Home   News   Article Travellers have moved into a Stratford park overnight A resident reported the encampment to the Herald this morning (Friday) and we are waiting to hear back from the council and police The resident said: “It looks like the travellers broke into park in Stratford at end of Joseph Way They have set up camp on the football field Another group of travellers had also stayed overnight on the King Edward VI School playing fields in Manor Road They were reported to have moved in on Thursday evening but had left the site this morning (Friday) If you see something that doesn’t feel right report it at gov.uk/ACT Current threat level: SUBSTANTIAL A Stratford woman found guilty of multiple terrorism offences has been sentenced to life imprisonment Farishta Jami was convicted of two counts of engaging in conduct in preparation for terrorism under section 5 of the Terrorism Act 2006 by a jury at Leicester Crown Court in mid-February Appearing at the same court today (Thursday) with a minimum of 17 years for engaging in conduct in preparation for terrorism under Section 5 of the Terrorism Act 2006 the court heard how Jami was planning to travel to join Daesh in Afghanistan to martyr herself while a second charge related to her taking the children She had saved £1,200 to pay for one-way flights to Afghanistan for herself and her children and researched available flights to travel to join Daesh she looked at weaponry and how to assemble and disassemble an AK47 rifle several devices and sim cards in a bag stuffed down the side of her bed plus they found Jami was trying to conceal passports It was also revealed that the 36-year-old had shared graphic and violent extremist material between September 2022 and January 2024 on social media – posting videos documents and images as well as participating in various group chats joining multiple pro-Daesh groups and channels She was an administrator on several of the groups overseeing the posting and messaging of the users Some of the groups had over 700 members and disseminated large amounts of propaganda including instructional videos to make devices so ISKP could see that she was loyal and committed to the cause Head of Specialist Operations for Warwickshire Police Superintendent Darren Webster said: “This was a complex case interlinking terrorism and serious criminal offences “Jami’s actions had the potential for real world implications and the harm they could have cause cannot be underestimated with excellent partnership working between ourselves and Counter Terrorism Policing West Midlands “If you know of anyone who is viewing or posting extreme content online please report this – every year reports from the public help us to tackle the threat of terrorism so if you see or hear something that doesn’t seem right Report it in confidence to police online at gov.uk/act” You can make a difference in the fight against terrorism Few plays deconstruct themselves as confidently and deliberately as Tambo & Bones now returning to Stratford East in a timely revival Dave Harris’s satirical three-act opens on Tambo (Clifford Samuel) and Bones (Daniel Ward) two Black men caught in the grotesque loop of a minstrel show Their names – taken from 19th-century racist stock characters – are a constant reminder of history’s weight as the pair awaken to their predicament and begin searching for a way out What unfolds is a dizzying journey through time: from slapstick vaudeville to hip-hop excess to a dystopian future 400 years ahead Each act is a hall of mirrors – performance reflecting performance and the final chapter turns their entire story into a post-revolutionary pageant The structure isn’t just clever; it’s essential to Harris’s critique Tambo and Bones evolve from stock characters to self-made stars to capitalists – and eventually into symbols recycled for someone else’s narrative Xia’s musical direction is pivotal in charting this evolution His score shifts from pastiche to bass-heavy trap the production now feels uncomfortably prescient Bones’s calculated choice to bankroll both sides of a future race war might once have read as absurd satire Yet Tambo & Bones is not merely a metatheatrical game It’s a razor-sharp dissection of authorship and commodification In a world where anything can be packaged and sold the play questions whether freedom is even possible or just another role to perform Tambo & Bones is at Theatre Royal Stratford East from 29th April until 10th May 2025. For further information or to book, visit the theatre’s website here Watch the trailer for Tambo & Bones at Theatre Royal Stratford East here: The first Stratford Park Music in the Park event of 2025 will take place tomorrow free events feature a variety of bands performing from 2- 4pm every Sunday from May to September in the park’s Victorian style bandstand Visitors can enjoy a variety of music styles from award-winning brass bands to jazz and steel bands and people are encouraged to bring a picnic and blanket to enjoy the beautiful 56-acre park Refreshments will be available from Stratford Perk café in Active Lifestyles Stroud and the Museum in the Park The park in Stroud hosts other events including a miniature railway on the fourth Sunday of the month (April to October) Stroud Show and a weekly 5km parkrun every Saturday morning two recently refurbished children’s play areas with accessible equipment The park is home to the free-to-enter Museum in the Park which tells the fascinating story of the Stroud district’s rich and diverse history through 4,000 objects on display The Active Lifestyles Stroud leisure centre offers an indoor pool During the summer months visitors can also enjoy the outdoor lido Bands will perform in the bandstand from 2 – 4pm:  To contact the Stroud Times team, please visit our contact page to find the appropriate email address or send us your story via email on news@stroudtimes.com Website built and managed by Hewlett Photography & Design the beautiful district of Stratford-on-Avon is one of the most scenic and historical regions in the UK Stratford-on-Avon District Council’s headquarters are located in the heart of William Shakespeare’s hometown home to over 135,000 residents and a tourist destination for millions of visitors each year We are proud to provide public services to residents businesses and visitors across this magnificent region our people are our superpower and by choosing to bring your talents to our organisation you will be joining a great team where everyone feels that they truly belong full of dedicated people all working with passion and purpose across a dynamic portfolio of work providing high-quality services you will enjoy a comprehensive benefits package You will lead and play key support roles on a wide range of planning policy projects across Stratford-on-Avon district working effectively with key stakeholders to deliver high-quality projects which positively impact the lives of those we serve You will also work as part of a team advancing apace with Warwick District Council on preparing the South Warwickshire Local Plan planning for the long term future of the region Key Accountabilities and Responsibilities (Please see Job Description and Person Specification for more details): What You’ll Need (Please see Job Description and Person Specification for more details): This post is offered as a secondment opportunity allowing employees to return to their original post at the end of the secondment period so please ensure that your Line Manager is supportive before applying Full agreement from all parties must be confirmed in writing for the secondment to proceed therefore candidates must have written agreement from their Manager before making an application This written agreement must be submitted with the application form For an informal chat about the role, please contact TIM WEBB, LOCAL PLANS MANAGER on 01789 260800 or Tim.Webb@stratford-dc.gov.uk Applications will close at midnight on Tuesday 20 May 2025\r\nInterviews will be held week beginning 9th June 2025 To apply, please visit our website: Stratford-on-Avon District Council - Current Vacancies or email hr@stratford-dc.gov.uk The Council is committed to equality of opportunity and aims to create a welcoming inclusive workplace where we are all able to bring our whole selves to work and perform at our best allowing employees to return to their original post at the end of the secondment period.  All parties must agree to the secondment so please ensure that your Line Manager is supportive before applying.  Full agreement from all parties must be confirmed in writing for the secondment to proceed therefore candidates must have written agreement from their Manager before making an application.  This written agreement must be submitted with the application form For an informal chat about the role, please contact TIM WEBB, LOCAL PLANS MANAGER on 01789 260800 or Tim.Webb@stratford-dc.gov.uk To apply, please visit our website: Stratford-on-Avon District Council - Current Vacancies or email hr@stratford-dc.gov.uk Create a job alert and receive personalised job recommendations straight to your inbox When you create this job alert we will email you a selection of jobs matching your criteria. Our terms and conditions and privacy policy apply to this service and you can unsubscribe at any time your email address will be shared with the employer You may recall a few weeks ago we reported on the changes afoot at South Bank restaurant Hannah which was morphing into a claypot offering Donabe at the same time as moving their sushi operation to Stratford in the form of Kokin Now we can reveal exactly what they have planned for their foray into East London taking over the old Allegra space on the seventh floor which has been empty since chef Patrick Powell left back last summer Chef Daisuke Shimoyama's plans for Kokin include a woodfired Japanese menu for the main part of the restaurant (it's a pretty big space you might recall) There will also be a dedicated sushi bar which fuses Temae - where guests choose the ingredients - and Omakase which is all about leaving the chef to create the menu because this is a London sushi restaurant in 2025 there has to be the odd tuna night planned where they'll take a whole sustainably-sourced bluefin tuna and break down the entire fish How to book: book online here Find out more: Visit their website or follow them on Instagram @kokin_london Subscribe to be the first to get the news from Hot Dinners Please enable the javascript to submit this form By signing up you agree to our privacy policy View on Google maps About us  |  Contact Us  |  RSS Feed  |  Site directory  |  Privacy policy  |  Log in/out Join 50,000 other Londoners getting exclusive news and restaurant offers from Hot Dinners. Please enable the javascript to submit this form By signing up you agree to our privacy policy See our previous newsletters here Following a celebrated run at Stratford East in 2023, Tambo & Bones has returned with a short run as part of its 2025 UK Tour, and it is every bit as bold, unflinching and unforgettable as one might hope. This is theatre that defies convention at every turn: structurally daring, tonally jarring, and radically different from anything I have encountered before. Long after the final scene, this play will leave you holding on – thinking, questioning, and reckoning. The latest in a series of acclaimed productions from ATC, Dave Harris’ Tambo & Bones charts the journey of two men: Tambo (Clifford Samuel) and Bones (Daniel Ward), through a searing satire that interrogates race, identity, power, performance, and complicity. It is a play that knows exactly what it is doing, demanding an uncomfortable attention in this knowledge. This is not a play you simply watch; it’s a play you become a part of – and one that continues to echo long after the final scene. Although there are four cast members, with Jason Lammens and Dre Cripps playing X-Bot-1&2, Tambo & Bones is fundamentally a two-hander. This intimacy is key – there is nowhere to hide. Each joke, each breakdown, each provocation is laid gutturally bare; the writing thrives in this stripped-back form. Tambo & Bones is not comfortable viewing – nor should it be. It’s raw, ruthless, and unafraid to turn the mirror on its audience. In its refusal to appease and dilute, it carves out a space for theatre that is both intellectually rigorous and emotionally guttural. This is not a play you simply watch; it’s a play you become a part of – and one that continues to echo long after the final scene. Copyright © 2025 Palatinate. All rights reserved. who has led the council for almost 12 years The Lib Dems are the second largest party with 14 seats Conservatives had a strong majority before the election Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingWho would Reform join forces with?published at 17:09 British Summer Time 2 May17:09 BST 2 MaySimon GilbertPolitical Reporter The Conservatives would be the obvious choice A joint Reform and Conservative administration would surely be the focus of widespread attention with the recurring incessant chatter around a possible future merging of the two parties The coming days and weeks of political manoeuvring will decide who leads the county But it could significant for the country - depending on the partnerships formed and their success or failure Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingCounty set for a 'completely new broom' - Lib Demspublished at 16:57 British Summer Time 2 May16:57 BST 2 MayDan SambellBBC Radio CWR Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingStratford-upon-Avon is being painted yellowpublished at 16:48 British Summer Time 2 May16:48 BST 2 MaySimon GilbertPolitical Reporter While today has been a huge success for Reform in the north of the county the failure of the Conservative leader Izzi Seccombe to hold on to her seat in Stour & The Vale is more to do with the surge of the Liberal Democrats in Stratford-upon-Avon That’s a town now under Liberal Democrat control after the last district council election when they dethroned the Tories The Liberal Democrats also ousted the Tory MP at the General Election Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingReform happy to work with Tories at a local levelpublished at 16:38 British Summer Time 2 May16:38 BST 2 MayJames BovillBBC News chairman of the Warwick and Leamington branch of Reform has said his party is happy to work with the Conservatives on a local level He said meetings were already planned in terms of working with other parties and Reform was "happy to talk with anyone who thinks they can add value to what we offer" "Reform is a lot more of a centrist party than people expect," he said "They attract just as much from Labour heartlands as Conservative heartlands We’re now at a stage where we understand that Britain is broken Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingA number of coalition options over coming dayspublished at 16:28 British Summer Time 2 May16:28 BST 2 MaySimon GilbertPolitical Reporter It’s not impossible that the other parties could attempt to stifle Reform Tory and Green coalition would have the numbers to keep Reform out of power Perhaps Whitnash Residents Association could become the kingmaker in that scenario Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingFinal result declared with a Liberal Democrat winpublished at 16:13 British Summer Time 2 May16:13 BST 2 MayDan SambellBBC Radio CWR The final result has been declared in Stoneleigh The county council make up is now - nine seats for the Tories 23 Reform and one for the Whitnash Residents Association Election Results, external Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingHow are Labour performing in Warwickshire?published at 16:02 British Summer Time 2 May16:02 BST 2 MaySo far the Labour Party has won seats in: said she would look at provisions for social care We are now waiting to find out who the final four will be Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingReform gains see Tory seat go to Lib Demspublished at 15:18 British Summer Time 2 May15:18 BST 2 MayIn former council leader Izzi Seccombe's Stour & The Vale ward Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingCouncil slips to no overall controlpublished at 15:10 British Summer Time 2 May15:10 BST 2 MaySimon GilbertPolitical Reporter No party will have overall control of Warwickshire County Council Exactly 29 seats are needed for an overall majority and no one party is now able to reach that number Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingReform will be biggest party in Warwickshirepublished at 14:57 British Summer Time 2 May14:57 BST 2 MaySimon GilbertPolitical Reporter The party has currently won 22 seats in the county A further seven are needed for a majority and overall control of the council Reform is likely to look to form a joint administration and create a partnership that will allow it to govern and push the changes members want through council votes Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingWhat does the county council do?published at 14:48 British Summer Time 2 May14:48 BST 2 MaySo what does the county council do for you Other public services in the county council area are controlled by the more local district council Stratford movie fans will have a chance to learn a little more about the monarchy As King Charles gets set to visit Canada to deliver the throne speech later this month Article contentThe Stratford Film Festival will be presenting two Mid-May screening of The Cowboy and the Queen which tells the unusual story of how an American horse trainer and her majesty struck up this unique friendship The documentary was directed by Andrea Nevins who had originally set out to do a film on the queen’s corgis “Monty told Nevins his life story and she became fascinated not only by his story but by this unlikely friendship between a former rodeo star and the Queen of England,” said Megan Smith-Harris “He was a horse trainer who had a revolutionary way of breaking a horse through gentleness and kindness instead of violence and cruelty Instead of making him a hero in the equestrian world with the Queen and other members of the royal family gently training a horse to accept a saddle and a rider in the less than 30 minutes “Normally to break a horse takes about six weeks and is very cruel and they physically hobble them and whip them and yell at them Monty Roberts’ method was to communicate with the horse to listen to what the horse was telling him and to lead them with his own body language,” Smith-Harris said there will also be an appearance by horse trainer Mallory Phillips and her miniature therapy horse Philipps also volunteers with Out of the Ashes a volunteer-run organization that provides a forever home for more than 90 rescued animals who struggled with PTSD due to abuse from his father and how he saw the benefits of using horses for people inspired Smith-Harris to make Philips a part of the screening and we can all learn that listening and communication is what we need to do today,” she said The film is very relevant to Stratford residents who was “a lasting and constant presence in our lives that led with dignity and kindness,” Smith-Harris said “I know things are pretty fraught right now in the world of politics but I also thought it was important to show that there are other Americans who do lead with kindness and who do listen and do want to to build bridges This is a reminder to everyone to look for the good in the world,” she said watwood@postmedia.com transmission or republication strictly prohibited This website uses cookies to personalize your content (including ads), and allows us to analyze our traffic. 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By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy PEOPLE living in the vicinity of Timothy’s Bridge Road in Stratford say that dust from the demolition of a landmark building is a danger to health and the environment Residents say that their homes and cars are being covered in dust from the demolition of the old IDC office block and claim that nothing is being done to suppress the spread of the particles of Orrian Close – across the railway line from Timothy’s Bridge Road – told the Herald that she’d lived there since 1986 and had never seen dust as thick as that coming from the demolition site She said she’d complained to Stratford District Council that her car and her house windows were being covered in dust on a daily basis and she wanted to know what the authority was doing about it Kim said: “I was concerned about the level of it because of the health perspective I’ve never seen so much dust come on to my property.” And she added: “I don’t see any measures to suppress the dust I think there are certain measures they have to put in place with a demolition “I’m worried about the health and environmental factors because of the amount of dust on my house and on my car Kim said: “I’ve lived at my address for 39 years and my car or house hasn’t experienced this level of dust formed since the [demolition] work started I’ve cleaned my car and windows in the past week and the dust levels have formed again… I have a health condition and it can be triggered by environment factors so I would like you to take this situation seriously.” After posting a reference to the demolition dust on social media Kim got this response from an official: “I am a planning enforcement officer and I will look into whether the construction management plan requires dust suppression measures on site and if those are being carried out during dry spells whilst construction is taking place “It is very difficult to prove dust is coming from a particular site because rain forms from dust particles in the air by moisture condensing around particles in the atmosphere and falling as rain The official told Kim the council would make “some further investigations” and get back to her Kim was also asked to keep “a diary of dusty events” and whether these “events” occurred after rain the official concluded: “Please note I have a very high caseload and will be dealing with matters in priority order A spokeswoman for the district council told the Herald that as this was now a live enforcement case the authority was unable to comment the council was investigating to determine if sufficient dust suppression was in place CAN someone please tell me when the moment was that it became acceptable to do everything on speaker phone It has always been irritating when someone is being extremely loud on their phone and you have no choice but to hear everything they are saying but now it seems we must listen to both sides of every stranger’s conversation I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve been next to someone while they are having a deafeningly loud call on speaker phone I was recently in Tesco where there was a young woman video calling her friend as she meandered aimlessly round the aisles not looking where she was going and loudly discussing how some bloke called Matt was flirting with her and she knows he has a girlfriend but Every so often she would stop dead and say I know” causing multiple trolley pile-ups involving people who were simply using the supermarket to go it’s not just other people’s tedious private conversations we have to listen to but other people’s awful music A friend of mine regularly gets the X18 bus from Stratford to Warwick and on every journey he is treated to several teenagers blaring out music from their respective phones at the same time and within a few metres of one another I have questions for these youngsters: Why do you think everyone wants to hear your dreadful music Doesn’t it bother you that you can hear several other people’s dreadful music at the same time for the love of God why don’t you buy some headphones on which to listen to your dreadful music As part of my well-established intolerance of youth I have always considered this to be something that only young people do but a few days ago I was proved very wrong and was forced to accept that this activity against humanity is now enjoyed by all generations Last week I was in Costa on the Maybird with my friend but all tolerable and not unexpected given the time of day That is until a man came and sat down at the table next to us with his tablet I made the assumption that he would be sitting quietly and maybe perusing news sites on his electronic device Or perhaps bulk buying Werther’s Originals stood it on the table and started watching a sit-com at full volume I’m unable to express the rage I felt at this small act of anti-social behaviour at my friend who could see I was having trouble processing the party-for-one at the adjacent table “Just ignore it,” he said through gritted teeth He should know better at his age” was the printable part of my reply I did what all self-respecting British people do at this point and turned to him It turns out this is entirely ineffectual when someone is so engrossed with Dad’s Army that they have forgotten to act like a member of a civilised society many things in this world that have been improved by smart technology We can video call family and friends across the world choose from millions of songs and films at our convenience and work from absolutely anywhere that has a signal let’s not ruin things by using this magnificent technology to force others to listen to the mundanity of our everyday existence Or to make my friend listen to Taylor Swift on the bus Thursday 8th May 2025 marks 80 years since World War II ended in Europe Communities across Stratford-on-Avon District are organising events to celebrate this historical date For more information about any of the events please follow this link.  If you are hosting a VE Day 80th anniversary event and would like your event listed here, please contact us at corporate.communications@stratford-dc.gov.uk  Stratford-on-Avon District CouncilElizabeth House STRATFORD marked William Shakespeare’s 461st birthday in style last weekend crowds lined the street to watch the parade make its way through the town as Shakespeare was once again given a birthday celebration to fit his status as one of the world’s greatest ever playwrights There was a good turnout of people in the centre of Stratford to watch the parade led by the students from King Edward VI School and featuring bands dignitaries from the likes of Japan and Ukraine Stratford’s other schools were also present in the parade - primary and secondary - along with Stratford MP Manuela Perteghella Lord Hertford and the Lord Lieutenant of Warwickshire At the rear - and probably the most colourful - were the folk from Escape Arts a lookalike - and for the first time he was accompanied by his daughter Here is a selection of the great photos captured by the Herald’s own Mark Williams How do you find yourself when everything around you feels so fake This is just one of the many questions that Dave Harris’s genre-blending Tambo and Bones poses in this brilliant and bold revival Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" Stratford Walking Tours are set for another season in the Festival City beginning over the Mother’s Day weekend with a tea and tour that might be a perfect gift for mom Offered on Saturday and Sunday (May 11) and continuing on weekends after that the walk starts at the Tom Patterson Theatre A walk along the Avon River to the Stratford Festival will include some historical details about the sites and influential people The walk ends at the Bruce Hotel with a cup of tea and a scone Tour owner Laurie Leduc has brought back some favourites and added a splash of new offerings this season Leduc is bringing back the popular ghost walks “That’s where I point out the different buildings and point out the unique architecture and tell some stories about the people and places and events in the past.” New this year is Steps to the Stage: a history of the Stratford Festival Tour Guests will learn about the early years of Stratford and its development into the Festival City starting with a cruise on the Avon River and then a foot tour around downtown The exterior of the festival’s theatre buildings are showcased as is the role of Festival founder Tom Patterson “It’s just a great opportunity and a new way to explore.” Leduc said walking tours are not just for tourists It’s a great way for locals to see their city and community Following the tragic death of a young man killed while cycling through the junction of Stratford High Street and Carpenters Road on 13 January 2025 We’ll be calling on TfL and Newham Council to work together to rapidly improve the junctions along this route so that no one has to risk their life cycling through here Please join us to put real pressure on TfL and Newham Council and gather at 6:15pm on the Greenway just north of Stratford High Street This junction is one of a cluster rated among the most dangerous for cycling in Newham that have been known for decades to be inadequately designed for cycle safety along Cycleway 2 (C2) one of the first protected cycle tracks in London We’re calling on TfL and Newham Council to work together to rapidly improve these junctions and meet their Vision Zero commitments Those cycling at Stratford deserve the same respect as those cycling in Camden Our sympathies are with the friends and family of the victim. If you are a friend or family member of the victim and would like to get in touch with us, please email campaign@lcc.org.uk We’ll slowly make our way to the junction of Carpenters Road and Stratford High Street (///vote.strict.payer) which is a short way from the starting point so this ride is suitable for beginners please assemble at the junction from 6:30pm where you’ll be joined by the protest ride shortly after It might be cold or rainy so please dress warm and bring a waterproof layer if rain is forecast Charity website design by Studio Republic But it would be a very odd thing if any of these peoples had their national poet taken away from them or were forced to have their national poet insulted Douglas Murray is associate editor of The Spectator and author of The War on the West: How to Prevail in the Age of Unreason Be part of the conversation with other Spectator readers by getting your first three months for £3 Already a subscriber? Log in Tambo (and Bones) has a damn good go at changing the world in this immersively complex visceral and urgent insight into the Black experience Stratford East is a great venue that often acts as a gateway for diverse work reaching not only its well-served local audience but also inviting new faces and minds to see different worlds It’s here that in Tambo & Bones playwright Dave Harris presents us with an almost immersive Tambo (Clifford Samuel) and Bones (Daniel Ward) are trapped in a minstrel show and planning their escape we follow their scheme to make money and change the world delivering compelling performances which demand great skill they are hilariously funny and charismatic as they capture the ridiculous characteristics of the minstrelised men This is not real Blackness: it’s Black men playing White men playing Black men in a clichéd Costumes and set design by Sadeysa Greenaway-Bailey and ULTZ are telling with the stage’s wings visible behind a badly painted backdrop This conveys artifice and theatricality as the Black men relate how it’s hard to be real when you’re trapped performing a show for others Theirs is a story of control through capitalism with Bones performing whatever lies the White man wants to see for money And the audience is left watching in squirming awkwardness as the N-word is liberally dispensed and stereotypes drawn There’s no lecturing here about race and the White gaze: it’s more an immersive understanding it’s clear that the audience is undergoing a simulation of the Black experience and forced to perform by clapping or responding to the demands of the actors who invade our space and engage us There are moments of uncomfortable uncertainty where we’re unsure what responses are expected; which leaves us questioning our role in all this Even the playwright writing this fiction is challenged torn apart and found to have cash at his heart In the second section time has passed and the pair are now famous hip hop artists But the world’s no better and they’re still performing as concepts of Black Ciarán Cunningham’s lighting design excels in this section and transporting us to an exciting live gig that’s visceral By section three they’ve reached a futuristic dystopia where Tambo has instigated a White genocide using robots (played gloriously by Jaron Lammens and Dru Cripps) reality is cleverly challenged as we see artificial White men playing Black men: human but not living But this is a story traced with violence against people who are different and that remains influential even after all the Whites have gone We’re finally snapped back to a reality where Bones can no longer act losing his American drawl and leaving the audience to contemplate how institutional racism has brought us to this: perhaps no longer seeing race in isolation as a concept It’s a hugely powerful ending that will linger long after you leave the theatre Written by: Dave HarrisDirected by: Matthew XiaSet & Costume Design by: Sadeysa Greenaway-Bailey and ULTZLighting Design by: Ciarán CunninghamHip-Hop Beats by: Excalibah*Sound Design & Additional Composition by: Richard HammartonMovement Direction by: Kloé DeanVideo Design by: Gino Ricardo GreenFight Direction by: Sam Lyon-BehanSmith Sound Operated by: Max Deane *WAR produced by Roly Botha and Excalibah and Dollas to Dreams produced by Excalibah and Roly Botha Tambo & Bones runs at Stratford East until Saturday 10 May Professor says text shows Hathaway lived with playwright in London upending the established idea of an unhappy marriage It has long been assumed that William Shakespeare’s marriage to Anne Hathaway was less than happy He moved to London to pursue his theatrical career leaving her in Stratford-upon-Avon and stipulating in his will that she would receive his “second best bed” Now a leading Shakespeare expert has analysed a fragment of a 17th-century letter that appears to cast dramatic new light on their relationship, overturning the idea that the couple never lived together in London a professor of early modern English literature at the University of Bristol said the text seemed to put the Shakespeares at a previously unknown address in Trinity Lane – now Little Trinity Lane in the City It also has them jointly involved with money that Shakespeare was holding in trust for an orphan named John Butts the letter mentions the death of a Mr Butts and a son who had asked “Mr Shakspaire” to look after money for his children until they came of age It suggests the playwright had resisted attempts to pay money that the young Butts was owed Steggle said: “The letter writer thinks that ‘Mrs Shakspaire’ has independent access to money They hope that Mrs Shakspaire might ‘paye your husbands debte’ “They do not ask Mrs Shakspaire to intercede with her husband who undertakes to pay a debt on her husband’s behalf even though she was previously unaware of it: ‘Knowing how the debt grows Steggle added: “For about the last 200 years the prevailing view has been that Anne Shakespeare stayed in Stratford all her life and perhaps never even went to London.” View image in fullscreenAn illustration of Anne Hathaway and William Shakespeare from the 1860s-1870s The couple married in 1582 and had three children Photograph: Heritage Image Partnership/AlamyThis document which refers to the couple who “dwelt in trinitie lane” suggests that she did spend significant time with her husband in the capital The fragment was preserved by accident in the binding of a book in Hereford Cathedral’s library it has remained largely unknown because “no one could identify the names or places involved” Crucial evidence includes the 1608 book in which the fragment was preserved Johannes Piscator’s analyses of biblical texts who was Shakespeare’s neighbour and his first printer Steggle said that it would be a “strange coincidence” for a piece of paper naming a Shakspaire to be bound next to 400 leaves of paper printed by Field “given Field’s extensive known links to the Shakespeares” John Butts seems to have been serving an apprenticeship because the letter mentions “when he hath served his time” Scouring records from the period 1580 to 1650 He also unearthed a 1607 reference to a John Butts in the records of Bridewell an institution whose tasks included the disciplining of unruly apprentices A document told of “his disobedience to his Mother” and that he was “sett to worke” and living on Holywell Street (Shoreditch High Street today) home to several of Shakespeare’s fellow actors and associates It was an area in which Shakespeare worked in the 1590s, first at the Theatre in Shoreditch the principal base for the Lord Chamberlain’s Men throughout those years were involved in innkeeping and victualling nearby working in the hospitality industry in which they were invested … would very much be on the Burbages’ radar So Shakespeare can be linked to Butts through various Norton Folgate contacts.” If the writing on the back of the letter – in another hand – was written by Anne the words would be “the nearest thing to her voice ever known” The research is being published in Shakespeare, the journal of the British Shakespeare Association the day following the anniversary of his birth Steggle writes: “For Shakespeare biographers who favour the narrative of the ‘disastrous marriage’ – in fact for all Shakespeare biographers – the Hereford document should be a horrible Firethorn Trust acquires the Poland House site in Stratford from Curlew Capital to deliver a new purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) scheme Firethorn Trust has exchanged contracts with Curlew Capital’s CST2 Fund to acquire the Poland House development site in Stratford and Walker Morris acted for Firethorn Trust With planning permission to create modern PBSA Firethorn will deliver 284 high-quality student beds at the Poland House site the development will feature 35% affordable accommodation A dedicated community space will also be delivered as part of the scheme Designed by architectural practice Henley Halebrown Poland House will be developed to a target BREEAM Outstanding rating in line with Firethorn’s commitment to delivering sustainable “With excellent connectivity in the heart of a thriving student community which has been the focus of significant regeneration in recent years Poland House is a high-quality addition to the Firethorn portfolio “This acquisition reflects our ambition to deliver first class energy efficient student accommodation in prime university locations as demand for modern living spaces continues to outstrip supply We are extremely well capitalised and actively seeking further opportunities in the Living market this year including more PBSA and co-living sites in London and across the UK.” Poland House provides convenient access to the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park Stratford High Street DLR Station and Stratford Station and sits within a 15-minute walk of both University Arts London and UCL East with completion due for the 2028/2029 academic year “Our team has worked hard to successfully secure a planning consent to deliver best in class sustainability credentials and an excellent living and learning environment for the students who will live here creating much needed high-quality accommodation.  M&G Real Estate's has acquired the N16 student accommodation scheme in London from Get Living M&G Real Estate has announced the acquisition of a 504-bedroom purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) development in Stratford Construction on the £135m N16 Stratford scheme is already underway with completion aimed for the 2028/29 academic year HG Living is leading the development alongside HG Construction as the main contractor “N16 Stratford is an excellent addition to M&G’s significant student accommodation portfolio and addresses the acute need for quality accommodation in London for talented students to study We are excited about the opportunities it presents alongside the potential for attractive returns in a market that has consistently shown resilience and growth We look forward to a long and fruitful partnership with HG Living.” Constructed over two blocks reaching ten and 18 storeys the project will include over 1,500 sqm of amenity space for students “We are delighted to partner with M&G Real Estate on N16 Stratford Their expertise and strategic vision align perfectly with our commitment to delivering sustainable high-quality accommodation with strong sustainability credentials in a key undersupplied student market.” The development is targeting an EPC A rating and a BREEAM Outstanding accreditation The asset is part of the final phase of Get Living’s East Village development at the former Olympic Village and was granted planning permission in 2023 “As we continue to navigate the ever-changing construction market developer and contractor has enabled us to overcome early challenges to successfully secure this scheme “We are well underway with preparing the BSR submission and we look forward to making a meaningful start on construction towards the end of year in preparation for receiving students in the 2028/2029 academic year and to working collaboratively with M&G Real Estate as the scheme progresses.” This acquisition takes M&G Real Estate’s PBSA portfolio past £900m with over 8,000 beds HG Construction will deliver a 500-bed purpose-built student accommodation in the heart of Stratford The N16 Stratford scheme is being developed in partnership with its student business HG Living and M&G Real Estate Constructed over two blocks reaching 10 and 18 storeys the project will also include over 1,500 sq m of amenity space for students Work on the project is expected to start this year subject to Building Safety Regulator gateway 2 approval HG Construction will self-deliver key elements of the build process said: “As we continue to navigate the ever-changing construction market “We are well underway with preparing the BSR submission and we look forward to making a meaningful start on construction towards the end of year in preparation for receiving students in the 2028/2029 academic year Stratford-on-Avon District Council will again be participating in No Mow May an important environmental initiative that aims to help reduce the global decline in pollinating insects Over 80% of crop species grown in Europe rely on bees We rely on a pollinator for every one in three bites of food we eat Research has revealed pollinator numbers are declining in the UK which could have a serious effect on biodiversity One of the main causes of pollinator decline is habitat loss which the District Council can help prevent by engaging in the No Mow May initiative No Mow May encourages landowners to reduce their mowing frequency during one month which will allow plant species to flower and provide a vital source of pollen and nectar Longer grass also provides shelter for wildlife and reduces carbon emissions by lowering fuel use As part of the District Council's grounds maintenance contract with Krinkels UK Ltd No Mow May will apply to highway verges on urban roads with a speed limit of 40mph or less This may mean that some grass verges are not cut for up to eight weeks those verges adjacent to main road junctions and roundabouts will be cut as normal to maintain sight lines and visibility for road users No Mow May aligns with Stratford-on-Avon District Council's climate emergency declared in 2019 and is one of the District Council's Council Plan objectives: Increase and protect green spaces which positively affect nature recovery Leader of Stratford-on-Avon District Council said: "No Mow May forms part of a wider agenda to enhance biodiversity which is being delivered by Stratford-on-Avon District Council Other measures that have been delivered include tree planting the creation of wildflower meadows on Council owned land and the declaration and ecological enhancement of a new Local Nature Reserve" Sale Sharks have appointed former Leicester Tigers Women’s coach Luke Stratford as the club’s new Women’s Scrum Coach The Jersey-born 30-year-old was Head Coach at Longlevens RFC as well as a Rugby Coach at Hartpury University before joining Tigers in 2023 He also has experience as forwards coach at Cirencester RFC.   Former hooker Luke’s playing career saw him come through the age grades and play first team rugby at former Championship side Jersey Reds before spending eight years at Hartpury.  Luke was part of new Sharks Head Coach Tom Hudson’s coaching team at Leicester Tigers and will join Sale at the end of the current PWR season.  Luke said: “I watched a podcast with Michelle Orange last year and her enthusiasm and passion was obvious to see So when the chance came to join Tom and work at Sale “There’s so much talent and ambition in this squad and everything is in place to achieve big things It’ll take lots of hard work but I’m confident we can do it.  “I feel Tom and I make a good team and work really well together and I’m really looking forward to getting started.”  Sale Sharks Women’s Performance Lead Katy Daley-Mclean said: “Luke is a fantastic young coach and he’s been working alongside Tom at Leicester so they’ve got that partnership in place already.   “That was a huge factor for us because we didn’t want to create a coaching group from scratch We wanted coaches who know how the others work and can get the best out of each other and the players.  “Luke will add a huge level of detail to the technical side of our scrummaging and upskilling our front row players in particular so this is a really key appointment for us.”  People across Stratford On Avon District are being asked for their views on a Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) which allows the council to address dog fouling There have been dog fouling orders across the district since 2009 This policy has been subject to regular reviews A PSPO gives a local authority powers to tackle a particular nuisance by banning or restricting certain acts or behaviour in an area where it is having a negative effect on people's quality of life means any place to which the public or any section of the public has access as a right or virtue of express or implied permission (and for the avoidance of doubt There have been minimal changes made to the new proposed PSPO since the last review in 2020. The proposed PSPO can be viewed here, and the previous PSPO (2020) can be viewed here Stratford On Avon District Council are asking all consultees to submit their views on the new PSPO via an online survey, which can be found here - PSPO Consultation Survey The consultation period for the proposed PSPO lasts for 6 weeks therefore all comments will need to be received by 24th January 2025 The area that this PSPO relates to is the Stratford on Avon District area Help with PDFs The two boys are accused of endangering lives and are due to face court next month News | Crime 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 Two teenagers have been charged after a video went viral of a seat being launched from a third-floor barrier at Westfield Stratford have been charged with criminal damage with intent to endanger life after the incident on March 1 The video, viewed millions of times after being posted online on Tiktok showed a heavy seat being launched over the balcony It appears to narrowly miss members of the public when it lands on the floor below On Tuesday, the Metropolitan Police announced that the teenagers have now been charged and are expected to appear in court next month “Two teenagers have been charged with criminal damage with intent to endanger life” ‘I aim to find the UK’s best ‘Spoons’ by visiting all 800 by the time I am 30′ Harry ‘singled out’ for ‘inferior’ treatment Dan Wootton accused of ‘catfishing’ former GB News colleague Duke of Sussex arrives at court ahead of challenge over security arrangements “A 14-year-old boy and a 16-year-old boy, from Hackney, east London were charged on Tuesday, 8 April and will appear at Stratford Youth Court on Tuesday “The pair - who cannot be named for legal reasons – were arrested on Tuesday 4 March following reports of furniture being thrown from the top level of Westfield in Stratford on Saturday The teenagers cannot be identified due to their ages VE Day 2025 fashion: best looks from the day VE Day 2025 fashion: Princess of Wales to Lady Victoria Starmer Prince Louis steals the show at VE Day parade as he keeps dad William looking sharp and mimics brother George Prince Louis steals show with sweet antics at VE parade 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 Royals watch historic flypast as huge crowds turns out for VE Day 80th anniversary  Royals watch historic Red Arrows flypast for VE Day 80th anniversary Stacey Solomon 'regrets doing reality show with Joe Swash' for tough reason Stacey Solomon 'regrets reality show with Joe Swash' for tough reason Your guide to London's culture and transport news and events taking place across the city Published on 25th April 2025 by ianVisits in London News A flypast of 23 military aircraft plus the Red Arrows will fly over central London on Monday 5th May as part of the VE Day 80 commemorations The flypast will come after a large marchpast by 1,300 members of the Armed Forces uniformed services and young people from Parliament Square to Buckingham Palace The procession will begin in Parliament Square when Big Ben strikes midday and an actor will recite extracts from the iconic Winston Churchill VE Day speech The Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment and The King’s Troop, Royal Horse Artillery will then lead the procession from Parliament Square, down Whitehall and past the Cenotaph which will be dressed in Union Flags, through Admiralty Arch and up The Mall through to Buckingham Palace where the procession will finish They will be followed by a tri-service procession group featuring marching members of the Royal Navy the flypast will start to pass over Buckingham Palace The flypast will include WWII planes, a Voyager transport aircraft, a P8 Poseidon surveillance aircraft, Typhoon and F-35 fighter jets — and of course, the Red Arrows If you want to be there for the lunchtime procession then it’s best to arrive pretty darned early to get a good spot otherwise you’ll be behind a thick wall of people standing in front of you if you’re not on The Mall for the procession there’s very little chance of getting onto it for the flypast so my suggestion would be to watch from another location pretty much every flypast over Buckingham Palace follows the same route so it’s highly likely that the planes will line up over Essex My suggestion would be to watch from either the Southbank or the Thames bridges in central London Tip – being south of the flypast will give you a better view Stratford’s Olympic Park is a good spot but the northern end tends to be best — aim for the rings the Red Arrows sometimes start their coloured smokes over the Olympic Park Update 4th May—The route has been released and Stratford before heading to Buckingham Palace it will head over Brentford en route to Bournmouth This website has been running now for over a decade, and while advertising revenue contributes to funding the website, it doesn't cover the costs. That is why I have set up a facility with DonorBox where you can contribute to the costs of the website and time invested in writing and research for the news articles It's very similar to the way The Guardian and many smaller websites are now seeking to generate an income in the face of rising costs and declining advertising Whether it's a one-off donation or a regular giver every additional support goes a long way to covering the running costs of this website and keeping you regularly topped up doses of Londony news and facts If you like what you read on here, then please support the website here Pimlico and can watch it here from the top floor without going down to the Mall I can see them come in from the East over Central London and depart The next one will be on Saturday 14th June for the King’s Birthday The best flypast I have ever watched here was Concorde flanked by the Red Arrows for the Golden Jubilee flypast back in 2002 and to add that on Battle of Britain Day on Sunday 15th September last year had the BBMF’s Lancaster circle twice over Central London including flying right over my block The best spot in central London that avoids the crowds is right under the route and is easy to travel to/from is the Strand Have used it for some years now including the RAF Centenary display Plenty of open space and the flypast comes directly overhead on its way to central London You can then watch it heading off over the City in the distance Thank you we are going to head to Fairlop Waters I watched the VE Day 80 flypast lunchtime today here in Pimlico and I must say what a surprise it was to see the Red Arrows along with 4 Typhoons at the end and website in this browser for the next time I comment and the latest news published on ianVisits You can unsubscribe at any time from my weekly emails © ianVisits View specialisms glossary Home » Projects » Stratford Town Centre Link Westfield Shopping Towns/Stratford City Development Ltd Morgan Sindall – main contractor; Watson Steel – steel fabricator Bridge engineering and civil structures The Stratford Town Centre Link solved long-standing issues created by the area being divided by the railway lines and station platforms The bridge stretches 130 metres over the tracks to provide shoppers with an accessible and attractive route Buro Happold was tasked with designing a structure that would be long enough to clear the railway lines below wide enough to allow up to 160,000 pedestrians to cross comfortably each day and strong enough to support footfall of 47 million visitors a year The bridge would need to consist of two spans with a central pier located on the site of a redundant signal box building As well as being situated above Platforms 10a and 11 of Stratford Station the new bridge would also need to cross 11 railway lines and a road It would also need to curve to accommodate the constraints of the site.  Required clearance below the bridge dictated an above deck structure and, after an option study to consider alternatives, a truss structure was selected. The client was also keen to maintain views along the curved bridge alignment and out towards the future 2012 Olympic site To achieve clear views across the bridge despite the curve the truss on the inside of the curve would need to be inclined The constraints of the site dictated that the bridge would need to be built off-site and installed in modular sections The launching of the bridge would be further complicated by the curvature of the structure which would make alignment more challenging and mean that the outside of the curve would be moving faster than the inside edge during installation structural design comprising a sturdy steel frame with two main trusses that vary in depth – from minimum height at the bridge ends to maximum height at the central pier We fabricated the bridge from weathering steel This material forms a stable patina on oxidation and therefore does not require painting delivering significant advantages for future maintenance cost It is now the “go to” for bridges over railways but at the time of our design its use was not as widespread We undertook our own research into the speed of weathering and likelihood of staining concluding that after an initial period this is not a particular concern.  One of the most important considerations in design is to direct water away from the steel panels efficiently The structural sections were detailed with in-built drip details for this purpose The truss chords and verticals incorporated cladding plates to achieve this as well as providing the bridge’s distinctive appearance the bridge was designed with a gentle curve and incline that improves visibility for pedestrians The architect suggested full height glazing to provide the edge protection required without creating a claustrophobic space This means people can enjoy views out over Stratford while also creating an important safety barrier to protect the railway lines below from thrown or falling objects A future connection at the middle of the bridge to the Chobham Farm site was anticipated and allowed for in the design. A second, connecting bridge from this central development site was designed by our experts as part of later abandoned plans for a UK version of the Sphere venue in Las Vegas There was very restricted access for plant and materials at either side of the main bridge so an innovative design solution was developed using a mini-pile arrangement incorporating tubular steel sections as permanent casing and reinforcement The site constraints also meant the development of an exacting modular construction process Our digital team developed a computer animation to communicate the construction sequence of the bridge to the authorities helping them understand the process from both a safety and operational perspective The bridge’s three sections were launched incrementally over the railway with a gap of several weeks between each launching operation. Sliding pads were used at each support position Complete closure of the fifth busiest UK railway station would have caused significant disruption so as the first two bridge launches had gone smoothly permission was given to undertake the third deck launch with the railway and the station platforms live The bridge moved so gradually during its launching operation that few of the commuters using the station would have been aware that anything unusual was underway at the time but platform safety was carefully controlled throughout the operation The completed and installed structure was subject to a full three-dimensional survey before the final fabrication of the glazing system which ensured a close tolerance and accurate fit of the 128 pre-assembled panels We worked closely with the glazing sub-contractor to resolve the complex geometry and any issues of tolerance prior to installation This included building of an interactive three-dimensional computer aided design (3D CAD) model and full-size mock-up panels on-site Our bridge design team was integral in taking the architect’s stunning vision and ensuring its structural viability on a challenging site we designed the Meridian Steps that form its south approach This was a significant structure in its own right incorporating escalators and lifts as well as stairs to cope with a level difference of over 10m the Westfield Shopping Centre has proved to be an immensely popular London attraction This iconic bridge invites shoppers to explore the surrounding area contributing to the economic growth of Stratford as a whole we have built an unrivalled reputation by delivering creative value-led solutions for the benefit of people The page you require is currently not available, please contact one of our specialists on this page for more information. Close The exact time the fire was started is unknown but Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service responded to the incident shortly after 9am on Monday 10 March and the crew had to cut away parts of the tree to prevent the fire from spreading which is near the children’s play area and a popular footpath along the park’s perimeter has been fenced off to ensure the safety of park visitors the council’s arboriculturist will monitor the tree over the coming weeks with hopes that at least part of it can be saved chair of the council’s Community Services & Licensing committee said: and I hope the tree or part of it can be saved in some way The council takes great care to maintain and enhance the natural environment in Stratford Park Anyone who has any information for the police should contact them on 101." contains more than 800 trees and is renowned for having one of the finest collections of mature trees in the area an explosion of art and culture is transforming a once-neglected stretch into one of the city's hottest destinations if you know anything about the UK's capital There are those who mourn its supposedly waning hip factor – regaling stories of 1980s warehouse art shows or squat parties – while deploring the rampant commercialism of its supercharged epicentre will rave about new independent galleries or small-plate restaurants in nearby Dalston the general consensus is that East London's long-buzzing arts and food scenes are continuing to move ever further out driven – as in other world cities – by the relentless search for affordability But a few miles east of these oversubscribed neighbourhoods are two boroughs that are lesser known to visitors and have been quietly emerging as London's next artsy enclave: Waltham Forest and Newham Stretching north from Stratford up to Leyton and Walthamstow this  once-unfashionable outer area hasn't always matched East London's brand of cool theatres and bars and some of the city's biggest arts openings that are putting this under-the-radar corner of London on the map The catalyst for these boroughs' rise was the 2012 London Olympics, which transformed the area's scrapyards and brownfield land into the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park – an oasis of rivers canals and water meadows bordered by Stratford "The Olympics brought a huge amount of investment in infrastructure, transport links and housing," said Britannia Morton, co-chief executive of Sadler's Wells, the world-famous Islington-based dance theatre founded in the 18th Century. "The Olympic Park, where our new Sadler's Wells East is based was created converting marshland into this beautiful environment."           Sadler's Wells East, which opened in February 2025, is located in East Bank, a £1.1bn new waterside cultural quarter in the Olympic Park. "[It was] formerly known as Fridge Mountain – a dumping ground for old electronic appliances," said Morton. The first landmark to open here was the University of the Arts' London College of Fashion in October 2023 which has galleries and a cafe open to the public Sadler's Wells East was built in Italian red brick and houses a 550-seat state-of-the-art auditorium and six dance studios with more than 2.8 million objects in its permanent collection "It's a new standard for access to national collections," said Reeve "We're encouraging visitors to feel empowered to make their own journeys through the V&A's global collections." Its main exhibition hall will celebrate leading artists and its galleries will narrate stories of East London's creative and manufacturing heritage Elsewhere in East Bank, BBC Music Studios which will house the BBC Symphony Orchestra and host recording sessions and live performances is slated to open in late 2025 or early 2026 A former cinema designed in 1930 by architect Cecil Masey the distinctive building was inspired by the Moorish architecture of the 13th-Century Alhambra palace in Granada Chuck Berry and the Rolling Stones – before closing in 2003 • London Overground: Four stops to explore the 'real' London • Five unusual historical experiences in London • See another side to London at eight of its most unusual tourist attractions with its original Art Deco stylings revived the Soho Theatre Walthamstow will have a 960-seat Grade II-listed auditorium its current West End location has a capacity of just 240.) "This is the first time we've had a professional theatre in the area," said executive assistant Annie Jones who worked on the restoration project for more than five years "The programme will list up to nine shows a night – a mix of comedy cabaret and theatre all rooted in its community named after a mythical anarchist colony in the 17th Century For Leyton-raised Danny Saunders, owner of tropical cocktail bar Leyton Calling (which opened in summer 2024) and cosy candlelit pub Chop Shop Tavern (which opened in February 2025) "I've come full circle," he said "My latest bar is in the actual arch where I set up my first car repair business back in the day."     Leyton's rise as a whole has, however, been something of a slow-burn. Back in the mid-2010s, nearby Francis Road began to be taken over by independent creative businesses. "I opened here in 2017," said Aimée Madill, who owns Phlox "It was risky as it was still a 'less-developed' part of London but local indie bookshops are more than a business they're a sign of confidence in a community."   Pedestrianised in 2017, the tree-lined street has since blossomed with chic cafes and bars: two of the latest openings are vinyl store-cum-craft beer bar Dreamhouse Records and Loop Dining a pop-up space launched in summer 2024 to host weekly residencies from buzzy up-and-coming chefs "Leyton is characterised by small makers and creatives existing side by side with businesses who've been here decades parts of the area – which adds to the sense of community." So what's next for outer East London? "Young people and families are now priced out of Hackney," said Michaela Zelenanska, who runs natural wine bar Swirl which opened in December 2024 on Tilbury Road "Leyton and neighbouring Leytonstone seem a logical next big thing It's small businesses that make the place what it is." Will London continue to move ever further east "We're already engaging with artists audiences and community groups in Barking and Dagenham," said Morton referencing two outer London suburbs several miles from Leyton and Stratford "East London has always been a creative crucible." 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On Monday 5th of May the Call Centre will deal with emergencies only self-serve & emergency out of hours call support will be unaffected The London Borough of Newham (LBN) is offering a unique opportunity to lease both or one of two prime spaces in the heart of Stratford’s vibrant Cultural Quarter Deadline to submit your proposal: 5pm Friday 15th November To chat through the opportunity be in touch with Emma Gowing (0203 373 6236) or Shabana Qadir (07792 390 800) in Newham Council’s Regeneration team or reach out via email regeneration@newham.gov.uk A full pack of information including the Expression of Interest form which must be submitted will be provided on request to interested potential operators Gerry Raffles Square – a 425 sqm commercial venue offering immense potential for a variety of uses Former Stratford East Picturehouse building – Currently a four-screen purpose-built cinema that could suit an operator who requires performance/rehearsal space or auditoria space We are also very open to various uses of the space and would love to hear your ideas Please feel free to share your unique concepts as part of the expression of interest process Designed and powered by Jadu has chosen Westfield Stratford as the location for its eighth store Billed as the ‘Home of K-Beauty’ and opening on 10 April the shop will showcase an exclusive selection of over 1,000 Korean skincare makeup and hair care products from cult brands such as Torriden Leslie Tang, co-founder and chief executive of Pureseoul said: “Since we opened our first store in 2022 on Charing Cross Road our customers have been asking almost daily for Stratford making it one of our most requested locations of all time “Our unique offering of over 60 brands is perfectly matched to meet the growing demand for hands-on K-beauty shopping in the UK “After launching seven stores in just a year we understand exactly what our customers want to see and how they interact with our concept.” Pureseoul has been accelerating its expansion with store launches in retail destinations like Birmingham Bullring and Manchester Arndale Following the success of of the brand’s White City launch in 2023 where 1,200 customers stood in line before the doors opened subsequent openings have attracted queues of up to 1,500 shoppers co-founder and creative director of Pureseoul added:  “There is no one doing beauty retail like Pureseoul – we have merged everything we love about shopping in Korea with the freedom and creativity of a boutique beauty shop “Our goal has always been to create a space that not only provides the best in K-Beauty but also encourages our customers to ask questions and connect with new and exciting brands straight from the streets of Seoul.” We use some essential cookies to make this website work We’d like to set additional cookies to understand how you use GOV.UK remember your settings and improve government services We also use cookies set by other sites to help us deliver content from their services You have accepted additional cookies. 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You can change your cookie settings at any time Freedom of Information releases and corporate reports This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology a passenger alighted from a London Underground Jubilee line train at Stratford station The passenger then sat on a platform bench opposite the point where they left the train but immediately stumbled forwards and fell from the platform onto the adjacent track the passenger lay on the track undiscovered for around 5 minutes before being struck by an arriving train which then stopped normally in the platform The presence of the passenger remained unknown and a further three inbound trains entered the terminal platform and went through the location where the passenger was lying The passenger fell at a time when there were no other passengers or staff present on the platform and there was no intervention made to prevent the first train from arriving RAIB found that the operator of the first train did not see the passenger on the track ahead of the train as it arrived at the platform This was possibly because their level of attention was reduced due to the use of automatic train operation The operator may also have been distracted by the presence of another operator who was standing on the platform as the first train arrived at the station The consequences of the accident were made more severe because the operator of the second inbound train to arrive at the platform also did not see the passenger while the operator of the third inbound train saw something when they were arriving at the platform but did not recognise what they saw as being a person The fourth inbound train was not stopped by a customer service assistant who was present on the platform when it was entering the station even though the assistant was by now aware that a person was on the track Although the operator of the fourth inbound train had independently recognised that there was a person on the track The train operators working the trains in the outbound direction were not aware of the passenger because the passenger was underneath their respective trains before they departed RAIB’s investigation concluded that the repetitive nature of the task under automatic train operation may lead to a state of underload resulting in the attentional capacity of train operators being diminished This can increase the likelihood of effects on performance such as reduced alertness or distraction RAIB also found that at terminus stations some train operators are getting ready to leave their train before it has stopped meaning they may not be focusing on tasks relating to the operation of the train Although London Underground Limited had quantified the risk of a passenger falling from the platform and being struck by a train at Stratford station the risk controls adopted were not sufficiently effective in this instance to prevent the accident from occurring both addressed to London Underground Limited The first relates to considering the use of technology that can detect if a passenger is in a dangerous position and intervene or warn as necessary to stop an approaching or departing train The second concerns reviewing the environmental organisational and job factors related to operating trains in automatic train operation mode to understand how underload may affect train operators a learning point has been identified reminding staff of the importance of using safety-critical communications when reporting and responding to incidents The sole purpose of RAIB investigations is to prevent future accidents and incidents and improve railway safety While our investigations are completely independent of the railway industry we do maintain close liaison with railway companies and if we discover matters that may affect the safety of the railway we make sure that information about them is circulated to the right people as soon as possible and certainly long before publication of our final report Don’t include personal or financial information like your National Insurance number or credit card details Welcome to housingtoday.co.uk. 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Read our policy Trusted media brand of the Chartered Institute of Housing By Ben Flatman2025-03-20T10:31:00+00:00 Project will also include new public realm Plans for a mixed-use development in Stratford east London have been approved by Newham Council’s planning committee developed by Pickstock Group and designed by Pollard Thomas Edwards of which 75% will be build to rent and 25% for affordable tenures. alongside new public space and cultural facilities The development includes two buildings of 13 and 29 storeys on a long-vacant brownfield site development director at The Pickstock Group said: “This is a significant development for Stratford High Street and we are thrilled to have achieved resolution on this site.” Residential amenities are planned at the top of each building The scheme includes a Spacehub-designed public garden linking Stratford High Street to the Bow Back River A café and performance venue are also planned The site was formerly occupied by a car dealership A previous planning consent for residential development The current proposals were developed following consultations with the London Legacy Development Corporation Battersea Development Company says new phase will have a “more modern aesthetic” 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 A MAN was taken to hospital this afternoon (Thursday) after concerns for his welfare caused a petrol station in Stratford to be cordoned off West Midlands Ambulance Service said once the man’s safety was confirmed he was assessed and taken to hospital by ambulance staff Concern for the man saw emergency services called to the Tesco filling station on Birmingham Road and road closures put in place while police firefighters and paramedics dealt with the situation A WMAS spokesperson told the Herald: “We were called to concern for a patient’s welfare on Birmingham Road in Stratford at 12.30pm and sent an ambulance a specialist paramedic and the Trust’s Hazardous Area Response Team (HART) to the scene was assessed by ambulance staff and conveyed to hospital.” Part of the Birmingham Road had been closed during the incident Start Here Resources to help everyone in rowing keep the sport safe and clean and to safeguard participants Safe Sport Resources Competition calendars plus information about entering organising and volunteering at rowing competitions Racing and the popular British Rowing Indoor Championships Indoor Rowing The GB Rowing Team is the high performance arm of British Rowing GB Rowing Team Gillian Middleton is the club’s first athlete with a physical impairment to gain the qualification Stratford upon Avon BC’s adaptive squad is renowned for innovation and progress adapting coaching techniques and equipment to enable adaptive scullers to achieve their potential In 2023, the club’s adaptive section worked with British Rowing, the sport’s governing body, to put on the first Level 2 Club Coach course devoted to potential adaptive coaches Although most of the coaches on the course were able bodied Gillian is herself a member of the adaptive squad and has cerebral palsy and limited mobility Stratford’s Head Adaptive Coach and his team Gillian has now successfully completed the final requirements of the Level 2 qualification This assessment included rigorous questioning on warm up techniques; boat set up; an instruction session with a ‘buddy’ sculler on the water being coached by her in real time; warm down techniques and extensive knowledge questioning “Gillian has won many awards on and off the water in the UK and also in Europe but gaining her Level 2 Coaching Certificate is perhaps her highest achievement yet The award is a big step forward for Stratford and the sport Gillian is Stratford Boat Club’s first athlete with a physical impairment to gain the qualification We are so proud of Gillian’s accomplishment – it shows her determination to experience all aspects of rowing Order yours now Green-fingered residents are reminded that they need to renew their subscription to the garden waste collection service The annual charge for this year is £48 for each green bin As has been the case for the past two years garden waste permits are renewed annually on 1st April Residents who have signed up for reminders will have already received a message to remind them to renew their subscription the introduction of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) prevents the District Council from writing to every resident who has subscribed to the service Permits have been available for renewal since January and can be renewed online at: Garden Waste Service | Stratford-on-Avon District Council or by calling the District Council on 01789 260628 Please be advised that there is up to a 10-day lead in time between purchase and the delivery of the permit.  Only green bins with the correct permit on will be emptied; bins not displaying the correct permit will not get emptied Items that can go in the green bin include: Subscriptions are open all year and you can subscribe to the service at any time throughout the year the cost remains the same regardless of when you subscribe with no pro-rata rate New subscriptions are due each year on 1 April IVCs treat the material and ensure that composting takes place in an enclosed environment with accurate temperature control and monitoring The material is turned into compost to be used as a soil conditioner in as little as two weeks this takes around three months using traditional outdoor composting The composted material is used for agricultural use and landfill site restoration and is unable to be sold to the public We would start off in the Cross Keys (back when there was a pool table go onto Chicago Rock Café (when that wasn’t a crumbling shell) and then head to the kebab shop next to NatWest (still there but no longer selling potato wedges) My friend and I would always finish the night eating chips in a phone box while watching the fights at the taxi rank I have found that I can still go and watch people shouting at each other outside NatWest by going down there in daylight hours and standing at the bus stop I want to make it clear that I don’t believe drug and alcohol dependence is anything to be mocked I am sympathetic to substance abuse for a number of reasons what I am not sympathetic to is people splaying themselves all over the pavement like it’s the Jeremy Kyle waiting room The group of miscreants that congregate there are a puzzling bunch who seem to enjoy a variety of beverages Aside from the expected cans of cheap lager and massive bottles of lethal-looking cider I was amused one day to walk past while two gentlemen were sharing a bottle of red wine from wine glasses As I walked past I smiled and said “very civilised” to which one of them replied “you gotta make the effort” I rather enjoyed that brief exchange and felt some softness developing towards them However about three weeks later someone from the group lobbed a boiled egg in my direction and all goodwill vanished Curiously the egg had been de-shelled so it either came from a pre-packed salad or the thrower had taken the time to boil an egg at home I’ll have to live without ever knowing which it was I regularly find myself wondering what tourists who arrive in Stratford by train must think They alight the railway station excited to witness After they’ve crossed the road and made their way past the boarded-up wasteland on the corner (albeit covered up with beautiful artwork) they then head on down Greenhill Street which After staring into takeaway shop windows and walking through clouds of vape smoke they arrive at NatWest where they are confronted by a scruffy mob screeching at one another If I was a tourist I’d turn right around before I could say “much ado about nothing” I have regularly heard people talking about what they think should be done The answers have ranged from suggestions around dedicated drug and alcohol support to rather less charitable My own solution is to dig a large suction tunnel between the train station and Henley Street so visitors get sucked into that and are immediately spat out outside Boston Tea Party to then take a pleasant walk past coffee shops and street performers We then need to make sure that those who want to visit the RSC are funnelled via Sheep Street so they don’t find themselves wandering down Bridge Street by mistake given that the powers that be won’t fill in the huge pothole outside my flat I don’t think my suction tunnel idea will be given the green light Following the public consultation over the festive period Stratford-on-Avon District Council have decided to create a new Public Spaces Protection Order in relation to Dog Fouling Whilst there have been minor amendments to the language used in the order there is in effect no changes to the previous order covering this issue.  it is an offence to allow your dog to foul on land without removing the waste without a reasonable excuse This applies to all public places in the Stratford-on-Avon District You can view the order which includes how to challenge its prohibitions or requirements you can do so here December 2024 marks 130 years since the Local Government Act of 1894 gave women the right to stand as a district councillor 57 per cent of Stratford-on-Avon District Council's Cabinet members are women And 39 per cent of the District Council's councillors are women This year also marks 50 years since the creation of Stratford-on-Avon District Council said: "As we mark 130 years of the right for women to stand as a District Councillor and 50 years of the formation of the District Council we must remember all those who have contributed to public service and democracy in that time.  Women's right to be a part of the democratic process was hard won I am proud to be a small part of this history." which are part of Warwickshire County Council’s libraries service have achieved the award in the Midlands region category The service's award nomination placed particular emphasis on Stratford-upon-Avon and Alcester libraries’ Chatterbooks for Reluctant Readers programme, which has also been recently shortlisted for a Reading Award by Libraries Connected The programme is aimed at engaging with school children who may otherwise never attend their local library Stratford-upon-Avon and Alcester libraries are now among just ten Regional and Country Winners selected from across the country to be in the running for the prestigious Library of the Year award at The British Book Awards 2025 The overall Library of the Year award winner will be announced at The British Book Awards ceremony on Monday 12 May 2025 The Library of the Year award recognises libraries for their innovation and their ability to establish themselves as vital reading hubs that support local needs within their communities The award can recognise individual libraries as well as work done across library districts The award is sponsored by DK and delivered in association with The Reading Agency. To view the full list of Library of the Year Regional and Country Winners, visit The Bookseller website Portfolio Holder for Customer and Transformation “This is fantastic news for Stratford-upon-Avon and Alcester to be recognised on a national level and I would once again like to congratulate our libraries staff who continue to deliver our enriching and vibrant library service offer We are keeping our fingers crossed for the national Library of the Year award later in the Spring but we are already so proud of their achievement in winning the regional award “Warwickshire Libraries provide a diverse range of resources event and activities that are suitable for all ages and are available to access for free through a no-cost membership Our libraries are friendly and welcoming spaces that meet our residents’ needs but most importantly they help to bring the people in our communities together and feel a sense of belonging.” To keep-up to date with Warwickshire Libraries’ latest information and events, follow the service on Facebook and Instagram, or sign-up to the weekly newsletter. Warwickshire Libraries is also a National Portfolio Organisation (NPO) in Arts Council England’s funding plans for 2023-26 which means it’s receiving funding from Arts Council England’s Investment Programme over three years to deliver a programme of free cultural and creative outreach activities Backed by a £68.5 million debt facility arranged by Societe Generale the residential project will regenerate a brownfield site in Stratford delivering high-quality housing and community amenities to the area GRAHAM will lead the construction of 247 apartments including 42 affordable homes funded by Sovereign Network Group (SNG) The development will feature buildings ranging from two to twelve storeys offering a balanced mix of residential and commercial spaces to serve the community Stratford Mill will deliver both market-rate and affordable housing and modern amenities designed to enhance residents' wellbeing and foster community connections Greystar’s commitment to creating positive living environments The Stratford Mill scheme reflects Greystar’s commitment to improving the provision of housing through sustainable Located near Stratford and Stratford International stations the area provides excellent transport connections with City Mill Lock and Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park within easy reach for residents The project will feature a mix of amenities designed to promote wellness and a sense of community among tenants underscoring Greystar’s focus on elevating the living experience UK Managing Director – Development at Greystar GRAHAM to deliver a high-quality and sustainable building We are a privately owned company with an impressive history built on integrity and responsibility