Brook Green Debbie Jo Cafe Opens

Debbie Jo cafe opens on Brook Green

The cafe next to the tennis courts on Brook Green has re-opened after a long period of closure.

Now run by the Debbie Jo cafe chain, the refurbished cafe brings outdoor life back to Brook Green. 

Brook Green is a topsy-turvy mirror of what Shepherd's Bush Green could be, with a little imagination -  family friendly, with tennis courts and plenty of things to do for kids.  

Jasmine Thai on the Goldhawk Road

Some of my favourite restaurants closed during Covid; we lost local gems such as The Albertine on Wood Lane, replaced in 2024 by (yet another) characterless chicken shop.  

One survivor worth celebrating is the delightful Jasmine Thai on Goldhawk Road, where I had lunch today.  Delicious Thai food, all at very reasonable prices. 

Deluxe Coffee Works - Welcome to The Bush

Deluxe Coffee Works

Coffee in Shepherd's Bush just got a little bit better (actually, a lot better) with the opening of the Deluxe Coffee Works in Macfarlane Rd.

Deluxe is located in a former light industrial building tucked in among residential houses in a small corner of The Bush - just off Shepherd's Bush Green. 

Deluxe is mainly a BtoB (Business to Business) operation, importing and roasting their own beans on the premises, but they also sell delicious fresh roasted coffee directly to the public. 

And, today, the opening day of the new "roastery", they are offering free coffee to locals.  But there is no sign on the door - you'll just have to follow the crowds. 

Albertine Wine Bar to Close 18 March

The Albertine bids farewell to Shepherd's Bush

Sad news for Shepherd's Bush, our local and much-loved wine bar The Albertine is closing, forced out of business by Covid-19, Lockdown, and the general business climate. 

The last two years have been hard on anyone in the hospitality industry, struggling to stay afloat in spite of Lockdown restrictions.

Below is Allegra's farewell message.

Ginglik Applies for Planning Permission for Restaurant

Edwardian loo, later Ginglik nightclub, now derelict

The former Ginglik nightclub on Shepherd's Bush Green has put in an appplication for planning permission (note that you may have to log in to the LBHF site to see the details).

The application is for a change of use, from a nightclub to a restaurant.

This surely good news for this long-neglected corner of Shepherd's Bush Green.

Brook Green Market Moving to Masbro Rd

Brook Green Market, which takes place every Saturday morning, has outgrown its old home and is moving to bigger premises on Masbro Rd from tomorrow, Saturday 6th March.

Brook Green Market is moving to a new, bigger site, down the road at St Mary's Catholic Primary School, 40 Masbro Rd, Brook Green, W14 0LT.

The new larger location is able to host more stalls, more fresh produce and street food. 

The family-friendly Brook Green Market takes place every Saturday from 9.30am until 3pm. 

To see more details, visit their official site:

http://www.brookgreenmarket.co.uk/

Albertine Goes Al Fresco

Albertine - Outside Dining

It's not all bad news in Shepherd's Bush.  Our local wine bar, The Albertine, has at last won permission from our Council to set out some street furniture, allowing customers to sit outside and eat al fresco.

Wood Lane needs a bit of cheering up, and it's worth reminding Shepherd's Bush residents that eating out just got a lot cheaper - thanks to Chancellor Sunak's "Eat Out to Help Out" scheme, which gives diners 50% off the usual cost.

So let's give some help to Shepherd's Bush's struggling businesses and spend some money.

New Delina Kitchen at Shepherd's Bush Market

Local chef Nazareth Kelif is opening up a new venture, the New Delina Kitchen, under the arches in Shepherds Bush Market.

The new venture promises "delicious food, excellent cookery classes, and an amazing cultural experience". 

Naz needs to raise £1500 for the setup costs, so she is looking for support at indiegogo.com, hoping to crowdfund the startup costs.

Naz has taken a spacious arch in the market, where she will run cooking classes and serve Ethiopian food.  

Westfield Jamie's Italian Closes

Along with most of the rest of the Jamie's Italian restaurant empire, our local Westfield branch is no more.  The sign in the window dolefully records the end of the Jamie's era, and notes the email address of messrs KPMG, the official receivers, in case you have any queries.

To read some of the press, you'd think Jamie's Italian was never any good in the first place, but my recollection is quite different.

When it first opened back in 2008, our local branch of Jamie's Italian was a great place to go - the kind of place you could take your friends, you grandma, even your unruly children.

The food was good, the prices were reasonable, the ingredients were fresh, and the place had a sense of style and excitement about it. The trouble was, it didn't last.

Moped Deliveries Disrupt the Peace of Caxton Village

Moped delivery drivers waiting for work in Caxton Rd

Think of Shepherd's Bush and you might think of chicken shops, pizza and kebabs. We are - for good and bad - one of London's fast-food hubs, with delivery mopeds whizzing around our streets at all times of day and night making 24 hour deliveries.

However not everyone in our neighbourhood is entirely happy. In the guest post below, Shepherd's Bush resident Edward Elletson explains why Caxton Village is getting overwhelmed by delivery drivers, and what needs to be done to fix the problem.

London’s "Busiest Foodbank" Needs Donations

According to our Council, our local food bank, the Hammersmith and Fulham Foodbank, is officially London’s busiest. Which, of course, isn't really something to be proud of.

Worse news is that the Foodbank urgently needs  help to meet the increasing demand from local people in need.

Over the last two years, the number of families fed by the Foodbank has apparently more than doubled, and "supplies of essential items are running low".

RIP Old Laundry Yard?

The Old Laundry Yard at Lunchtime a week ago

The Old Laundry Yard at Shepherd's Bush Market, launched in the spring of 2018, seems to have given up the struggle.

It's a real shame, as it was a potentially promising space for outdoor eating, but it seems not to have found an audience.

The Old Laundry Yard Needs You

Old Laundry Yard

The Old Laundry Yard at Shepherd's Bush Market is a potentially promising space for outdoor eating, but so far it doesn't seem to be getting much footfall.

I had lunch there last week with an old friend, and at noon we were the only customers.

Which was a shame, as lunch was seriously delicious - and I'll definitely be going back.

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.

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. 

Princess Victoria Pub to Re-Open

Princess Victoria

Excellent news for residents of Shepherd's Bush - the Princess Victoria pub (which now has its very own Wikipedia page) on the Uxbridge road is set to re-open, according to a piece at Shepherd'sBushW12

The new owners are the Three Cheers Pub Co. A licensing application has been submitted to our Council, LBHF by Six Cheers Ltd. You can view the application and add your own comments here.

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.

Reborn Albertine is a Winner

Albertine Wine Bar

Local chef Allegra McEvedy (co-founder of Leon) has re-opened the Albertine Wine Bar, the historic BBC watering hole on Wood Lane - and one of the nicest boozers in our neighbourhood.

But, while the Albertine was always a great place to get a drink, you wouldn't necessarily have praised the food.

Now, all this has changed, as the Albertine has become one of the best restaurants in Shepherd's Bush.

The Albertine is Dead...Long Live the Albertine

Albertine Wine Bar

Local chef Allegra McEvedy (co-founder of Leon) is to re-open the Albertine Wine Bar in mid-February.

The Albertine was a favourite BBC watering hole on Wood Lane - and one of the nicest boozers in our neighbourhood.

The Albertine is also a place that made history - it's where where the very first EastEnders script was written.

But for Allegra it's a very personal story, since the Albertine was founded by Allegra's Mum back in the late 1970s.  And for local residents, it will be great to see this lovely piece of Old Shepherd's Bush restored to its former glory.

Pergola on the Roof Seeks Extension until December 23

Pergola on the Roof - now at TV Centre

Pergola on the Roof, the rooftop restaurant that has brought outdoor dining to the top of the old soon-to-be-demolished carpark on Wood Lane, has applied for planning permission to extend its rooftop run beyond the summer until the end of December.

Good news then for outdoor diners, but perhaps less welcome for the residents of Macfarlane Road who haven't necessarily been thrilled by the noise and general disturbance.