both spectacular cultural venue and local regeneration gem Soho Theatre Walthamstow is opening this week in a blaze of glory And that’s no exaggeration as anyone who casts their eye over the latest pictures of its interiors; a 1930s Grade II listed building revamped as the hottest new entertainment venue in town and theatre - the winning mix from the original Soho Theatre - will be present and correct the place will also be a genuine community hub No wonder Alessandro Babalola (Top Boy actor and co-chair of Soho Theatre Walthamstow) and Mark Godfrey (co-exec director) are buzzing with the excitement of all this as all of these people are coming into the building,” Babalola says “Because I wanted to see them taking in the beauty of the building You can just see how they are taken aback by the aesthetic gorgeousness it just improves the quality of your experience tenfold.” The building was originally built as a 2700-seat cinema but says when he moved to the area 15 years the building was at the centre of protests; having closed in 2002 it was going to be converted into a church until the campaign intervened He eventually was part of a group who collaborated with Soho Theatre to save the building before Waltham Forest Council came onboard and after a long process they bought it in partnership with the Theatre in 2019 and the restoration could begin This gleaming 1000-seat wonder is the result “It was a building that meant a lot to local people and there was this really kind of passionate campaign to save it,” says Godfrey “Our vision was that we can respect the heritage of the building as a local theatre with a national profile So this is building that feels really locally owned and has a good sense of its place We made it into a venue with 1000 good seats rather than rather than the old cinema and make it a venue for live performance All the seats are new and really comfortable I hope it'll be like a premium West End experience Babalola was born in the area and knows full-well what such a venue can mean to people not simply as a gathering point but as an inspirational symbol and particularly this borough has got two special things about it it's one of the most multicultural parts of the city residentially-speaking than any other parts of London as well When you think of that combination of multi-culture and creatives what they utterly need is a place where all of that can explode and the best way that explosion can take place is entertainment I'd always wanted a theatre in our borough We used to go to the Stratford Theatre for pantomime or the Hackney Empire But what I really wanted was a theatre in my borough Quite frankly I would have been happy with a hall but we were given ninth of wonder of the world for all of the people like me who've grown up doing creative things What's on at Walthamstow's new Soho Theatre Krapp’s Last Tape at the Barbican: 'Stephen Rea is oddly workmanlike' Theo Barklem-Biggs on Dealer's Choice One scheme they’ll be running here on this level is Primary Playwrights where schoolkids can put their work on stage and those all-important panto coming at Christmas “We haven't had a pantomime in the borough for over 50 years and it’s something that has been needed for a very long time.” But it’s not just the creative inspiration taking place it’s the economic benefit coming to the area as well “One of the real drivers is economic regeneration and job creation We've created 100 new jobs in the borough and 70% are local people and it was just fantastic to see so many local people getting a first job in the in the in the cultural sector “Another example is that we have a lot of bars here and that is brewed for us locally in the borough by a family firm of brewers The order that we've been able to give them for both Soho Theatre bar in Dean Street and here means that they've been able to invest in in new equipment in their brewery and also create an apprenticeship scheme and I think that's a really important part of it.” and as the programme begins with Natalie Palamides’ acclaimed romantic-dramedy you can bet all eyes will be turned to Walthamstow “It’s only 20 minutes from Oxford Circus!” reminds Babalola Read also: What's on at Walthamstow's new Soho Theatre? Take a look at the full event programme for Soho Theatre Walthamstow Look out for your first newsletter in your inbox soon We help you navigate a myriad of possibilities Sign up for our newsletter for the best of the city By entering your email address you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and consent to receive emails from Time Out about news Sign up for our email to enjoy London without spending a thing (as well as some options when you’re feeling flush) Our newsletter hand-delivers the best bits to your inbox Sign up to unlock our digital magazines and also receive the latest news By entering your email address you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and consent to receive emails from Time Out about news, events, offers and partner promotions. London Fifteen years after it was first mooted Soho Theatre’s Walthamstow outpost finally opened in the spring of 2025 The 970-seater venue takes over a former Granada Cinema built in 1930 and closed in 2003 restoring the Grade II-listed property to its former glory with a £30 million building project there will be a focus on comedy in the programming, with visitors also promised an annual panto theatre and community-focused education projects.  Thanks for subscribing! Look out for your first newsletter in your inbox soon! tiktokfacebooktwitteryoutubeAbout us Contact us The venue will be a game-changer for the London area Tanyel Gumushan Soho Theatre Walthamstow has revealed first look photos as it prepares to open its doors next month The new venue, located in the former Granada building in north London, will feature a 960-seat auditorium alongside studio spaces and a range of facilities, including multiple bars and a restaurant. The opening season includes a mix of theatre, comedy, live podcasts, and more, as revealed previously the Granada building has been meticulously restored to preserve its Grade II listed features while introducing modern amenities Its history as a performance venue includes appearances by iconic artists such as the Beatles and Dusty Springfield the building was acquired and refurbished by Waltham Forest Council in partnership with Soho Theatre following a community-led campaign to save the space Soho Theatre Walthamstow will welcome its first audiences on 2 May After a rather lengthy restoration project the curtain raises at East London's shiny new performance space The Walthamstow venue will be pretty similar to its Soho sibling The main difference is that it won’t be in Soho and it will also be substantially larger – but more on that later The new theatre will feature a 960-seater auditorium three studio spaces and four bars (glad to see they have their priorities in order) This mighty restoration project has been in the pipeline since 2010 and £30 million later; Soho Theatre Walthamstow is finally set to raise its curtain in May And its ‘vibrant and eclectic’ opening programme of work has just been announced The programme will be kicked off with Natalie Palamides’ WEER following the show’s smash-hit sell-out runs in Edinburgh and at Soho Theatre has also been commissioned to create a new show for the theatre and there’s set to be an annual panto Soho Theatre Walthamstow will host monthly comedy nights and is also aiming to run a variety of workshops to help nurture creative talent in the local area Co-Executive Directors of Soho Theatre Walthamstow “We’re thrilled to be announcing Soho Theatre Walthamstow’s opening and first shows this iconic building with a remarkable history is reinvented as a fantastic new venue for the future supporting culture-led growth and regeneration None of this would be possible without the passionate grassroots campaign to save it and the commitment of Waltham Forest Council to invest in it We thank the very many people who have contributed to it and can’t wait to announce more and to welcome you in from May Find out more about Soho Theatre Walthamstow’s full opening programme, and book your tickets here On a lovely day in East London 225 people decided to descend upon the Peter May Sports Centre to complete a Parkrun It was a difficult day to judge weather-wise with a slight chill in the air but generally great conditions for running As the run director politely ushered spectators from the starting line the anticipation was palpable; each person considering how their run may go and whether or not they could make their target time beat their time from the previous week or complete the course Seven people on this day decided to run at Walthamstow for the first time and we hope to see them return again soon this is where runners reach a certain number of runs and are recognised for their efforts with a laminated certificate 250 and 500 with a special 10 milestone for children which is a lovely memento to keep and display This week saw Mary O’Reardon achieve her 25-run milestone with George Lewis and Marita Keremezo both racking up 50 runs Sam Allum and Hannah Tuite complete their 100th Parkrun One of the best aspects of the Walthamstow Parkrun is seeing the happy high-vis heroes dotted around the course cheering everyone on whether that be with timer cow bell or doing a bit of litter-picking along the way they really keep you going when that going becomes tough The help of volunteers is always appreciated and is very fulfilling so even if you cannot run consider joining us anyway as a cheerleader or course organiser; Barbara completed her 50th volunteer event (pictured below) and achieved the highest female age grade percentage as well Janaine (picture below) completed her 150th volunteer event at an adult Parkrun and lent her experience to the run as a pacer on 33 minutes having run in the London Marathon just last week A full list of our wonderful volunteers can be seen below should you be able to muster one as you run as this is just good karma and will surely enable you to run faster the next time you see them as you navigate the course which shows that with a little practice and the right weather and encouragement It is so lovely to see so many people achieve exactly that and the data provided by Parkrun is really rewarding Missing your PB can be frustrating but achieving this is a genuine reward for your hard work and effort so well done to the following group of people who all achieved their best ever time running a 5K at Parkrun: We were also treated to the new signs that are dotted around the course to guide and encourage runners which was kindly donated to Walthamstow Parkrun showing the course leader’s commitment to safety if you are reading this thinking maybe you’d like to run then do it This time last year I had never run a 5K and never really run at all and now I have completed 37 Parkruns go for a run and enjoy the feeling of having achieved something by 10/10.30 for the rest of that day Look at the picture below and see what a beautiful thing it is to be part of such an experience… © parkrun Limited (Company Number: 07289574) No part of this site may be reproduced in whole or in part in any manner without the permission of the copyright owner The last decade has given us a handful of theatre openings that have now become sell-out mainstays of the West End: Soho Place The Bridge Theatre and now the biggest and pinkest of them all Partnered up with it’s home in Dean Street the brand new venue is a renovation of the previously left to rot 186 Hoe Street Soho Theatre have made a seismic move here it is one of the most beautiful theatre’s I have ever seen the West End hasn’t got a scratch on this design and the venue makes it’s artistic intentions clear a one-woman clowning show/meltdown by Natalie Palamides WEER tells the relationship epic of Mark and Christina two generic and attractive 20-somethings who happen to be two halves of the same body split down the middle of Natalie Palamides… perhaps they’re… soul mates we are taken through the entire history of them the first kiss (soundtracked of course by The Cranberries) It manages to hit every beat of the 90s/00s romcom A regular feature on the popular late-night cabaret act that once in a blue moon graces the Soho Theatre Natalie Palamides is a seasoned clowning expert She is top of her game and is doing it like nobody else WEER is a masterfully refined and downright hilarious 85 minutes She digs at pockets of energy that no normal human being possesses but not in a way that looks down the rims of its glasses and tells you Natalie Palamides is radical in her comedy because she goes right back to the roots she tears around the stage and the auditorium (spoilers: audience interaction) like a child who wants to make a penis joke and destroy their parents living room with a water pistol The skill of Natalie Palamides is her ability to dance on the edge of offence it’s a knowing blast back to the comedy of the early 00s other bodily fluids that don’t make the edit (but use your imagination) and a thousand jokes that at a glance would be grounds for cancellation it manages to hit on a few genuine and disturbing points caught up in a violent and destructive relationship - both cheating As Palamides flips manically between the two she creates some genuinely disturbing (but still hilarious) moments It’s as if Virginia Woolf wrote an American Pie movie She has an exceptional ability to make the complex look simple briefcase in hand and is splashed by cars going past they scream and land into each other's arms physical gags and props are timed to perfection and if you want to apply some deeper meaning to it I’m sure the metaphor for the relationship is just within your reach There’s something about Natalie Palamides that just warms your soul; she takes you on an 85-minute ride through her head even for those who like to add to their Hinge bio that they ‘like clowning’ the entire audience leapt to their feet in truly one of the most springy standing ovations I’ve ever seen Palamides reminds us what this place is for: to give artists who are used to only playing the small rooms the chance to feel this one The most exciting new opening in a LONG time it is our responsibility to keep this beautiful theatre packed and supported and if they programmed WEER for a 10-year run I have no doubt it would be rammed for 10 long years WEER is playing at the Soho Theatre Walthamstow until May 10th Tickets from: https://sohotheatre.com/events/natalie-palamides-weer-3/  We've always been impressed by the Nourished Communities shops having been into the ones in Islington and Finsbury Park many times Walthamstow residents can see what we mean as another store is just about to open there drink and produce from over 200 independent producers with the range including organic veg and veg boxes freshly baked bread and empanadas (those are fantastic) they have a treasure hunt for five huge tins of Honest Toil Olive Oil and then the following Saturday (10th) they're giving away 100 mini doughnuts and glasses of St John Cremant for the first 100 people through the door after 9.30am.  we'd strongly recommend heading down to check it out Find out more: Visit their website or follow them on Instagram @nourishedcommunities Subscribe to be the first to get the news from Hot Dinners Please enable the javascript to submit this form By signing up you agree to our privacy policy View on Google maps About us  |  Contact Us  |  RSS Feed  |  Site directory  |  Privacy policy  |  Log in/out Join 50,000 other Londoners getting exclusive news and restaurant offers from Hot Dinners. Please enable the javascript to submit this form By signing up you agree to our privacy policy See our previous newsletters here There’s an air of familiarity in this show which felt like a late-night Edinburgh Fringe show (indeed it had the 9:30pm slot at the Traverse Theatre at Fringe 2024) – a lot of chaos a stage in an ever-increasing state of disarray and some audience involvement (spoiler alert – you’re safe if you’re sat in the circle not so much if you have a front row or an aisle seat in the front stalls) the repetitive nature of some of what goes on might have become irritating Natalie Palamides begins by playing both people in a relationship Mark and Christina (or should that be Christina and Mark?) and for nearly an hour and a half the right-hand-side Mark and left-hand-side Christina continue what transpires to be quite a rambunctious relationship It has to be seen to be believed – the different voices mannerisms and hand gestures are maintained from beginning to end having come partway up one of the stalls aisles she ‘realises’ (inverted commas mine) she is performing half-and-half in the round every other word spoken by Mark and Christina in turn though its generous use with its inevitable consequences doesn’t stop a happy ending thanks to a mixture of absurdism and a belief (or a suspension of disbelief) in the afterlife there aren’t any moral messages to take away or a social commentary on contemporary society bold escapism from everything going on in the world The show’s title is derived from Mark’s inability to say the word ‘deer’ properly and a regular habit that both Christina and Mark have to say ‘we’re’ to each other without finishing the sentence Light entertainment in every sense of the term Natalie Palamides takes audiences on a chaotic hilarious and unexpectedly tender journey through the world of ‘90s rom-coms Playing both halves of a relationship in turmoil she deconstructs the grand romantic gestures and emotional manipulation that define the genre – all while delivering her signature mix of absurdist humour and even vaudeville’s lost “half-and-half” acts WEER is a genre-bending exploration of love Soho Theatre Walthamstow Previous Krapp’s Last Tape – Barbican Theatre | Review Boudica – The Questors Theatre | Review officially opens its doors this Friday (May 2nd) with the debut of Natalie Palamides: WEER Stunning new images reveal the striking restoration of the 1930s Granada cinema which is now a 960-seat venue packed with energy and ambition Transformed by Waltham Forest Council in partnership with Soho Theatre the space combines heritage charm with modern edge Expect the buzz of Soho Theatre’s iconic bar complete with locally brewed Neon lager and Mumbai street food from Curry On Naanstop The opening season is stacked: Neon Nights comedy showcases stars like Sara Pascoe 15,000 £15 tickets are being offered to Waltham Forest residents The venue also launches a vibrant creative programme including drag and comedy workshops slapstick joy is the perfect show to open London’s newest theatrical venue Culture | Comedy The new Soho Theatre offshoot in Walthamstow certainly opened in style. A launch party on Thursday, night graced by Ian McKellen among other luminaries was followed on Friday by the opening of the first show there: Weer calling the Grade II listed building an offshoot does not do it justice With an auditorium that seats almost a thousand — The Beatles and Rolling Stones once played here — it's much bigger than the Dean Street space with high ceilings and 1930s Spanish baroque and Moorish stylings to call Natalie Palamides a comedian does not do her justice either The Los Angeles-based performer is a fearless terrifically talented physical storyteller and clown — though at times closer to challenging performance artist than red-nosed entertainer It is apt that she was chosen for the inaugural E17 event as some of her early UK outings were on the original W1 stage which was nominated for an Edinburgh Comedy Award last summer We join them on New Year's Eve 1999 before flashing back to 1996 to see how they got there Soho Theatre Walthamstow opens: 'You will be taken aback by the aesthetic gorgeousness!' Soho Theatre Walthamstow to open in May with cut-price tickets for locals Palamides plays Mark and Christina simultaneously by splitting her outfit down the middle pastel pink top and short skirt on the other Fez-wearing TV star Tommy Cooper did a similar act but not for almost ninety hilarious minutes Whether Mark and Christina are squabbling over car keys snogging in the onstage shower or getting repeatedly splashed by imaginary traffic it is easy to forget that there is only one person onstage You can read it as a comment on gender — Palamides' previous show Nate deftly explored consent Or you could simply sit back and enjoy it as a romcom send-up complete with brilliantly sly nods to Richard Curtis in general and Notting Hill in particular There is audience participation but of the distinctly benign kind You won't get hauled onstage unless you really want to There is no chance of anyone else stealing the show Romeo and Juliet by way of a forgotten Pearl Jam cover version various 1990s pop classics and some rubbery prosthetic genitalia It is ambitious to book a comedian not known for their TV or online work to play the first week But if anybody can pull it off Palamides can A spectacular show to open a spectacular location Weer by Natalie Palamides, Soho Theatre Walthamstow, until May 10, sohotheatre.com It’s my first visit to London’s newest theatre and the press officer says she wants to hang about for a bit: ‘just until I see the look on your face when you see the auditorium for the first time’.  I immediately start worrying that I’ll offend everyone by not looking impressed enough, but it’s all good: my jaw duly thuds to the floor when I step into the main house of Soho Theatre Walthamstow.  The ‘original’ Soho Theatre on Dean Street in central London is a truly wonderful comedy but the building is not what you’d call architecturally noteworthy Soho Theatre Walthamstow is a different matter entirely.  but the short version is that it opened in 1930 as The Granada Now it’s been born again as a 1,000-seat comedy and theatre venue unobtrusive paint job that brings it somewhat in line with the Dean Street venue the inside is like stepping back in time – a ravishing art deco masterpiece so instantly iconic that I feel a twinge of frustration that it’s just been sitting here unused for decades.  The original Granada cinema was a special place: built by prolific London theatre architect Cecil Masey and with interiors by the great stage designer Theodore Komisarjevsky it was beloved by noted Leytonstone resident Alfred Hitchcock But screens that size were not built to last beyond the golden age of cinema By the ’60s it had diversified to accommodate gigs – the likes of The Beatles Buddy Holly and Jerry Lee Lewis played there While films were still shown right through the ’80s and ’90s The Granada closed as a cinema in 2003 and was purchased by international evangelical organisation the Universal Church of the Kingdom of God which intended to convert it into a church Many local residents were up in arms about the loss of the Granada as a cultural space the UCKG had deep pockets and was in no hurry: the building was allowed to fall into ruin while the church waited for permission to be granted who else was going to take on the massive Grade II* listed building But the grassroots campaign to keep the building working as an entertainment venue found its knight in shining armour some 15 years ago in the form of then-recent transplant to the borough Mark Godfrey He proposed turning the building into the big sister of the Dean Street venue (whose main room has a capacity of just 150) The process of securing permission was a gruelling one and involved persuading local authorities that it was a viable business idea ‘I was literally subjected to a hostile cross examination,’ Godfrey says ‘I’d provided the names of 100 comedians who could play a 1,000-seat theatre and there was a barrister picking people off the list and saying: really?’ though the journey to opening has been long ‘When we first moved in there were pigeons living in the auditorium and a massive pool of water at the front,’ says Godfrey Godfrey tells me that the technical term for the finished state of the building is ‘arrested decay’ rather than full restoration – because it’s not been reset to 1930 but incorporates some of the updates made over the years The auditorium has been partitioned off and the back of it turned into a bar – the huge original capacity was clearly not viable There have been some discrete but fairly major additions it’s pretty close to stepping back in time 95 years The process has been meticulous: because the only available photos of the Granada’s heyday were black and white paint experts were called in to analyse the pillars to identify what their colour schemes should be: now it’s bedaubed in the same rich browns greens and reds that punters would have seen almost a century ago.  Finally, here we are. There was a test event for locals with the London Community Gospel Choir last Thursday and a couple of trial comedy gigs over the weekend, and the theatre opens this week with a run of LA physical comedy queen Natalie Palamides’s brilliant one-woman romcom Weer can a Zone 3 suburb really support a 1,000-seat comedy theatre with a capacity three times bigger than Dean Street Soho Walthamstow’s co-chair is local lad Alessandro Babalola who remembers seeing films at the Granada as a child in the ’90s He points out that east London has historically been beloved by artists and creatives as a place to live but has been poorly served by actual cultural venues.  ‘There’s always been a lot of creative people and creative energy in the borough,’ he says ‘But there hasn’t really been fantastic cultural infrastructure until now Godfrey meanwhile is keen to point out that it’s hardly in the middle of nowhere: ‘Walthamstow is 20 minutes from Oxford Circus and the theatre is a three or four-minute walk from Walthamstow station We want to get a London-wide audience as well as a local audience.’ the idea is that it’ll be a fun place you’ll want to stick around: it has a 2am licence and a first-floor restaurant is due to open at some nebulous point (they haven’t actually decided what type of food it’ll involve yet although Godfrey muses he might expand on the Indian street food offering at Dean Street) It only took one peek inside to make me a believer – simply because having seen it I want this space to succeed at all costs A few Soho-y flourishes have been added to the interior – notably the neon sign and giant disco ball in the huge marble foyer-slash-bar – but Soho Theatre Walthamstow is its own place a London architectural jewel bigger than the Soho Theatre brand (it almost reopened under its original name of the Granada but it was decided that felt a bit anonymous) Perhaps one way of viewing it is as a magnificent endangered creature that Soho has now pledged itself to protect.  If it’s not a brilliant time for arts funding, we are living in an era where London has been blessed with a lot of new theatres: in the last few years @sohoplace, Sadler’s Wells East and the Lightroom have all opened up A cynic might point out that these are all long gestating projects initiated in happier times But all the better they come to fruition now Soho Theatre Walthamstow feels like it has the potential to be the best of the group – a ‘new’ venue that’s also an important part of London’s history ‘People need arts,’ says Babalola ‘They need to sit together in the theatre and enjoy and connect with people over a joke or a storyline or a great melody or whatever it is All of these new venues – we really need them they’re helping to bring that invigoration to the human spirit.’ Soho Theatre Walthamstow opens Friday May 2 The best new London theatre openings in 2025. 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See & Do The Ultimate Guide to Walthamstow, London See & Do The Best European Cities to Visit in October Walthamstow has emerged as one of the trendiest parts of London in recent years fashionable breweries and house prices that will make your jaws drop Culture Trip explores E17 with one of the locals who has lived in this part of town for more than 40 years Having lived in Walthamstow for more decades than I care to remember it’s safe to say I’ve seen pretty much everything change here The old cinema where I watched my first ever film fell into years of disrepair but has now bounced back and been transformed into a world-class theatre High-rise apartments seem to sprout up every month and national publications keep telling everyone that this is the best neighbourhood in the city Is this the reality of living in Walthamstow And what’s it like to visit if you fancy a change of pace in London Located at the northern end of the Victoria Line on the Underground Walthamstow is about 20 minutes by tube from Oxford Circus The main station is Walthamstow Central and this is also a hub where local buses and overground trains run You can get to Liverpool Street in the City in 20 minutes from here Other stations continue to parts of Walthamstow like Blackhorse Road Ultimately this is a well connected part of London that was once considered a distant suburb but as the capital continues to sprawl outwards Walthamstow is in the borough of Waltham Forest and neighbours Leyton Widespread public transport and ease of commuting to all parts of London are one of the main reasons a growing number of people want to move here Soho Theatre Walthamstow Given that Waltham Forest was the birthplace of Alfred Hitchcock the arts have always played a big part in the culture here I first visited the old Granada cinema in the early 1980s and the Art Deco interiors were still in place The cinema itself had seen better days but it was still a great meeting point in the community at a time when Walthamstow itself was still a lesser-known part of London There was an old shopping arcade which has now been turned into a block of flats and not much else to celebrate Through a series of owners and deals the venue was shuttered in the early 2000s and was essentially gone as a public space for more than 20 years The foyer of the Soho Theatre Walthamstow The venue has been restored to its former glory and will operate as Soho Theatre Walthamstow The 960-seat main theatre space has many of the original features and designs from the 1930s including the impressive chandeliers above studios and restaurants have been added and it all looks like a welcoming attraction for locals and the growing number of visitors to E17 The Rolling Stones and Duke Ellington once performed here and live events will take centre stage again It’s a sign of how well Walthamstow is doing that this venue has been brought back to life but what are the other reasons that this small part of London is regularly voted as the best in the country ‘The Village’ is a fascinating attraction that outsiders seem to know really well It is lauded as a throwback to a quaint era when local shops served the community but I still just think of it as a quiet street with a decent chip shop on it There are some cool cafes and restaurants here now with a move to pedestrianise it causing much debate The surrounding houses have shot up in value but then again so has everywhere in this postcode Families love it due to the number of great schools and as many of the houses are Victorian you often get a back garden and cellar for your money Sign up to our newsletter to save up to $800 on our unique trips See privacy policy Banksy created a famous work on the side of a fish bar in Walthamstow recently God’s Own Junkyard | © George Hughes/Culture Trip It’s been incredible seeing the transformation of Walthamstow firsthand but the best thing is that Just don’t ever use the phrase “awesomestow” Cassam Looch has been working within travel for more than a decade An expert on film locations and set jetting destinations Cassam is also a keen advocate of the many unique things to do in his home city of London With more than 50 countries visited (so far) Cassam also has a great take on the rest of the world See & Do The Ultimate Guide to Walthamstow See & Do The Best European Cities to Visit in October Bars & Cafes The Best Outdoor Venues in London This Summer Guides & Tips The Best European Cities to Visit in December Bars & Cafes The 25 Best Bars In London For Stylish Nights Out Guides & Tips This Is Europe's Ultimate Road Trip See & Do The Best European Cities to Visit in Autumn See & Do The Best European Cities to Visit in July Guides & Tips The 8 Most Beautiful Places to Enjoy Spring in London See & Do The Best European Cities to Visit in Summer Guides & Tips The Best European Cities to Visit in November See & Do The Best European Cities to Visit in September US: +1 (678) 967 4965 | UK: +44 (0)1630 35000 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Get a first-look at the beautiful Soho Theatre Walthamstow Soho Theatre’s major new 960-seat venue opening this week in London The new 960-seat theatre will house UK and international comedy Soho Theatre Walthamstow has been beautifully restored from the 1930s former Granada cinema by Waltham Forest Council in partnership with Soho Theatre The new venue includes a refurbished Grade II* listed auditorium London’s newest venue opens this week, with Natalie Palamides: WEER Other highlights of the inaugural programme include new monthly comedy line-up show Neon Nights featuring Thanyia Moore There will be new work from Bryony Kimmings pantomime for all ages (Soho-style) with Aladdin & The Magic Lamp written and directed by Susie McKenna plus shows including Tim Minchin; Dara Ó Briain The new venue is a restored building from the 1890s which was developed in the Thirties as the Granada cinema with exteriors designed by Cecil Masey and ornate interior decoration by Theodore Komisarjevsky inspired by the Alhambra Palace in Granada The venue will feature a refurbished Grade II* listed auditorium Book tickets to Natalie Palamides: WEER at Soho Theatre Walthamstow in London said: “I’m delighted that Soho Theatre Walthamstow has breathed new life into this historic London venue With a world-class comedy line up alongside a creative programme for the local community the theatre is set to become a huge asset – not just for Walthamstow but London as a whole It’s a fantastic legacy from Waltham Forest’s year as my very first London Borough of Culture and an excellent example of the power of culture to transform areas and inspire communities.” Co-Executive Directors of Soho Theatre Walthamstow Mark Godfrey and Sam Hansford said: “With artists and audiences at its heart and a dynamic social enterprise ethos Soho Theatre Walthamstow will create countless joyful this investment in cultural infrastructure also delivers clear economic value – speaking directly to the wider priorities of culture-led growth and We’re incredibly grateful to the campaigners and to everyone who helped make this vision a reality Design architect Fred Pilbrow (the Founding Partner of Pilbrow & Partners) said: “This beautiful determination and commitment of the amazing local community We were privileged to work on this project from the very beginning to support the team in championing how this unique building could be successfully converted to a live performance venue of national importance backed this vision and as a result the completed Soho Theatre Walthamstow will enrich the culture economy and heritage of the town centre for many years to come.” Soho Theatre Walthamstow is a vibrant new theatre steeped in a rich history in 1930 the site was redeveloped and opened with exteriors designed by Cecil Masey and extraordinary ornate interior decoration by Theodore Komisarjevsky From the mid-1950s artists including The Beatles Duke Ellington and the Rolling Stones performed there and a pantomime was presented each Christmas The last live performance took place in 1973 and the Granada became a cinema changing owners until it became known as the EMD Cinema sadly closing its doors in 2003 In 2003 the building was sold to the Universal Church of the Kingdom of God and for more than a decade it lay empty as they sought planning permission to turn it into a church whilst it fell into disrepair Concerned about the loss of this much-loved cultural space local grassroots groups including McGuffin Film Society and Save Walthamstow Cinema led a passionate campaign against losing its use as an entertainment venue and to preserve its heritage In 2010 the Waltham Forest Cinema Trust joined the campaign a newly established local group to bring a clear new vision for the venue’s viable future Joining forces with Waltham Forest Council they successfully demonstrated to a Public Inquiry that the venue could be reinvented as a new theatre for live performance This led to the church’s planning application being decisively rejected for the final time UCKG sold the building on to pub chain Antic in 2014 opening up the magnificent historic foyer to the public for the first time in over 10 years Having continued to develop the vision and detailed plans Soho Theatre reached an agreement with Waltham Forest Council to operate the venue in partnership with Soho Theatre purchased and invested into the restoration of the former Granada Grade II* listed building as part of the council’s London Borough of Culture 2019 legacy commitment They have worked with developers Willmott Dixon Interiors,Bond Bryan Architects Ltd to renovate refurbish and breathe new life into the historic building The Soho Theatre team inputted into operation architecture (with support from Matthew Baker JaneJaney Design) and how to make the venture successful Together creating a major new cultural hub for London at the heart of the local community of Waltham Forest Comments and reviews are subject to our participation guidelines policy, which can be viewed here Our policy is for readers to use their REAL NAMES when commenting Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" Search Filter by Exact matches only Search in title Search in excerpt Search in contentFilter by Categories London Shows - Now Booking London Shows - Coming Soon Sign-up for Offers Shows | Offers | Musicals | News Please note: All tickets are subject to availability. Ticketing powered by members of the Society of Ticket Agents and Retailers [Read more] Terms & Conditions | Privacy Policy | Cookies Policy Police have launched an investigation into ‘threats’ made against St Mary’s School in Walthamstow News | London A teenage boy has been arrested after a “threat of violence” was reportedly made against a school in east London had been detained on suspicion of malicious communications on Monday St Mary’s School in Walthamstow closed its doors on Monday morning to ensure teachers and staff remained safe after receiving a threat via email In an email sent to parents shortly after 7.30am St Mary’s explained it had received the threat saying it referred to “committing acts of violence to those on our premises” along with several other schools The school said: “We are working closely with the police and following their advice and guidance to ensure the safety of our children and staff.” It added: “We have currently closed the nursery this morning and we will provide further updates as we receive them.” The primary school added that the safety of its children and staff was its “top priority” the Met Police said it was also investigating threats against a school on Brooke Road but added they were not being treated as credible “at this stage” is understood to be closed for the Easter holidays was due to welcome children on Monday morning St Mary’s Nursery has space for over 100 children In an update on X, Walthamstow MP Stella Creasy wrote: “Walthamstow I know that parents are sharing the understandably concerning email about St Mary's school they have received this morning I am in touch with the police and want to give this update at present to help clarify what is happening and what is not “I can confirm that the school has received a threat that is being taken seriously This threat has also been received by other schools outside London This is the only school in Walthamstow to received this and the police are on the site to actively investigate Starmer ‘appalled’ by attack on prison officers and pledges urgent investigation Man arrested on suspicion of murdering convicted killer John Mansfield in prison ‘Stop Brexit Man’ cleared of flouting ban on playing music near Parliament Enter the AXA Startup Angel competition to win £25,000 the MP explained that the threat has been made primarily to schools in the South Yorkshire area She added that no other schools outside of South Yorkshire had been affected except St Mary’s school Ms Creasy added: “There is nothing to suggest in either the threat made or the schools involved any faith connection to this incident “The school have made arrangements to support the children attending the nursery offsite please do contact them for further details The police are working with the school and with their colleagues in South Yorkshire to apprehend the perpetrator “Again I know this is a shocking incident that anyone would threaten a primary school so I am monitoring the situation closely.” A Met Police spokesperson said: “At around 06:30hrs on Monday police received reports of email threats being made towards a school on Brooke Road “The nursery has chosen to relocate as a precautionary measure although no pupils were attending the school today due to the Easter holidays however at this stage the threats are not being treated as credible “We are working alongside South Yorkshire Police as at this stage this is believed to be linked to threats made to schools in the Sheffield area.” A spokesperson for South Yorkshire police said: “At 6.38am today (Monday 14 April) we received a report that a male sent an email to nine schools across Sheffield in which he threatened he would cause harm and was in possession of a firearm “We understand that this will be concerning for parents pupils and staff in our community and reassure you that immediately following the reports officers worked at pace and have found no evidence to suggest the threat is genuine “Our investigation remains on-going and neighbourhood policing patrols are taking place today at the locations mentioned in the email as a further precaution please speak to them if you have concerns.” VE Day veteran recalls bumping into his father during Normandy invasion Major London comedy venue opening this week Here are the first images from inside the new Soho Theatre Walthamstow, which opens on Friday with a run of Natalie Palamides’ show Weer The 960-seat venue has been restored from the former 1930s  Granada cinema and includes a Grade II* listed auditorium London mayor Sadiq Khan said: ‘I’m delighted that Soho Theatre Walthamstow has breathed new life into this historic London venue.  ‘With a world-class comedy line up alongside a creative programme for the local community the theatre is set to become a huge asset - not just for Walthamstow but London as a whole.’ Design architect Fred Pilbrow added: ‘This beautiful 'We were privileged to work on this project from the very beginning to support the team in championing how this unique building could be successfully converted to a live performance venue of national importance.’ The site has hosted a performance venue since 1897 and in 1930 the site was redeveloped as the Granada – inspired by the Alhambra Palace in  Spain – and  hosted comedy and a pantomime was presented each Christmas.   changing owners until it became known as the EMD Cinema closing its doors in 2003.  In 2003 the building was sold to the Universal Church of the Kingdom of God and for more than a decade it lay empty as they sought planning permission to turn it into a church while it fell into disrepair.   It was saved by grassroots groups including McGuffin Film Society and Save Walthamstow Cinema – and eventually Soho Theatre and Waltham Forest Council agreed on the restoration plan which led to the church’s planning application being decisively rejected for the final time.  All photos on this page were taken by David Leven Gig of the day Julian Clary: A Fistful Of ClaryLincoln New Theatre Royal from 19:30 Coming Soon Stewart Lee vs The Man-WulfLiverpool Philharmonic HallWednesday 7th May from 19:30 Gig of the day Natalie Palamides: WeerSoho Theatre Walthamstow from 20:00 Chortle had 173,000 unique visitors in April 2025 We are currently listing 20,981 upcoming comedy events Website and all original content copyright © Chortle 2000 - 2025 Chortle relies on advertisers to fund this website so it’s free for you so we would ask that you disable it for this site Going Out | Pubs, Bars and Nightlife Sign up for our expert view on everything that’s worth eating I would like to be emailed about offers, event and updates from Evening Standard. Read our privacy notice Big Penny Social, Walthamstow’s enormous beer hall The purpose-built new venue, which will stretch to 5,000sq ft and sits above the existing Big Penny beer hall, has cost more than £1.2m to put together. It will offer “old school competitive socialising”, press material says, focussing largely on updated versions of classic games Up to 250 guests at a time will be able to play darts three karaoke rooms (offering a choice of more than 11,000 tracks) which are said to be the first of their kind in the UK The room has been designed to look like a retro games room in a social club Big Penny’s managing director, Frans Kobus, said of the openig: “Flukes is a new twist on an old games hall you’d find in social clubs, where technology on darts and shuffleboards gives everyone a chance to win and fun is at the heart of everything “We’ve put a lot of work into making sure Flukes is designed and has an ambience that is unlike any other competitive socialising venue Having this experience on top of everything else on offer in the rest of Big Penny Social will create such a special place which is great for a night out with your partner Besides the games will be a new bar space serving beers Cocktails will include a Rum Punch called Carlito’s Thunder and a twist on a Manhattan named after for Chumbawamba guitarist Boff Whalley The Whalley is a drink inherited from the Jellied Eel a now-closed but once-famous bar that occupied a former Manze pie and mash shop there will be pizza and sharing platters that will offer modern riffs on old-fashioned favourites including homemade pork scratchings with piccalilli mayo spiced lamb scotch eggs with a harissa dip and bitesize Yorkshire puddings filled with cauliflower cheese Flukes will open on May 8. Booking will open on March 27 at flukes.co.uk; guests who book before May 8 will each receive a free cocktail In the 548th Parkrun at Walthamstow 172 people decided to enjoy the east London spring morning by running jogging and walking as fast as their legs would carry them for fun and fitness Assisting the even male/female split of runners dressed in pink; helping to organise the course and provide that much needed encouragement along the way As you attempt to make your way round the course seeing the happy faces of the marshals is a particularly welcomed sight particularly the marshal positioned at the top of the hill This week we had 50 people who decided to run at Walthamstow for the first time taking on that imposing hill with 20 runners achieving personal bests; something they can feel particularly proud of the most common finish time was in the 30th minute with the majority of runners finishing in this time slot It was perhaps a little chillier then anticipated for many runners and so as the group waited in anticipation for the start they kept themselves warm with a vigorous rub of the arm and a trot on the spot before setting off Celebrating his 150th Parkwalker milestone Steve Roffey generously provided the sweet treats that often appear on the Walthamstow Parkrun table with two trays of Cream Eggs for those who made it to the end to enjoy we always enjoy celebrating our tourist participants and our Parkrun Director Katie Martin welcomed runners from Colchester Norwich and said a ‘G’day’ to friends from Sydney Australia With a bright sky to enjoy and a firm ground with a little give to relieve the ankles and joints a slight wind that threatened at times to push runners back down the hill or at least make their ascent that little more challenging and therefore beneficial from a personal health and fitness perspective which is what we were all there for ultimately Well done to the following participants to achieved an incredible personal feat: There are further congratulations for first finishers Luke Walton (18:16) and Penny Grimes (22:18) with Glyn Mullen finishing as the highest-placed oldest runner at 22:16 The greatest number of runs from the male participants this week was Viraf Captain (607) and Shirley Pullen (584) for the female runners we celebrated milestones for James Sambridge (10) Jasmine Joiner and Stephanie Salt with a 50 run milestone for Calo Smithson-Zipfel and Pippa Dowswell So now is the time to join the regular 100 + people who compete for free and are given personal data to see their progress and try to do better each week Parkrun is not a competition against one another it is a personal journey of body and mind; fitness through physical activity and a great mental workout as you battle the doubts in your mind which is a wonderful use of your time on a Saturday morning The weather right now is great for running and there are many individual challenges you can take on such as the palindrome challenge positional bingo or even the groundhog challenge which is where you achieve the same time two weeks in a row which I did these past two weeks with a time of 24.29 Or if you would like to be out in the sunshine and volunteer we are always in need for hi-vis heroes in a variety of roles to help make this wonderful weekly community event work we will be part of the attempt at the largest national Parkwalk event where participants are encouraged to walk if they would like to (or run of course) so if you have a friend family member or someone at a loose end at that time on a Saturday morning encourage them to attend next week as it promises to be a really special event consider the culture of fitness and fun you could start for your family and the young people you may know…but mostly Feix&Merlin and Extended Studio have won approval for plans to revive railway arches and public realm in Walthamstow Waltham Forest councillors unanimously approved the two practices’ scheme last month (6 March) to restore arches below St James Street Overground station Wider improvements to the public realm include a ‘green link’ between the station and nearby Walthamstow High Street to the north of the site The area around Courtenay Place will meanwhile become more pedestrian friendly Planning officers had recommended approval of the scheme which lead masterplanner Feix&Merlin says could lead to opening up the arches internally Feix&Merlin described the St James Street station site as a ‘slightly forgotten backland space’ which the regeneration scheme would transform ‘into new exciting and activated place forging connections back into the lively high street and St James Street station’ practice co-founders and directors Julia Feix and Tarek Merlin said: ‘We’re delighted to take this next step in reimagining the St James Street Quarter Securing planning approval is a significant milestone and we’re excited to move the project into the next stage of development ‘This is a fantastic opportunity to deliver meaningful transformational change for Waltham Forest creating a vibrant and accessible public realm for the community.’ The proposals have been supported by government Levelling Up funding to regenerate cultural spaces in Walthamstow on the back of its year-long stint as London Borough of Culture 2019 Community-focused practice Extended Studio is working on the arch refurbishment while Feix&Merlin is delivering the wider vision. Both practices were chosen through the Mayor of London’s A+U framework. Feix&Merlin was appointed to the Mayor of London’s A+U framework This was the south-east London practice’s first appointment to a framework Waltham Forest Council’s deputy leader and cabinet member for housing regeneration previously said of the development: ‘We are creating a thriving and welcoming cultural destination in the St James Quarter and we are pleased that architects Feix&Merlin and Extended Studio can come with us on this journey ‘Through the Levelling Up programme [it] will provide more green spaces and attract more visitors to the town centre bringing an important boost for the local economy.’ A timeline for completion has yet to be set out Tags BDP’s College of Arts & Society at Coventry University has been named… Lewisham Council has given Turner Works planning permission for a mixed-use regeneration… Wandsworth Council has given Gehry Partners planning permission for two more residential… Southwark Council has approved tp bennett’s plans for a 25-storey student tower… Disused railway arches in Walthamstow are set to undergo a transformation as part of a series of works across Waltham Forest exciting new developments are set to transform a series of Walthamstow arches into a food Specifically, the works are targetting a group of derelict arches at Courtenay Place near the St James Street Overground station. The 16 arches will be refurbished and become home to new drinking One arch will even be turned into an accessible toilet as part of the renovation The arch improvements are being helmed by Feix&Merlin and Extended Studio. As well as new cafes, restaurants as well as a pocket park connecting St James Street station to Walthamstow High Street View this post on Instagram A post shared by CRATE® St James Street (@cratesjs) Said Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Housing and Regeneration Councillor Ahsan Khan: “Making Waltham Forest a better place for residents is at the heart of everything we do We are creating a thriving and welcoming cultural destination in the St James Quarter and we are pleased that architects Feix&Merlin and Extended Studio can come with us on this journey to help us deliver our vision through the Levelling Up programme that will provide more green spaces and attract more visitors to the town centre bringing an important boost for the local economy.” Elsewhere in Walthamstow, a brand new iteration of the iconic Soho Theatre is set to open soon. The Soho Theatre Walthamstow will open in a stunning Grade II* listed building this May The central London institution champions new talent amplifies LGBTQ+ voices and always takes risks artists discuss how the West End venue is not just a place – it’s a philosophy A fixture on London’s Dean Street for 25 years, Soho theatre has hatched plays that won Oliviers shows that earned the Edinburgh comedy award and ideas that became TV hits The Guardian’s journalism is independent. We will earn a commission if you buy something through an affiliate link. Learn more. In those rooms, I’ve watched American clown Natalie Palamides giving such a spirited performance that she vomited on stage, dancer and comedian Adrienne Truscott challenging rape jokes, and performance artist Kim Noble pushing audiences beyond comfort. I’ve sung along to ballads with sketch group Daphne, and folk songs with Sh!t Theatre Soho does all this by running a “festival programme” “It allows us to take risks,” says executive director and CEO Mark Godfrey And perhaps most famously of all, Phoebe Waller-Bridge who first performed her one-woman show – and later hit TV series – Fleabag at the venue “Soho theatre has a genuinely experimental “It’s one of the only theatres that consistently puts on provocative work from lesser-known writers and performers and encourages them to be original I’ve seen some of the best work of my life in those spaces.” Waller-Bridge began her artistic relationship with Soho in 2009, in finance-industry satire Roaring Trade: “I remember throttling Andrew Scott with a tie as the lights went up every night which was the beginning of one of the most happy collaborations of my life.” With colleagues in her DryWrite theatre company she became an associate artist at the theatre commissioning Adolescence writer Jack Thorne’s play Mydidae in 2012 Fleabag first appeared in Soho’s upstairs room Being offered space to preview “was no small thing” The Soho theatre audience is so up for it … unshockable Now that game-for-anything is going to get a lot larger. As the theatre celebrates its 25th anniversary, it’s also starting a new chapter – the opening of 1,000-seater Soho Theatre Walthamstow where it will entertain its biggest audiences yet That basement showcased future stars such as Bob Hoskins that fringe explosion of the 70s,” says Godfrey With director Abigail Morris and producer David Aukin Godfrey found a building on Dean Street that had formerly housed a synagogue The vision was influenced by the diversity and collective spirit of the south London theatre Ovalhouse the ICA’s punk aesthetics and experimental performances “They love the work,” says performance artist Bryony Kimmings short-ish plays meant Dean Street’s stages were free by 9pm Lock started working on the box office in 2001 and programming things crowds couldn’t find at comedy clubs We started to feel like the natural home for people’s one-hour shows in the early 2000s and it’s snowballed from then.” Soho welcomed American drag performers such as Kiki and Herb plus acts such as Hannah Gadsby before their rise to fame and the basement became a bespoke cabaret space They decided “to give equal importance to theatre Lock points to artists like Kimmings and Noble whose recent show Main Character Energy blended performance styles says: “It’s an extraordinary space for people whose work is genre-pushing.” Kimmings says: “They never say no They trust you to be creative.” When I ask artists what sets Soho theatre apart from other institutions Associate artists used to be given membership to the Groucho Club but when the theatre started running the bar this was swapped for bar discounts instead The idea was to build a club-like atmosphere right there When you enter Dean Street’s bar now, chances are you’ll recognise someone – it’s a “snipers’ alley” per one TV producer’s analogy; you’re always in the eyeline of an artist, writer, agent. For punters, this means the chance to spot a star. Social media was abuzz in 2023 when Florence Pugh Andrew Garfield and Phoebe Bridgers were snapped after attending Kate Berlant’s show It helps that many of the artists connected to Soho arrived as fledging talent Kimmings had never visited Soho theatre until a meeting to discuss the transfer of her 2010 fringe show Sex Idiot a tale of chlamydia and reappraising relationships She’s spoken in the past about the snobbery and classism that can come with traditional theatre Meeting Lock and dramaturg Nina Steiger: “The two of them felt like family “[Steiger] taught me how to use the principles of narratives When she wanted to make another show – an exploration of alcohol and creativity – they gave her space to develop and she wanted their input Kimmings now teaches young artists and says most dream of staging their work at Soho “It’s managed to establish a mark of quality and experimentalism Free weekly newsletterThe only way to get a look behind the scenes of the Saturday magazine Sign up to get the inside story from our top writers as well as all the must-read articles and columns Without that we’ll just end up with generic workPhoebe Waller-BridgeCheerleading new artists is vital especially in the current funding climate: “Writers need places to take risks and to have the support of a theatre who back you as an individual rather than just a single project means you can push the boundaries.” Without that “we’ll just end up with more and more generic work because people need to hedge their bets” Poppy Jay and Rubina Pabani in Brown Girls Do It Too the Soho theatre adaptation of their podcast Photograph: Tristram Kenton/The GuardianPoppy Jay used to walk past Soho theatre on the way to Topshop in nearby Oxford Circus the theatre space doesn’t really feel like ours,” she says Jay and co-host Rubina Pabani were invited to create a stage version of their podcast which they developed at Dean Street into a theatrical mix of jokes sketches and discussion of sexuality and cultural expectations she says the theatre is “embracing of talent and people from other backgrounds It’s completely different to how I always imagined theatre spaces to be.” Soho theatre also runs “labs” to coach new talent Comedians Jack Rooke and Olga Koch started in the comedy programme and playwright Ryan Calais Cameron in the writers’ lab remembers the comedy lab as “the most valuable education I’ve ever had One day would be being taught how to apply to go to the fringe by Richard Gadd the next week we’d have a masterclass with the DryWrite team,” he says “It taught me to be OK with putting darkness and silliness next to each other.” He commemorated Soho’s role in his career by naming a Big Boys’ character after staff member Jules Haworth who helped him secure a comedy lab bursary Rooke says: “It’s always been good at taking a risk on new talent and not just following where the buzz is.” It’s been nearly 15 years since Godfrey joined the fight to transform the Walthamstow venue, which nearly became a church, into a functioning theatre. With the launch imminent, he reflects on Soho’s origins. “One of the challenges is: how do you become a bigger organisation and still keep that queer-punk, radical-fringe core identity?” Read moreThey hope that “plurality of voices” in the theatre’s artistic team and the relationships they’ve built with artists over the years will preserve the Soho spirit the pressure was off and creativity flowed Will it be easier to fill an auditorium now on the cachet of Soho’s past successes or will people expect mainstream acts from a larger venue Alongside the company’s usual genre-melding works tickets are already on sale for a pantomime and shows from Jon Ronson and Adam Kay but it will be nice when you actually see it.” Memories formed at Dean Street might hold lessons in how to retain the theatre’s identity. Kimmings laughs as she recalls one night in the cabaret basement, when an audience member bit her leg and she ended her show dancing on stage next to Juliette Lewis. To her, Soho theatre is “a place where you get to be free. A place where you can cast off your baggage and really belly laugh. That is so precious.” Sinéad Cranna & Jake Missing Greater London E17 9PP">.css-56eu0z{width:1em;height:1em;display:inline-block;line-height:1em;-webkit-flex-shrink:0;-ms-flex-negative:0;flex-shrink:0;color:var(--chakra-colors-gray100);vertical-align:middle;fill:currentColor;}235 Hoe St London England E17 9HX">199 Shernhall Street London Indian Walthamstow Bakery/Cafe We want Suba Bakery to come out with merch, so we can adorn ourselves with tote bags, caps, and keyrings, and declare ourselves members of their butter-based cult. If you too are a freak for all things laminated and flaky, you’ll enjoy this tiny, Gambian-influenced bakery Come early for the pick of the bunch—aromatic caraway buns pain au chocolat with toasted coconut flakes The mango-syrup-glazed croissant is one of London’s best pastries PlayUnmute8.0Comalera35 St James's Street London Mexican PlayUnmute8.0The Coven Of WichesSandwiches At The Coven Of Wiches—a '666% vegan’ sandwich shop—you can sit under a cloud balloon (with eyelashes) and eat creative sandwiches (like a slab of lasagne between confit garlic ciabatta) as a plastic ghost flips you off We recommend eating at the counter of the Wood Street Indoor Market spot for a soundtrack that includes ‘Bat Out Of Hell’ and ‘beev strips’ hitting the grill PlayUnmute7.8The Lacy NookBalkan Tucked beside a leafy community garden near Wood Street, this Balkan Peninsula-inspired restaurant induces a relaxed, holiday feeling The Lacy Nook's dishes are an olive oil-drenched vehicle for creating a core memory groups spoon into fire-baked feta with sweet jammy confit tomatoes and sink into scatter cushions on a covered terrace that’s sponsored by rattan PlayUnmute7.8SlowburnModern European Slowburn isn’t a slow burn at all. It’s a love at first sight situation and you’ll wonder how soon you can call again. A denim factory by day, at night the space hums with chatter instead of sewing machines. The menu takes inspiration from around the world—see the black bean gyoza tacos—and is mostly vegetarian But it's the crispy-skinned smoked chicken that we burn for PlayUnmute7.9Güneş RestaurantTurkish you’ll be warmly welcomed and probably given complimentary rice pudding Brewery and It’s Not Big Dough—the Robin to Pretty Decent's Batman—slings excellent pies from a shipping container-turned-pizzeria outside PlayUnmute7.7Best Foods SupermarketSri Lankan Through the maze of aisles stacked with bags of Kurkure Masala Munch and piles of onions, you’ll find Best Foods Supermarket’s hidden Sri Lankan and South Indian food counter There are inviting trays piled high with smoky aubergine and rich mutton curries our go-to order is: the spicy chicken samosas PlayUnmuteWild Grains BakeryMadre TerraCoppermill Fields Car Park London Coffee Madre Terra is a coffee van in one of the prettiest parts of the Wetlands, next to picnic benches and just down from a bird hide The van is decorated with heart-warming artworks from the owner’s children—including a parrot painting for ‘the best papa’—and we swear by the lattes Prepare to suck in lungfuls of air and proclaim and counters filled with freshly baked pastries She spends her time eating tacos and Guinness cake and explaining that she is not named after Sinéad O'Connor Jake has always been in London but still makes a wrong turn in Soho Your guide to London's culture and transport news and events taking place across the city Published on 1st April 2025 by ianVisits in Transport News Long delayed plans to add a second entrance to Walthamstow Central station appear to be waking up after the property developer responsible filed an update on the project Currently, the entrance to the railway station is on the south side of a large open space which leads into the town centre. Here is a large bus station, along with rail services for the Victoria line and London Overground making it a major transport hub for the area A redevelopment near the station for a new shopping centre and housing offers the opportunity to add a second entrance to the station and planning approval for that was granted in January 2021 — with the condition that work start by the middle of this year otherwise the permission would lapse The property developer has now filed a notice with Waltham Forest Council to discharge one of the planning permission conditions — that it supply a logistics plan for deliveries to the building site What the developer is calling Phase 1a of the works covers works for site clearance piling works and including the ground floor slab for the new station entrance A reading of the planning document looks like Phase 2 is when they later excavate the space underneath the ground floor slab using the ground floor slab as the proping to support the side walls as they dig down and remove the soil This underdigging process is well understood and used on constrained construction sites where space is at a premium the foundations and the base slab can be poured That completes the contractor’s obligations as they are required to provide the concrete box The fit out to turn the empty box into a working station entrance will be dependent on some other source of funding being found by Transport for London (TfL) That is currently unfunded due to the effects of the pandemic on TfL’s finances building the concrete box now at least ensures it’s ready for when TfL can fit it out into an operational station entrance TfL predicted that around 40% of Victoria line passengers at Walthamstow Central station would use the new entrance The other entrance would still be busy as it links with the London Overground and the bus station This website has been running now for over a decade, and while advertising revenue contributes to funding the website, it doesn't cover the costs. That is why I have set up a facility with DonorBox where you can contribute to the costs of the website and time invested in writing and research for the news articles It's very similar to the way The Guardian and many smaller websites are now seeking to generate an income in the face of rising costs and declining advertising Whether it's a one-off donation or a regular giver every additional support goes a long way to covering the running costs of this website and keeping you regularly topped up doses of Londony news and facts If you like what you read on here, then please support the website here if you look at the public Live Loading Data at Woolwich Liz Line station and also at Whitechapel Perhaps it’s stations are somehow budgeted alphabetically “the opportunity to add a second entrance to the station” but that is mostly for accessing the Overground and for those connecting via walking and website in this browser for the next time I comment and the latest news published on ianVisits You can unsubscribe at any time from my weekly emails © ianVisits and so it proved as 207 blessed souls cantered trudged and paced around the Peter May under blue skies and warm rays this morning An over-exuberant sprint finish in pursuit of an elusive PB last week meant I had to get my parkrun fix in a different way this week snapping pictures of passing runners from a vantage point at the other end of Derek’s Mound A minor altercation with my children leaving the house meant I missed Julian ‘The General’ Ferreira putting the pack under starters orders but it must have been a stirring speech as 32 parkrunners were inspired to achieve their personal bests He also welcomed 13 people to their very first parkrun and I hope they succumb to the magic of Walthamstow in the same way we all have No doubt they were also given a boost by our brilliant high-vis heroes whose warm support always puts a spring in my step A big shout out to Sarah Winsor on her 50th volunteer milestone Sarah was occupying her regular spot atop the Slope of Hope and her jolly cheers are a big part of what makes Walthamstow so special Sarah and all the other brilliant volunteers Well done also to the unofficial Queen of Walthamstow parkrun the highest of any female parkrunner at today’s event Well done also to Samuel John Whitlock (150) and Jason Bennett and Sarah Carey (100) who also marked impressive milestones I missed the euphoria you get from running three times up that hill; the surge of adrenaline as you pass the Tree of Glee for the last time; and the gentle banter and companionship you feel chatting to your parkrun nemeses at the end But I nonetheless felt the warm embrace of the Stow crowd at the finish line and it was great to see so many people staying to enjoy each other’s company well after they had finished who can be seen sporting a lean and athletic look at the finishing line (does this get me bumped up into the top set for report writing new theatre in east London announces opening programme with Sara Pascoe and Rosie Jones on the bill – plus panto and a new show by Bryony Kimmings It opened as a Victorian music hall, had various incarnations as a picture house and hosted concerts by the Beatles, Dusty Springfield and James Brown. But for most of the 21st century, the site of the former Granada cinema in Walthamstow, east London Now, after a major restoration in partnership with the local council, the Grade II* listed building in Hoe Street is set to reopen as Soho Theatre Walthamstow three studio spaces and a generous four bars which has run a lively venue in Dean Street The sister site will present a similar mix of comedy The opening programme, announced on Tuesday, includes a monthly comedy lineup show, Neon Nights, with guests including Sara Pascoe, Rosie Jones and Sindhu Vee. Acclaimed autobiographical theatre-maker Bryony Kimmings has been commissioned to create a new show “about uncertain times and finding new ways to be happy” who has an illustrious track record of creating pantos in Waltham Forest’s neighbouring borough at the Hackney Empire Mark Godfrey, Soho theatre’s executive director and CEO, has been developing a strategy for the venue since around 2010. Nearby is a small performance and community space, Centre17, and the theatre pub Ye Olde Rose and Crown whose programme includes standup comedy But the performing arts offering in the neighbourhood has been otherwise “a bit thin on the ground” a tremendous number of artists and creatives live in the borough.” Alessandro Babalola creative associate and co-chair of Soho theatre added: “It was frustrating because there was so much creative energy in the borough and it needed an outlet.” When he was growing up Babalola was involved with local street dance and youth performing arts organisations but he and Godfrey said it had needed a better entertainment infrastructure for years Walthamstow will host the biggest London shows to date for Biswa Kalyan Rath one of a number of Indian comedians championed by Soho theatre in recent years Enthusiasts will be able to take part in labs – a way “to take inspiration from the work they’ve seen on stage and do something themselves” The venue will also run the Primary Playwrights programme inviting primary schoolchildren to write plays some of which will be performed by professionals and launch a Panto Young Company in partnership with McKenna In 1930 the site was redeveloped with exteriors designed by Cecil Masey and interiors by Theodore Komisarjevsky Its Moorish influence has been kept in an “arrested decay” development by Willmott Dixon Interiors and Bond Bryan Architects “We want people to feel a sense of its history,” said Godfrey The venue will acknowledge its musical history from the 60s and a stint in the 00s as a Bollywood cinema while also representing the cutting-edge brand of Soho theatre “A lot of people will want to come in just for the beauty of the venue.” Walthamstow already has a world-class visual arts reputation thanks to the designer William Morris, whose former family home in Lloyd Park is now a buzzy gallery Soho theatre will be counting on comedians to pull in crowds just as the craftsman has done.