Bars in the Rise

Here is  a website that seems to be dedicated to bars in Kensal Rise.

Thefts from local pubs

To be honest, I'm quite relieved this sort of thing is seen as unusual enough to merit a news article. I had my wallet stolen in a local pub, and my credit card used to buy £250 of jerk chicken in a Harlesden takeaway. I didn't get a news story!!

New cafe 'Aubrey's'

A contact tells me that the clothes shop on Station Terrace, Lali, is being replaced by a cafe, called Aubrey's. I must admit I didn't know the clothes shop had closed down. When was that?

Ah, maybe it has  moved to Golborne Road? Although I think it was open only a few weeks ago in Kensal Rise. 

The Island

Thanks for all the comments on Parlour. My wife went with her parents and our toddler and said it was very good for that purpose and they all enjoyed the food. I can see why as a pub it might be less good but I'm yet to go so I will reserve judgement until I do. Nice to see investment being made in things though.

And...talking of pubs. Anyone been to the Island, or know what the refurb will entail there?

London Overground becomes a kind of Circle Line

Details here.

New restaurant!

I seem to have completely missed it. So until we try it out, I point you in the direction of the Parklife blog review here

The Mozart Estate

Long but interesting article about this. 

Regent to reopen

Thanks to various commenters we learn:

The Regent is going to reopen as the Parlour (http://parlourkensal.com/). No more information - I hope they still server burgers. 

Also the Island is being refurbished; it will be interesting to know how they change it. We've always had a great meal in the Island but it's been quite quiet (the restaurant bit). Perhaps it will become more integrated with the rest of the pub, but I used to like how it was a bit hidden away. 

For once not just parroting what commenters say, I noticed tonight while driving past that the IT/telephone shop opposite the overground station had been gutted and it looked like it was going to be something different?

Update - ah, maybe it's this, which being an A2 suggests another estate agent?

Ps we were noting today that Kensal Rise doesn't have any charity shops at the top end, and just that newish one down the bottom end. Yet West Hampstead ten years ago had at least five, maybe more. Is that a good or bad sign?

New and old things

Crazy Baker has opened next to the gold flats (which I hear are being called "Benson & Hedges" by some people). It was great to see a large selection of bread, and it does savouries, cakes and coffee. This is their website but it hasn't been updated yet to show the Kensal Rise branch (I think).

Thanks to commentator Anonymous for proof that Nandos is coming to B&H.

Finally for now, I saw that Their Nibs was closing down. This was a bit of a surprise, given Kensal Rise's plethora of young parents and it did have to nice things in it, but I have to say something never quite felt right about it. Has the Notting Hill branch gone as well? There does seem to be four concession in Thailand, suggesting perhaps a shift of location. 

Sacro Cuore pizza

So we tried their takeaway service. I called up and they said 'it'll be ready in 5 minutes' which was a little quicker than I expected or even wanted but we were hungry so I decided to go along with it anyway.

A temporary website with menu is here.

The pizzas were, as hoped for, excellent. In fact really excellent. Quality and plentiful ingredients, and extremely tasty.

It was quite full although the outside terrace area was not being used.

I'm still a big fan of Primi in Queen's Park and think it gets a bit unfairly overlooked (and they deliver, which Sacro Cuore doesn't). But the pizzas here were brilliant and this is certainly a very welcome arrival in Kensal Rise. 

Graffiti 'artist' jailed

Interesting story here. 

Tesco in gold flats

Thanks to various informative commenters we know seem to have proof it will be a Tesco in the Dubai gold flats. Some people who live near there will be pleased but I think many of us would have liked anything else, given we already have a Tesco in Kensal Rise.

On the good news a high quality pizza place is definitely coming to what was Harvist. And it looks like there will also be a Nandos. 

Kensal Rise Residents' Association Meeting

The next KRRA meeting:

On Wednesday, 4th July 2012,
from 7.30pm to 9.00pm
at The Kensal Rise Constitutional club, 194 Chamberlayne Road (next door to the Lexi).

Kensal Rise in 1921

The Daily Mail says this is Kensal Rise, in 1921. Any idea where it is?

Here's a few more shots. 

Kensal Rise Residents' Association next meeting

Is on Wednesday 6 June at 7:30pm at the Constitutional Club, next to the Lexi Cinema on Chamberlayne Road. 

Kensal Rise in TNT magazine

You have to wonder about some of this stuff, but a nice puff piece for the Rise here. 

Kensal Rise Residents' Association Meeting

The next meeting is tomorrow, Wednesday 2 May at 7.30 at KR constitutional club, next door to the Lexi Cinema.

The new flats

We had a look around the new flats. There is a nicely fitted out 1/2 bed showflat, and two or three others that have finished kitchens/bathrooms but no other furnishings. They seemed a reasonable size and had nice balconies, worth a look if you are nosy or interested.  The staff were very helpful.

The gold apparently will not tarnish, so I do wonder whether it is going to dazzle drivers on a sunny day! When the sun hit the balcony it was quite hard to look at it directly.

Anyway I think I'm largely in favour of it, London's house prices are too high and so we have to accept new building, especially upwards. What do other people think?

I've also done some research and it appears there is no decision yet on what the supermarket underneath will be. 

It's very gold

The new Big Block of flats is very gold, isn't it? It's like someone's dropped a Macau casino on top of Kensal Rise. God knows what it'll be like when the sun hits it - probably dazzling drivers from Kensington to Wembley.

We were going to look in the show apartment but got there too late.

Harvist seems to have been nearly gutted in its renovation>

Crazy Baker is opening a cafe in what used to be True Associates' tiny office next to the Big Block. 

A couple of things

There's some activity going on in what was Shake It! on Chamberlayne Road. And there's a notice up outside The Shop saying Brent Council has been asked to look again into its licensing agreement. Anything else? Have we determined if the shop under the new block of flats is going to be a Tesco or something else. I think anything else - a Lidl even - would be good so as to increase choice and competition.

Some great comments

I've been travelling, hence lack of updates, but luckily others are doing the work for me:

28 March 2012 01:11
Anonymous said...
Harvist is being done as we speak. The windows are window-leened up. [KR adds - I saw workman in there today as well]

Some dance studio called Frame are apparently moving in the area too.

28 March 2012 07:55
Anonymous said...
Here is a link to the new Moberly. Looks like 3 floors with new shops and flats too.

http://transact.westminster.gov.uk/docstores/publications_store/sport/moberly_sports_centre_design_concepts_1.pdf

Kensal Rise Residents' Association

The next meeting of this august body is:

Wednesday 4 April
7.30 pm
Constitutional Club (next door to Lexi cinema)

All residents (and I think business owners) welcome.

Kensal Rise Residents' Association

Their next meeting is at KR constitutional club, next door to the Lexi cinema, 7.30 this Wednesday 7th March.

A map of deprivation and er undeprivation

Quite slow to load but here's London down to street level. We're an oasis of pinky-blue surrounded by red, really.

NEW THINGS!!

A commenter writes

"News a plenty.

Bread and Honey (plus un-named members bar) have bought the scummy place next to Bawarchi. One half will be restaurant.

Island is to be done up. Owned now by people who own The Warwick in Maida Vale.

Havist is to be a wood fired pizzeria (yaaaaaaay!).

Thanks "mole". "

Kensal Rise Residents' Association

I've been asked to say this and I recommend anyone who is interested to go along:

The next meeting of the Kensal Rise Residents' Association will be on Wednesday 8 February at 7:30pm at the Constitutional Club, Chamberlayne Road. This is next door to the Lexi Cinema.

Invited are all residents and business owners of Kensal Rise. The aim of the Association is to 'improve the environment we live in and share for all to enjoy'.

A few things

Today we went to the Car Boot Sale near Queen's Park. Seemed most old clothes but we did arrive far to late to give a good guide. We also went to the Children and Baby shop Izzy Jones which seems a good addition.

Then we wanted to buy some lunch, and realised Queen's Park lacks a decent deli. So we decided to eat out at Taste of Chamberlayne, which I only went to for the first time just before Christmas but have found really good on both occasions. I had the Eggs Benedict, my wife the Eggs Florentine and for the baby a Croque Monsieur without the mustard. The first two were great but the Croque Monsieur was fantastic, with absolutely delicious fried bread. Probably not the best thing for a small child, so I ate most of it instead...

Police

Last night as I was walking home I saw two Police cars taping off Clifford Gardens and a helicopter flying above. It didn't look good...

I mentioned it on Twitter. I also on Twitter had someone claiming they wanted to buy the shop units under the new flats but Belway wouldn't sell. And it wasn't going to be a Tescos. Any more news on that?