SEE3 Newsletter
Newsletter | September 2026
See3 keeps you up to date on all the happenings, events and news going on in Sydenham.
SEE3 is an initiative that started in 2012 to support the high streets of Sydenham, Kirkdale and Forest Hill. We organise free community events and activities and in June we had a successful indoor market at the Sydenham Centre.
Dates for your calendar for our upcoming events
Sydenham Fun Palace on
Saturday 3 October
Halloween on Saturday 31 October
Christmas lights on
Saturday 28 November
Christmas Market on
Saturday 5 December.
Our website not only posts events across Forest Hill, Sydenham and Kirkdale but also posts community notes and issues. To sign up to this newsletter or if you have any queries please contact see3traders@gmail.com. We are always looking for volunteers to help with our events and activities so please give us a shout if you have some free time.
Chris Best, Chair of SEE3
Sydenham
Come along to FREE activities and workshops for Adults and Children
The Sydenham Assembly that usually takes place before the Fun Palace has been cancelled by the Green Councillors. We are waiting to hear if they will continue so we can advertise the dates. Their Councillors surgery takes place on the second Saturday of the month at Sydenham Library.
We are looking forward to the Sydenham Fun Palace at the Sydenham Centre. Once again we welcome Yamile who will start the afternoon with a Salsa class; Yamile runs classes on Tuesday evenings. We have an AfroBeat dance workshop and plenty of fun activities for children throughout the afternoon. We are delighted that Imke is joining us for another fascinating talk on the Life and Times of Emil Zatopek (1922 - 2000) the long distance runner who won triple gold medals at the Olympics only to run into trouble with the Czech authorities. The afternoon finishes at 4pm with a Historic walk led by the Sydenham Society (weather permitting!).
The programme link is funpalaces.co.uk/fun-palace/sydenham-fun-palace-5/ The list of workshops and activities will continue to be updated with new information until the event. No need to book any of the activities or workshops except for Ignition Brewery tours which you can do at www.eventbrite.com/e/fun-palace-ignition-brewery-tour-tasting-tickets
News in Brief
Cast your vote for your favourite businesses for the Lewisham Business Awards. Closing date Friday 2 October at 9am.
Here For Good is having a Silver Anniversary on Saturday 10 October 11.30 - 1.30pm at 17 Sydenham Road with free tea/ coffee and cake. Contact info@foresthill.cc for more information.
Kirkdale Bookshop turns 60 on Saturday 10 October and they're having a party! Go to kirkdalebookshop.com for more information.
The Moustache on Kirkdale has reinvented itself into a wine bar with a menu open
Friday & Saturday 6-11pm Follow them @the moustache99 on instagram.
Sydenham Night Market that ran every Friday for 10 weeks from the 17 July to 18 September from 5 - 10pm on Station Approach. There was a fantastic range of food stalls as well as drinks served by local traders. Residents came in huge numbers to create a real buzz and enjoyed ourdoor dining on the tables and chairs. Huge thanks to the Mayor of London for funding these successful Summer markets. We were delighted to support the summer markets that were a great success offering great food, treats and sense of community.
Get your See3 shopping bag for only £2! Available at Journey Cafe
Journey Cafe10 Kirkdale SE26 4BG
Vardo 96 Kirkdale SE26 4BG
Olive & More 13 Perry Vale, Forest Hill, SE23 2NE
and will also be available at most See3 events like the Fun Palace and Christmas Market. You can also email see3traders@gmail.com to order one or several.
Come along to all the wonderful events available for Halloween!
Sip n Dance' workshop sessions coordinated by Melissa a parent and JRHYS Community Coordinator. Scan the QR code for more information.
Met Engage next Ward Panel is Monday 26 October at 6pm at the usual place: Grove Centre Church, Main House Hall (downstairs).
The Sydenham Centre
The future of the Sydenham Centre was a very hot topic at the last assembly meeting in Saturday 22 June.
We have heard mixed feedback about the current state and usage of the Sydenham Centre from residents, many of whom would like to see the centre being used more by the communities around Sydenham. Can the appropriate cabinet member update on any plans to improve the centre and increase usage?
The council is currently in lease negotiations for the Sydenham Centre with a charitable organisation. The charitable organisation have submitted a proposal and a draft business plan which seeks to retain the centre's community functions while diversifying use to strengthen sustainability and broaden local benefit and access. Some improvements to the building are currently underway in preparation for the issuing of the lease which is intended to improve the operation and upkeep of the centre whilst maintaining its use by the local community. We recognise that not all community members and organisations have been fully sighted on the intended plans for the centre and have expressed concerns about the future use of the centre. We will ensure that we and Brighter Horizons collectively engage with Sydenham organisations and the community in the coming months regarding plans for the centre and how the community can be involved.
Community Banking Hub
At the beginning of the year, it was announced that our last remaining bank, the NatWest on the corner of Sydenham Road and Queensthorpe Road, was to close.
The good news is that a banking hub run by Cash Access UK is to open on the central core of Sydenham Road to take its place. Run by the major high street banks, there are currently more than 200 banking hubs in the UK and their numbers are growing fast. Banking hubs provide cash and basic banking services and can be used by members of all major banks and building societies to deposit cash and cheques and withdraw money.
The hubs also offer a community banker service where customers can talk to their own bank about more complicated banking issues. The community bankers work on rotation, with someone from each of five different banks available for consultation, one on each day of the working week, Monday-Friday 9am-5pm.
In mid September, Chris Best, Chair of SEE3, and two members of the Sydenham Society met with a representative of Cash Access UK to view possible locations for the new bank on Sydenham Road. Our three local councillors were invited but did not attend the meeting.
We isolated three possible locations: The existing NatWest bank, the Sydenham post office and 15 Sydenham Road. The existing NatWest bank will not close until the new hub bank is up and running.
Spontaneous Productions has exciting productions coming up. First the Princess and the Frog
spontaneousproductions.co.uk
Craft Metropolis
It was great to enjoy a pint at Craft Metropolis on its opening weekend.
This new addition to Sydenham Road is a café by day, craft beer shop and taproom by night. It’s a great use of the old Good Food deli shop and feels like a really positive addition to the high street.
Visiting on the final night of the new summer Sydenham Night Market, with Saka Maka opposite absolutely packed, there was a real buzz around the high street. It was brilliant to see so many people out enjoying Sydenham and supporting local traders.
There’s clearly a real passion behind the business, and I’m looking forward to seeing Craft Metropolis become part of the Sydenham community.
It's well worth popping in for a coffee or a pint and checking out what’s on offer. You can follow Craft Metropolis on Instagram at @craftmetropolissydenham for the latest coffee and beer news.
www.craftmetropolis.co.uk
Christmas in Sydenham
Sydenham Community Project update
Sydenham Community Project CIC is working closely with the council on improving the site of the Christmas tree planter and sorting out a Christmas Tree and street Lighting Ceremony on Saturday 28 November. We will be at Ignition Brewery selling Christmas Cards, raffle tickets and have a lucky dips for kids.
We have a proposal to the council about raising the planter and the best soil to use as well as well as working out the best course of action on the future of a sustainable tree please stay tune for updates on the website.
In partnership with See3 there is also the Christmas Market on Saturday 5 December This year we may forgo the Santa Grotto but we hope to have it back by next year. Unless of course we have a Christmas miracle. We will keep you posted on our website.
sydenhamcommunityproject@gmail.com | sydenhamcommunityproject.com
Dragonfly Yoga Studio
A New Community Wellbeing Hub for Sydenham
Dragonfly Yoga Studio is entering an exciting new chapter evolving beyond a traditional yoga studio to become a more comprehensive community wellbeing hub.
After carefully reviewing how we could best serve the local community, we made the decision to move away from operating a traditional café. While we loved the social connection that the café created, we recognised that the space had the potential to do much more and align more closely with Dragonfly's core purpose of supporting physical, mental and community wellbeing.
More Ways to Support Your Wellbeing
Dragonfly will bring together a wider range of wellbeing, recovery and therapeutic services under one roof, complementing our established yoga, movement and community activities. Our developing wellbeing offer will include sauna facilities, cold plunge therapy, biotherapy sessions, Reformer Pilates and additional physical therapy and treatment services.
Our Zero Waste Shop is also being expanded, with a broader selection of products supporting sustainable and environmentally conscious living.
A Place to Connect and Work
We recognise that one of the most valuable things about the café was a sense of community. Tea and coffee will therefore still be available, and we aim to create a welcoming space where people can relax, meet others or work away from home.
We want Dragonfly to be welcoming space, a genuine community wellbeing hub.
£5 Yoga Supporting St Christopher's Hospice
Community means supporting others too. Our commitment to St Christopher's Hospice will continue through our Dragonfly 100 campaign, bringing together wellbeing and fundraising. Through the campaign, selected yoga sessions will be available for just £5, with the money supporting St Christopher's Hospice and the extraordinary care it provides to local people and families. Good for you, good for your community and good for a local charity providing vital care.
New Studio Manager
Daniela brings more than 25 years of experience in education, including senior leadership, special educational needs, inclusion and safeguarding and 40 years in Lewisham. Alongside her professional background, Daniela has developed a deep personal passion for yoga, meditation and breath work, including completing 400 hours of yoga teacher training in the UK and India. She is passionate about wellbeing, connection and creating welcoming spaces within the community, and is excited to help Dragonfly grow and develop.
Proud to Be Recognised in Lewisham
We are incredibly proud that Dragonfly Yoga has been shortlisted for the Lewisham Mayor’s Business Award 2026. This recognition is particularly meaningful because it reflects what Dragonfly has aimed to be; business that is part of the community rather than simply a business operating in the community.
Come and Discover the New Dragonfly with wings.
Dragonfly is evolving but our purpose remains the same: helping our community feel better, move better, connect more and live well.
We look forward to welcoming you to the new Dragonfly Community Wellbeing Hub in Sydenham.
www.dragonfly-yoga.org
The Poodle Club
The Poodle Club 2026/2027 season launch
poodleclubsydenham@gmail.com
Join The Sydenham Society
The Sydenham Society, founded in 1972, aims to be a voice for Sydenham and to make SE26 a better place to live and work. Join and get a quarterly newsletter on news of the area below.
chair@sydenhamsociety.com
sydenhamsociety.com
Ignition Brewery
Not only does Ignition offer locally brewed beer they also have a slew of events
hello@ignition.beer
www.ignition.beer
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