Residents of Shepherd’s Bush are presenting a petition to the London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham calling on the Council to take urgent action to clean up and restore Shepherd’s Bush — particularly Uxbridge Road So far 1,275 people have signed the petition ‘take urgent action to clean up and restore Shepherd’s Bush — particularly Uxbridge Road (100–500) — by supporting shopfront and streetscape improvements and tackling drug addicts Posting on the social media platform Nextdoor Noor A referred to the facelift Leyton High Rd received prior to the Olympics in east London where ‘before’ and ‘after’ pictures show attractively painted shop fronts ‘This is what Shepherd’s Bush could look like if you sign the petition.’ wrote Noor Noor A posting about the petition on social media; images of Leyton The facelift improved the image of the area and has been popular with the public “They look more inviting and I think I’d be more likely to go into a nice looking shops,” wrote one Leyton resident The residents of Shepherd’s Bush want: ‘targeted action to improve the visual condition and vibrancy of Uxbridge Road (particularly between numbers 100 and 500) which has visibly deteriorated due to neglected shopfronts and inconsistent Council oversight.’ ‘Crime and anti-social behaviour thrive in neglected environments,’ they say ‘While the Council cannot control policing directly it does have clear powers – and a responsibility – to address the environmental decline that fosters criminal activity and makes residents feel unsafe.’ Specifically they want the Council to develop a three six and 12 month plan for physical and visual improvements ‘Numerous shopfronts are in a serious state of disrepair temporary signage scrawled in marker pens or printed on A4 paper and cloth banners serving as permanent signs This isn’t just unprofessional – it makes the area look deprived and neglected ‘Flats above shops are visibly rundown Fruit shops spilling out onto the road with trolleys parked on pavements making it dangerous for pedestrians and cyclists as well as unsightly ‘Residents live in this daily and visitors see it first If the Council truly cares about regeneration The petition organisers say some shops sit empty for months or years ‘contributing nothing to the community the area is being saturated with low-quality short-term-use businesses like chicken shops which offer minimal diversity or uplift to the local economy.’ ‘We are not asking for perfection – we’re asking for care Citing the Leyton example and also a local council initiative in Deptford they suggest ‘low-cost grants’ or temporary business rate relief schemes for businesses in exchange for visual improvements They also want the Council to exercise greater discretion over business licensing and change-of-use approvals ‘why are so many new chicken shops being approved when what we desperately need is variety The petition also demands the Council tackles the issues of drug use and begging saying the area has become a hotspot for anti-social behaviour ‘The constant presence of drug users and beggars – loitering and sleeping rough in doorways and public spaces has left the area feeling unsafe ‘Residents regularly report asked for money or intimidated on the street We have found people sleeping outside our door on more than 1 occasion has turned Shepherd’s Bush into a hotspot for anti-social behaviour that gives the impression of a forgotten and lawless place.’ with everything from suggestions for partnering with outreach and addiction support services increasing the visibility of Council enforcement officers exclusion zones or dispersal orders for repeat offenders The ePetition runs until Sunday 22 June and can be found here: Uxbridge Road petition  Read more stories on The Chiswick Calendar See also: Two men arrested in west London as part of Counter Terrorism operations See also: Chiswick Post Office closed ‘for maintenance’ Privacy Statement Cookie Policy info@thechiswickcalendar.co.uk About The Chiswick Calendar  Newsletter & Club Card by dwmultimedia We may request cookies to be set on your device We use cookies to let us know when you visit our websites and to customize your relationship with our website Click on the different category headings to find out more You can also change some of your preferences Note that blocking some types of cookies may impact your experience on our websites and the services we are able to offer These cookies are strictly necessary to provide you with services available through our website and to use some of its features Because these cookies are strictly necessary to deliver the website refusing them will have impact how our site functions You always can block or delete cookies by changing your browser settings and force blocking all cookies on this website But this will always prompt you to accept/refuse cookies when revisiting our site We fully respect if you want to refuse cookies but to avoid asking 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station/Ariel Way destinations From 8am on Monday 28 April until 6pm on Sunday 26 May C and D at Shepherds Bush station/Ariel Way will be closed C1 and SL8 will be diverted or stop short of their usual destinations 260 and SL8 will also not serve White City bus station This is because of redevelopment works on Ariel Way Stop E at Shepherds Bush station/Shepherds Bush Green or buses will terminate at usual stops at White City bus station Buses will start from usual stops at White City bus station or stop Y at Shepherds Bush Station/Uxbridge Road For route 228 towards Central Middlesex Hospital: Stop F at Shepherds Bush station/Shepherds Bush Green or stop WE at White City station/Wood Lane Stop WE at White City station/Wood Lane or stop X at Shepherds Bush station/Uxbridge Road Stop WL at White City station or stop F at Shepherds Bush station/Shepherds Bush Green Stop M at Goldhawk Road/Shepherds Bush Road or stop WG at White City bus station Route 95 will not serve Shepherds Bush Green Buses will start and finish from White City bus station Route 148 will not serve White City bus station Buses will start and finish from stop X at Shepherds Bush station/Uxbridge Road 260 and SL8 will not serve White City bus station Buses will terminate at stop V Uxbridge Road/Shepherds Bush Green and start from stop F at Shepherds Bush station/Shepherds Bush Green Use route 237 from stop WL at White City bus station to stop F at Shepherds Bush station/Shepherds Bush Green to pick up routes 207 © Copyright Hammersmith & Fulham Council 2025 Shepherds Bush Housing Association (SBHA) is no longer operating as a landlord or employer after officially completing its merger with 70,000-home London provider The Guinness Partnership All of SBHA’s 5,000-homes have been moved to Guinness after the two landlords’ transfer of engagement was confirmed by the Financial Conduct Authority Guinness said the completion meant all SBHA’s legal responsibilities had passed to it SBHA employees are also now employed by Guinness except for a small number of the SBHA gas team who transferred to its contractors The move completes the two-stage merger that began in December 2023 when SBHA joined Guinness as a subsidiary The proposed merger was announced in April 2023 and the final business case was approved by Guinness and SBHA’s respective boards in October last year following consultation with SBHA residents A Guinness spokesperson said: “Guinness and Shepherds Bush Housing Association shared a strong social purpose we can do more for our residents and communities and creating places where our residents are proud to live We’re delighted to welcome residents and colleagues to Guinness.” Before the merger, SBHA was rated non-compliant on governance after the Regulator of Social Housing identified issues that allowed the association to come “within weeks of a potential loan covenant breach” SBHA was created in 1966 by members of St Stephen’s Church in Shepherd’s Bush and its 5,000 homes were located throughout nine boroughs in west London and has nearly 160,000 residents across England New to Inside Housing? 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Click here to find out more MAN WITH A MISSION 0) 90%);pointer-events:none;}*VIP Upgrades ONLY* MAN WITH A MISSION have announced their 15th anniversary HOWLING ACROSSTHE WORLD UK & European tour dates for October 2025 The Japanese superstars will play three shows in the UK starting with London before heading off across Europe for nine dates.  VIP Upgrades sold Exclusively through Skiddle Early entry for first access to merch stallVIP laminateSpecial exclusive giftSigned posterExclusive carry bag Please note: The event information above has been added by the organiser Whilst we try to ensure all details are up-to-date we do not make any warranty or representation as to the accuracy or completeness of the information shown because we believe true fans deserve a fairer and smarter way to discover events they love.” 0.08);border-bottom-width:thin;margin-top:35px;margin-bottom:35px;border-color:#4e4e4e;margin-top:16px!important;margin-bottom:16px!important;}© 2001 - 2025 Skiddle Ltd | Skiddle is a registered trademark | ALL RIGHTS RESERVED Police said two 16-year-old boys have been arrested on suspicion of murder after the incident in west London News | London Two 16-year-old boys have been arrested on suspicion of murder after a 17-year-old boy was stabbed to death in west London Officers were called to reports of a stabbing in Erconwald Street The incident happened near the junction with Du Cane Road and Old Oak Common Lane Police went to the scene with the London Ambulance Service and found two teenage boys who had suffered stab injuries, Scotland Yard said He has been named by police as 17-year-old Keiron Charles from East Acton Keiron’s family are being supported by Metropolitan police officers The other teenager – aged 16 – was taken to hospital with stab wounds His injuries were deemed not to be life-changing and he was later discharged from hospital He was then arrested on suspicion of murder and taken to custody A third teenager – also 16 – had left the scene and police began to hunt for him He was arrested in the early hours of Sunday said: “This is an awful incident in which a teenager has lost his life The thoughts of everyone in the Met remain with Keiron’s family and loved ones as they begin to come to terms with their tragic loss “Detectives have worked around the clock to follow every possible available line of inquiry and I’m pleased that we have made two arrests as part of our early inquiries While we are working hard to understand the exact circumstances we are not looking for anyone else in connection with this incident at this stage “I’d like to appeal directly to anyone who was in the area between 1pm and 1.20pm on Saturday and witnessed the incident Our team are also keen to speak to anyone who might have any other information that might assist us Keiron had his whole life ahead of him and any information might prove vital in achieving justice on behalf of his family.” Anybody who witnessed the incident – or who has any information which can assist with the investigation – is asked to contact police on 0207 175 2206 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 VE Day 2025 fashion: best looks from the day VE Day 2025 fashion: Princess of Wales to Lady Victoria Starmer 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’s 50th birthday bash in London 'shut down' by council over noise complaints David Beckham’s 50th birthday bash 'shut down' over noise complaints Stacey Solomon 'regrets doing reality show with Joe Swash' for tough reason Stacey Solomon 'regrets reality show with Joe Swash' for tough reason Chef Avinash (Avi) Shashidhara made his UK restaurant debut working under Claude Bosi at Hibiscus followed by an 11 year stint at The River Cafe. He decided then to branch out on his own, getting recipes from family members in India for a pop up which would eventually become the permanent restaurant Pahli Hill Bandra Bahi in Fitzrovia A resident of Shepherd's Bush he's agreed to share his best food and drink recommendations in the area with Hot Dinners readers.  I love the market - it’s my go-to for sourcing ingredients especially for Asian and Indian ingredients One of the gems there is Brothers & Cousins The owner knows his stuff and always recommends the best catch of the day I can even give him a call when I’m after something specific Another favourite in the market is The Falafel Hut They serve incredible Syrian-style falafel wraps and the one with fried fish is especially good It’s a Sichuan restaurant that’s become my go-to spot especially on Sundays when I’m craving something spicy The pork with Sichuan chilies and cabbage is a standout dish and their “Ma-Po” tofu is absolutely excellent I discover a new dish I haven’t tried before and it always surprises me how consistently great the food is It’s been run by the same family for over 20 years it’s a favourite spot for a lot of well-known chefs from famous Thai restaurants I’m not really a coffee drinker but I quite like a decaf coffee sometimes It’s a cool space that transforms into a wine bar and it’s also a record shop a brilliant butcher close to Baron’s Court and they’re my go-to for everything from everyday cuts to something special It’s the kind of place where you can trust the provenance of the meat and get expert advice on what to cook They brew excellent beers through Birdhouse Brewery near Herne Hill and the pizzas are phenomenal—they’re the only food they serve has done an excellent job in converting the arches into a beautiful space for drinks with amazing skylights that keep the space really bright For more of these local area guides, visit the My Manor page.  Subscribe to hear the latest from Hot Dinners Please enable the javascript to submit this form By signing up you agree to our privacy policy 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 Ian Payne is Leading Britain's Conversation Two teenagers have been arrested after a 17-year-old boy was fatally stabbed in Shepherd's Bush Police were called to reports of a stabbing in Erconwald Street The incident took place near the junction with Du Cane Road and Old Oak Common Lane Emergency services attended and found two teenage boys who had suffered stab injuries He has since been named as 17-year-old Keiron Charles The other teenager – aged 16 – was taken to hospital with stab injuries and later arrested on suspicion of murder His injuries were assessed as non-life-changing and he was discharged from hospital before being taken into custody Read more: Murder probe as man knifed to death in double stabbing in London street Read more: Moment London knife victim, 22, buys drinks for his killers before they stab him to death in street left the scene and an urgent investigation was launched to find him He was arrested in the early hours of Sunday and taken into custody said: "This is an awful incident in which a teenager has lost his life "Detectives have worked around the clock to follow every possible available line of enquiry and I’m pleased that we have made two arrests as part of our early enquiries "While we are working hard to understand the exact circumstances "I’d like to appeal directly to anyone who was in the area between 1pm and 1.20pm on Saturday and witnessed the incident "Keiron had his whole life ahead of him and any information might prove vital in achieving justice on behalf of his family.” Anyone with information is urged to contact police on 0207 175 2206 contact independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 See more More Crime News See more More UK News See more More Topics Yvonne and Snaffles (pictured) were being ridden in Shepherd’s Bush Green on Monday at 11.30am when the incident happened The dog chased the horses and repeatedly made attempts to bite their legs while the owner struggled to get the pet back under control Members of the public had to step in to help detain the dog Yvonne and Snaffles are recovering well at their stables with minor injuries and the officers were unharmed said: “What should have been a routine patrol turned out to be unexpectedly eventful where our hardworking police horses were sadly injured in the course of their duty Fortunately Yvonne and Snaffles are recovering well and being looked after in their stables “We know horses are not a common sight in the capital but we urge all owners to keep their dogs under control to prevent this happening again “We’re appealing for any witnesses of the incident to come forward by calling 101 quoting CAD2691/28APR25.” If you enjoy this review, please subscribe to Louder Than War and help independent music writing survive Manic Street Preachers give it their all at the second of two intimate Shepherd’s Bush Empire shows Their take-no-prisoners performance and careful song selection show off all sides of a band that clearly still really care — about the purity of their live shows and about connecting with their audience Even the Manics have accepted this; three decades removed from A Design For Life’s ubiquity their 15th album (and tonight’s show) opens with a song called Decline & Fall “I know our time has come and gone,” reflects James Dean Bradfield over glistening keyboards and disco-style drumming “But at least we blazed a trail and shone” Nicky Wire repeatedly admonishes himself: “What happened to your critical thinking?” At one point a rueful Bradfield even admits to feeling like an injured second division football player after bunging up his knee during last night’s Shepherd’s Bush Empire gig But the passage of time has done nothing to dilute the intensity and heart-on-the-sleeve passion of their live performances it’s given them the benefit of diversity: like their original heroes Manic Street Preachers have never been scared to try something different their take-no-prisoners performance and careful song selection show off all sides of a band that clearly still really care — about the purity of their live shows and about connecting with their audience So we get the big radio hits: a yearning Australia; urgent You Stole The Sun From My Heart vibrant Autumnsong; always-rousing Design For Life (dropped in mid-set in a move of supreme confidence); lung-busting Your Love Alone Is Not Enough; and incomparable If You Tolerate This Your Children Will Be Next probably still the only UK #1 about the Spanish Civil War thanks to the Manics’ biggest chorus and inspired lines like “The future teaches you to be alone/ The present to be afraid and cold” We get the live favourites: a crunching Enola/Alone; towering La Tristesse Durera (Scream To A Sigh) with monster fills from drummer Sean Moore; effusive paean to loneliness Motorcycle Emptiness; the six-string heroics of Sleepflower still sounds “louder than war”; the effortless International Blue with a sleek guitar part sorely downplayed on the album version; and the ragged Motown Junk We get the new songs: the stoic optimism (and bright synthy sheen) of Decline & Fall; the motorik Critical Thinking a strident spiritual sequel to PCP that makes its live debut with Wire sneering lines from an oversized lyric sheet; the positively folky Hiding In Plain Sight this time duetting with Lana McDonagh; the gentle plea of Dear Stephen that urges Morrissey to “please come back to us”; and beautifully contradictory People Ruin Paintings which expertly pairs effervescent music with lyrics like “people destroy the truth” We get some minimalism: support act The Anchoress (Catherine Ann Davies) joins Bradfield in on a tender but haunting acoustic rendition of This Sullen Welsh Heart before leaving the singer-guitarist alone on stage to perform the fragile Small Black Flowers That Grow In The Sky with all the distraught intimacy it demands; eternally melancholy The Everlasting gets a similarly stripped-back reinterpretation — emphasising its poignancy — before the full band join in Without touring guitarist Wayne Murray and guest keyboard player/longtime producer Dave Eringa the trio sound intentionally urgent and visceral on two songs from their edgiest albums The Holy Bible’s despairing She Is Suffering is fittingly raw and immediate; Journal For Plague Lovers’ bitter Peeled Apples is all fury and aggression undiminished by time — and only amplified by the intimacy of Shepherd’s Bush Empire Bradfield and Wire both share memories of living nearby in the early ’90s of a time long before Westfield shopping centre their history isn’t looked on with a sense of nostalgia The Manics aren’t about forgetting their past Everything plays out against a backdrop of Kieran Evans films that sometimes incorporate archival footage quotations (including Anthony Burgess’ “We can destroy what we have written And Wire is perfectly on brand: the leopard-print gilet the mention of both hoovering and tuna melt unexpectedly throwing confetti over himself it’s clear the Manics just don’t want to be defined by their past this Mary Oliver quote flashes up on the screen: “The dream of my life is to lie down by a slow river and stare at the light in the trees to learn something by being nothing.” these are words that wouldn’t seem out of place on a track by The Anchoress and frequent Manics collaborator crafts the kind of songs that mesh perfectly with tonight’s headliners’: articulate Flanked by keyboards on either side of her microphone she leads her three-piece band through a sterling set big on highlights from her breakout album The driving Show Your Face throbs with a synth line Davies plays one-handed to the side while singing; the bounding title track’s chorus (“And I know we’re ill at ease with questions of need/ Absolving ourselves in situations like these”) really shows off her vocal and lyric abilities; the more ethereal Unravel is all about building and releasing tension is further ramped up by her guitarist and drummer while the not-yet-released Damsels is an altogether more hypnotic prospect featuring a loping groove from 2016’s debut Confessions Of A Romance Novelist with its psychedelic slide guitar motif and overall proggy vibe rises and falls in volume and intensity throughout her soaring voice matched only by the rhythm section’s dexterity before a sublime The Exchange concludes The Anchoress’ set with all the majesty tonight deserves Words by Nils van der Linden. You can visit his author profile for Louder Than War here and his website here Louder Than War is run by a small but dedicated independent team and we rely on the small amount of money we generate to keep the site running smoothly Any money we do get is not lining the pockets of oligarchs or mad-cap billionaires dictating what our journalists are allowed to think and write and we want to continue bringing you news on the most interesting releases the latest gigs and anything else that tickles our fancy just pure enthusiasm for a scene that each and every one of us is passionate about We do not charge artists for the exposure we give them and to many Subscribing to one of our paid tiers takes just a minute helping to keep the flame of independent music burning PLEASE SUBSCRIBE TO LTW and website in this browser for the next time I comment Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed. It’s not Lauren Mayberry’s first time performing at Shepherd’s Bush Empire but on this last stop of the Vicious Creature tour Mayberry’s fans are devoted and undeterred by time following eagerly into this new phase of her musical expression rewarded with a boundless show full of clever quips and breathtaking vocals A crackly audio plays before she comes onstage reminding us all that this is a work of fiction and nicely sets the tone for the theatrics that await us Mayberry bounces out in an on-brand ruched dress and goes straight into the massive Crocodile Tears an excellent choice of opener that revitalises the room a uniquely funky tune which gives her the energy and freedom to spin around quickly most of her tracks exemplify her individuality never quite going where you expect them to go always taking the more interesting route in progression the varied pace in the setlist keeps the crowd on their toes Punch Drunk (where she is joined by opener Wolffe) is grungy and staccato Mayberry is certainly elevated and in her element during these rockier sections but it’s the slower ones where her vocal ability is really able to shine one that is simultaneously soft and powerful and Something in the Air beautifully illuminates it her belts climb and climb with nothing but ease she is able to make the fans genuinely laugh with her wit It doesn’t take away from the aura of the event instead adding layers of vulnerability and raw feeling to her performance she gives it her all and the crowd give it right back she retreats to show off her percussion skills banging on a drum with vigour and enjoying how the room goes nuts with promises of a fifth record coming from “the band” both long-standing and new fans leave the Empire filled with good memories and a new excitement For further information and future events, visit Lauren Mayberry’s website here Lauren Mayberry at Shepherds Bush Empire - The Upcoming - Virginie Viche - 17 Lauren Mayberry at Shepherds Bush Empire - The Upcoming - Virginie Viche - 1 Lauren Mayberry at Shepherds Bush Empire - The Upcoming - Virginie Viche - 2 Lauren Mayberry at Shepherds Bush Empire - The Upcoming - Virginie Viche - 3 Lauren Mayberry at Shepherds Bush Empire - The Upcoming - Virginie Viche - 4 Lauren Mayberry at Shepherds Bush Empire - The Upcoming - Virginie Viche - 5 Lauren Mayberry at Shepherds Bush Empire - The Upcoming - Virginie Viche - 6 Lauren Mayberry at Shepherds Bush Empire - The Upcoming - Virginie Viche - 7 Lauren Mayberry at Shepherds Bush Empire - The Upcoming - Virginie Viche - 8 Lauren Mayberry at Shepherds Bush Empire - The Upcoming - Virginie Viche - 9 Lauren Mayberry at Shepherds Bush Empire - The Upcoming - Virginie Viche - 10 Lauren Mayberry at Shepherds Bush Empire - The Upcoming - Virginie Viche - 11 Lauren Mayberry at Shepherds Bush Empire - The Upcoming - Virginie Viche - 12 Lauren Mayberry at Shepherds Bush Empire - The Upcoming - Virginie Viche - 13 Lauren Mayberry at Shepherds Bush Empire - The Upcoming - Virginie Viche - 14 Lauren Mayberry at Shepherds Bush Empire - The Upcoming - Virginie Viche - 15 Lauren Mayberry at Shepherds Bush Empire - The Upcoming - Virginie Viche - 16 Watch the video for the single Something in the Air here: These new interactive sessions use smart projectors to run dozens of games and activities Shepherds Bush Library near Westfield shopping mall and make new friends – these are just some of the ways H&F Libraries' new Happiness Hour is making a difference Run at Shepherds Bush Library in Wood Lane W12 the weekly sessions use smart projectors to offer a variety of activities with a range of benefits for both the young and old people with learning disabilities and more One of the first sessions saw nonverbal children from a local primary school take part in activities to help get them out of their comfort zone Exercises like popping digital paint bubbles and virtual keyboards helped initiate interactions with other people and greatly lengthened their time spent engaging with an activity quizzes and mobility games have already proved popular bringing together groups who would have otherwise never interacted with each other said: "The games have a layered design so that everyone at different levels can interact together: talking playing together and laughing with each other "Children with additional needs have come to the library and participated in some of the activities The staff accompanying them said it would really benefit many of the students attending their school." Happiness Hour is currently held at Shepherds Bush Library (just outside Westfield shopping mall) every Monday at 12pm Happiness Hours will look to move between H&F libraries throughout the borough Simply come on down and our helpful staff will take you through a guided session to best suit your needs We have a range of events and activities for all ages at our libraries across the borough. Take a look here If you want to become a member, simply complete our library joining form to get started please visit a library branch with a form of identification to become a full member and borrow items Newall Court was built as part of the Westfield development project A mum living in a housing block by Shepherd’s Bush Westfield has spoken of her terror after a lift she was in fell two floors and the doors initially refused to open said she thought she was ‘going to die’ when the lift dropped and that it has left her feeling fearful of using it in the future “I fear for myself and I fear for my kids, and my other family members when they visit me and they have to enter those lifts,” she told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS). David Lewis, Executive Group Director, Property Services at L&Q, which manages the building said they will continue to monitor the situation ‘to ensure that the lift operates correctly’ where we were introduced to a range of issues residents reported facing These included flooding antisocial behaviour and malfunctioning lifts despite the block only being around six years old people taking drugs,” Eve said at the time “We’ve had homeless people squatting in the building.” Mr Lewis told the LDRS that L&Q was working with lift contractors to fix the communal lifts and that an engineer had been on-site to progress repairs Eve has since said that while the broken lift was repaired it began malfunctioning again fairly promptly she was taking the lift when it suddenly dropped two floors The doors then refused to open before the lift began working again and took her to her floor said this was the first time one of the lifts had fallen while she was in it though that the experience has left her shaken It’s a lot of stress for her going up stairs when the lifts are broken down but she’s forced to do it because she’s terrified of going in those lifts and something happens and my other family members when they visit me and they have to enter those lifts and I truly think that L&Q aren’t going to take proper action until something really really bad happens to someone or more than one person.” Expanding on her lack of confidence in L&Q I don’t believe they are going to do anything that is of substance is little cover-up jobs and just hope that it goes away.” Another Newall Court resident the LDRS met in February, Mandy Goggin, 34, said she is also awaiting works by L&Q. An improvement notice issued to the block’s landlord, White City Investments, by the local council, Hammersmith and Fulham had instructed repairs to begin on her home by April 1 fixing damage caused by a burst sprinkler Council tells homeless family to move 275 miles to Hartlepool or lose housing support What does a £12k brain health test look like Benefits to running to work: The heart-pounding joy of sprint commuting Enter the AXA Startup Angel competition to win £25,000 with Ms Goggin and her four children continuing to live in a home suffering from mould and water damage The notice stipulated the works must be complete by April 15 Ms Goggin said: “I’m the one living here with my kids who, it’s impacting their health It’s just too much now.” She added she has yet to hear anything from L&Q nor has she been offered alternative housing or what she believes to be sufficient support given the worsening condition of her home “I’ve not been offered nothing,” Ms Goggin said “I’ve just been left here for nine months now I could have grown an entire child in the time it’s taken them to do anything.” In response to the concerns raised by Eve and Ms Goggin Mr Lewis said: “We are sorry for the reliability issues residents are experiencing with the lift at Newall Court Residents’ safety and well-being is our top priority and I want to reassure those living at Newall Court that the lift has two fail-safe devices to prevent it from falling The lift is also serviced and maintained on a monthly basis the most recent of which was carried out at the end of last month We will continue to closely monitor the situation to ensure that the lift operates correctly “We are also sorry for the unacceptable delay to repairs at Ms Goggin’s home A programme of the work required has now been agreed and Ms Goggin will be contacted in the next few days to discuss a start date for the repairs to be carried out so we can put things right as soon as possible.” Sweet Shepherd’s Bush Empire – 5 April 2025 – Live Review Sweet at The Shepherd’s Bush Empire reviewed by The Blockheads front man Mike Bennett There’s nothing about the sweet catalogue that is not original In the early ’70’s I was introduced to a very strange album called Gimme That Ding On one side of the album was the oddball duo Pipkins and on the other a band once called The Sweet Shop On The Sweet side of this strange but collectable slice of vinyl the group exhibited a confusing and incomprehensibly bizarre set of hard rock throwaway kitsch pop and an attempt at psychedelia compounding and quintessentially essential to the burgeoning glam rock sound during its golden era his picture was included in the line-up on the quirky Music For Pleasure sampler release of tracks the band had originally recorded for Fontana It was only when former Elastic Band and Scaffold guitarist Andy Scott joined them that the dynamics metamorphosised into a sound that would play a huge role in the foot-stomping era of glam rock (although arguably not as lauded at the time as contemporaries such as Mott The Hoople where they became label mates of both Bowie and Lou Reed the hits started to seep through the socio economically challenged soundscape of the musically scintillating 70’s – the slew of bubble-glam hits included under the auspices of songwriters Nicky Chinn & Mike Chapman The heavier side of the group started to emerge with the lyrically suggestive Wig Wam Bam and Little Willy hit the number 4 slot on the American Billboard Chart as most of these quirky releases were featured in the diverse set performed by the latest incarnation of Sweet at the Shepherds Bush Empire tonight These were performed alongside the harder glam offerings such as the self-penned Action as featured on the proto glam metal cult classic album Give Us A Wink prior to the band crashing in with its proto glam-metal sound that sent the packed crowd into a frenetic frenzy of awe inspiring proportions Although initially sardonically perceived as a manufactured band a flurry of fans were buying the singles for the heavier B-sides and cleverly crafted album cuts including Burn On The Flame and Windy City a Deep Purple inspired opus from the superb Off The Record album Another great track from that album was the enigmatically performed Lost Angels which although almost ignored as a UK single release was a firm favourite in the staple diet of Sweet fans in almost every other worldwide territory with hard hitting and mildly disturbing lyrics such as ”I can feel the knives inside my brain” with its instantly recognisable high pitch vocals was obviously celebrated by later day nu glam outfits such as The Darkness drew inspiration from Sweet’s outrageous glam attire Punk was also heavily influenced by the group’s bittersweet cacophony which was so poignantly prevalent in tonight’s magnificent and mighty fine performance The Damned & Lemmy and The Rezillos are just two outfits that emerged with cover versions of Ballroom Blitz which was another great highlight of tonight’s mind-blowing performance Another great moment was the so called lost glam classic The Sixteens a mini 70’s Rock-Opera depicting the growing pains of youth culture against a 70’s backdrop of miner strikes This terrific self-penned B-Side Burn On The Flame was also performed spectacularly a close cousin of the later day Sweet’s hair metal prototype White Mice from Give Us A Wink Towards the end of the magnificent set we were treated to a rousing rendition of Blockbuster a number one hit about a menacing character pursuing girls with ‘long black hair’ as serial killer Ted Bundy was on the prowl with similar intentions I remember original bass player Steve Priest performing this in Nazi attire apparently plundered from the BBC costume department for a notorious Top Of The Pops performance Although much of the glitz and glam attire was not as prevalent the atmosphere and memories were nostalgically captured to perfection on this highly memorable night A special mention must be made for Andy Scott’s superbly crafted US smash Love Is Like Oxygen replete with the pomp and ceremony of a progressive classical section which was intrinsically intriguing and curiously rousing as featured on the bands superb Level Headed album Without any intention of implying a ’rip-off’ the song has always appeared to me to draw inspiration from Hall And Oats but seeks and finds convenient categorisation in the diverse glam-rock arena It’s no wonder groups such as Def Leppard Paddy Goes To Holyhead and Glamnesia have covered and sampled Sweet to various degrees of success As Axel Rose famously once quoted ‘’Without Sweet there would be no Guns’ N Roses’’ and after this splendid display of both nostalgia and vital new material at Shepherds Bush Empire I am sure that the late great Brian Connelly Steve Priest and Mick Tucker would be proud to see Andy Scott’s new line up keeping the godfathers of glam’s legacy alive and buoyant which was also performed to perfection tonight ‘’We Want Sweet Mötley Crüe’s Kickstart My Heart has a riff remarkably similar to Sweets Hell Raiser RCA released Bowies Jean Jeanie and Sweet’s Blockbuster on the same schedule with an identical riff all the way through Check out this Megamix what came first the chicken or the egg Mike Bennett is lead singer with The Blockheads – His LTW author profile is here. Was there as for that park life bit of information it does sound so familiar it’s unreal the Mötley Crüe Glam metal and even hair metal good point about Twisted Sister Fab they have started playing Album track on side again and I always found the sides to cheesy but the one ones that were written by Mike Chapman Great LTW review with lots of amazing facts that I didn’t know about I knew sweet went heavy for the desolation Boulevard period and especially in America where it was the top five on the billboard 100 It had a weird song about mental illness called I wanna be committed Always reminded me of the Ramones I wanna be sedated But they were much heavier at the live concert Still like the American version of desolation Boulevard my brother gave me a vinyl version from Canada But then with levelheaded they seem to go soft again and for me didn’t quite hit the musical G spot Apart from the epic love is like oxygen but I certainly do see the Daryl Hall and John Oates comparison along with the other mentions here including the Electric Light Orchestra in fact my bestie Mary swore blind it was a Jeff Lynne epic . it was my brother that took me to the Shepherds Bush concert and I saw a very different side to a band I thought of as good Powerpoo like on Desolation Boulevard record USA version A really good interpretation of a concert and I love the thing that is called bittersweet facts at the end I guess they would call it a homage but I just think that they may have been short of ideas at that point in time I feel that the US people never really got the Glam rock British irony the guitar sequence going right through covergirl is just like Parklife from blur No wonder sweet covered the track live on several occasions It makes sense that sweet then went ahead and made an album called sweet life probably with the term firmly placed in the cheek I just did a go compare and it’s the same kid and the same beats per minute Great LTW feature on a classic underrated man The bow GG and sweet Blockbuster are so close to almost like the same track but how come nobody at the record label notice it after all it was the same label right I have a (2nd) copy of that Pipkins/Sweet album My girlfriend’s grandkids love singing Lollipop man (its first Sweet song) for the last 2 years or so. Kinds of get your vibe A good read in my humble opinion . of course it was a review just had a bit of a potted history everyone’s entitled an opinion and you clearly have one I’ve no doubt an element of your observational skills mean something to you I WAS AT THAT GIG AT SHEPHERD’S BUSH EMPIRE WITH KEVIN SHEPHERD ABSOLUTELY BRILLIANT STARTED WITH ACTION AND FINISHED WITH BALLROOM BLITZ WHAT MORE CAN YOU WANT GREAT BAND GREAT EVENING WELL DONE ALL AND ANDY SCOTT 6 musicians in the 2 photos of the band – yet you only named 5 of them I’m sure you can like through your collection for more shots sweetheart I’m besotted with photographs of the boys because they are so hot Plenty of shots on the Internet of the boys that you can look at I know they are really hot so I get your point To have a good look at the lads it’s only a finger click away so don’t worry too much I like for LTW for the detailed review very accurate and the little snips at the end of the feature we’re just superb love the blur v sweet section Everyone is invited to join dignitaries from H&F Council and the community as we pay our respects on Sunday 10 November Shepherds Bush's Remembrance Sunday memorial service 2023 Remembrance Sunday is our chance to salute the service and sacrifice of our armed forces Remembrance Sunday services and parades will be held in Fulham and Shepherds Bush on Sunday 10 November 2024 Everyone is invited to join dignitaries from Hammersmith & Fulham Council The services mark the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918 The ceremonies mark the sacrifices made in that conflict at 10.25am before the open-air service at the war memorial on Shepherds Bush Green The service will be conducted by Fr Richard Nesbitt of Our Lady of Fatima Church in White City and the Rev Cameron Collington of St Simon's Church in Shepherds Bush The parade in Shepherds Bush Road will feature local Army reservists and Army cadets Metropolitan Police and London Fire Brigade cadets Leading the parade will be piper Fergus Collington with Thames Fanfare Brass H&F's Deputy Mayor will take the salute outside The Grampians before the parade is dismissed in Westwick Gardens There will be no vehicle access from Holland Park roundabout to Shepherds Bush Green These will be in place until the parade is dismissed The procession will begin at Parsons Green at 10.35am and will head along New Kings Road to the Fulham War Memorial open-air service in Vicarage Gardens The service will be led by the Rev Peter Dobson of All Saints Church He will be joined by the All Saints Choir under the direction of Jonathan Wikeley The parade will include local Army reservists and cadets local youth organisations and faith leaders It will form up in Church Gate then head across Fulham High Street to Fulham House where the Mayor will take the salute before the parade is dismissed New Kings Road and its access roads will be closed until after the parade is dismissed Residents are welcome to take part in the services by going to either Shepherds Bush Green or Vicarage Gardens at All Saints Church before 11am Remembrance Sunday is an opportunity for the community to come together to collectively thank the uniformed forces for their service and sacrifice or to place personal tributes of poppy wreathes wooden crosses and remembrance sticks at the foot of the memorials Poppy collectors will be out again this year but you can also donate in other ways to support The Royal British Legion's annual Poppy Appeal Passers-by stepped in to help Yvonne and Snaffles from the Mounted Branch Get our award-winning daily news email featuring exclusive stories I would like to be emailed about offers, event and updates from Evening Standard. Read our privacy notice This is the moment two Metropolitan Police horses were attacked by an out-of-control dog in west London Sergeant Leon Astley and PC Grace Miller-McCormack had been riding Yvonne and Snaffles when the animal chased the horses and repeatedly made attempts to bite their legs The owner struggled to get the pet back under control and members of the public ultimately had to step in to help detain it on Shepherd’s Bush Green Yvonne and Snaffles are recovering well at their stables with minor injuries and the officers were unharmed in the incident on Monday Sergeant Astley, from the Met Police’s Mounted Branch said: “What should have been a routine patrol turned out to be unexpectedly eventful “Fortunately Yvonne and Snaffles are recovering well and being looked after in their stables “We know horses are not a common sight in the capital but we urge all owners to keep their dogs under control to prevent this happening again Investigations are ongoing and no arrests have been made at this time. The dog was seized and later returned to its owner Yvonne - recognisable for her big ears - is 13-years-old and has been a police horse since October 2020 Snaffles, aged 15, has previously starred in Activity Ride, the Mounted Branch’s performance at Olympia, and been involved in public order policing at football matches in central London A dog owner can receive an unlimited fine or be sent to prison for up to six months for having a dog seriously out of control National two-minute silence announced to mark VE Day anniversary Russell Brand accused of 'grabbing woman's arm and dragging her towards toilet' Met Office confirms warmest start to May on record as mercury hits 28C in London Meet the entrepreneur turning plastic waste into something wonderful this increases to up to five years in prison Owners are advised to keep their dogs on a lead Anyone that witnessed the incident is asked to call 101 or contact @MetCC on ‘X’ and quote CAD2691/28APR25 The newcomer impressed on his debut in a warm-up game between the club's 1st and 2nd XI teams Openers Idris Otto-Mian (left) and Sid Stocking (right) go out to bat as the new cricket season launches Aussie slogger Nick Appleton impressed on his first outing for Shepherds Bush Cricket Club in a warm-up game between 1st and 2nd XI teams at the weekend arrived in the UK three days earlier after taking six months' unpaid leave from his job in the Australian mining sector but showed no signs of jetlag at the Bush's ground in Bromyard Avenue captained by a promoted Jack Gillett – who usually skippers the 3rds But the 1sts (in truth there was a mix from Bush's various teams in this friendly opener) ratcheted up a score of 294 Openers Idris Otto-Mian (hero of last year's cup run) and Sid Stocking scored 28 and 13 respectively with search parties dispatched to scour the undergrowth beyond the fence for the ball after Idris walloped two mighty 6s Then Appleton took to the crease as Bush's overseas player this season Last year Bush enjoyed the services of Mitch Crayn from Northern District CC in Sydney and I was told I'd have the time of my life in Shepherds Bush," said Nick a left-hander who is also be a useful left-arm orthodox bowler Wicketkeeper Himanshu Vaid scoring 48 alongside him before being out LBW to James Kidson's bowling The 2nds had a setback when opener Roshan Patel was out second ball to Will Field but Marcus Howard came in to steady the ship with a solid 46 before being run out by Stocking Kidson scored 40 not out to leave the 2nds just short of 200 Pick of the bowlers for the 2nds were Oliver Fitt and Theo Payne with a brace each Field claimed two wickets for 17 in his seven overs Groundsman Graham Boxall has done well to get the Shepherds Bush CC pitch in good condition for the season "We could still do with a bit of rain," he said (though not There's an enjoyable summer of cricket ahead for spectators at Shepherds Bush; a friendly atmosphere large car park and matches most weekends at Bromyard Avenue Catch the 1st XI at home against Guildford CC at noon on Saturday 3 May with the club's women playing a club friendly the following day at 1.30pm Then on 11 May there's a softball festival (2pm start) with eight teams competing Full info on the Shepherds Bush Cricket Club website The views expressed in this blog are those of the author and unless specifically stated are not necessarily those of Hammersmith & Fulham Council He also writes our Shepherds Bush Cricket Club match reports during the football close season Tim has been writing Chelsea match reports since the late 1980s for newspapers and the press box was a metal cage suspended over the lip of the old west stand - and you reached it via a precarious walkway over the heads of the fans But he has been a Chelsea fan since his father took an excited seven-year-old to watch Chelsea v Manchester United in the mid 1960s.. and covered his ears every time the chanting got too ripe In July 2005 he wrote The Rough Guide to Chelsea His favourite player of all time is Charlie Cooke the mazy winger who lit up Chelsea's left wing in the 60s and 70s The 450 new native trees will be cleaning the air and boosting local biodiversity One local family joins in the planting at Norland Open Space Hammersmith & Fulham's newest Tiny Forest has taken root in Shepherds Bush this week with the help of green-fingered volunteers and local residents Around 450 new whips were planted in Norland Open Space which is near the Nourish Hub on the Edward Woods Estate H&F Cabinet Member for Climate Change and Ecology They're small but mighty and are helping us support local wildlife while improving the look of our parks and cleaning the air we breathe Each new forest is just part of our work to green H&F and to make sure our open spaces are great places to visit and play in." The forest is home to sixteen different native species of trees – all densely planted into a space the size of a tennis court the forest is expected to attract more than 500 different animal and plant species More than seven per cent of local deaths in 2022 were linked to toxic air Which makes H&F the tenth worst area for air pollution in the country Each whip planted will help pull pollution out of the air and replace it with cleaner air that's better for residents The forest was planted with the help of volunteers who were kept well fed throughout the day with hot drinks and refreshments from the Nourish Hub We're home to London's first-ever Tiny Forest – planted in Hammersmith Park, White City, in March 2021 You can help any of our Tiny Forests thrive. Find out how to get involved here Cllr Harcourt joins residents on planting day Volunteers plant whips at Norland Open Space The Sulgrave Club is now appealing for memories as they look forward to their centenary celebrations Joint winners of the Junior Youth Club's attendance prize With 200 young people – aged seven to 19 – turning up for the Sulgrave Youth Club's annual funday and awards it's clear everybody's in the mood to celebrate its centenary year As the Shepherds Bush club approaches 100 years of providing worthwhile activities to boys and girls in the area the event on Friday (21 February) included inflatables the challenge of riding a mechanical rodeo bull arts & crafts and face painting – all provided free of charge courtesy of the mother of one of the young members who runs party food supplier Candy Poppers Junior Girl of the Year pictured with Abdullahi (right) with applause sweeping the hall at 287 Goldhawk Road as the members of the year (voted for by staff) were announced for being declared Junior Girl of the Year for picking up the awards for Senior Girl and Senior Boy respectively Joint winners of the Junior Youth Club's attendance prize were 11-year-old twins Hajar and Aicha "The member of the year awards always create a buzz of excitement among the young people and staff," said club manager Nick Sazeides adding that several of the current staff team were past winners back in the day "Attracting 200 young people to our event goes to show that demand for exciting and it was great to see young people having fun – and without staring at their mobile phones!" The Sulgrave Youth Club is asking current and former members to join its centenary project to record memories unearth memorabilia and discover old photos ahead of the official anniversary celebration in June 2026 the club was set up by a group of City of London brokers mindful of the need to provide activities for boys and young men in the community By 1936 it had moved into its present home with an events hall and gym and today – financially supported by H&F Council – it serves 800 girls and boys in the community It also runs accredited courses in fields such as first aid and food hygiene Do you remember the old days at Sulgrave? If so, email centenary@thesulgraveclub.org.uk Goldhawk Road is officially home to one of the best pubs in London The bar at The Shepherd and Flock in Goldhawk Road The Shepherd and Flock in Shepherds Bush has been named among the top five pubs in the capital by Time Out The London listings bible recently unveiled its list of the 50 best pubs in the city with The Shepherd and Flock appearing at number four on the list the pub is popular with Queens Park Rangers fans before games due to its proximity to Loftus Road Stadium Time Out describes it as the "perfect winter pub" and recommends it as a great place to grab a drink before going to a gig at the nearby O2 Shepherds Bush Empire It goes on to add that it "gets particularly busy on weekends so get down early to guarantee yourself a seat" The Shepherd and Flock was originally built in the 1860s John has been the licensee of the pub since 1983 "I am very pleased that after 40 years we've been voted in the top four in London," said John "The good thing about running a pub is that there's never a dull moment "People always return to the Shepherd and Flock because there's always a great pint that is served by our happy friendly staff." an occasional roundup of the best Heavy Metal News features and pictures curated by our global MetalTalk team MetalTalk is Europe's leading independent Heavy Metal news publication For more details, contact Steve Ritchie at Editor@MetalTalk.Net is owned and managed by MetalTalk and must not be used elsewhere without written permission Free weekly classes at Wendell Park primary help to bridge refugee and asylum-seeking parents with the community English class at Wendell Park primary school Wendell Park primary school has worked to welcome and support refugee and asylum-seeking parents with free English classes The Cobbold Road school has hosted free weekly English classes open to any parent who wanted to polish up their speaking skills The classes were launched by local resident and Wendell Park mum Nikita Crocker She initially started the language support group when she noticed that some parents were struggling to join in conversations at the school gates With help from Hammersmith & Fulham Council's Macbeth Centre and our Supporting Vulnerable Communities team the volunteer-led conversation group grew into an English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) class taught by a professional tutor H&F Cabinet Member for Social Inclusion and Community Safety "We're proud to be working with Nikita and the passionate volunteers who have welcomed these parents with open arms It's all part of our work to build a stronger To support as many Wendell Park parents to attend as possible we helped the school organise an on-site crèche for children under the age of five This allowed parents such as Naima – who regularly attended the English classes – to fully focus on learning and gaining confidence The mother-of-two said: "Every lesson is a step towards becoming more successful and independent This class is very important for my future because it gives me tools I need to communicate better and achieve my goals." Nikita explained that the most rewarding part of the project is the friendships she's made and I have conversations with many who were unable to say more than a greeting when I first met them," she said "I see the students speaking with the wider community and attending parent/teacher interviews alone when previously their husbands or others had to be present to translate." There's lots of support on offer for refugee and asylum-seeking families in our borough. Find out how we can help here H&F's Macbeth Centre is also offering refugees, asylum seekers and migrants free interpreting courses in collaboration with ClearVoice The classes will create pathways to employment as Community Interpreters Find out more about this initiative and other 450+ classes offered at the Macbeth Centre on our website There are concessionary fees available for those on certain benefits Call us on 020 8753 3600 or stop by the Macbeth Centre – located at Macbeth Street in Hammersmith W6 9JJ – to speak to one of our helpful staff We sat down with electrician and QPR fan Charlie Fitzgerald who is part of H&F Council’s in-house repairs team Charlie Fitzgerald says the best part of his job is customer satisfaction I have been an electrician my whole working life When I was a kid I really looked up to my friend's dad who was an electrician and ever since it's been something I've wanted to do It was my mum that really encouraged me to pursue it I have lived in Shepherds Bush my whole life My favourite thing about the area is the strong sense of community Lots of families have lived in the neighbourhood a long time Once I've been assigned my jobs in the morning I'll head to the wholesalers to pick up materials Then I head out to homes and communal areas across the borough fixing lights and any electrical faults in our properties the best part of my job is customer satisfaction When I walk out of someone's home and they say a genuine 'thank you' because you've made a difference and improved their home – it gives me the best sense of job satisfaction The work can become challenging when a job turns out to be more complex than originally thought This might involve rewiring or installing temporary power to keep a boiler up and running or keep the fridge on If I explain the process clearly and give them accurate timescales It's always important to reduce as much disruption as possible I really take pride in the ethos of the in-house repairs team Everyone I work with treats the properties as if they are their own homes with lots of respect Providing good service and communication is what we strive to do for residents Trying to get the job done right when people need it most It makes a real difference to people's everyday life I'm also a proud Queens Park Rangers season ticket holder so you'll often find me watching a match at Loftus Road Want to work for H&F Council like Charlie? Find out more about job opportunities with the council Subscribe to our mailing list to keep up to date with all things When The Horn Blows related We use cookies and similar technologies to run this website and help us understand how you use it and every emotion in between were experienced at Bastille’s intimate gig at London’s Shepherd Bush Empire If there was one word to sum up Bastille’s intimate show at London’s Shepherd’s Bush Empire Whether it be the stories from ‘“&” (Ampersand)’ which celebrate different characters throughout history or the personal stories that fans created from the show it was an evening that welcomed narrative in all its forms Surrounded by candles and bathed in a warm orange glow it deviated from Bastille’s normal course of events by allowing us a glimpse into a more tender and emotionally vulnerable side of vocalist Dan Smith which allowed the crowd to lower their guards and be fully present to experience all the emotional highs and lows from the music or anything else to satisfy your emotional needs Bastille delivered this and left the audience complete with unforgettable memories Glaswegian musician Kerr Mercer brought a stirring start to the evening starting with low vocals before building to a searing chorus in opener ‘Jealous’ With a powerful voice that teemed with emotion Mercer wasted no time in sending shivers down everyone’s back That was hardly the only point in his set where you involuntarily held your breath and experienced goosebumps as Mercer’s bruising lyricism and achingly beautiful melodies pierced to your core in ‘Love To Lose’ before he slightly picked up the pace and switched from keys to guitar in ‘Timeless’ Despite being a musician who has yet to officially release any music Mercer showed no such signs with his compelling stage presence and his masterful control over the music Bringing a light-hearted demeanour between songs Mercer joked that he was going to play a cover “so you’re not all bored to tears” before delving into ‘Another Love’ captivating the audience with a heart-breaking rendition that allowed us to experience the song through a different perspective we were treated to Mercer’s dramatic build-ups for one final time this evening as he earnestly sang this could be different / one in a million With poignancy lingering in the atmosphere Bastille took to the stage with the  bittersweet ‘Intros & Narrators’ and guided you to a full immersion within the world of ‘& (Ampersand)’ The sweet opening of ‘Emily & Penthouse In The Sky’ quickly gave way to rousing vocal harmonies in the chorus while gently plucked guitars brought an ambling movement to the track which encouraged gentle swaying from the crowd ‘Seasons & Narcissus’ tugged at your heartstrings as Smith muses ‘is this real love I’m falling in?’ exacerbated by stirring swells from the accompanying string quartet and airy falsetto vocals from the likes of AK Patterson it was Smith’s own falsetto that offered an unforgettable highlight of the evening in ‘Drawbridge & The Baroness’ which Smith had professed to be one of his own personal favourite tracks that was “really f***ing hard to sing.” As the band fell away after an explosive bridge to let Smith’s voice ring out solo for the end you could not help but be mesmerised by all the unspoken emotions held within that one note.  Perennial crowd favourite ‘Pompeii’ was given an acoustic treatment that transformed the upbeat singalong we thought we knew and loved into a spine-tingling ballad that drew on elements of musical minimalism to create and introspective and atmospheric version of the track Smith delved into the story underpinning the next song Written about a pirate queen who dominated the high seas yet remained relatively unknown throughout history the track highlighted the uniqueness of ‘& (Ampersand)’ in the way it shines a light not only on previously unexplored tales but also in the band’s sonic evolution as it strips back to the bare bones and allow ideas to freely express themselves ‘Telegraph Road 1977 & 2022’ offers another striking example of this as Smith revealed that it was based on a poem written by his father while travelling through San Francisco while his mother sang the backing vocals on the album to complete the personal connection of the track The tinker of the piano gave way to lulling guitars in ‘Mademoiselle & The Nunnery Blaze’ while ‘Essie & Paul’ commanded your attention with a forceful performance that saw Smith deliberately gesturing as if he was conducting the crowd Surprising the crowd with an unreleased song an easy-going ‘la la la’ in between chorus and verse lent a catchiness that guaranteed the song will become lodged in your brain (and frustratingly so as you cannot listen to it again until it gets released) This was contrasted against the profoundly melancholic ‘Good Grief’ laid bare the despair as the musicians onstage took turns to sing each line before concluding ‘I miss you more’ A flicker of hope was reignited in finale ‘Blue Sky & The Painter’ which offers a message of resilience and triumph as Smith concluded It’s about damn time.’ Leaving the audience with this message of optimism Bastille retreated from a night to remember As they shared their hearts with fans and we laid bare our emotions in return is that there is plenty more on the horizon and we can eagerly await all that is to come from Bastille Words by Athena KamPhotography by Abigail Shii This week's Band of the Week is Brighton quartet Slung - who have just released their debut album 'In Ways' via Fat Dracula An epic reprise from the indie rock collectives’ first in five years with the scholars - an ambitious nine-track rock opera magnum opus Sextile blend synth and punk together on their latest record in a way that has never looked – or sounded more fun creating music that’s impossible not to dance to Blondshell’s second record If You Asked For A Picture is a triumph Toronto's very own soul star delight Tanika Charles shares the video for new track 'Talk To Me Nice' - the third single to taken from her upcoming album 'Reasons To Stay' Cardiff rock band HIMALAYAS have just released the new album 'Bad Stars' - an impressive explosion of sound The post-punk psychedelic powerhouse group that is Squid spun the heads off of the crowd lucky enough to see them perform at Camden’s Roundhouse Dreampop outfit Portland make their return with soaring alternative pop release ‘Lay Me Down’ which hits just about as hard as our first introduction to the band; single ‘Lucky Clover’ A love letter to the city they now call home ‘Glasgow Love Story’ is the stunning new album from Scotland’s Tide Lines.  Incubus took it back to the 00s on Saturday night in London with a stellar show full of nostalgic rock turntable scratching and several unexpected covers American rockers Halestorm release new cinematic rock anthem ‘Darkness Always Wins’ This week's Band of the Week is American punk-rock band Heart Attack Man - who have just released their new album 'Joy Ride The Pale Horse' He is also suspected of chopping up their bodies to fit into two suitcases before travelling to Bristol and attempting to dispose of most of their remains by throwing the luggage off Clifton Suspension Bridge. Police searched the address on the label of the silver suitcase and found Mr Alfonso and Mr Longworth’s decapitated heads in a chest freezer along with various other body parts, the court heard. Some readers may find parts of this story distressing. The jury in the double murder trial has today, Thursday, May 1, watched footage of the suspected double killer grappling and then killing one of his alleged victims in a “frenzied stabbing”. The footage, along with its soundtrack which captured the sound of someone appearing to struggle to breathe, was watched in silence by the jury. He appears to say, “You like it?” as he stabbed Albert Alfonso to death. The defendant admitted the manslaughter of Mr Alfonso by way of loss of self-control, but denies both charges of murder – the prosecution claims Mosquera was “in complete control” of his “strategic and premeditated” actions. Mr Alfonso’s death was captured on four cameras that were up in his bedroom to record sex sessions with Mosquera, 35, who is then seen singing and dancing in the aftermath of the attack. Mr Justice Bennathan had previously warned the jury “it is not an easy watch” and the added soundtrack that was played on Thursday potentially “heightens” any distress in seeing it. On Thursday prosecutor Deanna Heer KC told the jury: “He takes hold of Mr Alfonso’s chin with his left hand and pulls Mr Alfonso’s head back, and then with his right hand in which he is holding the knife he stabs him.” She added: “Mr Alfonso gets to his feet and tries to defend himself. “They then fall to the floor, and Mr Mosquera gets on top of Mr Alfonso. Mr Alfonso manages to stand up while Mr Mosquera has him in a headlock.” Sounds can be heard along with Mosquera appearing to say in English, “Do you like?” Court drawing by Elizabeth Cook of Yostin Andres Mosquera appearing at Wimbledon Magistrates' Court,(Image: 2024 PA Media, All Rights Reserved)‌PC Nick Swire, the CCTV officer, said: “You can see Mosquera apply a knife to Mr Alfonso and blood is seen to flow down his chest.” Mosquera had Mr Alfonso in a headlock and screaming can be heard. Mr Swire said: “This is the start of the frenzied stabbing to the torso and the chest.” The men, who are both naked, are seen struggling with each other and wrestling to the ground. Mr Swire stated that at one point you can hear a change of breathing sound as Mr Alfonso’s “body goes limp and he loses consciousness”. The footage ends with Mr Alfonso on the ground and, Mr Swire said, “there is significant blood flowing from the neck area to the floor”. Mosquera is then seen singing a song in Spanish and doing a dance, before sitting down to look at a computer. The prosecution say that on July 8, Mosquera allegedly killed Mr Longworth and later Mr Alfonso in their flat and then “set about trying to steal from them”. Ms Heer previously said: “Paul Longworth had been attacked with a hammer to the back of his head, suffering repeated blows, which shattered his skull. “Albert Alfonso had been repeatedly stabbed, suffering multiple wounds to his torso, his body, and his face and to his neck. The court heard examination of the computer showed Mosquera created a PowerPoint of the couple’s banking information, accessed a spreadsheet which contained their passwords for online banking and attempted to access Mr Alfonso’s different accounts to transfer money – including trying to send £4,000 to his own account in Colombia. He made several cash withdrawals from Mr Alfonso’s different bank accounts, obtaining at least £900 before the transactions started getting declined, the court was told. Mosquera is also said to have messaged Mr Alfonso’s manager the morning after the killing from the victim’s phone explaining he was flying to Costa Rica for a family emergency and planned to stay for around eight weeks. The scene at the Clifton Suspension Bridge after a man dumped two suitcases containing human remains and ran off(Image: Bristol Post / submitted)‌At around 11.30pm on July 10, a cyclist making his way across the Clifton Suspension Bridge spotted Mosquera standing next to a large red suitcase and stopped to see if he was OK, thinking he was a tourist, jurors heard. The witness also spied a large silver trunk a few metres away from the defendant before Mosquera told him the luggage contained car parts, jurors were told. Ms Heer said: “In fact, the suitcases contained the decapitated and dismembered bodies of Paul Longworth and Albert Alfonso, which the defendant had transported to Bristol from their home in London where they had been killed two days before.” The prosecution alleges Mosquera took the suitcases to the landmark to “dispose” of them, but the jury heard he was questioned by the cyclist and bridge staff who “noticed that something was leaking from the (red) suitcase”, before abandoning both items and running away. The police were called and officers discovered the cases contained body parts. Welcome to housingtoday.co.uk. This site uses cookies. Read our policy Trusted media brand of the Chartered Institute of Housing By 2025-03-28T10:59:00+00:00 Stock and assets now transferred to £460m-turnover provider as 5,000-home association ceases to exist Shepherds Bush Housing Association has now folded fully into Guinness Partnership The 5,000-home London provider’s full amalgamation has completed meaning it no longer exists as a corporate entity and its homes staff and property have transferred to Guinness The move completes the two-stage merger process that began in December 2023 when SBHA joined Guinness as a subsidiary SBHA was found non-compliant with the Regulator of Social Housing’s governance and financial viability standard In June 2022, the RSH published a report identifying weaknesses in the association’s risk management and internal control frameworks and business plan reporting It awarded SBHA a ‘G3’ governance rating which meant it was non-compliant The regulatory judgement was removed as a result of the merger Guinness reported turnover of nearly £460m in 2023/24 and completed 608 homes It has revised its house building target for 2018 to 2025 down from 5,500 to 4,000 homes Pippa Fleetwood-Read has also held senior roles at L&Q and the National Housing Federation Housebuilder expects full-year operating profit of around £444m Deal goes through two years after Berkley named preferred bidder on £2bn scheme  DESNZ will boost green skills under its Warm Homes Plan through financial awards  Developer also wins grant funding from London mayor  Site powered by Webvision Cloud Two 16-year-old boys – who cannot be named for legal reasons – have been charged with murder The pair were charged on Monday 7 April following an investigation by Metropolitan Police detectives They have been remanded and are due to appear at Highbury Corner Youth Court later today police were called to reports of a stabbing in Erconwald Street Keiron’s family continue to receive support from specially trained officers Detectives are not looking for anyone else in relation to this incident See also: Chiswick’s Ginkgo Corner declared open by BBC presenters Arit Anderson and Nicki Chapman See also: Hounslow Police charge eight suspected burglars Their new run includes a tennis star and a Doctor Who actor among the speakers Annabel Croft at the Wimbledon Championships The well-supported lecture series to help Shepherds Bush charity The Upper Room is back for a fresh run with a tennis star and a Doctor Who actor among the speakers Talks will help fund the work of volunteers at St Saviour's counselling and advice to homeless and vulnerable people and helping ex-offenders find work and turn their lives around saw Doctor Who star David Tennant interviewed by comedian Deborah Frances-White at St Peter's church investigative journalist Dan Evans will be the guest speaker at St Saviour's Dan was a whistleblower at the heart of the phone hacking scandal that engulfed the tabloids giving evidence in court for the Crown in a string of trials On Thursday 22 May at 8pm at St Michael & All Angels tennis star and media personality Annabel Croft will be in the spotlight The Upper Room began life three decades ago as a soup kitchen and still supplies hot meals to those in need But it has broadened its range of services to offer more practical help to homeless and people in need Glasgow indie veterans Franz Ferdinand come on stage looking like they’re all heading to or coming from a different occasion: from a corporate meeting in Canary Wharf to a night out in Soho with its trademark youthful defiance and humour back when Take Me Out made its debut on MTV a core memory for this writer and many others But – much to their credit – it never feels forced or dated If perhaps a bit more tired and not as obsessed with making girls dance as they used to be (the girls did dance though) they yet still carry that same cheeky aura the line between performer and crowd blurs completely the audience’s voices almost overpower the band as everyone belts out “the sound of you walking away” in unison Kapranos ends with a hermetic sentence: “I had a dream,” he says “it said –” only to then immediately catapult into the riff of Do You Want To The abrupt shift from a newer mellow tune to the 2005 dance-rock classic is a fun moment that keeps the energy up Guess we will never know what the dream was about Audacious lives up to its name when Kapranos introduces it by announcing “I think what we need right now is a riff!” – an audacious move indeed with a barrage of guitars and a funky groove a small hiccup turns into one of the highlights during Black Eyelashes This little gem of a song is unlike anything they’ve made before Kapranos bursts into laughter and confesses “I f***** that up massively!” the rock ballad proves to be irresistibly danceable – a slinky number that has everyone swaying and clapping along By the time the unmistakable opening riff of Take Me Out rings through the impact of the indie anthem hasn’t dimmed one bit The lighting design shifting to match each song’s mood is also a clever touch – from blues during the moody bass-driven grooves to explosive red strobes for the big guitar anthems the intimacy of the venue and the unshakable bond between Franz Ferdinand and their fans create an atmosphere you wish you could bottle For further information and future events visit Franz Ferdinand’s website here Franz Ferdinand at Shepherds Bush Empire - Virginie Viche - The Upcoming -1 Franz Ferdinand at Shepherds Bush Empire - Virginie Viche - The Upcoming -2 Franz Ferdinand at Shepherds Bush Empire - Virginie Viche - The Upcoming -3 Franz Ferdinand at Shepherds Bush Empire - Virginie Viche - The Upcoming -4 Franz Ferdinand at Shepherds Bush Empire - Virginie Viche - The Upcoming -5 Franz Ferdinand at Shepherds Bush Empire - Virginie Viche - The Upcoming -6 Franz Ferdinand at Shepherds Bush Empire - Virginie Viche - The Upcoming -7 Franz Ferdinand at Shepherds Bush Empire - Virginie Viche - The Upcoming -8 Franz Ferdinand at Shepherds Bush Empire - Virginie Viche - The Upcoming -9 Franz Ferdinand at Shepherds Bush Empire - Virginie Viche - The Upcoming -10 Franz Ferdinand at Shepherds Bush Empire - Virginie Viche - The Upcoming -11 Franz Ferdinand at Shepherds Bush Empire - Virginie Viche - The Upcoming -12 Franz Ferdinand at Shepherds Bush Empire - Virginie Viche - The Upcoming -13 Franz Ferdinand at Shepherds Bush Empire - Virginie Viche - The Upcoming -14 Franz Ferdinand at Shepherds Bush Empire - Virginie Viche - The Upcoming -15 Franz Ferdinand at Shepherds Bush Empire - Virginie Viche - The Upcoming -16 Watch the video for the single Audacious here: Franz Ferdinand dazzle with their irresistible indie disco at Shepherd’s Bush  Empire Opening in swaggering style for Franz Ferdinand The Great Leslie have a jaunty punk edge that opens the night in a suitably high energy fashion for Franz Ferdinand Main support Master Peace brings his upbeat blend of rap to a hyped up crowd as he really keeps the party started with his set.  For twenty years Franz Ferdinand have inspired a cult  following with their flamboyant indie pop anthems gregarious Glaswegians bring their new album ‘The Human Fear’ to the second of two sold out nights at Shepherd’s Bush Empire Their Strokes- esque lo - fi sound on their latest single ‘Audacious’ perfectly compliment the indie disco signature hits from their early back catalogue Speaking of the the band’s minimalist sound on their ‘The Human Fear’ released in January this year Kapranos says their latest single ‘Audacious’ that “In some ways it is more audacious musically than some of the things we might have done in the past” adding eloquently that despite their new sound they still distinctively the Franz Ferdinand fans know and love:: “Musically there are things that haven’t happened in Franz Ferdinand songs before - but online that at the same time you’re thinking: “Damn that’s the Holy Grail - to do something new but absolutely be unquestionably yourself” Early favourites like ‘The Dark of the Matinee’ remind us of Franz Ferdinand’s ability to write indie dance gems that set the indie world alright on their self titled dbiy album The ludicrously catchy ‘Do You Want To’ still sounds impeccably timeless to this day even though it’ first came out some fifteen years ago ‘No You Girls’ and ‘Ulysses’ sound phenomenal the gradual but devastating build up to an explosive climax that has the crowd in raptures Mid way through the set Kapranos quips in his deadpan Glaswegian drool: “We’re going to play a bunch of songs tonight and this is one of them” The nonchalant delivery of ‘Walk Away’ epitomise the art school cool of the bands’s sound that sets them sport of from the rest.  ‘Michael’’ is another masterpiece in how to throw an earthshaking indie shindig By this point driving the crowd to near hysteria Seminal indie dances floor filler ‘Take Me Oiut’ is simply sublime it’s teasingly long introduction evening a huge sense of anticipation in as crowd surfers wildly soar above the heads and beer glasses are held aloft in sheer ecstasy In one a few interactions with the crowd ad they fire through their arsenal of hits Alex Kapranos jokes: “This guy keeps taking a picture of of my feet I like a good pair of shoes as much as the next man but uh yeah anyway let’s move on”.  First song of the encore ‘Jaqueline’ starts of with a tantalising introduction that showcases the vocal dexterity of their incredible showman tonight ‘This Fire’ sends the crowd completely wild As name describe so perfectly: “The ‘Tale Me Out’ stars mission to to make you shake your tush with an arch and arty aesthetic set them a apart from the pool of watery Carling that surrounded them It’s was a display of bravado without overbearing machismo” Franz Ferdinand show us how indie art pop is done - and that show no signs of slowing down From humble beginnings with a restored rocking horse to transforming thousands of young lives through music – Shepherds Bush's beloved Music House celebrates three remarkable decades of nurturing musical talent Emma Hutchinson celebrates 30 years of Music House in Shepherds Bush The Shepherds Bush centre devoted to helping children appreciate music has celebrated its 30th birthday Music House for Children marked the milestone anniversary on Sunday 13 October with entertainment featuring a steel band and contributions from young musicians Its Bush Hall base in Uxbridge Road was decorated with balloons and streamers for the occasion with musicians and benefactors among the VIP guests Younger partygoers had their faces painted In the past three decades Music House has published nearly 100 specialist projects and case studies to demonstrate the positive impact music can have on children's life skills with particular success recorded among vulnerable and Disabled children It was founded in Uxbridge Road in 1994 by Emma Hutchinson as a not-for-profit project to encourage youngsters' development by playing instruments I drove a Zephyr 650 motorbike around London to teach piano and nursery groups," laughed Emma The early logo for Music House was a rocking horse after Emma discovered an abandoned one restored it and placed it in the window of her school "We've provided hundreds of teachers to work with young children with accessible musical skills to engage and nurture our youngest communities." With a range of digital courses now added to the regular classes at the centre even more youngsters are benefiting from Music House's support For more on Music House and its classes, visit the website The event included facepainting for the little ones A showcase of festive music will be a feast for the ears as the Addison Singers present a joyful winter concert on Saturday 7 December Addison Singers Festival of Music - joint Jazz & Classical concert - 29 June 2024 Traditional Christmas carols meet modern classical music as more than 130 singers celebrate the festive season with a lively winter concert The Addison Singers' classical choirs will join in joyful song at their concert on Saturday 7 December Music lovers can prepare for a warming evening of seasonal sounds as the group's chamber choir and larger oratorio choir perform works ranging from medieval carols to 20th century and contemporary composers The singers will launch the evening with a rousing rendition of the British Christmas carol Sir Christèmasat 7.30pm at St Peter's Church The festive programme will see the 30-strong chamber choir perform the winter-themed movements of award-winning contemporary composer Jonathan Dove's The Passing of the Year The group will also perform 20th century French composer Francis Poulenc's Quatre Motets pour le temps de Noël The choristers have taken on pieces that are "all characterised by their wide textural and dramatic scope," explained conductor Matthew Thomas Morgan Weekly rehearsals at the Polish Social and Cultural Association centre in Hammersmith's King Street have prepared the groups for the sensational two-hour performance The oratorio choir of 100 singers will continue the concert with Poulenc's Gloria "something truly as kaleidoscopic as the lights on a Christmas tree," added Matthew Next, the singers will journey through to the modern day, as they perform British composer Bob Chilcott's Christmas Oratorio the most famous story ever told – the Christmas story!" said Matthew Book tickets for the Addison Singers' festive concert priced £19.10 for general admission Addison Singers Open Rehearsal - Haydn Creation - October 2023 Local music fans can get involved with the Addison Singers choirs – which launched in 1971 – each Wednesday evening Rehearsals for the auditioned chamber choir taking place from 6.30-7.45pm and the non-auditioned oratorio choir from 7.30-9.30pm when the new term begins in January Prominent figures commemorated with replica blue plaques at Wendell Park primary Not many schools have a wall of blue plaques in their playground celebrating the lives of leading figures in sport But for the pupils at Wendell Park Primary School in Shepherds Bush a special project for Black History Month has had a lasting legacy for the community From Manchester-born footballer Marcus Rashford to South African anti-apartheid activist Nelson Mandela the youngsters now have a daily reminder of some of the figures who have made a significant contribution to society explains: "As part of the school's Black History Month project the children were tasked with researching Black individuals past or present who they believe have made a significant contribution to society "Each child did a presentation on their chosen individual and their class voted for one person who they deemed worthy of having a blue plaque." The replica blue plaques were officially unveiled on Friday 31 January by Dr Jak Beula, from the Nubian Jak Community Trust which delivers diverse blue plaques through its scheme publicly endorsed by English Heritage Speaking about the importance of history and keeping the past alive Dr Jak Beula praised the school's work on diverse heritage "With pupils from Nursery through to Year 6 taking part in the project creating the wall of replica blue plaques has been an experience for the whole school to enjoy," added Rosie "The idea of having a blue plaque project for Black History Month was born from the number of Nubian Jak Blue Plaque events the school choir and I have had the privilege of participating in," she said "I remember having to explain to the children what a blue plaque was They also know to always stop when they see one and take a few minutes to read about the person it is dedicated to." The unveiling of the replica plaques by Dr Jak Beula was the latest in a series of visits by the British entrepreneur and cultural activist to the borough Among leading figures associated with the house at 57 Castleton Road are African American revolutionary Malcolm X and human rights activists Marcus and Amy Garvey and Nigerian civil rights lawyer Ladipo Solanke are also honoured with blue plaques at the house Discover more of H&F's Black history heritage plaques on our heritage trail walks Miles Coverdale primary pupil earns a spot on the UK's most famous digital billboard after coming second in Young London Print Prize Muiz Mustafa showing off his winning print 'No Fly Zone' in Piccadilly Circus A Miles Coverdale Primary School pupil recently joined hundreds of Londoners to watch his climate-focused artwork light up Piccadilly Circus Muiz Mustafa's anti-pollution print caught the judges' attention among 1,600 entries for the 2024 Young London Print Prize "I wanted to show people that flying on planes is really bad for our environment," explained Muiz His artwork No Fly Zone uses a combination of stencils and lino printing and features an airplane crossed with warning symbols designed to highlight the industry's impact on climate change Muiz watched his piece displayed on the iconic screen alongside his mother Muiz's 'No Fly Zone' print won second prize The competition saw entries from 31 schools across the capital It gives young Londoners a platform to express their environmental concerns through art the project helped him apply important lessons about environmental action that are already part of daily life at Miles Coverdale "We should all be trying to reduce our carbon footprint," he said trying to use public transport or walking and cycling Other winning artworks included Mystic Blues a Puffin's Hues from third place prize winner Emma Tasnim and 9-year-old Pema Sherpa's depiction of ocean and forest floors Young London Print Prize winners 2024 (ltr): Pema Sherpa Leaks still bubbling away on Monday morning after dramatic 60ft ‘geyser’ erupted from a burst water main at Shepherd's Bush Green A burst main in west London has continued to cause traffic mayhem three days after water was sent flying 60 feet into the air A huge “geyser” burst from the middle of the road at Shepherd’s Bush Green on Saturday lunchtime, with Thames Water engineers battling to keep the impromptu fountain under control The leak remained bubbling away on Monday morning with Thames Water warning that the repair works will take longer than expected The Standard’s Business Editor, Jonathan Prynn, who witnessed the dramatic leak, described how a “great plume of water” nearly reached the roofline of the Dorsett Hotel leaving onlookers gauping and holding up traffic He explained: “I’ve seen a few bursts in my time but I’ve never seen something as spectacular as that There’s a massive great hole in the road on Shepherd’s Bush Green “It’s really spectacular and will cause total mayhem for hours,” he continued “The last time I saw something like this in Iceland I have never seen such a height of water coming out of the streets of London in my life In a statement to customers on Sunday night Thames Water said: “Throughout the day we've been digging down to expose the valve on the pipe however we've found that the repair has become more complex and will take longer than we'd hoped we'll be working around the clock to get everything back to normal “To ensure the work is done safely we've had to carry out a three-lane closure on Shepherd's Bush Green we've had to carry out maintenance further down the road and set up a diversion at the junction with Goldhawk Road “We're sorry for the traffic disruption this may cause The leak comes at an awkward time for Thames Water, which is due to appear at the High Court in a bid to allow it to restructure the company on Monday to avoid entering special administration Former Irish cabinet minister voices concern over lack of parallel Omagh inquiry Six people arrested as Tommy Robinson supporters and opponents face off Thousands gather in support of Tommy Robinson and for counter-demonstration Brilliant ways to invigorate your life for the new year The utility, which is England’s biggest water company with about 16 million customers, is in about £16bn of debt and needs £3.3bn over the next five years to keep running. Thames Water is forecast to run out of money and enter special administration by late March if restructuring is not approved It owns more than 20,000 miles of water mains and more than 68,000 miles of sewers across London A Thames Water spokesperson told the Standard on Saturday: “At 1pm today a burst on a clean water main was reported to Thames Water Shepherd's Bush Green “We promptly attended the site to assess the damage and control the leak and have stemmed the flow of water “The leak is [from] clean water and in order to minimise disruption and keep customer’s taps flowing we're checking all the valves that control the flow of water in the area before we start the repair.” By 2024-11-12T13:22:00 70,000-home association to consult staff and residents ahead of potential ‘full’ merger in April Guinness Partnership’s subsidiary Shepherds Bush Housing Association (SBHA) could be folded entirely into the 70,000-home housing association under new proposals put forward by the boards of the two organisations became a subsidiary of £459m-turnover Guinness last December. The boards of both organisations are now proposing a ‘full merger’ under which SBHA folds into Guinness entirely with the aim of completing the move on 1 April next year Already registered? Login here Stay at the forefront of thought leadership with news and analysis from award-winning journalists … or subscribe for full access - Subscribe now and incredibly catchy songs to make a Sunday night feel like a Friday “All I want to be is cool like Alex Turner,” deadpans Thom Rylance I’m more like Alan Carr,” he laughs “The main one” in The Lottery Winners (as per his Instagram bio) He plays up his friendship with Robbie Williams to comic proportions imitates Reverend and the Makers’ Jon McClure sending him animal pictures and cheekily assesses Selena Gomez’s music (“She’s a great actress”) He makes the photographers a part of the show turning his own camera on them while shouting “How do you fooking like it!?” before striking poses of his own genuinely touching memories of meeting guitarist and “best mate in the whole world” Rob Lally on his first day at a new high school: “We used to talk about this at school and now we’re actually doing it.” He praises the people behind the scenes with more affection and sincerity than just about any other artist out there He pokes fun at the band not quite selling out Shepherd’s Bush Empire But it’s his frank honesty about living with ADHD that truly connects he now “wears it like a badge of honour” “But when I was younger,” he recounts while introducing the song UFO “I just thought I was broken.” The memory brings him to tears Although he’s not looking for sympathy the audience respond with supportive cheers (and some tears of their own) Lally and bass player Katie Lloyd sing while the front man composes himself at Joe Singleton’s drum kit; when the song’s over all four band members embrace as the crowd chant “Thom” That humanity — the personal turned universal — extends to the incredibly catchy genre-fluid songs themselves emphasised by Lloyd’s swooning chorus vocal has Rylance rapping lines like “If a chemical imbalance in my mind makes me creative and kind Worry bounces around a central lyric of “All in my head is worry The indie-rocky You’re Not Alone (“There is no such thing as normal”) is a warm blanket of inclusion Arena anthem Start Again is all about rolling with the punches Punky spoken-word Letter To Myself is a reminder that “You need to worry less about how you are perceived/ And focus a bit more on the things that you believe” I Already Feel Much Better is positively life-affirming And anyone who’s spent a day on earth can identify with the premise of irresistible earworm Burning House: “I’m just sitting on the couch/ Chilling out as it all burns down around me” Even the heaviest lyrics are nestled in stadium-sized melodies that give Rylance the option to follow his friend Robbie’s advice: “Never sing your own choruses.” And The Lottery Winners ultimately just want to have fun So there’s an intentionally low-rent infomercial for upcoming album KOKO (out on 21 March) acted out by the band members themselves There are massive communal singalongs to solo acoustic performances of our Robbie’s Angels (by Rylance) and Billy Bragg’s A New England (by Lally) Favourite Flavour is further buoyed by audience-participation “choral work” conducted by the frontman while Turn Around sees him turn choreographer leading the masses (and slick support band The Covasettes) through a series of dance steps also involving arm waving and finger pointing There may have been a few tears along the way by the time the house lights are turned back on and Angels comes over the PA You can find The Lottery Winners on their website as well as Facebook, Instagram and X Photos by Simon Reed. His website Musical Pictures is here and you can visit his author profile for Louder Than War here. He tweets as @musicalpix the buzzing shopping site has been operating in the city for over 100 years making it a key attraction in the West London community While it may be just a stone’s throw away from the shopping superstore Westfield the two shopping resorts could not be more different in character Shepherd’s Bush Market is an authentic multicultural market packed full of ethnic stalls selling everything from spices to fresh fruit and vegetables the hot-spot also has stalls selling truly unique finds from vibrant prints and home furnishings to vinyls and electronic equipment Sample the different cuisines on Uxbridge Road Market rather than a touristy feel and is the perfect spot to visit to get a real taste of West London community culture import PrebidBidService from "/v1/js/PrebidBidService.js"; import AmazonBidService from "/v1/js/AmazonBidService.js"; window.addEventListener('intersecting',async (e) => { const element = document.querySelector('[data-id="in_article_1"]'); const slot = element.getAttribute('id'); if(e.detail.slotName !== slot) { return; } let promises = []; if(window.canRunPrebid) { const prebidService = new PrebidBidService(); promises.push(prebidService.requestPrebidBids(null [slot])); } if(window.canRunAmazon) { const amazonService = new AmazonBidService(); promises.push(amazonService.fetchBids(null [slot])); } if(promises?.length) { await Promise.all(promises).then(() => { googletag.pubads().refresh([window.addSlot[slot]]); }); } else { googletag.pubads().refresh([window.addSlot[slot]]); } }); Head for a night out at Bush Hall Concert Hall giving punters a different selection of great beers to choose from every time they visit The buzzing venue also offers live music four nights of the week making it the perfect spot for an after-work drink Sign up to our newsletter to save up to $800 on our unique trips See privacy policy Satisfy your shopping urges at Westfield Market Nan Tun Nay / Shutterstock Go Shopping The gigantic shopping venue is quite literally the definition of a shopperholic’s paradise which is the equivalent of about 30 football pitches With nearly 360 shops all in walking distance from one another you can quite literally spend the whole day at Westfield getting lost in the plethora of stores it has to offer The famous shopping destination boasts a variety of powerhouse designers If you work up an appetite from all the shopping Westfield offers around 50 different eateries ranging from casual on-the-go food spots to sit-down venues If you’re planning a trip to the landmark venue make sure you wear comfortable footwear because of the mileage you’ll cover Visit the Linford Christie Stadium Stadium Nathan Jeon / Unsplash Originally called the West London stadium the venue was renamed after sprinter Linford Christie the year after he won Olympic 100m gold The Jamaican-born British former sprinter grew up near Shepherd’s Bush and won gold at the Olympics at the age of 32 making him the oldest athlete to win the 200m sprint The sports ground has many facilities on offer to guests including a batting cage I am constantly looking for new food spots and different activities to try and love writing about London culture Read my blog for more travel content: https://lizzie-thomson.com Or you can follow me on Instagram for mouth-watering pictures of delicious food: https://www.instagram.com/_lizziethomson/ See & Do The Ultimate Guide to Walthamstow See & Do The Best European Cities to Visit in July See & Do The Best European Cities to Visit in September Guides & Tips The Best European Cities to Visit in December Guides & Tips The 8 Most Beautiful Places to Enjoy Spring in London Bars & Cafes The 25 Best Bars In London For Stylish Nights Out See & Do The Best European Cities to Visit in October Bars & Cafes The Best Outdoor Venues in London This Summer Guides & Tips This Is Europe's Ultimate Road Trip Guides & Tips The Best European Cities to Visit in November See & Do The Best European Cities to Visit in Autumn See & Do The Best European Cities to Visit in Summer US: +1 (678) 967 4965 | UK: +44 (0)1630 35000 tripssupport@theculturetrip.com © Copyright 2025 The Culture Trip Ltd BRIT Awards week was once one of rock and roll excess that threw up tales like Bob Mortimer extracting Jarvis Cocker from police custody Things are a little more sedate and worthy in 2025 Blossoms and Kasabian aimed to bring a little rock attitude to the Shepherd’s Bush Empire First came the Stockport psychedelia merchants frontman Tom Ogden looks like he’s stepped out of a 1970s episode of Top of the Pops funked-up version of the melodic rock of that era Blossoms may be one of Britain’s more underrated acts In another time when guys with guitars ruled pop The group have plenty of anthems – I Can’t Stand It There’s a Reason Why and Charlemagne all manage to be enchanting while encouraging you to chant along As important when playing live they also have a sense of fun They treat the audience to a marching band-style version of their track Nightclub a song about a giant fibreglass gorilla that went missing from a garden centre in Scotland After a brief interlude for the audience to refresh themselves and the stage to be reset Kasabian emerge to belt out ravey new track Call one of the standouts on their hugely successful self-titled 2004 debut Kasabian were something of a mixed-bag live but matured with their music to the extent that by 2009 they could wow a Pyramid Stage crowd at Glastonbury and now vocalist Serge Pizzorno they are seasoned rock veterans There’s nothing surprising – other than an appearance by Mighty Boosh and Bake Off star Noel Fielding – but plenty of hits to get an already enthusiastic crowd going The night ends on a high with their encore’s closer the raucous thumper that was their biggest hit at their 2009 peak It may be unusual to see two bands play what are effectively two headline slots in such a small venue with Blossoms providing a delicate starter to Kasabian’s meaty main course In fact – whisper it quietly – the crowd at the Shepherd’s Bush Empire may have had more fun than those attending Saturday’s big BRITs bash will Mark Worgan Photos: Aaron Parsons Photography For further information and future events visit Kasabian’s website here and Blossoms’s website here. BlossomsShepherdsBushEmpire_WarChildUK_AaronParsonsPhotography1_highres_3 BlossomsShepherdsBushEmpire_WarChildUK_AaronParsonsPhotography1_highres_2 BlossomsShepherdsBushEmpire_WarChildUK_AaronParsonsPhotography1_highres_1 BlossomsShepherdsBushEmpire_WarChildUK_AaronParsonsPhotography1_highres_4 BlossomsShepherdsBushEmpire_WarChildUK_AaronParsonsPhotography1_highres KasabianShepherdsBushEmpire_WarChildUK_AaronParsonsPhotography1_highres_2 KasabianShepherdsBushEmpire_WarChildUK_AaronParsonsPhotography1_highres_3 KasabianShepherdsBushEmpire_WarChildUK_AaronParsonsPhotography1_highres_4 KasabianShepherdsBushEmpire_WarChildUK_AaronParsonsPhotography1_highres_5 KasabianShepherdsBushEmpire_WarChildUK_AaronParsonsPhotography1_highres_6 KasabianShepherdsBushEmpire_WarChildUK_AaronParsonsPhotography1_highres_7 KasabianShepherdsBushEmpire_WarChildUK_AaronParsonsPhotography1_highres KasabianShepherdsBushEmpire_WarChildUK_AaronParsonsPhotography1_highres_1 Watch the video for the single Charlemagne here: a new food hall or market seems to open somewhere in the UK In renovated warehouses and repurposed shipping containers slickly branded traders offer carefully curated street food menus that hit all the latest culinary trends While such spaces provide pleasant days out and entry points to a variety of cuisines for thousands of hungry customers I have always felt that they lack the grit and low-key glamour of the everyday markets I fell in love with as a child.  Shepherd’s Bush market was always an essential destination for my family found ingredients essential to our favourite Iraqi dishes: dried lime We weren’t the only ones who found a slice of home there Nigerian and Algerian aunties shopping for ackee Situated beneath the railway arches of the Hammersmith and City line, the 110-year-old market is open Monday to Saturday. If you ever find yourself in need of a “flower blanket” a whole tilapia or a new headscarf from an Arabic-speaking Sikh trader The main reason I keep coming back, though, is the food. On a recent visit I paid my respects to old standbys and tried some new additions. Mr Falafel a favourite of White City BBC execs and anyone else seeking a quick and economical lunch has been serving up delicious Palestinian chickpea fritters for 24 years.  Already well acquainted with Mr Falafel’s menu The chef proudly tells me that the business is one of the few five-star Google-reviewed establishments on the market bringing a touch of herbaceous luxury.  I am relieved to see the main component of my wrap (£6.50) is fried to order Nothing is more reprehensible to me than pre-cooked falafel robbed of its crisp appeal by air and time The filling also includes fried cauliflower and aubergine Generously portioned za’atar fries (£4) make for a great side and 10 beautifully green loose falafel cost just £2.50.  After that vegetarian treat, I head to Delina for a protein-packed Ethiopian/Eritrean lunch Launched five years ago and set in an enviable large spot within the arches it is one of the few places on the market permitted to open after hours for private events is usually on hand to help newcomers to navigate the menu As Ethiopia is believed to be the original home of the coffee plant Enthusiasts can book in for a traditional coffee ceremony in which green coffee beans are roasted in a pan over an open flame ground using a traditional pestle and mortar and placed in a vessel with boiling water before being served from a traditional jebena pot Yemen, however, is thought to be the place where the coffee plant was first cultivated and developed into the beans we know today. As such, I had to visit Hamdan where customers can order from an extensive menu of traditional and modern preparations and receive a crash course in the country’s deep-rooted coffee culture a less sweet cousin of karak and masala chai that can be traced back to the coastal city’s colonial history as part of British India.  Before heading home I stop off at the market’s best-known food spot, Sam’s Sandwiches. Its most popular offering is the Algerian merguez (£7) salad and a fried egg stuffed into a semolina-based Algerian roll.  regularly appears near the top of London’s best sandwich guides and while it has no real social media presence of its own has featured in countless social media videos According to owner Samir — the Sam behind the sandwiches — word of mouth and other people’s posts are the secret to its success it’s easy to see why.     As with many street and indoor markets across the country Shepherd’s Bush represents the best of my home town customers and cultures from across the world find an easy harmony its rough and ready appeal is under threat.  Major redevelopment plans have divided local opinion and caused concern among traders about increased rent and fees That story has already played out in Elephant and Castle resulting in the loss of the capital’s most vibrant Latin American community space.  As our towns and cities become increasingly homogenous long-established everyday markets offer something distinctive Norwich’s has occupied the same spot for more than 900 years 500-year-old Bury Market in Greater Manchester has repeatedly been crowned the best in the UK and the ornately Victorian Kirkgate in Leeds is the largest covered market in Europe and all deserve to be cherished and celebrated exactly as they are Hyphen is the leading media platform on Muslim life in the UK and Europe Sign up to our newsletter to receive our top stories straight to your inbox every week This form may not be visible due to adblockers © 2025 Hyphen® / Link Media Corporation Ltd It was a bittersweet night at the Shepherd’s Bush Empire as the five-piece known as Kawala took to the stage for one last time The Farewell Tour has been a celebration of their decade-long dance allowing both themselves and their dedicated fanbase a worthy goodbye This show was everything Kawala pride themselves on – a joyous Dan and Suren (the drummer on loan from their heroes Bombay Bicycle Club) walk onstage casually taking the time to tune their own guitars before bursting into the upbeat Never Really Here for Long Already the music is a lament for their inevitable goodbye but they make sure not to leave the crowd in the sadness of it for too long; tonight is still a party Time Slipping Away and Pure Desire showcase the band’s rich with drums up the walls and easy harmonies from the dynamic Make a Difference to the dreamy Heavy in the Morning What transforms this concert from good to unforgettable the two frontmen – Jim Higson and Daniel McCarthy – dip into the gawking fans below to sing this folky tune The looks on the faces of those around them are truly mesmerising core memories in the process of being formed Higson and McCarthy’s presence is relaxed and friendly making this two thousand capacity venue feel as intimate as your local open mic and are constantly cracking jokes; it couldn’t be more obvious that they’ve been doing this together for over ten years the fact that this is it is rumbling in the air McCarthy reveals in a speech that the reason they have had to stop touring is financial – the economic situation in the UK has meant that it isn’t tenable for them to continue anymore and a true reminder of the difficulties of this industry And so they make sure to leave nothing on the table It is gorgeously raucous as everyone does their best to make the night memorable There are arms around shoulders and smiles on faces For further information and future events visit Kawala’s website here KAWALA- at -Shepherds Bush Empire- - -Nick Bennett-- The Upcoming – (1) KAWALA- at -Shepherds Bush Empire- - -Nick Bennett-- The Upcoming – (21) KAWALA- at -Shepherds Bush Empire- - -Nick Bennett-- The Upcoming – (20) KAWALA- at -Shepherds Bush Empire- - -Nick Bennett-- The Upcoming – (19) KAWALA- at -Shepherds Bush Empire- - -Nick Bennett-- The Upcoming – (18) KAWALA- at -Shepherds Bush Empire- - -Nick Bennett-- The Upcoming – (17) KAWALA- at -Shepherds Bush Empire- - -Nick Bennett-- The Upcoming – (16) KAWALA- at -Shepherds Bush Empire- - -Nick Bennett-- The Upcoming – (15) KAWALA- at -Shepherds Bush Empire- - -Nick Bennett-- The Upcoming – (14) KAWALA- at -Shepherds Bush Empire- - -Nick Bennett-- The Upcoming – (13) KAWALA- at -Shepherds Bush Empire- - -Nick Bennett-- The Upcoming – (12) KAWALA- at -Shepherds Bush Empire- - -Nick Bennett-- The Upcoming – (11) KAWALA- at -Shepherds Bush Empire- - -Nick Bennett-- The Upcoming – (10) KAWALA- at -Shepherds Bush Empire- - -Nick Bennett-- The Upcoming – (9) KAWALA- at -Shepherds Bush Empire- - -Nick Bennett-- The Upcoming – (8) KAWALA- at -Shepherds Bush Empire- - -Nick Bennett-- The Upcoming – (7) KAWALA- at -Shepherds Bush Empire- - -Nick Bennett-- The Upcoming – (6) KAWALA- at -Shepherds Bush Empire- - -Nick Bennett-- The Upcoming – (5) KAWALA- at -Shepherds Bush Empire- - -Nick Bennett-- The Upcoming – (4) KAWALA- at -Shepherds Bush Empire- - -Nick Bennett-- The Upcoming – (3) KAWALA- at -Shepherds Bush Empire- - -Nick Bennett-- The Upcoming – (2) BRITs Week 2025 in aid of War Child came to O2 Shepherd’s Bush London with an energetic show from Kasabian with support from indie popsters Blossoms ahead of their joint tour to Australia It’s been eight years since I last shot a Blossoms show and stuff of note has happened in that time: a split from Virgin EMI and resultant move into true indie-ness; an improbable but popular bunch of shows with Rick Astley covering The Smiths; and a catchy pop tune about a lost fibreglass gorilla called Gary (or Gareh) with more than a whiff of their collaboration with the great CMAT about it There’s a distinct calmness about them tonight. The set and lighting are simple and on brand with their recent album, also called Gary: the band (with numbers swelled to seven tonight) showing off a hint of The Sweet-style ‘70s glam It’s a short sharp set of 12 shimmering songs mixing staple Blossoms numbers with newer tracks like Perfect Me which crawl into the pop compartment of the brain and lurk there there are flashes of the same sense of fun here and there although they seem slightly repressed tonight Or maybe they’re just not required to do that much with every song being sung back at them by a willing crowd representatives of War Child arrive on stage to provide some sobering statistics – that one in five children are currently either living in conflict or fleeing conflict – and to talk about the amazing work that this charity does to raise money to help impacted children despite several “shut the fuck up”s from across the venue there’s relentless rude chatter throughout the speeches sadly: “Sorry you didn’t realise it was a fundraiser.” It doesn’t sour the evening Things brighten when the audience are asked to light up their phones and everyone who does so is instructed to donate £10 Kasabian arrive on stage to football chants of “Sergio who emerges from the darkness in a leopardskin top and mismatched shoes all coiled energy waiting to sprint off the blocks leaving the rest of the stage for Serge to endlessly prowl in his now trademark swagger sometimes it’s really just walking about with attitude But he does a great job of working the crowd and they’re totally up for it with an energy that says at the same level for the entire show it’s hard not to draw comparisons to what Kasabian were before and who’s missing now but the measure tonight is that the crowd are loving it regardless makes a surprise appearance on stage with the greeting “Shepherd’s Bush followed by rushing to plant a kiss on the top of longtime friend Serge’s head It’s a masterclass in how to undermine a swaggering rock star in five seconds the crowd frenzy continues to build and by the time LSF (Lost Souls Forever) starts up the entire lower floor is jumping as one When Serge says: “Let’s get as many people on shoulders as we can,” it feels like the whole crowd rise to the challenge; bodies Halfway through the song Serge disappears and emerges on the balcony on Level One lit up like a leopard messiah The party feeling continues right to the very end and a raucous Fire bringing the concert to a sweaty and exhilarating close An evening to end all evenings and doubtless a jewel in the crown of War Child’s week of shows Upcoming BRIT’s Week 2025 for War Child shows: For more details visit the BRITs Week 25 for War Child website Follow Kasabian on their website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter Follow Blossoms on their website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter Use of these images in any form without permission is copyright infringement To use/purchase or license any images please contact naomi@louderthanwar.com