Mercato Metropolitano
The popular food market has reopened on Newington Causeway with plenty of outdoor space for eating, drinking and socialising. As with all bars and restaurants, Mercato has implemented stringent safety measures.
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Imperial War Museum
The museum reopens on 1 August with a number of exhibitions and events as part of its Refugees season. These include a new installation in the museum’s iconic atrium; History of Bombs by internationally acclaimed artist Ai Weiwei.
Booking is advised.
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Drawing Room
The Rodney Place gallery has announced it intends to reopen on 10 September with an exhibition titled Not Without My Ghosts. The exhibition will feature the work of artists inspired by mediums and spiritualism – including local figures, William Blake and Austin Osman Spare.
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Castle Centre
Gyms, indoor pools and leisure centres can start to reopen from 25 July. The Castle has put in place measures to ensure it can operate safely when it reopens on 1 August. Not all activities (such as swimming) will be available from the start so be sure to check in advance.
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London College of Communication
The university reopens for the autumn term on the slightly later date of 19 October. It will offer students a blended programme of online and on-site learning. Before then, the online Graduate Showcase will exhibit students’ work from across six colleges in the UAL family, including LCC, all under one virtual ‘roof’ for the first time. The Showcase launches on 28 July and runs until 7 August.
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Libraries
Most of Southwark’s libraries remain closed for the time being but will start to reopen from the end of July onwards. This includes Brandon library in Elephant and Castle from 27 July and will be followed by East Street and John Harvard libraries soon after.
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Art Academy
The Art Academy began its Summer School in mid July and will resume its academic programmes in September. There will be a new exhibition, Political Existences, from 3 to 6 September, but otherwise the Newington site remains closed to the public.
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Southwark Playhouse
The Playhouse bar has already reopened with live performances hopefully to follow later this year. In the meantime, the theatre continues to stream past productions via its Southwark Stayhouse platform.
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Hotel Elephant
The Spare street arts and creative space reopened for existing and new members at the end of July. Coworking desks can be hired for a month at a time and there are also self-contained office and studio spaces available. The cafe will reopen in August and will be participating in the national Eat Out to Help Out discount scheme. In the meantime, you can still grab a fresh brew to take away from the Side Car Coffee Bar.
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