We request the honour of your presence for our Bastille Day Summer Social.
July marks a year since our successful crowdfunding campaign. To celebrate our collective achievements, and with the generous support of our sponsors, we are commissioning local artist Adam Dant to illustrate the next edition of our map of members. Any new member to join on or before Bastille Day will secure a place on this auspicious publication!
On the night you will hear stories from comrades who’ve been active with us this last year and enjoy food, drink and entertainment brought to you by our members. Proceeds from this event will cover the costs of running it, and go towards East End Independents’ Weekend in November.
If you are or know of someone who would like a spot on our next map simply ask them to apply to join by filling out our short membership form.
Further updates on performers and speakers to be announced nearer the time. Places are limited so book early via eventbrite!
Would you like get involved with this event? Here’s what we need help with:
Food – Sarah Fraser Steele – The Deli Downstairs and Adam Bernstein – Bernstein’s are kindly organising food, if you would like to contribute food or help in anyway please email Sarah -sarah@thedelidownstairs.co.uk
Music – If you would like to perform on the night, or by help by organising the PA and sound check then get in touch. We are also looking for brass players to play our Guild fanfare!
Stewards – We are legally obliged to have stewards on the night, the more we have, the more we can make sure that all stewards have a chance to join in with celebrations.
Makers Social
Despite the rain we had a great turnout at our Makers social. Vast thanks goes out to to The Five Points Brewing Company for the beer, Professor Mark Brearley of The Cass, Aldgate and visionary Han Ates from Blackhorse Lane Ateliers for delivering fascinating insights in their short talks. A transcript of Mark’s talk can be found here.
Cheshire Street Developments
We have begun to engage businesses on Cheshire Street with Tower Hamlets Council to co-produce ideas to bring back a market here. Last Friday businesses met with Rachel Jenman – Brick Lane Town Centre Manager to talk about how to create a successful market that will work for the businesses already present on the street. We are meeting again on 8th June with a broader group of businesses outside Vintage Basement, 7 Cheshire St, London E2 6ED.
Network Rail and TfL Tenants Meeting
May has been a busy month! We also hosted our follow up to the Network Rail and TfL meeting that we held in April. With support from the Federation of Small Business we are now in dialog with senior staff at Network Rail, Matthew Ball – Senior Public Affairs Consultant and David Biggs – Managing Director of Property.
On the TfL side, the group of tenants present at last Thursday’s meeting decided to give TfL ten days to respond to a meeting request that was sent the following Friday morning.
We are keen to work with both landlords to come up with solutions to the crippling rent increases of up to 300% that members are faced with. We will be in a position to announce whether or not we have made any progress soon.
Makers Social at E5 Bakehouse photographs taken by Hazel Sheffield.
