Goodluck Hope; A vibrant cultural destination

Featuring a fusion of culture, art, food and drink, Goodluck Hope hosted an interactive five month ‘Islander Festival,’ enriching the community with inspiring experiences, connection and discovery, cementing it as one of the most exciting places to live in the capital.

From singing masterclasses to sunrise yoga, gin nights to drag bingo, the eclectic offerings showcased the innovative and creative businesses based across the Island providing much opportunity for residents and visitors to connect and experience life in our East London neighbourhood.

Goodluck hope has been the centre of activity over the past five months as the community experienced our immersive Islander Festival, which began in May and came to an end last month. The innovative programme of events was awash with ingenious and imaginative ways to spend time, very much living up to its reputation as an Island brimming with personality, creativity and discovery.

A jam-packed itinerary 

Orchestrated to encourage the local community to try something new while spending time in the lively neighbourhood, the festival anchored around a weekly itinerary featuring Workshop Wednesdays, Thirsty Thursdays, Film Fridays, Social Saturdays and Sunrise Sundays in a bid to appeal to all members of the community as well as attracting visitors far and wide.

The programme of workshops reflects the range of innovative and creative businesses abundant in the area with participants welcomed to engage in a new skill and meet new people. From pottery workshops with Art Craft Studios, to vocal workshops by Dantae Johnson from City Island-based music studios The Woods, which explored the power of music to assist in wellbeing through various vocal exercises, each experience offered something unique and many of the sessions sold out within just a few days. 

For culinary fans there was an interactive viennoiserie class led by Goodluck Hope’s new destination bakery and cafe, Layers, and the wonderfully conceptual ‘Self Health’ workshop, led by popular book club Shelf Help and founder Toni Jones. Attendees explored how to understand and improve their relationship with themselves, with guidance on how to achieve personal goals.

Thirsty Thursdays ignited a vibrant crowd tempted by a series of themed drinks pop-ups located on the Goodluck Hope Dry Dock, accompanied by live music from up-and coming London talent, providing a scenic backdrop for people to connect and relax. Film Fridays were packed full of screenings to suit all tastes ranging from the English National Ballet’s Giselle to Jodie Cromer’s career defining performance in the poignant Prima Facie. 

The community came out in full force to soak up all that was on offer for Social Saturdays, from affordable art pop ups at the Goodluck Hope Sales Gallery, to Drag Bingo with Sheila Simmonds who also hosted an evening of music, comedy, and live entertainment. Families and children were able to enjoy a ‘Mini Me’ art workshop and a teddy bear picnic & music workshop at Docklands Village Nursery, with creatives catered for in a special workshop run by London Lighthouse Gallery & Studio’s resident artist, Sokari, focused on architectural photography. 

Sunrise Sundays were paired back and centred around wellbeing with a series of early morning yoga classes in the Lantern Room Viewing Deck, led by Hum Yoga and concluding each week with meditation and mindful movement. These proved so popular that extra dates were added affirming the success of the festival in bringing people together in new ways. 

As Ballymore’s Laura Jeffery concluded: “The abundance of experiences on offer at Goodluck Hope has been truly exceptional, affirming it as a neighbourhood that provides a rich and vibrant community. The festival highlights the destination as a cultural hotbed of activity, full of creative businesses passionate about bringing people together through unique experiences. Thank you to everyone who took part and made it the huge success that it was.”