The tagline, “Money That Sticks to Brixton” sets out their goal.
Shop Local: “Money That Sticks to Brixton”Ĭommunity-driven ambitions aside, the other motivating factor behind the currency is a push to promote and support local businesses. Particularly in built-up urban areas where a sense of community is often lacking. For Brixton residents, having a currency to call their own creates a commonality between people and a sense of pride about their suburb. The seemingly frivolous and novel nature of the B£ hides a deeper purpose. The community is at the heart of the B£, too. Brixton has been encouraging and cultivating a community-minded vibe for some years now. The rest of London may have a bit of catching up to do. David Bowie is the face of the B£10 and Van Gogh the B£20.īuyers are not limited to notes though, a pay-by-text system is also in place, making the B£ an e-currency as well. The notes themselves are colourful and feature artists and musicians who were born in or lived in Brixton. Those looking to get their hands on some B£ can buy notes from the local Market Row ATM, the Brixton Pound Cafe and from five other issuers. It’s designed to work in tandem with the GBP. The creative minds behind the idea call the currency a “complementary” one. The exchange rate for the B£ to the British pound sterling (GBP) is always 1:1. The key difference, of course, is that the notes are only accepted in the Brixton area of London. The Brixton Pound operates much like any other currency does. Is London’s only inner-city currency a novelty, or does it serve a useful purpose? What role does it play in creating a sense of community? Does it encourage consumers to shop locally? Let’s take a deeper look at the ins-and-outs of the B£.
The currency is accepted in more than 250 business across the town. There’s even a dedicated B£ cash machine. Did you know that Brixton in South London has its own currency? The Brixton pound (B£) was initially launched in 2009 and there are now over 500,000 units in circulation.
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