EATING AND DRINKING Wembley Central HA9 LONDON ENGLAND Brent WEMBLEY CENTRAL EATING & DRINKING 1 Contents 4 WEMBLEY CENTRAL 18 HILACC ROAD MAP Somali cuisine A map of all of the restaurants 20 JJ MOON’S 6 THE HIGH STREETS Wetherspoon’s pub About Wembley and Ealing Road 22 STATION21 8 AMERICAN CHARCOAL GRILL Indian restaurant and bar Turkish fast food 24 TASTE OF LAHORE 10 ARENA Pakistani takeaway Greek 26 THE ARCH 12 FLANNERY’S BAR Sports bar and South Indian Sports bar restaurant 14 FRUIT JUNCTION 28 URBAN CHOCOLATIER Juice bar Chocolatier 16 GURKHA VALLEY 30 YOUNG’S PEKING Nepalese street food Peking restaurant Wembley Central HA9 LONDON ENGLAND 2 EATING & DRINKING WEMBLEY CENTRAL WEMBLEY CENTRAL EATING & DRINKING 3 A N D O N R O A D A T V RN E A N B RES U P E RESTAURANTS AND BARS 1 ................... American Charcoal Grill BR 2 ........................................................... Arena O O 3 ......................................... Flannery’s Bar K C WEMBLEY A 4 .......................................... Fruit Junction V E PARK . 5 .......................................... Gurkha Valley L E A E A S T 6 ............................................................Hilaac N 4 0 LA L A 8 A N L 8 E T S .................................................... N 7 JJ Moon’s O 8 ....................................................Station31 V E NORTH ENUE Y 9 ....................................... R R Taste of Lahore V A WEMBLEY A 10 ...................................................... The Arch O W A E 11 .................................Urban Chocolatier D R I ........................................ P 12 Young’s Peking TLETON M E S CAS CAR PARKS T KING EDWARD E J A ......................................Lonsdale Avenue O V11 PARK F H B ..................................... Wembley Central N S D C .......................... Wembley Park Station R O D ..................................Wembley Park Red A H D E ............................ WEMBLEY Wembley Park Yellow G STADIUM F ................................Wembley Park Gold 1 D 7 6 G .............................................. St John Road A BARHAM O 11 12 10 H ...................................................... Elm Road R PARK H 9 G 3 I A 2 H A H 5 8 H A 4 R A D WEMBLEY R O R O B W CENTRAL R R O H A W SUDBURY A D E O A R RR P L IN R C H A L O I N A O D W G R R O O A D A 4 EATING & DRINKING WEMBLEY CENTRALD STONEBRIDGE WEMBLEY CENTRAL EATING & DRINKING 5 PARK O N Wembley A 15 minute journey into central London is all it takes for a cultural In the same census, the figures recorded experience unlike anywhere else in the capital. the area to have a 86.% black, Asian and Wembley and Ealing Road is a feast for the senses, specialising in Indian minority ethnic (BAME) population, with restaurants, fashion, groceries and amenities. an Asian population of 66.1% and a black But whether it is for a new cultural experience, a football match at Wembley population of 13.8%. Stadium or a concert at the SSE Arena, Wembley has something for everyone. This diversity is the reason for many of The area itself has gone through many stages of transition, from when it was the unique retail and culinary offerings, first recorded in the ninth century as “wemba lea.” unique to Wembley, with first-timers to the It was only in 1965 that the area merged with the Municipal Borough of area often stunned by the sheer variety of Willesden to create the London Borough of Brent, and has since formed part of offerings in this still largely undiscovered part of north west London. Greater London. Shops along Ealing Road, as an example, are akin to Aladdin’s cave of wonders, Up until the 20th century Wembley remained relatively untouched, and it particularly the textile and jewellery offerings. It is next to impossible to visit Ealing was only when the Birmingham-London railway line came into fruition that the Road without returning home with either a sari, or a few metres of ornate fabric. landscape began to change, introducing a hotel, shops and another station - Then there’s the jewellery shops; locals say what Carnaby Street seeks to be Wembley Hill - into the area. for British design, so does Ealing Road for Asian artisan jewellery. But Wembley really started to take shape when it was chosen as the site for the Specialists in South Asian jewellery, the array of jewellery shops has been British Empire exhibition in 1924 and 1925, attracting over 27 million visitors. known to attract visitors from as far afield as Leicester for decades. This event really put Wembley on the map, as infrastructure began to improve It is also not possible to walk past any of the Indian street food stalls and not and Londoners began to settle in the former piece of countryside, and was the be tempted by the aromas, while the restaurants offer everything from Indian site of a thriving manufacturing industry including companies such as Griffin & to Somalian specialties, American burgers joints, and fish and chips. George laboratory equipment and GEC whose research labs from 1923 were the Much has been done to regenerate the area, but a concerted effort has been first of their kind in the UK. made to keep the essence of Wembley intact. Perhaps one of the most memorable stories from Wembley is what is now For example, the Grade II-listed Wembley Arena, now the SSE Arena, was known as “Watkin’s Folly”. sensitively refurbished, carefully not to lose its iconic Art Deco style. Former chairman of the Metropolitan Railway Sir Edward Watkin, wanted to Wembley Stadium, demolished in 2003, was rebuilt for £798m in 2007 and create an imitation of the Eiffel Tower in Wembley, but it never rose beyond the is now one of the most iconic sites in the whole of London, hosting world-class first storey and then removed completely in 1907, and in 1923 Wembley Stadium events all year round. was erected on this site. Whatever your reason for visiting Wembley and Ealing Road, Thankfully, the fate of Wembley didn’t follow this failed visitors’ attraction. even if it’s just to visit Brent’s blue plaques – comedian Arthur The population of Wembley continues to grow, with the borough of Brent Lucan is on Forty Lane or boxer Henry Cooper at 4 Ealing being one of the most diverse in the UK, with the population count of Wembley Road – now is the time. Central, according to the latest 2011 census, being 14,727. 6 EATING & DRINKING WEMBLEY CENTRAL WEMBLEY CENTRAL EATING & DRINKING 7 CHEAP AS CHIPS American Charcoal Grill QUICK BITES TURKISH FAST FOOD 3 Wembley Hill Road Wembley, London, HA9 8AF Call 020 8903 2429 TRANSPORT American Charcoal Grill It’s a nine minute walk from both NOT LICENSED Alcohol cannot be purchased. Wembley Central and the stadium. Two minutes from Wembley Stadium. Ratings from trip advisor 5 CAR PARKS Wafts of meaty aromas dance kebabs and succulent mixed grills. For all car parking see the map on page 4. throughout American Charcoal Whether for eating in or taking Grill and heat encircles the open away, the food is well-presented, kitchen. Grilling meat can be heard generously portioned and gently hissing, singing along with a continuously high quality. playlist of American classics. Having started 35 years ago, The rich smells and smoky American Charcoal Grill continues flavours spark memories of lazy to remain a reliable, welcoming summer barbeques. Chefs work and bustling family-run restaurant. with speed and confidence to produce sizeable wraps, sizzling 8 EATING & DRINKING WEMBLEY CENTRAL WEMBLEY CENTRAL EATING & DRINKING 9 FAMILY Arena FAMILY VENUE GREEK RESTAURANT 307 Harrow Road Wembley, London, HA9 0AA Call 020 8902 1849 Visit www.arenarestaurant.co.uk LICENSED Alcohol can be purchased. TRANSPORT Ratings from trip advisor 4.5 Wembley Central and the stadium are both an 11 minute walk away. An olive tree blows gently in the (meat or vegetarian) to tsipoura - wind by Arena’s open door. Inside, fresh sea bream, served with olive CAR PARKS fresh aromas of Greek cuisine oil, lemon juice and coriander. For all car parking see the map on page 4. make mouths water and stomachs They strongly believe in the rumble, while traditional music importance of customer service. sets a romantic scene. “We care about the individuals,” Arena - Wembley’s only Greek says the owner Demetrios Lagos. restaurant - transports you to “We cater for two or 52; for us, it’s Greece. They take pride in the the same thing.” quality of food and offer a huge selection from souvlaki skewers 10 EATING & DRINKING WEMBLEY CENTRAL WEMBLEY CENTRAL EATING & DRINKING 11 AFTER WORK Flannery’s Bar FRIENDS SPORTS BAR 610-612 High Road Wembley, London, HA0 2AF Call 020 8900 2947 TRANSPORT LICENSED Alcohol can be purchased. Wembley Central Station is a four minute walk from Flannery’s Bar. Ratings from trip advisor 4 The stadium is ten minutes away by the 92 bus. As soon as you step into Flannery’s if someone hasn’t popped in as Bar, you feel like you are entering often as usual, the owners check CAR PARKS a village community of customers. in to make they are alright. For all car parking see the map on page 4. The owners raise the bar Whether for a cup of tea or exceptionally high for customer something stronger, the bar is service, going above and beyond to an inclusive space where all are make you feel welcome. welcome. The honest, caring natures They supply light bites to of the staff bring energy, charm and customers in the evenings to endless generosity to this bar. have alongside their drinks and, 12 EATING & DRINKING WEMBLEY CENTRAL WEMBLEY CENTRAL EATING & DRINKING 13 JUICE BAR JUICE BAR/ Fruit QUICK BITES Junction JUICE BAR 511 High Road Wembley, London, HA0 2DH Email [email protected] TRANSPORT NOT LICENSED Wembley Central is a two minute Alcohol cannot be purchased.