An application has been made to Camden Council for a new premises licence at the basement and ground floor at 48 Grafton Way, Fitzrovia, London W1T 5DZ. Application for a new premises licence at 48 Grafton Way. APML Estate Ltd is seeking permission for the sale of alcohol on the premises, late night refreshment, and […]
Posted inCulture, Features
Meeting the goddess Hygeia on Hallam Street
Just stepping out into the street can seem pretty dangerous nowadays. So when I leave the safety of my own flat I crave some kind of reward — something that will make my journey through Fitzrovia feel worthwhile. A few weeks ago, meeting the goddess Hygeia on Hallam Street was one of those rewards. 44-50 […]
Posted inCulture
The Dining Detective: Kibele restaurant and bar
In 1951 Carson McCullers wrote a novella called The Ballad of the Sad Café. As I walked today along Great Titchfield Street (I write this in the middle of the second lockdown) that title came into my mind. We have been so lucky with our local restaurants and cafes (and with the weather) over the early autumn: […]
Posted inEnvironment, News
Derwent’s Network Building plans fall down on housing and public open space
Derwent London’s latest sortie into Fitzrovia means demolishing yet another large building, and constructing a shiny new, nine-storey commercial block, with little in the way of housing and public open space — contrary to Camden Council’s planning policy. New office and retail space is planned at the Network Building, 95-100 Tottenham Court Road. Image: Derwent […]
Posted inEnvironment, Features, History
Oxford Street – from Wells Street to Winsley Street
As reported in part one and part two of this extended review, The Survey of London’s latest volume is for the first time devoted to a single thoroughfare — Oxford Street. The Survey, founded in 1894, is a research project to produce a comprehensive architectural survey of central London and its suburbs. In this third […]
Posted inEnvironment
Licensing application: 170 Great Portland Street
An application has been made to Westminster Council for a new premises licence at 170 Great Portland Street, Fitzrovia. Sixes, 170 Great Portland Street. Sixes Cricket Limited is applying to sell alcohol on and off the premises and for late night refreshment for the following hours: Late Night Refreshment: Monday to Thursday from 23:00 to […]
Posted inEnvironment, News
Licensing application: Bellaria Restaurant, 71 Great Titchfield Street
The owners of a restaurant on the corner of Great Titchfield Street and Langham Street in Fitzrovia are (again) seeking permission from Westminster council to operate until later hours for the sale of food and drink, and to add entertainment to their licence. The previous application was withdrawn “due to administration errors”, say Westminster council’s […]
Posted inEnvironment, News
Residents hold street protest against Camden Council for repeatedly allowing out-of-hours noisy works
Residents in a council housing estate have held a protest against the London Borough of Camden which has allowed noisy out-of-hours work to carry on for months on end. Residents on Grafton Way hold a protest to demand “Peace on Sundays, please”. Photo: Simon Lamrock. Members of the Grafton Way Tenants and Residents Association held […]
Posted inComment, Culture
The Piano Man No. 22: ‘The Magic Roundabout’
As a pianist, I have played in a lot of unusual situations. Accompanying magician, Fay Presto, on stage at a magicians’ convention in Southport, despite having been temporarily deafened by the firing of a starter pistol which was part of the show; topping and tailing the weekly burlesque shows at a “colourful” Fitzrovia venue, which […]
Posted inNews, Society
Is this your tabby cat? Reported lost a year ago
A vet is appealing to find the owner of a cat that has wandered into their surgery in Fulham in south west London. Is your name Andrew and is this your cat? Photo: Paws Veterinary Clinic, via Facebook. “Princess has come in and is microchipped. Her chip reports her missing one year ago,” say Paws […]
Posted inEnvironment
Planning applications in Fitzrovia West, November 2020
There were 16 planning applications validated by Westminster Council in Fitzrovia during November 2020. There are applications for advertising consent, placing of tables and chairs on pavement, removal or alterations to conditions on planning consent, and conditions to satisfy previous planning consent. There is an application to part-demolish and rebuild at 64 Great Titchfield Street; […]
Posted inEnvironment
Planning applications in Bloomsbury and Fitzrovia, November 2020
There were 17 planning applications registered by Camden Council during November 2020 in Bloomsbury ward. Among the list is an application to part-demolish and rebuild at the rear of 67 Charlotte Street and add a mansard roof extension; alterations to an entrance in Torrington Place, a number of applications to place tables and chairs outside […]
Posted inEnvironment
Camden Council is reviewing its parking permits and charges
Motorcyclists travelling into Westminster but parking across the boundary in Camden to avoid paying a parking fee won’t be able to so in future if changes by Camden Council to parking charges go ahead next year. Neighbouring Westminster has for a long time charged motorcyclists (not very much) for on-street parking and now Camden is […]
Posted inEnvironment
Westminster Council invites comments on inspectors’ modifications to its City Plan 2019-2040
Westminster Council is asking for comments on modifications proposed by inspectors to its City Plan 2019-2040, a policy document that will control land development in the city by setting out targets for housing, economic growth, and public open space and greenery. The planning document has gone through a number of stages of consultation and was […]
Posted inHistory
A history of London’s West End from a place of aristocratic consumption to a centre of popular entertainment and expression
Rohan McWilliam’s impressive history of the West End embraces the area from Kingsway to Bond Street and Oxford Street to the Strand. It is the first in a two-volume project aiming to cover the West End’s story from its beginnings to the present day. Oxford Street lights illuminate a district of consumption and entertainment. In […]
Posted inEnvironment
Residents in shared-ownership homes offered pay-off to settle dispute over problems with badly designed flats
Residents embroiled in a two-year battle with their housing association A2 Dominion over design and maintenance problems at their new homes at Rathbone Square were offered a lump sum to shut up, stop complaining, and engage their own contractor to carry out repairs. Clouds hang over shared-ownership homes (right) at Rathbone Square. Photo: Matthew Covell. […]
Posted inBusiness, Environment
Licensing application: 226 Great Portland Street, London, W1W 5QP
Modern British Bakeries Ltd has applied to Westminster Council for a new premises licence at Peyton and Byrne, 226 Great Portland Street, Fitzrovia, London, W1W 5QP. Peyton and Byrne, 226 Great Portland Street. The applicant is seeking permission for a “two year limited licence” to sell alcohol for consumption on and off the premises, Monday […]
Posted inBusiness, Environment
Licensing application: 22 Foley Street, London W1W 6DT
An application has been made to Westminster Council for a premises licence at the ground floor and basement of 22 Foley Street, Fitzrovia, London W1W 6DT. Kin, 22 Foley Street. Araz Farm Feed Ltd is seeking permission to sell alcohol on the premises, currently trading as Kin, from 10am to 10.30pm Monday to Thursday, from […]
Posted inEnvironment
Loquat winter flowers bring fragrant blossom to public park
If you take a wander through Crabtree Fields public park at the moment you may be lucky enough to smell the fragrant blossom of loquat (Eriobotrya japonica). Loquat (Eriobotrya japonica) is in flower at Crabtree Fields. At around eight metres tall it is native to China, widely grown in Japan, and it is often referred […]
Posted inBusiness
Great Portland Street post office to remain ‘crown’ branch after franchise plan put on hold
Workers at the Great Portland Street post office broke into a round of applause at a meeting this month after receiving news that plans to privatise their branch and run it as a franchise had been dropped. Great Portland Street post office gets a reprieve. But for how long? The seventeen workers at the busy […]