I’m not being funny but… Christmas is well and truly upon us. This weekend I did a secret gig playing for the Christmas opening of Coal Drops Yard in Kings Cross. It was such a refreshing experience. I noticed there were families and office workers mingling, enjoying the giant tree, lights and Club Curling. I was curious to see the pricing structure and was thrilled to find out kids went free. It wasn’t forced fun. Bear with me, I’m getting at something…
With the opening of Winter Wonderland, right, tomorrow, I have to ask — is it now for tourists more than Londoners? I used to go to Winter Wonderland religiously, every single year for my birthday. The past couple of years I feel like it’s lost its magic and here’s why. I understand I’m a person in an over privileged position here, but I’ve found myself spending hundreds of pounds in one outing. I’ll always be a working class boy at heart, despite living in Dior, and THREE HUNDRED F***ING QUID to go on some dodgems and eat a dry old hot dog is just excessive by anyone’s standard.
How can a family of four, considering the dire state we’re in, afford this? Before Covid, it was free to get in, now they’re charging up to £7.50 entry. It used to feel like it was for Londoners, but now? Sometimes it even feels menacing walking around it. Look, it’s still visually amazing, it’s still exciting, but right now it’s like taking a kid to a candy shop and not letting them buy anything. This just leaves a sour taste in my mouth; what is it actually doing for Londoners? Why don’t they make one evening a week accessible to Londoners, make it more accessible for those who can’t afford it.
We need to come together and create spaces everyone can enjoy in equal measure
This is happening everywhere. BST in Hyde Park takes over central London all summer. Park Lane closing creates gridlock for at least four hours every show — that would be fine but when tickets can run into thousands, it’s not exactly accessible to the masses. They just took a year to redo all the grass in Clapham Common and immediately proceeded to launch a weekly festival set up all summer, shutting half the park in the process. We pride ourselves on our green spaces but it seems like we can barely enjoy them anymore.
Where’s the convenience for anyone actually living in London? I’m sick of it. Our local councils need to do better. Now, more than ever, we need to come together and try to bring back that sense of community. The economy can be one of the biggest contributors in divisiveness and we need to create spaces everyone can enjoy in equal measure. Last week when Oxford Street turned on its Christmas lights it kind of lacked the razzle-dazzle of its surrounding streets as it’s currently lined with people living in tents and cheap American candy shops. And don’t get me started on the stars. As Oscar Wilde once said, “We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars”. Come on Sadiq Khan, let’s sort this out.
On that note… London is still the greatest f***ing city on the planet and we can get festive without breaking the bank. One of my favourite things to do is just head into the West End. Spend the evening soaking up the magic of Christmas in Covent Garden. With carollers and entertainment happening most evenings, it’s the perfect way to get in the mood for the holidays. Grab a £4 hot chocolate and go check out the lights on Carnaby Street. They always put together one of the best light installations out there.
Let’s go out there and support local businesses. There’s so much more happening, probably in your own borough. I’m all for it. Pimlico Christmas markets — what you saying?!
Back to Butlin's
I had the pleasure of DJing for Fat Boy Slim at All Back To Minehead in Butlin’s last week. Yes, Butlin’s! What a joy, it’s proof you can really have fun in numbers. Don’t worry, I have no intentions of becoming a redcoat any time soon. With that, I leave you my track of the week: Burnin’ by Noizu and Martin Ikin.
See you next Wednesday.
