Orpington Oatcake
Our café award result, plus Poverest Centre talks
Published Thursday 24 September 2026
Have your say on Poverest Centre this weekend, join a Sukkot supper and browse a children's sale.
Top Updates
ExN Social wins our independent café award
Congratulations to ExN Social in Green Street Green, winner of our 2026 Best Independent Café Award. The café at 27 Green Street Green pairs coffee with a bike workshop and cycling club. Thank you to everyone who nominated, voted or shared the award, and congratulations to all the other nominees. Meet the winner and nominees.
Three chances to discuss Poverest Centre this weekend
Bromley Council is considering closing the Poverest Centre building, moving adult education to other venues and using the site for affordable housing. No final decision has been made. You can discuss the proposal at Poverest Centre from 1:30pm to 3pm on Friday 25 September or 9:30am to 11am on Saturday 26 September, and at Orpington Library from noon to 1:30pm on Saturday. The consultation closes on Sunday 18 October. Read the proposal and respond.
Have your say on Bromley's air-quality plan
A council consultation asks for views on its draft Air Quality Action Plan for 2027 to 2031. Proposals include cutting emissions from construction, supporting cleaner transport, expanding electric-vehicle charging and reducing engine idling. The survey closes at midnight on Sunday 18 October. Read the draft plan and complete the survey.
Dates For Your Diary
Wednesday 30 September, from 7pm · £45
Oktoberfest tasting at One Inn The Wood
One Inn The Wood in Petts Wood is holding a 30-place tasting night with four German steins and a sausage sharing platter for each table. Tickets must be booked in advance. Book OKTO Stein Night.
Friday 9 to Sunday 11 October
Orpington Liberal Club beer and cider festival
The club's autumn festival brings more than 30 real ales, ciders and perries to Station Road. It runs from noon to 11pm on Friday and Saturday, then noon to 5pm on Sunday. Entry is free for club and CAMRA members, or £1 per day for others. Members can also attend a preview evening from 6pm on Thursday 8 October. See the festival programme.
Sunday 18 October, 2:30pm–3:30pm
Orpington Band concert for Welcare
Orpington Band plays a fundraising concert for family-support charity Welcare at St Mary's Church in Green Street Green. Save the concert date.
What's On
Thursday 24 September
Singers and musicians night at the folk club, 8pm · £3 cash. Perform a song or tune, or simply listen to traditional, contemporary and blues music at Orpington Folk Club's open singers' night. It takes place at Farnborough Social Club, 6 Pleasant View Place; the event and venue are cash only. See the folk-club programme.
Friday 25 September
Meet Orpington's neighbourhood police team, Noon and 3pm · free. Orpington's Safer Neighbourhoods Team holds a Cuppa with a Copper at Orpington Library at noon, followed by a walk and talk in Priory Gardens at 3pm. Both are chances to raise local concerns in person. See the team's upcoming events.
Sukkot Friday-night dinner at Sadeh Farm, 7pm–9pm · suggested donation £4–£10. Sadeh Farm in Skeet Hill Lane welcomes everyone, including children and people with no previous experience of Judaism, for candles, challah, singing and a shared meal beneath its sukkah. Bring a vegetarian dish without cheese, wine or wine vinegar. Sign up for the community dinner.
Huskies open-mic night, 7:30pm–10:30pm. Singers, musicians, poets and spoken-word performers can take a turn at Orpington Liberal Club's Huskies Night, or come along to listen. See the club's current listings.
Saturday 26 September
Baby and children's nearly-new sale, 2pm–4pm · £2 adults, children free. The Mum2Mum Market returns to Orpington Methodist Church on Sevenoaks Road with hundreds of pre-loved baby, children's and maternity items. See the market details.
Off the Beaten Vine wine tasting, 3pm–5pm · £20. Taste wines from lesser-known regions and learn about their traditions with Wine and Spirit Education Trust diploma student John Kingscott at Orpington Liberal Club. Tickets are sold at the club bar; non-members also pay £1 for club entry. See the tasting details.
Tuesday 29 September
Home-education nature group at High Elms, 1pm–2:30pm · £5.50 per child. Children aged five and over can learn outdoors with High Elms Country Park's education team. An adult must stay with each child, and the exact meeting point will be emailed before the session. Book the High Elms session.