Following its launch in 2021 The Drummond Street Neighbourhood project, a collaborative effort between Euston Town BID-, Drummond Street traders, Jan Kattein Architects and Camden Council, is thrilled to unveil a Season of Spice – a series of community-led events to unite and highlight this historic and vibrant area of London, commencing this summer.  

Drummond Street is home to some of London’s best independent and family-run authentic restaurants, including many of the capital’s oldest South Asian restaurants, and the birthplace of household brand Patak’s Pickles and national Indian sweet shop, Ambala Sweets. Aiming to reinvigorate an area that has been affected by COVID and building works with a long-term view to regenerate the area, the Season of Spice is sure to showcase the colour and spice of life this street embodies.   

Kicking off the Season of Spice will be a day of community-led street celebrations on Saturday, 29 July, with The Drummond Street Summer Sundowner from 6pm, following the Regent’s Roots arts and community festival which will take place from 12 noon at the other end of the street. 

 Chair of the Drummond St Trader Forum, Wali Uddin said, “The traders of Drummond Street are so excited for this campaign, showcasing what we do best and inviting people to experience what we know is a very special community full of culture and character. Many of the restaurants here have been handed down through family generations, so there is a unique passion for the authenticity of the food here. It’s rare to find a London street full of independent businesses, and it’s something to celebrate and protect. We can’t wait to get started in making this a very special summer on Drummond Street.”

The 15 restaurants based on Drummond Street will offer taster dishes for only £5 enabling festival goers to test out the signature specials all along the street. The evening will Be a celebration of cuisines from across the world, complemented by DJs, Bollywood dancing, henna artists and creative workshops.

Mariam Hassan, Local Programmes Manager, Old Diorama Arts Centre said, “We at ODAC are very excited to be part of the festivities, it has been a great and special experience to be able to work with many local residents from the Regents Park Estate, whom many are from the eight countries of South Asia. Combining both Regent’s Roots and The Drummond Street Summer Sundowner on the same day will really bring everyone together – we can’t wait to see the streets closed!”

Next, working closely with local school, Maria Fidelis, comes a mural designed in a partnership between art students and Global Street Art. The students will be taking a trip to Drummond Street and using the colours, flavours and shapes of the fresh produce, spices and confectionary they come across to inspire their designs. The mural is to be unveiled to proudly look over Drummond Street. In August, a dazzling installation tapping into the history of Drummond Street will transform the view of the street and September will see the street host its very first Samosas Street party, with thousands of free samosas to be given away and where the local traders will battle out to be crowned the Samosa Wallah 2023, judged by celebrity faces and local heroes.