Our History
Bermondsey Street is a creative hub in the heart of London and we like to celebrate every year with a big festival! It’s the perfect blend of village fête folksiness with Bermondsey street style! It’s an occasion for people to come together and have fun.
From designers to artisan food specialists, Bermondsey Street Festival likes to include as many local people and businesses as possible, and we couldn’t pull thistogether without the support of our sponsors, volunteers and performers. So if you would like to be part of the fun please contact us…. especially if you have a business or a brand with which we could associate.
In 2007 our First time – Michael Davies of Bermondsey Street Area Partnership, inspired us all to get together and produce a festival in 3 weeks. The council and local businesses chipped in. it was held in Tanner street Park. We had Maypole and dog show, music from bands off the back of the truck, a musical presentation by quay players and about 30 stalls, a ceilidh finished the evening.
London SE1 reported: Organised by the Bermondsey Street Area Partnership, the theme of the event was ‘Celebrating Creativity’ – and local artist Andrew Logan was on hand to cut the ribbon and declare the festival open. Local amateur dramatics group The Quay Players, who rehearse in St Anne’s Church Hall in Thorburn Square, performed numbers from their summer show Crazy for You.
Live music on the main stage included a set from local band The Turns. Bermondsey historian Jennie Howells led two guided walks around the area. Some of the biggest crowds of the day were drawn to the dog show. Bermondsey’s finest pets strutted their stuff in an arena marked with bales of straw. Mayor of Southwark Cllr Bob Skelly announced the winner of the pedigree class and festival patron Zandra Rhodes arrived from LA just in time to deliver the final results.
The evening was rounded off with a screening of short films about the area made by Shortwave Films which will operate the new digital cinema now under construction in Bermondsey Square. The festival received funding from the Bermondsey Community Council Fund, Igloo Regeneration (developers of Bermondsey Square) and Oakmayne (developers of the Recall site) and was supported by other local business including Colorset.
2008 – Zandra Rhodes becomes patron of the festival and runs a fundraising dinner for would be sponsors. We increased the footprint to include the Southern part of Bermondsey Street from Tanner Street Park to Long lane. In the evening we showed ‘The Rocky Horror Show’ in Bermondsey square with guest Patricia Quinn, the original Magenta. Fashion Show for first time, in the Tanner street park. London SE1 kindly reported. Download a further write up HERE!
2009 – fashion show in street with Adam and Eve, Increased the area to North of Tanner street, Zandra Rhodes Birthday so cutting of the cake ceremony. Some 3000 people attended. SE1 kindly reviewed the event HERE.
