Web Admin - Bonnington Centre

Rowan Vuglar artshow brings Australian flora to the Café! February 2024

Web Admin on February 5, 2024

Local resident Rowan Vuglar is the latest artist to exhibit in the Bonnington Café.

Just ahead of Spring, his beautifully colourful paintings of flowers highlight the rich flora of western Australia. They can be seen when the Bonnington Cafe is open for dining (now Tuesdays to Saturdays 6pm to 10.30pm, and Sundays from 11am to 3pm), as well as during events and viewings during February. You can join Rowan for a Special View at the Café on Sunday 18th February, from 5pm to 8pm.

Rowan Vuglar started his painting career in Perth, Western Australia, His current exhibition at the Bonnington Centre celebrates that state’s famous wildflowers. This represents about half of a body of work produced on that theme by Rowan in 2022, as well as several more recent pieces.

Rowan came to Bonnington Square in 1986 at the height of its squatting history. He had a big hand in developing the Harleyford Road Gardens, and at one stage opened a community library. His first squat had no electricity or gas – and had just one water tap at knee height!

From 1988-2002 he was a member of Stockwell Studios. He has held many exhibitions here and overseas, and has sold work consistently over a wide career. For more, see https://www.rowanvuglar.art/

Rowan at the Café

UpMarket Market Christmas Fair 2023 – Dec 9th & 10th

Web Admin on December 6, 2023

In the splendidly revamped Bonnington Café, 15 local creatives and friends of Bonnington Square are returning for a second Christmas Market.

It’s very much a community event and in the spirit of ‘buy local’ – and is pulled together by local resident Lulu Boden, a jewellery maker in her spare time. Taking place on Saturday 9th and Sunday 10th December from 11am to 4pm each day, do look out for our new crafters and highlights this year.

The ever-popular Tarot card readings are on Saturday in the Middle Room with David Spofforth. Also, on Saturday in the Centre, Chiara Pedrazzi is offering mini sessions of craniosacral therapy, pranic healing and Reiki – all by by donation. The day will end serenely at 5pm sharp with a Gong Bath led by Jo Culf in the Top Room (£10). Bring a rug to stay toasty, although the heating will be on!

On Sunday the Café will again buzz from 11am to 4pm with 15 assorted stalls featuring the Chocolate Detective; Elniovoe’s elegant African fabric bags; Jodie Boyd’s natural products from Neals Yards Remedies; fine silver jewellery from Tales of the Earth; and even knitwear made in the Square by Sandra Roe and her sister. Plus new stall holder Lucy Bond will be selling candles, melts and stocking fillers.

Rita Keegan (pictured at last year’s market) also returns with her pearly jewellery – and her long-time friend Mary Jeremiah is selling her zesty hot stuff sauces. This event also showcases great artists: Beth Higgins’ vibrant Xmas cards, and Gianinna Delphino’s individually handmade sketchbooks. And Jo Gibbs is currently displaying her ‘Tunnocked’ scallops, jewellery and eco art in the Café. You’ll also find Tess Stone showcasing prints and cards; and the famous ‘Good Vibes’ silk screen print by Chris Coleman is on sale. Plus there will be vintage and more!

Bonnington Café expands to three nights a week

Web Admin on November 30, 2023

The famous Bonnington Café is now available for bookings and walk-ins for three nights a week as we continue to roll out services. You can now eat at the Café on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 6pm to 10.30pm, for servings of excellent vegetarian and vegan food.

On Thursday November 30th, the excellent Arfa Shah returns to the Café with her dazzling synergy of Asian and European vegan and vegetarian dishes. “I have a passion for cooking and have been cooking for over 20 years,” she tells us. “I am an innovative chef with a creative flair in a five star hotel (Michelin star). And I’ve adapted my style to accommodate classic European with Asian cuisine.” To book a table for Thursday November 30th, call or text Arfa on 07833 582133; or our Café organiser Natalia on 07999 953512

Then on Friday December 1st, Syrian cook Hind Danoun is back with us. Hind is from Syria where she studied philosophy, before coming to the UK six years ago. She says it was was hard for her to feel like she belonged in a different country, and so to help create a place that felt like home, Hind decided to use cooking to show her culture. She started making her mum’s recipes, adding her own ideas and then starting her own business called Utopia. To book a table for Friday December 1st, call or text Hind on 07597446957; or Natalia on 07999 953512.

Returning to the Bonnington Café on Saturday December 2nd is local resident and cook Vic Conran. Vic has had a love for food forever – and for her, cooking is always about finding ways to put foods together, discovering symmetries in flavours, colours and textures. She has lived in Bonnington Square since 1983 and was cooking in the Café in the early 1990’s.

The Café will be open until Saturday December 21st this year for diners before returning early in the New Year – when Sunday lunches are also likely to be added to the growing menu. “We are so pleased to see the Bonnington Café back at the heart of our wonderful community, with its wonderful mix of new and returning cooks each serving mouth-watering vegetarian and vegan food. Come and give us a try!” says Natalia Boteva, the BCCA’s café organiser.

The Bonnington Café Returns! Saturday 18th November 6.30pm-10.30pm

Web Admin on November 15, 2023

After months of hard work and preparation, trustees are delighted to announce that the famous Bonnington Café finally returns this month, with fabulous vegan and vegetarian evening meals once again on the menu.

A roster of cooks, both new and old, will be delighting our palates. Our first commercial night – for which we’re prioritising supporters and the local community – is on Saturday November 18th from 6.30pm to 10.30pm. We’ve also put affordability at the heart of our nights. Main courses will be £12, and starters and puddings £5 each. The Café will also still be BYOB for alcohol – with a £1 corkage fee for each bottle.

Welcoming diners for the first night will be local cook Hind Danoun. Hind is from Syria, and came to the UK six years ago. She studied philosophy in Syria and wanted to find a new home. Hind tells us it was hard for her to feel like she belonged in a different country. She thought about how to create a place that felt like home. Hind decided to use cooking to show her culture. She started making her mum’s recipes and really liked cooking. She added her own ideas and then started her own business called Utopia.

You can call Hind or Natalia to book: Hind is at 07597 446957; and Natalia at 07999 953512.

“We are so pleased and excited to be reopening the Café at last,” says Megan Doolittle, chair of the BCCA trustees. “We’ve had such amazing support from our friends and neighbours, and want to thank everyone who has been pitching in to make it happen. We can’t wait to welcome everyone.”

The Café will then be back on Saturday November 25th; then for three nights each week on Thursdays to Saturdays, starting November 30th. Our aim is to have the Café fully reopened for evening service by the Spring. Check out our revamped website with its new Eating at the Bonnington Café tab – where you can see who’s cooking on which night, and find their mobile number to call and book a table. You’ll also be able to walk in on the night – though we can’t always guarantee a table.

We look forward to seeing you back at the famous Bonnington Café soon!

Jo Gibbs’ new art exhibition ‘Scalloped’ at the Café: Nov 24th-Dec 21st 2023

Web Admin on November 15, 2023

We’re excited to announce that the latest local artist to exhibit at the BCCA is Jo Gibbs, whose new show Scalloped will be on display in the Café from November 24th to December 21st 2023.

Jo describes her eco-friendly art works as “Junk made beautiful”. Come and explore her shells, avocado skins and slates – remade with coverings, paintings or etching – as well as Jo’s signature mirror works. And 25% of the proceeds from the sale of shells will benefit OneHumanRace, a grassroots group set up in 2015 by Rando Wagner, to support refugees stranded in Athens, Greece.

According to Kevin McCloud of Grand Designs fame, “Jo Gibbs breathes new life into humdrum objects with a gentle delicacy that gives them new meaning. The success of this kind of work depends on a great eye and a sensitive approach.”

You’ll be able to view Scalloped whenever the Café space is open, including our new cooks’ nights. Keep an eye out for announcements of workshops by Jo. And be sure to look out for special views on November 24th and December 3rd.

Charlie Boxer’s Film Night – October 4th 8.30pm

Web Admin on September 23, 2023

Film Night makes a welcome return to the top room of the Centre on Wednesday October 4th, highlighting the work of local film makers. Entry is free though we ask for donations. Here’s what Charlie says about the new programme:
“We are screening a number of short films. Lily Paine worked in Italo delicatessen for several years, a person of great and palpable genius, remarkable for her sublime nature and her fascinating poetic gift. NHS Scotland’s documentary unit have made an incredibly beautiful film about Lily’s complex medical condition – having developed Craniopharyngioma (an unusual type of non-malignant brain tumour) as a child, and then severe epilepsy as a teenager – and the way Lily and her mother Kirsty now live and cope with this in Glasgow. This extraordinary work is followed by a short film exploring an unknown British woodland, made by Lily’s father and Kirsty’s husband, the late Tom Paine, one of the most beautiful films in existence. Also on the programme will be short films made by several of the magnificent people who work behind the counter at Italo, namely, Dom Henderson and Rex Von Hofmannsthal, as well as shorts made by two much loved and valued customers, Bertie Bannerman and Raph Seymour.“

Bonnington Cafe Archive Exhibition: July 4th-9th

Web Admin on July 4, 2023

Since the early days of the squat movement, the Bonnington Cafe has been a beacon for good vegan and vegetarian food – and a radically different model of how food spaces can be run. From July 4th to July 9th only, we are hosting a new exhibition by archivist Xiuzheng Li which looks back at the radical history of the Cafe, including photographs and oral histories.

Xiuzheng Li is based at the Bartlett School of Architecture and has chosen the Café as a case study. He is still collecting materials and interviews, so if you have any memories or pictures you would like to share, please do contact him via BBCA_Archive@outlook.com

The exhibition will be open to view from 12.30pm to 5.30pm on Tuesday 4th – and there’ll also be an opening event that day from 4.30pm to 5.30pm. The space will then be open on Thursday 6th, and over the weekend of July 8th-9th, between 12.30pm and 5.30pm on each day.

‘how things look’. Denzil Everett recent paintings, 4th-30th June

Web Admin on June 8, 2023

Local artist Denzil Everett is showing off his vibrant new work in the Cafe during June, in a show he calls ‘how things look’. Visit the Cafe for an Open View on Wednesday 14th between 4pm-8pm; and for an Art Workshop with Denzil on Thursday 22nd June between 2.30pm and 5.30pm. You can also see the show during our brunch openings at the Cafe on Tuesdays, Thursdays and soon Sundays – or keep an eye open for occasional afternoon openings. Denzil can be reached at denzil107@hotmail.com

Summer Flair 2023, 3rd & 4th June

Web Admin on June 2, 2023

A celebration fair by local creatives and friends to mark summer in Bonnington Square. Starting from 11am till evening.

Assorted market stalls – vintage, art prints, clothes, candles, Neals Yard products, cards and more!
Tea and Cake, and veggie food in the Café from 12 midday to 4pm
Workshops: Sound bath/gong, poetry, music, performance for children, drawing from 11am.

Download the Workshop timetable (PDF)

Summer Flair 2023 Timetable Final

Saturday – Bonnington Centre Middle Room

Facilitator		Activity	Session	Middle Room	Price
Jo Culf	12:10 – 13:10	Gong bath	60 mins	8 max	£10
LUNCH BREAK	13:20	Arrange	Chairs	For poetry	0
Jane Michelson Vuglar	14:00 – 15:00	Creative poetry	60 mins	8-10 max	£5
Sami Lamine	15:10 – 16:10	Drama: children 7 -14 years	60 mins	10 max	Free or donation to BCCA
David Spofforth	17:00 – 18:00	Sound bath	60 mins	8 max	£10

Sunday – Bonnington Centre Middle Room

Facilitator	16:30 – 18:30	Activity	Length	Middle room	Price
Jane Michelson Vuglar	16:30 -17:30	Creative poetry	60mins	8 max	£5
OPEN SLOT	17:00 -18:30	Performance/music	50 mins	8-10 max	TBC

Sunday – Bonnington Centre Top Room

Jo Culf	Sound bath	12.00-13.00	60mins	15 max	£10
LUNCH BREAK	13:20 – 14:00	Arrange Chairs For Drawing
Marian Medina	14:00 – 15:00	Drawing	60 mins	10 to 12 max	£5 includes paper/ pencils
Jane Michelson Vuglar	15:10-16:10	Creative poetry	60 mins	10/15 max	£5
TEA BREAK	16:15 – 16:50	Clear Chairs away
David Spofforth	17:00 – 18-00	Sound bath	50 mins	15 max	£10
OPEN SLOT	Activity	TBC	60 mins	17:30-18:30	TBC
TIDY UP		Tidy Room	30 mins	18:30-19:00

Sound Baths at the ‘Summer Flair’ 3rd-4th June

Web Admin on May 29, 2023

Sound and Healing practitioners, David Spofforth and Jo Culf are introducing Sound Bath sessions this weekend at the Bonnington Centre’s ‘Summer Flair’ event.

A Sound Bath is a deep meditation session wherein the facilitator will guide you through a journey of release and relaxation using a variety of instruments and harmonising tones.

You just lay back and allow the sound waves to wash over you and ‘bathe’ you with their vibrations.

The sessions will be on Saturday at 12noon and 5pm in the Middle Room of the Centre (maximum capacity 8) and on Sunday at 12noon and 5pm in the Top Room (maximum capacity 15).

Admission is £10 (with 10% donated to BCCA). As capacity is limited, please email david@soulandsoundhealing.co.uk if you’d like to reserve a place.

Jo Culf will be leading the 12noon sessions, with Gong Baths:

“Come and enjoy a deeply relaxing sound bath. The sounds of my gong will help you let go completely of all thoughts and stresses of the day, restore balance to your system, rejuvenate your body and fill you with inner calm and peacefulness.”

David Spofforth will be leading the 5pm sessions with primarily Crystal Singing Bowls:

“Bathe in the healing tones of Crystal Singing Bowls – each one tuned to directly resonate with your Chakra centres. The sounds emitted are enchanting harmonic tones reminiscent of an angelic choir. The bowls create a feeling of peace in a loving and compassionate way, bringing you back into perfect balance and harmony.”