September 2026
Dear neighbours,
We hope you’re well and have been enjoying the last of the summer. There’s been quite a lot happening around Newington Green over the next couple of weeks, so here are a few updates from us.
Table Tennis
After a lot of back and forth, our new table tennis table is finally in, just north of the playground on the Green. We hope you enjoy it and get plenty of use out of it!
We’ve bought bats and balls, which are free to borrow from Early Bird, daily from 8am-5pm.
A big thank you to Gigi and the Early Bird team for helping us with this and making the bats and balls available to borrow. Please remember to support our local park kiosk when you can!
Environment sub-committee meeting
Thursday 17 September, 7.30pm
Mildmay Community Centre
Following discussions at our AGM, we’ve helped organise a community meeting with the IslingtonMildmay ward councillors to talk about traffic, buses and air quality around Newington Green.
If you’d like to get in touch beforehand, you can email us at environment@newingtongreen.org.
Welcome to some new local businesses
A few months ago, we wrote about some of the work we were doing to encourage long-term closed commercial units around the Green to reopen. We’re really pleased that three such sites have opened over the summer and another two will open in October.
Please give them a warm welcome- and, where you can, support them!
A new beauty and wellness space at 49 Green Lanes, Rejuvenation Hub offers a range of aesthetic treatments. It’s run by Terri, who has more than 20 years’ experience in the beauty and wellness industry.
A new cafe at 2 Matthias Road. It is run Hilmi Kale who has owned Matthias Supermarket, next door, for over 25 years.
There’s a new daytime food spot at 51 Newington Green. Owned by Fran, with Karol as Head Chef, they are inspired by Canadian/American nostalgia.
A new cafe, pottery and crafts space is opening 119 Newington Green Road next month.
Opening in a few weeks at 73 Matthias Road. The studio focuses on making reformer Pilates more accessible, including concessionary classes and monthly sessions for visually impaired clients.
To mark the opening on Saturday 3 October, they will be offering free classes throughout the day for local residents; no previous experience is required. Just pop in and say you read about it in the NGAG newsletter
Saucony Run Shoreditch Half Marathon
A heads-up for next weekend: Saucony Run Shoreditch will be coming through the area and there will be significant road closures to facilitate the event.
It’s a half marathon and it will be taking place on Sunday 20 September. There will be temporary changes and closures along the route, so if you’re planning to drive, cycle or travel through the area, it’s worth checking the latest information before setting off.
Roads will reopen progressively as runners complete each section, but expect some disruption during the morning.
You can find the route map and race-day information here in the route and race-day guide.
Rough sleeping on the Green
Over the summer there’s been an increase in rough sleeping around the Green. Thank you to everyone who has got in touch with us about this.
We’ve been able to liaise with Islington Council’s Street Population team, who work with people sleeping rough to offer support and help people move into accommodation.
Please continue to get in touch with us if you have concerns or think there is something we can help with. We’ll do our best to connect with the appropriate local services.
Please pass on this newsletter to other local residents who might like to join the Newington Green Action Group community. They can sign up here.
In solidarity,
Team NGAG