What’s on, new & happening in your Urban Village
January 2020
Happy New Year!
One World Parsons Green
The “One on the Green” opened on 12 December at 41 - 43 Parsons Green Lane and is now the stunning One World flagship store. This family run business, started in 1989 by Kathy and Sidney Bensohn who came to the UK from their home in Cape Town, with their young family in tow and never left. They started out by importing and selling candles from Swaziland which was so successful, they became dedicated to sourcing and importing beautiful things for the home. The company is now run by their two sons.
Urban Village LDN loves the company motto “Love what we do, with people we love” which is painted on the wall before you enter the store. One World says “we truly believe in homes and products that invite people to engage with them, and with each other. These kinds of items work to enrich our relationships with friends and family – and the spaces in which we live. They make everyday life a pleasure and enhance those special moments with our loved ones”.
The store opposite Parsons Green tube is beautifully laid out and feels like you’re walking into the pages of your favourite interiors magazine. It is lovely to see this building that has sat empty for sometime being injected with life and the five different spaces within the building feature a range of interior delights from velvet covered chairs and sofas to affordable votives, prints and planters.
Welcome to Fulham One World!
Pedal Power
It was always strange to us that as more lycra clad Fulhamites and cyclists hit the streets of Fulham it seemed like all our local bike shops were disappearing. Good news for bike owners and cycling enthusiasts that Balfe’s Bikes opened their fourth branch in Fulham on 18 November. You can find them on the Fulham Road (just down from Kensington Prep).
Richard Balfe opened his first shop in Dulwich in 2008 and since then Balfe’s Bikes “has remained an independent business run by cyclists for cyclists”. Seems like it’s a one stop shop for all types of bikes from hybrid to mountain and road bikes and their repair shop fills a much needed gap.
Great to see that Balfe’s Bikes are a London London Living Wage employer and “nurture the skills of the mechanics who work as colleagues in each of our shops”. Why not pop in to demo one of their electric bikes or check out all the services they offer including component degreasing, brake servicing and full safety checks. They also stock a good selection of accessories including Madison clothing, Moon Lights, Ortlieb panniers, Tubus racks and Kryptonite locks.
https://www.balfesbikes.co.uk/ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/balfes_bikes/
Lebanese dining by Eelbrook Common
Fresh tastes have arrived courtesy of Miski to liven up taste buds this winter. This Lebanese restaurant and bar opened just after New Year’s Eve and Urban Village LDN have been peeking through the windows watching the site’s transformation. We are looking forward to sampling both the classic and new dishes featured on their menu including a good selection of salads (spicy, miski, fattoush), cold mezze (Hummus, tabbouleh), Hot Mezza (falafel, chicken wings, Halloumi) and grills (mixed, Kafta skewers, lamb cutlets) and wraps. Looks like there are some lovely breakfast options too with a different selection of egg dishes including our favourite shakshuka and we are looking forward to sampling some pastries and sampling some of the classic cocktails they offer.
Housam and his family opened their first restaurant in 1995 and within three years the family had expanded their business opening several restaurants in London. Their web-site says their goal was “to make Lebanese food just like their mother had made it…making every meal a celebration of taste, texture and family values”.
The interiors look both fresh and colourful and we can’t wait for summer days when the windows open onto Eelbrook Common and we can sit in their gorgeous cushioned cane chairs and watch Fulham life go by.
Miski Lebanese Dining & Bar, 57 Eel Brook Common, New Kings Road, SW6 4SE
Half term before you know it!
Blue Performing Arts have recently opened two new performing arts & creative camps in Fulham at Queen's Manor Primary & Fulham Primary. Blue Performing Arts was created in August 2018 by Benjamyn Hutchings-Mitchell who named the company after his daughter. His aim was to bring inspirational teachers & innovative creative activities to children aged 5 - 12 across London. In 2019 students performed in Trafalgar Square for the Mayor of London's Christmas Choir, St Patricks Day & Feast of St George Festival, they’ve also featured in various radio shows and events. They are linked to the Buzz Talent agency which will help BPA students interested in pursuing a career in the performing arts.
Benjamyn told Urban Village LDN “we are a bit different to other local camps as our program is taught by current top performers from shows such as Top Boy, The X Factor, Cats The Musical Thriller and we are also the first camp in Fulham to offer 3D Printing (Toy Making) as a standard activity”.
Costs for a weekly camp are £150 with each day starting at 8.30am and finishing at 6.00pm and BPA are offering 15% off their February Half Term Fulham camps to all readers of Urban Village LDN readers; just mention our name when you book.
January
“The first month of the year, A perfect time to start all over again, Changing energies and deserting old moods, New beginnings, new attitudes” - Charmaine J Forde
You’re invited to Urban Village LDN’s first social
We’re excited to be collaborating with The Fulham Residence Club and Locale Restaurant where we’ll be holding our first social on Thursday 23 January. We’d love to meet Fulham residents, local business owners, hear your news and how we can support you in 2020.
We hope you can join us at this free event (6.00 - 8.00pm) for complimentary drinks, a taste of Real Kombucha and to sample party platters by Locale. Stay for dinner after the event finishes at 8pm and receive 25% off your food bill.
RSVP: sara@localrestaurants.com
VENUE: Locale Restaurant, 222 Munster Road, SW6 6AY
Sip & Paint: 22 January
Art Sippers was set up in 2019 after Josie, one of the founders was made redundant. Their creative events are for anyone who likes to paint, drink, socialise, meet new people and “unleash their inner creativity”. Their next Fulham social painting event takes place on 22 January (7.00pm - 9.30pm) at their newest Fulham venue, The Little Blue Door.
Tickets for a 2.5 hour class with their resident artists cost £35. This price includes a free drink, all art supplies and your finished artwork to take home. Sounds like a great way to beat the January blues, unwind and get together with some friends or make some new ones.
VENUE: The Little Blue Door, 871 - 873, Fulham Road, SW6 5HP
TICKETS: https://www.artsippers.com/ https://www.instagram.com/artsippers/
Palatial Georgian fun & garden intricacies: 23/26 January
We love the title of this Fulham Palace event, “Pineapples, plantsment & parterres”, a talk by Lucy Hart, Head Gardener at Fulham Palace, about the intricacies of handling a historic garden. Hear Lucy talk about how her team takes care of the Palace gardens from the caring of the 500 year old Holm oak to the planting of new beds. This event on Thursday 23 January (2 - 3pm) is free but booking is required due to limited places.
On Sunday 26 January (11.00 am - 3.00pm) there is lots of Georgian, Gothic fun to be had by children. A lovely range of activities including flouncing in a frock coat, having their silhouette cut, making Gothic windows, creating a fan and meeting 18th century ladies and gentlemen who will be around the Palace to answer any questions they may have about life during these times. This sounds like another great Fulham Palace event that brings history to life! Suitable for ages 3 +, children must be accompanied by an adult
Pub crawl Saturday: 25 January
Pub Crawl Saturdays organise free local pub crawl events. They say “our attendees come from all walks of life and all share a passion for pub crawls”. On Saturday 25 January the Fulham pub crawl starts at the Oyster Rooms, First Floor , Fulham, SW6 1AA. Reserve your free ticket to take part, wear something purple so you can identify other attendees and meet at the RH side of the bar between 7.00pm - 7.30pm. Order your first drink, head off to the next Fulham location and let the night unfold until you want to opt out or it’s closing time. Share your experience on social media using the hashtag #pubcrawlsaturdays
pubcrawlsaturdays.co.uk Instagram @pubcrawlsaturdays
Pizza & photography: 28 January
Fabrizio Quagliuso photographer, friend and customer of Santa Maria is holding a pop-up exhibition of his first recently published photo book “Aritmia” at the Fulham pizzeria on Tuesday 28 January (6.30pm - 8.00pm). Hear from the photographer himself how the book, a story about a dream and a journey featuring a main character called Mia, came to life, enjoy some delicious pizza and view the photographs. This is a free event but as places are limited you will need to register here https://bit.ly/39GntPT
Fabrizio is an Italian photographer based in London (UK). He was born in Naples (Italy) in 1970. After graduating from engineering university, he moved to the UK where he currently lives. Self-taught and greatly inspired by an uncle who was a professional photographer, Fabrizio has always been passionate about visual arts and in the last ten years has completely devoted himself to photography http://www.fabrizioq.com/about
VENUE: Santa Maria Pizzeria, 4 Waterford Road, SW6 2HA
At home matches
Saturday 11: Chelsea v Burnley FC
Friday 17: Fulham v Middlesbrough
Saturday 21: Chelsea v Arsenal
we keep getting caught out by match time changes so we’re sticking to days!
Community Days Out
This community group based in Hammersmith and Fulham is run by two Fulham Mums Jemma Greenslade and Ashlie Stephens. The group organises Summer day trips out of London during the school holidays. The group was originally set up in 2018 for friends and family and has grown from there to take the stress out of commuting to summer destinations and to offer easy, fun, memorable and affordable experiences for family, friends and the local community.
The day trips transport families to blue flag beaches, theme parks, safari parks, water parks, UK and European shopping locations and other places of interest without the expense of train fares, the stress of travelling with multiple changes and the worry of luggage. Community Days out offer multiple pick-up points to make things even easier “it’s like a door to door service; all you need to do is get to your local pick-up point, get your luggage on and take a seat”.
They offer a payment plan to help spread the cost and everyone is included. “Our community-minded trips are designed for all those residing in the Hammersmith and Fulham community. Our aim is to encourage people from a diverse range of ethnicities, faiths, ages and backgrounds; to come together and socialise”.
Community Days out have just announced their 2020 trips from February - June with pick up points from Townmead Road, Parsons Green and Fulham Broadway. Take a look at the list below and follow booking links.
If you’d like further information about Community Days out you can find them on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/CommunityDaysOut/ and Instagram
Splashdown water Park
22/02/20
https://forms.gle/2Fyb7ZzfcBFFDhda8
Gullivers Land
08/04/20
https://forms.gle/JdLYArZG1ytSvFXT6
Drusillas Park
18/04/20
https://forms.gle/d4CGjN4p1xbER7KQ7
New Forest wildlife park
30/05/20
https://forms.gle/Ba6ZSV96rPYq1Prk8
Weston-super-mare Air festival 27/06/20
https://forms.gle/m2VVeWUh5X1CcnDVA
Made in Fulham
It never fails to surprise us what a talented bunch you Fulham folks are. Each month Urban Village Ldn introduces you to THe Fulham face behind an idea, product or business and asks them what they love about being a local resident.
This month we talk to Melinda Cotton, Practice Principal and founder of Fulham Osteopaths, who specializes in the care of expectant mothers, babies, and children.
How long have you called Fulham home? I have called Fulham my home since I graduated in 1989 . I urgently needed somewhere to live, there was a room free in an osteopath student flat. I remember walking to the flat from Putney Bridge Tube station, on a beautiful summers evening, feeling comfortable and at ease. I grew up in a village, near a small market town. For me, the feeling of Fulham and the friendly locals reminds me of where I grew up.
Tell us a bit about yourself and your family. I have two children, a 15 year old and an almost 13 year old. We live above our osteopathic practice which has had lots of benefits. When the children were little I could breastfeed, go to work and then come home to feed again. Because the children are known on the street by the other shopkeeper they have had a little more autotomy at a younger age to go buy a pint of milk from the healthfood shop, order a book from Nomad or sort their own school stationary out at the now sadly closed stationary shop Perrys. Both children have gone to the Fulham theatre school Creative Kidz, performed in the West End and been on TV. They have been to Beavers, Cubs and Scouts in Fulham.
What's your favourite local haunt? Hard to choose just one! I love Fulham Palace in the spring when the wisteria is out. Those beautiful blooms make me feel so happy. The other place I love is Quirky Gadgets, it is like an Aladdin’s’ Cave of wonder. There is always something new, really useful and fun
What's your slice of Fulham heaven and why? La Pizzica is our favourite local haunt. It is a small café with an amazing community feel. We meet the same people there regularly, we have interesting chats with people we don’t know , and make new friends both younger and older than ourselves. It is a little taste of Italy in Fulham Road. If you like an Italian breakfast their “cornettos” are identical to those you find in a bar in Italy. At the weekend, they have lots of delicious homemade pastries. They also stock the amazing bread from the Little Sourdough Company in Munster Road. I love to support local businesses.
If you could do one thing to improve Fulham what would it be? Clear signs in the street to help visitors find the local parking meter, because sometime people do not have a phone with them and finding a meter can be like going on a treasure hunt.
Tell us about Fulham Osteophaths and how the company came to be. As a student I had a dream to create an osteopath practice, not because I wanted a business, but because I wanted to establish a practice where there would be a community of osteopaths that would support each other, giving second opinions, tutorials, so that each osteopath could be the best they could be , so that they could help their patients even more. When I graduated, I rented a room in Jerdan place, I got some card printed at Hot of the Press, walked the streets of Fulham giving out my cards, placed an ad in Yellow Pages and the rest is history. What I really love is that we have patients that I treated when they were children that have now had their own children we have treated them too!
What advice would you give to anyone thinking of starting a new business? Do your research very thoroughly. Do not under estimate the costs of running a business and make sure you have time to work on your business not just in your business.
Fulham Osteopaths https://bit.ly/2sD6u0h
Wonderful stuff
Our Ed has long been an admirer of the imagination, creativity and work of photographer Tim Walker so a visit to his “Wonderful Things” exhibition at the V&A is definitely on the cards this month. A a bit of guaranteed escapism on a grey January day.
The exhibition which is on now until Sunday 8 March shows the creative process of Tim Walker’s inventive photography which is aided by long-term collaborators set designer Shona Heath and features special installations, set designs, alongside his work including a series of ten new photographs influenced by collections at the V&A.
There are themed rooms with glass cases, theatrical lighting, flocked walls, silk curtains, yellow lampshades and one room is papered entirely in pink floral wall paper with matching pink bannisters reminsinent of Umbridge’s office in Harry Potter.
The Independent called the exhibition “A bewitching ode to art, artefact and fashion... Instead of stepping into a familiar world, one steps directly into the photographs themselves”. We can’t wait! Tickets are £15.00 each.