Brixton Buzz

Alex Davies overturned a Green majority to take Streatham St Leonard’s for the Liberal Democrats, while veteran community campaigner Michael Ball held Clapham Park for the Greens by just 43 votes in two closely fought by-elections decided at Lambeth Town Hall tonight.

Davies won with 1,161 votes (42%) to the Greens’ Dario Goodwin on 972 (35%), with Labour’s Jade Ellen Albas trailing on 421. The Lib Dems had finished third in the ward in May – making the gain all the more remarkable.

A fresh report has delivered another damning line to the epitaph of Claire Holland’s failed Labour administration, just weeks after their historic loss in May’s local elections.

Two decades of Labour rule in Lambeth have left the borough with one of the worst housing records in the country – chronic under-building, unsustainable temporary accommodation expenditure, the costly collapse of its own development company, Homes for Lambeth, and now another official finding against its conduct as one of London’s biggest landlords.

Lib Dem spokesperson Cllr Chris Nicholson delivered a damning appraisal of Lambeth’s former council leadership, telling Labour councillors in the chamber that 20 years in charge had left thousands of homes without basic fire safety checks and failing decent housing standards.

Nicholson, councillor for Clapham Common and Abbeville made the remarks at Lambeth’s first Cabinet meeting under new Green leadership on 1st July saying:

With England’s crucial World Cup game against Mexico kicking off at 1am on Monday morning, pubs across England have been given permission to stay open till the early hours of the morning,

However, not all pubs will be able to stay open so late, so we’ve trawled the internet to compile this list of pubs that will be open in Brixton and the surrounding area.

Please note that some venues will be charging entry, and double check with the venue before setting out as most require pre-booking.

Streatham residents have launched a CrowdJustice campaign to fund a legal challenge against Lambeth Council’s approval of a major development on and around Leigham Court Road.

The campaign has already raised more than £7,500 towards an interim target of £20,000, and a Pre Action Protocol letter — the formal precursor to a claim for Judicial Review of the council’s decision — is currently being drafted by counsel.

Lambeth Council must decide by 7th July 2026 whether to back down over its approval of a floodlit artificial sports pitch on protected woodland at Bishop Thomas Grant School (BTG) in Streatham, or defend a decision that residents’ lawyers say is unlawful, and risk a judicial review in Court.

The deadline follows a formal pre-action (judicial review) letter sent to the Council on 23 June by Richard Buxton Solicitors, acting for residents.

Streatham St Leonard’s By-Election Hustings: Question Time

Streatham Action is pleased to be hosting a hustings event ahead of the Streatham St Leonard’s council by-election.

This by-election will decide who becomes the third councillor for the St Leonard’s ward, following the resignation of a councillor after the 7th May election.

The event will take the form of a chaired Question Time, giving local residents the chance to hear directly from the candidates standing in the by-election and put their questions to them.

Have a question for the candidates?

UPDATE: see photos from the event here.

Now in its fourth year, the Big Caribbean Lunch will be returning to Windrush Square this Sunday, 28 June 2026.

The free event brings together hundreds of residents, community organisations, and visitors for a day of culture, remembrance, and celebration.

Held across Windrush Square and St Matthew’s Peace Gardens, the event will feature live music, cultural performances, guest speakers, arts activities, community stalls, and authentic Caribbean cuisine.

More info

The Big Caribbean Lunch

The Hillside Gardens Park Summer Fete will be taking place this weekend, and the organisers have now released full details of what to expect.

There’s a full line up of live music, plus plenty of stalls selling food, drink, bric-a-brac, crafts and more.

And of course, there’s the return of the Vegetable Sculpture competition.

More info

Hillside Gardens Summer Fete

Saturday 27th June, 12noon to 5pm

Free admission

Hillside Gardens Park

Hillside Road, SW2 3HL

Get directions

Hillside Gardens photo feature

Lambeth leader Martin Abrams secured the backing of national Green leader Zack Polanski at a rally in Clapham Park yesterday, and revealed he had instructed the council to fast-track protection for Brixton’s markets.

The application – to register Brixton Village and Market Row as Assets of Community Value – was lodged with the council by the markets’ traders and the Advocacy Academy, who also confirmed this week, that they had submitted a ‘competitive bid’ for the purchase of the market.