Brixton Culture Capital | 17.07.2025
Brixton Village/Market Row's revival, and a competition for a free lunch for everyone in your office.
Deep Dive: Market Row’s Quiet Revival
This week, we take you inside Market Row, a vibrant and evolving hub that has often operated quietly alongside its celebrated neighbour, Brixton Village. Market Row, built in 1928, has long been home to traditional Afro-Caribbean grocers and fabric stalls, maintaining its heritage charm while also welcoming exciting new additions such as concept stores, art galleries, vinyl cafés, music studios, and co-working spaces (like Impact Brixton).
I explore how the spirit of Market Row remains community-driven, focusing on slow retail, authentic interactions, and independent businesses. In conversations with the Market's curators, owners, and tenants, we've explored how this new wave of companies reflects Brixton’s unique blend of heritage and contemporary culture.
Recent improvements, including colourful storefronts, refreshed arcade interiors, and new lighting along Electric Lane, have injected fresh energy into the area. Our goal is to highlight these enhancements and discuss ways to support local businesses by attracting more visitors and creating greater demand.
Starting with this deep dive into Market Row, join us over the next six weeks as we uncover untold stories and highlight inspiring new tenants who are shaping its future.
Events in Brixton July 17–23, 2025
🎶 Section 1: Music & Nightlife
Fri 18 – Fri 25 Jul – BCO Summer Estates Tour 2025
The Brixton Chamber Orchestra returns with its epic Summer Estates Tour, bringing a 30-piece orchestra to Lambeth estates for a week of live music blending classical, grime, jazz, R&B and more. Featuring South London artists like Mami Marissa and Blackmale Beats, this high-energy tour transforms neighbourhoods into open-air concert stages. Multiple Lambeth Estates | 🕒 Various times - Full Schedule & Info
🎛️ Fri 18 Jul – Homeground presents: All Night DNB at Brixton Jamm – A massive drum & bass takeover with two rooms of jump-up DnB madness . Expect heavyweight sound and lighting and a “lineup stacked with heavyweights from the scene” . Time: 10:00 PM – 4:00 AM . Venue: Brixton Jamm. 🎟️ Tickets & Info
🎶 Fri 18 Jul – Joel Sarakula (Live) at Hootananny – A free live gig by London-based Aussie soul artist Joel Sarakula, known for “soulful, sun-drenched pop with a vintage twist” . Blending soft rock, funk and disco with retro flair, Sarakula’s show will be smooth and groovy – and it’s free entry! Time: 7:00 PM – 10:00 PM . Venue: Hootananny Brixton. 🎟️ Tickets & Info
🎧 Sat 19 Jul – Up On The Roof: Norman Jay MBE + Charlie Dark at Brixton Storeys – Legendary DJ Norman Jay spins a 3-hour set on Brixton’s rooftop alongside special guest Charlie Dark . Expect soulful funk, rare grooves and Carnival vibes from the Good Times founder. Time: 5:00 PM – 3:00 AM . Venue: POW Rooftop (467 Brixton Rd). 🎟️ Tickets & Info
🥂 Sun 20 Jul – Slow Jams Brunch at Pop Brixton – An R&B brunch party mixing smooth grooves with interactive fun. Sing-alongs, dance-offs, games and 90 minutes of bottomless rum punch/prosecco kick off the afternoon . With DJs (led by DJ Grevious) and a comedian host, it’s the perfect Sunday vibe for celebrations. Time: 2:00 PM – 6:00 PM . Venue: Pop Brixton. 🎟️ Tickets & Info
Sat 19 Jul – Brixton Got Soul at The Blues Kitchen – Brixton’s famed soul night. Enjoy three live sets of soulful Motown and funk bangers, then DJs keep the dancefloor moving till 3am . “The only club night in town with incredible live performances and DJs from 9pm until 3am” – a weekly institution for soul and R&B lovers. Time: 8:00 PM – 3:00 AM . Venue: The Blues Kitchen (40 Acre Lane). 🎟️ Tickets & Info
Wed 23 Jul – South Settings: Nadav Schneerson at Hootananny – An evening of innovative jazz fusion led by Nadav Schneerson, a London-based drummer/composer. Part of Hootananny’s South Settings series, expect genre-blurring electro-jazz/krautrock vibes . Time: 7:00 PM – 10:00 PM. Venue: Hootananny Brixton. 🎟️ Tickets & Info
🎨 Section 2: Art & Heritage
Thu 24 Jul – Unearthing Your Roots: Creating Family Traditions (Genealogy Workshop) [Online] – An interactive family history workshop hosted by genealogist Selena Carty via Black Cultural Archives. This month’s session focuses on building family traditions around genealogy, exploring “intersections of bloodlines, cultural identity, nationality, and shared heritage” . Learn tools to trace your ancestry across the Caribbean, the UK and Africa. Time: 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM (Online event) . 🎟️ Tickets & Info
Everything Else
Sat 19 Jul – BCA Youth Festival at Black Cultural Archives – An afternoon community festival “celebrating the power of community, youth voice, and intergenerational spaces” . Curated by BCA’s youth programme, it features a youth marketplace, gaming championship, and free workshops – including a Black British history mini-workshop and a collaborative world-building session . Time: 3:00 PM – 7:30 PM . Venue: Black Cultural Archives (1 Windrush Sq). 🎟️ Tickets & Info
Sat 19 Jul – Diaspora Pride: Rooted, Rising, Radiant at Pop Brixton A powerful day-long festival uplifting Black and Global Majority queer and trans brilliance. Hosted by Black Psychotherapy, this free event features community rituals, panels, workshops, dancing, and Caribbean food vendors. Highlights include “Blackness, Queerness & Mental Health” panel, feminist book readings, and expressive art sessions. All identities welcome in this radically inclusive space dedicated to joy, ancestry, and collective healing. The Factory, Pop Brixton, 49 Brixton Station Rd 12:00 PM – 7:00 PM Register & Full Details
🎭 The BCClist Film & Theatre Guide
Must-See Films at The Ritzy (Brixton)
28 Years Later – Fri 18 Jul, 8:40 PM. The long-awaited third chapter in Danny Boyle’s post-apocalyptic horror saga (written by Alex Garland) is set nearly three decades after the original outbreak. A group of survivors on an isolated island faces new horrors when one ventures to the mainland, in what critics praise as a “haunting and visceral thrill ride” that defies expectations. Rotten Tomatoes: 88% (critics).
Friendship – Sun 20 Jul, 5:00 PM. Tim Robinson stars as a suburban dad who becomes fixated on befriending his charismatic new neighbour – played by Paul Rudd – in a dark comedy where a budding midlife bromance spirals out of control. Critics describe Friendship as a “toxic bromance” that’ll make you laugh and cringe in equal measure. Rotten Tomatoes: 88% (critics).
Theatre Spotlight at Brixton House
Lil.Miss.Lady – Sat 19 Jul, 7:30 PM. Part rave, part drama, this immersive show explores the history of grime music through the eyes of a trailblazing female MC . Audiences are taken on a journey from jungle and UK garage to dubstep and grime, celebrating the women who forged a path in a male-dominated scene. The production has earned ★★★★ reviews, with one critic calling it “an electrifying journey into London’s 90s Black-British bass music culture” . (Tickets £10, 90 minutes)
Brixton Discounts
The Black Farmer - Competition for a Free Lunch Alert: Treat Your Entire Office! The Black Farmers Market is offering offices in Brixton an irresistible opportunity—a delicious, free lunch for your whole team! Nominate your office to participate in this competition by filling out this quick form. Don’t miss out on this tasty chance to boost morale and enjoy a meal together on TBF.
Nuvolapizza - Half-price pizza deal on Tuesdays at Nuvolapizza in Market Row, Brixton. Nuvolapizza is offering 50% off all pizzas on Tuesday.
En Root – 10% Off Plant-Based Delights
Plant-based Indian fusion cuisine that’s both nutritious and delicious. 10% off.
Mamalan – Authentic Chinese Street Food
Authentic Beijing street food in the heart of Brixton Village: 10% off.
The Laundry (Brixton) – “Laundry Locals” 20% Off: A neighborhood bistro & wine shop running a locals’ loyalty program. Quote “LAUNDRYLOCAL” when you dine in or book, and you’ll receive 20% off your bill, Mon–Fri . This can be used unlimited times on weekdays (excludes takeaway and can’t combine with other promos) . Location: 374 Coldharbour Lane, Brixton. Expiry: Ongoing (loyalty program; monthly special perks for members).
Satay Bar (Brixton) – Lunch + Drink for £12: A long-running Far-East Asian restaurant/bar offering a great lunchtime deal – from 1:00–5:00pm daily, get a lunch meal including a rum punch or fruit punch for just £12 . (Selected menu items; T&Cs apply.) They also run Happy Hour – two of the same cocktail for £12.50 – from 5:00–7:30pm and again 9:30pm–close every day (any cocktails except sparkling ones) . Location: 447 Coldharbour Lane, Brixton. Expiry: Ongoing (daily offers).
Free Drink at Clover’s
We’re obsessed with the food at Clover’s, one of our favourite brunch spots in Brixton. Enjoy a complimentary drink with us when you order any main meal. For an unforgettable experience, try their Caribbean breakfast—it’s a crowd favourite that never disappoints.
Until next Thursday, 11.11 am
The BCC list