That’s Not My Age

If you’re in London over Easter – or coming to TNMA: LIVE! on Saturday 26 April at the Fashion and Textile Museum (FTM) – Bermondsey Street is a lovely, historic area to explore. Look up, and some of the buildings still have the hooks (on exterior walls) used to load goods. From the late 1800s to the 1960s, ships sailed right up to Tower Bridge to unload cargo transported from all over the world: spices were stored in the wharfs near Shad Thames, and the old warehouses in and around Bermondsey Street are where vinegar was produced (Sarson’s), wool and hops processed, and leather treated at the numerous tanneries. Known at the time as ‘The Land of Leather’, the area’s industrial past is reflected in the road names: Tanner Street, Leathermarket, Morocco Street and so on. Fortunately, the area is a lot less smelly today.

Here are some recommendations on what to see and do:

José tapas bar

FOOD & DRINK

The best coffee comes courtesy of Chapter 72 just across the road from the FTM; which turns into a cocktail bar in the evening. Hence, the ‘Ground-Shaken-Stirred’ slogan. The staff are lovely and you can get a reasonably priced flat white (definitely below the London average). Mr That’s Not My Age spotted Ruth Wilson here once, so I think we can say it has A-list clientele!

Photos courtesy of José Pizzaro restaurants on Instagram

The Garrison pub is an institution, one of London’s original gastro pubs. My friend had Christmas lunch here (2024) and this is one of the few places I would rely on to do good grub on a special day. The atmosphere is convivial, the interior is a bit higgeldy-piggedly but that only adds to the charm and helps to make The Garrison feel relaxed.

Casse Croute on the corner is also very good and very French ( not great for vegans).

If you like tapas, you’ll love José – owned by the award-winning, Spanish chef José Pizarro – on the corner of Bermondsey and Morocco Streets. It’s always super-busy so book early. And then over on Maltby Street there’s a Saturday market with lots of street food options ( smaller, less busy and less tourist-y than Borough Market) and there are plenty of cafes, restaurants and bars under the railway arches. My go-to is 40 Maltby Street a wine shop and bar with excellent small plates.

Photo Courtesy of White Cube Bermondsey

CULTURE

For a culture fix there’s the White Cube, Bermondsey gallery owned by art supremo Jay Joplin. This is a beautiful space – one of the largest commercial galleries this side of the Atlantic – with an excellent roster of artists and top quality conveniences (should you need the loo). And, of course, the Fashion and Textile Museum is always worth a look-in. Around the corner on Tanner Street you’ll find Kristin Hjellegjerde, the contemporary art gallery has a diverse range of international and emerging artists, including Luella Bartley. And, at the lower end of Bermondsey Street (as you walk up from London Bridge train station) is Eames Fine Art.

Photo courtesy of towerbridge.org

SIGHTSEEING

There’s the spectacular view from The Shard, the unmissable glass and steel spire, designed by architect Renzo Piano. And, Tower Bridge is a five-minute walk from the end of Bermondsey Street. This is one of the London’s most iconic river crossings –  and where I met Mr That’s Not My Age ( we were cheering friends on who were competing in the London Marathon) 22 years ago!

And a quick reminder that there are still a few tickets available for TNMA:LIVE! on Saturday 26 April 2025. More details about our stylish extravaganza HERE.