The squatters at the former Barclays bank have, according to new owners Sainsbury’s, left the premises.
A spokesman for the supermarket told Wansteadium that it had gained access to the building and that the squatters had moved on. Its contractors are now securing the site and will be doing more maintenance throughout the week.
Sainsbury’s won a court order on Friday allowing it to regain access.
Wanstead’s newest cafe, the gastronomia called More Italy, has opened with a bit of authentic Europe on offer.
The cafe is run by Italian brothers who import their own goods, many from farms run by their own family and members of a co-operative. They promise that these farms “cultivate and produce organic mixed vegetables, organic olives and fresh fruits, honey, pasta, rice, vinegars, truffles, jams, sauces, pates, pestos, biscuits, sweets, that become the best, simple and traditional Italian products”.
As is traditional on these pages, we wish the new venture good luck. And here is Suki Orange’s initial verdict. Other reviews welcome below.
Suki Orange, Wansteadium’s erstwhile food blogger, writes: “Anyone who’s eaten in a cafe in Italy knows the sensation – the tastes are heightened, the flavours fresh, the experience miles away from soggy sarnies with limp lettuce. Sitting outside More Italy on a sunny day – so long as you close your eyes – you can almost trick yourself into thinking it’s summer holiday time. Foccacia with tomato, mozzarella and pesto. Simple but wonderful I will definitely be back.
“When I do go back, though, there are a couple of things I’d like to see. I’d like a menu up on the wall, telling me what I can have and how much it costs. It’s very nice to be able to freestyle your own sandwich, but I’d still like a menu. I’d like to see some smaller sandwiches on offer too. My focaccia cost me £7 – it was big and worth it – but there is a need in Wanstead for something between £3.50 and £5. Anything more than that is too expensive for a weekday lunch. And I can’t wait for all Vincenzo’s staff to get fully up to speed. I need my coffee pronto. If all those things happen this is going to be a wonderful place.”
Thanks as ever to those readers who do their bit to keep Wansteadium on the road by making their Amazon purchases via the box on the site.
In the past month or so, you have generously bought all sorts of stuff through us – meaning Wansteadium gets a small cut which helps meet our running costs.
Some of the stuff you’ve bought (and we have no idea who has bought what, so there’s no breach of privacy) includes:
So thanks again – and for your purchasing ease, here is that box again.
A taste of a great day at the farmers’ market. To submit your photo for Wanstead Weekly photo, send it to info@wansteadium.com or tag us on social media.
#1, Saturday afternoon baseball
Updated: Sainsbury’s has told Wansteadium that it has now obtained a court order which will mean eviction for the squatters in the old Barclays Bank on Wanstead High Street.
Bailiffs will be attending the property, a spokesman said. It was thought they would attend with police on Saturday afternoon but it is understood this will now happen later.
Squatters moved into the property two week ago, saying they were protesting against vacant sites. It had been empty since the bank closed in 2014. On this site, a squatter wrote: “We are a peaceful bunch, we mean no harm.” But the resident of the flat above wrote of his concerns for safety and for his family.
On Saturday a Sainsbury’s spokesperson told Wansteadium: “We have obtained a court order which means that the squatters will be committing a criminal offence if they stay in the building any longer.
“Our bailiffs are working with the police so we can evict the trespassers and secure the site.”
