Daily news, insight and opinion from the world of restaurants 18-Feb-2025 Last updated on 18-Feb-2025 at 11:29 GMT The pastry chef, cook book author and judge on Channel Four’s Junior Bake Off has announced on Instagram that she will open Gina, which is described as a ‘chophouse meets family-run restaurant, run by a couple who argue all the time’. Described as being ‘years in the making’, Gina will be located in Chingford in east London and takes its name from Taiano’s late mother. Gill say the couple intend to share details of the process from getting the keys to opening day “sharing exactly what it takes to launch a restaurant in today’s world. No sugarcoating, just the real, raw reality”. They will launch a Substack newsletter called Club Ginam, which promises paying subscribers “a raw, behind-the-scenes look at the process—step-by-step insights, our black book of contacts, and real, transparent business learnings”. Subscribers will also get access to invite-only tasting sessions, lotteries for free tables, dessert evenings and opening perks. “If you’re a budding business owner, fan of good food, restaurant dreamer, or just intrigued about the process, this is for you. Let’s build something together,” Gill adds. The restaurant is being self funded and has no investors, according to the couple. Gill first met Taiano Llewelyn’s restaurant in London’s Herne Hill when she was pastry chef and he was sous chef. The couple married in May 2023. The new restaurant’s Instagram handle describes the project as: “We’re a husband-and-wife chef duo braving the wild ride of launching our first restaurant in the worst year for restaurants ever.” Whet your appetite with beers from the European UnionPaid for and content provided by European Union Staffing costs rising — how smart hiring solutions are helping UK restaurantsPaid for and content provided by YoungOnes Lost Revenue from Downtime: How It Cripples Your Delivery App Visibility and SalesPaid for and content provided by Deliverect Harp & Harp has won planning consent for ‘Sunnyside’ a contemporary housing development in east London The project will see an existing 1930s bungalow in Chingford demolished and replaced with three two-storey mews houses forming a single terrace The existing L-shaped bungalow on the site a 620m² irregular quadrangle-shaped plot at the end of a row of terraces is ‘an anomaly in the area in terms of overall bulk and architectural style’ ‘taking hints’ from the surrounding 1920s two-storey terraced properties The new three-bedroomed houses will feature a palette of light-red bricks common to the area alongside contrasting black brick plinths and white brick panels to break up the massing the homes will be accessed via a mews path and each unit will have a separate entrance and rear garden including patio space and soft landscaping Approved: Harp & Harp’s ‘Sunnyside’ housing scheme in Chingford The Harp & Harp scheme was unanimously approved by Waltham Forest’s planning committee in December The planning application received 40 objections and complaints that the scheme was out of character with the area and would increase parking stress and traffic Waltham Forest planning officers described the proposal as being of a ‘high quality [which] adequately responds to the urban form of the streetscape positively responding to the area character’ which had been ‘carefully designed to minimise the impact of overlooking and [to protect] privacy’ officers concluded: ‘The proposal would provide a well-designed high-quality residential development which would achieve satisfactory standard of accommodation for future occupants and would not have an adverse impact on neighbouring amenity or highway safety.’ Harp & Harp said it was delighted with the approval after working ‘extensively with both our client and Waltham Forest planners in a collaborative fashion over the last year’ on the project Steven Harp, who co-founded the south London design studio with partner Kayleigh Harp in 2015 added: ‘We look forward to taking the scheme on site to not only deliver much-needed new family housing within London but to also demonstrate further how small sites in London’s outer boroughs can be intensified in a sensitive way to actively enhance their environment while helping to address the housing crisis.’ Harp & Harp’s ‘Sunnyside’ housing scheme in Chingford Tags Tokyo-based architects Kazuyo Sejima and Ryue Nishizawa of SANAA chatted to the… Skyscraper expert SimpsonHaugh has submitted plans for a 50-storey and a 25-storey… MVRDV and Mecanoo are among five finalists vying to design… Squire & Partners has finally won planning Trains will not be able to run for 16 consecutive days while Network Rail replaces a bridge over the railway between Saturday 20 July and Sunday 4 August there will be no London Overground service in either direction between Hackney Downs and Chingford There will also be changes to Greater Anglia and Stansted Express services between London – Hertford East Network Rail’s project is to replace a 150-year-old bridge in Hackney that carries the junction of Downs Park Road and Bodney Road so it needs to be replaced to avoid an unplanned closure and keep passengers and road users moving in future engineers will demolish the old structure and start building the new one railway maintenance is planned at sites up and down the Chingford line as well as cleaning and maintenance at stations Train services will be affected as follows from 20 July – 4 August inclusive: There will be no London Overground trains between Hackney Downs and Chingford This means there will be no rail service to or from Clapton The Enfield Town and Cheshunt lines will have a revised timetable with fewer trains running at peak times and other services retimed Passengers should check before they travel at tfl.gov.uk Liverpool Street to Cambridge / Stansted Airport services will be diverted via Liverpool Street to Cambridge / Stansted Airport services will call at Tottenham Hale as normal Greater Anglia trains that usually run between Liverpool Street and Hertford East will start and finish at Stratford instead these services will be reduced to run every hour The usual Stratford – Meridian Water shuttle services won’t run during the works but other services will make additional stops at Lea Bridge Bishop’s Stortford to Stratford trains will also not operate with passengers advised to use alternative services Trains may leave at different times than normal over the 16 days and journey times may be extended by several minutes Passengers should check before they travel at nationalrail.co.uk, greateranglia.co.uk or stanstedexpress.com Seven Sisters station is expected to be much busier than usual with a one-way system in operation at peak periods Passengers are advised to allow extra time if they need to change trains at the station Seven Sisters station also does not have step-free access For assistance planning a step-free journey Network Rail Anglia infrastructure director said: “Thousands of people travel under and over this bridge every day by rail and road and our project is vital to keeping their future journeys safe and reliable We’re sorry for the disruption this summer but we’ll be working flat out to deliver a replacement bridge that will serve the community for generations to come.” TfL’s general manager for London Overground said: “These Network Rail works are essential to ensure London Overground services can continue to operate safely and reliably for many years to come check before you travel and allow extra time to complete your journey while this work is taking place.” said: “Customers are advised to check before they travel and allow more time for their journeys while this work takes place We would like to thank customers for their patience and understanding while this essential work is carried out.” Work on the bridge has already begun and it is closed to vehicles Train services will also be affected by follow-up works on: to grow and expand the nation's railway network to respond to the tremendous growth and demand the railway has experienced - a doubling of passenger journeys over the past 20 years Several pedestrians and a cyclist have been killed on London’s roads this week News | London A man has been arrested after a woman was killed in the latest tragedy on London’s roads Police were called at around 2.15pm on Thursday to reports of a collision between a car and a pedestrian on Chingford Mount Road in Chingford Although the first London Ambulance crews arrived in six minutes a woman in her 60s sadly died at the scene The crash happened roughly half an hour after a woman in her 70s was found seriously injured on Garratt Lane, Earlsfield The pedestrian is fighting for her life after being hit by an electric bike in south west London at about 1.45pm on Thursday The rider of the e-bike has been arrested on suspicion of causing injury by careless driving, the Metropolitan Police said Hours earlier a female pedestrian died after a hit and run with a car in north west London Police and paramedics were scrambled to Kingsbury Road just before 12.30am on Thursday was treated by medics but died at the scene Detectives are hunting for the driver who hit the woman and failed to stop The crashes come after moving tributes were paid to a cyclist in his 20s who died after being hit by a lorry in south-west London on Saturday A cyclist was also left fighting for their life after a collision with a van in south London last Friday The 50-year-old driver of the van was arrested on suspicion of causing serious personal injury by dangerous driving failing to stop at an accident and being unfit through drink The Met Police told the Standard following the Chingford crash: “Police were called at 14:16hrs on Thursday 7 November to reports of a collision involving a car and a pedestrian on Chingford Mount Road in Chingford “Officers attended with the London Ambulance Service and Air Ambulance “Despite the best efforts of paramedics “Enquiries are underway to notify her next of kin “A man has been arrested in connection with this incident and enquiries remain ongoing.” A London Ambulance Service spokesperson added: “We were called at 2.06pm today (Thursday 7 November) to reports of a road traffic collision at the junction of Norton Close and the A112 Women and children among latest arrivals on small boats crossing Channel Manhunt for crossbow attacker ‘who may have struck again’ in east London Man charged over IED Ulez camera explosion in south-east London What small business owners can learn from athletes an incident response officer and London’s Air Ambulance “The first of our crews arrived in six minutes “Our crews treated a woman at the scene. Sadly, despite the best efforts of emergency services at the scene Anyone with information is asked to call 101 or ‘X’ @MetCC and quote CAD4344/7November You can also provide information anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 VE Day 2025 fashion: best looks from the day VE Day 2025 fashion: Princess of Wales to Lady Victoria Starmer Prince Louis steals the show at VE Day parade as he keeps dad William looking sharp and mimics brother George Prince Louis steals show with sweet antics at VE parade Ukraine 'launches stunning Kursk offensive' in major blow for Putin ahead of Victory Day celebrations Ukraine 'launches stunning Kursk offensive' in blow for Putin David Beckham extends olive branch to son Brooklyn amid 'family feud' Pregnant Jesy Nelson reveals plans for future in message from her hospital bed after surgery Pregnant Jesy Nelson reveals plans for future in message from hospital Boutique Hotelier Heartwood Inns has announced the opening of The Royal Forest in Chingford Essex following a multi-million pound refurbishment The launch marks the first pub with rooms in Essex from Heartwood Inns and its fifth overall The brand is part of Heartwood Collection and sister company to Brasserie Blanc The Royal Forest is a historic public house first opened in 1880 as The Forest Hotel and subsequently renamed The Royal Forest in 1882 following a visit by Queen Victoria two outdoor terraces for up to 90 and 28 individually designed bedrooms throws from The Secret Linen Store and duvets from The Fine Bedding Company Really Fancy and the ultimate – Luxe room – some of which boast roll top baths The Royal Forest has a three star rating from the Sustainable Restaurant Association Dishes include eight hour slow-cooked shoulder of Highland venison served with a rich Grand Veneur sauce blackberries and mash and an artichoke and chestnut mushroom pithivier served with pickled girolles grilled leeks and accompanied by a red wine and port sauce Following the completion of The Royal Forest, Heartwood Collection remains on track to grow to over 60 inns and brasseries by June 2027 with an estate of over 500 bedrooms previously said of the launch: “The Royal Forest is an exciting acquisition for Heartwood as it marks our first pub with rooms in Essex With its excellent transport links and beautiful location close to Epping Forest we are confident this pub will be a fine addition to the local hospitality scene.” Mice and rats were reportedly discovered in the shop in Chingford A Morrisons supermarket in east London has been temporarily closed following a reported rat infestation Tesco bans staff from wearing headphones on shop floor amid customer outcry Aldi mocks Moschino 'celery bag' with 75p real-life bargain Big spenders in London’s five-star hotels ‘gold rush’ ...The Standard podcast Update your home with these easy interior design ideas which is situated near the River Lea and Banbury Reservoir Waltham Forest Council’s food safety and hygiene team said the standard of cleaning in the Chingford Store store was “very poor” and there were “active rat and active mouse infestations” It also pointed to “leaking water” and “localised flooding” within the building The store was shut on Wednesday and a notice was shared on social media A spokesperson for Morrisons said pest control had been brought in and the company hoped to “open again very soon” the council’s cabinet member for community safety He said in a statement: “Under food hygiene regulations the council has served a hygiene emergency prohibition notice to temporarily close the Morrisons store in Chingford We are unable to comment further at this time.” The spokesperson for Morrisons added: “Following a visit from the local council “We have Rentokil on site now to investigate the reported pest issue and hopefully we’ll have the store open again very soon.” No reopening date has been given by either the council or Morrisons Passengers are invited to meet railway managers at a series of events to learn more about how their journeys might be affected by a large-scale bridge replacement Greater Anglia and Network Rail will be available to answer questions and provide travel information about 16 days of changes to services between Saturday 20 July and Sunday 4 August (inclusive) During the 16 days between 20 July and 4 August there will be no London Overground service between Hackney Downs and Chingford stations Greater Anglia services that usually run between Liverpool Street and Hertford East will start and finish at Stratford instead The usual Stratford – Meridian Water services won’t run but other services will make additional stops at both Meridian Water and Northumberland Park Bishop’s Stortford to Stratford services will not operate The changes to rail services are needed because Network Rail will be carrying out a critical stage of a bridge replacement project to the south of Hackney Downs Park The 150-year-old bridge is in very poor condition so it has to be replaced to keep passengers and road users safe Network Rail will be carrying out maintenance at sites up and down the route Engineers will be working on overhead lines as well as improving the condition of the ballast under the tracks To help people get around during the works: Passengers using London Overground’s Enfield Town and Cheshunt lines should also check before they travel as there will be a different timetable on these routes during the 16 days A meet the manager event will be held at Enfield Town station on Wednesday 17 July from 4pm - 6pm Train services will additionally be affected by preparatory and follow-up works on: Your guide to London's culture and transport news and events taking place across the city Published on 8th July 2024 by ianVisits in Transport News Chingford Station at the northern end of the London Overground has two entrances and a proposal to reopen the second entrance has been put on hold The main entrance faces north towards the station car park and bus stops but a smaller second entrance on the southern side was available for people to use an alley if heading towards Beresford Road on the eastern side of the railway the station’s previous management at Greater Anglia closed that second entrance in 2015 following an attack in the alley Reopening the second entrance would save maybe at most a minute or two at most for people using it but it would reduce some peak-hour crowding around the current main entrance There have been calls for the second entrance to be reopened, and Transport for London (TfL) reviewed the costs of doing so In a written response to an enquiry by Emma Best AM the Mayor of London says that the “study showed that current capacity at Chingford Station is sufficient and does not justify opening a second entrance at present.” The study used pre-pandemic passenger numbers which were higher than the current station usage there wasn’t enough use to justify reopening the entrance It’s unlikely that will change any time soon The main issue for TfL is that the second entrance was ungated and only had card validators — so the station suffered from increased fare evasion To reopen the entrance would incur the costs of building a second gateline the Mayor said that: “given this and the fact that the current station layout is sufficient to safely accommodate passenger demand there are currently no plans to open a second entrance Maintaining one main exit means London Overground can provide adequate staffing where needed to ensure safety of passengers.” While it’s not explicitly stated in the report it seems likely that the station would need to be expanded into the alley to create enough space for a new gateline so there’s that cost to consider as well This website has been running now for over a decade, and while advertising revenue contributes to funding the website, it doesn't cover the costs. That is why I have set up a facility with DonorBox where you can contribute to the costs of the website and time invested in writing and research for the news articles It's very similar to the way The Guardian and many smaller websites are now seeking to generate an income in the face of rising costs and declining advertising Whether it's a one-off donation or a regular giver every additional support goes a long way to covering the running costs of this website and keeping you regularly topped up doses of Londony news and facts If you like what you read on here, then please support the website here Would be helpful if they resolved the drainage issues in the alley as it often floods during heavy rainfall TfL have staffing problems at more popular stations that prevent consistent opening of all the entrances (a personal grumble is Aldgate East where the Whitechapel Gallery entrances are often closed in peak periods coupled with the building works near Aldgate Tower entrances cuts off the “desire” line to Altab Ali Park and beyond) So staffing an alternative entrance for a less popular station should be a lower priority anyway The ticket gates do get overloaded whenever a train arrives at peak periods A sensible answer would be to reshape the ticket office Only one is ever in use and even that has only occasional customers So it is unlikely that there would ever be a requirement to have both positions open at the same time So there’s probably room for at least one possibly two more gates all monitored by the same staff member by making the ticket office triangular instead of square and website in this browser for the next time I comment Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" and the latest news published on ianVisits You can unsubscribe at any time from my weekly emails © ianVisits