After a quiet spell, the phone snatchers were back, with at least four incidents on Friday night.

Tom, our resident gourmand (glutton?) paid a visit to newcomer Ham. How did he find it?

Tila Studio on Fortune Green was broken into this week, as was Glass Art on Mill Lane.

So sad to hear @Tilastudio in @WHampstead got broken into two days ago. Thieves stole cash and equipment. So much damage caused. It’s appalling. Pic (and text): Joe Sayegh

The luxury retirement home planning application for Gondar Gardens is going to appeal. Number of luxury self-contained retirement flats = 82, number of affordable homes = 0 “we can’t afford to provide any”

In more popular planning news, West End Lane Books will be getting its jacuzzi and spa extension. Or maybe just more space for books.

A West Hampstead café or restaurant in a prime location is up for sale. Speculation is rife as to which one it is…. Answers on a postcard, please.

This week local author Susie Steiner revealed her likes and dislikes about West Hampstead. “Pants and socks, people, pants and socks.”

A crack house was closed in Fortune Green Ward.

Local estate agents John’s & Co wrote a (sponsored) post about how the local market diverges from national trends (though that crack house story above might just send prices plunging!)

The most popular single journey destinations from West Hampstead tube station were revealed. Bond Street beat Canary Wharf to the top spot.

Brent Council is undertaking a ‘have your say’ on specific town centre areas within Brent, including the Kilburn High Road. Now’s your chance to make your voice heard.

TFL is consulting on ‘modernising’ the Overground, which in plain English means there might not be a ticket office in the new West Hampstead station.

Meanwhile, on the buses, after C11 services were cut earlier this year, there is now talk of reducing the 328 service too.

The clothing bin saga continues. The company that owns them has come forward but apparently, it has been dissolved…

Want to know what the space where the Paramount building is, looked like in days gone by?

Coming up this week

It’s Easter!

Fri 30th (Good Friday)- 7:30pm Poetry and the Sacred at the Sheriff Centre

And beyond…

Fri 6th April – 7:30pm Jazz pianist Omar Klein at the Sherriff Centre. Bio here and tickets here.

Tues 10th April – John Lloyd in conversation at West Hampstead Library on the current state of Journalism, Fake news.

Tues 10th April – Lucy Mangan in conversation at West End Lane Books

Tues 17th April – Elizabeth Day in conversation with Susie Steiner about her book ‘The Party’ at West End Lane books.

Thurs 26th April – Susie Steiner in conversation with Detective Inspector Graham Macmillan at West End Lane Books.

Sat 28th April – 7pm performance of Handel’s Messiah at UCS. Tickets here.

Tweet of the week

People in West Hampstead are well friendly!

— Roni ?? (@RiRi29xx) March 25, 2018

Oh no! Water leak season has started again. A series of leaks affected a wide area and many houses were left without water.

Damas Gardens, Kilburn’s Syrian restaurant, was fined £1,000 by Camden for fly tipping on the Kilburn High Road.

It’s less that two months until local elections, but the Conservatives are apparently asking you to vote for a question mark. Just a typo we were told. The missing candidate is actually Sedef Akademir.

“Can’t possibly carry all that guv…” Photo via Ian Cohen

Our historians reported on a real life ‘Death in Paradise’. Actor and sometime West Hampstead resident, George Rose was murdered in the Caribbean in the 1980s.

It was gridlock on West End Lane due to two sets of temporary traffic lights. The theme of local campaign group WHAT’s AGM next week is appropriately: Roadblocks and Diversions!

There are at least two huge metal ‘clothes banks’ in West Hampstead that are not charity boxes and appear to have been illegally placed there some time ago. They’re at least half a tonne each. Did no-one at the council spot this?

We have a good samaritan among us. A mystery man paid for the groceries of an older man at Sainsbury’s who had come out without any money. The older chap’s wife is very thankful.

Do you recognise this flowery handbag? It has an empty purse inside. It was dumped outside someone’s house but we are trying to reunite it with its owner. Or do you recognise an abandoned hold-all, which contained a quantity of cash, and was left outside the tube station.

There was a burglary on Iverson Road. Police advice is to make sure doors and windows are locked but maybe time for a webcam?

Local resident, engineer and writer, Roma Agrawal, appeared on Any Questions. Go Roma!

The Priory Tavern on Belsize Road has changed hands.

And while we are down that end of the KHR, here’s a trip down memory lane.

This Wednesday sees the next Sheriff Concert series. The moving force behind them, pianist Yehuda Inbar (we’ve heard he’s good) and violinist Timothy Redout, are playing ‘the Romantic Influence’ (you know – Schubert, Schumman, Brahms and beyond)

It is coming up for TWO years since Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe was put in Tehran’s notorious Evin prison. To mark this, and to mark her second Mother’s Day in jail, there are a series of events coming up: a performance of ‘Looking for Mummy’ at JW3 (if you haven’t seen it is very moving), a comedy fundraiser hosted by Shappi Korsandi (sadly sold out), paint a pebble for Mother’s day and an event on Fortune Green.

Good Luck to Jess Curtis, a West Hampstead teenager, who is off trekking to Everest base camp. She’s raising money for a charity that helped her brother, James, who was born profoundly deaf but now able to hear. You can support her here.

Coming up this week
Tues 13th – 6:30 to 8:30 Cycle maintenance workshop @ Sidings
Wed 14th – 7:30 WHAT AGM @ West Hampstead Library
Wed 14th – 7:30 Concert at Sheriff Centre
Fri 16th – 6:30 Private view of Kingsgate Workshops exhibition. Machiavellian Mary.
Sat 17th – 7:30 at JW3 ‘Looking for Mummy‘ Nazanin’s story.
Sat 17th – 7:30 to 9:30 Emmanuel Church. It’s Barn dance time again!
Sun 18th – Coffee concert at St. Cuthbert’s church.

There are more details of the scammer we warned about last week, including her photo which has now been released by the police. She struck again on Walm Lane this weekend.

The chemist by West End Green had eight tins of baby formula stolen this week – the suspect had stolen four tins the previous week and came back again, but this time the shelves were empty. Other chemists and Waitrose are having the same problem.

We ate at the Clock Cafe. Did it strike a chord?

Another accident on Mill Lane, time for some traffic calming? Pic: Russ Denton

There was the sound of gunfire in Kilburn on Thursday night.

On Sunday morning a 28-year-old man and a 43-year-old woman were arrested in Kilburn as suspects for a murder of a 55-year-old woman in Fellows Road, Belsize Park on Friday.

There was a warning about cars being broken into on Gascony Avenue, Smyrna Road and Westbere Road. Follow the usual advice – don’t leave anything of value visible.

This week we met local engineer Roma Agrawal who published her debut book. She is passionate at explaining the wonder of engineering, and gave a good restaurant tip, in our latest insight.

It’s been 100 years since some women got the vote. What were they doing in our area?

And still fighting for women’s rights 100 years later, local artist (and owner of Curled Leaf) Alketa Xhafa-Mripa is installing her piece ‘Thinking of you’ in Kings Cross on March 8th. It involves hundreds of women’s dresses and if you want to donate you can drop one off at the Curled Leaf, or any Lush store by March 1st.

A masseur based in West Hampstead was in court accused of assaulting three clients.

Tory council candidate Maria Higson has switched from West Hampstead to Hampstead, following Hamish Hunter pulling out as a candidate for Hampstead.

It’s the Friends of West Hampstead Library’s AGM this week on the 15th. ‘Past Tense, Future Perfect?’
And to get in the mood this is the latest post from their writer in residence. It’s a nice read.

And talking of literary matters, our friends at West End Lane Books have requested planning permission for an extension.

Coming up

Tues 13th Nick Coleman on ‘Voices, How A Great Singer Can Change Your Life’ at WEL Books

Tues 13th – 6:30 to 8:30 NEW cycle maintenance workshop at Sidings Community Centre

Thurs 15th FOWHL AGM at, errr, West Hampstead Library…!

Sun 18th: 2-4pm. Photographic workshop on Fortune Green. Sign up here

And beyond…

Mon 19th – Locally Sourced ‘An Evening with Virginia Woolf’ at the Alliance

Mon 19th – an Evening with Mick Herron and his latest book, London Rules, at WEL Books

Mon 19th – Tricycle fundraiser Jim Carter + Kenneth Branagh and Derek Jacobi. Tickets here.

Wed 21st – Greg Wise reading from his sister, Clare’s book on her experience of cancer,@WEL Books

Fri 23rd – Sherriff Concert series, Heath Quartet. Tickets here.

Sun 25th – Join the Friends of Fortune Green for the big cut-down (of perennials). Help make West Hampstead more beautiful.

Sun 25th – Tricycle fundraiser Jim Carter + Emma Thompson and Imelda Staunton (last few tickets left)

Tweet of the week

We thought this (below) was really clever.

@WHampstead tube station pic.twitter.com/DPaFqklEmd

— Eli Goldin (@eligoldin) February 7, 2018

A gruesome lead story this week. A decapitated fox’s head was found in a West Hampstead garden on Friday morning. According to SNARL, an independent group helping the police with the notorious M25 cat killer, this looks like it could be a related incident. Pet owners, keep an eye on your cats.

Tom went to try the new vegan buffet offered by Mon Way, was it his way or the highway?

Camden is ‘criminalising’ West Hampstead dog walkers. We ‘doggedly’ investigated this issue and think they should have let sleeping dogs lie.

Fortune Green as photographed by FoFG’s new artist in residence Peter Coles.

Local business Ink Media (publishers of the rather good EasyJet magazine among others) is looking to float on the stock market for £70 million. The company is based in the commercial space at the bottom of the Blackburn Road student accommodation. [paywall]

In a surprise move Claire-Louise Leyland is standing down as leader of the Camden Conservatives and as a Belsize councillor at the May elections.

Cllr Phil Rosenberg has a twin brother, Bill. Who knew?

This guy has been going to the Swiss Cottage Odeon. Every week. Since 1945.

Into dance and house vinyl? there’s a ton at Cancer Research – and more to come. A (sometimes) DJ is having a clear out.

All we want for Christmas is for… last year’s Christmas trees to be gone! It’s a month after Christmas day and they were still there.

It’s nearly Valentine’s day – one local couple celebrated in a rather different way!

As we announced last week, Lately is closing (the owners of Kilburn Ironworks aren’t commenting yet on their plans to take it over). We’re interested to hear your memories of West Hampstead’s favourite nightclub… if you can remember any of them. Drop us a mail <>

Coming up.
Hotly tipped for Oscar success, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing Missouri is on at the Tricycle Cinema, while JW3 is showing Churchill biopic Darkest Hour

Hope you are all having a peaceful and relaxing holiday. We’ll kick off with the news over the past ten days, and then we thought we’d do a quick “news review” of the year.

A local carol singer raised over £100,000 over the past 40 years. Hallelujah!

A new restaurant is recruiting already. Could ‘HAM’ be where Brioche was?

The Iverson Road Space didn’t reopen by Christmas as planned, but should reopen in January.

Although the plague of moped thefts has eased, there have been a couple recently: outside the tube station and another outside Waitrose. So this is still an issue. It only takes a second to loose your phone.

It’s the final week for consultation on the pedestrianisation of part of Oxford Street. The 139 would be one of just two buses that would continue to pass along the street.

The Fortune Green Safer Neighbourhood Team cracked down on rogue landlords in West Hampstead, with Sun journalists in tow.

A gang of (pretty hapless) burglars who smashed their way into Banana Tree back in May (and five other premises) were sentenced to jail.

YEAR IN REVIEW

The year started with a bang in January when a green Porsche smashed into Lena’s Café.

Work began in earnest on the Overground station upgrade. It’s running a little behind schedule, but not too much. Passenger numbers passing though the three West Hampstead stations topped 20 million for the first time.

Planning continued to dominate as a local issue, with the controversial redevelopment of 156 WEL approved in February. Travis Perkins is still trying to get the decision reversed or delayed in the courts but is running out of options. The Ballymore flats at West Hampstead Square FINALLY welcomed their first occupants in late January, eighteen months late. And the most recent scheme for Gondar Gardens came up for consultation.

There was a new recycling regime! Introduced on April 1st it didn’t exactly run smoothly. Even six months later there were still issues.

And on that note we took a walk up West End Lane. Like the one we took down the Kilburn High Road.

Christmas trees can be recycled too… all the details are here: Please don’t dump them on the street, like someone from West Hampsted Square appeared to do on Boxing Day!?

and the winner for the first fly tipped Christmas tree of the season is …. as spotted by @ciano_ire (in fact it was beaten by this one – dumped a week before Christmas!)

There were a number of coming and goings ; M&S opened in February …Ladudu closed in March and Rosa’s opened on the same site. Lola’s Bakery joined the West End Lane cafés, while on Mill Lane, the Kitchen Table closed to be replaced by the MillHouse.

Father Andrew stepped down from St. James Church (a.k.a. the Sheriff Centre) in May (but remains the postmaster for the time being).

In June there was (another) general election. At the start of campaigning, the polls and bookies tipped the Tories to win Hampstead & Kilburn from Labour, but in the end Tulip won with a margin of over 15,000…

Also in June, with worries about terrorist incidents in many people’s minds, West End Lane was closed off with concern about a chemical smell.

There was a very visible rise in moped-enabled crime in the area particularly in the latter half of the year with a spate of mobile phone thefts; and two guys were arrested when their moped was cornered by police after a man was stabbed to death after an attempted robbery of his phone in Maida Vale. There have been other arrests and things have improved, but it is still an issue.

It was our 300th newsletter in October!

Finally, after more than 600 days in prison, things are looking more positive for West Hampstead resident Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe (Freudian typo corrected). Richard, her husband has kept her name in the news. There was a tying of ribbons round a tree on Fortune Green at Easter to mark one year in prison, and a march in November. She celebrated her birthday on Boxing Day and may be eligible for early release next month.

Coming up

There is a very interesting (monthly) concert series starting at the Sheriff Centre, sponsored by Bechstein pianos.

First one on Friday January 5th is a recital by tenor Mark Padmore accompanied by Andrew West on Piano. The following wednesday they are playing the same concert – in the Cologne Philharmonic Hall!

Tweet of the week

The campaign for a lift at West Hampstead Station received some (very local) support…

Hi All, this is a real possibility, but only with a lot of support from the local community. Please have your say. Thank you ???@WHampstead @bratnw6 @WHampsteadLife @HampsteadWest @WELBooks pic.twitter.com/Mf8lWUJ75Y

— Status Quote (@willesdenstaff) December 20, 2017

Moped snatches of mobile phones continue to be a problem. One poor woman had her phone snatched outside Wickes on West End Lane.

Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe’s ongoing imprisonment in Tehran hit the headlines this week. In a gaffe, Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson said she was ‘training journalists’, which was seized on by the Iranian authorities as confirmation she was spying. He apologised and may be going to Tehran along with Richard, Nazanin’s husband.  Michael Gove is coming under fire on the issue.

Richard is also very concerned about his wife’s mental and physical health, with recent discoveries of lumps in her breast.

Another West Hampstead sunset thanks to StevieJLowy

A West Hampstead mum, suffering from cancer, was overwhelmed by a crowdfunding drive to raise money for childcare costs for her twins. It’s reached £8,000 with a target of £10,000. You can donate here.

Bienvenue Maison de la Vie (new cafe on the KHR).

Gung Ho, the chinese restaurant, is being reduced in size, apparently part of it will become an architect’s office.

We have heard that Salt House on Abbey Road has been sold to property developers.

A planning application has gone in to redevelop the Gondar Gardens reservoir (the fourth or fifth…) into luxury retirement flats (with an in-house chauffeur service). More on this next week.

There are moves afoot to rename the Minster Road Nature Reserve after Jane Evans who did so much to get it set up.

Anyone seen this earring?

Dexter the cat was found!

Gay West Hampstead 1. Joe Orton lived on West End Lane with Kenneth Halliwell (and for much longer than he lived in Islington)

Gay West Hampstead 2. Keith Vaughan artist, lived on Lyncroft Gardens. His photos are the subject of an exhibtion.

Paddington 2 opened to applause all round (think the Friends of Fortune Green has its movie for next August sorted!). The voice of Aunt Lucy is West Hampstead’s own Imelda Staunton.

Happy 100th birthday to West Hampstead resident Norah. She recalls back in the 1930s, West End Lane had ‘three butchers, a dairy and a haberdashery’. No change then – we still do: Brinkworth Dairy and the butchers at the farmers’ market + two permanent butchers and .. the Village Haberdashery).

A local resident was scammed at Barclay’s cashpoint. Don’t let it happen to you.

Phone thefts are still an issue and the West Hampstead SNT was handing out this advice.

A woman’s body was found by Menelik Road. Her death was not being treated as suspicious

Who does this leave this apparently never ending supply? wondered Mandira Bhimjiyani? (and WHL too).

WHAT held its public meeting on rubbish and recycling. We know it is an issue dear to your hearts but seems that while lots of you can tweet the tweet, coming to a public meeting was a bit too much of a commitment … Still, it was a good turnout and those that were there, although sympathetic to recycling and terribly polite, gave Camden and Veolia a thorough grilling. More details next week.

A couple of events for Halloween – treats (and maybe face-painting) on offer by Fortune Green or how about decorating a chocolate skull? (cost involved)

The Good Ship closed, but fortunately, its popular comedy club has sailed over the Colonel Fawcett in Camden.

Georgia Gould the new leader of Camden Council has been out and about in sunny West Hampstead.

West Hampstead resident (and Countdown champ) James Slater has been selected to stand as a Labour candidate for Hampstead ward, and at 19 he’s the youngest candidate.

Work began on La Brioche – apparently it’s going to have a brunch focus during the day and then become a restaurant at night. So nothing at all like its next-door neighbour The Wet Fish Café then.

Someone ‘clocked’ that at long last Lena’s Cafe 2 is reopening under a new name… Salad and coffee apparently.

It was a Whampdinner – they really are great fun. If you want a fun night out, with good food and meet some cool new people, sign up. If you don’t, then don’t. (next Whampevent is a Whampdrinks on the 30th Nov).

Newest arrivals on Fortune Green… a plumbers merchants and ….an(other) estate agent.

A teenager (16) was convicted of the shooting of Yasir Beshira last December in Kilburn. A 21 year-old accomplice from West Hampstead was also convicted of the murder. Another defendent was found guilty of manslaughter.

More about the man stabbed in that terrible phone theft incident in Little Venice his alleged killers were arrested in West Hampstead.

It was the Community Associations quiz night in Emmanuel Church.

As if we don’t already have enough trainlines, there is a suggestion that HS2 runs via … West Hampstead!

Ever wondered what it was like to be an older person using local buses?

Mill Lane was resurfaced and for a few brief moments was truly ‘car-free’.

The Friends of Library put on an EXCELLENT evening with Graham Gouldman.

Property madness 1. Wanna buy an ex-council house? It’s only £1.2 million. better hurry though. it’s under offer…

Property madness 2. This guy spotted an empty house in West Hampstead. And it earned him £10k! Though apparently it wasn’t actually empty and now the tenants are being asked to leave.

Property (not madness) LSE have digitised Booth’s map of London poverty. West Hampstead is on the edge, it was mostly ‘Middle class. Well-to-do’, ‘Fairly comfortable. Good ordinary earnings’ with some ‘Mixed. Some comfortable others poor’. No change really.

Camden is submitting a bid to be the London Borough of Culture at the end of November. Now is your chance to have a say.

WHL went to Amnesty UK’s performance of ‘Looking for Mummy’; the dramatisation of West Hampstead resident Nazanin Zaghari-Ratclilffe’s imprisonment. It was an excellent and moving portrayal of complex issue.

And another (younger) West Hampstead resident received a letter. So what you wonder? Well, it was from Paddington Bear!

Coming up this week

After a bumper week last week – as you can see from the newsletter, a bit quieter this week.  But keep and eye out for ’10 things to do in November ‘.

Tues 31st Oct – Halloween! (see above)

Wed 1st Nov. – Mark Forsyth on a “Short History of Drunkeness at WEL books. Might include glass of wine (geddit).

As part of National Poetry Day on Thursday, local poet Ted Booth wrote a poem about freedom dedicated to Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe. The West Hampstead mum was denied parole from her Iranian jail this week. Her husband Richard read the poem outside the Iranian embassy and 1,000 copies were given out in West Hampstead.

Tom’s been out and about, eating Italian at Nona in Fairhazel Gardens. How did he find it?

Make a note – Mill Lane will be resurfaced (and closed in sections) from Sat 21st Oct to Sat 28th.

And here are the top twelve things to do in (and around West Hampstead) in October.

Putting your litter in the bin is anything but #despicable in West Hampstead. Image: Marianne Jones

The police are appealing for witnesses to the hold up at the Sherriff Centre, apparently the perpertators were three men dressed in black on mopeds.

The police have also been warning of phones being snatched by moped thieves by the tube station. Be aware. [Ed – reports of another mobile being stolen at the Thameslink last night].

Transport news 1. Following the Underground, is the Overground station ticket office set to close?

Transport news 2. Another train link for West Hampstead! Looks like the Green light for new/upgraded passenger line ‘the West London Orbital’ from West Hampstead to Old Oak Common (future Crossrail hub). More passengers for the the interchange…

Politics (Lib Dem) – former local councillor Nancy Jirira spoke at the Lib Dem conference on how minority ethnic groups are unaware of Lib-Dem policies. Or indeed the Lib Dems.

Politics (Lab) – Tulip continues to battle against a hard Brexit.

There was a very good piece on understanding the World Transformed (i.e. Momentum).

And some cross-party consensus … on chocolate biscuits!

This week saw a (sad) farewell to Paul Perkins who ran the Winch youth centre for nine years (previously there had been seven directors in as many years). The Winch provides after-school clubs and activities for young people. It is a charity WHL has long supported.

Architectural award news 1. Neave Brown architect of the Alexandra and Ainsworth Estate won the RIBA Gold medal (highest award for architecture)

Architectural award news 2. Emmanuel Church was nominated for the best church renovation.

And sticking to the architectural theme there was this rather cool historical map of NW London, showing West Hampstead (or West End as was then) in …. 1790!

West Hampstead resident Ben Corrigan appeared earlier this season on Dragon’s Den with as part of a team of three pitching Pouch (an online voucher wallet). The dragons liked the pitch as all five made offers.

Tweet of the week

Worth a click to read the comments.

Old photo of Broomsleigh Street School (now Beckford School). https://t.co/6OovjOrbMp #WestHampstead @BeckfordPSA #WHamphistory #NW6

— Tetramesh (@Tetramesh) September 26, 2017

‘How Not To Be A Boy’ was published. Author and West Hampstead resident Robert Webb was out promoting it on R4 in Woman’s Hour and Channel 4 news this week, it was also R4’s book of the week (see below). You can pick up a signed copy at our friends @WELBooks (while stocks last).

It was the fire station’s open day and the young (and some not so young) residents of West Hampstead turned out in force. Earlier the week some grateful residents dropped off a homemade chocolate cake at the fire station to say thank you.

Doors have opened for fire station open day in #WestHampstead. It's on until 4pm so come and join us – there's plenty going on all afternoon pic.twitter.com/IZj9FmsMD7

— London Fire Brigade (@LondonFire) September 2, 2017

Rubbish continues to vex us. This week there was this on West End Lane, this off West End Lane, this on Netherwood road, and this on Quex Road. Come on Camden – get a grip. But let’s not just whinge – do something. Write to with any issues, fly-tip hotspots, bins left on streets.

The Evening Standard called West Hampstead ‘A sought-after swan that was formerly an ugly duckling’. The cheek of it! It is well connected (true) but  apparently there is a lack of green space (Kilburn Grange? West End Green? and of course… Fortune Green?)

They were promoting flats for £134k in Ballymore (aka West Hampstead Square). Seemed rather cheap for West Hampstead, reading the small print this is for just a quarter of a flat.

And more dissing of West Hampstead, this time by the FT! They did an ‘at home with FT’ interview with England fast bowler and West Hampstead resident, Steven Finn; but they relocated him to Hampstead. Sigh. [Paywall]

Cat was lost (twice even?). Cat was found. Cat and owner reunited. West Hampstead comes to the rescue again.

Oh no! Our little Waitrose is closing for a week – mainly to get the flooring replaced. No easy task as the store will be completely emptied for the work and stock sent to other stores.

The Black Lion is also closing five days for its refurb! But reopening at 6pm on the 8th with a relaunch party. (So, no pressure on the builders then…:-)

And there’s more… The Iverson Road open space will be closed and redeveloped this Autumn. WHL was skeptical there had been enough consultation but MILAM locals say otherwise. Still, at £100,000+ it’s a bit pricey.

This Wednesday is the first day at school for the new pupils of the Kingsgate infants school expansion, which opens this week at the Liddell Road site. Good luck kids!

An incident outside the NLT on KHR. Cavendish Road closed.

WHL goes a little bit Hello magazine as it’s been wedding bells. Congratulations to Claire from @Achilleaflowers, who married a former Kitchen Table barrista. Love on Mill Lane! And also to the newly-wed @carlabradman. Read all about her wedding here.

WHL went to see the latest opening at Kingsgate Project Space. Interesting and some talks coming up in the month long exhibition. If you want to up your coolness you could do worse than exploring this (and buying a very reasonably price print).

The football season is starting. WHFC is looking for new players more details on the link.

Tweet of the week

This week it’s not a tweet but book of the week, Radio 4’s book of the week … ‘How Not To Be A Boy’. Quick load episodes before they roll off (then have 28 days to listen).

A section of Finchley Road was closed after a suspicious package was reported. It turned out that it “wasn’t a viable device”. Does that mean it wasn’t suspicious, or that it was but was just not viable?

New bakery Lola’s took some flak for having a disabled toilet that was up some stairs, but apparently a ramp is available on demand.

The local Safer Neighbourhood Team issued this warning.

Shocking scenes in West Hampstead this week… We don’t feel able to publish the full image! via @Scandisgirl.

Tom gave his verdict on Kilburn’s Quartieri, following the recent whampdinner.

The Kitchen Table had its final farewell, and now everything’s coming up Mill House!

Some residents of the Chalcots estate, who were evacuated in the wake of the Grenfell fire, have started to be moved back in.

Maygrove & Iverson Road residents continue to push for some respite from their parking woes and met with officers from Camden. One for all of you in parking zone CA-Q.

Brioche has put in for a refurb as it is due for an upgrade (the biggest change: bi-fold doors)

Tulip Siddiq MP continues to fight for the release of West Hampstead resident Nazanin Zachary-Ratcliffe and arranged a debate in Westminster Hall about Nazanin’s plight and that of other imprisioned dual nationality Britons.

Tulip also held a reception to say thank you all the voluntary groups in H&K.

The West Hampstead Women’s Centre won the Queen’s award for voluntary service.

The Kilburn Grange festival had to be postponed after the bad weather. It will now take place on August 19th.

Daniel Raven-Ellison passed though West Hampstead this week on his #bigwalkroundlondon. Who is he? He’s the guy driving the National Park City initiative with our growth area it’s a particularly interesting concept for West Hampstead (just a shame he didn’t stop to find out more).

A vehicle was abandoned in Kilburn. Upside down.

Fortune Green councillor Flick Rea sat for a portrait masterclass at Hampstead School of Art. It turned out to be a revealing experience.

Local comedian Matt Green gave an insight into his West Hampstead life.

An old street sign appeared by Barclays .

One local captured some of the dramatic storm earlier this week.

Tweet of the week

@WHampstead can u help? Trying to find a couple who paid towards my breakfast after finding their phone @alicehouseWH. Want 2 say THANK U!!

— Katie Lassman (@littlelassy) July 23, 2017

How many?? We crunched the numbers on entry/exit figures for West Hampstead’s three stations. Tbh even we were surprised.

It was the Jester Festival last weekend, that much you know. But to get an unbiased view on it, we asked a newcomer to the area to pay a visit.

There was a Whampdinner at Quartieri (the new pizza place on the KHR). Good food, good company and good limoncello. (If you’ve not been to one before, do subscribe to the newsletter and invites – they are a really fun night out in the ‘hood, and it’s  and always nice to meet fellow whampers who are even more interesting after a glass or two of wine).

Tortoise lost. Sad face. Tortoise found! Smiles all round. Pics and general good samaritanness from Jemima Knight and Weary cynic (she has a good heart after all! 🙂

(astonishingly 17 other people claimed it as ‘their’ missing tortoise)!

And Coco (cat) was missing, but has been found.

Now that we have reunited tortoise and owner. And Coco and her owner. Anyone recognise this ginger cat?

Hello Lola. After a soft opening over the past few days, Lola’s bakery opens on Tuesday Thursday the 13th.

Latte Lassi is moving in where Cocoa Bijoux was (and Cocoa Bijoux is moving further up Broadhurst, apparently)

Genius club is taking over the Movers and Shakers spot. To sell games and toys.

Monsters of Art is opening a new tattoo shop off Oxford Street.  But fear not, it’s keeping the one on Mill Lane.

It was Pride weekend – and there is an appeal for information and memories of the gay scene at the Lower Ground Bar. It had a gay scene?

I know I said no more election news, but while the overall election turnout in the UK was 68.7%, and in London it was over 70%, but in West Hampstead it was the highest in Camden at over 80%.

Remember Woods & Woods? It was the pine furniture shop where Tesco is now. Damien Pullen, the owner and familiar face in the area, has died suddenly.

Comments are officially closed on the farmers’ market expansion but experience suggests that it’s still worth commenting if you have not already. You can do so here.

West Hampstead local Harriet Dart played in the women’s doubles (or ‘dubs’) at Wimbledon. She was not successful this year but who knows what the future will bring.

Help to buy isn’t really helping in Camden; in the last financial year only 13 loans were issues in the borough! And none would have been much help buying this house in West Hampstead- it’s on the market for £4 million.

Tweet of the week

Emergency outside @WHampstead library! Pot plant smoking! Call @LondonFire. Phew all sorted. Crisis over. pic.twitter.com/84XOVQHAyS

— West Hampstead Life (@WHampsteadLife) July 8, 2017

Due to the tragic incident in Manchester and immediate suspension of all electioneering, our hustings was cancelled. Alas we’ve been unable to organise another one.

There were security measures taken at the O2 carpark.

Football fans were out in force before the FA Cup final. Is this a taste of things to come as Spurs play at Wembley next season?

Photo credit: Matt Stuart/Magnum Photos

Election news

• Once campaigning restarted, the party stalls were out on West End Lane over the weekend;  Labour, Lib Dems … the teachers (NUT) and the Conservatives (can report that although their performance in the polls has been a bit wobbly recently, their table is now strong and stable).
• The Greens didn’t have a stall, but we’ve spoken to their candidate, John Mansook.
• (Coming up next week, H&K 2017: The Tulip Siddiq Interview).
• Glenda is not a fan of Jeremy Corbyn, but she is of Tulip.
• Europhile Andrew Marshall, former Conservative, now independent councillor, cast his postal vote for ….
• No surprise who Cllr Phil Rosenberg (Lab) is voting for (unless he’s a shy Tory, which we doubt!)
• Claire-Louise Leyland was out canvassing at … Bobby FitzPatrick’s?
• Local actors made their political endorsements.
• UKIP confirmed that they aren’t running a candidate in H&K to avoid damaging the Brexit cause.
• And get your voting practice in with this; the Kitchen Table needs YOUR vote.

A West Hampstead mum needs to raise £50,000 for operation and physiotherapy for her son Troy. She’s over half way there!

There is a new memorial plaque on West End Lane, for Dave Simcock.

Oh no! The leaks have started again…

The Victorian Society took a stroll round West Hampstead.

Police officers were commended for their bravery.

Like living in West Dumpstead? Dumping on (lower) Fordwych Road, (upper) Fordwych Road, Smyrna Road, Crediton Hill and Mill Lane…

Tweet of the week 

My 100 yard walk to DASS the newsagents! What a pleasant way to start the day! Filthy! @WHampstead @MillLaneNW6 @camdentalking @VeoliaUK pic.twitter.com/NWx7iwkoaH

— Mill Lane Barbers (@prodprodromou) May 22, 2017

The Conservatives chose their candidate, setting up all female fight for H&K. (More election news below).

Father Andrew is stepping down as vicar of St. James Church citing the Church of England as being ’institutional homophobic”.

There was a ‘clock up’ at West Hampstead Square. Some liked it , while others thought it looked like a guillotine or or didn’t like the patination (i.e. it’s rusty).

And the clock is up. As seen by @VHaberdashery

Election news …

• The Greens have chosen John Mansook as their candidate for H&K. There is talk of collaboration with other parties (ie, Labour).
• Unsurprisingly, given the tight battle ahead, both Tories and Labour fear “leakage to the Lib Dems” [paywall].
• Andy Burnham said there was “too much Hampstead and not enough Hull” in today’s Labour Party. Tulip’s just hoping there is still enough Labour Party in Hampstead & Kilburn.
• Former local Labour councillor Mike Katz is seeking selection as Labour’s PPC in Hendon.
• There’s a straw in the wind this week with the Gospel Oak by-election.
• It’s all getting a bit Game of Thrones.

West Hampstead’s favourite stall at the farmers’ market is officially Brinkworth Dairy. We got the lowdown on its success.

Our historian uncovered the strange story of a local diamond broker. And he will be at the Library on Tuesday with tales of WW1 spies in Camden.

Nazanin’s appeal to the Iranian High court was turned down – and reported from the Wall Street Journal to the China Daily.

Fire fighter Dave Allen left West Hampstead after 30 years of service. Good bye!

But what’s 30 years? A Broadhurst Gardens couple celebrated 71 years of marriage.

Police are looking for a man who exposed himself on the Thameslink. And are also asking for any information after a man exposed himself on the Black Path (back in December).

So – glad to see that progress is being made of clearing up the Black Path.

Camden’s new garden waste contract is still causing confusion. You can sign up on Camden’s website (and see who in your postcode has signed up). You can club together with a neighbour informally to share a collection – rather than just dumping your waste in their bags, not just dump in their waste in your bags as some are doing.

Time Out reported 14 things to do West End Lane, and its annual round up of top coffee shops included the Sanctuary Café in the Sherriff Centre and Loft (at the top of Greencroft Gardens) but missed Wired. Pah!

Rosa’s Thai opened to a good start.

A husband and wife team opened a new Osteopathy/Psychology practice at 322 West End Lane.

The Londonist took a nostalgic look at Kilburn, no longer Ireland’s 33rd County.

Local artist Zoe Grace, who has an up and down life, is taking part in an exhibition in Fitzrovia.

Tweet of the week

@JfmJm @NickGriersonWH @WHampstead I have now written to Camden to see if the foxes can be trained to collect the bags and deliver them to Veolia. No reply. Typical!

— Phil Ryan (@philryanmusic) April 25, 2017

Ladudu closes its doors for the final time this week.

After Ballymore had to take its enormous sign down last week, this week M&S had its application for an illuminated sign at West Hampstead Square turned down by Camden. Meanwhile, Ballymore marketing material seems to think West End Lane has shifted over to the Finchley Road (and apparently we lie between Hampstead, Primrose Hill and St. John’s Wood).

Next Sunday is Mothers Day – we rounded up a dozen gifts you can buy locally.

No reason for thinking Cresta House scaffolding is in any way insecure, but certainly looks vertiginous. via Andrew Marshall

One mother who will not be at home on Mother’s day is Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe who was imprisoned in Iran almost a year ago. She is being denied medical treatment for what appears to be a slipped disk.

A local boy tragically died of an extreme asthma attack after being released from the Royal Free.

West Hampstead tube station is apparently on a TfL short list of some 50 stations that need funding for step-free access.

West Hampstead and Fortune Green Safer Neighbourhood teams are being joined by the Kilburn team in a larger more flexible pool, when needed. Commercial burglaries are down this month after a spike in Jan/Feb, but car crime is up so don’t leave any valuables in your car overnight.

Toomai got tagged.

Miss Bake-a-boo herself wrote about the proposed redevelopment of her former premises. It’s well worth reading.

At the community consultation on the redevelopment of Gondar Gardens, it was suggested somehow that two previous applications for 16 units + 28 units now add up to the 108 units being proposed. Um?

Maeve McCormack, Labour councillor for Gospel Oak but resident of Broadhurst Gardens, is standing down as she has been priced out of Camden. In 1999, an employee paid 9.6x their salary for an average Camden property, last year that had risen to 19.6x.

Jim Carter is in conversation with Danny Boyle in a fundraiser at the Tricycle on Sunday 26th. Take your mother for a rather different (but still local!) mother’s day present?

Talking of the Tricycle, it’s the annual takeover in April though performances are in other venues as work continues on the theatre

Coming up this week
Beckett and Jazz at Locally Sourced on Monday and a barn dance at Emmanuel on Saturday. West Hampstead is nothing if not eclectic.

The book group at Swiss Cottage Library is looking at “Reading Lolita in Tehran”. While Phillips Sands is making an author’s visit to West End Lane books.

Tweet of the week

Lots of photos and comments on the arrival (onslaught?) of the new wheelie bins.

@WHampsteadLife @WHampstead I'm thinking of renting mine out to tenants. It's bigger than my bedroom.

— Danielle Blanchard (@dannyblanny) March 17, 2017

UXB NW6. A bomb was discovered on a building site in NW6. It was made safe, taken away and exploded by the army.

After last week’s announcement by Camden Council that it is raising Council tax by 4.99% , with 3% ring-fenced to fund social care. An insight into what social care pressures local doctors are facing, with some pensioners in de-facto ‘solitary confinement’.

At WHATs recent AGM we learned more about the new recycling regime – it will be starting in less than a month!

Pic of the week

shows the perils of street drinking…

Oddly disturbing sight on our high street! As seen by @julietrix1

Tulip raised the issue, in Parliament, of Jacob Rees-Mogg’s use of language  at a fundraising dinner for the Hampstead Conservatives referring to the ‘pygmy-nature’ of the opposition. In the constituency of the shortest member of parliament she pointed out. (You might have caught this on the Radio 4 Today show too).

Finchley and Golder’s Green MP Mike Freer, whose constituency will be split in the boundary changes, has been tipped to stand as the Tory MP for new Hampstead & Golders Green constituency.

Among the 750 comments on boundary changes to the constituency, the highest in the country, was one by Chris Percy (aka Mr Tulip Siddiq). He raised the prospect of a legal challenge under the equalities act.

There was break-in at Oddbins – thieves got away with a bottle of bourbon – but most of the bottles and boxes were empty.

Camden Council refuses to allow utility companies access for meter readings. Apparently due to ‘health and safety’. Some residents haven’t had a reading for seven years.

It’s the West Hampstead NDF AGM. Chair James Earl is stepping down, but who will replace him?

Also on Monday the Hampstead NDF is having a meeting – so they are pressing ahead.

The Tricycle’s refurb is continuing and their auditorium is heading off to a school in Kent.

Some graffiti was subverted at JW3. They are running a GayW3 festival over the next week.

There is a Taste of Syria pop-up stall at JW3.

Tweet of the week

10 minutes of Tidying in @WHampstead #GBSpringClean #LitterHeroes pic.twitter.com/aXNWJQA6dg

— zoe de (@zmdih) March 4, 2017

West Hampstead is an “area of intensification” – how far are we to meeting the 2031 housing target? (Spoiler: Very).

In Valentine’s week, what better than an Insight into one of our local florists?

Swiss Cottage councillor Andrew Marshall, who has already said he will not seek reelection next year, left the Conservative party over Brexit, and will sit out his remaining term as an independent.

Never realised how colourful the stained glass is at Hampstead Synagogue. Quite beautiful. via Chris Simpson

The Friends of West Hampstead Library held a very successful evening with Jim Carter.

The Alliance was up for auction, but bidding stopped at £3.9 million, short of the £4.1 million reserve. The developer paid £2.7 million for it only a year ago, so it seems a £1 million profit in a year wasn’t enough.

From one baker to another: Wenzels has opened where Dylan’s used to be.

*Do like West Hampstead Life on Facebook, if that’s your sort of thing*

From one south-east Asian restaurant to another: Ladudu, which closes at the end of March, is set to become a Rosa’s Thai.

West Hampstead Square has opened up… for deliveries!

What is happening at Lena’s Cafe after the Porsche accident? Nothing it appears. Turns out a new owner bought the café only a month earlier. How’s that for bad luck.

Londis on Mill Lane was broken into last week.

A 16-year-old was arrested and charged with the shooting of Yasir Beshira in Kilburn earlier this year. A 17-year-old was released on bail and two other men are in custody.

A West Hampstead woman returning home from a funeral was killed after being hit by a lorry near Euston.

The planning application to install a large mobile phone mast on Blackburn Road was refused.

It’s a long read, but if you care about Camden’s budget then this piece by finance chief Theo Blackwell is interesting.

Minkies ran into all sorts of trouble on Twitter over dumping rubbish on West End Lane. Public pressure (and possibly a letter to the boss) seems to have paid off and at least the rubbish is now correctly bagged.

Talking of rubbish, It’s the WHAT AGM at the library this Monday and the public discussion will be on rubbish. Come along, quiz Camden and have your say.

Tweet of the week

!
?#WestHampstead #NW6 pic.twitter.com/nG7y5moWF3

— Robert Timothy (@RTJourno) February 19, 2017

A vintage Porsche crashed into Lena’s cafe on West End Lane, injuring two women. WHL has the exclusive story from one of them + some dramatic photos of the scene.

Not good news from Tehran. Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe’s appeal against her five year sentence in Iran was turned down.

Bobby F. opened – it’s a timewarp. One review said it was in ‘sleepy West Hampstead’. The cheek of it. We have vintage Porsches crashing just a few doors down.

A weekend of tube closures: TfL engineers line up

As reported last week, the council wants to close Netherwood Day Centre, due to cuts to adult social care, and shift patients to the Kingsgate Resource centre. This is the third time Netherwood has faced closure. Here is the petition against closure.

The NDF monitored pollution along West Hampstead’s main streets. It found levels were at least 50% over the maximum legal limit – and over four times up by the the junction with the Finchley Road.

Oh la la. La du du is reopening on Monday at 5pm after a refurbish (closure was due to damage from a burst water main).

If you fancy an early peek at the new M&S on 10th Feb, there are a few spaces available. Scheduled opening is 10am Wednesday 22nd Feb.

Vote for your favourite farmer’s market stall. Apparently there are small changes coming to the market (good ones).

Jim Carter spoke about his upcoming fundraising Q&As at the Tricycle.

They’re ‘aving a laugh along the KHR: comedy nights springing up – Abigail’s Party (last Sunday of the month) at the NLT hosted by local Abigail Burdess, Comedy at the Tricycle (fourth? Thursday of month) and of course The Good Ship (every Monday). It’s January, it’s gloomy, why not try something different?

Out of the area but relevant here, estate agents in South London face £100 fines for leaving their boards up longer than two weeks after a sale or rental. Apparently Camden introduced the same fines last year (really?). Why isn’t it enforced?

There was a warning about a burglary scam from our SNT team.

Which is a reminder that Paul Fairman from Camden spoke at the last Area Action meeting on dealing with anti-social behavoir. Worth noting his name in case you have to deal with it at some stage.

Significant track upgrade to Jubilee line tracks so station will be closed next weekend (28/29 Jan).  Plus West End Lane will be reduced to a single lane next by the tube station as well.

Tweet of the week:

A good week for those famous West Hampstead sunsets, but this one made the weather report.

Nice #whampsunset on BBC London weather report just now. And I *so* hope that's the photographer's real name… pic.twitter.com/F9HNqFtkyS

— Penny Liechti (@PennyLiechti) January 17, 2017

Welcome back West Hampstead and Happy New Year! After the extended break, there is much news.

Expect the trains and buses to be VERY busy on Monday as many Underground stations are closed because of a strike through to the end of the day. Here is TFL’s advice.

There is a trial at the old Bailey over an alleged stabbing and rape that took place in the cemetery in July last year.

Not sure if it was the sixth day of Christmas or not but there was a swan a-swanning in West Hampstead. Locals rallied round to protect it, and the Swan Sanctury in Shepperton came to the rescue. The swan was released the next day. In time for Christmas.

Photo of the week

A pine forest on Fortune Green at the Christmas tree recycling point. As spotted by @JfmJm.

A timely reminder that you can recycle your Christmas trees at Fortune Green or Kilburn Grange (Messina Avenue). NOT West End Green, or just dumped on the street.

If like WHL you’ve added a few pounds (Ed – kilos) over the holidays then you’ll want our round up of the local exercise options.

Is West Hampstead set to lose two loos?

156 West End Lane is not scheduled for the January planning committee. Maybe February? There was some extra time for comments over Christmas due to new information about sunlight and shadows. We shed some light on the matter.

As a unexpected Christmas surprise, Network Rail came to West Hampstead to discuss the overgrown Black Path, here’s a report from our Black Path correspondent. And as an extra bonus Network Rail also brought along two guys to cut back the worst bits.

Camden’s local area forum is this Monday (9th). It’s a public meeting open to all, and a chance to meet your councillors. Camden is set to announce new waste collection arrangements (fortnightly black bin collections and charging for collecting green waste)

Work is starting in earnest on West Hampstead Overground. Apart from building work during the days there will Sunday overnight work; track survey works tonight and hoardings next Sunday. The contractors promise both will not be noisy. WHL will be doing more on the works to remind you exactly what is happening and when.

Nazarin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, held in an Iranian prison for spying, appealed against her sentence last week. Her friends and family are awaiting the judgement.

West Hampstead appeared (again) in Location, Location, Location (WH starts at 28 mins). This time a couple looking for a two bed flat. One on Hillfield road (where a previous programme found a flat) and another on Maygrove Road. Without giving the ending away, welcome to West Hampstead Hiren and Priyanka!

Did you know West Hampstead’s link to the Cambridge spies? Philby, Burgess, Maclean and Blunt all had local connections

In other historical news, the great-great niece of the Short Brothers has started fundraising to repair the graves of these pioneer aircraft manufacturers. Their grave is in the cemetery (although it’s not clear if they lived in Ranulf Road, but their mother probably did).

In case you missed it, before Christmas we got an Insight into the Sherriff Centre.

Kilburn Station is getting a pop-up Library.

Local Stephanie Dawson is trying raise money for her mother who after being diagnosed with cancer and had to sell her caravan.

There is fundraising effort to repatriate the body of the Ecuadorian man who died in the Willesden car crash last month.

More change on Mill Lane as The Village Haberdashery moves from Mill Lane to West Hampstead Square. Alas, it’s not opening as planned, because (now here’s a surprise) Ballymore isn’t ready.

Meanwhile, Mill Lane welcomes The Wag Club, and a vape store. Not so sure about the last one.

Dallas Cowboy Jack Crawford, born in NW6 no less, is in the NFL play-offs.

We’re upping our Instagram game… do follow us

Tweet of the Week

A timely reminder for all you heading to the gym

Note to guy at @TheGymGroup in @WHampstead in full, skin tight, desert camouflage, boots & silver choker. Unfortunately we can still see you

— Phillip Ingamells (@ingamells) January 6, 2017

A man was shot and killed on Kilburn High Road on Friday. The man, in his 20s, was Yasir Beshira (also known as Loopy), who lived in a hostel in West Hampstead. A 22-year-old man has been arrested for the murder, but the police are still appealing for witnesses.

Brexit rumbles on and last week there were two motions in Parliament, one from the Government and one from Labour. Both were won by large majorities, although Tulip was one of a number of Labour MPS who voted against the Labour motion.

Richard Ratcliffe is continuing his desperate campaign for the return of his imprisoned wife Nazarin and their two year old daughter trapped in Tehran. At the beginning of last week hundreds marched to Downing Street in support of Nazanin. Bring Nazarin home.

Scrabble anyone? pic from @bubela

Back to matters Christmas. Last week we did a twelve things to do in West Hampstead before Christmas. This week it was our ever-so-useful Christmas survival guide.

If you are still looking for that elusive Christmas present here are some options on your doorstep; the twelve gifts of West Hampstead.

And there is a Whampsocial for Christmas drinks at the Gallery this week.  Join us!

Last Saturday a man fell on the tracks at the Thameslink station. Emergency services arrived, including by helicopter (which landed in Travis Perkins yard). The man’s injuries are not life-threating.

Don’t believe everything you read in the Evening Standard. It reheated a story about 156 West End Lane; showing alternative plans, saying that Jim Carter was opposing it and that it was going to planning on December 15th. The plans weren’t new, Jim Carter wasn’t asked and it won’t be going to planning until January at the earliest.

More West End Lane news. Movers and Shapers is, erm, moving.

And almost opposite M&S popped up on Twitter to announce the opening of its new West Hampstead store (in early Feb).

Talk of peak estate agent on West End Lane was alas too early. In an about turn, Alexanders is not closing its office after all. Instead it will draft in more staff. And the new mystery tenant at West Hampstead Square will be … an estate agent; Johns & Co (Ballymore’s in-house agency).

What will be the impact of the changes in rental fees? Renters will probably benefit.

As the photo of the week showed, things are happening with Bobby’s House. Finally. It will be opening in the new year. But who is Bobby?

Tom dived into to Nautilus and here’s what he thought.

Our historians reported on a true story about the downfall of a doctor that seems more like a tragic TV soap opera.

Liddell Road is being erased from history and being renamed as … Liddell Place. We’ll be doing an update on what’s going on this week.

And finally, the Marie Curie hospice is one of the participating hospices in the London hospices choir. It is putting out a Christmas single this week. Here’s a link to the video, but be warned. It will bring a tear to your eye.

Tweet of the week

Overheard at an Xmas market this morning (one stall-holder to another) 'Hey Janet, you're creative – can you have a go at untying this knot?

— Anthony McGowan (@anthony_mcgowan) December 10, 2016

It was Remembrance Sunday, so we looked back at some local West Hampstead soldiers who died in WW1.

The newly refurbished Emmanuel Church is offering a warm welcome to some of Camden’s homeless once a week.

We were really excited about this tiny art exhibition on Mill Lane, but it was case of blink and you missed it. And you had to look really closely to find it at all.

Staying on Mill Lane for the latest of our Insights into local businesses. We met up with Jennie from the Kitchen Table. Find out how love blossomed (alcohol is involved)

Photo of the week

Autumn in the cemetery. Image @julierrix1

But maybe she stayed too long admiring the ‘fading autumn light’ because her next tweet was this! Don’t worry she made it out.

Bonfire night saw a serious fire on the Rowley Way estate. Sixty firefighters tackled it and the next day things looked bleak.

Our friends at West End Lane Books were the victims of a reach-over and grab from the till robbery.

There was an NDF/Camden workshop on possible redevelopment/ masterplanning of the O2 centre carpark. Good turnout and some interesting thoughts. Early days though.

More NDF news. James Earl, the chair, is stepping down as he is moving away from West Hampstead. We’re not sure if planning policy allows that.

The deadline for commenting on 156 West End Lane closed this week on Camden’s website, but can still be sent in.

STB blocks has arranged a meeting about it, although sources tell us top-billed Tulip Siddiq MP probably won’t make it there until late, if at all, as she has her day job to attend to.

Tulip was only offered an out-of-date vaccine for her daughter despite living in a high-risk area for TB. Lots of other West Hampstead mums couldn’t even get that due to a vaccine shortage.

A dodgy temporary wall outside Iverson Road cottages seems to break pretty much every health and safety rule.

The air quality in West Hampstead is being measured over the next few weeks. Cough, cough.

Remember the shisha bar near Fortune Green? After being empty for months the building contractors next door are moving their office, to the relief of local residents.

Brooksby the wine merchant closed and will be replaced by … Tannin and Oak, another wine merchant, which will offer wine tastings and courses.

Someone is moving in to the old Colour Division premises, a totally different type of business. More details when we get confirmation.

If we say so ourselves there was a good Whampdinner at Sarracino. The evening started at The Railway Tavern and ended up, past midnight in the Gallery (on a week night)!

Tweet of the Week

@WHampstead Blocking WEL in middle of rush hour. What a bright idea? pic.twitter.com/9VWf2a0jbg

— Robert Daniels (@sloanie2000) November 10, 2016

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Got any West Hampstead news? Drop us a line.

Fittingly during ‘National Hate Crimes Awareness week’, the LGBTI rainbow flag flew again over West Hampstead, thanks to the help of the fire brigade. The story was featured on Channel 4 news and BBC local news.

WHL guest writer Shalini gave us her take on West End Lane’s brunch options. And apparently new-kid-on-the-block One Bourbon offers another one – with pulled pork!

Firezza pizza delivery is set to open on Monday but some lucky West Hampstead residents got free delivery of pizza on Saturday as a trial run.

What with all this pulled pork and pizza we thought the newsletter needed some balance, so…

Photo of the week

Good to be reminded of the farmer’s market thanks to @filleboheme

Keeping up the healthy theme, WHL popped in to chat with Peppercorns about Manuka honey and gentrification.

Popular local live music (and comedy) venue The Good Ship in Kilburn is under threat as police are questioning its licence hours. John, the owner, says that problems have been exaggerated and will be making a strong case to Brent’s licensing board. It does seem ironic that just as we get the late tube venues are being made to close earlier.

Watch out – very closely – for some very small artworks appearing around West Hampstead.

Lots of activity on West End Lane over the past weekend. On Friday Salt (formerly Lower Ground Bar) reopened. And on the same night just up West End Lane, after a very rapid refit, OneSixty became One Bourbon .

There was a successful Whampsocial at the Green Room on Fortune Green, which is apparently doing good Sunday roasts.

Still nothing on 156 West End Lane (aka Travis Perkins), but expect something very soon.

Over on the Finchley Road – at 317, Camden’s planning officer has recommended approval- of ten, count ‘em, ten stories.

Care about the future of West Hampstead (part 1)? The NDF is organising a workshop on the Growth Area next month (see diary), it will be discussing masterplanning issues. If you want to have your say, put the date in your diary.

Care about West Hampstead (part 2)? There are still estate agent’s boards on West End Lane despite the ban and a number of banners too. Plus A-boards on the pavement. Time for a crackdown?

Care about West Hampstead (part 3)? And what about the terrible state of paths by the railways? Time to put pressure on Camden and Network Rail?

Last weekend Pro- and anti-CS11 (cycle superhighway) protestors demonstrated outside the Hampstead Theatre, pros outnumbering the antis. It’s on the edge of West Hampstead but could still affect us. Heavy traffic on the Finchley Road Sunday afternoon swiftly bunged up West End Lane.

Building continues apace on the extension to Kingsgate School in Liddell Road as shown in this video. It should be opened by Sept 2017 and for all you parents looking for a school place, applications have opened via Camden Council.

Is it just me, or do there seem to be a lot of burst water pipes in the area? After none for ages, there are now several. I’m wondering if Thames Water has increased the pressure? Or is it do with the arrival of autumn? Or just chance?

Keeping up the pressure for the release of Nazanin Zaghair-Ratcliffe, this week a UN working group found her detention was arbitrary and that she was denied a fair trial.

Local MP Tulip accepted the role of shadow early years minister – and posed her first parliamentary question in that role the next day. The proposed Boundary Commission constituency changes don’t seem to have created much fuss, although there was talk that the Labour Party were proposing a ‘West Hampstead and Kilburn’ constituency option to tilt the balance back in favour of Tulip. The right sort of gerry-mandering…

In another guest article, Tom Bullock gave us an insight into West Hampstead Hockey Club, right on our door step, with a report on the 1st team’s recent match at Blackheath.

Congratulations to local author Susie Steiner who is bouncing around the Sunday Times top ten fiction chart for her thriller ‘Missing Presumed’. (Following in the footsteps of another local author Renee Knight who was there earlier in the year for her thriller ‘Disclaimer’). Copies of both are available at West End Lane books.

Proposed changes to parliamentary constituencies could have a major impact on West Hampstead… and its sitting MP.

Nazarin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, the West Hampstead mother arrested in Tehran in April while visiting her parents, has been sentenced to five years in prison by a judge, who still didn’t reveal on what formal charge.

West Hampstead became a little less colourful – as after 42 years Colour Division closed down (sort of suddenly).

The uptick in local crime seems to be continuing but it was nothing compared to the early 80s as our local historians revealed in ‘They shot the wrong man‘.

Photo of the week

Whampstead sunrise by @djleroyroberts (on his way to bed?)

Local Councillor Phil Rosenberg met royalty… in Hampstead Garden Suburb. (Or was he just canvassing for votes in the proposed new constituency?)

Tulip Siddiq discussed anti-semitism with Yehudi Bauer at JW3.

A local Labour member was suspended for anti-semitism although his original question was about the lack of affordable housing being built in West Hampstead (and Labour councillor Paul Tomlinson also questions Camden’s role as developer in the letters page of this week’s CNJ).

A Labour hustings took place – and was live streamed – at JW3 on Sunday evening #JewishLabourDebate.

Annoying closure of West End Lane this weekend – as they dug up the road, leading to heavy traffic down in the surrounding roads.

And last weekend round the corner on Broadhurst Gardens there was an impromptu water feature at earlier roadworks.

West Hampstead Square Heritage Lane, opening put back again (quelle surprise) M&S due to open (for Xmas) with the rest in January.

The 156 West End Lane (aka ‘Travis Perkins’) plans are up for consultation again. They should be on view at the Library. There are still questions about loss of light on neighbours and Crown Close. WHL will try to shed some light on the matter. However, Camden seems to know the outcome already, as they have started legal proceedings to get Travis Perkins out of the building.

Planning application for the Alliance Pub on Mill Lane is open for comment. Pub stays, rooms above converted into flats. Seems reasonable.

Brooksby Wine won’t be a hairdressers after all, it will be… another wine merchant (Tannin and Oak according to the planning application).

Thunderbird, the new burger and cocktail bar replacing Nfes is due to open (in about two weeks).

This coming Wednesday at Estancia Brasil, a steak house opposite the Swiss Cottage Odeon, sees the appearance, for four hours only, of cult-burger chain In-N-Out. First come, first served and limited quantities apparently.

Talking of matters hip, Merlin Griffiths of the Priory Tavern talks cocktails.

We wrongly reported in newsletter #250 that the ICMP was moving out of Kilburn. We’re delighted to report that this is not the case – they are merely moving out of one building and expanding another. Apologies.

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A woman was sexually assaulted on Billy Fury Way. A suspect has been apprehended but the path feels unsafe and questions are being raised about what could be done.

As it happens plans for 317 Finchley Road – which included a ten-storey tower, yes ten storeys – proposed adding a new entrance to the path but large stretches will still be unsafe.

Parts of the Black Path, are also very overgrown and feel unsafe, but who is responsible?

Just up the railway line, Cricklewood station, is up for an award for the improvements undertaken by local volunteers.

Some serious existential debate going on on the Kilburn High Road. Image via @YouMustBeAnna

It’s been a long running story but West Hampstead Mum Nazarin Zaghari-Ratcliffe has been tried in Tehran although we still don’t know exactly what for or the outcome. There is a heartfelt blog from her husband Richard here (read to the bottom).

Tulip Siddiq is ‘leaning towards’ Owen Smith, she announced during an interview on the World at One last week. You can hear the interview here – (the BBC could perhaps have chosen a more flattering  photo).

Maybe Jeremy Corbyn’s visit to a rally in Kilburn on Sunday evening can persuade her otherwise. Mention of Sadiq Khan elicited boos from the audience following his endorsement of Owen Smith.

No Deliveroo last week as delivery drivers went on strike at their new contract. They held a protest rally of about 50 scooters heading down West End Lane.

The Ham & High property section took a look at West Hampstead and decided ‘that fiercely loyal residents of NW6 love this residential area”, but you already knew that.

West Hampstead had a power station – who knew? Find out more in our next local history story.

A successful Whampgather at the Czech House. Na zdravi!

A new mural is appearing at the Mill Lane Open Space and if you want to buy some very local food it is selling veg it has grown this year on Thursday to pay for seeds for next year.

New comedy series Fleabag has migrated from BBC3 to BBC2, Sunday nights at 10pm (just as this newsletter is sent). There are glimpses of West Hampstead in it, but it’s funny so worth watch for more than that (just perhaps not with your mum in the same room).

Kilburn Cosmos rugby club is hosting a fundraising day on 3rd September after a burglar broke into the the clubhouse and stole thousands of pounds raised for new sports equipment.

It’s taken a while, but the natural fit between West Hampstead and literary festivals is happening. The Hampstead and Highgate Literary Festival is coming JW3.

And if you can’t wait until then to exercise your mind, JW3 is hosting a mind sports Olympiad from 21st to 29th August.

Tweet of the week

#WestHampstead oozes class:Customer 'D'you have new biog of #EdwardHeath? Fellow tried to sue me for libel & I want to see if it's in there'

— West End Lane Books (@WELBooks) August 9, 2016

The rumours are true. West Hampstead Life is back with a new editor but the same mission (and a familiar face is still involved). So, on with the news.

West Hampstead resident Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe was recently seized by Iranian security services on her way back to the UK after visiting relatives. She has been separated from her nearly two-year-old daughter, who is being looked after by her grandparents in Iran. Her husband, Richard Ratcliffe, is campaigning for her return and to send their daughter a birthday card.

Saracens players celebrated their Premiership win with a quiet reflective pint at The Alice House this Sunday.

Actor and long time local resident Burt Kwuok died. Younger readers (i.e., anyone under 30) might not know the name, but he played the role of Cato Fong in the very popular Pink Panther movies of the 1960s and ’70s.

Talking of films, the Friends of Fortune Green have their first outdoor screening of the year next Saturday 4th June. It will be Brooklyn – one of the best movies of last year. Screening starts 9pm (sundown) but get there early with picnic and friends to bag a good spot.

In the past nine months West End Lane has continued to change:

Blink and you missed it – recent renovations at David’s Deli revealed some glorious old signage of days gone by. It’s been boarded up again but fear not it’s still there and sometime in in the next few weeks there’s an expert coming to take another look.

Glorious old signage revealed at David’s Deli via Keith Moffitt

Pizza Express should be opening soon. But it seems to have ‘spoiled the ship for a ha’penny’s worth of tar‘. Talking of pizza, Franco Manca, the rapidly expanding pizza chain, is opening up on the Kilburn High Road. It is aiming to open on June 28th. Will Pizza Express beat them to it?

Posh baker Gail’s is taking over the old Marie Curie charity shop site. Work started this week with a planned opening in early July. Majority pleased… that it’s not another estate agent.

Lower Ground bar is currently closed, apparently “for refurbishment“, though the massiveclub brawl may have something to do with it. The bar’s licence has been temporarily suspended.

And what is happening next door at much-missed La Brocca, which closed it’s doors exactly a year ago. Sources close to “Bobby F” say that its poor structural state has hampered renovations and other projects have taken priority but “pizza, cocktails and fun” are still on the menu.

More pub news – the Alliance on Mill Lane has been saved thanks, in part to the NDF getting it listed as an asset of community value and some tough negotiating by the leaseholder with the new owner. Sketchy details on its website but we’ll investigate for the next newsletter.

Mill Lane has lost a stalwart though. Bake-a-boo closed its doors for the last time today as owner Zoë explores a whole new career. She’ll be much missed.

Finally in this retail roundup, the estate agents’ boards on West End Lane, which are already much improved are due to disappear completely (scroll down a bit).

One thing that hasn’t changed since last May: West Hampstead Square still isn’t open! In the last newsletter, we reported that the opening had been pushed back from September 2015 to February 2016. That’s been and gone. Brickwork problems are believed to be partly to blame.

After A2 Dominon presented its “third and final” (its words) proposal for 156 West End Lane (a.k.a Travis Perkins), the plans were due to be submitted to Camden in November 2015. These were summarily rejected by Camden’s planners so it’s gone back to the drawing board. Revised plans are awaited.

In other large local development news, the opening of the new school on Liddell Road has been put back a year as construction has been delayed. There’s nothing on Kingsgate School’s website to confirm this. Indeed, there’s nothing obvious about the expansion of the school at all.

It’s unclear what’s going on at Monte Cristo – the breaking-all-the planning-regulations shisha bar on Fortune Green Road Seems closed, but is it?

Camden has been consulting on major changes to Kilburn Grange Park but after only one presentation. Plans include moving the only recently installed and very expensive adventure playground. Lots to discuss in a future article, would love to hear readers’ views.

Thameslink unveiled high-tech 12-carriage trains this week that can carry 1,750 passengers. Even more commuters changing at West Hampstead then?

The Sherriff Centre has opened its debt advice service, funded by its own profits. It will offer advice on a wide range of debt issues and help people facing emergency situations such as eviction or utility disconnection.

Have you registered to vote (by June 7th) for the upcoming EU referendum? According to YouGov, Camden is the fifth most pro-Europe region in the country. But, if you’re not yet sure how to vote, the Sherriff Centre is hosting an EU hustings on June 9th.

Fancy some footie? Cllr Phil Rosenberg, who in an effort to help shift a kilo or two bring the community together, has started up an informal football kickabout on Sunday afternoons at the Fortune Green play centre. They even use a fair-trade football (obvs). Free for now, but £4.50 down the line, 5-7pm, open to all.

In more serious Cllr Rosenberg news, he penned a thoughtful post about this week’s Hampstead & Kilburn Labour party meeting, which failed to address an antisemitism resolution.

There are more getting-to-know-your-neighbours event coming up with at least three Big Lunches on the 12th June. Gondar Gardens, Achilles Road and Ravenshaw Street are all hosting so if you live in and around those streets why not pop along? But please bring a dish to share.

Read a comprehensive account of all the V1 and V2 rockets to strike West Hampstead & Kilburn in WW2.

Culturally, coming up; the Friends of West Hampstead Library are hosting a book talk by Simon Garfield, up-and-coming American violinist Elena Uriosta is appearing in the St. Cuthbert’s master concert, and it’s the final week of two exhibitions at the Camden Arts Centre.

And finally, something out of this world. During British Science week in March, FoFG set up a scale model of the solar system and organised some excellent walks. If you missed them, this is a one minute version of the journey from the Sun to Neptune.

June
2nd June, Thurs – FoWHL; author Simon Garfield interviewed by local legend Simon Inglis.
4th June, Sat – FoFG screening of Brooklyn on Fortune Green
4th June, Sat – St. Cuthbert’s Master concert – violinist Elena Urioste
9th June, Thurs – EU hustings at the Sherriff Centre
11th June, Sat Fork to Fork Food Festival NW6 (the Kensal Rise bit)
12th June, Sun – Big Lunch day – several taking place in West Hampstead (see above)

July
2nd/3rd July – The 44th Jester Festival, Fortune Green

Tweet of the Week

Cyclist hurtles at me at on pavement on Fortune Green Road. Me: "That's a pavement, mate!" Cyclist: F**k off!" Nice role model. @WHampstead

— Keith Moffitt (@KeithMoffitt) May 24, 2016

The referendum on the local Neighbourhood Plan is this Thursday. Find out more and do please vote. West Hampstead Life is supporting a “Yes” vote.

Sir Nicholas Winton, who arranged for hundreds of children to escape the Nazis, died. Sir Nicholas was born in West Hampstead. We profiled him last year.

Another year, another successful Jester Festival.

Crazy weather! via @GavinMetcalf1

Hampstead School, which is really Cricklewood/West Hampstead borders, is to get a major overhaul of its buildings.

There was a minor collision between a C11 and a Sainsbury’s delivery van.

Whampsocial brought all the boys and girls to the yard. And by yard, I mean The Alliance. Next one in August!

NW6 Film Club returns on Wednesday for a screening of Amy Whitehouse documentary, Amy.

Check out the Forum for the usual eclectic range of questions, offers, and debates.

Maygrove Road is still closed.

The Scavolini kitchen store had its opening party.

Toomai celebrated its 1st birthday, and the current incarnation of Mill Lane Bistro its 4th.

Tweet of the Week

Imperious lady in @waitrose to guy filling salad aisle.. "You've run out?? What am i to do?" Long pause. "Go to Sainsbos?" Love @WHampstead

— anita chaudhuri (@anitachaudhuri) July 2, 2015

Newly elected Hampstead & Kilburn MP, Tulip Siddiq, gave her maiden speech in the Commons.

There’s already a campaign set up to contest the plans for 156 West End Lane, which affects Lymington Road residents.

In October, The Gardens bar on Broadhurst Gardens is going to become a “colonial style cat jungle & human restaurant“.

Poppies at West Hampstead – not part of planting via Mark Amies

The Petite Corée was featured on Korean TV. I’m afraid I have no idea what any of it says, but it all seems very positive.

Holistic Hair & Beauty is closed as of Monday. Customers can visit its Belsize Terrace branch if they find themselves desperately short of hairdresser options in West Hampstead.

Property News looked at how tenants have reacted to the election.

In the never-ending saga of “When will The Railway open”? The latest is that it could be this Friday.

In South Hampstead, the police team are taking a zero tolerance approach on pavement cycling. and imposing the £50 fixed penalty notice.

The Google Streetview car was spotted in West Hampstead and Kilburn.

It seeems someone didn’t like someone else’s parking on Achilles Road (NSFW).

Camden has confirmed that it doesn’t have the budget to pay for Christmas decorations on West End Lane this year. The West Hampstead Business Association is raising funds instead – anyone is welcome to contribute. The WHBA already has the hanging baskets back up for the summer.

La Traviata at The Tricycle is our Culture Hub Pick of the Week.

A rather nice looking house on the corner of Finchley Road and Heath Drive is being knocked down for a new developent. Good “front and back” photos here.
http://forum.westhampsteadlife.com/discussion/203/east-west-hampstead-approved-demolitions

There’s stuff for sale and for free on the Forum, or have your say on the cat café or the 156 West End Lane plans.

Local historian Ed Fordham is looking for volunteers for this year’s Kilburn History Festival in late October/early November. Contact him for details.

Tweet of the Week

It's a shame that whoever watered the West Hampstead hanging baskets has jetted most of the compost out onto the pavement. #whamps

— Hare and Goose (@hareandgoose) June 19, 2015

There are two public consultations this week about the proposed redevelopment of 156 West End Lane. The developer – A2Dominion – is proposing ~200 homes, of which 50% would be affordable, alongside community, commercial and employment space. The drop-in events are on Thursday and Saturday.

Astonishing or well-deserved? Tortellini Cup, the pasta kiosk in the O2 centre, tops the Trip Advisor rankings for all restaurants in London.

The revised plans for the Overground station [pdf] are now available. The main difference is that the roof has been lowered.

Iverson Road, West Hampstead, at sunset by @SteveWHamp

A few more details are leaking out about the scandal at the Cumberland Lawn Tennis Club.

Lebanese restaurant Cedar opened on West End Lane this week (where Mamacita was). It seemed there were some teething troubles early on for which the restaurant apologised.

Missed news from the previous week, Morris Beckman – a tireless campaigner against anti-fascism and all-round amazing person – died aged 94. He was often to be seen out and about in West Hampstead, and gave a talk at Locally Sourced just last year.

The England women’s cricket team came to Lymington Road on Sunday to give a cricket masterclass for women and girls before taking on a Select XI in a 25 over match.

Last chance for readers to get 10% off cooking classes in June.

Whampsocial at The Alliance brought the usual mix of new faces and old friends together. The next one is July 2nd.

The West Hampstead Business Assocation has applied to the Mayor’s Fund to match all donations for its local improvement plans

Natalie Duncan is our Culture Hub Pick of the Week. See what other treats made the cut this week.

Locals are objecting in force to the plan to turn strip club Secrets into a 300-capacity nightclub.

Starting on Saturday, the Fordwych Master Concerts are bringing some prodigious pianists to West Hampstead.

Tweet of the Week

Just witnessed a big fluffy cat chase a short angry dog down West End Lane. Pleased to report no casualties.

— Wittsy (@Wittsy) June 4, 2015

Carphone Warehouse on Finchley Road was robbed on Wednesday.

Social finally cleared out the shop… and although the rumours have been that it was to become a bakery, it now seems that “fashion and lifestyle brand” Joy will be moving in.

There’s a licence application in for two weekends of Oktoberfest in Kilburn Grange Park.

“Caught the @WHampstead fire engine twerking” via @damawa42

The Film on Fortune Green on June 13th will be To Kill a Mockingbird.

Burrito chain Tortilla opened on Finchley Road in the old Pizza Express site.

I’m afraid our headline Culture Hub act has been and gone already this week, but we’ve got a couple of good films to look out for as well.

Tweet of the Week

The gentleman selling flowers outside Finchley Road Underground Station has 'Orchids for your mothers, Roses for your lovers.'

— Adnan Sarwar (@adnansarwar) May 22, 2015

Labour’s Tulip Siddiq won Hampstead & Kilburn by 1,138 votes. The Conservatives’ Simon Marcus was second, with Maajid Nawaz a long way back in third, ahead of the Greens’ Rebecca Johnson and UKIP’s Magnus Nielsen. Turnout was 67.5%, up slightly from 2010’s 66.3%.

Relive the night with my live Twitter feed.

Ronnie Carroll, the candidate who died between nominations and the election and therefore who remained on the ballot paper, got 113 votes. He didn’t come last.

May be interesting in hindsight… our interviews with the three main candidates in the run up to the election: Tulip, Simon, and Maajid.

West Hampstead library at 8.30am on polling day via Rita Tudela

May’s Property of the Month is a 2-bed flat on Crediton Hill.

Sunday saw the second round of the Netherwood Street Clean-Up, with more impressive results. If you want to get involved, the next session is on Thursday between 11-2. Meet at the open space on Netherwood Street.

Ther are two conmen working local streets at the moment. One claims to have just moved in a few doors down from you and has locked himself out. He asks for money. The other has been around before – he claims to be an antiques dealer but is just trying to get inside your house to steal stuff. If you come across either, the police ask that you call 101.

Learn about the tough men and the harsh conditions they worked in when building what is now the Thameslink railway line through West Hampstead in the 1860s.

A rebooted Whampsocial kicked off on Wednesday night at new venue, The Alliance. The next one will be June 4th – same place, from 7.30pm. Wednesday was also the latest chapter of Whampbooks – with a very healthy turnout as always.

The next NDF meeting is this Tuesday, and topics will include the referendum campaign (that’s
for the neighbourhood plan, not Europe!).

Estate agent company Countrywide, which owns more than 40 estate agent brands, has bought Greene & Co., the north-west London chain headquartered in West Hampstead. Countrywide’s Hamptons brand will be absorbing Greene & Co, although branding is apparently to be decided.

As a West End Lane doctor finally retires, patients are told they’ll have to change surgeries… but there are 18 practices within one mile.

A tree was planted on Fortune Green 22:26 10/05/2015in memory of Don Hill, who was a founding member of WHAT.

Check out the latest threads on the Forum.

Tweet of the Week

Thank you to my constituents, supporters and volunteers. I am proud to be the MP for my home seat. I will work so hard for you. Thank you!

— Tulip Siddiq (@TulipSiddiq) May 8, 2015

TfL has shelved its plans to axe the 13 bus route and extend the 139 to Golders Green. Every party seems to be claiming it was their campaign wot done it; TfL simply says that the consultation overlapped with the election so it’s stopped it.

There was a tragic road accident on Thursday when a man apparently had a heart attack, crashed his car into a lamppost by the Priory Tavern on Belsize Road and died. His son, also in the car, escaped unhurt.

Matt Ogston started his 130 mile “journey to find acceptance“, in support of his partner Naz Mahmood who died last year.

Ballymore construction via @LondonPhoton

The Petite Corée made the Evening Standard’s list of best Korean restaurants in London.

TfL has slightly revised its plans for the new Overground station. The roof has been lowered, and the sign moved. There’s also a better artist’s impression of the station in the context of West Hampstead Square.

Election news

• Former Eurovision singer Ronnie Carroll remains on the Hampstead & Kilburn ballot sheet, despite dying last week.
• The second large H&K hustings had a good turnout but the candidates weren’t able to get through too many audience questions One man was very angry about Foxtons.
• According to the CNJ, the majority of the money being gambled on H&K is going on the Conservatives, though apparently there’s also been a £3,000 single bet on Labour to win.
• This Monday is the last day you can register to vote!

NW6 Film Club is back this Wednesday (yes, Wednesday not Sunday) for Force Majeure. Check it out (and there’s an FAQ for Film Club newbies).

Camden Arts Centre’s latest exhibition is our Culture Hub Pick of the Week; but what else made the cut this week?

West Hampstead Life reviewed the Tricycle’s new play, After Electra.

The West Hampstead & Fortune Green Neigbourhood Development plan referendum takes place on July 9th. The NDF is getting its “Yes” campaign underway.

The former scooter showroom by Fortune Green is beng replaced by The Skiwear Service. Much was made on Twitter of its ability to kit out nannies for the slopes.

Property News asked for your view on the mansion tax, and discussed the state of the rental market in West Hampstead.

DJ and local resident Sara Cox gave Mill Lane’s Beauty Blossom a great plug in Saturday’s Daily Express.

The Turkish restaurant replacing La Smorfia will apparently be called N Fez, and will open in June.

Hampstead Cricket Club’s women’s team is recruiting, with two Tuesday taster sessions coming up.

Hot on the Forum

• Two people looking for work
• Two more people looking for two flatmates
• And one person really needs a saxophone!

Tweet of the Week

Does anyone know why Westbere Copse – charming as it is – gets such prominence on Google Maps? Baffled #WestHampstead pic.twitter.com/PA0g9IAApz

— Penny Liechti (@PennyLiechti) April 17, 2015

The Evening Standard ran a lengthy propery-related feature on West Hampstead that focused heavily on the neighbourhood’s strong community spirit.

The restaurant replacing Mamacita is “Cedar“, a Lebanese place that has an award-winning outlet in W9.

Tom got his Easter eggs from El Rocio.

Just spotted the smartest dressed cat in West Hampstead via Lorna Russell

There’s a new bench in Hampstead cemetery in memory of Dr Nazim Mahmood who died last year. More importantly, you can support his partner Matt by coming to the cemetery on April 18th where a walk against religious intolerance of homosexuality kicks off.

Election news

• There was a huge turnout for our hustings at The Sherriff Centre. All five candidates fielded a wide range of questions.
• Two photographers launched a project to capture two Hampstead & Kilburn voters and their intentions every day of the campaign.
• On April Fool’s Day, I announced my candidacy for Hampstead & Kilburn. At least a couple of people fell for it.
• WHAT and the Friends of West Hampstead Library have a hustings on April 15th.

Is Greggs moving to West Hampstead? The baker says no.

What did we make of the Tricycle’s Takeover play, “The Dissidents”?

A man was arrested after a Gondar Gardens woman found him in her kitchen rifling through her handbag.

One NW6 restaurant might be best avoided for a while.

A former La Brocca employee made the FT this week…. for her musical ability.

Cult classic Blade Runner: The Final Cut is our Culture Hub pick of the week, but if replicants aren’t your thing, there’s plenty of other highlights.

Someone else tries to answer that perennial question: Where IS Kilburn?

Paddy Power is applying for change of use to turn the retail unit next to Boots on Kilburn High Road (formerly a Barratt’s shoe shop) into a bookmakers.

The Groom Room in Fortune Green is up for sale.

Can anyone beat Alex’s 5,530 score playing Google Maps pacman in West Hampstead?

Hot on the forum

• Sash window fitters
• This week’s offerings in “Buy/Sell/Give” (including a free pink sofa)

Tweet of the Week

.@WHampstead to put it in perspective, I have 5x as many followers as Glenda Jacksons majority and I'm a stuffed penguin.

— Napoleon (@NW6Penguin) March 31, 2015

A year after the campaign started, Camden finally looks set to rid West End Lane of estate agents boards.

Matthew Ogston, partner of Nazeem Mahmood who died last year after falling from his balcony on Fawley Road, spoke to The Guardian in a moving must-read interview. Next week we’ll explain how you can show your support for Matt and his cause.

Foxtons opened its new brightly lit West End Lane branch.

It’s alive… @WHampstead is complete. And they have a balloon window display. Appropriate re future house prices..?!
via Simon Benson

£80 million worth of cannabis was smuggled out of premises on West End Lane.

Camden threatened to close Broomsleigh Street at the Mill Lane end during the Beckford school run hours. Locals weren’t happy and following two public meetings, it appears the council has gone back to the drawing board.

Hot on the Forum

• Does West Hampstead have too many supermarkets?
• Lots of stuff for sale and to give away
• The Broomsleigh St discussion in full
• Getting clothes back from Delicate Dry Cleaners

It’s tough being a backbench councillor in Camnden – even if you are part of the majority party – as Fortune Green’s Lorna Russell has found.

Fortune Green footpath to the cemetery will be closed for 4-5 days from Thursday for resurfacing

Two men who helped Sabrina Moss’s killer were jailed.

What are this week’s top culture picks? Check out the Culture Hub to find out.

Election news

• Not sure who to vote for? The West Hampstead Life hustings are on March 31st. Come along to the Sherriff Centre and grill the candidates.
• Hampstead & Kilburn Green candidate Rebecca Johnson launched her camapaign with a video.
• Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond was in West Hampstead during the week for Conservative candidate Simon Marcus’s campaign. He looked at some cheese and some meat.

There were fewer blue margaritas at this week’s whampsocial as locals opted for more traditional cocktails!

If you’ve lost an Italian driving licence, it’s been handed in to Paramount on West End Lane.

A diamond ring’s been lost on Mill Lane.

One Sixty celebrated its first anniversary.

Monday’s WHAT meeting will still cover the Brent Cross redevelopment (which received a £97 million boost in the budget), after developers initially pulled out.

Bakeaboo made it into the Standard’s top 50 London bakeries.

The Tricycle’s Takeover festival got underway with the theatre’s young company taking over the venue for the week.

Tweet of the Week

Thank you @Foxtonsproperty for arriving in @WHampstead, I needed plenty more reminding that I can't afford to buy in London.

— Natalie Andreou (@natalie_andreou) March 19, 2015

Camden councillors voted in favour of the Liddell Road scheme. Only two members of the planning committee voted against. You can watch the whole thing.

The meeting refers to some calculations by the NDF on the economics of the Liddell Road scheme, which were published on West Hampstead Life. And if, somehow, you’re new to all this, then do catch up with our Liddell Road refresher.

Cllr Lora Russell, who spoke out against the scheme, was described as having “misguided” views by fellow Labour councillors before the committee meeting.

Beautiful evening at West Hampstead streetfood market, via @MargoandRitas

The streetfood market returned to the Thameslink forecourt. It’s open 4-8pm Wednesday to Friday.

TfL is consulting on changes to bus services in the area. The 139 would continue on to Golders Green, and the 13 would disappear completely.

Delicate Dry Cleaners, next to Barclays, has gone bust. Customers can collect clothes stuck there between 12 and 2pm this Monday only!

Tom’s Diner went to Bengal Spice on West End Lane. Should have had the vindaloo though.

The farmers’ market sign is angering some locals again… but the Longhorn beef seems to be popular!

March’s Property of the Month is a Victorian house up near Hampstead School.

Lymington Road’s Hampstead Cricket Club celebrates its 150th anniversary this year. We looked back at the origins of the star-studded sports club.

Also on its 150th birthday was Sacred Heart church on Quex Road. It was all fields back then.

There was an exhibition of the latest scheme for Gondar Gardens. All the boards can be seen here [pdf].

Why not check out Another Utopia at Swiss Cottage Gallery this week? It’s one of our Culture Hub picks.

Hana is applying to extend the restaurant over the decking out front.

The quest to eat everywhere on Kilburn High Road reached Belvedere Traditional.

The Railway, covered in scaffolding, is unsurprisingly not going to make its planned March reopening date. Now looking at late April or early May.

Obituary: Jasper Woodcock, a major figure in work on drug dependency who was based in West Hampstead (good local anecdote at the end).

On the forum this week:

• The best breakfast in West Hampstead
• Discussion over TfL’s bus changes
• The new RuNW6 running club

Election news

• H is for Hampstead & Kilburn in the Guardian’s A-Z election guide
• Labour’s Tulip Siddiq tweeted; “Dear local Lib Dem activist on the 328 bus last night. Loved your rant about me. I wsas sat right behind you FYI”.

Tweet of the Week

Just seen @Deliveroo guy spreading takeaway curry for pigeons on west end green, West Hampstead. How did they place the order?!

— Hare and Goose (@hareandgoose) March 3, 2015

Police closed roads around the police station in West Hampstead on Saturday night after a suspect package was found. Thankfully the all clear was sounded fairly soon afterwards.

The fire in Snowman House the week before was caused by a tealight. The fire brigade tweeted a photo of both the offending candle and then the incredible damage it did.

Power cuts hit the area in the first part of the week – turning Vue cinema’s screening of Fifty Shades of Grey into one shade of black.

The good work of the Fordwych Road residents guerilla gardening project is so easily undone, via @jscott110

Mill Lane Barbers made it into the Telegraph this weekend.

Watch a timelapse video of the big development on Maygrove Road.

Check out this week’s Culture Hub picks. They’ve got a sting in their tail.

Whampsocial is back this Thursday at Frida’s bar (downstairs at Mamacita). Add it to your calendars now! (iCal, Google, Outlook).

This week on the Forum.
As we passed 200 members, the hot topics this week were:

• Local running club
• The (perennial) quest for a cleaner
• A debate over the best local Chinese food
• and a whole bunch of stuff people were selling or giving away.

The troubled Secrets strip club on Finchley Road is to become… a “high quality nightclub“.

Fortune Green’s Pumpkin Café is for sale.

Tweet of the Week

Working in the rather wonderful Swiss Cottage library, amid the lost and forlorn, the jabberers, the eccentrics, the bemused and befuddled.

— Anthony McGowan (@anthony_mcgowan) February 20, 2015