Brixton Buzz

Founded in Brixton’s Market Row back in 2008, Franco Manca’s popularity saw it eventually being swallowed up by private equity and growing into a nationwide chain of 70 pizza restaurants.

Last month, the pizza chain’s current owners, Toridoll Holdings corporation of Japan, decided that the Brixton branch wasn’t making enough money, so it was scheduled for closure at the end of May 2026.

However, anyone looking to grab a farewell pizza will be disappointed, as their Atlantic Road premises were already locked up by last weekend.

Cllr Matthew Bryant has been elected leader of Lambeth’s Liberal Democrat group, stepping up from deputy leader after the party doubled its representation from four to eight seats on 7th May.

Bryant replaces Donna Harris, who stood down at the recent elections for health reasons after four years as group leader. He represents Streatham Hill West and Thornton and previously led on finance and the budget.

Cllr Tam Langley (Stockwell East) joins as deputy leader, and Cllr Simon Cordon (Clapham Common and Abbeville) as whip.

Lambeth Greens have paid tribute to Cllr Joanna Eaves, who has resigned from her Clapham Park seat due to ill health just days after becoming the ward’s first ever Green councillor on 7th May.

Eaves was a well-known community campaigner in the ward, having founded a local gardening group and led campaigns to save the last local shop from closure and to protect street trees.

She said:

“I’ve always believed that politics is about getting out there and listening to residents, doing things, and helping people.

Lambeth Greens have paid tribute to Cllr Joanna Eaves, who has resigned from her Clapham Park seat due to ill health just days after becoming the ward’s first ever Green councillor on 7th May.

Eaves was a well-known community campaigner in the ward, having founded a local gardening group and led campaigns to save the last local shop from closure and to protect street trees.

She said:

“I’ve always believed that politics is about getting out there and listening to residents, doing things, and helping people.

This astonishingly long train carrying new cars was seen travelling east through Brixton last week.

Pulled by just one locomotive, the goods train took over one and a half minutes to rumble past our camera.

In case you wondered why there’s so few colours to be seen in that long trainload, this handy website and graphic (below) shows how dull car colours have become:

Lambeth Green Party members gather online this evening for a hustings with eleven candidates seeking the party’s nomination for the expected Streatham St Leonard’s by-election.

The seat became vacant after Saiqa Ali, who was suspended by the party during the campaign, declined to take her seat. A win would take the Greens to 29 on the 63-seat council, strengthening newly elected leader Martin Abram’s position as he seeks to form an administration.

The candidates are:

Anidi, Emmanuel – smart meter engineer and COVID volunteer with British Gas

Lambeth Green Party members gather online this evening for a hustings with eleven candidates seeking the party’s nomination for the expected Streatham St Leonard’s by-election.

The seat became vacant after Saiqa Ali, who was suspended by the party during the campaign, declined to take her seat. A win would take the Greens to 29 on the 63-seat council, strengthening newly elected leader Martin Abram’s position as he seeks to form an administration.

The candidates are:

Anidi, Emmanuel – smart meter engineer and COVID volunteer with British Gas

Former Clapham East councillor Andrew Collins has left Labour and joined the Green Party, following what he described as ‘longstanding ally’ Martin Abrams into the party.

In a statement on the Lambeth Green Party website, Collins described Claire Holland’s Labour as a ‘morally bankrupt sham’ that has ‘deteriorated under the current leadership.’

Speaking exclusively to Brixton Buzz, Collins said he had been “inspired by the Green Party’s radical leadership” and hoped to help the local party “fight austerity, empower residents, and address housing neglect in the borough.”

Saiqa Ali, the suspended Green candidate elected for Streatham St Leonard’s just last week, has decided not to take up her seat – leaving one of three seats vacant in what has long been the Green Party’s strongest ward in the borough.

The seat was won on 7 May by Saiqa Ali who initially stood as a Green candidate but had been suspended by the party before polling day following controversial social media posts.

As we reported yesterday, Martin Abrams has now been confirmed as the new leader of the Lambeth Green Party, after his party won 29 of Lambeth’s 63 seats, ending Labour’s 20‑year control.

The Greens have now issued a statement about his appointment:

Martin Abrams elected Leader of Lambeth Green Group

Martin Abrams, councillor for Streatham Hill East, has been chosen by his fellow councillors and party members as leader of Lambeth Green Group.

Ciara Alleyne and Natalie Kane have been elected as the Deputy Leaders of the Group.