Author: Wansteadium

Something brewing

The sight at the old Painted House – complete with hand-painted sign. But what is it going to be? A microbrewery? A craft beer shop? A cafe? (To be honest that just about exhausts the possibilities, assuming it’s not going to sell bears.)

The answer comes from long time reader Nick, who writes that it’s a… wait for it…. coffee shop.

“I saw them painting the sign yesterday and I looked them up today. All there was online was them advertising for staff. It looks like it might be truly independent. I have to say I was bit disappointed because when I saw the name I thought it might be a bottle shop, but I suppose we have Wanstead Tap for that (even though it clearly is not in Wanstead). The prize for best coffee now goes to More Italy in my view but if these guys have some interesting alternative brews and can offer some other activities in addition then fair enough. I guess coffee is one of the most profitable things one can sell, hence the proliferation of coffee shops.”

The Bare Brew website is worth a look – this looks like it’s going to be a cool place – and hopefully will help the Snaresbrook end of the High Street which has struggled to get people passing by. It’s also great that another empty property has been filled – so Wansteadium heartily wishes Bare Brew well.

A post shared by Bare Brew (@barebrew) on

Comments welcome. But a QI buzzer to anyone who uses the words “How many coffee shops do we need?”

In other news, the TO LET sign which was hanging above Starbucks has now been removed. Does this mean Starbucks is staying put?

And in other other news, the new Turkish barber (in the former Closet/Nicole’s shop) has clearly had second thoughts about its garish red sign. It’s been replaced with a black and silver number. (Pedants will note that even this sign doesn’t quite fit with planning guidelines since it has internal lighting, but seeing as Redbridge doesn’t seem to enforce this rule, the barber is probably all set.)

Leyton and Wanstead election result

Results for Leyton and Wanstead, as reported by the BBC (More details here.)

Another term for John Cryer, who seems not to have been affected at all by talk of people wanting to punish him for supporting Brexit. The various proposals to redraw constituency boundaries may or may not come to pass – and there’s talk in any case of another possible election, so for the time being John Cryer is comfortably established.

Some questions it would be really good to have answers to

There are some unresolved questions following the incident on Hermon Hill on Wednesday which it would be good if the Met Police could answer.  Judging by the theories, claims and allegations being made on social media (just see the Wanstead-related tweets on this page), some clarification could almost certainly help.

The questions include:

  • How seriously is the incident being taken by police and is there an active investigation into it?
  • Were there witnesses to the attack and have they been interviewed?
  • Did any witnesses hear anything being shouted during the incident?
  • Is there CCTV covering the area in question and is it being investigated?
  • Do the police have descriptions of the culprits and are they actively seeking them?
  • Were the attackers known to the victim?
  • Do the police believe that the reports published in local newspapers are an accurate reflection of what happened?
  • Is there any reason for Wanstead residents to be alarmed?

In other news… the Ilford Recorder has now removed the words from its headline and report which it initially said were shouted during the attack. The BBC report did not include the report of those words being shouted, which has led some on social media to claim a conspiracy (but which might alternatively have been for a good reason). The Wanstead Guardian report has not, at the time of writing, been changed.

 

UPDATE 1300 THURS

BBC News is now reporting that the incident is being treated as a hate crime because of comments made during the attack.  No arrests have been made and enquiries are continuing, the BBC says.

 

UPDATE THURS 1345

This statement now issued by the Met.