Congratulations to singers from Wanstead-based company Songbird Sessions who were on BBC One on Saturday night in the choir competition Pitch Battle. Director Gemma Knight Jones, who is pictured fourth from left, above, with Gabriella Groves, Ruby Murphy, Kelly Fraser, Catherine Devlin and Cas Jones, has lived in Redbridge all her life and in Wanstead for the past two-and-a-half years, and used local spots like the Art Shop and Manor House as backdrops for their videos. More details about the company are here, and below is a taste of their singing.
Hip brew
We must mark the full opening of Wanstead’s latest café, Bare Brew, the fruits of much hard work by friends Gemma and Lisa who have done a great job in turning a derelict empty shop into something cool and hip. It’s well worth a visit and Wansteadium wishes them all the best (so long as the PBJ sandwiches aren’t restricted to kids).
Gail’s is really coming… this is the proof
This is real transparency – the Gantt chart setting out the refurbishment of Barclays Bank for it to become a Gail’s Bakery – displayed in the shop window. As spotted by Ciaran Martin. If all goes according to plan, it’s ready by 1 August.
We are loving this…
The Wanstead-themed products made by resident Bryony MacQueen are just about the coolest thing going. She’s selling them on her site, Murielandme.com, at the Art Shop on the High Street, and at stalls at the farmers’ market.
Is there a rich art-loving philanthropist out there?
This beautiful watercolour of St. Mary’s is up for sale @Sothebys – would look very nice on our walls! https://t.co/uiXnH1zkYZ @tintedsteam
— ParishOfWanstead (@WansteadParish) June 15, 2017
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.
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.)