When The Pogues came to Skehans

Incredible scenes at Skehans pub (Kitto Road SE14) last week when the surprize musical guests turned out to be... The Pogues. Yes I know Pogues singer Shane MacGowan is two year's gone, but this line up included key founding members Spider Stacey and Jem Finer, and some amazing guest musicians including Darragh Lynch from Lankum and Iona Zajac

(photo from Pogues bassist Holly Mullineaux insta)

The event on 10 December 2025 was actually the Christmas party for food pop up Pears for Lunch, founded by food writer and cook Ben Lippett with the party sponsored by Jameson's whiskey. The place was absolutely packed, as you might expect.

(for people who don't know the pub I should point out that it's not one of those pubs with a big back room for gigs etc - the Pogues were right in the public bar)

Critical Mass mark killing of cyclist on Old Kent Road.

 Hundreds of cyclists rode down Old Kent Road and New Cross Road last week (Friday 28 November 2025) as part of the monthly Critical Mass ride. 

Critical Mass is a monthly bike ride on the last Friday in over 300 cities, started in 1992 and in London in 1994, to highlight bike-unfriendly cities. With no formal leadership, cyclists meet at a set time and place to ride together. In London, people meet on the last Friday of the month 19:00 on the South Bank under Waterloo Bridge.

Critical Mass outside the New Cross Inn

The ride paused on the Old Kent Road near the Dunton Road junction where a 'ghost bike' memorial had been placed to mark the death of a cyclist a week before. A 34 year cyclist was killed there on 21 November 2025, a driver has been arrested 'on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving' 

Flare and flowers on Critical Mass ride

The cyclist has not been publicly named at this stage, but there are some very touching messages from friends on site - 'you were one of the most genuine people we ever met, kind, generous and hilarious' - a reminder that behind each road death statistic is a terrible personal tragedy.