Welcome to Cronxicles—a roundup of Croydon news and things to do, piloted by Londonist editor and committed Croydonian Will Noble. For a limited time, I’m offering a 20% discount for annual subscriptions—which works out at a bargainous 69p per week! Today (30 June) is the last day to grab a subscription at the discounted rate.
What’s new in Croydon
PEEP SHOW MARATHON: Anyone remember that episode of Peep Show where Super Hans accidentally runs to Windsor? Instagram account Dobby Club certainly does—and after doing the math(s), it worked out the distance from Croydon to Windsor is roughly 26 miles—basically a marathon. What’s more, they then went ahead and organised a real-life Run to Windsor marathon, setting off from Zodiac House in West Croydon and ending in Windsor town centre. It’s happening in October for the charity Mind. Apparently Big Mad Andy from the show will be driving a support vehicle and everything. My legs are turning to jelly just thinking about it. More—including how to sign up—here.
COSTA DEL CROYDON: Another Croydon prophecy fulfilled: in the 1970s, Croydonians went around wearing mildly ironic 'Costa del Croydon' t shirts, sold by the Croydon Advertiser—a nod to the Croydon Chamber of Commerce's motion to turn the town into a tourist resort. This August, the Costa del Croydon becomes a real destination, thanks to a rooftop beach on top of Centrale’s multi-storey car park. There’ll be a sand pit, splash zone, games, co*cktails… who needs Brighton anyway.
Want to access everything on Londonist: Croydon Edit? Consider becoming a paid subscriber!
RATE MY TAKEAWAY: Fan of YouTube foodie sensation Rate My Takeaway? The man himself, Danny Malin, recently graced Boxpark Croydon, namely to sample the wares of burger/croquette peddlers Nanny Bill’s. And he had some VERY flattering things to say about the food. Not so much about Croydon’s delivery bikers:
PEGGY ASHCROFT: The name Peggy Ashcroft may be familiar to some of you: the late Oscar-winning actor has a theatre named after her at the Fairfield Halls, after all. Add to that now an English Heritage Blue Plaque, unveiled in June, at her childhood home in South Croydon. You can find it at 1A Tirlemont Road, South Croydon, CR2 6DS
CRONXWATCH: CronxWatch showed up a couple of months back, and it was love at first sight. These pithy videos fuse investigative journalist with a dose of dry wit—(right up my street) and answer questions Croydonians might (or might not) be asking including: Why is Richmond a happier borough than Croydon? and What’s with the Roblox cult of people driving buses around a virtual Croydon?
TRICKLE: Those of you who like to wet the whistle at Mr Fox on Surrey Street or at Fern Croydon across from East Croydon station are in for a treat: the folks behind these two ventures, Bart & Taylor, are bringing a third venue to the Cronx this summer (exact date TBC). It’s called Trickle, it’ll be on Dingwall Road, and they’ll serve co*cktails, wine, pizzas, burger etc—and importantly, there’ll be an outdoor terrace space—something Croydon desperately needs more of.
STORMZY: Not name-dropping or anything, but I was recently invited to a house party with Croydon’s own Stormzy. Not a real house party, you understand, but House Party—a multi-storey club in Soho, kitted out with various rooms (a lot of it very 1990s in style). Throw in drinks in red cups, DJs and a bunch of actors pretending to be drunk nans / annoyed neighbours / stoned nihilists—and you’ve got yourself one hell of a night out. You can even get a tattoo in the bathroom. I very much didn’t.
RAYE: Croydon-born BRIT Schooler RAYE has had quite the year—smashing Stormzy’s BRIT Awards record back in March and currently touring Europe and the States. But like Stormzy, she’s not going to forget her roots in a hurry: case in point—her impromptu appearance on the platform at Selhurst station recently (Selhurst, of course, being home to the BRIT School), to promote new song, Genesis. Brings to mind Sister Rosetta Tharpe at Whalley Range 60 years ago:
What to get up to in Croydon this July
Now I'm going to suggest a few things that YOU might want to get up to in Croydon this month. (Anywhere in the borough of Croydon is fair game.)
