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Twelve things to do in West Hampstead in December

There’s always a (snow) flurry of things to do in December, the challenge is fitting them all in between the socialising and recovering from socialising that seems to define the final few weeks of the year.

We don’t have to credit Tim Mossholder for the image, but we would like to. Seasons greetings Tim!

On Saturday 9th, from 7.30-9.30 pm is the Hampstead Chorus Autumn concert with Gabriel Faure’s Requiem, Francis Poulenc’s Gloria and The Heavens and the Heart by James Francis Brown. They sing at UCS and you can get tickets here.

For something a little lighter, on Thursday 14th at 7.30 pm in Emmanuel Church – and with some audience participation – the Fortune Green choir is holding its concert with a guest appearance from Cantereas (a vocal ensemble based in West Hampstead). It should be a really nice concert, and it is raising money for the Mayor of Camden’s chosen charity – C4WS, the homeless charity that operates out of Emmanuel Church. The Mayor will be attending. The suggested donation is £5 (with mulled wine and mince pies afterwards).

If you’re after something a bit more serious, then on Saturday 16th, the Hampstead Chamber Choir is celebrating a European Christmas, also in Emmanuel Church. Audience participation in the carols here too. Tickets are £12.

Something for the younger residents?

On Saturday 9th at the Community Centre is a holiday gifts workshop. Make a present for granny, she will love it! And who knows your kid might even make it into the John Lewis ad next year…

Then on Wedensday 14th, the ever-popular Sherriff Centre Panto is back. Oh, no it isn’t. Oh, yes it… save me from this please. But it is already fully booked – oh no it isn… yes, yes it is. This year it is Sleeping Beauty.

For the even younger residents, there is a not-very-Christmassy-but-who-cares Baby Broadway concert on Saturday 16th at 11 am in Emmanuel Church. You can get tickets here.

Something a bit more entertaining?

On Monday 11th at West End Lane Books, Nina Stibbe will read from “An Almost Perfect Christmas”. It’s at 7.30 pm and free, but is also a chance to pick up a copy of the book (and pay for it too, obvs). Looks like quite a nice stocking filler/Christmassy present. (Please reserve a place).

The JW3 Icerink opened again on the 3rd and will be open until Sunday, January 7th. It’s closed on Sabbaths but will be open on the 25th and 26th December so something to do on Christmas day or Boxing day to work off the calories. And oddly, it’s sponsored by a … firm of accountants!

On Monday 18th at the Alliance, it’s the Christmas offering from Locally Sourced with actress Annette Badland and an anthology of seasonal delights. She’s a familiar face on TV (and voice on radio – she’s  Hazel on the Archers!) Also appearing will be pianist Kat Gillham and baritone Phil Wilcox, so expect some Christmas melodies. This could be a lot of fun.

With the closure of the Good Ship, things comedic do seem a little thin on the ground in the ‘hood, however, something new(ish) on the radar is the London Improv theatre. They have what looks like some really good events coming up. Starting with… “God, the Untold Story” , on December 5th, 6th and 7th.

I liked the look of the Glenda J collective on Friday 15th, but it’s… you guessed it, sold out.

Also on the bill is Slattery Night Fever on Saturdays December 16th and 23rd. Booking recommended to see one of the original Whose Line is it Anyway greats.

Indeed, there is a whole host of other events including Improv Friday with a double bill of the Inflatables/Music Box. Last time I went, a group of mates sitting next to me had been to celebrate a friend’s birthday and these seem like go-with-a-couple-of-mates kind of things to do.

Finally, it’s not very Christmassy but the current Camden Arts Centre exhibitions are worth seeing both Natalie du Pasquier and Christian Nyampeta. A nice destination for an afternoon walk, and there is a rather good café too!

So there you are good dozen suggestions of things to do this month. We’ll cover the Christmas services separately.

Twelve things to do in West Hampstead in November

So what’s happening in West Hampstead this month? Lots of course!

Starting at the more serious end of things on Friday 10th (not the 11th) it is the Armistice Day service at the war memorial in the Cemetery.

Fancy a film? it is the Jewish Film festival coming up from the 9th – 26th. Quite a few films being screened at JW3.

Talking of film, on saturday 11th the community association are showing ‘Remains of the Day’ starring local actress Emma Thompson but written by local(ish) recently Nobel-prize winning author Kazuo Ishiguro (he lives in Golders Green).

Also the 11th there is what looks like a nice piano concert, Climate Keys, in St. Cuthbert’s Church Hall linked to the Bonn Climate (COP) conference.

Keeping things at an elevated level our friends and West End Lane books are putting on a book talk with Tom Cox – a 21st Century Yokel – on Friday 17th.

A couple of days later on Monday 20th Locally Sourced at the new venue of the Alliance have Pauline Prior Pitt (poet) and Luke Barlow, jazz pianist.

The Camden Arts Centre continues it’s reputation of showing established if slightly under the radar artists. At the moment they have Natalie du Pasquier with ‘Open Rooms’. She was part of the Memphis group in the 80s and talks about the exhibition in this video. Also on show is a smaller exhibition by Christian Nyampeta (a former artist in residence).

If all this is getting a bit heavy… how about something a bit lighter?

Sadly the Good Ship comedy has sailed over to a new venue, but it’s not far just a short trip on the Overground to upstairs at the Colonel Fawcett in Camden Road. Still on Monday nights.

Or closer to home the London Improv on the Finchley Road has a few things on offer. On friday 10th it has the Ultimate Improve Friday with the Inflatables (improv comedy) AND Musicbox (improv comedy musical). Of Tony Slattery is back with Slattery Night Fever (err nest on on Monday 6th), but back on Saturday 18th and 25th. He has some old stalwarts of the Improv scene joining him.

Feeling entrepeneurial…? From 4pm to 9pm on Thursday 16th at ESCP (the European business school at 527 Finchley Road) are holding an event to celebrate the 3rd edition of the Jean-Baptiste Say Entrepreneurship Festival. Who is he? Jean-Baptiste Say, not only one of the founders of ESCP Europe but also the person who coined the term entrepreneur! an investor or potential customer (or just plain curious) just pop by.

Feeling energetic…? On Saturday 18th at Studio Society (up by Fortune Green) there is a spinathon to raise money for Action for Families who provide mental health support to those affected by the Grenfell disaster. It is SIX back to back 45 minute spin classes (from 10:30am to 4:30pm). Team places are all booked but there will be riding slots so if interested just email (details on the link).

Or if you are feeling a bit braver… a week later there is a mid-winter swim over at Hampstead Lido on Saturday 25th. It is raising money for Crisis the homeless charity.

And a definite date for your diary… Thursday 30th Whampdrinks at the Gallery.

Christmas is coming …

There are some really special presents on offer at the Village Haberdashery who have organised Makers Markets – every Sunday until the 17th of December they have two visiting makers selling their wares. And they also have some Christmas classes coming up.

Another date for your diary is Kingsgate Workshop’s Winter Fair on Friday 24th (evening) plus Saturday 25th and Sunday 26th (afternoons). They’ve got music too! It’s not quite as big as the summer opening but there are some great designer-maker present to buy.

And finally, just slipping into next month, on Saturday 2nd December, it’s the West Hampstead Christmas market on West End Green with some more hand-made present buying opportunities – and carol singers too!

(Also in December is the next FoWHL event – an evening with Sir Derek Jacobi. But alas – blink as you missed it – it is booked out already).