Cronxicles: August 2024
What's been happening, and what to get up to, in Croydon
Welcome back to Londonist: Croydon Edit! Piloted by Londonist editor and committed Croydonian Will Noble, it's about all things in the borough of Croydon — including features on Croydon's crazily rich history, interviews with the people who make Croydon what it is, the latest on Croydon openings, exhibitions, gigs and events, and lots more.
What’s new in Croydon
OPEN HOUSE: The extravaganza I like to think of as ‘Christmas for Londoners’ returns on 14-22 September, giving us the key to buildings and landmarks across Greater London that are usually off-limits to the hoi polloi.
As usual, Croydon is getting in on the action, and the 2024 list is now online, featuring the brand new #Merky FC HQ (which local lad Stormzy is involved in), a history tour of the Purley Way, and Peter Cushing’s art deco 1920s house, plus many others. It’s a juicy line up. You can book Open House visits/events from midday on 21 August, and if there are places you’re really keen to go, I highly recommend booking if you can.
BOROUGH OF CULTURE: The Impact Report for Croydon’s tenure as Borough of Culture has just dropped; some 655,000 people turned out over the year of BoC events, there was an average of five things to do at BoC every day, (especially given that Croydon was operating under a Section 114 at the time, it really did push itself to the limit at times), and that an extra £2 million will be invested in additional funding for BoC legacy. You can read the whole report here. It’s nicely presented and non-jargony, but if you want a quick burst of the figures, well here you go:
CROYDON FRINGE: Are you a creative looking to share your theatre/sketch/dance/stand up with the world/Croydon? Croydonites Fringe Festival lands 31 October-3 November, and applications for performers are open till 25 August. Good luck in you decide to enter!
CROYDON IN EDINBURGH: Speaking of Fringe festivals, I can’t put this one in the ‘what to get up to in Croydon’ section, because it’s taking place hundreds of miles from CR0, but a show that was on at last year’s Croydonites festival, You’re So F**king Croydon (after *that* Bowie quote) is heading up to Edinburgh Fringe in August. I must admit I’ve not seen it, but I love the concept: though your hometown can shape you, it doesn’t have to define who you are. It also looks like a riot. There’s a great interview with the show’s creator/star, Katie Hurley, on Croydonist.
What to get up to in Croydon this August
Now I'm going to suggest a few things that YOU might want to get up to in Croydon this month.
COME AS YOU REALLY ARE: Transformers made from Fiestas, 4,000 My Little Ponies, stunning cosplay costumes… Come as you Really are is an incredible (and free) new exhibition now on in the former Milan Bar on the High Street. I cannot recommend it highly enough. It’s even getting rave reviews from the Guardian. I interviewed curator, Hetain Patel, in this post. Until 20 October
COMEDY: The brilliant Green Dragon pub (their beer selection=👌) hosts Laugh House Comedy Club at the tippety-top of the month, and it’s packed with comedians: Marco Chiu, Alex Howard, Heleana Blackwell, Angus Dunican, Ben O’Sullivan, Hannah Lloyd-Davies, and headliner Sean Sellers. Another bonus: tickets are FREE. 1 Aug
PEEP SHOW QUIZ: Liam Noble (aka Big Mad Andy) hosts another night of his infamous Peep Show Quiz at Brixton Jamm. If you know your Zodiac Court from your Apollo House, then this is for you. Just try not to Jez too many of the answers. 1 Aug
COSTA DEL CROYDON: For most of August, a pop-up beach, Costa del Croydon, appears atop Centrale’s multi-story car park, where you’re invited to 'feel the sand between your toes' courtesy of a giant sandpit.