FULL-TIME offers you an easy way to manage your football leagues online Helpful apps and websites to support leagues and clubs Highgate Albion cruised to a 3-0 victory over North Solihull Athletic in this afternoon's 2024-25 FA Sunday Cup Final at Stadium MK Hamsa Semakula and Excellence Muhemba proved enough to secure the trophy as the London-based outfit etched their name into the competition's history books having previously made it to the Final in 2021-22 when they suffered defeat Chances weren’t hard to come by in the contest as both sides fashioned opportunities throughout the first period Kory Burke came agonisingly close to opening the scoring for North Solihull Athletic failing to latch onto a teasing cross from the left flank The Midlands side would continue to pose a threat with a lung-busting run from full-back Sarn Savery coming close to breaking the deadlock for North Solihull it would be Highgate Albion who opened proceedings courtesy of a deft finish by striker Isaac Stones Following some impressive interchange on the left flank Stones latched onto the end of Teddy Stacey’s cross in the 33rd minute It stunned North Solihull as a minute later a defensive miscommunication allowed Hamsa Semakula to double his side's lead A cool strike from the edge of the box put Highgate in a commanding position heading into the break Starting the second half in the same fashion that they ended the first Highgate came close to making it three but Stones was unable to cleanly connect with a header that would’ve brought him his second of the afternoon placing a golden opportunity just wide after a wonderful run by Excellence Muhemba down the right side And it would be Muhemba himself who applied the finishing touch in the fixture Latching onto a searching ball in the 96th minute he cooly slid the ball underneath the oncoming goalkeeper to all but seal victory for Highgate Substitutes: 16 Theophilus Ofori for Stones 76' Substitutes: 12 Talib Copeland for Eliss 45' Get all the latest football news sent directly to your inbox ‘Dodgy goings on in 1970s London’ ★★★★★ red-eyed presence stalks the streets of London a dodgy bishop and a deluded tobacconist cum demon hunter are forced to work together to track it down despite their antipathy towards each other.  Writers and performers James Demaine and Alexander Knot play a series of characters who encounter the vampire as well as the hapless investigators: Bishop Patrick Sheffield and demon hunter Daniel Farringdon.  action-packed sometimes anarchic show was full of silliness which had the audience giggling and guffawing throughout Demaine and Knot played off each other seamlessly.  The subterranean venue with low ceilings and brick walls was the perfect venue I was sad that they didn’t share the name of the techie as she was as much part of the action as Demaine and Knot Kudos too to Samuel Herron’s sound design Writers and performers: James Demaine & Alexander Knot Original Music & Sound Design by Samuel Heron  Srabani is a theatre actress and playwright As an actress she has performed at the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse (The Globe) The Pleasance and numerous fringe theatres in a range of roles from Shakespeare to plays by new and emerging writers She has written several short and full length plays Her play Tawaif was longlisted for the ETPEP Finborough award and her play Vijaya was shortlisted for the Sultan Padamsee Playwrights Award in Mumbai.  What's on Reviews Articles Theatre News Pub theatre profiles Getting into Theatre SO Award Nominations LPT Award Winners LPT Awards 2022 in pictures Subscribe to Newsletter Advertise with us Getting into theatre Our Team Request a reviewer Contact We are very proud to announce that LONDON PUB THEATRES MAGAZINE is now an OFFIE AWARD WINNING publication A ONEOFF Special Award (February 2024) has been awarded to London Pub Theatres Magazine and Editor Heather Jeffery for providing a vital forum for highlighting the excellent work that happens in rooms in pubs and an acute sense of the importance of tiny fringe venues to the health and development of British Theatre London pub theatres magazine is published in Rickmansworth by London Pub Theatres Magazine Ltd  ISSN 2977-6724  Spring is the season for wholesome outings so here’s the best places to see carpets of pretty bluebells around the capital Lifestyle | Travel Sign up for the best picks from our travel I would like to be emailed about offers, event and updates from Evening Standard. Read our privacy notice As Londoners, we think of ourselves as hardened cynics — but come Spring we all succumb to fawning over all the small things. Case in point: cheery blossom daffodils and bluebells are all over our social feeds right now alongside pictures of the first wallet-wounding corner shop-procured picnic spreads of the season And if it’s bluebells you want to spy (they’re now in season until mid May then we have your guide to where to find them in formation across London They grow wild many places in small numbers but these are the best places to see impressive natural displays It takes them years to grow back if removed This majestic and ancient stretch of woodland which straddles the border between Greater London and Essex Chalet Wood or Strawberry Hill for the best chance to spot them Or try the three-mile Abridge Country Walk known for its displays of bluebells in Great Wood and Apes Grove Helpfully, bluebell areas are signposted in Highgate’s ancient span of woods, and they’re particularly prominent in the northern section. Check out this map to hunt them down on your weekend jaunt Chalet Wood in Wanstead Park offers a lovely bluebell display so much so a poster has been designed to illustrate them bark footpaths are helpfully laid next to the trees Nearest station: Wanstead Park Overground Oxleas Wood in South London’s Eltham is perfect for longer springtime walks Nearest station: Falconwood Rail Station Providing one of the city’s best opportunities for bluebell spotting ancient Old Park Wood is also home to diverse flowers which unite to make a pretty display in spring Ruislip Woods are worth the extra travel time as they’re London's first National Nature Reserve Insiders suggest going via the entrance at the corner of Sherwood Avenue and Broadwood Avenue for a good display of bluebells Nearest station: Ruislip Station, Central Line 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 Some cookies are essential to make our website work we'd like to set other cookies to show us how our website is being used Nominations have opened for the Kendal Highgate Ward by-election for Kendal Town Council The date of this by-election has been rearranged from Thursday 27 March The Notice of Election was published on Thursday 10 April allowing candidates’ time to complete their nomination papers before the deadline of 4pm on Tuesday 22 April.  All other previous candidates remain validly nominated and will be included on the ballot paper The by-election will be held on Tuesday 20 May If you currently live in the Kendal Highgate ward and are registered to vote then you do not need to register your details again or changed address within the ward since responding to the voter registration form you will need to re-register you details before the Thursday 1 May deadline to be eligible to vote in this by-election The easiest way to register to vote is online at www.gov.uk/register-to-vote, or Westmorland and Furness Council can send you information explaining how to do this in the post. Anyone interested in standing, can contact the election teams by email at elections3@westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk Nomination papers can also be obtained from the offices of the Returning Officer at South Lakeland House Completed nomination papers must be returned to the correct office before 4pm on Tuesday 22 April New postal ballots will be issued to all those registered for a postal vote in the Kendal Highgate Ward for this by-election These postal ballot papers will be salmon pink to distinguish them from the white postal ballot papers issued prior to the postponement of the previous election and which should now be discarded The rules for postal voting have now changed and postal voters are encouraged to use the Royal Mail envelope provided with the postal vote pack Anyone returning a postal vote by hand to the Returning Officer must complete a postal vote return form A postal vote returned by hand that is not accompanied by a postal vote return form will be rejected.  There are also new limits on the number of postal votes that can be handed in by one person Electors who wish to hand their postal vote in at the polling stations or designated council offices must complete a postal vote return form for the postal vote to be accepted Postal votes should not be put through the council letter boxes or via internal council mail boxes as these will have to be rejected.  Anyone voting in person will have to show an eligible form of photo ID Anyone without an eligible form of ID can apply for a Voter Authority Certificate (VAC) Applications for a VAC or an Anonymous Elector’s Document valid for these elections must reach the relevant Electoral Registration Officer by 5pm on Monday 12 May.  Applications for a Voter Authority Certificate can be made online www.gov.uk/apply-for-photo-id-voter-authority-certificate   For more information, visit the Westmorland and Furness Council website at www.westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk/voting-and-elections Subscribe today and we'll email you the latest newsletter updates about your new council Choose from a range of topics so that you only receive emails about the areas and services which interest you the most Subscribe to news updates New Help improve this site by giving feedback Only use this form to give us feedback about how the website is working - If you want to tell us about an issue or problem with our services, or you need a response to an issue, please contact us LondonAn old Territorial Army hall has been transformed into an inspiring mixed-used development – workshops refugee accommodation – that’s more than the sum of its parts here it isThis article is more than 2 months oldHighgate but I don’t think it would betray any confidences to report that he called for care craft and joy in the design of new buildings It’s a sentiment with which I and most architects I know would wholeheartedly agree A helpful next step in exploring this shared ground would be to find and celebrate examples where such plainly desirable qualities are achieved Take, for example, a new development in north London called Highgate Newtown Community Centre, that hollows out a calm and engaging public space, lively with architectural detail, while also providing bigger and better facilities for a successful local asset and as many new homes as could be expected on an intricate and complex urban site. The project’s primary aim is to serve Highgate Newtown Community Partners been offering to disadvantaged people such multifarious activities as lunch clubs the new building seeks to enrich the neighbourhood in which it stands The new development builds on the original home of the community partners – an ex-Territorial Army drill hall – and enables them to provide a restaurant and associated catering school an indoor sports pitch and a low-price laundry but flats were added to the brief in order to raise the funds to pay for the whole endeavour using the magic of property values to make up for the lack of public subsidy for such things More homes meant more money meant more space for the community centre Highgate Newtown Centre. Photograph: Jim StephensonThe architects are RCKa a practice recently known for proposals showing how new homes can be built on golf courses and railway station car parks and marginal scraps of land Here they worked out how to achieve roughly double the accommodation that their clients They also had to reconcile the sometimes divergent wishes of many constituencies – both the users of community centre and the neighbours – to which end they engaged with 178 stakeholder groups and sought to explain what they were proposing serious-playful sort of placeThe new project builds on these traditions and forms new connections between one part of the neighbourhood and another and between the users of the centre and other local residents It consists of two four-storey blocks – one containing some flats the other the workshops and studios of the community centre connected at the base by a lower structure containing a hall for performances that expands into a through route crossing the site; on the other side is another block Shapes and territories join and merge with each other: the court serves the community centre and the wider neighbourhood and big windows and glazed doors help the space flow into the hall and a high atrium inside It feels like something carved out of a block brittle sheets of material standard in contemporary construction and the blocks frame generous chunks of sky but the result of plotting the path of the sun and shadows in the process of design and rugged flag-topped boulders of solid stone invite you to sit and lean on them This is a place that allows for several futures. While the project was in progress, the crisis in Afghanistan prompted Camden to make all the housing on the site into temporary accommodation for refugees with the help of funding from the Greater London Authority and central government with a view to keeping it as affordable housing in the long run as a potential meeting space between newly arrived and older residents Little of the above has been easily achieved The development of the Highgate Newtown Community Centre has been more than a decade in the making Covid and the effect on construction prices of the war in Ukraine all making unhelpful contributions The exigencies of budgets and procurement methods make the buildings rough in parts if you’re looking for design that humanises This is the archive of The Observer up until 21/04/2025 The Observer is now owned and operated by Tortoise Media Source: Simon Fraser Hopkins Architects Hopkins Architects has submitted plans for a major overhaul of Highgate Cemetery in north London The practice won a major international competition to restore the 200-year-old Its proposals for the historic site by Highgate Village involve restoring several structures – including its famous entrance – and adding six new ones Hopkins’ series of new and refurbished buildings have been designed alongside landscaping by Gustafson Porter + Bowman accessibility and drainage throughout the cemetery’s sprawling collection of 53,000 graves spanning 15ha The £18 million first stage of the masterplan will be part-funded by the Friends of Highgate Cemetery Trust which maintains the cemetery and facilitates safe managed public access and part-funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund from which the Trust hopes to secure funding of over £6.6million A planning application was submitted to Camden Council in December Highgate Cemetery designs by Hopkins: Community and Education building According to a design and access statement the cemetery’s existing Dissenters’ Chapel and South Lodge buildings would be refurbished with ‘sensitive modern insertions in timber and metal’ New buildings would include a visitors centre and gardeners building an education and community building with a ‘characterful slate roof’ and a ‘utilitarian’ utility building designed to disappear behind the site’s boundary wall The design and access statement says all new buildings would use a ‘restrained palette’ of materials and forms The external walls of most of the proposed additions would comprise ‘a layered aggregated concrete [using] recycled materials from the cemetery’ for robustness and to match the cemetery’s boundary walls Hopkins won the cemetery restoration job more than three years ago The competition was organised by Artelia UK on behalf of the Friends of Highgate Cemetery Trust It sought an architect-led multidisciplinary design team to preserve and enhance historic structures across the Grade I-registered site poet Christina Rossetti and author George Eliot Gustafson Porter + Bowman won a separate competition to create the landscape masterplan Hopkins is leading a design team that includes conservation specialist West Scott Architects and building services engineer Skelly & Couch Friends of Highgate Cemetery Trust chief executive Ian Dungavell said the cemetery was ‘battling the effects of climate change He said: ‘We have set out our plans for the next 25 years We will conserve the fragile historic structures and improve biodiversity while retaining the tranquillity of this special place The project will improve facilities for staff and visitors at the cemetery, which also features Craig Hamilton Architects’ 2018 Golhammer Sepulchre and adjoins John Winter’s 1967 Winter House Highgate Cemetery opened in 1839 as a private enterprise offering a captivating landscape where wealthy Londoners could be buried which holds the remains of around 170,000 people was partially abandoned in the 1970s and saved from dereliction by Friends of Highgate Cemetery 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 was featured on Channel 4 and has made Rightmove’s top 10 most-viewed properties for four years in a row Luxury In the first episode of Britain’s Most Expensive Houses agents from Sotheby’s International Realty gather for an “urgent meeting” about how to sell Heathfield House: a futuristic 18,239 sq ft property in Highgate with a £40 million price tag but it would take a very particular type of buyer — one with very deep pockets the house had already been on the market for two years The house has a swimming pool, full spa facilities, a glass lift and a tennis court, and was one of Rightmove’s top 10 most-viewed properties for four years YouTube video tours of the property have more than 200,000 views a leafy street which slopes down from Highgate West Hill towards Hampstead Heath The sprawling property is hidden behind a wooden gate tree-lined driveway and set in two acres of private grounds “You cannot see this house from the street who is now director and head of residential sales at Robert Irving Burns “All you see is the brown electric gates.” with a glass canopy over the entrance and a towering glass column containing the house’s stairwell with its glass windows and manicured hedges has a curved façade: half modern Colosseum Separate to the house is five-car garage and self-contained was built by a Russian-born businessman in 2002 who demolished the vacant house and guest cottage which originally stood on the site “They wanted to make an architectural statement,” says Trevor Abrahmsohn of Glentree Estates who has also been appointed to find a buyer They didn’t want to build something mundane They wanted it to be much more avant-garde.” The planning application to build a new house on the site was first approved in 1997 and five years before the businessman bought the plot with adjustments still being made to the property and grounds until 2011 “They wanted to make an architectural statement who had a confidentiality clause in their contract said that once enabling works were completed an overseas firm was brought in to take the project forward which included the building’s interior design Power said: “The exterior of the completed building differs in several significant ways from our initial design.” An East German project management company were employed to oversee the work “The East German project managers had run into real difficulties with planning and building regulations compliance and Nick [Phillips] had tasked me with getting involved and steering these aspects of the project to a successful outcome,” says Steven Bushell “There were also several PR presentations carried out by B&P for the local neighbourhood as there were issues with construction traffic the scale and massing of the house and loss of several trees.” the finished product has 10 bedrooms — five in the main house; five in the guest lodge — and nine bathrooms Abrahmsohn describes it as a “cross between a country estate and a townhouse” “This has all the trappings of luxury in one place – you don’t have to go anywhere else,” he says On the lower ground floor is the games room “The swimming pool is probably the biggest indoor pool I’ve ever come across,” says Koffman “It’s got glass panels leading out to the garden The lower ground floor leisure facilities are the best I’ve ever seen.” A huge reception room occupies most of the ground floor with a double-height ceiling in the entrance hall with a study and roof terrace with views over London above All four storeys are serviced by a glass lift in the middle of the building there is a tennis court and landscaped gardens The lower ground floor leisure facilities are the best I’ve ever seen,” says Koffman with the materials he used: the fantastic marble and onyx; the glass lift which is over two acres of land in prime Highgate it’s not overlooked by any neighbouring houses at all That was important to him and will be equally important to any incoming purchaser.” Heathfield House hit the market in 2019 with a £40 million price tag. Since then, like many other London mega-mansions it has had two price reductions: first to £35 million and though it is also marketed with The Agency Group and Abrahmsohn is also looking for a buyer Koffman has taken a “proactive” approach to selling “We’ve had celebrities take an interest in it because of its privacy.” he is liaising with his client about hosting a supercar launch party at the house “It could be that one of those people will go: I like the car as well as continued interest from prospective buyers “We’ve had Eastern Europeans take an interest in it We’ve had celebrities take an interest in it because of its privacy Koffman and Abrahmsohn both believe that the house is likely to sell to a wealthy overseas buyer — possibly a family who are attracted to the private schools nearby and access to the capital “Someone that is very high profile: celebrity city banker — I think that’s going to be the demographic of buyer,” says Koffman But selling a property like Heathfield House comes with its own set of challenges Buyers with £40 million in their pockets do not come round every day according to a report by Beauchamp Estates with the super-rich increasingly choosing to rent in London stringent anti-money laundering regulation and rising interest rates are all contributing factors “We’re looking for a niche buyer that loves a contemporary “It’s a multitude of different things,” says Koffman would prefer the property’s 18,000 sq ft of space to be spread over one house “I think that’s probably put some people off because they wanted eight or nine bedrooms in a single house.” Then there is the personalised interior design That’s the challenge that we’ve faced to date in terms of the price point versus what someone feels that they would need to do to the property We’re looking for a niche buyer that loves a contemporary “In order to want to pay the money for this property the new owner needs to be comfortable with what’s there You’re not selling a site which needs redeveloping or a house that needs refurbishing Buying agent Jo Eccles of Eccord says that there are still big budget buyers around with an appetite for trophy homes in London “We’ve seen some impressive trophy homes change hands in the past two to three years,” she says “Clients at this price range tend to want [a property] in prime central London quintessentially British country estate…The challenge with Heathfield House is that it’s neither of those.” the scrapping of non-dom status and high interest rates are pushing buyers towards “safer” purchases “We are seeing a flight to quality – we see that whenever the market is uncertain says she is yet to receive a brief that would match Heathfield House so anyone coming in would most likely want to do work or personalise it they’re looking at an exceptionally large refurbishment A lot of people don’t want to do that – particularly internationals.” these buyers do have the budget for renovations despite the rising cost of construction and materials they are more property-driven and less numbers constrained…For the right property their budget is normally always flexible,” says Eccles Eccles also expects the Heathfield House to sell to a wealthy international buyer with a family and believes the most recent price reduction will encourage the sale I can definitely see that there will be appetite for the house It’s now more sensibly priced…It’s an amazing space and would gear itself up very well for a family travelling with significant staff for a £40 million property to spend four-and-a-half years on the market you can’t really put a timer on it,” says Koffman Eccles agrees: “It can take a really long time to sell Then you’re on the back foot because it’s no longer this fresh which collects property data on prime central London (this does not include Highgate) the number of transactions in the £25m-£40m price range is “tiny” representing just 0.05% of all sales it records over a five-year period it is “nigh on impossible” to calculate an average length of time that it would take a property of this price to sell who says his “ability to close a deal is legendary” has had dealt with properties which have taken more than 10 years to sell You don’t measure the saleability by the speed at which it sells It takes time to find the right foot for this precious slipper.” “It will slip from one ownership to the other in the middle of the night which is how both sides of the equation prefer it.” “[The owner] is certainly not in a position where he needs to sell it,” says Koffman and he doesn’t necessarily want to release the asset and give it away while Abrahmsohn says he is “working on two lines of interest” “The public at large probably won’t know anything about it It will slip from one ownership to the other in the middle of the night which is how both sides of the equation prefer it The 10-bedroom house is now on the market for £65 million with Knight Frank 9.582 sq ft apartment overlooking the Palace of Westminster set in a Grade II, 1920s building. Has a stunning roof terrace with 360 degree views across all the classic London landmarks. Been on sale with Sotheby’s for over a year The most unusual property sales of 2024 — from a lighthouse to a nuclear bunker See inside the most viewed homes on the London property market The secrets of selling London's £40m homes: inside the world of ultra high-end property deals Investigation finds staff failed to properly check on 46-year-old found dead at psychiatric unit Wednesday, 23rd April — By Tom Foot AN internal investigation into the death of a man in a secure psychiatric unit has warned of a “series of missed opportunities” in making sure he was kept safe was admitted to Highgate Mental Health Centre as a suicide risk but was not checked on every hour as was required under clear regulations At some points he was mistaken to be sleeping during monitoring rounds including by one nurse who cleaned the room and left fresh bed linen as he lay dead on his bed The case comes at the time of an ethical debate about whether digital surveillance technology of inpatient rooms – abandoned following an outcry over privacy – should be reinstated Mr J’Dourou’s mother Maria told the New Journal: “We thought he’d be safe there – and we were all so happy when he went in because we thought he’d get through it and come out well who grew up around Tufnell Park and went to Acland Burghley secondary school lived with his wife Nicola in St Albans Villas he was described by his family as a “cheeky” man with an infectious laugh and a slick dresser with a love of fast cars Nicola recalled her first date with Nick and “seeing this massive big smile and thinking She said they had laughed a lot together over the years when he began to go downhill after his anti-psychotic medication stopped working doctors tinkered with his prescriptions – in a process called “titration” – that his family said had a severe impact on his mood and behaviour But it was almost like what we were saying was irrelevant.” having torn a strip from his pillow case or bedding one week after being admitted to the low-security Opal ward He had repeatedly asked to be moved to Coral ward The NHS internal investigation said Mr J’Dourou’s “suicidal risk was not fully explored” and his care plan “lacked vital information” about his history was “vague” It said that a policy of ensuring patients are breathing during welfare checks had not been followed by staff who “appeared mainly task-focused” and showed “no attempt to go above and beyond” staff had been “dishonest and negligent” when they filled out monitoring forms “retrospectively” with inaccurate information It said: “The review also found that staff also did not carry out some of the checks as revealed on the CCTV despite recording this on the general observations form as done.” In a witness statement to a coroner’s inquest earlier this year one ward nurse opened a window to the stress NHS workers are under due to funding cutbacks from central government They said: “I was preoccupied with how I was going to manage the ward that day knowing that there were only two support workers that morning instead of three The tight schedule weighed heavily on my mind leading me to rush through whatever I was supposed to do that morning with the serious consequence I am now faced with.” St Pancras assistant coroner Richard Brittain said: “Mr J’Dourou should have been observed by ward staff on an hourly basis This did not happen on several occasions on the morning of his death.” in a Prevention of Future Deaths report sent to the North London NHS Foundation Trust (NLFT) raised what he described as the “complex issue” of the lack of digital monitoring of mental health patients “Vision-based patient-monitoring systems” – which use infra-red to monitor breathing pulse and movement – were trialled on Camden mental health wards in Camden But the system was abandoned in 2019 following an outcry from privacy campaigners who argued there were issues of “sexual safety” from patients who had not granted consent A divisive debate is ongoing in the NHS about whether digital surveillance should be used on mental health wards with some trusts using it and others refusing to A North London NHS Foundation Trust spokesperson said: “We were saddened by Mr J’Dourou’s death and reiterate our sincere condolences to his family we are consistently open to working with partners across the health and care system to improve how we care for vulnerable people including learning from any death of someone impacted by mental ill health.” Having started during lockdown in Crouch End and now with a fully fledged bakery there and in Islington the North London baker Sophia Handschuh and her husband Jesse Sutton-jones are gearing up to open their third place The pair revealed the location of their next bakery in a cryptic post on Instagram asking followers if they could work out where it was And it took fans a few hours to track it down to Highgate Specifically they're taking over the space that used to be The Creamery ice cream shop It's a road that's becoming quite the foodie wayfare with a fishmongers from London Shell Co a proper deli in Superette and a good butchers in Meat N6 "This location is a pretty special one for Jesse and myself," said Sophia "as this was our home turf when I first moved to London before we lived in Crouch End and we spent many a weekend strolling around here and enjoying the local park and beautiful views of London in our early 20s!" If you haven't been to one of her other two bakeries but we're also big fans of their patisserie in particular their cereal milk cookies Find out more: Visit their website or follow them on Instagram @sourdoughsophia Subscribe to be the first to get the news from Hot Dinners Please enable the javascript to submit this form By signing up you agree to our privacy policy View on Google maps About us  |  Contact Us  |  RSS Feed  |  Site directory  |  Privacy policy  |  Log in/out Join 50,000 other Londoners getting exclusive news and restaurant offers from Hot Dinners. Please enable the javascript to submit this form By signing up you agree to our privacy policy See our previous newsletters here Care Home Professional KYN has announced it will begin construction on a new London care home in Highgate in July 2025 Following established homes in Hurlingham and Bickley the property is set to welcome residents in early 2028 KYN says it aims to create a ‘sense of belonging for its residents’ through its developments while ‘providing social value and enrichment to the area’ through this £30m project the project will convert two former residential buildings on Hampstead Lane adjacent to Kenwood House The new design adopts a ‘contemporary arts and crafts approach inspired by key figures of the movement particularly the collaboration between architect Edwin Lutyens and landscape architect Gertrude Jekyll,’ according to the developers The building will feature two separate brick homes connected by a lightweight glass link This architectural feature invites ‘increased connectivity to the gardens and local surroundings for the residents on upper floors’ the KYN Highgate site will include 61 bedrooms with elegant interiors it will feature facilities and social areas including ‘The Great Room’ (KYN’s central shared dining room) a ‘Namaste Care’ room for residents living with dementia The variety of spaces will include large areas for ‘socialising and entertaining’ This layout design creates a ‘sense of community while providing residents with peaceful retreats enhancing overall comfort and wellbeing,’ KYN revealed Residents’ rooms are said to ‘blend the highest comfort with discreet By integrating advanced AI into its care model KYN says it ‘ensures unobtrusive care monitoring that maintains privacy and dignity for residents whilst also freeing up carers to spend more one-on-one time with residents to meet core needs’ connection and care’ will be designed in partnership with landscape designer Randle Siddeley The retreat will feature a ‘secret garden offering a ‘sanctuary for relaxation healing and a deeper connection with nature.’ Individual support will be provided by a team of nurses Menus are ‘curated by Michelin awarded chefs with nutritional guidance from a BANT registered clinical nutritionist,’ KYN says group origination & development director “KYN Highgate is typical of the flexibility of sites we consider and take through the planning system to construction and completion We continue to actively source new development opportunities in and around central London both new build opportunities and buildings fit for conversion.” says: “KYN’s vision is to create care homes where our own mothers and fathers – our KYN – would be happy to live Our aim is to reimagine and transform what later life looks like and reframe standards in this category.” and website in this browser for the next time I comment The most complete Roman pottery kiln found in Greater London will be put on public display for the first time since it was discovered by archaeologists in 1968 Thanks to a £243,550 grant from the National Lottery Heritage Fund one of the country’s best-preserved Roman artefacts has been carefully restored and will be unveiled at 11am on Sunday 1 September 2024 as part of the annual Highgate Wood Community Heritage Day The event – organised by the City of London Corporation which manages Highgate Wood as a registered charity – will include the firing of a replica kiln along with guided walks a children’s Roman-themed woodland adventure workshop The original kiln will be on display in the Information Hut as part of a temporary exhibition with further renovations to create a Visitor Centre and activities planned over the next few years Chair of the City Corporation’s Hampstead Heath the pieces of this extraordinary find have been inaccessible to the public.“Now thanks to the Friends of Highgate Roman Kiln it has been possible to bring this piece of history back to life It will be the only pottery kiln of its kind to be exhibited anywhere in the country “The return of the kiln to Highgate Wood is a wonderful achievement we’ll be transforming the Information Hut into more of a Visitor Centre to create a welcoming and engaging learning environment We’ll also be adding replica kiln firings to our calendar of activities and events.” Nick Peacey from The Friends of Highgate Roman Kiln said:“The Highgate Wood Heritage Day marks an important milestone for the Firing London’s Imagination project “We’re delighted that Graham Taylor of Potted History will be in charge of firing the replica kiln and our ambition to inspire people of all ages and backgrounds to engage with and enjoy the story of the Highgate Roman kilns will be that much closer to being fulfilled.”The Deputy Leader of Haringey Council added“With Haringey gearing up to be the London Borough of Culture in 2027 it’s fantastic that the newly restored Roman kiln is making a long-awaited return to its rightful place after a 56-year absence the kiln will be another great tourist attraction and I’d encourage everyone to come along to the Highgate Community Heritage Day and see this incredible historic artefact for themselves “The return of this Roman kiln has been achieved by the council working in close collaboration with residents “I’d like to thank staff at the Bruce Castle Museum and Archive the City of London Corporation and the National Lottery Heritage Fund for their commitment and support in making this possible.” The kiln is thought to be the last built by Roman potters who worked in Highgate Wood between 50CE and 160CE to supply Londinium and southeast England with distinctive ‘Highgate Ware’ pottery located in the London Borough of Haringey in north London and is protected by the City of London Corporation It has won the prestigious Green Flag Award every year since the scheme was launched in 1996 recognising it as one of the best managed open spaces in the world It has also received Green Heritage Award status for its historic features and high standard of conservation.The City of London Corporation manages a network of 11,000 acres of internationally important open spaces across London and southeast England investing over £38m a year.Many of these sites are run as registered charities at little or no cost to the communities they serve and are protected from being built on by special legislation Highgate Wood Community Heritage Day takes place between 11am and 4pm on Sunday 1 September 2024 and is free to attend There will be stalls selling local produce including the North London Beekeepers who have hives in the Wood; crafts from artists at Muswell Creatives; nature activities from Heath Hands; and a dog show There are plenty of restaurant operators who like to keep all their businesses close to each other - think Tom Kerridge in Marlow or Rick Stein in Cornwall popular pub landlord Heath Ball is hoping to follow in their footsteps Heath owns the super-popular (and our own personal favourite drinking hole) the Red Lion & Sun in Highgate but has just taken on a new pub less than 200 yards away From November he'll be the owner of The Angel Inn in Highgate Village It's a historical site - there's been an inn here since at least the 17th century - and the current pub was a favourite hangout of the Monty Python crew who used to write their sketches there "While I’m not looking to become the Rick Stein of Highgate having a second site will give me the option to try some new things like a breakfast and brunch menu," he says "as I don’t have capacity at the Red for that." The Red Lion & Sun is currently No 6 in the Estrella Damm Top 50 Gastropub list so as you might imagine it's a hard place to get a table at sometimes option down the road to send people to which will still have a great food and drink offer Heath will get the keys to his latest pub in early November (he also has the Lockhart in Haywards Heath He'll run it until the New Year as it is before closing it for a major refurb He'll then relaunch with the new and refreshed menu using "the same quality suppliers as The Red Lion and Sun" When does it open? Reopens 4 November 2024 Find out more: Follow them on Instagram @theangeln6 View on Google maps Your guide to London's culture and transport news and events taking place across the city Published on 19th December 2024 by ianVisits in Architecture The Friends of the cemetery have shown off plans for a major upgrade of Highgate Cemetery’s visitor facilities as the cemetery approaches its bicentennial year the Cemetery is kept alive by the admission charges of some 100,000 people who visit each year and the continuing sale of graves the Friends of Highgate Cemetery Trust have embarked on a programme to improve access backed by a seven-year £18 million award from the National Lottery Heritage Fund Apart from investing in the unseen upgrades—such as improved drainage for the woodlands and improved walking routes around the cemetery—a new visitor centre and education buildings will also be added to the main entrances to make it easier for groups to visit and learn about the cemetery The seven-year plan will mainly focus on restoring the grand entrance area and adding extra visitor facilities while preserving it as a place people want to visit when alive and stay in when dead The plans are now with Camden Council for approval then now is not a bad time to do so as winter is an excellent time for a wander around with the mists and damp leaves creating a very atmospheric visit The cemetery is also open for the interregnum between Christmas and New Year if you want to walk off the turkey and port and they ask that visitors respect the privacy of those visiting graves by moving away from the area and keeping noise to a minimum They also ask that you don’t take photographs of recent graves or of anyone visiting them which is perfectly sensible advice when visiting any cemetery Tickets cost £10 for adults, and £5 for children (8-17) or free for children aged 7 and under — and need to be booked in advance from here. The price also includes entry into the East Cemetery — that’s the one with Karl Marx in it The cemetery entrance is about a 15-20 minute walk from Archway or Highgate tube stations on the Northern line They hand out a map and guide if you’re dead-celeb hunting but otherwise amble around getting delightfully lost in the winding paths Wear decent shoes for walking in the countryside with decent tread on the sole (no smooth soles) as some of the slopes can be slippery when wet There’s a toilet in the East Cemetery if needed and entry to the East Cemetery is part of the ticket price head south down Swain’s lane to see the oddest housing estate ever looking more like a council estate built in mock-Tudor blocks 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 Great to read the news of the National Lottery Heritage Fund 18M Pound contribution to the Friends of Highgate Cemetery It would be helpful to have a visitor centre providing more complete information on those buried in the cemetery and their tombs Lets hope the proposed works respect and maintain the Victorian character of this amazing cemetery or to add new structures that do not fit well “It would be helpful to have a visitor centre providing more complete information” a new visitor centre and education buildings will also be added to the main entrances to make it easier for groups to visit and learn about the cemetery Also worth mentioning that the old building will be restored (new spires etc) Also worth mentioning that the old building will be restored (new spires etc) 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 Formally part of the Bishops of London hunting estate, the 83 acres of leafy, parkland that make up Highgate Golf Club are proving no match for the quick and effective leaf clearance offered by a GKB Leaf Reducer Course Manager Russell Ling was looking for a sustainable solution to the time-consuming task when he discovered the GKB machine – which has eliminated the need to collect and dispose of the waste in exchange for delivering all-important nutrients back into their roughs Managing the leaf fall from the many large oak trees which line the Highgate course has been a mammoth annual task for Russell areas once designated for leaf piles were either being re-allocated for new purposes or becoming increasingly inaccessible due to the wetter winters “I saw the Leaf Reducer on the GKB stand at BTME and could immediately see how it could solve multiple problems for us,” Russell explains “After a demonstration I had no doubt it was the way to go.” The unit was delivered by GKB’s Tom Shinkins and local dealer Ernest Doe at the beginning of September – in time for the new leaf fall season Russell adds: “We have a blower working out in front We then pass over with the Leaf Reducer which mulches the leaves into such fine particles that you can hardly see where the leaves had been In addition to leaving a clean and tidy finish it also provides some additional nutrients back into areas which we wouldn’t usually feed.” the Leaf Reducer uses paddles to lift the leaves and a combination of turbines and milling blades to finely process the leaf waste converting it into fine mulch before redistributing it back to the surface Eliminating landfill costs and significantly reducing C02 emissions it offers a sustainable alternative to leaf collection for local authorities parks managers and greenkeepers maintaining off-play areas around the golf course.   “Tom has been brilliant throughout the purchase process and spent the time to ensure the whole team got to grips with the machine A few weeks in and it’s already proving itself to be a great purchase it’ll be out everyday to keep on top of all the leaves.” Russell concludes “It’ll become one of our most used machines and one of the most important for retaining both presentation and playability as we host more and more golf through the autumn and winter months.”  Stewart Golf has expanded its range of golf bags with the launch of the all-new NEXAS Hybrid bag and an upgraded version of its popular NERO Cart bag La Reserva Club in Sotogrande has completed significant upgrades to its sports facilities further enhancing the range and quality of recreational experiences available for members and guests Golf Ireland and Bridgestone are to continue their commercial partnership with the leading tyre company extending its sponsorship of the Bridgestone Tours which have recently begun their 2025 schedule of events for men and women GolfBusinessNews.com (GBN) is for the many thousands of people who work in the golf business all around the world We cover the full range of topics both on and off the course We aim to supply essential information both quickly and accurately in a format which is easy to use We are independent of all special interest groups Click here to sign up for our free twice weekly golf industry news summary View the latest newsletter here 5/7 High StreetDorchester-on-ThamesOxfordshire OX10 7HHUnited Kingdom publisher@golfbusinessnews.com © 1999-2025 e.GolfBusiness.com Limited | All Rights Reserved. | GBN Privacy Policy Highgate today announced the appointment of Ben Thomas as Chief Operating Officer for Europe Thomas will oversee Highgate's operations across Europe and optimize performance across its expanding portfolio Thomas served as Chief Operating and Commercial Officer at Penta Hotels leading operational and commercial functions for the international brand and operator including a portfolio of 16 hotels across Europe and Asia he began as Cluster General Manager in Birmingham and Derby and subsequently served as Regional General Manager UK and Chief Commercial Officer while working his way up to Chief Operating and Commercial Officer Thomas also served as Cycas Hospitality's Chief Operating Officer for the UK and Ireland he held General Manager roles across the UK including positions at Village Hotels and Millennium & Copthorne Hotels The Inspiration for Pub Success Since 1794 24-Oct-2024 Last updated on 25-Oct-2024 at 08:02 GMT The latest addition to the group is the Angel Inn Ball’s plan is to close the site for seven to 10 days once he has the keys before opening for light trading Thursday to Sunday in mid-November a former Mitchells & Butler managed site which Ball has now taken on a 10-year lease will then close for a refurbishment where Ball envisages it to have a “more urban the Angel will be open from 7.30am until 11pm Monday to Friday It will serve food all day including a breakfast and brunch offer – something that isn’t on offer at Ball’s other sites Ball told The Morning Advertiser: “It makes sense on so many levels We’re bursting at the seams at the Red Lion & Sun and it’s not possible to do a breakfast/brunch offer there due to capacity I want to do a pub locally that’s more relaxed and not so tightly wound as the Red Lion & Sun The operator, who is also a co-host of The Morning Advertiser's almost award-winning Lock In podcast, outlined how despite, current macro-economic challenges, he has learned from previous experience about opening a site during a tumultuous financial environment. He said: “Since I have been in business, we have always had challenges. I took the Red Lion & Sun before the 2008 financial crisis, it wasn’t easy but I believe it’s about choosing your battles and not rushing in.” The fact the Angel is just down the road from the Red Lion & Sun means the new addition can be a ‘sister’ site, Ball highlighted. “[It’s] economies of scale, it makes sense on every level. We turn away so much, business at the Red Lion & Sun. It’s good to have another option, just ask Tom Kerridge , Rick Stein etc. “It will be the sister pub to the Red Lion & Sun as I’d like to think it will be more relaxed, with a no booking policy (which I may change my mind later on). I want it to be more casual, less stress.” Looking ahead, Ball revealed his future plans for further growth and if there were plans for more sites. “Always, but I’m more about quality not quantity. I don’t want to bite off more than I can chew,” he added. The Great British Pub - with a twist!09-Oct-2024By Ed BedingtonThe Lock In team take a look at the wide ranging cultural influences that are shaping the traditional pub environment from Irish bars to pubs with a Norwegian twist - what makes pubs such appealing melting pots? Operators 'taxed to death' & urge Gov to 'maintain status quo'25-Sep-2024By Felicity GilesUKHospitality (UKH) has called for "urgent solutions" in order to tackle the potential rising business costs throughout the hospitality industry in 2025. Operators report sales uplift during heatwave13-Aug-2024By Felicity GilesFollowing rising temperatures over recent days, The Morning Advertiser spoke with operators to see how the warm weather impacted trade. Quench your Thirst with Beers from the European UnionPaid for and content provided by European Union View this post on Instagram A post shared by The Red Lion and Sun (@theredlionandsun) More from this author That was the question keeping Patrick Cozier awake at night as he awaited publication of a critical newspaper article about Highgate Wood School back in 2009 where he had worked as head for three years facing industrial action and exam results were sliding Cozier’s face was pictured on the front page With three young children at the time he was contemplating quitting the sector he loved a postal worker who had come to London from Barbados Either walk away or dig your heels in and do it.” He’s now been head at Highgate Wood and spends his spare time coaching and mentoring other school leaders to overcome such turbulent moments Cozier used that pivotal moment to make some bold decisions that he’d been reluctant to take “struggling” year 11 teachers were moved to different classes and retrained He had been “overly worried” about the impact this would have on them Ofsted returned in 2011 and rated the school ‘good’ knowing “it could have been a very different tale” The “North Londoner born and bred” has now come to embody his school in unexpected ways He has a distinctive gold tooth (he lost a front tooth after a friend elbowed him in the mouth in a primary school swimming lesson) When his pupils were asked to design a mural representing their community they made its central feature a mouth with gold teeth as it was “symbolic of them and their school” While he sees being black and having a gold tooth as a “stereotype,” he’s “been fighting stereotypes my whole life” And looking “a bit odd” helps pupils “relate to me more” Cozier was stopped and searched “more times than I could count” despite never having carried a weapon or stolen anything Cozier said the suspicion of others “starts to make you behave as if you are guilty even though you know you’re not because you’re anticipating it” This meant that if someone who looked “vulnerable” was walking towards him he’d often “cross the road to avoid making them feel uncomfortable” because I was taking their feelings into account But I fundamentally believe that I should never have had to do it.” Cozier’s love of learning comes from his older sister but as a young teen Cozier saw the route as “for posh people He changed his mind when his favourite teacher at the “struggling” Langham School in Tottenham he attended told him that “if you don’t go to university He says: “What we say as trusted adults really does matter sometimes in profound ways that we don’t acknowledge at the time” Cozier was one of only three pupils to stay on for A-levels causing the entire sixth form to be disbanded Instead he attended Fortismere School in Muswell Hill Cozier “struggled” with feeling “out of place” Whereas his former common room had “some old staff chairs and a kettle in the corner” a ghetto blaster and table tennis” and students were served “teas But they “moaned all the time about their facilities” which Cozier found “really challenging” and planned to quit who said: “There are plenty of jobs in Tesco – go stack shelves” and started teaching at Southfields School (now Southfields Academy) in South London which had been relaunched and renamed Park View Academy He then joined Highgate Wood as deputy head in 2006 and was made head the following year It was a “scary” career rise which happened “quicker than I was comfortable with” He also ruffled feathers with his governors Highgate Wood sits in an area Cozier describes as “affluent” and ‘artsy” with pockets of deprivation He felt the school was “very much geared towards the middle classes” and “very relaxed to the point where it wasn’t serving the needs of children who needed a bit more.” and Cozier disliked how children congregated in “obvious groups based upon how they were dressed” It took him three years to convince governors but a survey showing overwhelming support from parents meant uniforms were introduced (despite a “vocal minority” of parents seeing him as the “devil incarnate”) There are also the occasional fallouts with Haringey Council over admissions and SEND but “at every point” he reminds them “there are not many of us local authority schools left Cozier is doing his bit to influence government policy He sits on the Headteachers’ Roundtable policy group and was part of the Beyond Ofsted inquiry which recommended scrapping one-word judgements But he was particularly irked by the former government’s low-key announcement to “ban” mobile phones. His school insists phones are switched off during lessons but Cozier has not mandated a ban because “there are children whose parents need to be in contact with them on the way to school” some parents are “trying to force the school” to go further It links to a wider concern he has about the growing number of parents who “never accept the end point” in a complaint “even though we’ve exhausted everything… it becomes quite vexatious in nature” He also believes that Covid left a “really difficult” legacy of strained relationships between staff and pupils which his school has done extensive work around rebuilding He puts tensions down to how schools had to behave bubbles and kids being sent home if they tested positive” left “staff on edge” Cozier’s own relationships with staff are not always easy; tight budgets led him to embark on a restructure which recently resulted in pay cuts for a handful of staff and prompted strike action When Cozier became head in 2006 he says there were only 11 black male secondary head teachers from a Caribbean background in the country Most of the spaces Cozier occupies are “still mostly white and middle class” A large proportion of those he coaches are from ethnic minority backgrounds and he also provides coaching sessions for ‘Leaders like Us’ a programme run by the Church of England which helps ethnic minority senior leaders progress into headship His private coaching work is done over Zoom in the evenings which “doesn’t always go down well with the missus” Sessions sometimes feel “more like counselling than coaching” was being undermined by the school’s owners Cozier helped them reach the conclusion they needed to quit Whereas Cozier initially joined the education sector believing his “life purpose was giving children opportunities” he’s learned through coaching that he derives “a lot of fulfilment from supporting people – not just children.” he reflects that he was guilty of “awfulizing” – where “the small stuff is magnified in your brain to see everything as a catastrophe” He’s realised that the secret of success as a head is to be “more resilient deal with imposter syndrome and embrace the difficulty of leadership” you don’t waste a lot of time lamenting the fact that it’s hard You just stay focused on finding solutions.” Richmond and Hillcroft Adult & Community College IPPR associate director Avnee Morjaria has taught inclusion and being mission-driven from Steve Chalke's life and work the Ofsted team tasked with tackling illegal schools speaks about the horrors they have witnessed,.. When University Technical Colleges launched in 2010 they were hailed as the solution needed to propel young people to.. Ask most people what they know about the Old Kent Road and they’ll probably tell you it’s the cheapest.. NASBTT chief executive Emma Hollis tells Schools Week about guiding providers through the ‘bruising’ ITT review Become a subscriber and stay up to date with the latest breaking news and industry discussion Website by Creative Sponge Camden’s much loved Highgate library has now reopened following an innovative project to radically reduce the carbon emissions from the Edwardian building while also ensuring the venue is more comfortable for library users Camden’s libraries are rightly praised as focal points for our residents across the borough join community activities or seek information Our investment at Highgate Library has once again demonstrated our commitment to our library service whilst also delivering on our climate ambition The library reopened on Tuesday 19 November and we will be sharing more details about some exciting opening celebrations in the near future The library required extensive works with many of its services and infrastructure in need of replacement which as well as making visiting less enjoyable also led to high levels of heat loss from the building We have committed to do all that we can to help radically decarbonise Camden by 2030 we want to cut carbon emissions from our own buildings and operations This collaboration with the Friends of Highgate Library at the historic Grade II listed building shows how heritage and energy conservation can go hand in hand “Our holistic approach to this project has been balanced with need to protect and preserve the grade II listed status of the library “By undertaking this work and removing the existing gas boilers along with introducing renewable energy sources we believe that the building can achieve net-zero emissions with the rooftop solar panels producing as much energy over the year as is needed This is particularly impressive as the library is a 118-year-old building This is the second such project for the council following retrofit works at the Grade II listed Swiss Cottage library “The project is also predicted to make significant savings to the library’s running costs of more than £17,000 a year whilst also delivering annual carbon savings of 33 tonnes of CO2e.” The Friends of Highgate Library (FOHL) said: has chosen not to cut its library services but has instead adopted a policy of investment in this valuable resource “At Highgate Library it has refurbished and decarbonised the building and is expanding the services it offers who have been jointly staffing and managing Highgate Library since 2015 have been involved in the refurbishment by providing an input into the design and arrangement of the facilities as well as packing and re-shelving the books We have also contributed to the financing of the project by paying for the restoration of the front railings.” FOHL will be hosting the Formal Celebratory Opening of the library in December West Hampstead Library will be temporarily closed from Monday 18 November 2024 until March 2025 as it also works to reduce carbon emissions and promote sustainability. Library services will continue at Sidings Community Centre, 150 Brassey Road, NW6 2BA, from Tuesday 3 December 2024. For more information visit: Library news - Camden Council 'Warm welcome’ spaces are available across Camden. You'll find them in libraries children's centres and other community buildings across the borough. Each 'warm welcome' space offers something a little different You can also join free or low-cost activities and get help or support with the cost of living