Cold comfort fitzrovia.org.uk/news Fitzrovia News Fitzrovia News is produced by residents and volunteers and distributed free to all businesses and residential addresses in Fitzrovia Issue 123 Winter 2011 MASSIVE OPPOSITION TO 11-STOREY DEVELOPMENT ON HOSPITAL SITE By News Reporters says the social and environmen - A huge number of objections tal impacts of the development have been made to the proposed have not been properly consid - new develoment of the former ered. In the 1930’s the school Middlesex Hospital. signed away their right to light Residents expressed concern: to the Middlesex Hospital and, 1. That it will be up to 11 as this new building is a private storeys high, when Westminster concern which does not have the City Council ruled in 2005 it hospital’s charitable function, should be no more than six. the agreement should be 2. The proportion of afford - revoked. able housing is also below coun - Max Neufeld, of the cil guidelines. Charlotte Street Association crit - 3. The quality and size of the icised the plans for their height, open space proposed is inade - bulk and inappropriateness in a quate. conservation area with listed 4. Problems from the large buildings. underground car park proposed. “We believe that the Council More than 100 people con - has solid planning grounds for tacted the Fitzrovia securing some reduction in the Neighbourhood Association height and bulk in the most with enquires about the devel - affected locations, greater open opment and 130 parents of chil - space provision and more dren at All Souls Primary School affordable housing,” he said. How the new development would look from the corner of Nassau Street (left) and Mortimer Street (right) have written in to object to the This could be afforded by the plans. The parents are very con - new developer, he wrote, site is insufficient to cope with Mark Younger, of the devel - Planning Brief issued cerned that the height of the because since the Candy the increased amount of com - opers, a consortium of Exemplar, by Westminster City building will block out daylight. Brothers 2007 plans “there has mercial and residential uses, he Aviva and the former Kaupthing In their letter, they say that been a material change in cir - concluded. Bank, told Fitzrovia News it was Council in 2005 the new building would be cumstances affecting the viabili - Yoram Blumann, of the “a fantastic opportunity to create “All Souls’ School and proper - higher than the Middlesex ty of the scheme: the owners Fitzrovia Neighbourhood something that will have a posi - ties on Cleveland Street are Hospital was and that “the play - paid a third less for the site, Association, criticised the devel - tive impact on Fitzrovia. Our already overshadowed by the ground and most of the class - property values for both office opment because of its height proposals are smaller than the hospital buildings and the rede - rooms on the Riding House and residential have increased and bulk. previously consented scheme velopment of the site will be an Street side of the school will be dramatically since 2007, and Mr Blumann said: “More and we have made significant opportunity to reduce this almost permanently deprived of building costs have fallen.” than 70 people attended our efforts to ensure the architecture impact. sunlight”. The current scheme offers drop-in sessions at the Fitzrovia reflects the local neighbourhood. “On redevelopment the oppor - The parents cite the council’s 17.5 per cent of floor area as Neighbourhood Centre to look The 2005 planning brief set out tunity should be taken to reduce own planning brief for the site affordable housing, whereas the at the plans. We also received some broad guidance and the the height of buildings to create (see panel at end). 2007 provision was for 30 per more than 30 other enquiries by consented scheme, which has a better architectural relation - Mandy Chang, a parent of a cent of units (not floor area), he the end of October. And we con - been implemented, provides a ship to the surrounding town - child who goes to the school, added, and council policy tinue to have people raise con - framework of what is acceptable scape. “requires a provision of at least 22 cerns.” to Westminster City Council. “New buildings should general - percent rising in 2012 to 30 per - The planning application “Current policy looks to ly be no higher than four storeys cent.” was submitted by a consortium maximise the provision of on the street frontages; a reces - Neufeld argues that the led by Exemplar in September to affordable housing subject to sive fifth storey may be accept - Camden residents living along development three, nine to 11 development viability. With the able. Cleveland Street will be blighted storey mixed use buildings on provision of 54 affordable hous - “Buildings of more than six by the presence of not only the the site. Roughly half the site ing units, the proposal has max - storeys are unlikely to be accept - car park entrance but also the would be residential. imised the amount of affordable able.” service bay. Westminster’s policy There would be the creation housing in the context of viabili - The opportunity should be taken to protect the residential ameni - of new open space, new vehicu - ty.” to reduce the height of buildings ty of residents, says Neufeld, lar and pedestrian accesses, Westminster City Council The site is an opportunity to should also apply to its Camden basement car and cycle parking, will make a decision on the provide new public conven - neighbours. landscaping, and repair of the plans in the new year. iences, including baby changing Open space provision on the existing chapel. facilities.

GIGS est. 1964 The home of traditional Fish & Chips Fully licensed Greek restaurant “The secret’s out. Gigs is back” 12 Tottenham Street 020 7636 1424 2 Letters and comment Fitzrovia News Winter 2011 Fitzrovia News Cat amongst the Uncharitable landlords hit hospital workers pigeons? Formerly The Tower Huge rent increases of 50 per them out,” said one tenant. “It is she accumulated enough points established 1973 As a Fitzrovia resident I would cent have been imposed on ten - disgusting that current and to get a flat. This is larger (with like to know your readers stance ants at four blocks in Cleveland retired low-wage hospital work - a kitchen separate from the liv - Street, owned by UCLH Charity ers are being forced out for peo - ing room) and the rental will be fitzrovia.org.uk/news on the local pigeons that live Special Trustees but managed by ple on higher pay.” The UCLH affordable. At Cleveland twitter.com/fitzrovianews amongst us. I ask, because on my way through Whitfield gar - Genesis housing. The rent of one charity said that rents are man - Residences her direct debit was facebook.com/fitzrovianews dens today I put a little bread tenant has been increased from aged by Genisis and they are amended to the higher rent [email protected] down for the small flock that £500 to £790 a month, and others responsible for the rise. Genesis without getting her permission. 020 7580 4576 resides there. from £400 to £600. It could drive said that they only charge the She therefore ended up with an I was approached by a man out the tenants, many of whom rent that is set by the property overdraft for the first time in her still work for NHS or retired owners - the UCLH charity. life, and was “very embar - Issue 123 Winter 2011 telling me that I cannot feed from it. They also complain No one was told that rents rassed’”. There have been many Published 6 December 2011 them and to “not do it again”. How is it, a young woman put - there had been no refurbishment would go up until after people different change of management of flats since at least 1987 despite moved into refurbished flats and and agents over the years. First Fitzrovia News is published ting a little bread down should crumbling conditions. signed leases, said one tenant. there was the Middlesex quarterly by the Fitzrovia even occur on his radar? Originally rents in hospital Her rent went from £500 a Hospital charity, then ‘PCHA’, Community Newspaper I took umbrage, and stub - housing were based on income. month to £790. Fortunately she’d then Pathmeads, now UCLH Group, and supported by the bornly said I would continue to “Now they’re trying to get rid of put her name down for Camden Charity, using Genesis Housing Fitzrovia Neighbourhood do this if I so wished. He said low-paid workers by pricing housing long enough ago that Association as managing Association he would take my photograph agents. These agents managers (registered charity no. 1111649) next time and tell the council have a history of poor manage - 39 Tottenham Street, and I would get an ASBO. He Enrico Fumagalli sorely missed ment errors and bad treatment London, W1T 4RX told me that two people had of tenants. ISSN: 0967-1404 already received these. I spoke to Camden Council Several older tenants have had their contracts terminated Editorial Team who told me clearly, there are no and been kicked out of flats. Mike Pentelow: laws against feeding the birds, Some of these flats have been editor and features editor and I would not receive an refurbished and relet at higher Linus Rees: Asbo. rents. assistant editor I understand feeding large Fitzrovia Neighbourhood Pete Whyatt: quantities of food can increase Association is helping to fight news and production editor their ability to breed and there - the rent increase and get tenants Fiona Green: fore increase their numbers, rehoused after Genesis offered arts and listings editor which can be seen as a nuisance. Rico (right) with friend Giacchino in a Goodge Street cafe. no help at all and the UCLH Brian Jarman: Having lived here for several By FIONA GREEN was Duty Manager of the Charity was unmoved. writer and sub-editor years, this flock has certainly The friendly face of Enrico (Rico) Spaghetti House in St James. His Barb Jacobson: decreased in number. Pigeons Fumagalli will no longer be seen friend Giacchino Labrutto told associate editor are such an iconic species of in his favourite Fitzrovia haunts me they were neighbours in the Jennifer Kavanagh: London. Just last Memorial day because he died at his home at same block in Charlotte Place for associate editor in central London a service was held in memory of those animals the end of October, aged 65. 20 years. His friend Radames He had been suffering from Bonaccosi-Ravelli was an Contributors: that served in the war effort and multiple tumours but he bravely old family friend from Bergamo, John Axon in Worthing a memorial service kept going to his favourite who helped him manage his George Binning was held for WW1 fighter places because he loved eating medications. Both friends Shiraz Chakera pigeons. and drinking (the Di Montforte described him as funny, open Ann Goodburn Hundreds of studies have restaurant was one favourite), minded and generous. The temporary residents of the Clifford Harper been conducted on pigeons, they socialising and visiting seaside A regular customer at Icco Cleveland Street Workhouse were Clive Jennings have excellent cognitive ability, resorts like Brighton. and Italia Uno in Charlotte Street hoping for a reprieve after being Denise Julien and unlike some other bird Briefly married to a Swiss where, Claudia Schiera told me, asked to leave in early December. Susan Kendall species do not spread diseases doctor, he was widowed five he came every day to drink tea Sam Lomberg such as bird flu, fact. TRANSITION FITZROVIA years ago.There were no chil - like an English man with his Eugene McConville I love my local area, what a dren. friend and workmate, Sandro. - IS MULLING Guy O’Connell pity it would be to never see Rico came from Bellusco a He loved the stylish, extraor - Exciting new ideas to share! Do Jess Owen birds flying high in the sky town near Bergamo in North dinary performances at the you have some? If you would Sunita Soliar above the city first thing in the Italy 20 years ago. Molly Moggs, the pub/cabaret like to come to a meeting in the Kipper Williams morning when the city is wak - New Year about how best you ing up. He had sold a construction bar in Soho. company and gone to live in His funeral was in Bellusco, a can help Fitzrovia thrive and Printed by: Yours sincerely Thailand for one year prior to small town near the City of sustain itself in the context of Sharman & Co Ltd, Charlotte Street resident his arrival in London. Here, he Bergamo. He will be sorely massive global change,please Newark Road, missed by all of us in Fitzrovia call. We need you all. 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[email protected] [email protected] www.imagedentalclinic.co .uk Fitzrovia News, Winter 2011 News 3 Mayor of London approves major redevelopment of Saatchi block despite strong council opposition By Peter Whyatt Mayor of London Boris Johnson has approved a major redevelop - ment scheme in the heart of Fitzrovia after a public hearing at City Hall. The mayor overturned Camden Council’s refusal so now Derwent London can carry out a major redevelopment at the Saatchi & Saatchi building in Charlotte The corner of Goodge Street pictured a few years ago with the Street (pictured, how it will look). Georgian building on the right. The redevelopment will demol - the new building will “not be sym - economy.” ish the internal mews and Victorian pathetic to the local character.” Good news for Derwent - they Goodge Street’s oldest buildings, the Charlotte Street and Max Neufeld of the Charlotte get to increase the space in Howland Street facades, and infill Street Association attacked the Charlotte Street from 200,000 to the site with new floor plates and Crossrail levy which encourages 370,000 square feet. Income will building under threat add extra storeys. Also demolished over-development -“in this case a quadruple from £4.2 million to £18 Plans to redevelop the corner Committee on 24 November, will be the Pregnant Man pub 69 percent increase in floorspace on million. That will boost book value of Goodge Street and this planning application which sits in the open space in the an already fully developed site.” to £360 million from less than £100 Tottenham Court Road will was refused by a large middle of the Saatchi block. Derwent London’s chief executive million, given the new block will destroy a Georgian building. majority because the new The development was opposed John Burns said: “We are pleased be worth 20 times the rent. Not Number 1-3 Goodge Street replacement corner building by residents, campaign groups and that our 80 Charlotte Street plan - bad, given building costs of £125 was built in 1763 and retains was not of sufficient design conservationists who argued the ning application has been million. many original external and quality in the Conservation proposals were an over-develop - approved by the Mayor of Saatchi & Saatchi have been in internal features and has an Area. Although the commit - ment, and that more affordable London.” Fitzrovia for so long that they are unusual floor layout. tee, did not like the demoli - housing and more public open Saatchi & Saatchi who occupy very much part of the scenery. The It is the oldest building tion of the Georgian building space should have been included. the building named after them will workers there have contributed to on Goodge Street but, (but only retaining its Less than 30 percent of the target have to move out when the re- the local economy of shops, cafes, although it is in the facade) at no. 1-3 Goodge for affordable housing is met and development starts in 2013 and restaurants and pubs. Their office Charlotte Street conservation Street, they have not includ - the open space is less than a tenth they are likely to leave Fitzrovia for block — a combination of area, it is not a listed build - ed this as one of the reasons of what is required. good because they can no longer Victorian, 1930s and later architec - ing. Previous attempts to for refusal.This means that The mayor dismissed calls for afford the rents here.The agency is ture — may not be the prettiest pile demolish the building have for any new scheme, the more affordable housing and open being priced out of an area it made around but they’ve been good been refused permission and developer only needs worry space on the site because he need - fashionable 40 years ago. neighbours. the planning inspectorate about the design of the new ed to impose the full £1.6m So it’s not only goodbye Derwent London, on the other dismissed a previous appeal corner building. Crossrail contribution. He angered Pregnant Man Pub but goodbye hand, haven’t been here very long to demolish it. residents when he stated that Saatchi & Saatchi. It seems Boris and are already shaping up to be The latest plans included because Fitzrovia has had little Johnson didn’t stop to think before the neighbours from Hell. Now a design for an ugly multi- recent improvement in affordable saying: “The capital’s adland, cen - Boris Johnson has sent out a signal storey fish tank-like corner housing provision that the offered tred around Charlotte Street, has that this sort of behaviour is building that the CSA 16 homes should be seen as a good developed an international reputa - acceptable. In his lust for Crossrail describe as “more like Las deal. tion for creativity and I have no cash, the bigger the development, Vegas than Goodge Street”. Residents living directly oppo - doubt that its redevelopment can the bigger the contribution to its At a stormy meeting of site the site argued that Charlotte only be good news for both the £18bn construction costs. Street area is low-rise not a high- Camden's Development Refused: This corner develop - West End and the wider London density, high-rise office area and Control (planning) ment

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There’s the adver - has produced a leaflet entitled furniture shops along Tottenham tising and media industry, con - “Eat your way through Street but now in their place is a servation areas with listed Fitzrovia”. tea room and a hot food outlet, buildings, and the BT Tower One of the stated objectives adding to the five cafes and plonked in the middle. of the Fitzrovia Partnership is to restaurants that are well estab - That’s what those of us who “increase the dining and eating lished along the street between live here find attractive. It is offer to add value to the vibran - Tottenham Court Road and mixed in many ways. cy of Charlotte Street and its Charlotte Street. The long-stand - But Fitzrovia has been The cover of Fitzrovia Partnership’s latest brochure surroundings”. This is according ing businesses are complaining changing. Rents have risen. being served to takeaway then these small independent cafes to Derwent London’s annual there is not enough trade to go Where there was once a shop A5 planning permission is need - and restaurants that have been report 2009. round, and residents say that the selling groceries or flowers, ed. But there is some flexibility here for ages. They are being influx of yet more eateries is there’s now food ready to eat. allowed. strangled by the bigger guys killing the diversity and charac - There are a huge number of However, owners from three who just roll out their clone out - ter of the neighbourhood. places selling sandwiches, hot independent cafes and restau - lets,” said a resident in food, takeaway or eat in; and rants with A3 permission in Tottenham Street. When we showed this report up-market coffee shops have Tottenham Street are furious that When a Barclays Bank on the to cafe owners they weren’t settled here. A lot more than a Pod Food store boasting corner of Tottenham Court Road pleased that anyone should be there were ten years ago. And of “Proper Hot Food” is being closed it was replaced by a large encouraging more eateries in course, they are all competing allowed to trade with an A1 Costa coffee shop. But the bank Fitzrovia. It seems the small with each other. planning consent. But it is not had a planning use of A2 which independent businesses in It’s not just Tottenham Street, Some people say the plan - clear if the Pod people are allows financial services. Didn’t Fitzrovia are being squeezed it has happened in many streets ning rules are being broken and breaking local planning regula - that protect the premises from and the Fitzrovia Partnership is in Fitzrovia. Parts of the area has that Camden Council has not tions, and I’m not saying they becoming a cafe or restaurant? partly responsible. become saturated with cafes, being enforcing properly (or at are. No, because planning per - After a full breakfast and an restaurants, sandwich bars and all). Others say the A1 planning One resident in Colville mission was not needed to Americano we put this to Gary hot food outlets and more are class (which allows for a variety Place said: “I have no sympathy change from A2 to A1. Reeves company secretary of the due to open. So is Fitzrovia in of shops) is being abused and in with businesses complaining Camden’s regulations protect A1 Fitzrovia Partnership. He told danger of eating itself? effect allows everything to be about market forces. If they which is a retail use but don’t us: London’s old Latin quarter, sold from a back massage to want socialism, they can move protect A2 in the same way. So a “We have not been market - as the area was referred to in some sort of hot meal. to Cuba!” But others say that the company can open a large cafe ing Fitzrovia to encourage more 1930, has for a long time been Strictly speaking, if a busi - small independent businesses as long as they are not cooking eateries. We have come a signifi - known for its variety of restau - ness is cooking food on the are being driven out and the hot food from raw ingredients. cant distance since 2009 and rants and cafes, many of them premises it should have an A3 area has become a victim of its In theory there is also a limit to having spoken to a wide range independently owned. But planning consent. If hot food is own success. “It’s just not fair on the number of seats on the of businesses, the Partnership Fitzrovia also has a wide range premises, but in Fitzrovia this wants to encourage an eclectic of other businesses including rule appears to have been mix of businesses in Fitzrovia. furniture, electronic goods, and blurred. Or chairs suddenly dis - As a membership led organisa - fashion wholesalers. Tossed in appear when an inspector pops tion it is our role to reflect the among the ground floors are in for a skinny latte. thoughts of our members.” small offices, and some quite However, Mr Reeves is a for - mer CEO of the New West End Company, a business improve - THE DUKE OF YORK ment district covering Oxford In another case, a large Street, Regent Street and Bond Opening hours, Mon-Fri, 12-11pm, Sat 1-11pm, Sun closed newspaper shop on Tottenham Street. With that background, 47 RATHBONE STREET Court Road near the corner with aren’t the Fitzrovia Partnership LONDON W1T 1NW Goodge Street closed down, and just wanting to replicate more of 020 7636 7065 now the premises is being pre - Oxford Street in Fitzrovia, which [email protected] pared to open as a coffee and will of course push out the small A traditional pub, with a good selection of real ales And varied wine list. Upstairs Bar/Function room sandwich shop, part of the Eat businesses and produce a “clone available for private parties and Buffets. Check us out on Facebook! chain. Eat already have another town” here? store on the corner of Goodge Mr Reeves said: “What I Street and Charlotte Street, and have done before is irrelevant. THE GRAFTON ARMS another branch further up Oxford Street is the epitome of a Tottenham Court Road. Where’s cloned high street. But we Opening hours: Mon-Fri 12-11pm, Sat 5-11pm, Sun closed. the next one going to be? absolutely don’t want to see a 72 GRAFTON WAY Tottenham Court Road used cloned high street in Fitzrovia.” LONDON WIT 5DU to be a street with a variety of On the western side of 020 7387 7923 shops selling furniture and elec - Fitzrovia, Great Titchfield Street [email protected] tronic goods with a few inde - was (and still is) known for its NEWLY REFURBISHED HEATED ROOF TERRRACE. FOOD SERVED 12.00-15.00 – 18.00-22.00 pendent cafes and takeaways rag trade and fashion wholesale PARTIES CATERED FOR. RANGE OF REAL ALES. FUNCTION AREA – FRIENDLY SERVICE! dotted along it. But when a fur - showrooms as well as its collec - niture or electronic store shuts it tion of restaurants around the often becomes a Pret a Manger junction with Foley and All Saints Church Margaret Street or another chain sandwich shop. Langham Streets. A few new When we asked a sample of cafes have opened up: the suc - Your neighbourhood church as featured in Fitzrovia News, Summer 2010 cafe and restaurant owners if cessful Kaffiene and they thought there were now too Scandinavian Kitchen have A diverse congregation warmly welcomes you to worship with us in the many eateries in Fitzrovia, added to the existing ones but catholic tradition of the Church of England with glorious music in one of almost all of them said there the street has escaped the well- London's finest church buildings. were far too many to be sustain - known brands. able. Most of them fear they will Sadly I hear that Efes Sunday Main Services be pushed out by the big chains. Restaurant, which has been on 11.00am High Mass Is a source of the problem Great Titchfield Street for 37 6.00pm Evensong & Benediction Derwent London’s Fitzrovia years, is closing. Partnership business group? The The owner is apparently sell - The church is open throughout the week and there are regular Fitzrovia Partnership is promot - ing up due to the rising cost of services. ing existing cafes and restau - meat. For more details please see www.allsaintsmargaretstreet.org.uk rants through its website and lit - or call the parish office 020 7636 1788 erature, and has introduced a loyalty card scheme. If you come new to All Saints because of this advertisement But is the Fitzrovia please tell us that you saw it in Fitzrovia News Partnership marketing Fitzrovia Fitzrovia News, Winter 2011 News 5 Bulbs planted for spring By News Reporters great to be out in the open doing and they are heavily used by not Gary Sollof from the Friends of a bit of work. But more impor - just residents but also the thou - the Open Spaces of Fitzrovia tantly it all helped in building a sands of workers and visitors (right) gave some gardening feeling of belonging to the park that come to Fitzrovia every day. instruction to adults and chil - and caring for it,” said Gary. A group of residents and busi - dren as part of a community A spokesperson from nesses are currently working bulb planting day. Camden Council said it was with Camden Council to identi - The morning of bulb plant - “one of the most successful fy potential new open spaces in ing in one of Fitzrovia’s most events we’ve had in the bor - the neighbourhood to take the well-used parks was hailed as a ough. It’s been a fantastic pressure off the existing ones as huge success. Around 700 bulbs turnout from the people of part of an Area Action Plan for were supplied to the Friends of Fitzrovia and we’re very Fitzrovia. the Open Spaces of Fitzrovia by pleased.” Camden supplied Whitfield Gardens has Hajj certificate (detail). 17th–18th Camden Council to plant in bulbs including Snow Drops and recently been refurbished by century AD. Nasser D. Khalili Whitfield Gardens on Tottenham Anemone. Camden Council and there are Collection of Islamic Art (Khalili Court Road. The event was part The Friends group meet on a also plans to restore the Family Trust) British Museum. of a series of Autumn gardening regular basis to work with Fitzrovia Mural which is central days across the London Borough display of colour for next spring. Camden Council to help feature of the gardens. of Camden. Gary Sollof, secretary of the improve Whitfield Gardens, If you want to find out more Women’s The planting which took Friends group, led the activity. Crabtree Fields and The Warren. about the Friends group or keep place on Saturday 5 November “We all had a lot of fun and All the open spaces run along up to date with events in was attended by about 30 adults are looking forward to when the either side of Whitfield Street. Fitzrovia, please contact Art project and children who shared the bulbs bloom in the spring. It was Open spaces in the neigh - Fitzrovia News and we can keep digging of bulb plots to create a also very good exercise. It’s bourhood are in short supply you informed. at British Museum

Local women in Fitzrovia were Chance encounter involved in a partnership project with the Mary Ward Centre in making of the “Mahmal” highly decorated tent. In the olden days on the grapevine this mahmal used to carry the holy Quran and the covering of the “Kaaba” given by the Sultan By JOHN AXON and inspired people in history The late Indian Summer came as making the journey to Mecca. a bonus to Fitzrovia's al fresco The final art piece produced by troughing and sluicing establish - the local community will be ments and was just as eagerly exhibited at the British Museum welcomed by patrons of the in Spring 2012 coinciding with same, this reporter included. the exhibition - Hajj: journey to Given the excesses of the the heart of Islam 26 January – 2010/11 winter many jumped at 15 April 2012 the chance (and a few crawled) to savour a last opportunity to wine and dine in autumn sun - A kitchen where you can relax shine in the area's many and Fitzrovia has its own secrets, varied outside eating areas and and one of these is its strange to temporarily forget terms such and wonderful array of restau - as Eurozone Crisis and Greek rants: good, quirky, cheap, Picture puzzle corner Debt. expensive – and sometimes With this in mind a route over-rated and horrible. The How observant are you when walking around Fitzrovia? was plotted to Andres Dining Detective will try them Can you identify, for example, where the above photograph was Restaurant in Charlotte Street, out and rate them for you, com - taken? Greek no doubt but again no pletely anonymously, and try It was taken by Eugene McConville and is the first in a new series debt and pre-prandial drinks and advise where our best in the paper. ordered. All was well in the restaurants are: The answer to this one is at the bottom of the last column of this world; the riots were over and JERUSALEM BAR AND page. the diets put on hold. KITCHEN, 33-34 Rathbone I then noticed a man Place, just down from the end of approaching the table, smiling Charlotte Street. Phone: 0207- By the DINING DETECTIVE and with hand outstretched in 255-1120 Joseph’s real drawing greeting. No acquaintance, I This was a pleasant surprise food – sausages and mash, nevertheless reciprocated his and a good beginning – pasta, pie of the day, salmon and gesture as he admired my select - although it seems to have been mash, haloumi kebabs – all main ed bottle of wine.. Puzzled, I well-discovered by those pesky courses under £10. There were admitted my fondness for the people from over the border. It is salads. There were starters for particular brand and grape vari - a wine bar with a menu, housed under a fiver if required, like ety only for the amiable stranger in a basement, and on the soup and chicken wings. It’s to explain that he was the Tuesday night our undercover nothing posh at all, but the Australian winery owner diner visited had very many salmon of the detective was responsible for its provision. I customers and the first impres - pleasantly-seasoned and pre - quickly asked him to join the sion is noise. What it might be sented – and with a very quaffa - table. A pleasant time ensued like to eat there on a Saturday ble, generous glass of Chilean with stirring tales of viniculture night which is “Showgirl Night” Merlot (I know I know, red wine from one side and Fitzrovian I don’t like to think! However, with fish, just a quirk) the meal reminiscences from the other. It don’t be put off: it is also large cost well under £20. A friendly, was akin to having a pint with and has various tucked away un-harrassed-on-a-busy-night Arthur Guinness. spaces for casual diners, and waiter gave particularly good The top right picture shows sofas for conversationalists, service – by chance I found out the winery owner (right), your where people can be comfort - later he was the under-manager. reporter and the wine itself, cra - able and hear themselves. You A good find. dled by waitress Huyen N from can also book: a party of twelve Andeas'. Readers might be able who had booked came in while I PICTURE PUZZLE ANSWER : to distinguish between the con - was there which seemed like a 51 Fitzroy Street, corner with “Shrike”, by Joseph Berryman, which should have been included in sumer and the grower via the good advertisement. The menu Warren Street, home of Fitzrovia the article about him in our last issue. Apologies for the error. method of holding the glass! was good, well-cooked, simple Group Analytic Practice. 6 Fitzrovia News Winter 2011 Cutting edge art gallery breathes smell of success into historic sanitary factory

building’s oak panelled 30 Years” documents, through By CLIVE JENNINGS vestibule with its half timbered illustrated flyers and Gaz’s rec - ceiling, which only has about a ollections, the one nighter that One of Fitzrovia’s most loved square metre of floor space, a ran and ran, still hosted by the buildings is the elegant Arts & real private view with room for ebullient Gaz, son of ‘60’s blues Crafts block at the corner of only two at a time. man John, and still playing the Riding House Street and The publishing arm spe - best ska and reggae in town Candover Street, famous for the cialises in photography and every Thursday night at The St luxuriant turquoise and gold photo-journalism with a wide Moritz in Wardour Street, a time mosaic panels, proudly pro - ranging list from the wonderful warped ‘60’s nightclub with a nouncing in swirling Art sartorial perfection of the Swiss chalet theme, apparently Nouveau script, “T J Boulting & sapeurs featured in “The very popular at the time. Sons Gas & Electrical Engineers. Gentlemen of Bacongo” who Trolley’s first foray into fiction is Est.1808” and “Sanitary & Hot stride across the war torn rutted “The Hardy Tree” by first time Water Engineers” on its two landscape of sub Saharan novelist Iphgenia Baal. It tells facades. There is a small enclave Africa looking like characters the story of how, 150 years ago, of similarly styled mansion from PG Wodehouse, to very a young and sensitive Thomas blocks in the surrounding hard hitting documentation of Hardy headed a group of thugs streets, an area that would have war and conflict, such as known as “The Resurrection still been predominantly “Attack on Gaza” with text by Men” whose job was to disinter Georgian in 1903 when they Noam Chomsky and “The Only and rebury on consecrated land were built, and would have been House Left Standing” the 10,000 corpses whose graves the height of fashion at the time, Middle east journals of Tim were on the route of the Great taking their cue from the style Hundalls. Art and architecture Midland Railway from made popular by near neigh - also feature and the attention to Manchester to London. The only bour, Arthur Liberty, in Regent detail in the design of the books memorial now extant being the Street who popularised what makes them a pleasure to handle tree in the grounds St Pancras was flatteringly known on the and read. Trolley is renowned church from which stacked continent as “Style Liberty”. for the respect with which it gravestones emanate like the The latest incumbents are treats its contributing photogra - spores of a necrogenic upturned Trolley: a dynamic combination phers’ documentation of what mushroom. of publishing house and cutting Gigi calls “life trajectories”. A Hannah and Gigi would love edge contemporary art gallery. typical example is the experi - to know more about their build - Directors Gigi Giannuzzi and ence of Philip Jones Griffiths, ing. Did any engineering actual - Hannah Watson fell in love with whose photographic essay ly take place there or was it an the building and patiently wait - "Gigi Giannuzzi and Hannah Watson outside T J Boulting / Trolley" “Recollections” they published. administrative headquarters? ed a year to move in while a Photo: Carla Borel He explains: “Meeting Gigi was Was T J Boulting Fitzrovia’s saga that included a lorry gallery, now relocated in nearby The Gallery got off to a fly - the closest I’ll ever come to a answer to Thomas Crapper, who knocking down a tree, that Eastcastle Street after a spell in ing start in mid October with an religious conversion. While was also a sanitary engineer and resulted in excavation that Bethnal Green, they started anarchic exhibition by Kling & most publishers baulked at the popularised the flushing water caused water damage unfolded. organising exhibitions there in Bang, an Icelandic artist led number of photographs I want closet at around the same time In fact they have embraced the 2005. Redchurch Street still had gallery who has previously to include, Gigi said ‘No good’ from his base in West London. building to the extent that the an edgy attraction then, and was shown at Tate Modern and and asked for more.” Any information or stories about gallery arm is now called T J home to several galleries and Frieze in nearby Regents Park. It Two recent publications con - Boulting or any other previous Boulting, while the publishing louche bars. As always, the consisted of a video archive centrate on events on either side occupants, from local residents arm remains Trolley Books, an money followed the art and the playing concurrently on ten of Fitzrovia, both within a ten and workers would be gratefully inventive solution that I’m sure Street’s fate was sealed when individually headphoned minute walk of Riding House received at: would flatter the eponymous T J Terence Conran opened his bou - screens and individual pieces by Street, in Soho and St Pancras. [email protected] Boulting, and sons, who were tique hotel Boundary, the member artists ranging in size “Gaz’s Rockin’ Blues, The First .uk obviously very proud of their designer stores moved in and from small drawings to whole business. The building is Grade most recently artist, Sam Taylor room installations. On the open - 1* listed, and in their sympathet - Wood filmed her beau, actor ing day, there was a party ic refurbishment, they have Aaron Johnson, throwing him - atmosphere with performance, peeled back layers of lino to self around for an REM video. music and a custom-built gold reveal parquet floors and anoth - Exorbitant rent increases and the bar. The contributing artists, of er beautiful mosaic in, appropri - desultory offer of a shipping whom there were many, mainly ately for sanitary engineers, the container round the corner for with names ending in “dottir”, bathroom. over £30,000 per annum made dispensed Icelandic Schnapps The story of Trolley starts in Fitzrovia, an area Hannah knew whilst others cooked Icelandic 1997 when Gigi was involved in from days working in Newman pancakes. A Prosecco fountain publishing a book of photo - Street, with its buzzing gallery was fed by 180 bottles of graphs by cult America photog - scene, seem very attractive. Prosecco, sourced from the vine - rapher, Nan Goldin. He went on The irony of the cycle of peo - yard next to Trolley’s printers in to work with art world greats ple having to move from an area Italy. Richard Serra, and Richard Long that only became popular due to Trolley Gallery started with and by 2000, was promoting his their creative energy because exhibitions by artists connected latest publications around the they are now priced out (Hoxton to books they had published: book fairs of Europe. Lacking and most of lower Manhattan) Paul Fryer, author of “Don’t Be the funds for an official stand, being typical examples, is not So” illustrated by Damien Hirst, and unconventional by nature, lost on Hannah and Gigi. The being an early example. he chose a strategy of guerilla old gallery had the legend Subsequent highlights include attacks, sporting a red velvet “Greed, it ain’t going anywhere” photographer Nick Waplington, suit and pushing his stock painted the length of the build - Nina Gehl and a group show around in a shopping trolley, ing, a prescient sentiment. Like curated by Tracey Emin. The hence the imprint name. Gigi Josh Lilley Gallery across the gallery has established a good moved his operation to London road the modest ground floor is relationship with many artists in 2001, meeting Hannah, then the tip of iceberg, and visitors and photographers that has last - an intern at the Peggy walk through the informal open ed, and, as is often the case, the Guggeheim Foundation, in plan publishing side to the roster has grown organically, Venice in 2005. They ended up impressive basement gallery, often through artist recommen - This is the old photo of the King and Queen pub on the corner of Foley and in Redchurch Street, the once many times its size. Down here, dations. Forthcoming exhibitors Cleveland Streets we told you about in the last edition. It came to light scruffy thoroughfare that con - ceilings are a majestic 4 metres include Jennifer Taylor in when builders began a demolition nearby and took it in to the landlord. It’s nects Shoreditch to Brick Lane. high in places, and a beautiful December and Boo Savile in reckoned to date from the 1950s or 60s and shows the narrow two-way Taking over the premises of arch has been uncovered, having February. Plans are also afoot to streets almost traffic-free. Landlord Collin Lea would love to hear from any - Stuart Shave’s “Modern Art” been panelled in for years. mount a mini exhibition in the body who has old shots of the interior Fitzrovia News, Winter 2011 7 Your local shopping list

Independent shops and services have been under great pressure in the area recently with soaring increases in rents, rates and leases. Many have had to literally shut up shop. It is important therefore that maximum support is given to those that remain. In this four- page feature we list just some that readers should check out. More may be listed in future issues.

AQUARIUMS As a practitioner of Traditional BOOKSHOPS Chinese Medicine and Aquatic Design Centre, 107-109 French’s Theatre Bookshop, 52 Acupuncture, Iridology and Great Portland Street. Fitzroy Street. Tel: 020 7255 4300 Western Herbal Medicine, Nearly 500 tanks of tropical fish, Mon-Fri: 9.30-17.30 (Thurs: to the unique combination of thera - coral creatures and aquatic 19.00) Sat: 11.00-17.00. pies produced by Laura are ded - plants are stored in the two An oasis of peace off Tottenham icated to improving your health floors of this shop. It can pro - Court Road: On entering this and wellbeing holistically. Laura vide (or hire) everything from a specialist bookshop, it’s difficult has over 10 years’ experience single goldfish in a small tank to to believe that just around the in the field of integrated medi - a living, breeding coral reef. corner is the mad rush of cine and is a firm believer in cre - Most of the stock is farmed to Central London. The bookshop ating optimum health status, as avoid depleting wild fish stocks. specialises in play scripts and opposed to managing disease stocks - over two thousand of symptoms. Treatment to restore, ARCHITECTS them. It also stocks other theatre rebalance and "reharmonise" material. You can sit and Bar Gazetas,16-19 Eastcastle St Sandwiched between the sex your mind, body and spirit. browse. Can’t make up your from crystal balls to Day of the 020 7363 5581. Architects’ prac - shop "Simply Pleasure" mind? then order on-line. The Dead skeletons. Also a lively tice and design consultancy cov - and Leyland hardware supplies, ART shop is well worth a visit. programme of lectures and ering public realm, residential is this interesting shop which Nancy Victor Gallery, 6 courses on the premises. Daily and mix use projects. also now sells Russian food. I've Tarot readings. Charlotte Place. Tel : Indian Book Shelf – Star Books, tried their meat dumplings in a 02078130373 55 Warren Street. Tel: 020 7419 Nigel Bird, 6 Middleton Place, soup of my own made from This gallery has been in 9169 Mon-Fri: 10.00-18.00 Langham St. 020 7580 5152 miso and spring onions, and BICYCLES Fitzrovia some time, but previ - I came across this unique book - Clients range from The Salvation they are delicious! A snip at Central Bikes, 37 Tottenham St. ously hidden away in a base - shop on my way from French’s. Army to The Rolling Stones. £2.80. The shop specialises in all Scooters, servicing, clothing and ment in Charlotte Street, now in They specialise in books pub - things Russian: books, lecture accessories. Dan Rose has been splendour in Charlotte Place. It lished by Star Books in many Collado Collins, 17-19 Foley St space (also at their branch in working in the West End for specialises in emerging UK languages and on various sub - 020 7580 3490. Specialise in Denmark Street). nearly ten years, but opened his artists and designers of hand jects. Languages include mixed use urban projects. shop nearly two years ago. crafted work. 25% commission. English, Bengali, Farsi, Gujarati, Treadwell’s Bookshop, 33 Store Assistant Chris Hilton says most Hindu, Marathi, Panjabi, Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios Street. Tel: 020 7419 8507. of the customers work in Latvian, Lithuanian, Nepali, 21 Great Titchfield St. 020 7323 www.treadwells-london.com Fitzrovia. They offer full service Polish, Spanish and Sinhalese. 5737. Working on urban regener - Specialising in “the banned, on all motorbikes, and have an Subjects include poetry, cookery, ation and social housing projects burned and ridiculed”, online shop too www.central - biographies, history, health, and throughout the UK. Treadwells has an extensive bikes.co.uk. A new gift card is novels stock of both second hand and being launched to prime the Stephen Fletcher, 121a Cleveland new books on the Occult, Tarot, pump for that biker in your life. BooksInRussian, 24 Goodge St. 020 7637 1244. Specialise in Wicca, Folklore, Mythology and "You can buy credit and give it Street : Tel : 0207 436 6390 residential refurbishment. Will Religion in addition to artifacts as a present." meet potential clients in London free of charge to discuss ideas.

Hazan Smith and Partners, 5 Maintenance Goodge Place. 020 7631 3678. MPL 54 Greek Street Projects range from small-scale and FlooringSoho listed building alterations to London large-scale residential develop - W1D 3DS ment. NEW Showroom! Opening 6th September, 2011 David Miller, 41-42 Foley St. 020 7636 4318. David was project CARPET and FLOORING Showroom, at: architect for the Media Centre at Lord’s. Interests include regen - 15 Goodge Place Fitzrovia W1T 4SQ eration and projects which foster cohesive communities. SERVICES INCLUDE:

Shillam and Smith,122 Great x PLUMBING and HEATING (Gas Safe) Titchfield St. 020 7637 0057 x PAINTING and DECORATING Also host contemporary art x FLOORING - shows and offer tours of Capets/Laminates/Vinyl/Solid Woods Fitzrovia during Architecture x LANDLORD CERTIFICATES/PAT TESTING Week. Well heeled at Black Truffle x ELECTRICAL/GENERAL HANDYMAN

David Walker, 39 Great Portland BOUTIQUES St. 020 7631 0523. Small design- Black Truffle, 52 Warren Street, LOCALLY BASED: focused practice whose projects London W1T 5NJ. 020 7388 4547 include offices, hotels, house Contact: Melissa Needham x QUICK FRIENDLY RESPONSE and cultural buildings http://www.blacktruffle.co.uk/ x NO CALL OUT CHARGE Black Truffle is a fashion bou - x NO CONGESTION tique providing stylish women’s x NO PARKING CHARGE on small jobs ALTERNATIVE clothes and accessories. The MEDICINE store also serves coffee and cake Telephone: 0207 998 3137 and offers a range of short Reharmonise, 1st Floor, 83 courses in accessory design. E-mail: [email protected] Charlotte Street Courses – group and private – Tel : 07770 933 900 www.mplmaintenance.co.uk include shoemaking, bag mak - www.reharmonise.com ing, belt making, corsetry, 15 Goodge Place, Fitzrovia, W1T 4SQ Free 15 min trial millinery and tutu making. Initial Consultation save £10 off Course attendees are entitled to £60 fee. Quote Fitzrovia News 20% discount off full priced Laura Merie MBAcC. Milecourt Properties Ltd T/A MPL Maintenance products. 8 Fitzrovia News W Shops and services direct

BUTTONS AND BELTS Taylors Buttons and Belts, 22 Cleveland Street. Thousands of hand made but - tons are in this shop... so it came as a surprise when a television crew brought a woman with a buttons phobia. "It was very strange," said Maureen Rose, who runs the shop. "I think they wanted to show her that buttons were not going to bite her, but I thought it not worth the risk of frightening her." The business was established Spectacular view at Zacks eye clinic 100 years ago in Soho but was EYE CLINIC HABERDASHERS forced by developers to relocate Zacks Fitzrovia Eye Clinic, 30c Barnett Lawson Trimmings Ltd, 16-17 Little Portland Street. Tel: 020 here ten years ago. Maureen Warren St, London, W1T 5NF 7636 8591 www.bltrimmings.com. makes the buttons (and can 020 7383 4898. Contact: Jonathan cover or make belts) for theatres, All types of trimmings including Cohen. Zacks Fitzrovia Eye ribbons, braids, fringes, motifs, costumers, television and film Clinic has led the profession for studios, designers, and colleges. sequins, tassels, boas, feathers, four decades, performing pearls, diamonte, buttons and numerous clinical trials to facili - cords to mention just a few. They CAFES tate the research and develop - supply the theatre, film and televi - Julia's Meadow, 44 Newman ment of contact lens products. In sion trades and anybody with Maureen Rose handmaking buttons at Taylors in Cleveland Street Street, W1T 1QD. Telephone 1997, Zack Contact Lenses incor - exciting trimmings for any pur - 020 7580 4464. A small, gourmet porated W. Johnson & Sons pose. sandwich joint for very reason - sive IT solutions for small to and does laundry and dry-clean - Opticians who in the 19th centu - Halicombe Trimmings Ltd, 15-16 able prices. Hot dishes and the medium sized London business - ing as well as shoe and bag ry were at the forefront of spec - Margaret Street. Tel: 020 7636 1789 best salads in Fitzrovia. The es, including secure network repairs. tacle lens technology and held a service is efficient and friendly. installation and server and desk - royal warrant for the supply of New Trimmings, Princess House, top support. spectacles to Queen Victoria. Eat-in tables and deliveries. Fitzroy Cleaners, 90 Cleveland 10 Winsley Street. Tel: 020 7637 Call 020 7436 7778 This shop not only specializes in St. 020 7387 9677. Dry-cleaning 0307. Lantana Café, in Charlotte Place ameris.co.uk on the premises. contact lenses but also sells is an unusually laidback corner funky glasses and sunglasses too HAIRDRESSERS of London, an atmosphere DELICATESSENS F-Dry Cleaners, 36 Langham St. and have up to 50% off selected Vannoli Hair, 92 Cleveland which the Australian-owned Dino’s Delicatessen,12 Charlotte 020 7580 6020. Also does a tai - products. Street, Fitzrovia, W1T 6NN. 07533 216874. Contact: Simone Lantana does its best to main - Place. 020 7580 3938. Sandwich loring service. FLORISTS tain. 13 Charlotte Place, W1 shop that sells a range of Italian Vannoli. Chivers Flowers, 43-45 Charlotte Tel: 020 7637 3347 groceries and caters for parties. Masterclean, 34 Berners St Opened in February 2011 this Street. 020 7323 9190. Dry cleaning, hairdressers offers the full range This family business has been COBBLERS H T Harris Delicatessen, 41 laundry and carpet and curtain hair services for both men and here for 50 years, and before that Brodies, 88a Cleveland Street. Great Titchfield St. 020 76364228. cleaning. women at great prices. You can was opposite Warren Street sta - Tel: 020 7387 3978 Long-established cafe which book or just drop in. They are tion for 40 years, having been The friendly owner of this sells cured meats, cheeses and Parkers, 28 Goodge St. 020 7636 offering 20% off all services started by the grandmother of establishment, untypically in my Italian produce 6373. This has been going for between 16th and 29th January the present owner, Steven experience, actually seems to more than forty years and also 2012. Chivers. like both shoes and his work. Iberica, 195 Great Portland St. does tailoring services. "Our customers are all local and He will happily discuss the 020 7636 8650. Wide range of Nicolas, 38 Goodge Street. Tel: I love the area with its characters merits of the Goodyear welting cured meats, cheeses and pro - Sole Heelers, 82a Great 020 7637 1809 Mon-Sat 10:00- who are interesting, diverse, cre - system and the pros and cons of duce from Spain with a restau - Titchfield St.020 7580 9066 19:00 ative, and very friendly," said the stick on sole. He will treat rant next door. Dry cleaning, shoe repairs, Andreas has been cutting this Steven who also likes the com - your handmade Lobb boots with repairs and alterations, key-cut - writer’s hair for over sixteen munity atmosphere. the respect they deserve, while Sardo Cucina, 112 Whitfield St ting. years and always made an excel - The shop also sells gift items not turning his nose up at 7383 3555. One of 3 family-run lent job of it . Gracious and such as hand made jewellery painstakingly rescuing those restaurants which also has deli - courteous, he has been serving and scented candles, as well as chain store cheapies that cost lit - catessen selling Sardinian oils, the tonsorial needs of vintage and antique products tle, but you wear every summer. breads, pasta and coffee. Fitzrovians since 1969. Three such as mirrors. chairs, and son now also cutting. Fifth Avenue, 41 Goodge Street. Scandinavian Kitchen, 61 Great Tel: 020 7636 6705 Titchfield St. 020 7580 7161. This This place offers a wide popular cafe does a great range range of English mens shoes by of open sandwiches, sells a wide Loake, Cheaney, Alfred Sargent, range of Scandinavian food and Church's and carries out tradi - caters for parties. tional shoe repairs to all types of mens’ and ladies’ footwear. Villandry, 170 Great Portland St Perhaps slightly on the expen - 020 7631 3131. The foodstore sive side, but this family-run attached to the upmarket restau - business really pays attention to rant sells a range of continental quality, and it shows. products and hampers and caters for parties George Shoe Repairs, 35 Tottenham Street. Tel: 020 3302 6437 DRY CLEANERS Helpful neighbourhood shoe Aristocrat, 26a Mortimer St. 020 repairer. Many long standing 7580 5040. Dry cleaning and and satisfied customers. bespoke tailoring on the premis - es COMPUTER SUPPORT The Complete Cobbler/LAS, 26 Ameris IT Support, 84a More news a Tottenham St. 020 7636 9040. Cleveland St, London W1T 6NG This has been going for 35 years Ameris provide comprehen - Ciarra Currie arrangers flowers at Chivers in Charlotte Street. and at twitter WFinitzero v20ia1 1 9

Finkler Question”describes Julian Treslove looking into J P Guiver shop window when he is tory assaulted. Ivor Mairants Musicentre, 56 Rathbone Place, London W1T 1JT. 0207 636 1481 Sharps Barber & Shop, 13a This shop pecialises in fretted Charlotte Street. Tel: 020 7636 stringed instruments: guitars, 8688. banjos, ukuleles, and bass gui - Cutting edge (geddit?) barbers tars; and also sell strings books, with contemporary interior. JEWELLERY GIFTS pickups, tuners, amps, and ped - Drinks on offer, convivial atmos - Be Marvellous Jewellery (pic - als. phere and a step up from the tured above), 38 Goodge Street, Ivor Mairants was born in traditional “something for the 020 7637 2144 1908 in Rypin, Poland, and came weekend, sir?” establishment. Costume and bespoke hand with his family to the UK in made oneoffs commissions, 1913. He took up the banjo at the Toppers, 48 Goodge Street, 61 & necklaces, brooches, rings, ear - age of 15 and at 20 became a Hobgoblin Music: An Aladdin’s Cave of instruments. 160 Tottenham Court Road. rings, hand bags, evening bags, professional musician. It also has a range of CDs, cases, world musical instruments to try This chain of discount unisex soaps, hair slides, grips, hand From the 1930's he was a fea - covers, music stands, instrument out and compare. barbers currently charges £9 for made costume jewellery from tured banjoist and then guitarist stands, lights, pickups, tuners, Concertinas, melodeons, a basic haircut. Feedback mixed £5. Thursday late opening. of many of Britain's leading metronomes, and flute cleaning accordions, mandolins, man - from brilliant to awful. Seem to dance bands. In the 60's and 70's materials. dolas, dulcimers, bouzoukis, have a frequent turnover of staff, his guitar playing was often LEATHER GEAR Two small instrument try-out bass guitars, bodhrans, flagelots, so less likely to have the same heard on television, radio, film Lewis Leathers, 3-5 Whitfield rooms are available and a small world percussion, bagpipes, barber twice. My 14 year old soundtracks, and many record - Street. studio/space in the basement - flutes, tin whistles, banjos, low son loves them. ings including the Mantovani Motorbike clothing and more. “The Warren Room” is available whistles, harps, fiddles/violins, orchestra, and Manuel and his One of the most historic firms in to hire for rehearsals, individual harmonicas, saxophones, zithers Tower Barbers, 164 New Music of the Mountains. His Fitzrovia, Lewis Leathers was and group teaching, masterclass - ukeleles, kalimbas, bells glock - Cavendish Street. Tel: 020 7636 guitar quintet broadcast regular - founded in 1892 in Great es, workshops, and seminars. enspiels, xylophones, recorders, 3950 Mon-Fri 8.30-18.30 ly in the late 1950's on the BBC's Portland Street, but moved to its The room holds 12 people, has a amplifiers, strings, straps cases, Traditional barber. Haircut: 'Guitar Club' series. current site in recent times. piano and is also used for musi - books, tutors, CDs and DVDs £11.50; + shampoo: £14.50. In the 1950's Ivor Mairants Their range is made in England, cians’ posture and bodywork (this list is not exhaustive!) established his central school of and can be made to measure classes. The staff are friendly and Vannoli Hair, 92 Cleveland dance music in London. All too. There's an online business, A repair and servicing work - knowledgeable, they’re happy to Street, Fitzrovia, W1T 6NN instruments were taught but www.lewisleathers.com with a shop is fully equipped with spe - let you make a noise in the shop 07533 216874. special emphasis was given to big fan base in Japan. cialist technicians dealing with and will give you pressure-free Contact: Simone Vannoli. the guitar. In 1958, together with minor adjustments to complete advice. Opened in February 2011 this his wife Lily, he opened The Ivor overhauls and renovations. A range of secondhand and hairdressers offers the full range MUSIC SHOPS Mairants Musicentre, Britain's Notice board and leaflets handmade instruments are hair services for both men and J P Guiver of 99 Mortimer first specialist guitar store. The give details of concerts, recitals, stocked and Hobgoblin buy cer - women at great prices. You can Street, London, W1W 7SX. 0207 Ivor Mairants Musicentre teachers and flute related events. tain instruments outright, espe - book or just drop in. They are 580 2560. Claiming to be the old - became a Mecca for professional cially concertinas. They take offering 20% off all services est violin dealer in England they and amateur guitarists. It Hobgoblin Music, 24 Rathbone trade-ins and can sell on a com - between 16th and 29th January specialise in violins, violas, cel - moved to its present premises in Place, W1T 1JA. 020 7323 9040. mission. If you have an instru - 2012. los and bows. They have a 1962. David Antony Reid with This shop has been in ment to sell, pop into the shop. world renowned selection of over 13 years’ experience and Fitzrovia for 13 years and is an Noticeboard with musicians conductor’s batons, and sell hand-making and repairing gui - Aladdin's Cave of musical contact details, teachers, bands strings, cases and accessories. tars spends his Thursdays at instruments with a huge range and upcoming gigs. The business is spread over five Ivor Mairants taking care of of acoustic, folk, celtic and ICE CREAM floors, was originally established repairs, set-ups and restorations. Polka Gelato, 45 Fitzroy Street, in 1863 to manufacture strings, W1T 6EB. Contact: Anna and and moved from Soho to its cur - All Flutes Plus 60-61 Warren Ross. 020 7387 3841. rent address in the 1940s. Street, W1T 5NZ 020 7388 8438 Polka Gelato is a modern ice Customers can try a selection of This shop moved from cream and coffee shop that instruments and/or bows in pri - Chiltern Street, Marylebone, opened in August this year vate practice rooms. They keep a about ten years ago and has a offering mouth watering Italian good selection of fine older large selection of flutes includ - ice creams made of all natural instruments from the best ing bass and alto flutes, piccolos ingredients. They offer all European violin-making schools. and headjoints. Instruments Fitzrovia residents 10% off and A choice of at least 36 available range from student models to deliver for free their take home handmade conducting batons advanced professional models. It tubs. When you visit make sure (different styles and lengths). also has the latest lighter flutes you say hello to their couscous Repairs and restoration on-site made of resin which are suitable (you’ll have to go in to find out from routine repairs to extensive for musicians suffering with RSI. more). restoration of instruments and An extensive library of music bows. is available featuring pieces for The mugging at the start of flute, flute/piano duets and Howard Jacobson's novel “The ensemble pieces.

Magic Flutes at 60 Warren Street Bloomsbury ward councillors’ surgeries 6.00-7.00pm on the first and third Fridays of the month at Fitzrovia Neighbourhood Centre, 39 Tottenham Street, W1T 4RX And on the second and fourth Fridays of the month at 10 per cent off ice cream at Polka Gelato Marchmont Community Centre, 62 Marchmont Street, WC1N 1AB t fitzrovia.org.uk/news Adam Harrison, Milena Nuti, and Abdul Quadir : 020 7974 3111 [email protected], [email protected], r.com/fitzrovianews [email protected] 10 Fitzrovia News Winter 2011 Shops and services a definite increase in the popu - PICTURE FRAMERS SCULPTURE larity of re-using, but the reces - Arch 1 Studio, 12 Percy Street. MATERIALS sion has also caused a drop in Tel: 020 7636 8241. Alec Tiranti, 27 Warreen Street. donations. Part of the group that includes Customers come here from all Donations are the life blood artists’ materials purveyors over the world for their sculp - of Oxfam shops and they urge Cornellisons in Great Russell ture materials and equipment, the public to bring unwanted Street and artists’ canvas suppli - from novices and students to items into their shops. They gen - ers Russell & Chapple in Covent professional artists and those erally have an excellent range of Garden. Arch 1 Studio have a working in animation, technical books, sports and computer wide range of mouldings to suit design, special effects, as well as equipment, etc. Many customers all types of pictures and a plasterers and restorers. The who have children going to changing exhibition of framed British Museum is also a regular University are able to avail work by various artists. customer. The shop was estab - themselves of a bargain. lished in 1895 and moved here The YMCA, also in Goodge Artefact Picture Framers, 36 from nearby 15 years ago. Street, likewise is a thriving con - Windmill Street. Tel: 020 3417 cern with a regular turnaround 2258. SECOND HAND which opened on 26 July 1989. www.artefactlondon.co.uk The newest to the area is Artefact have over 30 years of They say second-hand Bang Bang, in Goodge Street too, experience in the manufacture Britain is booming and as mil - which operates a buy and sell and supply of creative picture lions of cash-strapped Britons scheme, residing here 11 years. frames. face another winter of spiralling All picture framing and mirror fuel bills, job insecurity and TATTOOS manufacturing is done by a wage cuts, one industry is at Soul Rise, Tattoo & Piercing team of highly skilled and tal - least thriving. Studio, 32 Newman Street, base - ented craftsmen in their own Here in Fitzrovia we have ment. workshop in Surbiton. Also a many Charity shops. Indeed, The upgrading of a cus - gallery to hire. there have always been second tomer's private parts was one of hand dealers here. I remember the more unusual requests here. Riccardo Giaccherini Ltd, 39 in the 1950s when Warren Street "He already had two stars on his Newman Street. Tel: 020 7580 was rife with its wheeling and penis and wanted a third," 1783. Known to specialise in top dealing in second hand cars. The explained Edward Ziani who end hand carved and gilded street was filled with spivs and runs the studio. "I did it, but frames. They were the personal well-known for its sharks. won't do it again." framers of Lucian Freud. How many of you out there Edward has just moved to know where the song Second the area from Camden Town Hand Rose derives from? and has found it so good to Much of the current demand trade that he is taking on anoth - is coming from middle-class er artist soon. "New techniques households forced to seek out PHOTOGAPHY have really improved so people second hand bargains. can bring in their own colour COURSES Our local Oxfam shop in pictures and we can photo and Family business: Kyri Sotiri (left) and his father Klitos, owners of Soho Nigel Wilson Photography Goodge Street which opened in transfer them," added Edward. Wine Supply. Workshops, 36 Mortimer St. A 20 May 1990 is managed by Mary Lawlor and many volunteers, per cent discount is being TAILORS & Jonathan Quearney, 7 Windmill including Emad who has been WINE SHOPS offered to Fitzrovia News read - Street. Tel: 020 7631 5132 Mon- with the Company for many ALTERATIONS Soho Wine Supply, 18 Percy St. ers for weekend photography Fri 9.00-6.00. years. A-Z Tailoring, 38 Langham A family business on Percy courses at this teaching studio. www.jonathanquearney.com Oxfam said second-hand Street. Tel: 0207636 9196. Mon- Street since 1977. Kyri Sotiri Just mention the Fitzrovia News Saville Row trained tailor sales from its shops were up 3.5 Sat: 10.00 to 19.00; Sun: 12 to (pictured with his Dad) says the when making contact by phon - Quearney has been in Fitzrovia per cent year-on-year but dona - 19.00 shop flourishes on the site of an ing 020 7793 8664 or 07969 for seven years in three different tions of goods were down by 14 This small alteration and repairs old storeroom. 900790, or email nigel@photog - premises, and now also lives per cent, a sign that people were service is on the ground floor of "Much has changed, we used raphycourses.org.uk. Or visit the here with his young family. hanging on to goods or selling a mansion block. The very help - to bottle alcohol here on Percy web: www.photographycours - All suits are cut on the prem - them. They say during the eco - ful proprietor, Ali, claims his Street, and tastes have altered es.org.uk. ises and the house style is a soft nomic downturn they have seen prices are around 30% below the too." norm, which with hemming shouldered look. Clients can The shop now stocks five from £5 seems very reasonable, browse 1960’s copies of “Tailor shelves of different vodkas and and Sunday opening is very and Cutter” for inspiration or the range of gin is quickly convenient. admire the typewriter that is expanding. With a full range of used for labels in his comfort - champagnes, wines and malts, Josh Demou, 62 Warren Street. able but quirky showroom. as well as serving local resi - Tel: 020 7388 9196. Bespoke suits from £2,300 and dents, the firm supplies hotels, In Warren Street for 12 years and made to measure from £1,100. bars and restaurants across specialising in top end work for London, and is now actively Saville Row, Josh Demou can Russell & Hodge, 3 Windmill encouraging more Fitzrovia undertake anything from an Street. Tel: 020 7580 7655. business. alteration to a bespoke suit. www.russellandhodge.com "If there's a hotel or bar in Proprietor Kerry Ford the area that wants to come The Golden Needle, 152 New moved his shirtmaking opera - along and talk we'll be delight - Cavendish Street. Tel: 020 7580 tion to Windmill Street from ed." 7727. Jermyn Street eight years ago. Very impressive alterations and One of the last bespoke shirt - repairs undertaken for this makers in London where every - Do you know of writer. Great attention to detail thing is made on the premises, and excellent workmanship. Kerry does a lot of work for a local shop or Reasonable prices. films and television now. Recent projects include “Tinker, Tailor, service that Paul Kitsaros, 66 Cleveland Soldier, Spy”, “The Iron Lady” Street. Tel: 020 7323 6757. and the new Batman film. should be Excellent bespoke tailor, at very Bespoke shirts from £175. reasonable prices. Saville Row publicised? quality, for whom he does much M. Sakhi, 118-120 Great work, at around half the price. Titchfield Street. Tel: 020 7436 If so let us know Don’t let the scruffy frontage 2132. Mon – Sat: 10.00 19.00 deter you. Personal recommen - This light basement workshop (contact details dation from this writer for will make ladies and gents gar - whom Paul has made several ments from scratch, in addition are on page 2). suits. to alteration and repair services. Fitzrovia News Winter 2011 11

Our new astrology column: Blackout killer Boxing Day starts a new period in the Zodiac

By GEORGE BINNING should avoid trying to send a mes - unmasked It’s the time of year when our sage early in the month, you will astrological position will be felt find it much easier to be clearer acutely by all. The early evenings, after the 14th. A short story by and impending winter solstice, on Cancer : This may seem quite SUNITA SOLIAR December 21st, force us all to a difficult month, as internal wor - draw on our deepest reserves of ries are not easy for Cancers to he lights go out on London energy to see the winter through. voice during the lunar eclipse. The – street lamps dim and Coupled with this, a lunar eclipse obscured moon may leave emo - Tpeople cover their doors on the 10th will have made life’s tional Cancers feeling confused or and windows. From his flat obstacles feel particularly trying, at a loss, but overall positive Gordon Cummins looks at the motion of the rest of the zodiac hazy glow of fire in the distance, for Cancers especially, who are and polishes his work shoes. ruled by the moon. Never fear! will ensure that that support will be at hand. He likes the status that the Boxing Day marks the start of a Leo : As a child of the Sun you RAF uniform gives him: people period in which all the planets will move forward through the may struggle to find your strength see only what he represents – he Zodiac, for the first time in eleven at this time of year, especially could have any face. The other months. Similarly, this will be a when a new addition to your chaps call him ‘The Count’ – it’s time for all to move forward and extended family thrusts you onto really true that he’s high born, play to their strengths. unfamiliar ground. But under and he doesn’t like the ones who Aquarius : Venus will enter Sagittarius' influence your ability snigger. He inspects the shoes the realm of Aquarius on the day to adapt to these new circum - and puts them aside – tonight of the winter solstice. In intellectu - stances will hold strong. he’s a civilian, one who can slip al Aquarians Venus manifests her - Virgo : Mars rises in Virgo this in and out of the blackness. He self through a love of balance, and month. The assertiveness of Mars takes his gas mask out of the with Jupiter at a right angle on pushes the analytical intelligence box and tries it on. The smell of that day, the signs point to a for - of a Virgo into a debate charged the disinfectant exhilarates him. mal agreement that will lead to with emotion. Perhaps cool, He likes this new face, all seeing prosperity. Beware that stubborn resolved problem solving is what and powerful. This is his true individualism does not prevent is needed, but don’t forget to take face. He puts the mask into his Illustration by CLIFFORD HARPER you from reaching an outcome the feelings of others into account. Libra : As Libra’s guiding star bag and goes out into the street. Alarmed that her noise will set that can make everybody happy. Venus moves from Capricorn to Across London, Greta the neighbours on him, he Pisces : A Pisces is able to see though the glossy packaging of Aquarius in the middle of the Hayward puts her stockings and begins to back out. The air is Christmas to the glowing embers month, deeper concerns will give dress back on. She can hear the But that won’t do. Greta of Christmas spirit beneath. The way to levity. But in spite of the can’t let him disappear. She fatigued breathing of the man on compassionate side of Pisces will rise in spirits, your sense of the other side of the bed. He chilly and hurls herself towards him and be a blessing to those around you, responsibility will not be forgot - told her his name was John rips at his mask. She catches a although these same people may ten: Saturn’s authoritarian influ - Smith. She doesn’t believe him, made colder glimpse of his face, an ordinary have caused you unnecessary ence remains strong, still hovering but it’s fine with her: she doesn’t face, with dull brown hair. worry earlier in the year. near it’s angle of exultation. like to know anything about Pushing past Kathleen, he flees Aries : The lunar eclipse coin - Scorpio : Don't be disheart - these men who call her out. It’s by the dark into the street, nameless and cides with Uranus’ exit from retro - ened by the way this year has this time when she’s leaving that unseen. grade on December 10 as the plan - panned out. Most importantly, she can’t bear to look at their over the sky, and he pulls his When he is gone the et starts to progress slowly resist feelings of vindictiveness faces. She wonders if the war bag close to his body, his gas women watch each other for a through the house of Aries. When and bitterness towards that partic - does it, makes them so lonely mask case jostling against a century of seconds. When they the emotional force of the moon is ular individual. Your ruling plan - that they need these sweating, knife and a razor blade. can breathe Kathleen helps her briefly overshadowed, you will be et, Pluto, a symbol of rebirth, grunting nights. But no, war friend to sit down on the bed able to return to a niggling griev - should empower you to pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and doesn’t make you take off a Greta twists her ankle and goes into the kitchen to ance with renewed creativity and start all over again! wedding ring. This is who he is because she doesn’t see the curb, make her a cup of tea. intelligence. You might discover something about yourself in the Sagittarius : Leadership will all the time, John Smith. She and limps all the way back As Greta steadies herself she process. be very important for Sagittarius looks at her lap as he goes into home to Fitzrovia. She shivers in looks at the mask, which lies on Taurus : After a very long peri - in the first half of the month, the bathroom. When the door is the crisp night and thinks about the floor. She can’t bear to touch stopping at the air raid shelter od of frustrated aspiration, although Mercury’s retrograde locked she collects the money he it – the sight of it makes her motion may inhibit it’s delivery. on Montagu Place, but she’s too Jupiter’s exit from a long retro - has left her on the hallway table. tremble with sickness and anger. Luckily any misunderstandings afraid since that woman, Evelyn grade on the 26th, will bring with She catches her face in the mir - Yet she is transfixed by it and it growth in the world of work. As should be ironed out in the second something, was strangled there. ror and pushes up a sad curl she knows she must pick it up. Taurus’ ruling planet Venus moves half. Her flat is small and cold, and with her hand. Greta Hayward – Her fingers reach out guardedly. into Aries, this change of fortune Capricorn : The departure of with a name like that, people she keeps her coat on as she The rubber is still moist from his will be reflected in your personal Venus will be counterbalanced by used to say, she ought to have boils the kettle. Her flatmate, breath – it makes her shiver. But life too. the immediate arrival of the Sun been a movie star. The wrinkles Kathleen, went to visit a friend inside she finds him: the service Gemini : Poor communication in Capricorn’s sky. Although a around her eyes are deep and in the afternoon. It’s late now number of his mask is 525987. In caused conflict in a battle of ideas particular source of pleasure will she puts on some lipstick to and she isn’t back yet; perhaps the morning, when the light last month, but as Mercury exits it be lost, the self will prevail with reduce their presence. She she’ll stay there. Greta is disap - comes up again, she will give retrograde in Sagittarius the lines renewed vigour. Also, your birth - chooses a respectable brown for pointed about coming back to an this to the police. are open once again. While you day approacheth! her journey home – even in the empty place: she can’t bear the dark one wants to be seen in a thought of the long, dark night Feeling stressed, run down? certain way. alone, the not talking to anyone. The kettle begins to whistle and Treat yourself or someone you love… *** she hums a tune as she takes her Come and visit your local complementary therapists: Gordon moves down the shoes off and hangs her coat up, De-stressed/Deep tissue massage street alongside men with brief - and she does not hear Gordon as & Reiki Therapy cases, and secretaries heading he jimmies open the front door. with: Pierre-Antoine Croset home after a long day at the While the kettle shrills he creeps Mobile: 07860 458 653 office. The air is chilly and made into her bedroom, where she Email: [email protected] colder by the dark but people fumbles in the open closet. She smile at each other as they step jumps as she feels something – a Traditional Chinese Medicine Acupuncture cautiously into the road, listen - hand – over her mouth, and with: Cristina Luchetta ing for blacked out traffic. He then she struggles for breath. Mobile: 07880 636 949 She wriggles and bites his finger. knows that no one will remem - Reflexology Email: [email protected] He lets go and she sees a distort - ber him: Londoners on their way with: Felicity Bevell ed, rubber face; the transparent home from work want to trust www.cristinaluchetta.com eyepiece misted by breath. At The 52 Club each other, and so he is just Mobile: 07976 926 322 another man with his chin up, Gordon goes after her but he is 52 Gower Street stopped by the screams of her Email: [email protected] keeping the city’s spirit going. www.felicityreflexology.co.uk London WC1EB 6EB An air raid warning goes out flatmate. He turns to see Kathleen in the doorway. www.the52club.co.uk 12 Fitzrovia News Winter 2011 A novel take on Fitzrovia

By BRIAN JARMAN

young woman steps off the wooden escalator at AWarren Street tube station and walks into the street. She’s smartly dressed in the style of the late 1920s. She looks a little stuck-up, but when she stops to talk to a news vendor, Jack, her accent is the same as his. This was the scene that came to Jacqueline Winspear one morning when she was stuck in traffic in a downpour while driving to work south of San Francisco. ‘It was like watching a movie,’ says Jacqueline. Another half an hour down the road the first chapter of a novel was forming. ‘At the end of the day the whole book was in my head,’ says Jacqueline. ‘I came home and wrote the first chapter.’ And so her heroine, private eye Maisie Dobbs who has an office in Fitzroy Square, was born. Jacqueline was born in South ‘It was like watching a movie’ in the middle of a Jacqueline Winspear outside her beloved Fitzroy Square where her latest novel, The Mappng of Love and Death (below), is set. downpour David Bartlett, who ran small really fascinates me is what hap - And although Jacqueline has group tours of the battlefields of pens to ordinary people in loads of books about old The Western Front,’ says extraordinary circumstances. London, her favourite way of East London and emigrated to Jacqueline. ‘He was involved in ‘One of the groups truly researching the area is just to California 21 years ago. Her first identifying some remains they impacted by the Great War were wander around – she comes job was in Fitzroy Square and found in Belgium.’ women. It was when they start - back about four times a year. she fell in love with it. She On the body were papers ed becoming independent.’ ‘I love the history of the worked in publishing and wrote with the address of the Central Which brings us back to area,’ she says. ‘I love looking for education journals but never Bank of Santa Barbara, and Maisie Dobbs. She came from into a mews and imagining the thought she’d write a novel. David wanted to know if any - lowly beginnings and after her horses there. ‘In Maisie’s day, ‘I didn’t think I could,’ she one had any information. mother died went into service in you’d be walking in horse muck. says. Jaqueline got in touch with a large house in London. It had Horses were still vying with cars Since then Maisie Dobbs him and he told her that they’d on the street.’ books have won awards and also found on the body a set of It’s on these walks that made the top ten of the New expensive coloured German Fitzrovia is an Jacqueline pictures what was York Times bestseller list. She’s pens. here before modern buildings, comparatively unknown this ‘I knew they were draughts - ideal setting for and finds clues for the authentic side of the Atlantic, but that men’s pens,’ says Jacqueline. ‘I detail that makes her writing so could soon change because knew they were used to draw private eye vivid. Allison and Busby have just maps.’ The children’s hospital in For a writer who never published her seventh Maisie That particular mystery was Maisie Coram Fields, for example, was thought she’d write a novel, she Dobbs crime novel, The Mapping never solved, but Jacqueline demolished in the 1920s. finds that Maisie Dobbs brings of Love and Death . started speculating on what ‘So when Maisie was walk - together many of her great inter - Appropriately enough, the could have happened. Known a library and Maisie used to ing past, it would have been a ests – the First World War, the publishers are also based in for her meticulous research, she sneak down in the middle of the building site.’ changing roles of women, Fitzrovia, in Charlotte Mews, started looking into cartography. night to read. Maisie’s next adventure, A Fitzrovia - and brings them which is where I meet her. Her love of maps came in handy, ‘She’s discovered by the lady Lesson in Secrets, is out next alive. The novel relates how the and one of the backdrops of The of the house, who has always spring. Meanwhile she’s work - ‘You can touch truth more remains of a young American Mapping of Love and Death is the fancied herself as a social ing on other books – fiction and readily with fiction than you can are found in an old French bat - vital but unsung role cartogra - reformer,’ says Jacqueline. ‘She non-fiction – but is keeping the with fact,’ she says. tlefield in 1932. It proves to be phers played in the First World sees this as an opportunity and subject matter close to her chest. The Mapping of Love and the body of a missing war map- War. sees to Maisie’s education.’ She believes that talking about Death by Jacqueline Winspear. maker Michael Clifton. A post Her fascination with the First So Maisie is equally at home her writing interferes with the Allison and Busby. £19.99. mortem reveals he was not World War started with family in the drawing room of a process. killed in battle but murdered. stories – her grandfather was Mayfair mansion or an East End His parents hire Maisie to wounded in The Somme and her pie and mash shop. She has con - find the woman who wrote the grandmother was blinded in one tacts in the underworld and the Pollocks Toy Museum love letters found on his body. eye while working in munitions upper crust. She identifies herself only as The at the Woolwich Arsenal – and This makes Fitzrovia an ideal Monday to Saturday 10 am – 5 pm grew with a visit to the battle - English Nurse, and the parents setting for her. Because just Last entry to museum 4.30pm Closed Bank Holidays believe she may unlock the mys - fields of The Somme and Ypres around the corner from the Part 18th and 19th century the rooms are small and tery of his death. in 1994. beautiful square is Warren connected by narrow winding staircases. It exudes atmosphere and It was inspired by a letter ‘I started imagining the peo - Street. In the 1930s, as a family evocations of those special times of childhood. written to her local newspaper ple who were left behind,’ she friend reminded Jacqueline, it Filled with visual delights and surprises to behold . in Santa Barbara. says. ‘If a soldier dies you get a was full of second-hand car 1 Scala Street, London W1T 2HL ‘It was a long letter from a telegram, but if they go missing dealers and ‘not a very salubri - 020 7636 3452 [email protected] former English policeman, you’re left with a hope. What ous area.’ pollockstoymuseum.com Fitzrovia News Winter 2011 13 Lofty the postman

By SAM LOMBERG like a letter from your sister in Poland” – “Hullo Mrs. Young, Simon Glyndwr John’s story how’s your daughter, recovered about his policeman father from her operation?” - He’d also brought to mind a pleasant introduce me as his new assis - childhood memory about anoth - tant! Afterwards Lofty would er “public servant” our local tell me the names of the persons postman. Pre-war a letter post - we’d seen and interesting tit-bits ed before 6 p.m. in central about them – if they were for - London to an address in central eigners where they came from, London would be delivered their work and so on, but no with the last delivery at 9 p.m. gossip about their private lives. In those days the post was deliv - Maybe stopping for a chat ered morning, noon and meant that it took longer for evening. Lofty to complete his route, but, Back to my childhood mem - how shall I explain it? I think it ories. During the good weather added a new dimension to his months I’d wait on our doorstep work, made it much more pleas - for our regular postman to come ant and interesting – he wasn’t by with the 9 p.m. delivery. He just a postman delivering letters, was a very pleasant young man he was a dispenser of good and – a six-footer that I called bad news, a link to the outside “Lofty”. I would then join him world. to walk the rest of his route – or I may not have thought Comic in a bottle as much as I could manage! We about it at the time, but thanks Wee" Georgie Wood (1895-1979), an audience with the Pope he would walk along Fitzroy St. to Lofty I knew my way around the internationally famous was with him longer than nor - around the Square, Cleveland all the back streets, discovered a "comedian who lived at 52 mal. A Cardinal began to worry, St., Clipstone St, Carburton St., mews here and there I’d never Gordon Mansions, Torrington so opened the door to the inner and surrounding streets. It was Place, for the last 29 years of his seen before, but what was most life, was celebrated on radio recent - sanctum, just a crack, to hear the quite a route and usually I left important was that I met people ly. Pope say: "But Mr Wood - I am a him to go home at around ten from all walks of life, found out Roy Hudd told anecdotes on Catholic!" o’clock. what made the area “tick” – Radio 4 Extra about Wood (pic - This tale may be apocryphal, Very often there would be heard its “heartbeat”. Sadly I tured right) , who had been on but Georgie did in fact have two somebody on the doorstep wait - doubt the postman has the time, stage since the age of six but audiences with Pope Pius XII in ing for Lofty to arrive with the nor possibly the desire, to stop never grew beyond four feet 1949 and 1950. post. for a chat these days – every - nine inches in adulthood. The comedian became so “Hullo Mr. Dopolski looks thing moves so fast. According to Hudd, Georgie well known internationally that rather pompously told a fellow in Australia "Wee Georgie" Who remembers Buhler’s cafe? performer that he was thinking became rhyming slang for of donating his body to medical "good". A railway engine was A newsagent and coffee shop her artist son Robert Buhler science at the University College also named after him. where artists and writers mixed (1916-89). Hospital in Gower Street. By MIKE PENTELOW He confessed he could be until it was bombed in 1941 is of The coffee shop was the "Good," he replied. "We can pompous at times, but saw the interest to the author of a new haunt of art students and teach - all come and see you in your diminutive stature in good funny side when his ego was biography. ers from Slade School of Fine Art bottle!" Georgie was in fact a heart. When he heard an actor deflated. As in the case when he So if any readers have any in Gower Street, and poets such great friend of Dr Robert Scarff, had said he was so small that he was dropped off at his flat by a memories or photographs of as Dylan Thomas during the who conducted cancer research was carried in a shopping bas - taxi driver, who asked "You are Madame Lucie Buhler's shop at 1930s. at Middlesex Hospital in ket, Georgie accosted him. The Wee Georgie Wood ain't yer?" 56 Charlotte Street (on the north- Peter Miles can be contacted Mortimer Street. actor apologised and asked who Georgie did not like to be recog - ern corner with Scala Street) at [email protected], One of Georgie’s neighbours, had told him about it. "Nobody," nised but confirmed that he was. they should contact Peter Miles, 0208 800 1737, or 07910 109436. Eileen O’Keefe, recalled: “When quipped Georgie. "I heard you "You're bleeding marvel - who is writing about the life of a new lift was installed at from the shopping basket." lous," said the cabbie with an Gordon Mansions a special low When Georgie became con - admiring look that Georgie Historic Holborn library offers button was put in for Georgie.” verted to Catholicism he regu - warmed too. After a few more Also when he was honoured by larly worshipped at St Charles words, he said: "Well, I won't Historic maps, drawings and Tottenham Court Road when it the Grand Order of Water Rats Borromeo church in Ogle Street, keep you, but as soon as I recog - guides of Holborn (which covers was called Tottenham Road, and “he took us all to the reception.” where he befriended Rev George nised you I felt I just had to tell south east Fitzrovia) are avail - Oxford Street when it was called Georgie took jokes about his Wright. you that I think you're bleeding able from the archive library in Tiborn (as in Tyburn) Road. Hudd, in his "Book of Music marvellous... the way you can Theobalds Road for £1 or less. Twelve Views of Camden Hall Variety and Showbiz get in and out of the cab without The official guide, produced 1733-1875 costs £1 and includes Anecdotes", said that as a con - anybody to help you." around 1964, costs just £1 and the famous Hogarth print Shiv vert Georgie was often over His long term partner Bella includes much of the history of "March of the Guards" in 1745 zealous in preaching the merits Marshall, who shared his the area, including Tottenham outside the King's Head which of his new religion to others. Gordon Mansions flat, requested Court Road, Torrington Place, was at the top of Tottenham Pharmacy The story was that when he had to be kept out of his autobiogra - Chenies Street, and Gower Court Road. phies - "I Had To Be Wee" in Street. The archive library is on the 70 Great Titchfield Street 1947, and "Royalty, Religion and Maps, dated 1720, cost just second floor of Holborn Library London W1W 7QN CHARLOTTE Rats" in 1963. 50p and show the corners of at 32-38 Theobalds Road, WC1. Prescriptions STREET Multivitamins ASSOCIATION Need a hand? Herbal Medications Campaigning for the Natural and Environment & Fitzrovia If you, or someone you know, Community since 1970 Homeopathic Support us to preserve the needs help with … produce character and unique quali - odd jobs DFFRPSDQ\LQJWR ties of Fitzrovia, the promo - IRUP¿OOLQJRUGHDOLQJ appointments tion of good design, hous - with correspondence DFFRPSDQ\LQJ Friendly Medical ing for local people, better EDVLF',<RUGHFRUDWLQJ on trips out YLVLWLQJDQGEHIULHQGLQJ FROOHFWLQJSUHVFULSWLRQV Advice community facilities; and pensions Open Monday to Friday restriction in traffic, a reduction in noise, and no &OXE&DUHDOVRSURYLGHVD&RPPXQLW\6KRSSLQJ6HUYLFH 8.30am to 6pm DVZHOODVIDFLOLWDWLQJOLQNVZLWKFOHDQLQJVHUYLFHV extension of licensing. Tel/Fax For membership: Call ClubCare for free help 020 7580 2393 [email protected] 07976 431 218 or (020) 7255 9756 10am–4pm Monday to Friday. ClubCare ClubCare is a project based at the All Souls Clubhouse, a Christian [email protected] 39 Tottenham Street Community Centre in Cleveland Street, W1T 6QG. Charity No. 303292 W1T 4RX helping local older people 6XSSRUWHGE\7KH&LW\%ULGJH7UXVWDQG6W*LOHVLQWKH¿HOGV8QLWHG&KDULW\ 14 History features Fitzrovia News Winter 2011 Fighting Franco’s

By MIKE PENTELOW Artist Felicia Browne was killed while tend - ing a wounded fellow ocal artists, nurses, and stu - anti-Fascisht fighter. dents fought against Fascism in Spain in 1936, f Illustration below by Lthe 75th anniversary of which is Fascists Clifford Harper. now being celebrated. The Spanish people had just took part in blowing up a Fascist elected a Popular Front govern - munitions train. On her way ment, including socialists, by a back she and the rest of the narrow majority in February. group were ambushed by 40 General Franco led an armed Fascist soldiers. One of her com - revolt against it in July, with the rades, an Italian, was shot support of Nazi Germany and through the foot. Felicia went to Fascist Italy, which supplied get her first aid equipment and troops, tanks and planes, as well returned to him under heavy as the Moroccan soldiers of the fire. As she tended the wounded Spanish colonial army. Support man she was killed with bullets for the legally elected govern - through her chest and back. ment was denied, however, by Felicia had studied metal - the British and French govern - work and stone masonry in ments with a policy of "non- Berlin during Hitler's rise to intervention" that prevented the power, where she took part in Spanish government buying anti-Fascist street fighting. On arms to defend itself (although her return to Britain she joined some were supplied by the the Communist Party in 1933, Soviet Union). and the following year won a There was, however, huge TUC prize for designing a medal public support from democrats to celebrate the 100th anniver - throughout the world. Over sary of the Tolpuddle Martyrs. 35,000 joined the International Clive Branson (1907-1944) Brigades in Spain, with over was another Slade student and 2,500 of them being from Britain AIA member who fought in and Ireland. They fought until Spain for the International fought for the International College Hospital in Gower Street the end of 1938 when they were and he was one of the first to Brigades. Early on in the war his Brigades and became a Chief of in the 1930s and joined the withdrawn. join the International Brigades. task was to escort volunteers to Operations. During the second Communist Party after observ - The very first British person After three weeks' training, he Paris for the onward journey to world war he was a trainer in ing the effects of poverty on to be killed in Spanish was was sent to the front, and was Spain, which was illegal because guerrilla warfare for the Home health. The poor could often not Felicia Browne (1904-1936) who badly injured in the leg during of the British government's so Guard, before becoming a pri - afford treatment in these days had studied in the Slade School the battle of Lopera at the end of called "non-intervention" policy. vate in the regular army. After before the National Health of Fine Art, at 62 Gower Street, December 1936. He was strand - Finally in January 1938 he was the war he wrote novels about Service was formed. and was a member of the Artists' ed in no man's land until his given permission by the his experiences in Spain, one of The News Chronicle organ - International Association, based comrade Jock Cunningham Communist Party, which he had which, "The Conspirator", was ised a medical convoy to Spain at 84 Charlotte Street. found him and dragged him joined in 1932, to fight in the turned into a film starring which she joined. Patience and She was driving to Barcelona back. After recovering from his British Batallion of the Elizabeth Taylor and Robert six other nurses were sent to the in July 1936 when the war start - wounds he stayed in Spain as a International Brigades. He was Taylor. Aragon front as part of the ed. Surrounded by fighting she correspondent for the Daily captured by Italian Fascist Wogan Phillips (1902-1993), Carlos Marx communist divi - joined a communist militia in Worker, writing under the name troops in April 1938 and held in was an artist with a studio at 8 sion, but she switched to the defence of the government on of Sam Russell (an approximate a prisoner of war camp under Fitzroy Street, who was in Spain International Brigade after an August 3. Three weeks later she reversal of his real name). atrocious conditions, which he when the civil war broke out. He uprising in Barcelona. After Fitzrovia also had some pro- sketched. immediately joined the Medical helping to deal with an outbreak Fascists. Oswald Mosley's He was released after six Aid to Spain campaign as an of typhoid she transferred to a British Union of Fascists had a months and returned to London. ambulance driver, operating mobile hospital. This took shel - recruiting office nearby in When the second world war between Valencia and Albacete. ter in a cave as Nazi bombs fell Regent Street, and its members started he was arrested for criti - He was wounded in Segovia in during the battle of Ebro as she regularly met in Schmidt's cising the government for not 1937 and returned to London. continued treating the wounded. restaurant at 33-37 Charlotte providing deep air raid shelters. There he visited artist Vanessa Symbolically she died in Street. (His comrade George Caffell, a Bell (1879-1961) who had a stu - Madrid in 1996 just after being One of these was William communist transport worker dio below him in Fitzroy Street. awarded honorary Spanish citi - Joyce (1906-1946), later to be who had also fought in Spain, He told her he had seen her son zenship for her service during known as Lord Haw Haw for supported him in this and led Julian (1908-1937), a poet, who the civil war. his radio broadcasts of Nazi the breaking of gates to let peo - was also an ambulance driver in Another to fight in Spain propaganda from Germany to ple shelter in Goodge Street Spain, and that he was was Manassah Lesssor (1916- England. (Coincidentally his underground station). unharmed. Sadly, the news of 2010) who had won a scholar - brother worked as an engineer Branson painted many Julian's death came a few days ship to study Egyptology at at Broadcasting House in CLIVE BRANSON scenes of the blitz which were later. University College London in Langham Place). exhibited by the AIA, until in Phillips joined the Gower Street. While there he Joyce studied at Birkbeck 1941 he joined the Royal Armed Communist Party in the same drank regularly in the Fitzroy College, where he became a Corps and became a tank com - year, and later inherited his Tavern, Charlotte Street, and cadet in the University of mander posted to Burma. He father's title of Lord Milford in joined the Communist Party, London Officer Training Corps was killed in February 1944 on 1963. In his maiden speech to taking part in demonstrations in Malet Street. the Ngankedenk Pass when an the House of Lords he called for against Oswald Mosley and the His poetry teacher was enemy shell penetrated the top its abolition. British Union of Fascists. He was alarmed when he brought his of his tank. Patience Edney (1911-1996) starting his third year at UCL rifle to class, and she insisted he His paintings were recently was a trainee nurse at University when the civil war broke out put it in the umbrella stand. exhibited in Marx Memorial Library at 37a Clerkenwell Green, which he had helped set up back in 1933. His works are also held in the Tate Gallery. A third Slade student to fight in Spain was Humphrey "Hugh" Slater (1907-1958). Like Felicia Browne he had also been in Berlin in the 1930s, witnessing the rise of the Nazis, and joining MANASSAH LESSOR (left) and the Communist Party. In 1936 he PATIENCE EDNEY Photographs reproduced courtesy of Marx Memorial Library HUGH SLATER (right) Fitzrovia News Winter 2011 15 Ex-messenger delivers arresting art pictures

By MIKE PENTELOW rom delivering art works to film and television studios FGeorge Skeggs now paints broaden his horizons. them in his own studio. When working in Fitzrovia, in Back in the 1970s George was 1974, he had work exhibited at the a messenger for West One Royal Academy of Arts, and the Studios, the offset printers and National Museum of Wales. commercial artists, at 15-16 He was also involved in the Newman Street, and then at 14 Arts Laboratory scene in Seven Hanway Place when they moved Dials, which was frequently raid - there in 1973. ed by the police, seizing what was "We did a lot of work for film perceived as subversive work. and television studios and I had This is recalled in one of George's to deliver them," George, now contemporary works, which was aged 68, told Fitzrovia News . "I exhibited recently at the Seven remember one particular job for Dials Community Centre. It advertising Star Wars, which was shows George being "nicked" by a premiered at the Dominion in police constable. Tottenham Court Road, and I had While at West One Studios he to take the posters there." joined the print union, Sogat, and At the same time he pursued in 1975 won a competition for his own talent for painting, which paintings by printworkers, which had first been spotted in the 1950s were exhibited at the TUC head - by television artist Rolf Harris quarters in Great Russell Street. George Skeggs with a pop self portrait of himself being arrested who taught at George's east end After leaving West One school. At the age of eight Studios he became a junior man - He now has a studio in Long obsessed with the mystique and also had in the 1980s a passing George's work was chosen to be ager for the British Musuem Acre, on the site of an old banana stories which surround the myths interest in Pop Retro, which resur - included in the London Schools Library acquisitions department warehouse. His paintings have of King Arthur's Camelot," he faced this year." Exhibition which toured China. for 27 years. While there he been displayed in Paris and said. "I have used them as a start - His work can be viewed on Later on, encouraged by his art became chair of the Sogat branch Caracass, and he has provided art ing point for a series of Gothic his website teacher, he joined art workshops and led the 24-hour strike in sup - work for CD and album covers. paintings, using the words of the (http//merlintwo.com). at the Whitechapel Art Gallery to port of the nurses' pay claim. "In recent years I have become poet Tennyson as a stimulus. I Ten years ago A hub of London socialism Sex and drugs

By JESS OWENS "Louise Michel was among those by Lenin and Stalin. When the Jeffery Archer picked up a pros - present at the proceedings, The Communist Club Social Democratic Federation titute in a Goodge Street strip he Communist Club was which were closely watched by began to fragment in 1904 a club when deputy chairman of one of two prominent ven - detectives....." London section of dissidents the Conservative Pary, according ues in Fitztrovia (the other T Later, in July, the Glaschu formed the Socialist Party of to his former aide in a television was Cleveland Hall at 54 programme (on the day the Cleveland Street) where social Herarld, and other papers, Great Britain and their first reform was advanced from the recounted that: "The [Spanish offices for a short time were at politician was convicted of per - mid to late 19th century. Anarchist] party of 28 arrived at 107 Charlotte Street. It was there jury). Its origins began with the Euston yesterday afternoon from they held an inaugural confer - Michael Stacpoole, who had efforts of some German Asylum Liverpool. They were met by ence and launched their journal, handed over £10,000 to prosti - Seekers, fleeing persecution, Louise Michel and others. Socialist Standard, still running tute Monica Coughlin for Archer after taking part in direct politi - Several Liverpool detectives today. in 1986, said a month before that cal action in Paris. Their first travelled with the party to A major crisis for the he was in a Goodge Street club meetings were held in 1840. London. Plain-clothes officers Communist Club came with the with him. During November 1877 it from Scotland Yard met the train outbreak of the First Great "It was basically a drinking briefly met at the Grafton Arms, and kept the refugees under sur - European War, especially as it and strip club with a dingy, 72 Grafton Way, Fitzroy Square. veillance. The exiles were driven Keith Scholey advertised itself as a “German dirty small bar and a dance floor In the early 1880s the original to the German Club in was an innovation of venue for Club”. Several members were for the girls," he said. "We had a club split and its Social Tottenham Street, and several this pageant, with the event interned including Peter Petroff drink at the bar. There were Democratic members moved to men went to the Communist being moved to Crystal Palace and George Chicherin (refugees black and white girls. Jeffery 49 Tottenham Street. Their for - Club". from Hyde Park. There was an from Tsarist prisons) and 37 was sizing up the women. He mer comrades followed them In August the Spanish athletic contest, singing, and The were arrested in one raid. The didn't say anything about them into Fitzrovia, a few years later, Atrocities Committee based at Communist Club took second security forces were also inter - in general, but he looked at one meeting in Stephen Mews, the club, arranged for a mass place in the awards for the ested in Soviet ambassador coloured girl and said, 'I fancy Rathbone Place. They were meeting in Trafalgar Square. It finest banner carried on the cele - Maxim Litvinoff who was a that one.' attacked there by the was proposed that a resolution bration. member under the name of "I said, 'I'll bring her over.' I Metropolitan Police in May would be put to it declaring: "it In 1902 the Club moved its Harrison. On Nov 24, 1917 the went and said, 'Darling, come 1885. has been proved by incontestible home to 107 Charlotte Street. Board of Trade ordered the here. My friend fancies you. Do The Tottenham Street prem - evidence... that the most bar - Although it could not be fore - "Communist Club Building you want to go with him?' She ises became a hub of London barous tortures, recalling those seen at the time, this eventually Company Ltd" to be wound up said, 'Sure.' I said, "This is Socialism, also attracting a of the Middle ages, have been furnished the authorities with a "under section 1 of the Trading Jeffery. Enjoy yourselves.' group of Socialists probably cen - inflicted by the Spanish govern - pretext to close it. To facilitate with the Enemy Amendment "He gave her £50 and took tred around Theodore Wright ment on prisoners arrested improvements in their new Act, 1916". A liquidator was her to his flat. The next day I and his wife, a significant wholesale on mere suspicion, premises the members formed a appointed. It was finally struck rang him up and asked if he had actress, who lived in Gower and some of whom so tortured 'limited company' and issued off the Companies Register in had a good time. He replied, Street. Many famous names were never even brought to shares. In response to their Feb 10th 1919. 'Yes, thanks very much.'" spoke there including Edward trial...this meeting of application, The Board of Trade The Club is believed to have Minister for Young People, Carpenter, George Bernard Shaw Englishmen and women feels promptly referred the matter to struggled on, but by 1920, when John Denham, and Radio 1 DJ, and Eleanor (Marx) Aveling. that it has a right on every the Home Office. An official the Communist Party of Great Spooney, met members of William Morris chose it as the ground to record its public opined that: "the term Britain was founded, it was no Fitzrovia Youth in Action as part venue for his final Conference of protest against these detestable 'Communist'....is somewhat sug - longer active. of a national consultation exer - the Socialist League in 1890. outrages on the common gestive of unlawful objects, pos - cise with young people. Junel In 1897 it became a centre of humanity of the civilised world." sibly anarchy..." A longer and more detailed Miah told the minister that protests against the treatment of The Club was also used in The following year, an exile version of this article will drugs were a big problem in the anarchists in Catalonia. The this period to organise London's conference of the RSDLP took appear on our website (see page community. Bealfearst Newsletter reported: May Day rallies. In 1900 there place in its premises, attended 2 for details). (from Fitzrovia News, Dec 2001) 16 Listings Fitzrovia News Winter 2011 WHAT’S ON AROUND FITZROVIA Email [email protected] and put "Listings" in the subject box by Feb 24 for the March 2012 issue.

ART GALLERIES Dec 12 - Will Young. Dec 19 - Wheatsheaf , 25 Rathbone Place: Alison Jacques Gall , 18 Berners St Lindsey Buckingham (Fleetwood Improvisation on Thursdays, (www.alisonjacquesgallery.com). Mac). Ongoing - The Wizard of 8.30pm, and stand-up on To Dec 22 - Ryan McGinley - Oz. Saturdays, 7.30pm upstairs. (Wandering Coma). Jan 13 to Feb 11 - Catherine Yass. Feb 17 to CINEMA/FILM CLUBS PUB QUIZZES March 17 - Thomas Zipp. Green Man , 36 Riding House St: College Arms , 18 Store Street: London Animation Club Every Wednesday, 8pm. Arch One , 12 Percy St http://londonanimationclub.com (www.archonepictureframing.co.u monthly meetings, first Tuesday of One Tun , 58 Goodge Street: Every k). Ongoing - various artists. month 7pm. Tuesday, 8pm.

Art First , 21 Eastcastle Street Odeon , 30 Tottenham Court Road: Prince of Wales Feathers , 8 (www.artfirst.co.uk). To Dec 20 - Weekly film details from Warren St: Every Wednesday, 7pm Donald Teskey (Nature Reserve) www.odeon.co.uk or 08712 (subject to cancellation). A three dimensional glass art work now showing at the Coningsby Gallery To Jan – Group Show. 244007. Anne-Marie Scleiner (The Body in EXHIBITIONS Arup Phase 2 , 8 Fitzroy Street Iberica , 195 Great Portland Street Womens’ Art Part 3). Screen @ RADA , Malet Street, British Museum , Great Russell (www.arup.com/phase 2). To Jan (www.ibericalondon.co.uk) opposite Birkbeck College Street (www.britishmuseum.org): 20 - Fritz Haeg: Animal Estates To Jan 12 – Juan Perez Fajardo Rook and Raven , 7/8 Rathbone (www.rada.org): Jerwood Until Feb 19 - Grayson Perry: The London. (Gigs). Place (www.rookandraven.co.uk) Vanbrugh Theatre: Dec 11, 3pm - Tomb of the Unknown Craftsman. to Jan - David Walker (Brides on Cinderella by Birmingham Royal Until April 1 - Landscape, heroes Building Centre , Store Street Gallery Libby Sellers , 41 Berners Fire). Ballet. Dec 14, 7pm - Graduate and folktales: German Romantic (www.buildingcentre.co.uk). To Street (www.libbysellers.com). To Night. Dec 15, 7.15pm - Sleeping Prints and drawings. Until Apr 8 - Dec 23 - Pylon Salon des Refusés. January 26 - Mark Braun with Rosenfeld Porcini , 37 Rathbone Beauty Live (broadcast from Royal Manga at the British Museum: Lobmeyr (Fortune). Feb 8 to Mar 8 Street (www.rosenfeldporcini.com) Opera House). drawings by Hoshino Yukinobu. Cole , 3-4a Little Portland Street - Nicolas le Moigne. Mar 15 to Check website for details. Jan 26 to Apr 15 - Hajj: journey to (www.colecontemporary.com). To May 2 - Richard Hollis. LIVE MUSIC the heart of Islam. Dec 17 – Oliver Michaels (A Store Street Gallery , 32 Store All Souls Clubhouse , 141 Journey Between Two Fixed Josh Lilley , 44-46 Riding House St(www.storestreetgallery.com) Cleveland Street (www.club - UCL (www.ucl.ac.uk/events): Points). Jan 19 – Feb 18 – Heppner Street (www.joshlilleygallery.com) To Jan 15 – Various artists – (Inside housew1.org): Dec 14, 11.30am - Main Library, Wilkins Building, James (Moth). Feb 23 – Mar 24 – Check website for details. Life). Christmas Carol Service. Gower St : Until Dec 23 - An Iain Hales Enquiring Mind: Francis Galton Laure Genillard , 2 Hanway Place T J Boulting , 59 Riding House Bolivar Hall , 54 Grafton Way 1822-1911. Contemporary Applied Arts , 2 (www.lauregenillard.com) Street (www.tjboulting.com). Jan – (www.cultura.embavenez-uk.org): North Lodge, Wilkins Building, Percy Street (www.caa.org.uk). Check website for details. Colin Glen. Feb – Boo Savile. Jan 12, 7.30 - an evening of cello Gower St: Until Dec 14 - The Body Jan 20 to Feb 25 - Various artists and piano by Prokofiev, Cilla- in Pieces: Fragments from the (Target the Heart), March 2 to Apr Lazarides Gallery , 11 Rathbone Twist Gallery , 67a Great Titchfield Lobos, Piassolla. Great Ormond Street Hospital 14 - Cleo Mussi & Matthew Place (www.lazinc.com). To Jan 19 Street (www.twistgallery.co.uk) Collection. Harris. – Jonathan Yeo (You’re Only Check website for details. The 100 Club , 100 Oxford Street Petrie Museum of Egyptian Young Twice). (www.the100club.co.uk): Dec 16 - Archaeology, Malet Place: Until Coningsby Gallery /Debut Art, 30 Gallery Vela , 38 Langham Street Red Roulettes. Dec 17 - Mike Dec 22 - Typecast: Flinders Petrie Tottenham Street (www.conings - Modern Art , 23-25 Eastcastle (www.galleryvela.com) Sanchez. Dec 18 - Steve Hogarth. and Francis Galton. bygallery.com). April 10 - 28 – Guy Street (www.modernart.net). To Jan 12 to Feb 11 – Matthew Draper Dec 22 - Northern Soul Christmas South Cloisters, Wilkins Building, Reid (Little Me). Dec 21 - Paul Lee (Moon River). Party. Dec 23 - Suzerain, Van Gower St: Until Jan 9 - The Slave- Whisper Gallery , 27-28 Eastcastle Susans, Joe Corbin. Dec 31 - David owners of Bloomsbury. Curwen Gallery , 34 Windmill St Mummery+Schnelle , 83 Great Street (www.whisperfineart.co.uk) Devant and His Spirit Wife. Jan 17 Strang Print Room, Wilkins (www.curwengallery.com). Mar 1 - Titchfield St (www.mum - Check website for details. - Various Cruelties. Jan 19, lunch Building, Gower St: Unti Dec 16 - 31- Robin Richmond (The Still meryschnelle.com). To Dec 23 - jazz (11.30am-2.30pm), Graham Word and image: Early modern Point in a Turning World). Paul Cafell (Looking/Listening). Woolff Gallery , 89 Charlotte Hughes' Sunshine Kings. treasures from the UCL Street (www.woolffgallery.co.uk) Collections. David Roberts Foundation , 111 Nancy Victor , 6 Charlotte Place Check website for details. Green Man , 383 Euston Road, Great Titchfield Street (www.nancyvictor.com) opposite Great Portland Street sta - Wellcome Library , 183 Euston Rd (www.davidrobertsartfoundation.c To Dec – David Shrigley & others THEATRE tion: Jazz every Wednesday, base - (www.wellcomecollection.org): om). Jan 6 - 12 – Time Capsules (Cultural Ties). Bloomsbury Theatre , 15 Gordon ment, 7.45pm. Until Feb 26 - Infinitas Gracias: and Conditions of Now. Jan 27 to Street (www.thebloomsbury.com): Mexican miracle paintings. Until Mar 24 – Lydia Gifford (Midday). National Print Gallery , 8b Dec 14-17 & Jan 9-21 - The King & Queen , 1 Foley Street: Feb 26 - Felicity Powell - Charmed Apr 6 to June 9 - Curators Series 5. Conway St (www.nationalprint - Firework Maker's Daughter (chil - Folk music upstairs some Friday Life: The solace of objects. gallert.com). To Jan 15 – Darren dren's show). Dec 16 - Paul Foot nights, phone 0208 340 0534 for Dekko , 85 Charlotte Street Coffield (Face Up). (comedian). Dec 18-23 - Nine details. TALKS (www.dekkoadvertising.com) Lessons and Carols for Godless UCL (www.ucl.ac.uk/events): Check website for details. Paradise Row , 74 Newman Street People. Jan 13 - Sex Appeal (chari - One Tun , 58 Goodge St: Live jazz Darwin Theatre, Gower St, (www.paradiserow.com) ty comedy night with Al Murray with Phil Stevenson and his band, entrance in Malet Place (all at 1.15- Diemar/Noble Photographic To Dec 23 - Margarita Gluzberg and others). Jan 18 - Festival of the Friday, Dec 30, 8pm. 1.55pm): Jan 17 - Exploring the Gallery, 66-67 Wells Street (Avenue des Gobelins). Spoken Nerd (comedy). Jan 23-26 - Arctic from Space. Jan 19 - What (diemarnoblephotography.com) Live Canon (performing poetry). Smugglers Tavern , Warren Street: has Facebook done for us? Jan 26 - To Jan 7 – Christian Tagliavini Pilar Corrias , 54 Eastcastle Street Feb 4 - Terry Alderton (comedy). Piano bar, every Thursday 7- The Triumph of Human Rights: (Cut Out & Keep). (www.pilarcorrias.com). To Dec 16 Feb 7-9 - Hipplytus (UCL Classical 10pm. Dream or Nightmare? Jan 31 - The – Charles Avery (Place de la Drama Society). Feb 11 - Charity lure of the Kremlin: Ivan the Gallery Different , 14 Percy Street Revolution). Jan 13 to Feb 17 – Comedy Night. Feb 19 - Jimmy UCL Chamber Music Club , North Terrible. (www.gallerydifferent.co.uk) Tobias Rehberger. Carr. Cloisters, Wilkins Building, Gower Gustave Tuck Lecture Theatre, To Jan 7 – Winter Collective. Street (www.ucl.ac.uk/chamber- Wilkins Building, Gower St: Jan Rebecca Hossack Gallery (1) , 2a Camden People's Theatre , 58-60 music): Dec 13, 6-9pm - Christmas 10, 6.30-8pm - Inspector Sangiorgi Exposure , 22-23 Little Portland Conway Street (www.r-h-g.co.uk) Hampstead Road (www.cpthe - concert. Other concerts on Jan 12, and the Sicilian mafia, 1875-1877. Street (www.exposure.net) To Dec 24 – Rebecca Jewell (Birds atre.co.uk): Until Dec 11 - Lecture 24, 31, Feb 10, 23, Mar 6, 15. Check website for details. Becoming Artefacts). To Jan 3 – Notes on a Death Scene. Until Dec CHRISTMAS EVENTS David Whitaker (Retrospective). 20 - Sprint & Starting Blocks All Souls Clubhouse , 141 Framers Gallery , 36 Windmill St Mar 1 - 30 – Gilchrist-Fisher PUB KARAOKE/DISCO (experimental theatre festival). Cleveland Street (www.club - (www.theframersgallery.co.uk) Award 2012. The Bar @ TCR , 182 Tottenham Court Road: 70s and 80s music, housew1.org): Dec 16, 2-5pm - Check website for details. Dominion Theatre , 269 Tottenham every Thursday, 8pm. Christmas Party. Rebecca Hossack Gallery (2) 28 Court Road (www.dominionthe - Gallery at 94 , 94 Cleveland Street Charlotte Street (www.r-h-g.co.uk) atre.co.uk): Ongoing - We Will Bolivar Hall , 54 Grafton Way ([email protected]) To Dec 24 – Ken Butler (Recent One Tun , 58 Goodge St: Karaoke Rock You. (www.cultura.embavenez-uk.org): Check website for details. Works). Dec 19, 17, 31, all at 8pm. Dec 11, noon to 9pm - Christmas Drill Hall , 16 Chenies Street Bazaar (Venezuelan seasonal Getty Images Gall , 46 Eastcastle Regina Gallery , 22 Eastcastle St LIVE COMEDY (www.drillhall.co.uk): Dec 7, 2pm food). St (www.gettyimagesgallery.com) (www.reginagallery.com). To Jan - Twelfth Night, 7.30pm - Merry College Arms , 18 Store Street: Check website for details. 28 – Various artists (Foot to Foot). Mondays at 8pm. Wives of Windsor. Dec 14-16 - UCL Grant Museum , 21 Miss Whittington & Her Cat, 8pm. University St Hanmi Gallery , 30 Maple Street Rollo Gallery , 51 Cleveland Street Fitzroy Tavern , 16 Charlotte (www.ucl.ac.uk/events): Dec 19- (www.hanmigallery.co.uk) (rolloart.com). To Mar 12 - Helen Street: Wednesdays at 7.30pm in London Palladium , Argyll Street 23 - Christmas Creatures - School Check website for details. Carmel Benigson, Miri Segal, basement. (www.the-london-palladium.com): Holiday Activities.