Saturday 2 March 2024

Bush Hall Needs Your Help

Help Save Music at Bush Hall from Bush Hall on Vimeo.

Bush Hall needs your help. Bush Hall is an independent music and events venue in Shepherd's Bush, which is currently "in grave danger of losing its unique live music facility". The owners of Bush Hall, Charlie Raworth and Emma Hutchinson, have launched a crowdfunder appeal at https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/help-save-music-at-bush-hall, hoping to raise £40,000 to secure the future of Bush Hall. 

Tuesday 20 February 2024

Cyclists Jumping Lights on Uxbridge Rd Face £50 Fine

Cyclists - jump the lights at your peril
Cyclists beware - running a red light in Shepherd's Bush could cost you £50.  

It's become commonplace for London cyclists to jump the lights; after all, unlike motor vehicles, cyclists are unlikely to get a ticket. 

Monday 5 February 2024

Hammersmith Park Outdoor Gym Needs Your Help

Proposed site for outdoor gym
The London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham consulted with local residents last September on whether to build an outdoor gym in Hammersmith Park and, if so what sort of equipment to install.

The location of the outdoor gym will be the small triangle of grass located at the eastern end of the park, near the exit to TV Centre. 

Unfortunately, LBHF say that the response rate was too low to justify the spend.  The council have re-opened the consultation, so it's important that we get a bigger response this time around.

Thursday 21 December 2023

Shepherd's Bush Market Plans Given Green Light by LBHF

Yoo Capital, owners of Shepherds Bush Market and neighbouring land, have won their battle for planning permission to redevelop the Market.  The vote in Hammersmith and Fulham Planning Committee was 3-2.

The redevelopment scheme involves the construction of forty new flats to be managed by LBHF.  Paying for the new subsidised flats is a large new commercial building.   You can read the full story at Time Out here and also at the Evening Standard.

Thursday 7 December 2023

Shepherd's Bush Market Meeting Abandoned

A meeting this week to determine the fate of Shepherd's Bush Market was abandoned following vocal protests.

The meeting was held on Tuesday at the Shortlands office building in a large meeting room, with space for LBHF councillors and seating for attendees and speakers.  A number of market traders attended, as well as shopkeepers, and also local residents. The meeting was abandoned following noisy protests that made it impossible to proceed.

Wednesday 6 December 2023

St Stephens School Ranked "Outstanding" by Ofsted

Parents at St Stephen's Church of England school are celebrating another success for our local state primary - which was rated "Outstanding" in all categories by Ofsted, the school inspectorate. 

St Stephen's School is affiliated with St Stephen's Church, Shepherd's Bush and was built at the same time, circa 1849-50.  

St Stephen's is led by the charismatic Michael Schumm, a well-respected head whose good nature and pursuit of excellence helps to give the school its unique character. 

Tuesday 5 December 2023

1A Macfarlane Rd Case Dismissed For "Improper Service"

The developers of 1A Macfarlane Rd have today won a further round in their legal battle to keep their housing development, first constructed in the Spring of 2020 (see before and after image on left). 

The developers' appeal against the Council's latest Enforcement Notice was upheld on a technicality - for improper service of the notice. 

Monday 4 December 2023

1A Macfarlane Rd Appeal Hearing Tuesday 5 Dec 2023

Appeal Hearing Tues 5 Dec 2023 at 10am
Back in 2020 a new building was completed at 1A Macfarlane Rd, after the old Edwardian building was demolished

The new building is mainly of interest because the owner, having got planning permission to demolish the old two storey Edwardian structure and build a new four storey building, built something that was quite different from what was approved.

Eventually our Council, London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham, issued an enforcement notice against the building. That notice was appealed by the owners, and the Inspector must now make a decision as to how to move forward. 

Tomorrow Tuesday 5 December there is an "informal hearing" at the Irish Cultural Centre in Hammersmith to hear local views. All are welcome to attend and have their say. 

Friday 1 December 2023

Deluxe Coffee Works - Welcome to The Bush

Deluxe Coffee Works
Coffee in Shepherd's Bush just got a little bit better (actually, a lot better) with the opening of the Deluxe Coffee Works in Macfarlane Rd.

Deluxe is located in a former light industrial building tucked in among residential houses in a small corner of The Bush - just off Shepherd's Bush Green. 

Deluxe is mainly a BtoB (Business to Business) operation, importing and roasting their own beans on the premises, but they also sell delicious fresh roasted coffee directly to the public. 

And, today, the opening day of the new "roastery", they are offering free coffee to locals.  But there is no sign on the door - you'll just have to follow the crowds. 

Thursday 30 November 2023

The Defector's Weld is Back - Tonight is Opening Night

The Defector's Weld is back
The Defector's Weld
is back - reopening today after a long refurbishment.  The Defector's Weld is a pub on the corner of Uxbridge Road and Wood Lane, voted the Best Pub in The Bush by the old Shepherd's Bush Blog, as edited by Chris Underwood back in 2012. 

The vote was conducted by readers of the blog, and The Defector's Weld won by a large margin.  

Tuesday 28 November 2023

St Stephen's Xmas Fair on Saturday 2 December

Advent starts on Friday - and from December 1st it will be officially time to get into the Christmas Spirit. On Saturday the 2nd December from 12pm to 4pm our local primary school - St Stephen's - is hosting a Christmas Fair, raising money for one of the country's top primary schools.

Come along on saturday to buy Christmas gifts, cakes, and maybe even come and meet Father Christmas, who (it is rumoured) may make an appearance in his grotto. 

Other kid-friendly treats include a bouncy castle, a kid's tombola (there's one for grownups too), teddies, and "Strictly Come Dancing" classes with St Stephen's very own song-and-dance thespian Miss Whiting. 

Friday 15 September 2023

Outdoor Gym for Hammersmith Park - Have Your Say

The London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham is consulting with local residents on whether to build an outdoor gym in Hammersmith Park and, if so what sort of equipment to install.

The location of the outdoor gym would be in a small triangle of grass located at the eastern end of the park, near the exit to TV Centre. 

You can have your say by emailing parks.projects@lbhf.gov.uk. 

The deadline for comments is today, Friday 15th September 2023.

Tuesday 11 July 2023

Japanese Garden Community Day 6 August 2023

The Japanese Garden at Hammersmith Park is hosting its annual Community Day on Sunday 6th August from 12.30pm to 5.30pm.  

The Japanese Garden Community Day will feature Japanese-themed activities for families and children.  Last year's events included origami lessons, a treasure trail, a Japanese calligraphy workshop, Japanese music, a "haiku walk", and Japanese sweets and snacks.

The Community Day is a family-friendly annual event, held to celebrate improvements to the garden such as the 2018 installation of new Japanese-style gates and rows of traditional stone lanterns.

The Japanese Garden at Hammersmith Park dates from 1910, and is the chief legacy of the Japanese-British Exhibition that took place in White City.

Don't forget to bring a picnic.

Monday 10 July 2023

Free Table Tennis at TV Centre

Table Tennis at TV Centre
TV Centre on Wood Lane have put up some big screens for visitors to watch Wimbledon, and also a number of table tennis tables for some summer entertainment. 

TV Centre even provide table tennis bats and balls (though it's advisable to bring your own; these have a tendency to wander off). 

Tuesday 4 July 2023

Ukraine Open House Friday 7 July

On Friday 7 July The Ukrainian Open House will be held from 3.30 to 6.30pm at 30-32 Bradmore Park Rd, W6 0DT. The Open House events take place monthly, and are open to everyone - with Ukrainians being especially welcome. 

On Friday 9th of June the eighth Ukrainian Open House was hosted by the Hammersmith Business Meeting

Other attenders include local volunteers, a number of Councillors, the Ukrainian Embassy, the LBHF Refugee team, the Red Cross and the EERC (East European Resource Centre).

The Open House events offer opportunity to meet friendly faces and talk to English people who know the local area as well as to Ukrainians who are learning navigate their way around the UK and how the various systems work. 

All are welcome. The event is free.

Tuesday 27 June 2023

Shepherds' Bush Market Plans - Deadline 29 June 2023

Market Proposals from Yoo Capital
Shepherd’s Bush Market is back in the news; owners Yoo Capital have applied for planning permission to redevelop the market; the chance to comment closes in two days. 

The new plans follow the failure of the last owners, Orion Capital, whose 2014 plans to develop the market were ultimately defeated back in 2016 in the Supreme Court after two years of litigation.  

The new proposals from Yoo Capital include a big office block and also affordable flats.  You can see the market plans in detail here at the official Yoo Capital site.

You can also view the plans and comment on them at the official LBHF website.  The closing date for comments is Thursday 29 June. 

Saturday 6 May 2023

Cherry Blossom in Hammersmith Park

This past week Hammersmith Park has been a riot of cherry blossom - on a sunny day visitors to our local park can sit on a bench beneath a cherry tree and watch the pink petals gently float away on the breeze.

The planting of cherry trees alongside the Japanese lanterns and the Japanese Garden means that at this time of year you can almost imagine yourself to be in Japan. 

Friday 5 May 2023

New Tennis Nets at Hammersmith Park

Old (top) vs new (bottom)
Many thanks to the Parks Team at the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham for the new tennis nets recently installed in Hammersmith Park. 

The old nets were in pretty bad shape, with holes so big it wasn't clear whether balls were going over the net or through it.

The tennis courts in Hammersmith Park are one of our best local amenities. You can't book them in advance - meaning that anyone can drop in at any time and play.  

You might have to wait a few minutes, but spontaneity is rewarded for the patient.  

Sunday 30 April 2023

Macfarlane Place "Ready by March 2024"

Macfarlane Place, as proposed, from Macfarlane Rd
Macfarlane Place, the new development on Wood Lane, is now well underway, following the year-long process of demolition of the old BBC car park.

The basic structure is almost complete, and the process of fitting out the new flats will last into early 2024. 

The new development will also offer a new route to TV Centre from Wood Lane, and a new pedestrian access to Hammersmith Park, underneath the railway arches. 

The new building will surely be a handsome addition to the neighbourhood. 

Friday 10 March 2023

Public Consultation on Alcohol in Shepherd's Bush Green

Public Consultation on the Consumption of Alcohol
Our local council - The London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham (LBHF) - is running a public consultation on the Consumption of Alcohol on Shepherd's Bush Green.  The consultation runs until 2 April 2023. 

If you would like to comment, use the following link: https://haveyoursay.lbhf.gov.uk/
You will see a number of consultations currently ongoing; just scroll down to the relevant link.