Free Ethiopian Food Tasting on June 2 & June 9

Shepherd's Bush is playing host to a Free Ethiopian Food Tasting event on June 2nd and June 9th, on the south side of Shepherd's Bush Green.

The event is hosted by Delina, and involves "delicious ready-to-eat Ethiopian food", sold from a little shop at the Petit-Miracle hub - a retail space promoting small businesses in our neighbourhood.

Petit-Miracle hub is located just on the south side of Shepherd's Bush Green in front of the W12 centre - see map on the bottom left.

You can also book a place here at Event Brite.

Summer Celebration on 16th June at Kite Studios

Kite Studios is hosting a Summer Celebration on 16th June, billed as "an afternoon of creativity, followed by a party in the evening.

The event is a fundraiser for the Kite Art CIC Sponsorship Fund, which provides free art workshops for children with special needs, from Wendell Park Primary School.

This programme is in its third successful year and Kite Studios hopes to extend it to other schools in our neighbourhood.

Wood Lane Petrol Station Plans

Petrol Station on Wood Lane by Karl and Craig

According to a news item at WhiteNoise, the old Esso petrol station on Wood Lane is to be taken over by Elephant Magazine, who are to turn it into "a new space [to] act as a meeting place and hub for performance, discussion, film screenings, talks and workshops put together by our editors and curatorial team. A café , shop and outdoor garden area complete this."

So, in plain English then, the old petrol station will become an arts cafe.

Hammersmith Society 2018 Awards Now Open

Nominations for the Hammersmith Society 2018 Environment Awards are now open.

If there is a new building in our neighbourhood that you like and admire - or even one you hate - now is your chance to put it forward: for an Award - or a Wooden Spoon.

The 2018 Awards will be presented at the Society’s AGM on 5th July, 7.00pm at the Bush Theatre, Uxbridge Road, Shepherd’s Bush. The deadline for submissions is 16 May.

St John's May Fair Saturday 12 May 12.30pm to 5pm

May pole dancing at St John's Notting Hill

On Saturday May 12th at 12.30pm there is a May Fair at St John's Notting Hill, a long-running annual event and a great place to take the kids.  The day features lots of activities, including face painting, may poles, a bric-a-brac stall, home baked cakes and jams, and plenty of other stuff.  Profits go to good causes around the world. It costs just £1 to enter, and kids go in free.

Labour Win Big; Hold LBHF Council

Conservative candidates took another drubbing in our Borough yesterday as Labour increased its hold over local politics at the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham.

Following the trend from recent general and local elections, Labour increased their share of the vote, winning 35 out of a total of 46 seats across the borough's 16 wards. 

Time to Vote

Polling Day by William Hogarth

Here at the Shepherd's Bush Blog we don't urge you to vote for any particular party; possibly because we strongly suspect that you wouldn't pay any attention if we did.

But we do urge you to vote, and to vote on the local issues that confront our neighbourhood. Ask yourself - what will our candidates do to make our parks better and our streets cleaner?

Are they in favour of new development and investment, and do they get things done?

Liane Pibworth Wants Your Vote

Voting Wards in LBHF

Tomorrow is election day, and this year Liane Pibworth, whose experience becoming homeless with two young children means she knows more than most about the strengths and weakness of local government, is running for office in Shepherd's Bush Ward. We asked her a few questions about what she thinks is right, and wrong, in our Borough, and how she would try to go about fixing it.

Why are you running for office this year?
My journey towards this political arena has been forged though injustice and oppression, particularly when I and my children became homeless through no fault of our own.

We were unlawfully denied a duty of housing by the current council, and became street homeless for 8 weeks - and my baby slept in my suitcase.

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.

Visitor Parking is Changing - and it's a Shambles

Shepherd's Bush residents are angry and frustrated at a new visitor parking system being introduced by our Council. The old Visitor parking permit system in Shepherd's Bush is being discontinued at the end of April, as LBHF switches to a new system, run by Ring Go.

The Council say that this is needed "to make renewing and applying for a permit easier and more convenient". So far, the experience of local residents trying to register with the new ringGo system is that it isn't easy or convenient at all.

Old Laundry Opens Tomorrow

Shepherd's Bush Market seems to be getting its mojo back after the long process of redevelopment which ended in failure two years ago.

On friday the Old Laundry Yard (which was to have been the temporary home for the market, while it was being redeveloped) will open its doors to the public, offering visitors new streets food traders and also a community events space. 

Al Lewis - Candidate for Addison Ward

Al Lewis

It's election season, and we're inviting candidates running for local office to be interviewed, and explain what their goals are, and why local people should vote for them.

Al Lewis is a charity worker who works for CAFOD, the Catholic development charity in Waterloo, and has lived in Shepherds Bush for a decade. 

He is now running as a Conservative candidate in Addison Ward, Shepherd's Bush.  

We asked Al some questions about his candidacy, and why this election matters. 

Town Hall Redevelopment Proposals 20-21 April

New plans for Hammersmith Town Hall

LBHF are consulting again on their newest plans for the re-development of Hammersmith Town Hall.

The new plans follow on from LBHF's complete fiasco with the previous developers, whose legacy was the destruction of the attractive old Art Deco cinema on King Street.

Public consultations on the new proposals are to take place at the Town Hall on Friday 20 April 2018 from 4pm to 8pm and on Saturday 21 April 2018 from 10am to 2pm. All are welcome.

Elections - Who are Your Local Candidates?

Time to vote

Local elections are looming on May 3rd, and it's time to get to know your local candidates. Remember that in many ways local government matters more than central government does.

You might not worry too much about the war in Syria (or have the faintest idea how to fix it) but problems like residents parking, fixing the swings in the local park, and street crime are issues we all deal with on a daily basis.

To find your local candidates in your ward, follow this link.

Save Charing Cross - But Does It Need Saving?

Charing Cross - not under threat of closure

You know an election is looming when it's time to Save Charing Cross hospital.  All over our Borough there are posters saying "Save Charing Cross", printed by our Council.

But does Charing Cross really need saving? In March 2017 our local NHS Trust sent LBHF Council leader Stephen Cowan a formal letter, saying that it doesn't.

They reprimanded the Council for their misleading claims about Charing Cross, pointing out that it is not in fact under threat of closure.

Sad News from the Hammersmith Society

Tom Ryland

Tom Ryland, chair of the Hammersmith Society, the organisation that campaigns for better architecture and better living spaces in our neighbourhood, has died.

Tom Ryland had been on the Committee for many years, and Vice Chairman for some twelve years, before becoming Chairman nearly three years ago - a role to which he brought his knowledge as an architect, a lively interest in local affairs and a belief that it was always possible to do things better.

Best Nursery in Shepherd's Bush

The Montessori at Brook Green, also known as "Jane's School" is a wonderful nursery. I know this because both of my children go there, and they could not be happier. As a parent, I could not be happier either.

Run by the indefatigable Jane Alwey, founder and head teacher, this Montessori has excellent, caring staff who take a keen personal interest in all of the children.

Arts & Crafts Movement Lecture on 21 March 2018

William Morris Society, Hammersmith

The Hammersmith and Fulham Historic Buildings Group is hosting a lecture on the Arts & Crafts Movement (which has its roots in Hammersmith) on 21 March.

The talk is titled "Emery Walker and the Arts and Crafts Movement - a tale of friendship, socialism, gender equality, celebrities, arts and crafts - and scandal".

Doors open at 7pm, the talk starts at 7.30pm

The Albertine is 1 (or possibly 41) year(s) old

Allegra McEvedy at the Albertine

The Albertine, Shepherd's Bush's excellent local wine bar founded and run by celebrity chef Allegra McEvedy, is celebrating their first birthday.  Or, since the wine bar was actually founded by Allegra's mum 41 years ago, their 41st birthday.

To celebrate, they are offering customers a free glass of prosecco (courtesy of @alliancewine) and a piece of birthday cake. To subscribe, follow this link.

The photo on left shows chef Allegra and three of her colleagues - including the newest and youngest member of the McEvedy clan. 

Register to Vote by 17th April

Local elections are on Thursday 3rd May, and in order to vote you must have registered by 17th April.

By now you should have had a letter confirming your registration and letting you know where your polling booth is located. Usually, it's a short walk from your house.

Four years ago our local council switched from Conservative to Labour control. Make sure to vote in May, and be sure to vote on local issues. This isn't a referendum on Brexit - it's all about who runs our local services best.