Category: Wansteadium

To the Manor reborn

churchillCrowning a week of openings in Wanstead, Manor House has reopened as a very promising gastropub. The site of the former Allied Irish Bank and Conservative Club has been thoroughly renovated, and was buzzing with customers on Friday night.

Seating at the front of the pub, on the former car park, will become an ideal spot for summer evening drinks. The inside area is big enough to take sizeable crowds, and a restaurant will be opening in the next week. The man behind the venture is former City trader, and Wanstead resident, Mark Foster. The opening comes in a remarkable week for Wanstead, now two restaurants and a fishmonger richer.

Scroll down for Suki Orange’s review.

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sukibigSuki Orange, Wansteadium’s food blogger, offers a first impression:

Banks turning into trendy wine bars – that used to be a bad thing, right? Well I think I’ve changed my mind. The natural physical assets of Manor House will be obvious to anyone who cares to look, but after an initial investigation I can’t resist recording something about the food.

Firstly I should say that the full dining experience of Manor House has not actually started yet. That won’t get under way until next week sometime, but as far as this week is concerned there is a selection of what seems to me to be some of the finest food you could hope to order at a bar – you know, next to the beer pumps. 

There will be time for fuller reviews (just as there will be for other restaurants) but let me tell you about three things I ate. One, Scotch eggs. Yes – but nothing like one remembers… warm, runny yoke (perhaps a duck egg?) and with a rich, salty, meaty casing no more than three-eighths of an inch thick in any part. The coating was black pudding: wolfed down by young and old alike, and it’s not often that happens in these parts.

Two, a mozzarella salad with roasted cherry tomatoes, a number of speciality tomatoes (striped, green and purple), basil balsamic, olive oil magically mixed somehow. If you know the strange feeling of eating in Italy, when everything just tastes somehow richer, then this salad has captured that. The availability of vegetarian options has been under discussion on this website this week. All I can say is, friends you’ll be happy here.

Three, burger and chips. The quality and flavour of the burgers in – yes – a brioche bun was outstanding, and though I will rarely admit that chips are my thing, these handmade chips roughly but lightly salted are indeed my thing.

All round the service and prices were surprisingly agreeable, and – hallelujah – families were indeed welcome.

So a word of caution to oneself before declaring that the holy grail has been found. This is just the first weekend, and who knows who the regular customers are going to be, or what sort of atmosphere Manor House will have in the long run. But I do suspect it’s Wanstead customers who will be sustaining it week in week out. And that juggling the different demographics who will be attracted to it will be no mean feat. Having said that, though, this is incredibly encouraging.  I’m a happy Suki.

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Last laugh (for the summer)

The last Wanstead Comedy Night before the summer is on Friday night, with headliner Jeff Innocent.
Also on the bill at the Wanstead Golf Club are Glenn Moore, Jay Handley, Mark Silcox and Don Tran. Tickets are a bargain £5 – a phone call to Jon Fentiman on 07950 759587 is advised. Doors open at 8pm and the show runs from 8.45 to 11.00pm.

The comedy will return in September with a stellar line-up which will be part of the Wanstead Fringe. Details will follow, but it’s looking very promising…

Cub camping kit back home

Earlier this week, we reported the theft of a cub group’s camping equipment. Bob Bradford now writes:

I am writing as the Group Scout Leader of the 21st Epping Forest South Scout Group based at St Gabriel’s Church, Aldersbrook.

First can I say how heartening it has been to see, on Wansteadium, the many posts of sympathy and offers of support following the theft of our group trailer and associated camping gear. We have also received offers from residents of the Aldersbrook area. This has meant a lot to us. Thank you all.

The good news is that following some fantastic detective work by one of our leaders we have managed to track down and recovered all our tents from premises in Romford. Once the situation was described to the manager of the premises he had no hesitation in returning the equipment and added in an additional tent by way of an apology.

Within a couple of hours the trailer was also returned with most of our ancillary equipment: tables, benches, water carriers etc. though some equipment such as heavy duty gas burners and cooking utensils were missing.

The gas burners were delivered back to us, as promised, at our Scout meeting last night. Though we have most of the equipment back it is apparent that some has suffered damage and will need replacement or repair. We will have to replace all the cooking utensils with catering quality replacements.

The situation is a much happier one than when Justin initially placed his comments and at a meeting last night we began the process of reviewing our current practices to minimise a repeat of what happened.

A number of people have offered donations to assist us in replacement of lost or damaged equipment and if they still wish to do so they can make a BACS payment to our Cubs account. .. Sort code 40-07-18 : Account Number 51243454 or alternatively by cheque payable to 21st Epping Forest South Scout Troop; c/o 26 Park Road London E12 5HQ.

Once again, our thanks to you all. The community spirit is really alive in Wanstead.

Yours in Scouting

Bob Bradford
Group Scout Leader
21st Epping Forest South Scout Group