Outdoor Table Tennis Returns to Westfield

Outdoor Table Tennis returns to Westfield Square

Outdoor Table Tennis has returned to Westfield, with two all-weather table tennis tables popping up just outside Westfield Square, next to the orange Upside-Down-House, opposite the White City Bus Station. 

Many thanks to the good folks at Westfield, especially Andrew Phyllis and Matt Coppins, for bringing back this free outdoor community resource. 

The two outdoor all-weather tables were originally donated by Table Tennis England, and offer the chance for anyone with a bat and a ball to come and play for free.

Farewell to Table Tennis at Westfield

Table tennis outside Westfield - in happier times

If you’ve passed by the bus station outside Westfield White City recently, you may have noticed something missing. The all-weather table tennis tables, once a quirky fixture of the concourse, have quietly disappeared.

For years, the tables were a rare bit of public fun in an otherwise functional transport hub.  Commuters, kids, and the odd shopper laden with bags could be spotted sticking around for a quick game.  They made the bus station feel less like a waiting room and more like a community space.

Westfield Sparkles But No Lights for The Bush

Westfield sparkles

Once again this Christmas, Westfield sparkles, but there are no Christmas decorations on the shopping streets around Shepherd's Bush Green.

Every year, Westfield puts on a display of light and colour, while Shepherd's Bush Green and the surrounding streets are left with nothing at all.

Even though local businesses pay business rates for local services, our Council appear unable to hang any Christmas decorations in our shopping streets.

Copper Chimney Offers Locals 20% Off

Copper Chimney - 20% off for locals

Local Indian restaurant Copper Chimney is offering Shepherd's Bush locals 20% off your next food bill at the restaurant - exclusive to readers of the Bush Telegraph. 

Just quote the code "The Bush Telegraph", and you'll get 20% off your food bill. 

Some T&Cs apply - this offer cannot be used in conjunction with any other offers or deals. Find Copper Chimney here at the official site.

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.

Trouble at Westfield

On Tuesday I found myself having to call the emergency services for the first time.

As I was walking home through Westfield, I was a witness to a crime - one man assaulted another, in broad daylight, right outside Waitrose.

The victim, pushed violently against a wall, slumped to the ground, and didn't get up again, while his assailant sauntered off.  He lay on the ground groaning, clutching his shoulder.

So I dialled 999 and, initially, asked for the police, but it quickly became clear that an ambulance was needed.  How long do you suppose it takes to get an ambulance to Westfield on a busy Tuesday evening?

What Happened to Our New Park?

Proposed public park. 

Back in 2016 we reported on a new park which was promised for Shepherd's Bush.

It was all part of the new Westfield development, and that of St James to the north - on the old M&S warehouse site east of Wood Lane.

The park was the price which was exacted by our former Conservative Council from the developers, in return for planning permission to redevelop the area.

It was never intended to be a big park; rather it would be a small green space tucked under the redeveloped Hammersmith and City tube line, running through the Westfield redevelopment.

The photo above shows what it was supposed to look like.  So, where is it? And what happened to it?

DIMCO Applies for 7 Day Entertainment License Until 1am

DIMCO Buildings - an entertainment venue?

The DIMCO Buildings, The Grade II listed former bus shelter which lies (slightly incongruously) at the heart of the Westfield shopping centre, have applied for an entertainment license from our council.

If you would like to comment on the application, you can do so at the official site. Once you register a view, you will be notified of the time and date of the hearing and, if you feel strongly, you can attend the hearing and offer your views.

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.

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.

Westfield Jobs - Jan 30 & 31

Westfield is hiring

Westfield is growing, and will require thousands of new employees to staff its massive new northwards expansion up Wood Lane.

To put it in context, Westfield will become Europe's biggest shopping centre when all is done.

Come along to Westfield on January 30 and 31 to find out if there is a role for you. To find the details, follow this link.

DIMCO Buildings to become Events Venue

DIMCO Buildings - an entertainment venue?

Westfield, as anyone in our neighbourhood can hardly have failed to notice, is building. But the great northwards expansion of the UK's sixth largest shopping centre does not include the DIMCO buildings, a former electrical station for the central line which (slightly curiously) has listed building status.

Westfield now wants your views on what the future of the DIMCO buildings should be. The current proposal is to turn them into a new entertainment venue.

Westfield Latest: John Lewis to Open Early 2018

John Lewis - opening early next year.

John Lewis is coming to Shepherd's Bush. The new seven storey department store will open early next year, and will soon begin to recruit staff - bringing further jobs and investment to our neighbourhood.

The new roles at the store are to start in February or March 2018.

John Lewis has also submitted a Licensing application for its various restaurants and bars, which you can find here.

New Post Office - Not The Worst Place on Earth

Many Shepherd's Bush residents were very upset when our local Post Office on Shepherd's Bush Green closed. Local MP Andy Slaughter even got involved, chiding the Post Office for abandoning the area.

The new Post Office is in Westfield, at the back of WH Smith. I went there this morning and found myself in a shiny new space with short queues and mailing machines that actually work.

Notable by their absence were the crazy people who used to mumble menacingly in the (reliably long) queue in the old Post Office on Shepherd's Bush Green.

To remember just what you are missing, read Richard Herring's memorable piece on the "worst place on earth" that was the old Shepherd's Bush Post Office.

White City Vision in the Evening Standard

White City - the vision

Another vision of the new White City development has been published in the Evening Standard.

It's a promotional piece, but it has some nice 3D images of the future of White City, and gives a useful impression of how the redeveloped neighbourhood will look.

On the left you can the see the new John Lewis department store, part of the ongoing expansion of Westfield, and further to the left the tall towers of the St James development on the old M&S warehouse site.

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.

Save Shepherd's Bush Post Office?

The Worst Place on Earth?

Local MP Andy Slaughter is organising a public meeting to try to keep Shepherd's Bush Post Office (memorably described by Richard Herring as "the portal between earth and Hades") from moving to Westfield, "due to the high level of public opposition".

The meeting will be held on Friday, 9 December from 1:30-4:30pm at the Shepherds Bush Library, 6 Wood Lane W12 7BF.

All are welcome, and there is no need to RSVP. You can also make your views known by emailing comments@postoffice.co.uk, calling 03457 22 33 44 or texting 03457 22 33 55.

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?

Jamie Oliver Cookery School Opens in Westfield on 4th May

Jamie Oliver has announced the opening of a new cookery school at Jamie's Italian in Westfield. Fans of the celebrity chef can now book classes at the Jamie Oliver Cookery School, scheduled to open on May 4th.

The Jamie Oliver Cookery School "will provide lessons for everyone, whether you’re a complete beginner or a kitchen pro."

What's Happening With the Westfield Extension?

Westfield expands northwards

Construction work on the extension to Westfield Shopping Centre is under way, but apparently a bit behind schedule.

Demolition work began in 2015, with the brownfield land north of Westfield (mainly warehouses and semi-industrial buildings) turned to rubble.

Ariel way (the route through Westfield) has been closed off, leading to huge traffic congestion on Wood Lane, as anyone driving in our neighbourhood already knows.  Construction was originally scheduled to continue until October 2017, but the latest estimate of completion is now sometime in 2018.