What’s New

Affordable Tutoring

TopUp Education, a brand new small business offering affordable tuition, launches at Fulham Boys School on Saturday 1 May. The founders, both mothers and working teachers, got in touch with Urban Village LDN to tell us more about their company, it’s ethos and what they offer. With a passion and a belief in quality education for all they founded the company to provide reasonably priced lessons for those who may not be able to afford the cost of private tuition.

Zainab and Michelle have lived and worked in LBHF all their lives and told us that they firmly believe that every child should achieve regardless of social class or background. TopUp Education offers affordable expert lessons by qualified teachers and their ethos is simple; “every child should have access to learning outside of the classroom, if needed, to access their full potential”. Furthermore, Zainab and Michelle told us that they believe all children have an innate desire to learn. They have a holistic approach to learning and said children who attend their lessons enjoy them and develop socially as well as academically.

Their Saturday study sessions for 7-16 year olds cost £15 per hour / with discounts for siblings and lower income families and are run by qualified teachers. TopUp Education told us that the lessons are fun, engaging and tailor-made to meet pupil's individual needs with a high level of 1:1 support. The focus is on Maths, English, Spelling, Punctuation and Grammar but TopUp can also offer homework support, prep for 7+ / 11+ and qualified teachers for private tuition. Alongside teaching their social media pages on Instagram and Facebook keep parents and students up to date with the latest news and debates in the education sector as well as offering study tips. This parent, whose daughter recently graduated and passed her retake Year 11 Maths GCSE wrote a glowing testimonial “I just wanted to say thank you so much for the support, warmth and kindness you showed my daughter while she attended the tutoring sessions. You helped to build her confidence with her work and helped her to learn to speak to adults she was unfamiliar with. She passed her Maths GCSE so can now concentrate on her Biology L3 BTEC and Art A level”

TopUp Education are offering Urban Village LDN subscribers a 20% discount code for a half terms lessons (6 weeks). If you’d like to take advantage of this get in touch on topupeducation1@gmail.com and quote the code URBNLDN20 when making an enquiry or booking through their website. Instagram https://www.instagram.com/topupeducation/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/topupeducation/

Boki Coffee

Boki an independent coffee company, established in 2015 have just opened at One World Parsons Green. This new store is their third in London, the others are located in Aldgate and Wembley, and we know we’re biased but we think this has to be the most special of locations. We ventured down recently to investigate, any excuse to visit One World’s showroom, where we always enjoy a spot of browsing sound tracked by the rumble of the District line trains overhead. We enjoyed an alfresco lemon and ginger tea in the recent Spring sunshine, parking ourselves in a perfect spot with a view of Parsons Green tube (of course we love an urban view) where we could watch the hustle and bustle of Parsons Green Lane.

Boki Coffee’s founder Kim Hargreaves told Urban Village LDN “We have a passion for quality food and drinks, customer service and design and all three are on full display within One World. We are currently offering takeaway coffee, cakes, smoothies, juices, bagels and toasties and will expand our menu and offering in line with Covid restrictions easing. There are outdoor tables and a lot more have been ordered with parasols so customers can enjoy the outside space. Our vision is an all day cafe with 15+ seats indoors and 30+ more in the garden outside. A space where local residents can come to relax, work or shop and enjoy the beautiful design of One World alongside our specialty coffee”.

The company name Boki is a combination of the two founders name Boris and Kim and it all began when they opened a pop up coffee bar within the Urban Villa hotel in West London, they followed this with a stand alone store in Covent Garden 2017-2010. In 2019 they opened Boki Coffee at the new Boxpark Wembley and Boki @ 1CP at One Creechurch place in Aldgate. All three locations have been created as all day venues. Their Boki blend coffee (filter and cold brew) is roasted by the Gentlemen Baristas from La Marzocco machines which is also available from their online shop. So if you like what you sip at Boki One World you can have their coffee delivered straight to your door for a home brew. Find them on Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/bokicoffee/

FENN

This seasonal British restaurant, from the team behind the Nest restaurant in Hackney, reopened as FENN last month; previously Harlequin. In the same location at 194 Wandsworth Bridge Road the renamed FENN opened their outdoor terrace in April and are now gearing up, data permitting, to fully open on 18 May. Inspired by Fulham’s proximity to the Thames, FENN takes its name from the old English word for ‘low-lying wetland’.

Nest was started by three friends Johnnie, former chef at Michelin starred The Harwood Arms, Luke and Toby. Their Fulham restaurant follows the approach of their sister site, a commitment to serving locally sourced, British seasonal dishes and offers both an a la carte and set menu. Some of the dishes currently on the menu that caught our eye include: Carlingford Oysters, FENN Fried Chicken with Smoked Salt Mayo, Beef Tartare, Lamb Belly, Cornish Crab & Sea Herbs, Aged Yorkshire Beef, Nutmeg Custard Tart and Yogurt Parfait & Rhubarb. Sad to see Harlequin is no more but looking forward to trying FENN, we’re loving the new look and that, unlike Harlequin, you have a choice to opt in or out of their set menu.

The space has had a makeover with reclaimed antique French doors opening onto a heated and covered outdoor terrace, with copper tones , cooking pots and hanging plants a plenty. There is now a private dinning space in the wine cellar that can be booked and seats up to 16 guests who can savour a special feasting menu created by Head Chef Joe Laker, formerly of Anglo. FENN told us that a wall of wine dominates the room and that there is also a fully stocked antique cocktail cabinet “for those looking for a something a little stronger”. We’re excited by that, you know us and cocktails! FENN told us that when their doors fully reopen guests can enjoy their “30 seater dining room centred around a single hand carved ash wood table with additional tables surrounding it. Focused around the use of natural materials, all materials have been sustainably sourced and carefully restored by founder Toby Neill, in keeping with FENN’s ethos of local is best”.

Founder Toby Neill said “It has been a really tough and frustrating few months for us but we are thrilled that our opening is now within touching distance. We can’t wait to start showcasing all that we’ve been working on and bring a taste of what we do at NEST to West London”. Co-founder Johnnie added “We’ve worked so hard to create great relationships with farmers and local producers over the past four years and it’s been so tough to see how they’ve struggled this last year. I can’t wait for FENN to open to be able to showcase what we, and they, do best.” Well count us in - we can’t wait either! To make a booking click on the link below or get in touch hello@fennrestaurant.co.uk https://www.instagram.com/fennfulham/

Rolling Pin Bakery

We just love the name of this new bakery that opened last month at 770 Fulham Road not to mention the actual rolling pins hanging from the ceiling. As well as all your favourite and classic baked goods, bread, croissants, pain aux raisin etc, there are other items on the menu that caught our attention Soho Buns (anyone - we need to investigate) and their “over stuffed” sandwiches sound delicious as do their selection of cake slices which also look oh so tempting.

Rolling Pin Bakery are a small family business and their ethos is simply to create “something welcoming for our lovely guests. We believe that freshly baked goods combined with a great coffee can make your day. We will always try new things - because standing still won't be our thing”. Sounds like we need to stay tuned for new menu additions and add the Rolling Pin Bakery to our list of Fulham spots to visit properly from 18 May.

Follow them on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/rollingpinbakeryfulham/ or find out more here https://rollingpinbakery.co.uk/