We asked some regular iC contributors to nominate their picks of 2025, including articles which they had had published on this website, and to explain why they chose them
KEN TOWL
Revolutionary moment: Jones is chased off Manor Farm by his animals… the rest, as they say, is history
From the end of July, his own review of this summer’s outdoor performance by the Theatre Workshop Coulsdon of an adaptation of George Orwell’s Animal Farm:
There’s a revolution going on in a wooded glade in Coulsdon
Ken says: “This one exemplifies the great performing arts that we have access to in Croydon.”
You can read more of Ken’s arts reviews, guided walks and visits to pubs by clicking here
DAVE BURTON
My favourites from 2025 both go back to January!
The Help to Buy mortgage and councillor’s shifting interests
Fantasy business: Preston Benson was behind a string of closed cinemas
First is the Señor Vestey story revealing the Sutton Labour councillor’s unusual mortgage arrangements. This made Private Eye. I’m aware that this matter is now subject to a formal complaint.
Throwley Yard Cinema under scrutiny as companies collapse
Second is the examination of the Throwley Yard cinema scam and director Preston Benson’s fairytale business. We were 11 months ahead of the game with this, with the business collapsing in November. Inside Croydon, and Inside Sutton, lead where others follow…
CHERYL FERGUS-FERRELL
After 4 years, Croydon’s housing taken out of special measures
This story really resonates with me as it felt like things had finally started to turn a corner for tenants living under the awful conditions in some of the borough’s council housing, such as Regina Road in South Norwood.
LEE TOWNSEND
Offside!: a men’s health group in Sutton has been weighing in with some impressive results
Football clubs helping obese men score their weight loss goals was my choice from 2025, because it quietly highlighted something genuinely life-changing happening in a small corner of the borough that most people might not notice or realise.
No big slogans, nor shouting from the top of a ladder. Just men improving their health, rebuilding confidence and finding connection through something familiar.
It’s a reminder that if Croydon is going to move forward, health and wellbeing has to matter more than we pretend they do.
ANNABEL SMITH
Goody bag: his freebies duly secured, Mayor Perry sets off to claim the credit
Croydon transformed! Westfield open two kiosks in Allders
This was my favourite, because it nicely highlights the absurdity of the occasion.
A good skewering for Perry, too, and also an interesting upswell of defensiveness in the comments from some steadfastly optimistic Croydon readers, which was quite nice to see, too!
- What was your favourite article – or articles – on Inside Croydon (or Inside Sutton) during 2025? Do add a comment below, and try to include the correct hyperlink for the article.
INSIDE CROYDON’S 2025 NEWS REVIEW
- January 2025: railway tragedy at Kenley, and armed police showdown in Carshalton
- For February’s top news stories, have a look at this: Purley Pool, porkie pies and a busted budget
- For the highlights, and council lowlights, from March, click here: Council’s closed doors, Selhurst security, Bridge to Nowhere
- Check out what was making the news Inside Croydon in April by clicking here
- While in May 2025, we were mostly watching football: After 120 years, the Eagles live the dream at Wembley cup final
- June 2025 was When council boss blocked staff from reading Inside Croydon
- In July, Inside Croydon exposed how Croydon’s cash-strapped council was paying consultant £726 PER HOUR
- Fly-tipped mattresses that the council refused to touch, library books discared all over a street in Broad Green, more buckets than businesses in the Whitgift Centre, and Reform’s dead candidate for mayor. All to be found on Inside Croydon in August 2025
- In September 2025, we were the first to report the latest housing scandal to hit Croydon, and the council
- And in October, we broke the news that Katherine Kerswell had quit as council CEO, and was to received a £50,000 pay-off
- In November and December, we even had cabinet minister Steve Reed retweeting links to Inside Croydon news reports, which included coverage of the spaghetti restaurant named the best in the country
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