Are immigration figures really rising? Or does processing immigrants take longer?

by Sara Valle-Martínez Net migration in the UK is expected to reach almost 250,000 annually over the next few years, despite Prime Minster Rishi Sunak’s pledge to drive down the number of new arrivals. That’s according to the data released by the Office for Budget Responsibility this month. This increase in immigration last year was primarily driven by …

Maya Hawke at Lafayette in London with opener Manu Grace

Written and captured by Sara Valle-Martínez People gathered on a Monday night in indie venue Lafayette in London to see what the actor-turned-singer Maya Hawke had to offer. South African singer Manu Grace opened for a crowd of expectant fans with a set of groovy beats and unguarded lyrics. Standing on stage in her green velvet dress with her guitar and …

Tattoos at work: does body art mean a lack of professionalism?

by Sara Valle-Martínez Imagine the following scenario: you spend hundreds – sometimes thousands – of pounds on a tattoo design by your favourite artist. Just a few days later, when you’re finally able to share your beloved body art with the world after the tedious healing process has ended, your employer tells you that you …

Festive spirit lacking before Saturday’s Christmas event

By Gülsüm Bölük, Fatou Coulibaly, Sam Sorabjee, and Sara Valle-Martínez Nag’s Head business owners in Holloway feel disconnected from the upcoming community Christmas event to be held this weekend. Islington Council announced yesterday that a Festive Lights Event will take place in Nag’s Head Marketon Saturday, November 19, with Islington’s Mayor, Marian Spall, switching on the Christmas lights. …

Warm beer? Industry workers speak out amid economic crisis

By Sara Valle-Martínez, Lauren Spencer and Gabriela Yorgova Breweries might have to serve warm beer amid blackout warnings from the National Grid’s chief executive, and Holloway hospitality businesses are worried they might have to close down. John Pettigrew said earlier this month Britain could be affected by the winter blackouts from 4pm to 7pm during …

Cruel Hearts Club: The unstoppable punk rock super mums do it again

By Sara Valle-Martínez / Heading photo courtesy of cruelheartsclub.com Cruel Hearts Club is what you didn’t know you needed. On stage they look like grungy Powerpuff Girls – three badass gals with an edge. Armed with their axe-guitar, sword-bass, earth-shattering drums, and almighty voices, they’re ready to blow your speakers and rock your world. Edie …

Friends of Wray Crescent: Being green and saving bees

By Sara Valle-Martínez Wray Crescent in Islington, North London, fills up with sunshine on a Saturday morning. Ten neighbours gather, pushing wheelbarrows full of compost, digging the ground with their shovels, and chatting animatedly as they chug their cold cans of ginger beer. They don’t miss a beat. They dry off the sweat on their foreheads before resuming …

What a ball-sy throwback to childhood!

By Sara Valle-Martínez You can practically find anything in London, even things that you never thought you needed. There’re cat cafés, a junkyard full of neon signs, a tattoo shop with a fortune wheel and… a ball pit for adults. Ballie Ballerson is in the heart of East London. The quirky and trendy streets of Shoreditch, with walls plastered in graffiti, …