One of the problems of living in a very built-up area like this is the lack of garden space. Ok, it’s not a problem for everyone, but deep down most of us have a need for some foliage in our life and the cactus on the shelf by the TV doesn’t really cut it. But […]
A lot seems to be changing in West Hampstead right now. The demolition of the parade of shops between the tube and the Overground and a sudden rash of shop closures and new openings has highlighted that no urban area stands still. Do you think things are changing for the better or is this the […]
ShakeTastic, Me Love Sushi, Picasso’s and Blue Daisy have all closed, while Minkies, Curled Leaf, Tiger Stores, a new sweet shop and Spice Tree all opened. What’s happening in West Hampstead? There are plenty of changes afoot at the Thameslink station too. Developers have submitted an alternative proposal for Midland Crescent. More on this later […]
[original post May 10th 3.30pm] [updated May 12th 10.30pm] [updated May 15th 3.30pm] If the retail landscape hadn’t changed enough with the knocking down of the strip of shops opposite the post office, this week’s seen four units close on West End Lane. Before we all get too depressed, it’s worth noting that four places […]
Aside from the minor inconvenience of trying to walk through Kilburn Grange Park just as the gates closed, our evening at local Indian restaurant Ruchi got off to a good start. Plenty of newbies joined a few of the whampreview old hands to check out this neighbourhood stalwart that sits on the corner of Messina […]
Owning a car in West Hampstead always seems a bit pointless. Three bus routes, three rail stations, even more within walking distance… who needs the hassle and expense of insurance, parking permits, the congestion charge? Plus, I don’t know if you’ve noticed this, but cars are all kinds of expensive to buy. But then there’s […]
People have been asking what’s happening on platform 1 on the Thameslink station – the answer is a waiting room. But there are more things going on at the award-winning station that may not be as visible. Local campaign group WHAT regularly meets with First Capital Connect and has all the latest updates: The new […]
Demolition started at 187-199 West End Lane, and the strip of shops was knocked down on Saturday morning. The shops themselves will become a marketing suite for the next two years, while the site overall is becoming, as most of you know, a large residential development with some public space and some retail. The best […]
If you’re interested in learning more about the impact of basement excavations on groundwater – and it’s a hot topic in many parts of West Hampstead, then go along to St Stephen’s Church on the aptly named Pond Street in Hampstead on May 23rd. Dr Michael de Freitas is Reader Emeritus in Engineering Geology at […]
Most of you will have seen that construction of the student block on Blackburn Road is almost compelete. Whether a sudden influx of 200 students in September will detract from or add to the area remains to be seen (I’ve discussed this before). It may be something we have to get used to as another […]
If you’ve been to Camden Arts Centre over the past few weeks then you’ll have seen the rather amazing T-Rex/Godzilla sculpture by Serena Korda. If you’ve looked more closely you’ll have spotted a couple of harnesses inside it – yes, it’s designed to move! This Saturday, the 9ft-tall latex beast will embark on a procession […]
The public meeting about Kilburn High Road raised lots of issues, but proposed few answers. Elections must be rolling around again – West Hampstead Conservatives reopened its Twitter account after a three-year gap, it also announced its six candidates for the council elections in 2014 for Fortune Green and West Hampstead wards (all young men) […]
The local Neighbourhood Development Forum should get the all-clear from Camden council next month, which means it can go full steam ahead with drafting the actual plan. The experience of other Neighbourhood Development Plans is that strong visual imagery helps people understand what the NDF is all about, and having a unifying logo for all […]
On Saturday May 4th, there’s a “Dawn Chorus” walk in and around Fortune Green. It’s limited to 15 places and booking is essential. Venue: Starting from the middle of Fortune Green (at the crossroad of paths) and moving into Hampstead Cemetery. After the walk, join us for breakfast at a nearby house (optional). Leader: Dave […]
In April the film club saw Trance, which was enjoyed by almost everyone. Our next movie is also London-based and also the work of an original and eclectic British director; in this case Michael Winterbottom. His latest film, The Look of Love, reunites Winterbottom with Steve Coogan (they worked together on 24 Hour Party People […]
The toe-tappers at La Brocca have put together a spring jazz festival, which kicks off tonight with Ronnie Scott’s regulars Kai’s Cats featuring West Hampstead’s very own Simon “Cyberdonkey” Whiteside on keyboards. For four consecutive Thursday nights, the downstairs restaurant at La Brocca will become a jazz club. If you’re eating then there’s a £7 […]
Last week there was a joint Brent/Camden public meeting to discuss how to revitalise the Kilburn High Road. Some might argue that it’s not lacking in vitality now, but there’s also a sense that with so many fast food outlets and shabby looking shops it’s time to rethink the KHR. Eugene went along to the […]
Demolition signs are up on 187-199 West End Lane. At least those shops won’t stand empty for too long! The discount shop on the corner of Kilburn High Road and Gascony Avenue submitted a revised plan to convert into a fast-food outlet after the initial plan was rejected largely for “odour reasons”. Meanwhile, an application […]
Local MP Glenda Jackson made waves with her strident attack on Thatcherism in the House of Commons. Pastry and ice cream emporium Chez Chantal has apparently closed for good. Meanwhile the word is that LoveFood’s next incarnation will be as a café in the day and winebar at night. @GayaNoble‘s was my favourite pic of […]
One of the most frequent complaints about Hampstead & Kilburn MP Glenda Jackson levelled by her West Hampstead constituents is that she’s invisible. Clearly not everyone agrees, but for a relatively high-profile person it’s fair to say she’s not as much in the public eye as one might expect. She of course will argue that […]
Ruchi is one of NW6’s hidden gems. At least I think so, but maybe you’ll disagree. This family-run Indian restaurant was the only place locally I could afford to eat out in when I first moved to Kilburn in the dying days of the 20th century. They were simpler times. Ruchi’s menu is fairly traditional, […]
A local binman stopped a potentially bad accident when he moved his lorry to block a runaway post office van. The Neighbourhood Development Forum proposal received 125 responses, with only five opposed. Photo via @bruminthecity Property News looked at the local impact of government schemes to stimulate the housing market, Another burst water pipe knocked […]
One of the challenges that Kilburn has is that is straddles two boroughs: Camden on the east and Brent on the west. Attempts to breathe fresh life into the area, and specifically Kilburn High Road itself are therefore always at risk of falling between the cracks of bureaucracy. There have been various attempts to have […]
West Hampstead police station will stay open, but the front counter will close. The Safer Neighbourbood Team base on West End Lane will host the contact point, which will be open for two hour sessions midweek and on a Saturday (the report says one-hour sessions, but the police have said they don’t feel that’s enough). […]
Tonight’s whampgather (The Alliance, Mill Lane, 7.15pm, ticketholders only I’m afraid) will once again be raising money for The Winch. Specifically, its drama programme Drama Massive. Each term a slightly different group of 8-14 year-olds attend the weekly workshops, and they create and perform a piece at the end of term. Last year’s Robin in […]
There have been 150 collisions on Kilburn High Road in the past three years, so what’s being done about it? There was a collision on Fortune Green Road by the junction with Mill Lane when a driver who appeared to witnesses to be drunk apparently drove into some parked cars. No-one was injured and people […]
On Tuesday, the West Hampstead Medical Centre – the GP surgery on Solent Road – held a public meeting ostensibly to explain its new appointment system and keep patients up to speed with developments. Marcia MacLeod went along to find out more: “I nearly lost the will to live. A room full of about 100 […]
This Sunday, Gloves Boxing Club is holding “The Eggstravaganza Rabbit Punch”. Participants meet on Fortune Green at 10am, look out for clues on Twitter and Facebook and in teams of two (apparently tied together three-legged-race style) go and find some of the 320 eggs scattered across 10 locations in West Hampstead. Return with your stash […]
Kilburn High Road has developed a reputation for dangerous junctions: there have been more than 100 accidents over the past couple of years. At the last Area Action Group meeting for Kilburn ward, Brian Deegan and Jacqueline Saunders from Camden Council’s Transport Strategy team gave a presentation on transport improvements in the area Kilburn. Thanks […]
A man shot himself in the leg, in the toilets of the Golden Egg on Kilburn High Road. Labour finally recommended an all-woman shortlist for its Hampstead & Kilburn candidate to replace Glenda Jackson leaving local councillor Mike Katz disappointed. Photo via @dannymcg Games Exchange on Broadhurst Gardens closed a couple of weeks ago after […]
It’s easy to get lost with the Gondar Gardens saga – it’s almost as long as Lord of the Rings, and with only marginally fewer cast members. Here’s the recap: Linden Wates put in a proposal to turn the whole site into a “tellytuby” development. GARA (Gondar and Agamemnon Residents Association) said “no”. Camden also […]
What IS the collective noun for estate agents? Having run into a bunch on West End Lane the other morning, I thought Twitter might provide some illumnination… [View the story “What IS the collective noun for estate agents?” on Storify] What IS the collective noun for estate agents? Having run into a bunch on West […]
Next Tuesday, the West Hampstead Medical Centre is holding a “Patients Participation Public Meeting” in the library at 7.30pm. This follows on from the meeting held last November, and the formation of a Patients’ Participation Steering Group which hopes to have an impact on how the practice works. Ten thousand patients are registered at the […]
Looking for something different to do on Saturday? Want to keep the kids entertained or try out some great food? Don’t want to stray too far from home? The Camden Arts Centre’s special open day may be the place to go. The Big Bamboozle runs from 2-5pm and there’s an amazing range of things to […]
It was a cold night when 24 of us arrived in one fell swoop at Hana. The newish Persian grill restaurant tucked round the corner of West End Lane knew we were coming and the welcome was warm. Several of us had eaten there before so had some idea what to expect, while the others […]
It looks like Minkies might finally be opening at the Overground station. In Property News, are relaxed planning regulations the worst of all worlds? Whampgather XI tickets went on sale for the March 28th event – I’ve allocated more this time, and there are still a handful left. The Kilburn History website dug up a […]
It’s International Women’s Day this Friday – arguments aside about whether 50% of the population should probably get more than 1/365th of the days – it’s a day that highlights inequality at both global and local levels. West End Lane solicitors, Karina Leapman & Co. are supporting Oxfam to raise funds on the day: “On […]
Whampgather XI (Whamp’s Eleven) March 28th, The Alliance, Mill Lane 7.15pm ’til late In mid-November, 160 people managed to persuade Freddie on the door that their names really were on the list and they could come in. There was drinking, there was chat, there was music (bit loud?), there was even a rumour of dancing […]
A meeting about where developers’ community contributions should go produced more heat than light. There was a bomb scare at Swiss Cottage Leisure Centre on Thursday that turned out to be a hoax. Sunset over Thameslinkvia @ksh73 Peppecorns has launched a website, and is definitely moving to 260 West End Lane. Ruchi – the best […]
It’s nearly time for the second installment of the monthly NW6 Film Club, and this Sunday’s offering should be a nice contrast to Zero Dark Thirty, which we saw last time. The film this time is Stoker – a film with a heritage as intriguing as its plot. An American production by a Korean director, […]
What exactly IS a residents association, and why might you want to become part of your local one? To kick off a round-up of all the local ones, James Earl introduces the Fordwych Residents Association, which he chairs. “The Fordwych Residents Association (FRA) is a long-established and active group in the local area, representing the […]
In our occasional series of profiles of notable locals, Moya “Scoop” Sarner spoke to Fortune Green ward councillor Flick Rea. “Flick Rea’s home is a testament to her passions, from the theatre posters on her wall, to the ‘I heart Kilburn’ bag hanging off her kitchen chair. And, of course, Mr Monster, her cat who […]
Regular readers will know that I keep wittering on about Section 106 money as if it’s some sort of pot of gold at the end of a development rainbow. But how does this money get allocated, to what, and how will its successor – the marginally less obscurely named Community Infrastructure Levy – work? Eric […]
Emily Frith stood down as the Lib Dem’s parliamentary candidate just a month after being selected. The local Tories dived in for the kill, while Emily herself explained that the new position she’s taken is her “dream job” Simon Marcus, the Conservative PPC, told me how he’s trying to ensure a police presence is retained […]
I wasn’t able to make it to last week’s “listening sessions” initiated by Camden to try to increase use of Kilburn Grange Park. However, I gather that one idea that came out of at least one session was that of some form or café. It seems these days we can’t go anywhere unless there’s a […]
I received an e-mail yesterday from Hampstead ward councillor and Conservative PPC Simon Marcus about the closure of West Hampstead and Hampstead police stations. Simon, you’ll recall, when asked in an interview with the Ham & High about the area losing its police stations, said, “I think what people want is to see someone in […]
Last autumn, Camden announced it was considering introducing a borough-wide speed limit of 20 mph. We’re now in the consultation phase of this proposal, so if you have strong views for or against, now’s the time to voice them. The council is clearly in favour – the key points of its argument are: It is […]
As speculation continued about Emily Frith’s sudden decision to stand down as Lib Dem PPC for Hampstead & Kilburn, I thought perhaps someone ought to ask her a few questions. So, via e-mail, I did. WHL: When were you offered this new government job? Emily Frith: It was the weekend after the hustings [19th/20th January] […]
No great surprise that the other parties made hay over Emily Frith’s decision to stand down as Liberal Democrat PPC for Hampstead & Kilburn. It reflects badly on her, and is a headache and a half for the local party (not for the first time). Conservative councillor Gio Spinella argued on Twitter that a Tory-style […]
Fancy tackling a three hour spin class – all for charity? I thought so. Read on dear friends, read on. Long time #whamper (well, ok, technically Willesdener), Esther Foreman is doing an Arctic hike for the MS Society in April. Esther, who has MS herself, is a trustee of the MS Society which is based […]
The West Hampstead Women’s Centre, which occupies the Old Kilburn Library on Cotleigh Road, is looking for volunteers to help with its community garden. Daffodils? The WHWC’s garden is already sprouting! Every Wednesday afternoon you can not only do a bit of planting, but then learn how to cook with what you grow. I think […]
You know how you have an idea, or a problem, or just something that’s bugging you? The kind of thing that maybe you find yourself turning over and over in your mind at 3 in the morning. How about chatting about it with a few locals and getting their perspective. You can do it with […]
I met Emily Frith last Monday at the local Area Action Group. She seemed rather nice, if perhaps a little timid. I am assured that she can turn on the steely politician-speak when needed. Emily, centre stage, when she won the nomination Were she to have had any chance of playing a meaningful role in […]
Burst water pipes. They happen. It’s annoying. You might lose water for the day, which – depending on your needs – is either slightly or extremely inconvenient but it’s a day, and you’ll cope. If the water pipe is under a main road then that road will probably have to be closed and dug up […]
West End Lane is scheduled to reopen around 6pm today. One of the reasons for the delay (and there’s a separate post on this coming up net) is that Camden has insisted that Thames Water make full repairs to the road rather than just filling in the hole and tarmacing over it. The leak further […]
On Tuesday evening, a large water pipe burst on West End Lane opposite the Bridge Cafe. Residents south of the tube station lost water or had low water pressure for almost 24 hours. Fixing the leak meant closing West End Lane, which remained closed for the rest of the week, causing enormous disruption to bus […]
This Sunday, the local Labour party is hosting a session for West Hampstead parents to share their views on local childcare. For more information, read this, or contact Abigail Wood to let her know you’re coming.
After several months of radio silence on the 187-199 West End Lane development, there is now an update on progress. There had been a nice idea that the strip of shops from Café Bon to M.L.Estates might become pop-up shops while they lay empty (they will all close at the end of this month). Ballymore […]
We found the rock god. Or rather we found the guy who worships at the altar of heavy metal. Remember the article about very local census data a few days ago? It concluded by showing that it’s possible to narrow down single data points to just a couple of streets. One person in West Hampstead […]
A water main burst last night on West End Lane by West End Lane Cars. Many people south of the stations either have no water or low water pressure. The latest estimate from the workmen carrying out the repairs is that water will be restored by 5pm today. The repairs to the pipe have meant […]
I started this article this morning with “Newer residents might find this a peculiar topic…”. By this evening, newer residents were suddenly all too aware of the flood risk in West Hampstead as West End Lane was transformed into a river after a pipe apparently burst. [update: here’s the latest on the impact on Wednesday […]
Could the post office move into the church? Negotiations are already well advanced. The development of 63-65 Maygrove Road was given a conditional green light. Here’s your chance to improve Kilburn Grange Park. Property News: the market’s up, but does the money property owners make mean that no-one cares about fees? More census data was […]
Last Thursday, Camden’s Development Control committee granted conditional planning permission for the development of 91 flats on 65-67 Maygrove Road. It was a rather complicated debate. The issue was not one of architecture, nor about replacing offices with housing. Rather, it was about the low share of affordable housing and whether this should be reassessed […]
The headline aggregate census statistics were released last year but only at the local authority level, i.e., Camden-wide. As the data crunchers do their thing, the Office of National Statistics will start to release the numbers at the local level. This allows us to start looking at West Hampstead in more detail. It’s stats, which […]
The O2 is undergoing something of a transformation, as we’ve discussed. Today was an important landmark in this evolution as Byron opened. Byron is a burger chain that began as an idea in 2007 and now has 27 locations in London and a few further afield. Its main claim seems to be that it does […]
The possible move of West Hampstead’s post office into St James Church is at an advanced stage of negotiation. It would be one of the first church post offices in a major British city. Yet it seems very few people are aware that it might happen. Google Street View June 2012 The franchise owner of […]
Regular readers will have followed the progress of the Neighbourhood Development Forum; while even sporadic readers may have spotted the signs that have gone up around the area about the consultation stage the NDF is in now. I thought I’d let NDF Chair James Earl tell you more about it so you can get involved […]
Kilburn Grange Park is rather overlooked by West Hampstead folk. Yet, for those who live in the southern part of the area, it’s by far the nearest open space – and is substantially larger than Fortune Green. So what could the park be used for to encourage more people to use it? Camden has asked […]
Ever since Montefiore closed some three years ago, 351 West End Lane has struggled to deliver a good restaurant. Now, there are new owners and new impetus. Hana has been open a few months serving Persian food. The owners had a successful restaurant in Temple Fortune but wanted to try cracking the West Hampstead market. […]
Yet another power cut hit the area. If you want to find out what’s being done to prevent these very frequent outages, call UK Power Networks’ customer relations team on 0800 028 4587 Local Conservatives elected Simon Marcus as their candidate for the next general election. At a meeting about local transport the same night, […]
The West Hampstead place plan, published last year, set out a lot of areas for action. Last week, Camden issued a two-page update on progress. Later in the year we’ll summarise progress against all the action points, but this is a good chance for a mid-term report. The plan has five sections: Development, Economy, Environment, […]
We all know that West Hampstead tube station is a busy place in morning rush hour. Elbows, rucksacks and briefcases are flying; the free papers are snaffled up; the tutting is audible as someone’s Oyster card fails to register. The entry gates act as a funnel for residents and commuters from further afield alike. A […]
On Wednesday night the local Conservative group held an open primary to select their Hampstead & Kilburn parliamentary constituency candidate. Anyone could go along and vote for one of the three candidates, whether or not you were a member, or even supporter of the party. I couldn’t make it, so local Tory voter Greg reported […]
Travel carnage last Monday meant this was the queue for the tube station. The snow hung around, creating plenty of photo opportunities. There was a double shooting in Kilburn. Local councillors are concerned over Inglewood Road sell-off. Interested in the Abbey estate regeneration. There’s an exhibition this week with more details. The Kilburn History Blog […]
Those of you living up around the Lymington Road/Finchley Road end of West Hampstead will be all too aware of the enormous construction project that’s been taking place on that junction. The 35,000 sq ft complex is going to house JW3 – a Jewish cultural centre. Why JW3? Well, if you hadn’t worked it out […]
Eloise Trippier talks about Monkey Music classes in Hampstead Come and join the award winning Monkey Music Hampstead team for some quality music classes for babies from 3 months to 3.5 years. Original songs and nursery rhymes, fantastic props, puppets, specialist percussion, hoops, parachutes, movement, bubbles, fun and giggles! Monkey Music has been running for […]
Next week, drop into the Abbey Community Centre to look at the designs and plans for the large-scale redevelopment of the Abbey Area estate. As well as viewing the designs you should be able to ask the project team questions. The overall plan is to create approximately 260 new homes, as well as services such […]
I bet lots of you didn’t even know there WAS a WI in West Hampstead. But there is, and it’s thriving, and here’s Emma to tell you all about it: How did you start your new year? I like to get out and do something a bit different in January, while still watching the pennies. […]
You may recall the recent consultation from Camden regarding the proposal to sell off small sites in order to raise capital. One of these was behind West Hampstead library on Inglewood Road. According to our local councillors, three-quarters of people who commented objected to the proposal to sell it off, but it will go before […]
STOP PRESS: This event is now full. If you’d like to go on the waiting list then by all means contact me, and leave a mobile number. We’re a cultured bunch in West Hampstead, right? We know our Matisse from our Magritte, our Monet from our Manet, and even our Munch from our Munk if […]
West Hampstead’s Mill Lane Bistro is unashamedly French, and the new menu has, if anything, gone even further down that autoroute. Frogs legs, snails and boeuf bourguignon all appear along with other bistro classics such as steak with dauphinoise potatoes. So is it France profonde, or Riviera rip-off? Last Thursday, 32 of us took the […]
The Lib Dems announced Emily Frith as their Hampstead & Kilburn parliamentary candidate for the next general election. Greene & Co. revealed its new fishtank office on West End Lane. NW6 Film Club starts on Jan 27th with Zero Dark Thirty at the Tricycle Django Unchained is NxNW6’s Film of the Week. Full local listings […]
Dennington Park Road is the place to be on January 30th. One one side of the road, the Conservatives are holding their US-style primary to determine who will be their candidate for Hampstead & Kilburn in the next general election. On the other, in the library, those good burghers of West Hampstead, WHAT (West Hampstead […]
Last night, the local Liberal Democrats nominated Emily Frith as their candidate for the Hampstead & Kilburn seat at the next general election. Frith is the first candidate from the main three parties to be named. The Conservatives will be choosing from a shortlist of three at the end of the month, while Labour are […]
Power cuts continued at the start of the week, and there’s snow forecast for Monday. Yes, it’s January in the 1970s. West Hampstead’s favourite (ok, only) plastic chef made an apperance in Shit London A landlady on Iverson Road has an asbo – but is that the best way to control rogue landlords? A local […]
It was a fluke. I happened to see a tweet whizz through my timeline. It referred to a blog written by a widower. I thought it might have been the return of the chap in his 90s who’d briefly blogged his trip to Switzerland but had been overwhelmed by the response and abandoned it. It […]
You’ll recall that back in November, Belsize fire station was on a list of likely candidates for closure. West Hampstead station was always safe, even in the drastic 31 station closure model. No shock then to see Belsize on the final list of stations to close, announced by the London Fire Brigade (LFB) this week. […]
As was widely expected – and reported in these pages back in November – West Hampstead police station is indeed set for closure. This week, the draft consultation document was released that outlines which of London’s police stations will be shut. The document originates from the Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime. This body runs […]
This month Newham will become the first council in England to require private landlords to be registered. Meanwhile, Camden has already served the country’s first landlord asbo to a West Hampstead landlady and has sought this week to extend it in court. Over at City Hall, Boris is proposing a “new housing covenant“, which puts […]
The organisers of West Hampstead’s very own village fête, the Jester Festival, are already planning this year’s event. They are looking for local artists and musicians who would like to participate over the weekend of July 6th and 7th. If you think you might fit the bill, then please e-mail Lyn. The committee is also […]
Whampbooks is back on January 22nd. If you’re not familiar with this particular event, it’s really very simple. The lovely people at West End Lane Books open their doors for the evening for a night of bargains, booze and books. There’s 20% off all stock, (free) wine for all, and a chance to meet and […]
Happy New Year everyone Everyone’s first day back at work on Wednesday was heralded by an amazing sunrise. TfL is investing £300,000 in improvements to Kilburn High Road, at least partly to address safety concerns. The O2 centre is getting set to welcome a host of new tenants. On the offchance that you haven’t got […]
As the O2 centre’s refurbishments draw to a close, there’s been much excitement about who’ll be moving into the space alongside the existing tenants. This week, thanks to someone pointing me in the direction of this brochure, we got to find out some of the answers. Noodle purveyors Wagamama, pizza & pasta restaurant Rossopomodoro, Danish […]
Hampstead & Kilburn MP Glenda Jackson holds advice surgeries in the constituency several times a month. If you’ve got anything you want to ask her or want help with, you can just turn up. She’s less able to help with recycling or local planning – those are issues to raise with your local councillors; but […]
Are “sinusoidal” speed bumps the way to reduce traffic speed, or should West Hampstead’s Sumatra Road become one-way? Last year we had cycle permeability, 20mph zones, and debates over “table humps” to slow traffic. As 2013 hoves into view, Camden is launching a consultation on how to reduce traffic speeds on Sumatra Road by converting […]
Thanks to the 345 of you who voted in the Tweet of the Year competition. In the end it was a two-horse race, but the winner, coming from behind on the very last day of voting, was Heather Wilson with 82 votes Overheard conversation in WHampstead: a little boy saying to his Nan “I’m 9th […]
Well, you missed Christmas for one thing. I thought I’d sneak in one last weekly round-up before the New Year. Gerry Anderson died. The creator of Thunderbirds grew up in West Hampstead and Kilburn. There’s talk of a plaque already. On Christmas Day, Camden had to take down the disused footbridge that links the Abbey […]
I first noticed the Legible London signs in West Hampstead when I almost walked smack into one that is inconviently in the middle of the entrance to the farmers’ market. The signs popped up so stealthily that several people wondered if they’d been there all along and they’d just never noticed them. The signs are […]
Another year, and lots more West Hampstead locals have met each other at the various events we’ve organised. It very much feels that this year, the events have moved well beyond a collection of tweeters and have become more – dare I say it – mainstream. And that’s no bad thing at all. Way back […]
On January 17th, whampreview returns. It’s our first of 2013, and our first repeat visit to a restaurant. We visited Mill Lane Bistro in May 2010, but new owners have since taken over so it’s time to go back. Banish the blues / Allez les bleusMill Lane Bistro serves classic French food and is one […]
