Tired of Croydon’s bad rep?
Help us change the narrative by celebrating what makes our hometown great.
Our Raving Reporters regularly shout about Croydon’s best bits. From hidden-gem cafés and under-radar events to leafy green spaces and local legends – if they love it, they’ll feature it.
As well as spreading good vibes about Croydon, Raving Reporters also enjoy:
- Their content/profile shared with our 20k+ followers (influencer life beckons!)
- An ECC mug + notebook
- Free entry to ECC events
- A free subscription to The Croydon Edit newsletter
- First dibs on cool stuff (new openings and invites)
- Work experience and references for CVs/portfolios
- Potential future paid work (as part of our Paid Partnerships)
How to apply
Check back here in March 2026 for details on how to apply.
Please Note:
Raving Reporter’s offer an independent perspective on the places THEY love (they are not paid and do not receive freebies). Their videos are shared on East Croydon Cool as collaborative posts (and any business featured is tagged in).
However – businesses can pay to have a Raving Reporter visit them to create a video that conveys their key business messages. These posts will be shared on East Croydon Cool (as a collaborative post with the business) and be marked (in accordance with ASA guidelines) as Paid Partnerships. These are charged from £350.
MEET OUR RAVING REPORTERS (Nov 2025 – April 2026)
BEVERLY: “I love how inclusive & diverse Croydon feels. Moving here helped me immerse myself in new cultures; it’s arty, creative, & full of energy. I love how culture mixes with nature, with so many hidden parks & peaceful places to wander. There’s always something happening, from local events & vibrant street art to the cutest independent cafés. I also love surprising people who have misconceptions about Croydon showing them just how many beautiful, friendly & inspiring spaces this area has to offer”.
Find me @lovebev_xoxo
GRACIE: “As someone who was raised in Croydon, I know the town like the back of my hand. I love the local community and talented individuals that have emerged from here. I feel we have so much to offer the rest of London and am excited to use my content creation skills to provide a voice for the businesses and people of Croydon!”
Find me @SXGthegreat
NARA: “I love how Croydon has something for everyone. There’s so much diversity – from the food & people to the places you can explore. I really enjoy how there’s always something new happening, whether it’s a cool cafe opening up or a hidden gem you never knew existed. Croydon is always growing & you can feel the energy here. The fact that it’s so close to London but still has its own unique vibe makes it even better. It’s easy to fall in love with this place, & I feel lucky to call it home.
Find me @NaraParanaPhotography
SHARLENE: “Croydon is home. I was born here & have seen it through so many iterations. What’s always stayed the same is the sense of community & culture. It’s not an accident that Croydon has produced so many great people. Beneath its rough exterior, there’s creativity & resilience – I think that’s why it’s birthed greatness. I also love how misunderstood it is. People see one part of it or a story they saw on the news & come to these unfounded conclusions. We’re home to beautiful architecture, amazing street art & surrounded by stunning countryside. People have no idea.“
Find me @SharleneChance
ZOE: “I love Croydon’s characters, its communities & its history. I have lived here all my life, and my family have been here since the 60s. I have a deep-set belief that people in Croydon deserve nice things – this is the mantra that I recite every time people ask questions like ‘Why Croydon?’. I think that it is a direct affront to Croydon’s detractors – why shouldn’t people in Croydon have access to the same opportunities, events, and community that other boroughs and areas do? Everywhere you look in Croydon there are pockets of deeply rooted, highly engaged communities that deserve the space and time to shine.”
Find me @Z.owie808
MEET OUR RAVING REPORTERS (April – Sept 2025)
CHARLOTTE: “I’ve lived in Croydon for 9 years now. The original perception I had of it was, to be frank, that it was not a nice place to be. However, the more I have explored the area, the more I have discovered how cool it actually is. It has great restaurants, cafes and bars/pubs, so much history and there’s always something new popping up. Now I am a mum to a toddler, I’m exploring a different side to Croydon – it’s so family friendly with lots to do for each generation. I also think that we are very lucky to have so many green spaces – they are a welcome oasis for us sleep deprived mums!” Find me @Charlotte.ei.ldn.
GINA: “I run my own business from my home in East Croydon and recently started up a YouTube channel as well. I moved to Croydon just over a year ago. As someone who lived in Germany and then in South Africa before moving to the UK, it’s taken a while to find my place – but Croydon is it. I love the sense of community and the vibe. It’s a lil edgy in places, but ultimately I think Croydon’s just got a bad rep. Someone recently asked me if I made enough money to live in Chelsea, would I? I said “no, Croydon’s got me!”. Find me at @GinaNelson.Art
IBRAHIM: “I knew nothing about Croydon when I first moved here in 2018, except for the fact that it was where Mark and Jez lived. Admittedly, it took a while to grow on me – but in time I understood that Croydon was filled with history, character and – most importantly – a strong sense of community. It’s simultaneously big and small, which might sound strange, but it means it gives you exactly what you want. Craving anonymity? The hustle and bustle of this town means you can lose yourself in the crowd. Craving community? Go down and say “hi!” to the Venezuelan family making scrumptious empanadas on Surrey Street market. As an Egyptian, that diversity matters to me. That’s what I love about Croydon: it feels like a microcosm of the world.” Find me at @ibrahim.kamel3.
MAE: “I have lived in the South Norwood/Addiscombe area my entire life but wasn’t until recent years that I truly recognized the value of Croydon. After starting school elsewhere, I was taken aback by the lack of culture. Growing up in Croydon, I was always encouraged to fully embrace my diverse community, including the varied cuisine on offer around me. I later realised, that not everyone had access to such experiences. The queer community is another significant reason why I love Croydon. While there is some close-mindedness, I have never felt ashamed to be my authentic self here. I have been encouraged to thrive and have found groups of like-minded individuals with whom I can celebrate my identity”. Find me @mae_the_mua22.
RASHIDA: “I often tell people that I would not be the woman I am today if I wasn’t raised in Croydon. I truly believe it’s one of the best places in the world and I rep it with everything in me! My favourite thing is how diverse it is and how people from all over the world and from all different walks of life can be found living here. As a child of immigrant parents, I have never felt far from my roots or disconnected from my culture, as I have always found people like me and from my country living in Croydon. My parents moved here in the 90’s and found a community of people that really helped them to build a home away from home and this has shaped how I’ve grown up”. Find me at @rashidaamanda_ or @wineafter9pod
EAST CROYDON COOL 