Lexi Cinema owner profiled

Good profile in FT of Sally Wilton, the Lexi owner, and my neighbour as it happens.

Brooks butchers opens

As two of the commenters have noted, the butchers is open and I'm inclined to agree with them on its brilliance. To start with it looks just fantastic, and although we have only had some Parma ham and sausages from there so far, both have been excellent. Also I've enjoyed rather too many of their tasting samples.

I hope it survives, it certainly seems to be doing most things right. It is expensive, but I think good quality meat is, we've become rather blinded to this fact over the years and preferred to pay little for only adequate quality meat. Of course this has meant much more can be consumed and is not a bad thing, but personally I think I might try eating less but better quality meat. Brooks will be great for that!

Anyway anyone else have a view? I saw a tweet criticising the service, which I found a little slow but in a nice butchers way.

An update

Apologies for the lack of updates.

So what's new? There is a fashion shop next to the Overground, "I love KR", selling desinger clothes and my wife says it's pretty good. Whether there is the market in KR I don't know.

What we believe to be a butchers is about to open opposite Minkies.

And I think that's about it.

Kensal Rise in 1945

Google Earth now has 'satellite' (it must I guess be balloon or spy plane) imagery of London. Here's Kensal Rise in 1945 - if you click on it you can zoom in (the school north of Queen's Park obviously wasn't there). Copyright is obviously with Google Earth.

London's Bohemian vanguard

That's who lives in Kensal Rise, and it's not me saying so, but no less an authority than the New York Times. They've even nicked this blog's name for their story.

Portobello Dock events in ten days

Starting 20th September, this might be interesting. We went to something similar last year, and it was quite good.

Living Etc and comment deletionn and recycling

Does anyone want about three years of Living Etc magazine and a few Elle Decorations? We're having a clearance and the magazines are destined for the recycle box.

Also apologies to someone whose comment on key cutters I deleted by accident, they suggested Queen's Park near the station I think.

Jessie left an interesting comment on Brent Council's new recycling policy - it's here. It seems to be alternate fortnightly collection of recycled stuff (this time including carboard) and other.

I like the idea of including cardboard in the recycling, as it was a bit strange having to separate out paper and cardborad. But every fortnight is a bit, well, rubbish.

The cycle hire scheme

I've been signed up to this since it started (somewhat accidentally) and have used it four or five times. It only extends as far as St John'w Wood or Maida Vale in this direction, so doesn't help Kensal Rise day-to-day life. But in the centre of London it seems to work quite well.

The bike is robust and quite easy to pedal, which I assume will remain the case as they will be maintained more often than normal. The 'basket' which is a bit at the front with an elasticated tie, is adequated. The docking stations are plentifuli, and the only problem I've found is some being empty or full at peak periods. I'm told you can see the details online.

Kensal Rise has it all!

I'll restrain the cynicism that Ms Phillips is looking to sell, and instead direct you all to her article - working title "Kensal Rise is the best place in the world evah!"

Celia Birtwell likes...

l'Angolo and Scarlet & Violet, two favourites of this 'blog.

Crossrail inches nearer

This seems like good news, and means the prospect of a Kensal Crossrail station is that bit more likely.

Any news?

We've seen that the Yoga place on Wrentham might close, no idea how accurate the story was.

Some others from Google news.

A school in Kensal Rise appears to be in trouble over funds.

A website about London tube stations from a Kensal Risian (is that the right term?)

This story - can't vouch for its accuracy - made me laugh as the man apparently said he was housed in Kensal Rise but didn't like it.

Maybe this was why the Paradise was being refurbished - its had a karoke room added.

Finally a rather unfortunate story about a crash between a cyclist and a bus in Station Terrace a few weeks ago.

I'm back

Not a lot of Kensal Rise news to report. There are a lot of summer fetes and so on at the moment, which I'll try to collate. A commenter said that the old Miros/Whytes deli might be a coffee shop/cakes (I think that's the location they meant). Has anyone tried Madaya?

We had a sandwich in Harvist for the first time, which was perfectly pleasant, and there's an art exhibition on, also a lot of events in the evenings.

Where do people get keys cut? I went to Willseden Green, where there are a number of places that seemed reasonable and did a good job.

8 Station Terrace review in Time Out

I'm not sure this web one is the same as in the print edition, but it's a pretty good review. We went again a few days ago and enjoyed it - the poached egg and smoked salmon starter was particularly nice.

London Overground cancelled

Not the sight you want to see. Apparently trains being routed to Queen's Park, and if you want to go to Richmond they are 20/50 past the hour from Willesden Junction.

Couple of things

1. I noticed that the cafe Gracelands on College Road is to be shut on various days in June (I think it was) to film The Increasingly Poor Decisions of Todd Margaret, a trailer of which was filmed there last year.

2. I noticed whilst looking up at the school on Chamberlayne Road/Okehampton Road tht it has made in the brickwork 'Chamerlayne Wood Road'. So is this an earlier name for Chamberlayne Road?

Verandah/Eulabee relanch party!

See here, not sure if you need a Facebook account or not.

Otherwise Wednesday May 26: 6:30 to 9:00pm, 116 College Road, Kensal Green, London NW10 5HD

Please come and help us celebrate!

Following the enormously successful 8 months of trading that we have experienced since opening our second shop on Chamberlayne Road, Simone and Penny have expanded their College Road shop and now have the space to showcase lots more fabulous finds. From amazing vintage furniture and unique, hand-made jewellery to ridiculously low-priced vintage and archive clothing, beautiful house and homewares, right through to pocket-money goodies for the children. A delightful treasure trove with something for everyone in this stunning store, right in your neighburhood!

We're throwing open the doors on Wednesday evening and would love to have a glass or two of champagne with you whilst you browse our latest stock and admire the transformation of the shop. We're very proud of what we've achieved and hope you will love it as much as we do. Look forward to seeing you there!

Lali

Article on Kensal Rise clothes shop, Lali.

Alice House bar in Queen's Park

I was cycling past what was the pizza place then Nikki Noodle and saw an Alice House Queen's Park advert. So I guess we have a version of the bar that is in West Hampstead. I went there once, wasn't bad.

Update

Not a lot to report really. I see there is a sign up on the plot by the corner of Chamberlayne Road and Kilburn Lane saying it's going to be flats. The pizza place by Tesco looks set to open, and the internet cafe on the bridge opposite the Overground station is closed for 'refurbishment' (rather needed by the looks of it).

We had difficulty getting breakfast on Friday morning - the new 8 Station Terrace only does cooked breakfast on weekends, and the one on College Road was on late opening hours for Easter. We did, however, that evening have sushi from Eat Sushi and I can't really recommend it enough - I have sushi about once a week and it's the best place either here or where I work I know.

Students in the Rise

The Grove magazine has a short article saying Brent council have given planning permission to the Blackstone Group to build 'plush student residences' for 300 students from Imperial College and Lamda near Kensal Rise. Anyone know where?

Update: Ah here, on Kensal road.

8 Station Terrace, Kensal Rise - a short review

We went to the new bistro-style restaurant on Station Terrace last week. We shared a cheese and leek quiche to start, followed by lamb chops with a side of greens, and for me salmon and (I think) prawn fish cakes with a tomato salad. We share an Eton Mess for dessert. To drink a diet coke and two glasses of red wine.

We thought the food was simple and well done - the quiche was exceptionally tasty and our only complaint is that it was a little overpriced - £6 for one slice of quiche - £5 would be about right. The fish cakes (£10) were just the right amount of fishy and not too much potato. "You can't go wrong with lamb chops" (£10) apparently, and they didn't. The Eton Mess (£4 - good value) was fantastic, lovely home-made tasting meringue and juicy strawberries. Both red wines were excellent. Service was friendly and not overly fussy.

Inside was nice with lots of pictures on the wall - I agree with the commentator who said the front window is a little bare, looking out as it does onto the railway side. On the other hand during the day I imagine it is nice to get so much light in.

So, minor quibbles aside, we think it is an excellent addition to the Rise - filling a large gap in the market.

New restaurant, old(ish) restaurant

As some of the commenters have noted, the brasserie on Station Terrace has opened with the useful name 8 Station Terrace. We looked in at about 5pm today (Sunday) and it was packed. The interior looked nice and the menu looked good too (I don't know if it was just for today or changes daily). A commenter noted the wine is reasonably priced by the glass (although I thought the Prosecco at 25 quid a bottle was a tad expensive). Anyway the proof will be in the pudding, and the starters etc, and so I will report back when we've been. Certainly on the face of it a very welcome addition.

We also went recently to Ida, and had a very reasonable three courses for £20 or something like that. Food was excellent, very filling and tasty.

Couple of updates about nothing much

* We're told the pizza/med food place next to Tescos will be open in 1-2 weeks.

* There was some activity in what used to be Miros/Whytes

* Lots seems to be going on at what might be The Brasserie on Station Terrace

Anything else to report?

Few quck google news links

Roadwork problems in Kensal Rise street.

Lexi Cinema has a bra fundraising drive

La Grand Bouche in Kensal Rise - has anyone heard of that? Anyway apparent Sienna Miller was there.

Controversy over Kensal Green councillor.

Article about Crazy Baker, a wholesale (sort of) baker on Harrow Road.

There's a few other local things I need to put up and will do son the next few days. I see Harvist is now doing evening meals - anyone tried it out?

NW6 then and now

Via the excellent NW6 blog, with the orginal photos here, is NW6 then and now. My own small contribution on Kensal Rise then now is here.

Out and about

We went for a Kensal Rise stroll today - and a few things are worth mentioning.

It began in the library, which has had a refurb and although my initial sceptical view was that it would mean fewer books, and I'm not entirely sure that isn't the case, the automatic machines to get books out are amazing. Once you scan in your library card, you simply put ALL the books below the machine, and it immediately recognises all of them without any scanning or opening etc. I assume this is RDS technology, but it's very impressive.

Next we went to Retrouvius, a tardis of a second-hand furniture/collectables place. It's quite trendy and is featured a lot in magazines such as Living Etc, and well worth a visit from time-to-time.

Then we looked in the window of Ammonite2000, and then moved on to the William IV. This was refurbished last year and we liked it, although it doesn't quite work - it falls a bit between being the Paradise and being a All Bar One style place. The menu looked good though and I'm glad there are pubs still showing the football.

Finally, back on Chamberlayne Road we asked at the pizza place that was opposite Tesco what was happening. Apparently it is going to be the same people running a pizza place, but this time a restaurant, and it will also do Mediterranean food, whatever that is.

Lack of posts and Scarlet & Violet

Apologies for the lack of posts around here, I was off getting married and then in Venice on a honeymoon. I think Kensal Rise could learn a lot from Venice, the Grand Union Canal would surely benefit from 15th century mansions and a few more squares and fewer cars etc.



Anyway to bring this back to Kensal Rise I would like to say that at short notice we got the buttonholes, bouquet and table decorations from Scarlet & Violet, and very good they were too.

Whyte's deli seems to have closed down

I passed it today and it appeared to be empty. This is rather strange as when I went in two weeks ago they were just getting a new fridge. It's a shame as we were becoming regulars - the bread and soup were excellent.

Council plans to change bus stops

Thanks to the commenters who linked to this public appeal from Minkies. Read it all, but in short the plan is for some buses to stop in a new bay outside Minkies on Chamberlayne Road, instead of on Station Terrace.

I am tempted to be against, simply because it is done by Brent Council, who don't seem very impressive. A closer look reinforces that view, simply because the bit where the buses turn into now seems how you would design such a bus stop if you were going to, rather than on the crest of a hill of a busy road. It also seems to suffer from tinkering for tinkering's sake.

n the other hand there are presumably some other issues which commend the plan - Minkies mention themselves the annoyance to residents near Station Terrace of buses turning around (although where would they turn around with the new plan?). Anyone have any strong views either way?

A bus crash in Kensal Rise

It appears to have skidded into the Doctor's Surgey at Leigh Gardens. I hope no-one has been hurt; the road has been closed.

Photo here.