An update from Southwark Council.
Summer has well and truly arrived at Nunhead Cemetery, and we are lucky to enjoy the longer days beneath the tree canopy and in the shadow of the Anglican Chapel Ruin.
If you’ve visited recently, or attended any of our activities, you may have seen significant progress on the East Lodge compound. In this edition of our newsletter, we share these updates alongside a look back at a very busy spring and a look ahead to the summer months. From restoration milestones to community events, there is plenty to explore as we move closer to the Lodge’s reopening in 2027!
Thank you for your continued support and interest in the project and we look forward to welcoming you onsite soon.
For more Nunhead Cemetery updates, follow Southwark Council (@southwarkcouncil) and Friends of Nunhead Cemetery (@nunheadcemetery) on social media.
PAYE Stonework and Restoration have officially completed the shell and core works on the East Lodge. Works to the external envelope were completed this month and it has been wonderful to see the front rooms and the portico fully reinstated. Our thanks go to PAYE for their dedication and craftsmanship over the past year. We now welcome Warwick Landscaping on site to deliver the surrounding landscape works.
Work also continues across the cemetery’s woodland areas, including improvements around the pond and the installation of new bat boxes to support local biodiversity.
Call for a Building Operator
We are seeking an operator to help realise our vision for East Lodge as a vibrant café and community space, ensuring the building is well run, financially sustainable, and cared for over the long term. The lease opportunity is now advertised on the KALMARs website and viewings have resumed. Please spread the word. Interested parties can contact us at .
It’s fair to say the past few months at the Cemetery have been very busy. May saw the inaugural Nunhead Cemetery Late, held on 15 May, where more than 1,000 visitors enjoyed artworks created by Goldsmiths students and staff, alongside food and drink from Dinner for One Hundred and Pure Cane. For the evening, the cemetery was transformed into a vibrant, atmospheric space full of creativity and joy. More information about upcoming Lates will be shared towards the end of the year.
The next day the project team took part in the iconic Nunhead Cemetery Open Day, sharing updates about the project and enjoying the contributions of local organisations, charities, performers and more. PAYE stonemason Anna also led a demonstration of her work, which has now been installed on the Lodge’s portico! It was wonderful to meet so many of you and hear about how excited you are about the East Lodge restoration.
In June we held our first Pride event, Here Lies Love, led by author and activist Dan Glass and historian Betsy Echessa. Despite the rain, we were delighted to welcome more than 130 attendees keen to explore queer history in south‑east London and enjoy a memorable performance from the South East London Queer Choir.
We have also been working with Ivy Club and Narrative by Design on a new short film exploring memories of the cemetery and the theme of care. The film will be available to view in East Lodge and will also be shared online ahead of opening.
Upcoming Events
Secret Adventurers Club returns with Wild Woodland Adventurers, a free family activity day inviting children to explore the cemetery’s woodland areas through play, nature crafts and outdoor discovery. Sessions are designed to help families connect with the site’s wildlife and green spaces. Book via the link, or turn up on the day.
Open Call for art exhibitions in Anglican Chapel Ruin
We are launching an open call for art exhibitions, performances, workshops and engagement activities – particularly family‑friendly programming – to take place in the atmospheric Anglican Chapel ruin as part of the East Lodge restoration. To find out more or discuss a proposal, please email Outreach and Development Manager Catrin Podgorski at .
This project is being delivered in partnership with Southwark Council and Friends of Nunhead Cemetery (FONC), and made possible by generous funding from the Heritage Fund.
Last Updated on 28th July 2026
