Author: Wansteadium

Another coffee, folks?

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How much coffee can one place drink? There are reports – and Wansteadium is always upfront when it’s dealing with unconfirmed rumours – that at least two new cafes are planned for Wanstead.

We understand the Orange Tree site is to become a cafe, and we hear a similar report about the Designer Sale shop. This is despite being within yards of the longstanding favourite Nice Croissant (soon to be rebranded La Bakerie by its owner Fabien Ecuvillon, one of Wanstead’s hardest working men,), Starbucks and the recently opened Currant.

The former Wanstead News site we understand is to become a barber, again even though it is a very short distance from the decades-old Wanstead Hairdresser and the newcomer barbers at the old chocolate shop site.

Meanwhile, as we reported earlier this week, Londis did indeed close on Friday and is now a shell. Despite the spring in the step brought by the Ginger Pig and Harvey’s, times are still tough for High Street traders.

One player which is moving with the times is the Larder which from this Thursday and Friday will be opening late, serving wines and cocktails – the brainchild of barista Sean Grady. Book your tables now.

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Coming next… Wanstead Tree Week

Wansteadium's collections of conkers - all from Christ Church Green, one from each year that this site has been running
Wansteadium’s collections of conkers – all from Christ Church Green, one from each year that this site has been running

Next week is the second annual Wanstead Tree Week here on Wansteadium. As well as some interesting stories about Wanstead’s trees, your photos of our trees are welcome, and the Redbridge arboricultural officers have agreed to take your questions.

So send your tree photos or questions to us at info@wansteadium.com.

Sainsbury’s pulls plug on new Wanstead shop

EXCLUSIVE
Sainsbury’s has decided not to open a convenience store in the former Barclays Bank on Wanstead High Street.

The company told Wansteadium:  “We remain very interested in opening a new shop in Wanstead.

“However following a review we have decided not to progress our plans for a new convenience store at the former Barclays Bank.  Clearly this was not an easy decision to make and we’re grateful for people’s patience and support.
 
“We will now be marketing the site to interested parties so we bring the building back into use as quickly as possible.”

Londis to close

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Wanstead High Street’s Londis is closing – as soon as this week, according to some reports, though certainly by the end of the month. The rent for the premises is believed to be in the region of £50,000 pa.

 

Scenes from the end of the Fringe

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So the fourth Wanstead Fringe went out in a blaze of glory with comedy, yoga, music workshops, acoustic sessions from Wanstead musicians and a sell-out attendance at the legendary Wanstead Kinema.

On behalf of the organisers, Wansteadium would like to thank everyone who took part, especially the Friends of the Wanstead Fringe (you can still join up, here), the restaurants who took part in Restaurant Week,Vision Redbridge Culture and Leisure, the London Borough of Redbridge and the NELFT NHS Foundation Trust for letting the Fringe use the Cherry Tree as an HQ; Petty Son and Prestwich for continued generous support.

The traditional Sesame Street-style roll call takes place at the bottom of this post, but before that here are some of the scenes from the closing stages of the Fringe.

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Isac Radu at the Fringe Comedy night – he’s an immigrant who wants one day to be considered an expat

(iPhone users tap here)

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The Kinema was a sell-out and was thankfully rain free. This has not always been the case

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The Duke’s BBQ in a fancy tent on Christ Church Green
The Wanstead Fringe 2016 was brought to you by the letters W, F, and by Ade Ward, Alison McCabe, Alistair MacQueen, Andy Richardson, Anya Lipska, Ben Kelly, Caroline Roberts, Chris Drew, Dan Clapton, Danielle Wilkinson, Dave Tulip, David Adshead, David Bird, Fabien Ecuvillon, Franck from Nice Croissant, Geoff Wilkinson, Giles Wilson, Hugh Muir, James Healey, Janice Hunte, Jenny Burbage, John and Jenny Wagstaff, Jon Fentiman, John Gilsenan, John Rogers, Kat Ibrahim, Kevin Murphy, Liz Adshead, Lizzie Ostrom, Lucinda Gosling, Luna Blaze, Lynsey Burke, Lynn Wilkinson, Marion Temple, Mark Foster, Maura Wilson, Maya Anaokar, Michelle Linaker, Mick Terry, Nick Affleck, Nick Bertram, Paul Affleck, Paul Drury-Bradey, Penny Wilson, Pete Black, The Recoupes, Rob Affleck, Rob Fearn, Ronnie Finch, Sherri-Lee Estabrook, Suzi Harnett, Tracey Adebowale-Jones, Vince McHale, Zoey Hiscock and Catherine Tylney-Long.

Restaurant Week was supported by Bombetta, The Lane, Sumo Fresh, Gezi Park, Luppolo, Provender, Piccolo, the Manor House, Purbani, and Long Horn. Thanks to all them for their support.

 

 

 

Scenes from the Fringe III

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Luna at the steaming hot Wanstead Tap on Wednesday

It’s nearly the final climactic weekend of the fourth Wanstead Fringe following perhaps the busiest night of activities the Fringe has ever seen.

On Wednesday night the Duke was packed for a fascinating evening of the sights, sounds, smells and – err – sips of Jazz era London. Fringe HQ at the Cherry Tree hosted a discussion on the nature of London’s suburbs with the Guardian’s Hugh Muir and author John Rogers, while Geoff Wilkinson led photographers on a lighting-up-time walk and Paul Guided Missile foxed music fans at the Wanstead Tap. All events were buzzing.

On Thursday there is a discussion of what could come after capitalism, at the Wanstead Tap, while at the Duke there is a retro vinyl pop-up night.

Friday evening will pose a problem for anyone who wants both comedy AND gardening OR acoustic music.

Marian Temple will lead a walk round the various spots of Wanstead brought into flower by the Wanstead Community Gardeners

The Fringe Comedy Night has never disappointed, and this year looks like a cracker with Terry Alderton, Ben Clover, Radu Isaac and Liam Smith.

Acoustic music at the Manor House comes with Keep Your Freak Flag Flying, with Mick Terry, James Healey, Ben Kelly and Ali MacQueen entertaining with “a mix of skewed balladry, minstrel-like charm, beguiling covers and low jinks”.

After that, on Saturday there is the traditional yoga on Christ Church Green. Both the guitar workshops and the Kinema are already full – apologies for anyone disappointed.

But there are also a few days left of Restaurant Week where you can eat out with discounts (if you have a Fringe programme or app).

And here are some more scenes from the Fringe so far…

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The sights of Jazz Age London at the Duke, with Luci Gosling and Odette Toilette

 

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Hugh Muir of the Guardian
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Fringe favourite John Rogers, author of This Other London, revealing (to anyone who didn’t know) that Roxy Music once played at the Red Lion in Leytonstone

Michael Sumsion has blogged about the evening here. 

https://twitter.com/WansteadFringe/status/776313327446331392