Wansteadium

We’re 15 this year. Actually our first posts were just before Christmas in 2009 – when Wanstead still had a Thresher’s and didn’t yet have a Tesco’s.

In honour of this landmark, we have done exactly what Tesco’s itself did in its recent refit, ie we’ve been closed for a couple of weeks, and have stripped everything down to its constituent parts, only to rebuild it as an exact replica of what was there before, so much so that it will be difficult for even the most loyal customer to spot a difference.

Actually there are two differences. We’ve had enough of Twitter X and so will no longer be posting any of our links there. And as of this morning we’ve had enough of Facebook too, so you won’t find Wansteadium there either.

You will find us instead on Bluesky, a Musk/Zuck-free network where you will be able to find a starter pack of accounts of Wanstead people and organisations at this address: https://go.bsky.app/48VN9Ej.

It’s the kind of place you will see posts like this, which is just charming.

Very pleased to have photographed an Otter today along the River Roding at Wanstead. Even just a few years ago I thought it wouldn’t be possible to witness this on a London river!

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— Tony Brown (@thecowboybirder.bsky.social) Nov 30, 2024 at 14:27

But on this anniversary a word of thanks to our readers old and new. Here’s to the next 15 years, though we’re not sure if that’s something to look forward to or not.

Pizza restaurant Luppolo, above, is joining the refit movement, meaning it will be closing for a few weeks while new kitchens, toilets and bar area are installed.

When the George & Dragon reopens later this morning month it’s expected to be a big draw so there is a clear logic to refresh the restaurant.

Meanwhile, further down the High Street, nosy passers-by have got a glimpse of how extensive the refurbishment in the former Larder is, with all of the insides having been removed.

No news yet on when renovations for the Bull will take place, beyond what was originally said by its new owner, Livelyhood, that work would be scheduled for Winter 2025.

Update: Otto joins the movement…

Our traditional rundown of the stories which were read the most in the previous 12 months.

The George is saved, and will become the George and Dragon (Oct)

Wetherspoons confirms The George is ‘under offer’ (March)

The end of the W12 as we know it? (Sept)

The squat is over (Oct)

Dozen staff to return to the George & Dragon (Dec)

Squatters take the George (Oct)

An open letter to Wanstead Society members (Nov)

Wanstead Society is closing down (Oct)

New path from Wanstead to Ilford (Aug)

First glimpse of the Wanstead Curtain (Sept)

W12 route preserved but only hourly (Sept)

So long to the Larder (June)

Wanstead Fringe 2024: The FULL programme is now live (August)

Evergreen Field flats approved (June)

A dozen former George staff will be returning to the pub when it re-opens as the George & Dragon in the third week in January. They will be among 40 full-time and 20 part-time positions at the pub, which is now nearing the end of its refurbishment. External decoration looks excellent, and the bar has re-relocated to the middle of the pub where it used to be.

The pub was saved from oblivion after Wetherspoons decided to shut it. It was acquired by Urban Pubs and Bars, the largest independent pub chain in London, which has 52 pubs, bars and restaurants.

Santa Claus’s annual early trip to Wanstead on the back of Steve Hayden’s milk float takes place on Thursday afternoon/evening. Full details of streets and times are below.

Santa Drive-by in Wanstead

A few remaining tickets for Wanstead’s only pantomime are available. Peter’s Pan – A kitchen sink panto is being staged at the Wanstead Curtain on the afternoon of Monday 23 December. Staged by Maps, Myths and Monsters, a duo who spent the summer at the Edinburgh Fringe, it promises to be unlike any panto you might have been to before.