Tom Hardy in Wanstead: The photo!

FRIDAY AFTERNOON: The photograph which proves Tom Hardy was in Wanstead today, filming on Taboo, the BBC serial he wrote and is starring in.

Cast of Taboo in Wanstead. Copyright Marcus Tylor (see London News Pictures for more shots)
Tom Hardy and cast of Taboo at St Mary’s church in Wanstead. Copyright Marcus Tylor (see London News Pictures for more shots)

Anyone with updates or more photos please let us have details at info@wansteadium.com

FRIDAY MORNING

Tom Hardy on set
Cast members arriving in Wanstead for the filming this morning. Photo Marcus Tylor

 

 

https://twitter.com/chloe_robinsonx/status/695552353810968576

 

 

THURSDAY AFTERNOON

THURSDAY MORNING

 

Wanstead’s new micro-restaurant

It’s a week for restaurant innovations. After we reported the news of Snaresbrook’s forthcoming Italian grill Bombetta, Aldersbrook diners have been keen to share their enthusiasm for a new, tiny, Japanese restaurant called Sakura which has opened in Brading Crescent.

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Wansteadium reader Sumit told us: “It’s very small, but I’ve been a few times since it opened and have been impressed, given the price of the fare and the very small space available. For those of us in Aldersbrook it’s nice to have a decent Japanese place at walking distance when we don’t want to go to Sumo Fresh – especially next time Blake Hell roadworks return!

“You’ll see that it’s not really a restaurant, a couple of bar stools to sit on while you wait for your food. But I’ve already been a few times and food seems really good, generous portions and reasonable price. I’m no expert on Japanese food, but it seems pretty authentic. Something a bit different in sleepy Aldersbrook but very welcome.”

Another reader, Val, wrote that they do takeaway as well as collection and hope to be able to develop their area of the pavement to have seating outside in the summer.

We’re delighted to add Sakura to the list of establishments featured in Wanstead is Made in Wanstead.

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  • Sakura’s phone number is 020 8530 3749. Its address is 130 Brading Crescent E11 3RS
    and opening times are:
    Sunday 11 a.m.-6 p.m.
    Monday 3 p.m.-10 p.m.
    Tuesday-Saturday 10 a.m.-10 p.m.

An Italian feast on its way

Wanstead foodies have a new restaurant to look forward to with the announcement that an “Italian grill concept” will be opening in Snaresbrook in the Spring.

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Photos from Bombetta’s Twitter feed

Bombetta (which we think is Italian for bowler hat) will be opening at the new block which has just been built at Snaresbrook station. It intends to serve coffee for commuters in the morning and will open for dinner in the evenings. They will also be preparing artisan cheeses and cured meats forwholesale, but selling to retail at weekends.

This might be enough to entice Wansteadium’s longlost food blogger Suki
Orange out of hibernation. It may also feature in future editions of Wanstead is Made In Wanstead.

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https://twitter.com/bombettaLondon/status/694214012322578433

The new block at Snaresbrook Tube
The new block at Snaresbrook Tube

The Pig: Cool it…

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Marylebone’s Ginger Pig (Photo Ewan Munro, via Flickr/Creative Commons

Time to lower any expectations about the Ginger Pig coming to Wanstead High Street.

The trendy butcher has told the Ilford Recorder that, though several Wanstead folk had encouraged them to come to E11, negotiations haven’t really begun. A spokesman said: “In many cases where there is a particularly large number of enquiries, we feel obliged to look into it. This has certainly been the case with Wanstead…

“We have indeed made very early stage enquiries. That is as far as things have gone at this point, we are not in any lengthy or meaningful discussions with any agent.”

Meanwhile another high quality butcher has apparently ruled out the former AG Dennis shop, saying it needs too much work to justify the rent. Last week Wansteadium reported that the starting rent being sought by agents was £40,000, with £16,000 business rate. As one commenter on our Facebook page wrote: “That’s before you’ve sold a sausage.”

Wanstead to be on film again

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:The_wub
Photo: The Wub, WikiMedia

Wanstead is going to be on film again – but this time it’s the big time, with a real Oscar-nominated actor and a real Oscar-nominated director.

Tom Hardy, nominated for his role in The Revenant, is one of the stars (and a co-author) of an eight-part BBC drama, Taboo, about the East India Company. Ridley Scott is one of the series’ executive producers.

Part of the action is going to be filmed later this week at St Mary’s in Overton Drive, nearby residents have been told. Both the inside and outside of the Grade 1 listed church will be featured.

The series has been criticised in some quarters (eg the Daily Telegraph) because its creator has said it will portray the East India Company as the “biggest, baddest multinational corporation on earth, all rolled into one self-righteous, religiously-motivated monolith”. What that means for how gentle St Mary’s will be depicted remains to be seen.

 

(Thanks to Wansteadium readers Lisa Stanley and Richard Menzies for the tips-off.  The Commonwealth of Wansteadium depends on fine citizens like them for information. You too, gentle reader, can do your duty by sending a news tip-off to info@wansteadium.com)