Greg Cochrane

North-east Londoners, rejoice! One of Walthamstow’s most illustrious buildings is getting a major makeover. In its heyday, the former EMD Cinema saw performances from The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Dusty Springfield, James Brown and Johnny Cash, and Alfred Hitchcock used to watch films there when he was a lad. Parts of the building now contain the restaurant/bar Mirth, Marvel & Maud, but the spectacular art deco auditorium has been closed to the public for almost two decades. Now, Waltham Forest Council has bought the place and is planning to restore it to its former glory. Currently, the old cinema auditorium is full of scaffolding. The paint is peeling off the ceiling, the balcony seats are covered in plastic sheets and pigeons lurk among the rafters. But – like the recently opened EartH in Hackney and Alexandra Palace Theatre – a major restoration programme is planned to bring this derelict space back to life as an entertainment venue. The council says the 1,000-capacity space will fill a gap in the market, becoming ‘a local venue with a national profile’. In a smart move, Waltham Forest (which is currently the first official London Borough of Culture) has partnered with the brilliant Soho Theatre to programme the venue. The only snag? It’s going to take three years to fix up. Once the EMD reopens in late 2022, expect some big names to make their way to E17. Sign up here to get the latest from London straight to your inbox.

A performance from Damon Albarn and Africa Express, a vast outdoor light installation by Zarah Hussain and a theatrical experience staged in the canopy of Epping Forest are among the ambitious plans confirmed today by Waltham Forest. Having triumphed over 21 other districts to become the first ever London Borough of Culture in a competition initiated by the Mayor, this morning it revealed the line-up for the year-long celebration – and the huge programme mixes famous locals with upcoming talent in music, film and art. The celebration of culture begins with a three-day opening event, ‘Welcome to the Forest’, on January 11-13, fronted by Leytonstone boy and former Mercury Prize winner Talvin Singh. He’ll tell the story of the borough in an original audiovisual piece, alongside a ‘winter carnival’ street market and a sound-and-light installation at Lloyd Park, home of the William Morris Gallery. Another Leytonstone native, Blur frontman Damon Albarn, will play a show in the borough with Africa Express in March. Later in the year there’ll be a residency from the New Adventures dance company, led by Walthamstow-educated Matthew Bourne. The celebrations will also feature a jazz festival on February 16 with performances from Ginger Baker, Thurston Moore and Emma-Jean Thackray; workshops in immersive metalworking running throughout April, inspired by the borough’s history of making tin toys; and a huge bicycle procession through Chingford as part of its May Day Fayre. London’s Art N

When people talk about Walthamstow, Wood Street isn’t the first place that comes to mind. They’re more likely to talk about the beautiful Georgian building that houses the William Morris Gallery, the quaint lanes of Walthamstow Village or the old dog-racing stadium that’s now a huge housing development. But less than a mile east from the top end of the Victoria line, Wood Street has its own proud history. This three-quarter-mile stretch of road – which mostly dates from the nineteenth century – was home to a successful silent film studio, part of the area’s rich cinema heritage. While the movies have moved on, Wood Street remains a vibrant place, mixing Waltham Forest’s strong local spirit with an influx of young creatives moving to these more affordable fringes to take advantage of the Overground line that goes straight to Liverpool Street. Which means you get enterprising independent businesses popping up in traditional settings, such as the shops in the Georgian Village market. Team that with an active arts community (responsible for the street murals adorning walls, pubs and shops) and you get a place that feels as colourful and energetic as anywhere in London. As a standout piece of graffiti by London artist Ronzo (on the side of a key-cutting shop) puts it: ‘All good in the Wood.’ Drink this A post shared by The Duke E17 (@thedukee17) on Aug 20, 2017 at 4:16am PDT A Berry Bourbon or The Old Cuban cocktail at The Duke. You can also choose from a dozen burgers