Acklam Village Market

05/07/2025

🎶🍔🍻 One Year On... Acklam Village

It’s been a whole year since the gates of Acklam Village were locked for the last time and still, the emptiness is felt every weekend. What was once a vibrant hub of live music, street food, and community spirit now lies silent behind fencing and dust – waiting for a "redevelopment" that nobody asked for, and few even understand.

From reggae to rock, flamenco to funk, gospel to grime we had some 3,000 bands grace that stage in the last 15 years. Acklam was where first gigs happened, where toddlers danced barefoot, where old friends reunited over a pint, and where the soul of W10 and W11 came alive. 🍻💃👶🎤

It wasn’t just a venue. It was home. 🏠

And none of it would have happened without Dermot Cadogan, the passionate, stubborn, golden-hearted man behind it all. Dermot poured his spirit into that old sports hall and made it into a sanctuary for music, for food, for families and for everyone.

As Caroline said:
"Darling Dermot always had a love-hate relationship with Portobello, but he was always proud of what had been built from a disused sports hall. Acklam Village is much missed – as Dermot is. A hub for all – dogs, cats, everyone was welcome, as Dermot used to say. A strong-minded character with a heart of gold." 💛

Acklam wasn’t just part of the community – it was the community. Now it's gone. And for what? A "Community Street Project" that has no plan, no funding, and no pulse. Just another case of big business muscling out real culture, creativity, and connection.

But Acklam Village lives on in our memories, in the music, and in every person who danced, laughed, or felt at home there. 🎶💔

We miss it. We miss him.

13/08/2024

*𝐆𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐁𝐲𝐞 𝐀𝐜𝐤𝐥𝐚𝐦 𝐕𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐠𝐞*

Acklam Village- the venue right next to the Portobello vintage clothing market who, in the last fifteen years under the watchful eye of the recently deceased, Dermot Cadogan and his wife Caroline, hosted some 3000 bands from rock to reggae to grime to gospel and funk to Flamenco, flamenco - has been forced to shut its doors for good by the Westway Trust who manage the 23-acre site on behalf of the community. Little is known of what will replace it. One Trust source mentioned ‘storage’ and another the vaguely titled Community Street Project -a thoroughly undefined development that has no planning permission consent from the locals or funding. Indeed, the only thing we know is that it will turn the location into a building site for the foreseeable future, cost tens of millions and take upwards of three years to complete. Acklam Village, was a semi open family space that and entertained the whole community from infants to octogenarian sand was the hub of the W10/11 community each and every weekend. It was free to enter, the bar entertained pub prices price, the surrounding food court in-expensive and the live music, having attracted regular customers such as Rihanna, Mica Paris, Glen Matlock of the S*x Pistols, Paul Simonon of the Clash, Damon Albarn of Blur, BBC radio jocks, Gary Crowley, Don Letts Cerys Matthews, Bob Elms and Giles Peterson.

We and the whole community were proud of Acklam and now it’s gone and for what? It is now a cordoned off building site that does not allow fledgling bands their first gig, does not cater to those families who need to take their kids out to experience live music and does not employ 30 or more souls over a weekend.

Yet another example of BIG business and bureaucracy over the needs of a stricken community the loss of Acklam is testament to the short sighted, profit obsessed corrupt world in which we live, where money and greed comes first while creativity, love and bonhomie don’t even reach the top ten.

𝐑𝐈𝐏 𝐀𝐜𝐤𝐥𝐚𝐦 𝐠𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐠𝐨𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐧

19/06/2024

🛒 Join the movement to Save Acklam Village Market! 🛒

🖊️ Sign the petition today and let your voice be heard! 🖊️

👉 Add your support here:

Save Acklam Village Market: Sign Our Petition Today!

18/06/2024

🛒 Join the movement to Save Acklam Village Market! 🛒

🖊️ Sign the petition today and let your voice be heard! 🖊️

👉 Add your support here:

https://www.change.org/SaveAcklamVillageMarket

18/06/2024

🌟 Check out these amazing words from our incredible supporters! 🌟

🛍️ Save Acklam Village Market! 🛍️

✍️ Sign Our Petition Today and Make Your Voice Heard! ✍️

👉 Have your say here:

https://www.change.org/SaveAcklamVillageMarket

"Acklam is the HAPPIEST place in London to be. Live music for free! The friendliest, most down to earth people you will meet, great food. A kind and vibrant place, so good for your wellbeing."

"I'm a passionate advocate of live music venues. We've lost 35% of the UKs grassroots music venues in the last 5 years."

"Im a musican who has played this wonderful many times. It allows small unsigned band the opportunity to play live and gain experience. The music industry brings in huge incomes to London and the UK. But only if musicians are allowed to develop their skils and talents in places like this. As a member of the audience, this venue is one of the main reasons i go down to portobello and spend money on the food stalls. It is an institution and integral part of the atmosphere of portobello."

"This is a unique and outstanding and important community hub which must remain despite the gentrification of the Portobello and North Kensington."

"I love Portobello Road and the market on Acklam Rd is an integral part of this thriving diverse community-keep it"

16/06/2024

Acklam Village has replied via e-mail to Westway Trust dispelling many untruths. Sent 11th of June.

Acklam Village is awaiting a response from Westway Trust.

In the meantime, more information on this matter can be found in our petition here: https://www.change.org/p/save-acklam-village-market-sign-our-petition-today/

14/06/2024

We are calling for community support to demonstrate to the Westway Trust the essential role Acklam Village Market plays in the cultural and artistic life of Portobello Road. We celebrate the diversity and heritage of our community and are committed to preserving it.
We urge you to support our petition to the Westway Trust to:

1) Acklam Village is asking for an extension to our licence for a year to close down and allow for new ideas to celebrate the cultural heritage of Portobello and north Kensington.

2) Adhere to the phased building plans, ensuring minimal disruption to our market.

3) Support local live music venues.

4) Protect local jobs

Please sign today!

https://www.change.org/SaveAcklamVillageMarket

13/06/2024

We are calling for community support to demonstrate to the Westway Trust the essential role Acklam Village Market plays in the cultural and artistic life of Portobello Road. We celebrate the diversity and heritage of our community and are committed to preserving it.
We urge you to support our petition to the Westway Trust to:

1) Acklam Village is asking for an extension to our licence for a year to close down and allow for new ideas to celebrate the cultural heritage of Portobello and north Kensington.

2) Adhere to the phased building plans, ensuring minimal disruption to our market.

3) Support local live music venues.

4) Protect local jobs

Please sign today!
https://www.change.org/SaveAcklamVillageMarket

08/06/2024

🚨🚨 WE’RE OPEN AS USUAL🚨🚨… kind of?!

👷‍♂️We’re temporarily closed due to The Westway Trust’s building works

➡️ We are calling for community support to demonstrate to the Westway Trust the essential role Acklam Village Market plays in the cultural and artistic life of Portobello Road. We celebrate the diversity and heritage of our community and are committed to preserving it.

We urge you to support our petition to the Westway Trust to:

1) Acklam Village is asking for an extension to our licence for a year to close down and allow for new ideas to celebrate the cultural heritage of Portobello and North Kensington.

2) Adhere to the phased building plans, ensuring minimal disruption to our market.

3) Support local live music venues.

4) Protect local jobs

Please sign today!

https://www.change.org/SaveAcklamVillageMarket

06/06/2024

This petition was created by the members of Acklam Village Market Team, set up following imminent closure by Westway Trust.

Set under the flyover, we're predominantly visited by local residents who work at and frequent the live music venue, food market and bar, as well as musicians and performers who have played here, and supporters from further afar who enjoy the venue's eclectic atmosphere. Over the years, we've championed community initiatives, from supporting foodbanks to organsing children's outings and fundraisers.

Our market is more than just a venue with the flyover as it's roof (!); it’s a community hub brimming with artists' installations, murals, sculptures, and beloved blue plaques dedicated to our local heroes.

Save Acklam Village Market: Sign Our Petition Today!