No Petrol in Shepherd's Bush

BP at Shepherd's Bush Green - No Petrol

There was today no petrol to be had in Shepherd's Bush at any price.  Last night desperate drivers (including me) were scouring our neighbourhood - as it became clear that to follow Government advice and not panic buy was, regrettably, not the sensible choice after all.

This morning, no petrol was available anywhere. The Government says there are "no supply problems" but even the petrol stations don't seem to know when supplies are due.

White City John Lewis to Re-Open After Lockdown

John Lewis to re-open at Westfield

The John Lewis Partnership confirmed yesterday that the White City John Lewis will re-open after Lockdown.

This will be reassuring to those who had feared that the flagship store might be on the list of post-Lockdown closures; John Lewis lost over £500m in the last financial year.  

Westfield, which is currently almost deserted, will again become Europe's biggest shopping mall once it re-opens after Lockdown ends.  At its heart is the £33 million John Lewis store, which first opened in 2018.

Two Brook Green Markets From Saturday

Brook Green now boasts two Farmers' Markets on saturdays. The original Brook Green Market, which has taken place in Addison Road (entry from Bolingbroke Rd) every Saturday morning since 2014, has moved to new premises on Masbro Rd since Saturday 6th March.

The new market site is St Mary's Catholic Primary School, 40 Masbro Rd, Brook Green, W14 0LT, and takes place every Saturday as usual from 9.30am until 3pm.

The old Addison Road site will also, from this coming Saturday 20th March, play host to a new market, branded as the "Urban Street Food Fest" (see poster on left). 

No Christmas Lights Again for Shepherd's Bush

Christmas Lights at Westfield

Uncle Scrooge would be proud of our local Council, who once again have failed to find any money to put up Christmas decorations on Shepherd's Bush Green.

Every year, Westfield puts on a sparkling display to pull in the crowds.

Community Car Boot Sale on 14th October

Fancy getting rid of your old stuff? Or buying more? The Edward Woods Community Centre is hosting a Car Boot Sale on Saturday 14th October from 10am until 2pm.

The event, which takes place at the Edward Woods Community Centre, at 60-70 Norland Road, W11 4TX, includes free face painting for children, as well as coffee and food stalls.

If you have stuff to sell (which of us doesn't need a good clear-out?), you can take a stall yourself for just £5.

Admission is free. To take a stall, call Jacquie Boyce on 020 7603 2324 or email ewccinfo@upg.org.uk

Westfield Launches "Quiet Time" on Saturday Mornings

Westfield - quiet on Saturday mornings

Westfield, my local corner shop, has confirmed that, after a successful initial trial period, they will be continuing with a "quiet time" on Saturday mornings between 9 - 11am.

During this time, Westfield  will turn off the music in the mall, and the kid's mall, and they will encourage shops to do the same. 

This is very good news for parents with children with special needs, since children with asd (for example) can suffer sensory overload from loud music.  

But it's also good news for neurotypical folks - not everyone likes loud music when they go shopping.  Well done Westfield for being responsive and adaptive.

Best Hardware Store in Shepherd's Bush

One of the best things about living in Shepherd's Bush is we still have plenty of proper shops, places that sell stuff you can actually use.

One of the best local shops is Greenford Timber on the Uxbridge Road; in our view the best hardware store in Shepherd's Bush.

Westfield to Open 20 March

John Lewis

At long last - we have a date for the long-awaited opening of Westfield London's massive new development.

The north extension of Westfield, which will make the shopping mall the largest in the UK, is scheduled to open on Tuesday, 20 March, anchored by a huge £33 million John Lewis store.

Lidl to Open February 22

Lidl is coming - the budget pile-'em-high-and-sell-'em-cheap German retailer will open in the West 12 Centre in Shepherd's Bush on Thursday 22 February.

40 new jobs have been created (but compare that with the 170 jobs that were lost when Morrissons closed). If you're looking for a job, the good news is that there are still some positions available  - see the official Lidl website to find out more.

Best Bike Shop in Shepherd's Bush

Notting Hill Gate, where I grew up, has lost most of its proper shops, almost all of which all seem to have turned into outposts of West End stores selling £3,000 handbags.

One of the good things about living in Shepherd's Bush is that, unlike shinier, sleeker Notting Hill, we still have old-fashioned shops where you can actually buy useful things.

Kite Studios Xmas Fair Tomorrow

Christmas Fair at Kite Studios

Kite Studios, just off Askew Road, is hosting its 11th annual Christmas Art & Design Fair tomorrow, Saturday 25th November.

So come along and stock up on Christmas gifts, and get involved with your local community - all in a good cause.

This year there will be yummy Indian street food, cakes and drinks. Kite Studios will be offering creative experiences too. The Fair aims to raise funds for West London Action for Children and the Kite Studios CIC Sponsorship fund.

Lidl to Open "Early 2018" in Shepherd's Bush

Lidl is coming to Shepherd's Bush. According to a sign in the window of the proposed new store, the supermarket chain is about to start a "full refit" of the new store, which they suggest will take 6 months, leading to an opening in "early 2018".

West 12 shoppers will surely be pleased that a big supermarket chain is backing this corner of the Bush.

Many were disappointed when discount supermarket Morrisons closed its doors, and even local MP Andy Slaughter got involved in the protest.

It's also a vote of confidence in the West 12 Shopping Centre, which has been looking a bit tatty ever since Westfield opened its doors back in 2008.

Lidl Coming to Shepherd's Bush

Two weeks ago I was having my hair cut by the excellent Polish stylists in the West 12 Centre (£5! How can you go wrong?) and I asked what was happening to the old Morrisons space that has been empty since November 2016. "Lidl is coming", they said. "Really? Is that true?" I asked. "50% true", they said.

Anyway it turns out that the rumour is true, and it just goes to show that barbers and hair stylists always get the news first.  Lidl is coming, hopefully in place by Christmas, so budget supermarket shopping will return to Shepherd's Bush. You can read the full story here.

What's Happening in Shepherd's Bush in 2017?

Westfield 2.0

2017 will be a busy year for Shepherd's Bush, especially in the White City Regeneration Area, where multiple developments will permanently alter the skyline.

Sometime in the latter part of 2017, probably October, we should see the opening of the newly-expanded Westfield's John Lewis Department store, which lots of residents will be pleased about.

Morrisons Shepherd's Bush to Close

Morrisons in Shepherds Bush is to close. The big supermarket in the West 12 Centre is to be shut down with the loss of around 170 jobs. 

Local MP Andy Slaughter described it as "terrible news for the W12 area and to the 170 staff who work in the store".

It seems like an odd decision. Morrisons always seems to be a busy store, with plenty of footfall. What a shame for both local residents and - of course - all the employees who will lose their jobs.

Westfield Launches Community Grants Scheme

Got a local project in need of finance? Westfield London, the giant mall whose expansion north up Wood lane will make them by far the biggest shopping centre in the UK, has launched a new community grants initiative.

The community grants scheme will support local organisations with up to £1,000 each. Up to twenty projects will be selected each year over the next two years. So, what kind of projects might receive funding?

Yard Sale on Sunday 19th June at Askew Road Kite Studios - Book Your Table Now!

Time to make money from your spring clean! Unique, a charity which researches rare chromosome disorders, is organising a yard sale in Askew Road again this year, following the success of last year’s sale, when over twenty stalls sold books, vintage goods, hand-me-downs, small furniture, clothes and bric-a-brac.

Why not take a stall yourself this year and get rid of your unwanted stuff?

Support Your Local Farmer's Market!

Brook Green farmer's Market - every Saturday

Here in Shepherd's Bush we have an excellent farmer's market - it takes place every saturday morning from 10am until 3pm in Addison Primary School on Bolingbroke Road in Brook Green.

Much of the produce is organic and locally sourced and you can meet the farmers themselves and have them explain to you what "free range" and "organic" really means.

Humans of The Bush No 5 - A Tale of Westfield Security

Westfield. Don't mess with us.

"At noon the other day I was stopped by security people in Westfield.  I was pushing a Waitrose cart through the mall to the Westernmost exit near Debenham's.

They said it was a health and safety issue. I caused a big ruckus, asking for the rules in writing.  I pointed out prams, and wondered if they were violating the health and safety of others.

Hummingbird Deli Opens in The Bush

Hummingbird Deli

Until a few days ago, we lacked a decent deli in Shepherd's Bush.  We had plenty of supermarkets, and lots of places to buy hummus and flat bread, but nowhere could you find a good old-fashioned delicatessen.  Now, the Hummingbird Deli has opened up on the Uxbridge Road, bringing yummy things to our high street and making our local neighbourhood even more of a foodie's paradise than it already was.