May 2026
Dear neighbours,
Please save the date for this year’s Newington Green Action Group AGM:
Tuesday 16th June, 7.30pm
Small Hall, The Mildmay Club
Everyone is welcome. The AGM is a chance to hear about current projects, discuss priorities for the year ahead and help shape the future direction of NGAG. We’ll also be electing trustees and are keen to get more people involved in the group.
NGAG is entirely volunteer-run and depends on people being willing to organise things, take projects forward and help make ideas happen. If you are interested in helping out more regularly or becoming a trustee please emailinfo@newingtongreen.org to arrange a chat with a current trustee.
Over the coming year we hope to build on existing work and expand activity in a number of areas, including restarting our community sponsorship refugee resettlement initiative, advocating and delivering environmental improvements and continuing to support the events and activities that bring people together locally.
Environment Sub-committee
Our Environment Sub-committee has been active in recent months, requesting information and engaging with the Mildmay Liveable Neighbourhood project team six months after the traffic filters were switched on.
We are keen to involve more residents in the wider work of the sub-committee and there will be an environment breakout discussion at the AGM. If you would like to get involved, please email environment@newingtongreen.org.
Jazz on the Green posters for sale
The posters for this year’s Jazz on the Green on the 27th June have proved extremely popular. A huge thank you to Ant atLight Creativefor the designs. We’ve had some requests for prints and they are now availablevia our website, with proceeds from sales will go towards paying the musicians performing at the event.
Local representatives details
Following the recent local elections, both Clissold Ward and Mildmay Ward- where the majority of you live or work- now have entirely new councillor teams. We know many residents will be keen to raise local issues and concerns but please remember that all six councillors are brand new to the role and will still be getting to grips with their inboxes, casework and the workings of the councils. Their contact details can be foundhere.
New arrivals and a fond farewell
Newington Green’s local business scene has had a busy few weeks, with a couple of high-profile restaurant openings: Golden Tooth has taken over the old Leconfield/Oak Bar site and Bar Etna on the Green generating column inches across the national press and food blogs.
At the same time, long-standing local fixture Hair by Omer on Newington Green Road closed last week after 44 years. Omer is off on his travels and the Islington Tribune did a piece to mark his retirement.
In solidarity,
Team NGAG
PS We normally try to keep emails to once a month, but there’s a lot happening at the moment, so expect to hear from us again later this week.
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Dear neighbours,
Jazz on the Green - Saturday 27 June
The line-up and poster for Jazz on the Green are now finalised and up on Instagram.
We’re very excited about the acts we’ve booked this year: a young trombonist and her band, a Sudanese funk band, a blues-reggae legend, a Kurdish folk singer and the Jazz Band from Central Foundation Boys’ School.
You’ll start seeing posters up around the area from this weekend. Huge thanks to Ant at Light Creative for the poster design.
If you’re interested in details about having a stall, please contact MC at jazz@newingtongreen.org.
Mildmay Liveable Neighbourhood
The Environment Sub-committee has continued its correspondence with Islington Council about the undelivered portions of the Mildmay Liveable Neighbourhood scheme.
There has been some progress, with all but one planter now completed and the raised tables around the Green repaired last week. This should help make bus journeys and getting off the bus at the Green much smoother.
As it has now been six months since the filters were introduced, we have requested air quality data and monitoring information relating to the cycle path at Ferntower Road. We have yet to receive anything worth sharing.
Please environment@newingtongreen.org if you would like to get more involved with this work.
Empty shops project
For a number of years we have been encouraging owners and landlords in the are to actively market their empty commercial properties.
There is huge demand for space in the area and, while we’ve had some success, particularly at the top of Ferntower Road and along Newington Green Road but there are still units sitting empty, including several directly on Newington Green itself.
We have details for all of the owners and want to continue encouraging them to bring these spaces back into use. If you would like to help with this project, please contact Jenny at jk@newingtongreen.org.
RIP Newington Green Puddle
The ponding that has plagued the north side of the Green for many years has finally been resolved. Two French drains have been fitted at the end of the path. We have been in contact with Islington Council about making sure the grass in that area grows back. Many thanks to Jenny for pushing this forward.
We’ll be back in touch very soon with news of two new additions to the Green. We hope to be able to share a reopening date for the cafe kiosk later this month and, let’s just say, a few of us may have been watching Marty Supreme recently...
In the meantime, this blog has some fascinating old photos and information about the Lady Mildmay site and the mural on Wolsey Road.
And finally, while walking through the Green last week, one of our trustees came across a resident carefully cleaning the water fountain using soap brought from home.Thank you, Banji. People like you are what make this area special.
In solidarity,
Team NGAG
PS Today is election day. Don’t forget to vote, and remember to bring ID with you when you do!