Friday brings an afternoon film and reggae royalty. Saturday moves from laid-back café jazz to a Catford all-nighter. Sunday offers gardening, family hoopla and comedy in a brewery. A weekend with something for everyone!
In this weekend’s Loop:
A free Friday film and reggae legends in Lewisham
Saturday jazz in Deptford, followed by Afrobeats in Catford
Community gardening and big Sunday-night laughs
Creative holiday picks for kids and families
🗓️ Our picks for 31st July - 2nd August
Meet Me At x Deptford Library Cinema Club
A free Friday film, with no booking faff
Deptford Lounge’s monthly cinema club is putting on an earlier afternoon screening designed to be especially accessible for over-65s, although everyone is welcome. There’s also time for a post-film discussion, and you can bring a friend without organising twelve separate group-chat messages.
You can find further details here about the screening. It’s free and there’s no need to book.
Friday 31 July @ 2:00pm–5:00pm
Deptford Lounge @ 9 Giffin Street, Deptford, SE8 4RJ
Inner Circle at the Fox & Firkin
Reggae royalty, local venue, extremely recognisable choruses
Grammy-winning reggae legends Inner Circle bring more than five decades of music to Lewisham, including the rather unavoidable “Bad Boys” and “Sweat”.
Tickets may be booked from here at the Fox & Firkin website. General admission is £25 plus booking fee.
Friday 31 July @ 7:00pm–9:30pm
Fox & Firkin @ 316 Lewisham High Street, SE13 6JZ
Note: The show has been moved indoors, despite some older “open-air” artwork still doing the rounds.
Jazz Saturdays at the Albany
Free live music and a perfectly respectable excuse for café lunch
The Albany’s first Jazz Saturday brings musicians from Trinity Laban Conservatoire to its café for an easy, family-friendly hour of live music. It’s free, open to all ages and completely drop-in. Low effort, high reward, and thankfully close to Deptford Market.
For further details, visit here. No ticket is needed, although entry may be first come, first served if it gets busy. The sessions return on the first Saturday of each month until December.
Saturday 1 August @ 1:00pm–2:00pm (1st Saturday of the month)
The Albany @ Douglas Way, Deptford, SE8 4AG
Bashment & Afrobeats: South London Party
A Catford all-nighter for anyone pretending Sunday doesn’t exist
Grand Empire is filling the dancefloor with bashment, Afrobeats, dancehall, soca, hip hop and R&B until 5am, plus a photo booth and giveaways for anyone who still has enough coordination by that point.
Tickets can be booked from Skiddle or Eventbrite. Free-before-midnight tickets are advertised, with paid options also available.
Saturday 1 August @ 10:00pm–5:00am (Following morning)
Grand Empire @ 108–110 Rushey Green, Catford, SE6 4HW
Note: This is an 18+ event. Bring valid photo ID; last entry is 12:30am.
Sunday Community Garden Sessions with Grow Lewisham
Plenty of fresh air and gardening for those with a green thumb!
Spend a few hours helping out at The Plot with Grow Lewisham. It’s a free community gardening session with the pleasingly straightforward promise of time outdoors, practical local activity and a respectable amount of soil under your nails.
You can view further details about the organisation and find directions here.
Sunday 2 August @ 1:00pm–4:00pm
The Plot @ 1 Southview Road, BR1 5RD
Nick Helm’s Edinburgh Preview at Brockley Brewery
A brewery taproom, a work in progress and absolutely no polite little chuckles
Nick Helm is testing new material ahead of Edinburgh, joined by Micah Hall, Salma Lyons, Daniel Tizon, a special guest and host Sion James. Expect songs, stories, one-liners and the slightly chaotic energy that makes a brewery comedy night feel like a very good Sunday decision.
Tickets available via JokePit here. Tickets start at £10, with a £15 option including a £5 donation to Lewisham Foodbank. Door tickets are £20 if available.
Sunday 2 August @ 7:00pm–10:00pm (Doors open at 6:30pm)
Brockley Brewery @ 31 Harcourt Road, Brockley, SE4 2AJ
Kids’ Corner ✨
Several upcoming activities for kids/ families this weekend!
🎨 Cute! - Friday, 9:30am–4:30pm at The Conservatoire. A drop-off day of kawaii, anime and bright-colour creativity; bring two printed images of their chosen characters. For ages 6–12.
🚲 Lewisham BMX Wingz Sessions - Friday, 10:30am–11:30am at Lewisham BMX Track. A free inclusive session for Deaf, disabled and neurodivergent young riders. Places are nearly full.
🐙 Octoventure - Friday, 2:30pm–4:30pm at The Conservatoire. A drop-off underwater art adventure inspired by the Octonauts. For ages 3–5.
🖼️ Stories in Motion - Saturday, 10:00am–4:00pm at Deptford Lounge. Meet young artists, browse creative stalls and celebrate the launch of this free month-long exhibition.
🏺 Ceramics Family Class - Saturday, 3:00pm–6:00pm at The Conservatoire. Make and decorate a pot, which will be glazed and fired afterwards for you to bring home. Adults and children will each need tickets. For ages 5+.
⭕ The Big Hoopla Family Day - Sunday, 2:00pm–7:00pm at the Fox & Firkin. Free hoops, face-painting, crafts, giant games and family-friendly garden DJs. You can even bring vinyl and claim a slot.
See you next week ~