Legends Rise as Landmarks Reboot

Quote of the Week - “Soul meets soul on lovers' lips.” - Percy Bysshe Shelley

Good Afternoon, London. This edition of The London Palette is stitched with the kind of love that is more than roses and reservations. It is the love of places that reinvent themselves. And the love of feeling something real. Slip beneath Piccadilly Lights and let TOGETHER turn your gestures into art and maybe even your moment on the big screen. On Valentine’s weekend, along with the dinner-date script, head to Blackheath Halls for some tenor sax sorcery because Courtney Pine OBE pairs with Zoe Rahman's piano for stripped back intimacy. Painted Hall invites you to prime your March diary for a moment to lie down and tune into a sound bath. You never know, it could be just the thing you need to revive your spirit. The Turkish word of the week embodies peace, calm and inner ease. Take it by the hand as your effortless guide to self-love. Happy Valentine’s Day.

Snatched highlights from this edition:

1. Deco Ghost Awakens at Hornsey Town Hall

2. Lunar Fire Horse Sparks on Greenwich Peninsula

3. V&A East Debuts The Music Is Black: A British Story

4. Live Music - Courtney Pine OBE, Zoe Rahman & lots more!

Let’s dive in.

—Bybreen Samuels

COUNCIL CANVAS

Hornsey's Deco Revival | Culture Hub or Land Grab?

You wander Crouch End's leafy lanes, past the faded Art Deco facade that's loomed empty for decades, and now it’s revived and alive with buzz. Hornsey Town Hall, Haringey's Grade II gem once graced by Queen and Ray Davies, transforms from a Heritage at Risk relic to a vibrant cultural heartbeat. Since its December launch, the 1930s Council Chambers, now run by General Projects, has morphed into a space that hosts weddings, concerts and workshops. Look forward to intimate comedy nights in the old debate hall, to ballet in the Assembly Hall, and rooftop bar sunsets.

More than £30 million was invested by the Far East Consortium, a Malaysian based international property development company. To boost this investment Haringey Council added another £3.5 million as a land deal, to fuel affordable housing. This style of regeneration takes account of 136 luxury apartments, a 150-room hotel, cafe and community square. The appeal is striking particularly as Haringey is a borough chasing the title and status of 2027 London Borough of Culture 2027. Fortunately, Hornsey misses the curse of the council sell-off due to the lock in of community access for generations via legal safeguards. A result after years of resident-led fights via Hornsey Town Hall Creative Trust. Stats whisper promise:

However, within the possibilities there are tensions. Will the transformation soar like a phoenix reborn or remain a gilded cage? Haringey Leader Peray Ahmet hails it as, “a pre-2027 tourism booster.” But whispers question if the revamp delivers true theatre or just pretty hires for weddings and corporate events. As council tax hikes bite elsewhere, Hornsey models what heritage-funded reinvention can look like. With £20m for repairs could secure a legacy. But there are demands for resident programming to thrive as well as the need for 700 new council homes to be built nearby.

The real measure arrives this Spring: Will residents reclaim their council's beating heart? Or, will they watch tourists snap rooftop selfies while culture stays locked behind velvet ropes? This borough's phoenix has wings. However, whether it lifts the community or just the property values depends on what fills those Art Deco halls next.

Find out more here - https://www.hornsey-townhall.co.uk

CITY PALETTE

Piccadilly's Pixel Portal | Gesture Art on Giant Lights

Random International are the Rain Room masterminds who made you walk through storms without even getting wet. They have colonised The Venue beneath Piccadilly Lights until March 1. And this time they are handing you the creative reins. TOGETHER spans five interactive installations across three floors where your gestures, movements, and presence generate artworks, in real time. Selected pieces are projected onto Europe's most famous screen above, turning you into both artist and exhibit in one swoop. The flagship experience, Pixelography, lets you paint a digital portrait using intuitive hand movements, then take home a museum-quality fine art print. Philanthropy is built within this because 10% of proceeds are donated to the charity, Take a Moment, who facilitate mental wellbeing.

This should excite you because it turns London's passive gallery circuit on its head. Instead of just observing art, you are the creator of it. Immersive experiences often feel performative rather than participatory, but TOGETHER rewards curiosity over contemplation: Body Paint lets you draw luminous trails through space with your movements, Piccadilly Blur transforms your gestures into atmospheric compositions on a 14-metre screen. And Life in Our Minds visualises collective behaviour through evolving swarms responding to the crowd.

What's interesting is how this project reimagines public space in one of London's busiest intersections. It does not rely on commercial billboards, rather it uses creative commons licenses. Each week, Random International selects artworks to display on the Piccadilly Lights via a draw. They offer you “a moment of visibility that money cannot buy, shared with the entire city." Inside the venue you will find a café and design store offering co-created collectibles. So the space is positioned as a welcoming hub rather than a ticketed fortress. Reviewers describe it as "bucket-list-worthy," praising the tangible takeaways and the rare feeling of becoming "part of something bigger."​

As our immersive scene saturates with Van Gogh clones and bubble planets, TOGETHER signals a shift by using technology as a collaborator, not a spectacle. Random International's long-term partnership with Landsec, the owner of Piccadilly Lights, hints at future chapters where creativity reclaims commercial real estate. Book tickets for your 30-minute session. You never know, it could birth the next artwork glowing above Piccadilly Circus. Or, it could just be a simple gift of a portrait no algorithm could replicate.

Book tickets here - https://together-art.co.uk

Painted Hall Sound Bath | Lie Down, Look Up, Tune In

Sir James Thornhill's masterpiece ceiling has witnessed 300 years of gazes, but on March 13 and 14, it is time for you to experience it from the one position it was never designed for. Namely, flat on your back, cushioned on soft mattresses, that allow you to surrender to sound. Lie Down and Listen: Deep C Resonance, returns to the Painted Hall at Old Royal Naval College. During your 2 hour session you engage with classical pianist and sound healer Christina McMaster. She guides you through deep listening via Tibetan bowl vibrations, gong resonances, and acoustic melodies that reverberate through the UNESCO World Heritage space. Christina’s methodology moves you beyond the sense of a passive concert, into practising nada yoga, the ancient discipline of listening as meditation. All of this takes place underneath swirling mythological gods and allegorical figures that are displayed 18 metres above you, in gold-leaf splendour.

This sensory activity should excite you because it merges two modern needs that are rarely satisfied simultaneously, the desire for profound rest and cultural immersion. This is refreshing because in our city where wellness often feels transactional and art galleries can feel sluggish, Lie Down and Listen offers both without compromise. Soak in 90 minutes of"deep relaxation and reflection. The Financial Times called it "utterly blissed out" and the Evening Standard dubbed it as "de-stress and get your culture fix all in one." Tickets start at £45.55 for concessions, with the opportunity to upgrade into a £75 VIP experience, offering premium mattresses, close-knit sound healing, and gift bags. You are 'booking into the Painted Hall's 300th anniversary programme. Since 2019, it has welcomed over 1,000,000 visitors after the site was positioned as Britain's number one heritage filming location.

A key feature of this event is how it reframes both space and stillness. It does so by transforming a monument to naval power and political propaganda into an intimate chamber for introspection. The programme evolved from Christina's experiments with lying down classical concerts. They combined her training as a pianist with expertise in sound healing to create experiences that activate the body through resonance rather than spectacle. March's Deep C Resonance edition focuses on the low frequencies of ancient instruments paired with acoustic melodies, designed to ground you while the baroque ceiling filled with mythological narratives of war, wisdom, and deification, offers you a visual counterpoint. Attendees describe leaving "deeply rested," with "waves of calm and peace." Proving that the space's original ambition to inspire awe translates just as powerfully, when laying down.

As the wellness landscape tilts toward experiential over instructional, sound baths in art galleries, yoga at dawn in historic sites, Lie Down and Listen sets the standard for cultural institutions embracing rest as programming. The Old Royal Naval College has woven the series into its 2026 calendar alongside Silent Disco lates and film masterclasses. Collectively signalling that heritage sites can be laboratories for contemporary ritual. Book tickets for your horizontal pilgrimage to Greenwich for the chance to do absolutely nothing while surrounded by everything.

Book tickets here - https://ornc.org

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UNDISCOVERED GEMS

Fire Horse Sparks Peninsula | Lanterns, Lions, Legacy

Peninsula Square buzzes with untapped energy on February 21 as Greenwich Peninsula launches its Year of the Fire Horse festivities. This free, family-friendly involvement into East Asian vibrancy amid the Thames' bend. Like a lantern catching flame in darkness, you can expect dragon and lion dances weaving acrobatic power through crowds. Together with live drumming, roaming performers, and Eastern Margins DJs spinning modern twists on tradition from 12pm-5pm. The Eternal Market spills over into Pan-Asian delights covering contemporary crafts, street food, and tea tastings that are curated for discovery, not crowds.

The great thing about this celebration is there is no ballot or ticket stress. You can just show up to claim hands-on magic like bamboo weaving, Chinese knot-making, woodblock printing, or Mahjong sessions. Sessions can be booked in advance and on the day walk-ins are also welcome. Starting on February 17, The Firepit Art Gallery hosts Henan heritage exhibitions, echoing the Fire Horse's bold momentum. While paper lantern installations glow at Canteen Food Hall. Beyond hosting this cultural celebration is the Peninsula's quiet pivot of blending the scale of the O2 Arena with intimate cultural exchange. Perfect for those of you seeking engagement and renewal without the Chinatown crush.

This gem shines because it captures the Fire Horse's charisma based on fiery adventurous energy. Allowing you to pivot into your desires, without feeling overloaded. The Peninsula invites you into a vibrant yet relaxed vibe by transforming a post-industrial waterfront into communal hearth. This could well be one of our city’s best kept Lunar secrets, where kids craft and play alongside adults who want to explore and reminisce. Take the Jubilee Line to North Greenwich, wander to Peninsula Square and allow serendipity to cross your path. This is your invitation to gallop into renewal.

Book tickets here - https://www.greenwichpeninsula.co.uk

LONDON BUZZ

V&A Debut | Black Beats Reshape Britain's Soundtrack

The V&A East Museum kicks off its inaugural blockbuster on April 18, with The Music Is Black: A British Story. Their multisensory deep dive into 125 years of Black music's indelible mark on UK culture, runs through to January 3, 2027. With over 200 objects, including 60 fresh V&A acquisitions, take the journey towards chart excellence amid struggle across four acts. Namely, from jazz pioneers to grime trailblazers, spotlighting genres like lovers rock, 2-tone, Brit funk, jungle, drum & bass, UK garage, drill, and afrobeats. You can savour the deep-dive soundscapes by Sennheiser. Take in films, photography, fashion, instruments, and personal artefacts that pulse with resilience and joy.

This signature cultural fusion has no replica that takes you into the intersection of crossing eras and sounds. For instance, take Winifred Atwell’s piano - he was the first Black UK No.1 artist, Jme’s Super Nintendo for early beats, outfits worn by Little Simz, Seal, Dame Shirley Bassey, and Skin. The fusion deepens with new photos of Kemistry & Storm, Mis-Teeq, Skepta. And, newly commissioned works by Sir Frank Bowling and LR Vandy dialogue with Dame Sonia Boyce, In unison, they weave music into broader Black British artistry. Curator Jacqueline Springer calls it a "dimension in our celebration" of how social histories fuel the art we love.

These social narratives extend way beyond algorithmic playlists, and fuels the V&A East's origin story. They partnered with BBC Music, to launch The Music Is Black Festival Summer 2026. Events are happening across the East Bank that covers Sadler's Wells East, UAL London College of Fashion and UCL East. Tickets range from free to £20 and are your gateway to untold from Joan Armatrading’s childhood guitar to Nolay’s Top Boy gear. Gus Casely-Hayford hails East London's genre-birthground as the perfect launchpad for global Black artistry. Events like this raise the bar for cultural immersion, by proving music's threads bind protest, identity, and innovation. Get your backstage pass to Britain’s soundtrack, redefined.

Book ticket here - https://www.vam.ac.uk

LONDON SOUNDSCAPE

Blackheath Halls - February 14

Trade Valentine's clichés for tenor sax sorcery at Blackheath Halls when Courtney Pine OBE pairs with Zoe Rahman's piano for stripped-back intimacy. You are witnessing jazz royalty as Courtney’s boundary-pushing fire heats up Zoe’s emotive keys. Together, they explore spirituality, legends, and raw innovation. This is timeless magic that you have to behold.

Book tickets here - https://www.blackheathhalls.com

Blues Kitchen Brixton - February 20

Relive the 2016 playlist takeover that glued us to Drake's Views as The Blues Kitchen Brixton House Band unleashes its full-album live recreation on February 20. Sway to reimagined gems like One Dance's afrobeats sway, Hotline Bling's meme-fueled hook, and Passionfruit's tropical chill. Dancehall, R&B, and Drake’s Toronto swagger fuse into generational anthems. In Brixton's soulful kitchen, horns and grooves breathe fresh fire into the diamond-certified juggernaut. This is one for your diary because a nostalgic dancefloor awaits.

Book tickets here - https://theblueskitchen.com/brixton

Boisdale of Belgravia - February 17

Surrender to smoky jazz seduction as Ayesha Pike's velvet tones light up Belgravia, where Ronnie Scott's veteran meets Belgravia's gilded glow. Get lost in her genre-blending alchemy of jazz elegance fused with soulful folk whispers, bossa nova warmth, and world rhythms. Our London-born powerhouse has graced Vortex, Jazz Café, and 606 Club. You can expect intimate ballads and swinging standards in this supper-club haven. Pure elegance is on the menu.

Book tickets here - https://www.boisdale.co.uk

Boisdale of Canary Wharf - February 20

Feel the primal groove of Africa's original rock pioneers as Osibisa storms Boisdale of Canary Wharf, the place where Jimi Hendrix peeked in rehearsals, Stevie Wonder drummed along, and Fela Kuti partied hard. Take this moment to dive into 1969 London-born Afro-funk fusion fueled by driving percussion, soaring horns, Caribbean highlife, and jazz riffs. All sprinkled through classics like, Sunshine Day, Welcome Home, Music for Gong Gong. At this intimate Canary Wharf dining club where you can pair rhythms with you favourite nibble and tipple.

Book tickets here - https://www.boisdale.co.uk

Crazy Coqs Cabaret - February 17

Whispered heartache meets torchsong triumph as Hope Augustus channels Billie Holiday's indomitable spirit at your favourite intimate cabaret portal to Lady Day's raw saga. Lean into this spellbound journey as Hope sings standards like Strange Fruit, God Bless the Child, Lover Man, with theatre-honed depth. She traces the rise from Harlem dives to Carnegie glory amid addiction's shadow. Book your ticket for this velvet-voiced valentine to jazz's eternal icon.

Book tickets here - https://www.brasseriezedel.com/crazy-coqs

Fox and Firkin - February 18

Let cinematic jazz rhythms sweep you into Afrocuban trance in South East London, where powerhouse pianist Eliane Correa relaunches her acclaimed En El Aire project. Eliane wants to immerse you in her experimental brew of classic son, salsa colliding with spiritual batá drums supplied by the master Hammadi Valdés. They are boosted by heavy grooves from Alley Lloyd and Richie Sweet. In turn, they are amplified by London's horn elite of Sam Warner on trumpet, Rosie Turton on trombone, Allexa Nava on sax, and Plumm's ethereal vocals. They invite you to take the journey to danceable transcendence.

Book tickets here - https://foxfirkin.com

Pizza Express Live Holborn - February 19

Step into soul's warm embrace where Welsh roots meet funky London fire when Nate Williams and his powerhouse band deliver originals spanning Got To Let Go 2014 to fresh Chapters 2025. Time to groove to heavy basslines from Louis Munro, Samson Jatto's crisp drums, Oli Savill's percussion snap, and Ross Ewart's guitar bite. The treat continues when Tor Hills and Holly Petrie layer in their vocals. Enjoy these classic soul grooves with a modern polish.

Book tickets here - https://www.pizzaexpresslive.com

Ronnie Scott’s - February 14

Ignite your Valentine's soul at Ronnie Scott's with Imaani's Soul Providence Band. Incognito's powerhouse vocalist unleashes her eclectic acoustic magic. Imaani will wrap you in her rich, emotive timbre covering funky soul originals, reggae-tinged covers, and raw jazz-folk hybrids, all honed globally. She’s ready to melt your heart with her rhythms.

Book tickets here - https://www.ronniescotts.co.uk

Soul Mama - February 14

YolanDa Brown is ready to deliver her saxophone fire on a reimagined, reggae journey through Bob Marley’s Songbook, on valentine’s night. She is here to woo you with her ability to weave jazz elegance into timeless anthems. Allow yourself to be transported by her OBE-winning mastery including an emotive sax infusion of Redemption Song, No Woman No Cry, Is This Love with a soulful blend, celebrating love, peace, unity. Doors 6:30pm and tickets include dinner in Stratford's hottest music venue. Enjoy this perfect romantic rhythm spot.

Book tickets here - https://www.soulmama.co.uk

St. James’ Church Piccadilly - February 14

Let Brazilian sunshine flood into this Piccadilly church this celebrated day of love. Spend Saturday morning relaxing into samba rhythms and freewheeling improvisation, at 11am. Allow yourself to unwind with percussion wizard Rod Oughton and sax master Harry Brunt. Together, they blend joyful Brazilian grooves, jazz spontaneity, and kid-friendly vibes in Sir Christopher Wren's acoustic wonder. This is a free entry show and donations are welcome. So, move freely, sing along and soak in this pure rhythmic bliss. Happy Valentine’s Day!

Book tickets here - https://www.sjp.org.uk

BUSINESS SCENE

Hackney’s 40%-Off February Restaurant Festival

Hackney's dining scene is handing you a simple deal this February. There is up to 40% off at some of the borough's hottest tables, all through the EatClub App. If you want to break through the dead-of-winter slump, treat yourself to The Restaurant Festival. Here is the place where cult spots fill slow sittings without you paying full price. Download the free app, browse the line-up, and snap up these discounts at specific times. There are no codes, just pure value.​

At the heart of this venture is Acme Fire Cult. They have curated a who's-who of Hackney heavyweights you will actually want to try. Sample Corrochio's Mexican, Mangal 2's legendary grills, Papi's small plates, Tom's Pasta, My Neighbours the Dumplings, Sune, Oren, Marksman Public House, Mambow, Berber & Q, and so much more. Taste modern European, pan-Asian, Ocakbaşı fire and the full Hackney power list spanning cuisines that usually command premium prices. Quiet February now becomes a discovery playground for your palate.

Both you as a diner and the restaurants are winners in this business model. Restaurants fill empty seats while you score serious savings on places you would usually book. There are no permanent discounts which means the vibe and brand prestige stays intact. Plus, you are building your own direct line to these venues through the app, which means you are primed for future exclusive offers.​ The Festival allows Hackney to flex as London's smartest dining district, by pooling collective firepower to beat winter revenue dips. Download the EatClub App now, as your February feast calendar just got a whole lot tastier without the premium prices.

Find out more here - https://eatclub.co.uk

LINGUISTIC TAPESTRY - WORDS OF THE WEEK 

English Word:
Suffragan
Pronunciation: /SUF-ruh-gən/
Definition:  A bishop appointed to assist a diocesan bishop, typically overseeing duties on the diocesan bishop’s behalf. Cultural Note: Suffragan is a word that quietly signals how authority is distributed. Not all power sits at the top, and leadership often works through delegated stewardship. In Anglican tradition especially, suffragan bishops help a diocese function by supporting parishes, ceremonies, confirmations, and pastoral oversight. So the institution can be both hierarchical and locally present.

Turkish Word:
Huzur
Pronunciation: /hoo-ZOOR/
Definition:  A deep sense of peace, calm, and inner ease. Tranquillity that settles both the mind and the atmosphere around you.
Cultural Note: Huzur is more than relaxation. In Turkish life it’s the sought-after state of being properly at ease. Found in shared tea, shoreline walks, unhurried conversation, and homes that feel safe and settled. It carries a quiet moral texture too. A life arranged with balance, dignity, and belonging, so peace isn’t a mood, it’s a way of living.

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