Dan Eglinton

To paraphrase an old saying; nothing is certain except death, taxes and Shrek. This beloved movie about a big green swamp-dweller and pals has inspired countless memes, parodies and tributes over the years, and the adoration for the beloved Scottish beast seems unlikely to stop any time soon.  If you, like everyone else, are a dedicated fan, then you’ll no doubt want to get yourself down to Ogrepalooza this Halloween.  With a costume competition and headline performances from the UK’s #1 Shrek tribute band (there was tough competition, I’m sure), this swamptacular shindig is set to literally be the stuff of fairytales. It’s on the South Bank as well, so you won’t even have to travel Far, Far Away.

Fifty years after it first flounced onto the London stage, Richard O’Brien’s campy cult classic is still a certified smash. Written as an homage to ’50s sci-fi and horror B-movies, ‘The Rocky Horror Show’ quickly solidified O’Brien as a queer icon after its initial debut in 1973 - thanks to his unashamedly horny script and a star turn as Riff Raff in the initial production.  Several decades, a movie adaptation later, O’Brien’s legend status remains untouched - as does that of this gleefully chaotic show, which still draws in crowds of adoring fans. This is not because of its plot (which is wafer-thin at best), but because of ‘Rocky Horror’s infectious energy, memorable songs, and a dedicated following that makes every performance a riotous, truly immersive experience.  Let's start with the storyline: straight-laced, virginal couple Brad and Janet get stranded at a creepy castle, where they fall into the clutches of Frank N Furter, a fishnet-clad, mad scientist-alien who spends his time creating sexy new minions he can play with. That’s pretty much the whole plot, and while the first act zips along thanks to iconic bangers like ‘Time Warp‘ and ‘Sweet Transvestite’, the second act does bog down a bit as the narrative fizzles out and the well of recognisable songs dries up. But no one comes for the story, do they? It’s the audience interaction that makes ‘Rocky Horror’ a one-of-a-kind event. Ardent fans arrive in flamboyant costumes, armed with fairy lights and placards, and rea

If you’ve swiped through Hinge recently, you might have noticed that a seemingly ever-increasing number of LGBTQI+ east Londoners are now based in Clapton.  This unassuming district of Hackney has arguably usurped Dalston as the unofficial queerest neighbourhood of east London, so it seems only right that the girls, gays and theys in the area should now have their own venue too.  This comes in the form of new gay bar the Wing and a Prayer, cheekily nicknamed ‘the WAP’. On the former site of The Mermaid and more recently The Black Hen, it’s a pub that hasn’t exactly had the best luck staying open over the last few years - but it’s in very capable hands. Run by the team behind Hoxton fave The Nelson’s, its new owners have a load of experience in running bars for east London queers. With comfy seating, loads of pot plants, disco balls in every corner and a basement for parties, this cute little bar could soon become your new favourite hangout - or the perfect place for your next Hinge date. 

Lately LGBTQ+ venues in London have been shutting down all over the place, with G-A-Y Late, The Glory and Bethnal Green Working Men’s Club all closing in the last year alone. As if that wasn’t bad enough, now another queer establishment is facing an uncertain future: east London bookshop, cafe and event space The Common Press. There’s no need to fret just yet, though. The venue’s owners are fundraising to try and keep its doors open – and they need your support. Since hard-launching the Crowdfunder on social media last week, the bookshop has raised more than £18,000, but there’s still a long way to go to meet its £100,000 target.  The fundraiser is crucial to the continued existence of The Common Press. With previous investors no longer able to fund the venue, it desperately needs financial support from the community in order to survive. So, dig deep folks, because unless donations keep rolling in, the queerest bookshop in Shoreditch will soon be forced to shut down altogether. Since opening in 2021, The Common Press has proven a welcome addition to the capital’s queer scene; a cosy and inclusive community space that’s refreshingly different to the warehouse raves and drag brunches that east London is famous for. It’s an establishment that is proudly intersectional, boasting a carefully curated selection of books written by LGBTQ+ authors, Black & POC writers, transgender creatives and other marginalised voices. It’s also a great place to get coffee. With oat milk, obviously.

If you’ve ever ended up outside Sloane Square station, you might have noticed just how crowded the streets of this swanky shopping district can get. This could be set to change, though, if plans recently submitted to the Kensington and Chelsea council, are anything to go by. Right in the heart of Chelsea, this affluent neighbourhood is known for its bougie boutiques and fine dining establishments. But it’s also widely regarded as a bit of a disaster to navigate by foot. According to the local council, this is due to the huge number of people passing though the area, as well as tricky narrow pavements which force pedestrians to cross the road in all the wrong places. This, in turn, causes overcrowding and traffic disruption - particularly during busy periods, causing chaos for pedestrians trying to window-shop all the posh places. Nightmare. To address this, proposed new plans would see the road redesigned and the pavements widened, allowing plenty more room for pedestrians while (thankfully) having zero impact on the number of traffic lanes. The massive road refurb, paid for by property tycoons The Cadogan Estate, could start as early as 2025, pending approval and a consultation with the public.  So, providing the plan goes ahead, it might soon be easier than ever to stare mournfully through shop windows at things you definitely can’t afford.  An award-winning north London pub is in danger of shutting down. This south London police station is being turned into a boutique hote

Big things are in store for Edgware. After years of back-and-forth with the local community, property developer Ballymore (in partnership with TfL) has recently submitted plans to Barnet Council for a massive overhaul of the area’s shopping centre and bus station. If approved, the renovation project would see this corner of north-west London get a (let’s be honest) much-needed makeover; bringing new homes to the area, plus cafes, leisure spaces, an enormous Sainsbury’s and even a glitzy cinema complex.  And that’s not all. Developers also have their sights on a 4.7 acre plot of land which has been locked away from the public for nearly a century. This neglected green space will be transformed into a gorgey public park; the perfect place for getting some fresh air, stretching your legs, or gobbling down a meal deal on your lunch break.  Not everyone’s chuffed, though. Some local residents are up in arms about the new plans for their beloved suburb, taking issue with the disruption caused by such an ambitious construction project, the height of the planned tower block buildings, and many other aspects of the redevelopment.  If the plans do get greenlit, construction could start soon, with the first phase of development (including that nature park and cinema) expected to be finished by 2031. The remaining work would take a further 5 years, meaning that Edgware might be unrecognisable by 2036. Watch this space.  Get the latest and greatest from the Big Smoke – from news and revi

East London might be getting a new creative space, thanks to a partnership between property developers and Newham Council. Arts group Create London has revealed plans to transform an old Victorian warehouse into a community arts hub.  The disused building is on Plaistow’s Stock Street and it’s been empty since 2016, but now it looks set to be restored following an initial investment of over £1m from Newham Council’s Levelling Up Fund. Once rerfurbed, the new arts centre would provide affordable workspaces, a cafe, arts studios and a metal and woodwork yard dedicated to vocational training for local children. Because everyone in east London needs an obscure side hustle, even the young ’uns.  The new arts hub is planned to open in late 2025, so long as developers are able to raise the remaining £1.3m needed to fund the restoration. Create London has launched a fundraising campaign to cover these costs – and is looking for donations and grants from public funding bodies and other sources.  Photo: Newham Council The warehouse restoration project is part of Newham Council’s wider plans to bring vacant buildings back into use by the local community. Once up and running, the arts centre hopes to bring in 13,000 people every year.  Create London’s previous projects include a flexible live and work space for artists in Barking and Dagenham, as well as a community wood and metal workshop in Walthamstow. Did you see that Crystal Palace FC’s historic south London football stadium is ge