Plan of Oxford Circus with motor and cycle traffic diverted around it. Image: Westminster City Council. Westminster Council has unveiled plans to part-pedestrianise Oxford Street to create two piazzas either side of Oxford Circus, diverting all motor and cycle traffic north into the side streets of Fitzrovia and Marylebone, before the end of the year. […]
Posted inNews
Covid cases are rising rapidly in Fitzrovia
The blue and dark blue areas indicate higher case rates. Source: coronavirus.data.gov.uk/details/interactive-map The cases of Covid-19 in Fitzrovia are rising rapidly according to the latest information from the official UK government website for data and insights on coronavirus. In the seven days up to 13 June rates in Fitzrovia are both above the national average […]
Posted inEnvironment
Licensing application: Electric Space, 11 Rathbone Place
Electric Space, 11 Rathbone Place. Electric Current Works Limited has applied to Westminster Council for a minor variation of its premises licence at Electric Space, Basement to Third Floor 11 Rathbone Place, Fitzrovia. The existing licence is for: Exhibition of a Film, Late Night Refreshment, Sale by Retail of Alcohol; and the opening hours are […]
Posted inFeatures
Adrian Ensor – a photographic journey in black and white
Adrain Ensor outside his darkroom in Grafton Way. Photo: Tori. Adrian Ensor is one of Britain’s finest black and white photographic printers and has been working in his basement darkroom just off Fitzroy Square for over 50 years. Over these five decades Adrian has developed a deep and intuitive understanding of the mysterious alchemy that […]
Posted inFeatures
Exhibition explores the cultural impact of ‘V for Vendetta’
V for Vendetta: written by Alan Moore and illustrated by David Lloyd. The Cartoon Museum in Wells Street has re-opened with an exhibition examining the cultural impact of the most ground-breaking series of comics ever to be published — V for Vendetta. Behind the Mask charts the rise from seminal graphic novel, to hit film […]
Posted inFeatures
Radio: how the Horton family made the 100 Club
The 100 Club has existed under different names and owners as a live music venue since 1942. Sharleen Spiteri hosts another episode of Absolute Radio’s Tales From the Cloakroom where she talks to Jeff Horton about how the 100 Club on Oxford Street moved on from a purely jazz music venue in 1942, to the […]
Posted inNews
Partial solar eclipse over Fitzrovia
View through the clouds of the partial solar eclipse this morning over Fitzrovia, London. Photo: A M Hanson.
Posted inNews
Black blood donors urged to help treat sickle cell disease
Colin Anderson of NHS Blood and Transplant wants more Black people to donate blood. People of Black and mixed Black heritage are urged to donate blood on World Sickle Cell Awareness Day, Saturday 19 June at the Blood Donor Centre in Margaret Street, Fitzrovia. Sickle cell is treated with blood transfusions and is the fastest […]
Posted inNews
Licensing application: Kings Arms, 68 Great Titchfield Street
The Kings arms is seeking a variation to its opening hours. An application has been made to Westminster Council for a minor variation of the premises licence of the Kings Arms at 68 Great Titchfield Street in Fitzrovia. The variation seeks permission to “amend the start of permitted opening hours from the current 10.00 am […]
Posted inNews
Planning applications in Fitzrovia West, May 2021
18 Mortimer Street. An application has been made to remove the “picture window” and replace it with two smaller windows, and other alterations. There were 16 planning applications validated by Westminster Council during May 2021 in Fitzrovia West. Among the applications are three amendments to a major planning consent at 97-125 Cleveland Street; installation of […]
Posted inNews
Planning applications in Bloomsbury and Fitzrovia, May 2021
There were 31 planning applications registered by Camden Council during May 2021 in Bloomsbury ward. Among the list are applications for tables and chairs (TC) on the pavement and also temporary pavement licences (PVL) at Charlotte Street, Euston Road, Goodge Street, Cleveland Street, and Tottenham Court Road; various minor applications and amendments to existing applications, […]
Posted inFeatures
From Rathbone to Conway – Fitzrovia streets renamed
Rathbone Street in September 1970. The corner site was redeveloped to create the Rathbone Hotel. Photo: Fitzrovia News Archive. We tend to think of the streets on which we live, work or walk as embodying permanence, but the reality is that they are in a state of continuous evolution. Those of Fitzrovia are no exception, […]
Posted inNews
Consultation on Conway Street and Whitfield Street ‘streateries’
Camden Council is proposing a streatery on Conway Street. Camden council is asking for people’s views on proposed outdoor drinking and dining on the public highway at Conway Street and Whitfield Street in Fitzrovia. The changes are part of Camden Council’s plans to support the hospitality industry in the borough. “In 2020 the UK Government […]
Posted inFeatures
Fitzrovia galleries, May 2021
‘…And we’re back. As London’s commercial art world begins to fall into some semblance of normality, it is clear that some things have changed for good. For example, almost every gallerist I have spoken to in the last few months has committed to continue with an online programme of some description. The last year has […]
Posted inNews
Toy museum looks to a brighter future
Jack Fawdry-Tatham mimics a cut-out harlequin on the side of Pollock’s Toy Museum as he prepares the wall mural for a refresh. When Pollock’s Toy Museum and Shop opens its doors again this week after a successful fundraiser to see it through the pandemic that has ravaged its trading, it will do so with a […]
Posted inFeatures
‘Made in Fitzrovia’: Roberts Radios
Rathbone Place was once the home to a factory making the Roberts Radios. The family Blundell bought its first transistor radio in 1964, and of course it was a Roberts. Fast forward to 2021, and my new radio has just been delivered. It’s another Roberts. The Roberts Radio Company began making portable sets in 1932, in […]
Posted inNews
Fund to raise awareness of Windrush schemes
The last West Indian immigrant arrival before the UK Commonwealth Immigration Act 1962 came into force. Location: London, England – Walerloo Station from Southampton Docks 1962. Windrush. Photo: Hatchling25, CC BY-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Funding for projects to raise awareness and take-up of the government’s Windrush Scheme and Windrush Compensation Scheme is available […]
Posted inComment
Mystery of drone intruder spotted on Charlotte Street
A drone operator was seen on a roof facing Scala Street. The hunt is on for a drone seen hovering outside bedroom windows near Charlotte Street. Despite strict rules on flying “spies-in-the-skies,” a bright yellow version was launched from the roof of an office building at around Five PM on a Tuesday evening in April. […]
Posted inNews
Licensing application: shop, 31 Riding House Street
Ground floor premises at 31 Riding House Street. An application has been made to Westminster Council for a premises licence at the ground floor of 31 Riding House Street, Fitzrovia (similar to a previous application that was later withdrawn). L’apéro Ltd is seeking permission for the sale of alcohol for consumption off the premises from […]
Posted inNews
Planning applications in Fitzrovia West, April 2021
There were 14 planning applications in Fitzrovia West validated by Westminster Council during April 2021. Among the applications are amendments to major planning applications granted at Oxford Street and Wells Street, and Berners Street; permanent outside seating at 10 Berners Street; outside tables and chairs at Market Place, and Foley Street; cladding to the rear […]