THE PALMS AT PECKHAM
BEAUTY . HAIR . WELLNESS
A SOCIAL ENTERPRISE RETAIL WORK SPACE
SUPPORTING AND SUSTAINING INDEPENDENT BLACK CREATIVES
The Palms opened its doors in the heart of Peckham, South East London in 2019 – becoming the UK’s first dedicated Black hair and beauty destination, purpose-built for Afro hair, beauty and lifestyle start-ups. A unique Afrocentric retail space and community hub, The Palms exists as an innovative cultural enterprise and good practice model of urban renewal – offering subsidised and affordable rents, serving as a dynamic space for new and upcoming businesses, and providing a legacy home to the established community of independent Black hair stylists once located in nearby Blenheim Road.
The Palms at Peckham project was originated by Southwark Council. Following a successful bid by workspace design and operating company Something & Son, the ‘Peckham Palms’ organisation was established to manage the Southwark-owned site; collaborating with professional contractors Jerram Falkes, architects Llandolt Brown and architect Farouk Agora. From its inception, the goal of Peckham Palms was to bring on board a team of Directors; led in majority by local Black female creative entrepreneurs. The Palms’ originating board of Directors included Something & Son’s Paul Smyth, independent culture curator Cyndi Anafo and former site manager Monique Tomlinson; all of whom were integral to The Palms’ successful site launch. Community consultation company Tree Shepherd and The Palms’ first occupants of in-house cafe Mae J’s; Hazel Durrant and Sara Shipley, are among the many other brilliant collaborators who have played a great role in supporting the launch and evolution of The Palms.
