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.”
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.
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.
Isac Radu at the Fringe Comedy night – he’s an immigrant who wants one day to be considered an expat
The Kinema was a sell-out and was thankfully rain free. This has not always been the case The Duke’s BBQ in a fancy tent on Christ Church GreenThe 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.
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.
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.
Hugh Muir of the GuardianFringe 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
Fascinating conversation on suburbs, gentrification and edgelands between Hugh Muir and John Rogers @WansteadFringe tonight
It’s mid-way through the Wanstead Fringe, and it’s already clear that more people are taking part in events than ever before.
Many events – including the legendary Kinema – have been sold out, and there are just a few days left to make the most of the occasion with extra added Indian Summer.
More restaurants have joined in with Wanstead Restaurant Week, meaning there are now eight places that you can get discounts if you take your Wanstead Fringe programme in with you. (If you don’t have a programme, download the Wanstead Fringe app for iOS and Android and take that instead.)
Meanwhile here are some more views of the Fringe so far…
Kevin from Wanstead Fish displays his knifework in the Fringe’s first ever food eveningHe was joined by Franck from Nice Croissant who showed how make a briocheIllustrator Chris Drew again gave children an insight into what it takes to produce a cartoon
And Jingle Bop led two sessions in the refurbished Cherry Tree, the Fringe HQ which is now available to community groups for hire
EXCLUSIVE
