This week we reached 75 issues of LiB and our subscriber count reached four figures, so it feels like a good a time to let you know what our plans are for this newsletter and also ask you what you want to see from us.
Before we do that, let us just say a massive ‘thank you’ to you for subscribing. When we first started this back in March, we had no idea how this would all work out, and the response has been incredible.
To everyone who wrote us emails or tweets of support, to those of you who messaged us with feedback and story ideas, and to the lovely inhabitants of r/london: You have kept us going over the last six or so months and we can’t thank you enough.
Okay, enough of the gushy stuff. What’s next?
We’re going to ask you for money, obviously
We’ve always said that at least some part of LiB will be free and we’re not going back on that. Right now the plan is to have two free issues a week, alongside two paid issues. Something like this:
Monday (free): The LiB you know and love. News-based editorial along with the ‘And the rest…’ headlines.
Wednesday (paid): More of a ‘feature’ issue, focusing on a bigger theme, maybe an interview, maybe an essay. More on this below.
Friday (paid): The Arts & Culture and Food & Drink parts of our Weekend Roundup. We’re splitting the roundup in two because there’s currently too much to fit into one email and we want to give people something on a Friday so they can plan their weekend.
Saturday (free): The news part of the Weekend Roundup alongside the long read etc. Expanded slightly now we’ve got a bit more room.
Why do we need to go paid?
Right now, LiB has a very limited contributor circle. Any outside input comes from the ‘Where Do You Go…?’ segments, interviews etc. But that’s not enough. London is a big and varied place and we need this newsletter to have an equally diverse and wide-ranging set of voices.
Instead of interviewing people about the impact of gentrification, the evils of dark kitchens or the future of London’s skyline, we want to invite those people to write about those subjects in their own words.
It goes without saying, that we want to be able to properly pay those people for their work.
To put it in the most simple terms: When you pay for a subscription to London in Bits, you’ll be paying to support independent London voices.
If you are one of those voices and there's something you'd like to write about, then get in touch with your idea and some examples of your work.
How much is it going to cost?
Our current plan is to charge £5 a month or £50 a year.
Because we love you and you’re the best readers a newsletter could wish for, we’re looking at giving all our existing subscribers a discount; something like £35 for the first 12 months. If you’ve got any thoughts then let us know in the comments.
When is all this going to start?
Before the end of October. Next week will be business as usual as we get things set up, then we’ll likely turn on the paid subscriptions the week after.
What do you want from LiB?
If we expect you to pay money for this then it stands to reason that we should know what you’re looking to get from it.
Should we have more conversations and chat threads? We’d love to start a regular thread post to get your tips and recommendations on the best on London. Is that a good idea?
What other benefits should we be giving to subscribers? Events? Merch?
Do you have idea for subjects or themes we should be covering? People we should be inviting to contribute?
The comments are open and we would genuinely love to hear your thoughts.
And the rest…
We do like to pick on the Standard (and for good reason) but sometimes they do produce good stuff. For example: this detailed and thoughtful article on the violent ‘bikejacking’ that’s been happening in Richmond Park (and other places) recently. If you’re a regular cyclist, then you might be interested in the most recent episode of the road.cc podcast, which asks “What can be done about the latest spate of bikejackings”.
TfL’s civil banning order against Insulate Britain has just been extended by the high court. The original high court injunction was issued earlier this month and “applies to 14 locations around the capital including some of its busiest roads”. As of yesterday that was extended “either until a trial is held in the case or a further court order or April 8 next year”.
The Independent reports that, earlier this year, after witnessing a male Met officer being aggressive when “arresting a vulnerable female”, a Lewisham woman reported the incident to the IOPC. They passed her complaint to the Met to handle, and they then sent a copy of the complaint to the officer in question and included “the complainant’s full contact details”.
Somehow a market trader in Covent Garden has been fined more than £200,000 (that’s not a typo, there’s five zeroes there) for selling “fake designer phone covers” and “displaying sales signs at his stall in Jubilee Market for years without ever having held a sale.”
It’s a big week for vegans and fans of plant-based food. The vegan meal delivery company allplants just raised £38 million to “increase its plant-based kitchen in Walthamstow to six times its current size”. Plus, the new vegan McPlant burger is now available in 19 London McDonald’s.
The mayor has set out three new pieces of guidance that will need to be taken into account when “making decisions on planning applications and developing planning documents” in London. They’ve all get very unwieldy and unmemorable names but basically they’re there to make sure that the new developments include “operational energy performance” for five years after they’re built, that they calculate their ‘urban greening score’ and that they “create walking and cycling routes as well ensure there is enough transport infrastructure.”
Tesco’s first checkout-free store opened on High Holborn yesterday. If you want to shop there you have download the Tesco’s app so you scan it as you go in.
In more exciting news, the St John bacon sandwich is back. The butty disappeared during lockdown, but it’s now back on the menu at St John Bread and Wine in Spitalfields.
And if you’re not the kind of person who’s turned on by a really good bacon sandwich then maybe this will do it for you instead: A Fifty Shades Of Grey “playroom experience” is opening later this month. If you book your spot on 30th October (tickets are free) then you will be able to immerse yourself in “the world of Fifty Shades of Grey” by listening to some of the books’ “most erotic passages being read” before your “private consultation, inspired by the famous ‘contract meeting’ scene,” during which ‘experts’ will show you “how to enjoy the toys and techniques made famous by Anastasia and Christian Grey.” If you fancy going to this and writing up the experience for us, then get in touch. We are serious.
I'll gladly pay the 50£! I think pricing is ok, I'm just a bit "overwhelmed" by the idea of receiving 4 mails every week 😅 I understand that you want to have a balanced 2+2 scenario, but I think it might be a bit much - that said I love your content so I'll try to keep up haha
Price is more than reasonable (of course, I'd love the discount). I would suggest to make it easy to cancel the subscription, not everyone is in London forever, and personally I hate when you have to go through hundreds of loops to cancel, it puts me off even before subscribing!
Regarding topics: would love a focus on literature and hidden exhibitions in London. There is always a lot going on, I always go to the major exhibitions (I'm a British Musem member) but it would be great to find out about smaller ones.
I'm a cyclist and would like to keep up-to-date with news about it (especially if we could organise something against violent crime and mopeds, they almost ran me over so many times). Yes, the last read scared me... (and angered me)
Would also be great to learn about other sports, e.g. how there is the Swing Patrol for swing etc.
Events: if you could organise (in the future) some events, it would be so much fun! Or get discounts, once you are more stable.
I'll think about it more - but can I just say I love what you do. It's so relevant to Londoners and not just tourists, like so many other things are. Thank you!!!