Cheeses of Muswell Hill is like something out of a film Going Out | Events and Things To Do Sign up for our expert view on everything that’s worth eating I would like to be emailed about offers, event and updates from Evening Standard. Read our privacy notice It’s worth saying that there are a handful of independent institutions in north London that offer great cheese. There’s Middle Lane Market, Crouch End Cellars and Provisions, all just down the road. But Cheeses of Muswell Hill is like something out of a film, the kind of place that becomes an unsuspecting star in a Richard Curtis rom-com. It is the kind of place that Americans think all shops in England look like when two life-sized nutcrackers guard the shop Londoners won’t be surprised to know they’ve been stolen and returned a few times Cheeses of Muswell Hill is a family business run by Morgan McGlynn Carr She’s the resident cheese expert on Sunday Brunch and her knowledge of cheese and knack for creating beautiful cheeseboards has scored her viral success and three book deals There’s a good chance you’ll miss it strolling down Fortis Green Road Its glass-panelled facade spans just under three metres and the shop itself is no bigger than a store room Yellow bite-sized cubes of cheese are placed on a tray to lure people in like mice to a trap quince and pickles sit on top of a counter of monochromatic wheels of yellow cheese “This is the kind of place that becomes an unsuspecting star in a Richard Curtis rom-com” it relies on a single person to collect and deliver the cheese on a weekly basis instead of having several trucks making deliveries into London any left-over cheese is given to a local food bank Perhaps the most surprising thing about the shop is its unusual approach to storage Once they discovered an old war bunker in the back of the shop they decided to use it to store and mature the cheese it means the shop doesn’t rely on any refrigeration at all — the natural damp which comes from being built into a hill does the trick instead From the best of British to cheese from France Cheeses of Muswell Hill builds its selection around seasonal stock Need to build an emergency cheeseboard for a party You’re guaranteed to leave with a bag of high-quality produce useful for last-minute parties and gifting The shop sets itself apart from others by supporting small cheese producers buying directly from suppliers instead of wholesalers Carr and her family have built relationships with dairy farmers over the years and many of the producers the shop stocks use their own sheep cows or goats’ milk as opposed to buying it in Carr spends a month out of the year individually picking the cheeses that they stock in the shop “It’s really important to me to know exactly where it’s coming from artisan makers from the continent get top billing here— supermarket names are left by the If a trek to Muswell Hill just to buy some cheese sounds too strenuous which offer an opportunity to both indulge and learn — all with plenty of wine Guests are invited into the shop after hours with each event spotlighting a different season In a world where a trip to a single shop can serve almost all of our grocery needs stop and think of this glorious little independent establishment There’s so much magic in places like these where discovering new cheeses is like uncovering a new secret it’s great when they hand you those little tastes straight from the wheel or simply looking to explore a new neighbourhood make sure to take a pit stop in this delicious corner of north London 13 Fortis Green Road, N10, cheesesonline.co.uk 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 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 BBC admits to ‘lapse’ in standards after Today coverage of Harry interview If you're a resident of Muswell Hill you can't have failed to notice the perma queues outside Astrid Bakery Six months after the bakery opened it continued to sell out every day there was room to expand and the felicitous arrival on the market of a new property down the road means this is happening right now Astrid owner Charlotte O'Kelly has just taken possession of the other bigger building which she'll be using to increase her production capacity And that means more of her lovely croissants and bread for locals "The new place is just along from the tiny bakery," she told Hot Dinners "and we will still sell everything through the croissant hatch The new space will allow us more room to spread out The best news for anyone who's been following the Astrid journey is that the new building means the team will also be able to start up again with their incredibly popular Breakfast Box deliveries These were a weekend delivery option that included all the pastry goods you could want for a weekend in London But they "had to stop completely when demand outstripped our capacity at the little shop." The intention is to get them back in time to send out Astrid's traditional Christmas Eve breakfast boxes There's more good news as well as she's also brought in former Pophams Head Baker Kofi Hoyle who's going to be leading the bakery operations there Find out more: Visit their website or follow them on Instagram @astrid__bakery 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 Musician and DJ Iraina Mancini moved to Muswell Hill for love but it turned out to be the perfect antidote to late nights on stage Where to live I moved to Muswell Hill because I met my partner which tends to involve late nights and lots of people They do a really great katsu curry that I love which is supposed to be one of the best fish-and-chip shops in London Then Dunns bakery is the place for fresh cakes We’ve also got all the pubs in Crouch End and Highgate within walking distance I really like The King’s Head on Crouch End Hill and walking through Highgate Woods to The Red Lion & Sun As I’ve got older I’ve got really into exercise which is hilarious because I didn’t used to be bothered at all There’s a little spot called GibFit 30 on Fortis Green Road which does half an hour HIIT classes that aren’t as intense as doing the full thing Three Tribes in Crouch End is great for a spin class Highgate Woods is a really special place for me It’s so peaceful – like you’ve gone back in time – when you’re walking around Alexandra Palace is one of the highest points in London and the views are just ridiculous There’s also a bit of a vibe up there as you’ve got the big terrace for drinks outside in the summer where you can walk alongside the old railway tracks from 1873 all the way to Finsbury Park I love treating myself to a really good movie at the Everyman with a glass of wine It’s in this beautiful art deco building that really sticks out on the high street Ally Pally is fantastic for gigs and they do a lot of festivals up there now I used to think it was such a schlep when I didn’t live in the area After a gig I’ll walk down to the Boogaloo pub a couple of galleries and loads of charity shops but I like to support independents and we’re totally spoiled around here There’s a shop on the end of my street called Greens on the Hill We’ve also got a little Japanese supermarket called Jiamart that sells ramen and dumplings and custard buns that I’m obsessed with W Martyn has been here since 1897 and it hasn’t aged at all inside Every morning they grind fresh coffee beans and it wafts down the high street which is good for a treat as it’s a little more pricey as transport is a little trickier around here There’s a big bus station here so they’re really regular I don’t drive so I tend to get taxis after late shows Holly Village is this stunning group of Gothic cottages hidden behind a gate near Highgate Cemetery I’m always peering through when I walk past There’s a local artist called Ben Wilson who paints really intricate pieces of art on to old pieces of chewing gum I see him strewn across the pavement all the time It’s such a brilliant way of brightening things up though it just takes a bit more planning and time Iraina Mancini is currently on a UK tour and is at Hope & Ruin in Brighton on May 10. Her album ‘Under The Blue’ is out now. irainamancini.com Muswell Hill is known for its good schools Coldfall Primary School and Our Lady of Muswell Catholic Primary School are both rated ‘Outstanding’ by Ofsted while Fortismere is a ‘Good’ local secondary Why I live in Canary Wharf: Comedian Eleanor Conway on why her part of London is 'soulless...but I love it' Cambridge Heath area guide: why Gemma Moulton reckons it's the 'best of both worlds' Why I live in Hackney: presenter Anita Rani on why hers is 'the best borough' in London Around 3,000 properties in north London were left without gas after burst water pipe disrupted supply last week News | London Around 2,000 properties in Muswell Hill, north London have been left without gas for a week after a burst water main flooded gas pipes Cadent Gas said it was working to restore gas to the affected properties while Affinity Water said it was probing how the water had managed to disrupt the gas supply. one affected resident said she had been left without gas since January 12 leaving her without hot water in the depths of winter “You get your hopes up that the gas is coming back and then it doesn't," Tina Korhonen told the broadcaster Cadent said it had pumped out over 32,500 litres of water from the pipes so far which has allowed around a third of properties to be reconnected However, around 2,000 homes remain without supply as the water needs to be fully pumped out before the supply can be reconnected. Cadent’s Network Director for the East of England said the operation was complex as the area needed to be split into fifteen different ‘phases’ with works taking place at different times to make sure the water is fully out of the gas main Ms Grieve thanked the community for their patience adding: “We know how disruptive it can be to not have gas.” Cadent said it hoped to have the remaining supply fully restored by the weekend but cautioned that this was dependent on engineers being able to check homes for safety reasons before turning the gas back on Barnet Council the borough in which most of the affected properties are located said it had put in plan an “emergency response” and that teams would be checking on vulnerable residents A spokesperson for Affinity Water said: “While Cadent is managing the process of resolving the situation within their network we remain fully committed to assisting them and supporting the local community throughout the restoration process.” Over 100 engineers and support staff have been working to switch off the gas supply in each property that has been impacted Thousands of homes and businesses in north London remain without gas for a third day after water flooded pipes on Sunday Water remains trapped in gas pipes as over 100 engineers and support staff work to switch off the gas at around 3,000 properties in Muswell Hill Engineers have been going door to door to individually switch off the gas supply safely and returned to the area on Tuesday morning to try and reach homes they were unable to reach on Monday In an update on Tuesday morning, Cadent Gas told customers it can not start pumping water out of its gas network until it has visited every property Cadent Gas explained that it had visited nearly half of the properties affected but it was unable to gain access to some homes to safely switch off the gas supply The company told customers: “We appreciate that this is not a pleasant situation but once we have removed the water from our gas pipes we will be able to start restoring the gas supplies “We’d like to thank the local community who have been incredibly understanding and our engineers appreciate your continued patience.” On Sunday Cadent Gas had explained there was “lots of water within the local gas network” and it had begun the “big task to remove all this water from the gas mains” It added: “We must remove every drop from the outside gas mains as well as the pipes that go into each property “This is both for safety and to remove risk of gas going off again due to water blocking the flow.” Affinity Water has repaired its broken water pipe and Cadent Gas said on Monday it had repaired its damaged gas pipe to ensure no more water enters the gas network. Badenoch calls on PM to sack Treasury minister over property allegations In Pictures: Temperatures drop amid weather warnings Council could force two beloved Soho cafes to close for putting tables outside Enjoy a taste of the high life in the Algarve and Tenerife A dedicated customer support team was set up at Freehold Community Centre while impacted residents can use the showers at Finchley Lido Leisure Centre. Vicky Grieve, Network Director for Cadent and incident controller, said: “Cadent has been made aware of a loss of gas in the N10 area of North London. Our engineers are on site to investigate the cause and make attempts to resolve the situation. “Early indications show that water has entered our gas pipes. A number of customers have contacted us to let us know that they are affected, but at this stage, it is too early to say how many properties will be without gas. “Our teams will be on hand in the N10 area to continue to manage the situation, and we will be working with the local community to support our customers. “We will continue to communicate with all of those affected so that they understand what is happening, and what support they can receive while we carry out this work. We are also working closely with Affinity Water and other agencies. “Finally, as we are still in the early stages, I would ask residents and business owners for their patience whilst we work to resolve this incident.” VE Day 2025 fashion: best looks from the day, Princess of Wales, Princess Charlotte, Lady Victoria Starmer Thousands of homes and businesses in north London are without gas after water flooded the pipes Around 3,000 people have been affected after a burst water main flooded the gas network in Muswell Hill on Sunday The disruption has also impacted Colney Hatch and Hornsey which manages the UK's National Gas Emergency Service said it is in the "early stages" of resolving the issue and has urged residents and business owners to be patient while work continues One of the residents affected is Matthew Robinson who has been left without heating in his home He has had to travel to his mother’s house to have hot showers but that's when we'd heard that it would take three days to fix Local businesses are also feeling the strain it's definitely going to affect our business because people have to get in a state of some undress to be tattooed and they'll be sat here for a while "We have got an industrial heater which hopefully will be all right every customer we lose or have to postpone it's costing us and it's not the ideal thing for us Cadent’s Network Director and incident controller said it is too early to provide a timeline for repairs with everything that it takes to resolve it we have to first take all the water out the gas main We're working as quickly and as safely as possible it's really difficult based on the fact that it's a long process." A customer support team has been set up at Freehold Community Centre where residents have been queuing to collect heaters and blankets Want a quick and expert briefing on the biggest news stories Listen to our latest podcasts to find out What You Need To Know.. Building their new extension off-site shaved weeks off Christian Brailey and Faye Johnson’s mammoth renovation — and kept the new neighbours on side Homes & Property | Interiors W hen Christian Brailey and Faye Johnson viewed a poky studio flat with tobacco-stained walls, ancient carpets and rotting windows it did not look like their dream starter home. But as an architect and landscape designer the pair could see the potential of the property The couple used all their insider knowledge of design to transform their decrepit studio into a spacious adding more than a third more living space by craning in a stylish wood-built extension constructed off site and delivered by lorry Almost four years later they are now enjoying an unrecognisable home with pared-down interiors and rooms overlooking a stunning walled garden Back in 2018, the couple were living in a rented one-bedroom flat in Camden Town. “It was Christmas Eve and we were going to my parents’ house in Hertfordshire for Christmas,” says Brailey, 32. “The traffic was bad and the satnav directed us through Muswell Hill As they drove through the leafy streets of Edwardian villas They were impressed enough to spend the holidays checking out properties online and they viewed a studio flat carved out at the back of a grand period house on New Year’s Eve mostly on the basis that it was almost the only property in the area within budget the couple were smitten and agreed to pay £315,000 for the flat “It was the worst place on the best street,” says Brailey On the plus side — location aside — the flat came with a 1,000sq ft garden Although it had been thoroughly colonised by rampant brambles and weeds And since Brailey is the director of Christian Brailey Architects and Johnson the founder of Faye Johnson Landscape Design they were in a perfect position to unlock it The sale took several months to go through They began by cleaning up the flat up as best they could sanding down floorboards and clearing the garden Brailey had already been drawing up extension plans and he and Johnson had won planning permission to add a long set along one side of the garden to create a home with an L-shaped footprint Its open-ish plan layout has a living room leading via a short run of steps down to a kitchen and dining room The extension increased the size of the flat from 463sq ft to 700sq ft And to make it feel as spacious as possible the extension is dug down around a metre into the ground to give extra high ceilings Work should have started in spring 2020 but was interrupted by the Covid-19 pandemic Brailey and Johnson decided to start the work themselves They spent weeks digging out the foundations of the extension removing bucket after bucket of earth and rubble from behind their flat and levelling off the sloping garden Meanwhile they commissioned a company to build their timber-framed extension off-site — some 180 miles away at a workshop in Devon They opted for Canadian Douglas fir plywood partly because it is pleasingly knot-free and partly because it would be strong enough to accommodate the 11ft-tall doors and large windows they wanted When the builders finally arrived on site in the summer of 2020 the couple decamped to Brailey’s parents’ house where — with social distancing at the forefront of their minds — they moved into a caravan their team began ripping out the innards of the flat and pouring concrete foundations ready for the extension to arrive by December their extension arrived from the West Country and was craned into place over just four days “It is certainly not a cheaper way to build,” says Brailey “The main reason we did it was the quality you can get working in workshop conditions; the details are far greater than anything you can achieve on site.” They couple were also mindful of minimising aggravation to their new neighbours who were mostly working from home at the time Building off-site cut the timetable by several weeks With the shell in place they could get on with the basics: fitting underfloor heating and installing a mechanical ventilation and heat recovery system which ensures the highly insulated flat is never stuffy They picked low-maintenance finishes: polished concrete floors and off-white lime render for the walls the couple had the excess concrete packed into timber moulds to create slabs that have been used in the garden and to form the chunky kitchen worktop and splashback with cabinet fronts made from plywood offcuts The simple matte white mixer tap is from Vola the inexpensive steel handles are from Häfele Johnson and Brailey went to Fisher & Paykel for minimalist appliances including a dishwasher tucked into a drawer Views of the garden from the full-height end window of the living room take centre stage while a sandblasted glass skylight adds extra light Brailey made the timber towel rail in the bathroom from more offcuts of plywood and the trestle dining table from wood flooring rescued from a skip Johnson salvaged as many plants as she could from the overgrown space and transplanted them into new beds augmented by a lush mix of ornamental grasses white allium and delicate clumps of erigeron karvinskianus and three old metal water tanks the couple excavated while digging the foundations have been repurposed as seating and garden planters In the pink: ripping out walls and installing a colourful kitchen gave a Dalston design duo their dream home Inside the playful north-east London extension inspired by Epping Forest that’s just won a top renovation award quirky accessories to add warmth and character to your home interiors most of the furniture — including the wardrobes and window seat in the bedroom — is built in And the couple have eked every inch of storage space they can out of the property turning a void above the bathroom into a cupboard adding storage behind the bathroom mirror and utilising the understair cupboard as a utility room/ plant room containing everything from the boiler and washing machine to bikes hung from the wall after seven months of caravan living and having spent £125,000 (excluding VAT) “We bought probably the only flat we could afford in the whole area,” says Johnson it feels like a really spacious home and perfect for a couple From a townhouse whose interiors scream gothic opulence to a flat of twists and turns We have created a dedicated map showcasing all the sites where we are building new homes across Haringey with details of each.​ View the site locations in Google Maps Visit our community engagement website for details of where we are building and proposing to build new homes Below is a list of places where we are building new homes Below is a list of sites where new homes have been completed we'd like to know more about your visit today Unfortunately we are currently having issues connecting to our feedback service Enjoy the best of both worlds: Film & Festival News exploring the best of the film festivals community relentlessly connecting films to festivals documenting and promoting festivals worldwide For collaboration, editorial contributions, or publicity, please send us an email here.  RSS Feeds  as the Chinese apparently call our current global grimness who wouldn't want to escape into the past,or even  the future The odd couple running a (real life) bric a brac store in the London suburb of Muswell Hill literally to do visit previous ages but not out of ennui or any interest in the historic pasts or pantaloon they can get their  hungry hands on and carry back in the extraordinary  era-shifting machine they happened to find  in their ramshackle shop and handsomely realised indpendent British feature they do discover that TIME TRAVELLING IS DANGEROUS In Chris Reading's well-paced and colourfully realised skit the means of transport is not a big budget limousine but but what looks like a dodgems car from a local fun-fair as this witty mockumentary reveals through sundry silly flash-backs the backwards-rushing contraption was invented on a popular home-study TV programme (called The Future but trialled disastrously and jettisoned in the back of Megan and Ryan's vintage store at a loss to satisfy their landlord's increasing demands,happen to find that the machine  now works and make regular forays into the past to forage for spears coins,ancient clothes that they can sell- at 100% profit- to customers avid for retro artifacts.They are inveigled into joining a local science club some of whose members have more experience of the contraption than they realise The photography and special effects punch higher than a modest budget would suggest and there are some occasional sequences(with the participation of Historical Re-enactment Societies ,I suspect) with spectacular crowds of medieval folk,or 19th century military enthusiasts in accurate and plentiful detail and even a complete Western (as in Wild West) town that reminded me of Sergio Leone's Andalucian locations but I suppose is somewhat nearer to Muswell Hill The players are excellent ,all well cast ,and the roster includes such British stalwarts as Jane Horrocks with a splendid voice-over narration from Stephen Fry and the fruity tones of Brian Blessed (OBE no ,less) that bring an ageless,comical monster to life.It has the dead-pan straight to camera insouciant humour of such successful TV mockumentaries as What We Do In The Shadows and some of the zaniness of Terry Gilliam's cinematic confections.The colour photography-in every age visited- is splendid and the original music and closing song are pleasant.This has to be the funniest indendent film since Eaten by Lions (directed by Jason Wingard and coinidentally well featuring Johnny Vegas) Chris Reading and the Shakespeare Sisters who co-wrote it,are talents to welcome and cherish TIME TRAVEL IS DANGEROUS premiered at the 2024 Austin Film Festival and enjoyed a gala preview in the Art Deco ex-Odeon now the lavishly restored and renovated Everyman mini-cineplex which crowns Miuswell Hill and  is now on cinema release in the UK since 28th March 2025            99 minutes 03.04.2025 | Phillip Bergson's blog Interview with Cannes Marche du Film Director Filmfestivals.com dailies live coverage from > Other resources United Kingdom Les Années Dernières à Muswell Hill : Time Travel is Dangerous reviewed 3KinoFest successfully brings best new films from Visegrad countries to Prague this week More blog entries They're an award-winning Indian restaurant with legions of fans in Hampstead Now Bonoo are expanding their North London empire with a move to Muswell Hill where they're about to open on Fortis Green their concept is Indian tapas - so a series of small plates covering food from all over India Two years ago the restaurant picked up the best chef in North London Award from the London Curry Awards An ex-Taj Hotel Mumbai alumnus he's now responsible for a menu which includes: That's all we know about their Muswell Hill opening but we'll bring you more as we find out Find out more: Visit their website or follow them on Instagram @bonoolondon Thanks to Hot Dinners reader Ian for the tip-off View on Google maps Thousands of homes in North London could be without gas for one week amid growing concerns about the supply disruption Thousands of people living in North London could be without gas for up to a week amid ongoing issues linked to flooded pipes More than 3,000 households and buildings in the Muswell Hill area could be forced to wait until next week for the issue to be fixed while workers try to access every property impacted It comes as some households enter a fourth day without heating or hot water after a water main burst and flooded local gas pipes on Sunday Local residents have also voiced their frustration with the council’s response with some saying that not enough is being done to support residents struggling with the cold a resident living adjacent to where the pipes burst “I don't feel Barnet Council offering a limited number of showers 2 miles from here is adequate frankly They say it will not be fixed until Monday!” A chef at a local school also said the incident was impacting school meals: “It's difficult to plan I'm liaising with a friend in another school to have warm food sent in We in the school don't feel very assured that the local authority or the gas company are doing the best they can to help.” Though the water pipe has since been fixed a mammoth task is now underway to turn off all gas supplies in order to then pump the water out of the gas pipes Engineers also need to check in case water has entered any household appliances Despite up to 100 engineers on site working to fix the issue Barnet Council revealed on Wednesday that it could take up to a week to fully restore gas to the area has warned it will take at least a week for gas to be restored,” a council update stated UK shoppers are urged to make this washing-up liquid switch North London homes left without gas for third day after water floods pipes Plan your great escape to the incredible island of Rhodes “Cadent’s engineers need to access every property to turn off the gas supply before they can start pumping out the water from the gas mains Engineers will need to return to each property to switch on the gas once the water has been pumped out.” Cadent also confirmed that their teams had visited every house impacted at least once and will continue to make return visits to homes they were unable to access they also stated that it won’t be a quick fix “We want to be realistic with you – this remains a big job We will keep you updated,” Cadent Gas said “Our teams are working hard to resolve this as quickly as possible as well as making sure we do not do anything that may cause issues later.” To help local residents navigate the next few days a customer support team had been set up at the Freehold Community Centre and vulnerable residents are receiving daily community visits Barnet Council also revealed that Finchley Lido is open during working hours for impacted households to use their shower facilities Impacted residents that require further assistance are being advised to contact Cadent Gas who is coordinating the emergency respoinse Owlbert and his friends are part of the Big Fun Art Adventure Wild in Art and supported and sponsored by Haringey Council the trail aims to raise awareness and funds for the hospice Officially launching tomorrow (Saturday 17 August) the owls are waiting to be discovered on a fun free and easy-to-follow art trail for eight weeks Designed by local schools and community groups from Barnet culture and creativity that north London has to offer highlighting iconic spots such as Alexandra Palace and the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium as well as local hidden gems If you’d like to get involved, you can download the dedicated trail app or pick up a paper map. Visit the Big Fun Art Adventure website for the latest updates Productive discussions have been held between representatives of the Park Road Lido Users Group Haringey Council’s Cabinet Member for Culture and Leisure Residents will be able to get a first glimpse of the newly refurbished and renovated East Wing gallery spaces at Bruce Castle Museum and Archive.. free and fun activities and events are taking place in Haringey libraries for residents of all ages throughout May A Wood Green primary school which embraces its values creating an environment where children learn Sign up to HPX now Chris Reading’s charmingly schlubby comedy sends antiques dealers and amateur inventors time-travelling from London into cosmic Unreason On Avenue Mews in the leafy North London suburb of Muswell Hill long-term friends Ruth (Ruth Syratt) and Megan (Megan Stevenson) run Cha Cha Cha together from rented premises There they sell vintage goods – “anything we can get our hands on that’s from the past” sell the old dodgem car – with flashing lights and lo-fi control boards attached – which they find abandoned by the bins outside their shop upon discovering that it is a time machine use it to gather genuine antiques from different places and eras but strange meteorological phenomena suggest that something is amiss in the space-time continuum A secret club of local eccentric inventors known as the Technology Engineering Scientific Thought and Innovation Society or ’T.E.S.T.I.S’ (it will later be renamed B.R.E.S.T.S. in part to reflect the shifting gender balance of its membership) Ruth and Megan ignore Ralph’s warnings never to use the time machine again and inadvertently open a portal to a hellish dimension known as The Unreason where lost things and missing people (including Jane Horrocks’ Aviator and Mark Heap’s Dandy) come out to play Co-written with sisters Anna-Elizabeth and Hillary Shakespeare, Chris Reading’s Time Travel Is Dangerous (aka The Unreason) may be concerned with interdimensional journeying, but it is superlight to the point of weightlessness, pitching itself somewhere between Terry Gilliam’s Time Bandits (1981), Tim Burton’s Beetlejuice (2024) and British television’s Spaced (Mark Heap!) and The Office The last especially is evoked by T.E.S.T.I.S.’ bureaucratic dynamics and by the fact that everything here – even the trips through a portal to an alternative Lovecraftian plane – purports to be shot by a fly-on-the-wall documentary crew whose omnipresence is often the source of puzzled comment from the other characters Time Travel Is Dangerous is a very English kind of sci-fi comedy but plenty of absurdist emphasis on the schlubbish no-budget side of invention – and indeed of inventive filmmaking surreal and funny portrait of friendship lasting across time Find more reviews, news, exclusive celebrity interviews and more at SciFiNow