IN GOOD COMPANY: Rons Peckham
A little magic on the Lane
Tucked away in Peckham, RONS is the kind of café that most communities can only dream of. Run by husband and wife Abi and Andy, with Sid and Danny alongside them, it’s a neighbourhood spot built around good food, good people and an incredible ability to turn strangers into friends.
We spoke to Abi and Andy as part of In Good Company, our series showcasing the independent venues that host reading copies of The Lonely Hearts Club.
“We wanted a homely feel”
RONS began with a fairly modest ambition: give Peckham a vegan treat and, ideally, still be around a year later.
What they didn’t quite anticipate was just how much the café would become part of their lives. “It grew to such a community-based spot,” they explain, “and it’s become much more a part of our life than just a job.”
Knowing they would be spending so much of their time there shaped the space itself. They wanted it to feel less like somewhere you simply pop in and out of, and more like hanging out at home.
Their customers have had a big say in what RONS has become, too. “We literally couldn’t have done this much without them,” they say. “We love you!” It’s a sentiment that seems to be reciprocated.
A café where strangers become friends
More often than not, RONS produces those moments that perfectly captures what a community space can and should be.
A couple of weeks ago, three separate groups arrived at around the same time. Somehow, introductions began happening between them. People swapped contact details, posed for a photograph together, and then, almost as neatly as they had arrived, all left at the same time. A spontaneous eight-person meet and greet, entirely unplanned. “Super sweet,” they say and, according to Abi and Andy, not entirely out of the ordinary for RONS.
“We’ve even had a wedding”
It seems RONS has become the sort of place where you can arrive for a coffee and leave having joined a club, met a stranger, heard some live music or, potentially, got married.
There’s a monthly Magic Circle, held on the third Monday of every month, where people are invited to share their experiences and practices. Abi leads each session around a particular subject before opening the conversation up to the room.
There are also regular meet-ups, film clubs, DJ nights and a letter-writing club. The space has hosted live music, EP launches and, somewhat inevitably for a place this sociable, even a wedding.
And then there was our own little contribution: the Lonely Hearts Club Valentine’s meet-up earlier this year!
Ronnie has the best seat
There is, of course, one member of the RONS team who deserves particular attention.
Ronnie is the whippet the café was named after, and she has claimed her favourite seat by the window. Guests are welcome to sit there too, but there is one important condition: you’ll need to share.
Her presence might just be the final ingredient in the homely atmosphere Abi and Andy wanted when they first opened. The café feels lived in, looked after and, crucially, like somewhere people actually want to spend time.
So, if you find yourself lucky enough to get a seat by the window, settle in with RONS’ signature order: an oat flat white and breakfast muffin.
Where to find The Lonely Hearts Club
You can find all issues of The Lonely Hearts Club on the shelf near the window seats.
And, as it happens, that’s also the best place to read it. The only downside is that you may find yourself distracted by the view outside, which just happens to be the best on the Lane. We’ll allow it.
Just remember to check whether Ronnie is already occupying the seat!
Rons Coffee House, 135a Rye Ln, London SE15 4ST, United Kingdom
Website: RONS
Instagram: RONS
The Lonely Hearts Club is the world’s first newspaper dedicated to personal ads, culture and mischief.
Reading copies are housed in a curated selection of independent spaces across the UK and beyond. If you come across a copy, you’ll know you’re exactly where you should be: In Good Company.