Together with

Feeling exhausted after another week of relentless lies and misinformation dominating the news? Me too.

Whether that’s the US President spouting conspiracy nonsense and culture war drivel at the UN, or our supposed PM-in-waiting touting the fantasy fiscal ‘benefits’ of deporting hundreds of thousands of people, shameless dishonesty seems to be the currency.

In this climate, as I’ve written before, the last refuge of truth ends up being local.

When you live next to people, see them regularly in the street, let alone collaborate with them on community projects, a degree of trust is hardwired in.

As the words, imagery and intent of what we’re being served up from afar becomes increasingly dubious, it’s a welcome relief to find local sources of honesty that we can focus our precious attention on, instead.

Back in 2012, I was excited to see a new community-led vegetable delivery scheme spring up in Kentish Town, instigated by the local chapter of environmental movement the Transition network.

Our household has been enjoying a weekly selection of seasonal, low impact, highly fresh/tasty produce sourced direct from farms close to the capital ever since.

In true community-minded style, Vegbox have sponsored today’s edition of Camdenist; but before anyone cries fowl that I’m simply in the pocket of my advertisers, I’ve honestly only had good things to say about the initiative for the last 13 years (just ask a local).

There’s a rare feelgood factor when picking up another bag stuffed full of fresh, earthy produce that somehow never fades – perhaps its replenished by the sun and the soil?

As well as the clear environmental and health benefits of receiving veg in this way, there’s a much bigger picture to the impact of Vegbox in the neighbourhood, too, which is abundantly clear when I drop in at one of their volunteer-powered packing sessions, to be found every Wednesday morning over at West Kentish Town’s The Thanet Community Centre.

“We’re trying to run more than just a veg box service,” says board member, Caleb, “we’re building a sense of place. By sourcing from local growers, we not only reconnect people with where their food comes from, but through things like potluck lunches, cake competitions, apple pressing, bonfires, and more, we’re creating a village hall vibe in the heart of Camden. Community is a core part of our mission and something that sets us apart from the larger, more transactional veg schemes.”

He’s 100% right, as anyone who has ever encountered a Vegbox table at a local summer street fair, or dropped by the Thanet only last weekend to enjoy pressing and drinking fresh juice using apples picked locally by like-minded group the NW5 Fruit Pickers.

Being such an integral pillar of the local social landscape creates exactly the right conditions for trust, goodwill and neighbourly spirit to flourish – a world away from the snarling self-interest of the Trumps and Farages who dominate our screens.

“Local people offer skills and support to us that truly are priceless,” says Tom, one of the scheme’s founders. “It’s one of the reasons why I’m really glad we’ve not scaled the operations too much. It would remove some of the point. For example, we have someone who offered to mend our bags, whereas a bigger, more ruthless operator would inevitably just throw them away. Everyone is paid the same rate of salary, so there is no hierarchy. Yet we also can coordinate with other London box schemes in tackling waste at a higher level, so our impact can be much larger, too.”

Buying UK-grown produce in this way solves many of the problems that place huge environmental and economic strain on the farming system. Tom suggests that they are basically a micro-fulfilment centre, but instead of delivering the VC-backed ‘efficiency’ of the Gorillas and Ocados out there, they offer a slower, more human model.

“That means coordinating with the farmers on what they grow,” he continues. “We actually talk to them, have annual meetings, and we try and buy surplus – everyone in the veg scheme networks makes an effort to distribute it. The problem with the supermarket system is there is no dialogue. They often dump entire orders, which is really hard on farmers who made their plans two years earlier.”

His colleague, Ruth, who also runs regular Eat Club social supper club events in the borough agrees. Over sorting some boxes brimming with aubergines, she says; “people are so disconnected with their food and where it comes from. They go to the supermarket, buy things and don’t care how they got there, or at what hidden cost. With Vegbox, not only are we connecting people with their food – which improves health, wellbeing and understanding – but coming together to improve the food system really brings the community together over a shared sense of purpose.”

The packing day sure is a collective bonding experience, characterised by enthusiastic camaraderie including poetry being read out, slices of cake and cups of tea shared, and hundreds of colour-coded bags ending up filled with vegetables and whisked off by bike to collections points, which now reach throughout Camden and into parts of Islington, too.

I’m introduced to another volunteer, Afshin, a former Iranian TV journalist (he worked for ABC news for 25 years), now based in the UK and currently seeking asylum. He travels here from his temporary hotel accommodation in Canning Town every week, proving that strong community bonds aren’t only for immediate neighbours, just as long as the mission and work is shared.

“When seeking asylum, you need to hang around people who are nice, are not racist, and just welcome you as a person,” he states. “This is the perfect place.”

For two years, Afshin, who is forbidden from working during his application, has volunteered here, paid in friendship and bountiful, positive human connection. “This bonding can probably also happen if you drink in a pub,” he says, “but there’s no alcohol here. This is real.”

Inequality is sadly all too real, too, so Vegbox offers a Solidarity Fund, supported by members who voluntarily contribute more to help make the scheme accessible for those who might otherwise be priced out.

On so many levels, signing up to receive a simple bag of veg each week contributes massively to various forces for good all around us. I’d love to see the scheme pick up more local customers as a result of you all reading this week’s email - if only to prove that working together is the basis from which so many other green shoots of optimism can grow.

Sign up to Vegbox & discover your nearest collection point now

CAMDEN CURATED: 10 things to do this week

Sonic art, painted pavements & welcome Trouble

ART: 🖇️ Last chance to catch Yuri Suzuki’s UTOOTO, the interactive installation at Camden Arts Projects where visitors build a sonic architecture together, using modular sound parts including piping and horns. Closes next weekend, 5th Oct.

INTERACTIVE:🖌️ After the summer street parties and last weekend’s rather glamorous catwalk show, the upcoming autumn season on the pedestrianised chunk of Camden High Street is all about ‘Camden as a Canvas’. The first participatory art event takes place Mon Sept 29th, where the area of road outside the tube will be turned into a giant mural. Anyone is welcome to come down throughout the day, grab a brush and help create something beautiful.

MUSIC: 🎛️ Soho Electronic is an exciting debut one-day festival celebrating boundary-pushing music and avant-garde sound, bringing a unique line-up to four of Soho’s most distinct new creative spaces: All is Joy, Below Stone Nest, SchneidersKeller and the Farsight Gallery. Headlined with a rare live show by synth pioneer, Mute’s Daniel Miller, expect assleftfield sounds from over 20 other contemporary electronic creators from afternoon into evening.

SHOP: 🚘It’s 2025 second outing for the mighty Classic Car Boot Sale at King’s Cross this Sat 27th & Sun 28th Sept, with all the usual dressing up opportunities, celeb-spotting, vintage vehicles, ethical fashion, music, food and drinks. Plus, for the first time ever you’ll be able to shop costumes and accessories direct from the Royal Opera House at a special stand located in Lewis Cubitt Square.

FOOD: 🍔 The fast-growing American-themed dining destination 12th Street Burgers has just opened its latest branch up in West Hampstead. Specialising in stacked double smash burgers in potato buns and spicy Nashville fried chicken, the photos alone are making me hungry.

MUSIC: 🎧 For anyone who used to hit the floor back in the 80s with the hot-footed jazz-funk dancers at local venues like Electric Ballroom and then HQs above the Market, you’ll know one DJ came to dominate the scene. A Tribute To The Legendary Paul ‘Trouble’ Anderson celebrates that selector’s storied legacy this Sun Sept 28th with a free daytime party at The Star of Kings. Expect a massive lineup inc. Colin Dale, Kid Batchelor, Linden C, Roy The Roach, Jazzie Que (Soul II Soul), Trudy Lady T, plus live PAs from Marcus Begg and Hannah Khemoh.

STAGE: 🎭 Showing at Theatro Technis tonight and tomorrow, 26th & 27th Sept, The Statesman is the story of a humourless village and the bitter old man whose job it is to teach them to be funny.

ENVIRONMENT:🌳 The green oasis near Goodge Street, Crabtree Fields, has just reopened after a Council-funded glow-up. A former WWII bomb crater site and then later a dull backstreet car park, it was turned into a pocket park in the 80s, and has now had a welcome refresh, with new playground equipment and landscaping features. Do go check it out as a break from the pace of the West End.

COMEDY: 🤣 History nerds will gather for laughter Alice Loxton & HISTORY Friends brings seven well-educated stand-up talents to one stage on Tues 30th Sept at 21 Soho.

CLUB: 🎲 Join Ibiza stalwart Loco Dice as he returns to KOKO this Sat 27th Sept for a late night session in the theatre.

REVIEW

A big Faulty 50

Did you spot that last Friday marked exactly 50 years since the start of the BBC’s then-to-become legendary sitcom, Fawlty Towers? You may well have read some of the fond words in the press, seen one of the syncronised stage adaptations, or be preparing to hear John Cleese speak on his upcoming Fawlty book tour (it’s up at Ally Pally in November).

Upon the occasion of this half century of near-solid reruns, I received a random invite to a special ‘gala night’ of Faulty Towers: The Dining Experience, the well-established immersive tribute show (itself hitting 13 years at various West End venues, having debuted in Australia 28 years ago), which takes place in the dining room of Holborn’s President Hotel.

Hardly cutting edge then, with more than enough samey, bloggy reviews littering online from over the years, I thought it would be of a curious interest nevertheless, as this is the kind of perennial hit show that many visitors feel epitomises cultural life in London, yet sails completely under the radar of most locals, year after sold-out year.

So should you go? Well, first up, the current cast have absolutely nailed their impersonations of Basil, Manuel and Sybil. Perhaps it’s that the mannerisms and catch phrases are just soooo familiar, but it really feels like the 1975 originals are in the room with us.

The mashup script - pulling in classic elements of all 12 episodes but sketching lightly around any actual storyline or direct quotes to avoid copyright issues (Cleese was initially going to sue) - is non-offensive enough, particularly if you’re a fan of the TV series; and who on earth isn’t?

Manuel’s endless Spanglish misunderstandings soon wear a bit tiresome, so the booze ends up doing a lot of heavy lifting, but the hooting birthday party tables get exactly what they want.

Our table of 10, made up of assorted theatrical types also cheerily taking up gala night invites, couldn’t work out if the 1970s throwback menu delivered an impressive level of immersive authenticity, in all it’s Bisto and boiled veg glory, or was simply dishing out the kind of dull hotel function-room food they otherwise might not get away with in 2025.

Poor service is obviously key to the experience too, which just about excuses the haphazard nature of dishes coming out - thankfully there’s plenty of orchestrated chaos going on all around, so it all blends in, in an almost charming kinda way.

Regardless, the inevitable appearance of the rat, some crockery-smashing and a fire extinguisher finale leaves us all tottering off into the night gently and unchallenging entertained, having had a nicely social old time, with plenty of 20th century Torquay hotel realism in the delivery.

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