QuecumBar Reborn as Lousiana & Creole Bar Opening May 3, 2024

Posted on April 28, 2024 by Blogger

The “home of Gypsy swing” in London, QuecumBar closed during Covid and was a victim of the financial pressures of the pandemic as it did not reopen.

The site, formerly The Old Woodman, at 42-44 Battersea High St remained closed and empty until March 2024 when signs of life started to emerge. It’s now been revealed that the new owners are Peacock Taverns and they’re launching a concept bar/restuarant called The Doghouse.

Described as a “Lousiana Lounge & Creole Kitchen”, the inspiration is 1930s New Orleans. The poster on the bar window promises “A wide range of great drinks, live musice and little cuisine from the deep south”.

Opening Night

The Doghouse is hosting a launch event on 3rd May 2024, with live music from Liam Joseph, a well know jazz, blues and big band swing performer. Expect the sounds of Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Nat King Cole, Michael Bublé and many more.

M&S Earlsfield to open THIS THURSDAY 16th and Golden Tickets are up for grabs!

Posted on November 14, 2023 by Blogger

The countdown is on to the opening of the brand-new, better, fresher M&S Earlsfield store on 16^th November at 9am.

The show-stopping new 7,000 sq ft store will offer local shoppers a fresh market-style Foodhall, filled to the brim with great quality, trusted value produce from M&S Select Farms, an M&S Bakery offering daily baked fresh bread and pastries, and new lower prices on its Remarksable range – including Super Soft sliced bread, RSPCA Assured fresh milk, and beef mince from trusted M&S Select Farmers.

Percy Pig will be on-hand to welcome shoppers to the new store as the team hands out 200 golden tickets to the first customers through the door. Every golden ticket holder is guaranteed a win – whether it’s a free bag of Percy Pigs or freshly baked cookies from the new M&S Bakery, and to mark the occasion one lucky customer will win a £200 voucher!

The new store marks a significant investment for M&S in South West London and is designed with customers and local families at its heart. Located within the Wandle Quarter, the store is led by Connor Heaver along with a team of more than 65 new M&S colleagues, who are all excited to open the new store and offer local customers the very best service.

Connor Heaver, Store Manager at the new M&S Earlsfield store, said: “The countdown is truly on until 16^th November when we can finally welcome customers through our doors! It’s been a busy few weeks behind the scenes with the whole team working really hard to put things together and we’re excited for everyone to see what the new store has to offer.

Located within The Wandle Quarter, and only a short walk away from the station, the new M&S Earlsfield Foodhall is ideal for both bigger basket family shopping or for those popping in on the commute home. The store is located at 150a-170 Penwith Road, London, SW18 4QA and is open from 8am-10pm Monday-Saturday, and 11am-5pm on Sundays.And of course, follow M&S Earlsfield on TikTok and Facebook for all the latest product and store opening news.

Battersea Jazz Festival

Posted on June 29, 2022 by Blogger

Summer Jazz in South West London

The Battersea Jazz Festival will take place from the 15th-17th July and will celebrate both the incredible and diverse talent of the London jazz scene, as well as the wonderful settings and community that Battersea has to offer. The festival will feature a wide range of acts, ranging from swing bands, to cabaret acts, to bebop, and original material. All events will be free of charge for all audience members in order to make the weekend as inclusive as possible and welcoming to newcomers to jazz. Venues will include, but will not be limited to, upstairs at the Prince Albert pub, the Magic Garden on Battersea Park Road, and the wonderful riverside setting of St Mary’s Church, Battersea, where there will also be the world premiere of an original “jazz mass” on the morning of Sunday 17th.

Here’s the schedule, subject to change:

Friday 15th July, 19:30-21:30: upstairs at the Prince Albert pub.

Saturday 16th July, 13:00-17:00: Jazz in Battersea Square with 4 fantasic groups.

Saturday 16th July, evening: currently unconfirmed but hoping to host a jam session at Room 43 on Lavender Hill.

Sunday 17th July, 11:00: Jazz Eucharist at St Mary’s Church, Battersea

Sunday 17th July, 15:00-17:00: The Magic Garden pub. This is a huge outdoor venue, full of very community-minded people, so a great way to finish the festival.

Visit https://www.batterseajazzfestival.co.uk for the most up to date lineup.

There will also be collections in aid of the Battersea Summer Scheme at the performances. The Battersea Summer Scheme (BSS) is the principal project of the Battersea Crime Prevention Panel (BCPP) and organises a number of events in the holidays for children in Battersea.

As this festival will be completely free for all audiences, Battersea Jazz Festival will rely on external funding to make the event happen, which includes your own generosity. Whatever amount is raised from this page will go to the festival, and therefore any money that you donate will go towards paying the musicians at a fair rate, venue hire, publicity and travel costs, and the funding of potential outreach projects connected to the festival.

Any donations are more than welcome to help bring this exciting project to life!

Donate at https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/battersea-jazz-festival

UK’s oldest and leading Muslim Community shares Ramadhan through Virtual Iftar

Posted on April 28, 2020 by Blogger

The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community UK is extending a warm invitation to the general public and media to view and participate in a series of five Virtual Big Iftar events to be held in the month of Ramadhan. The next event is being held on Saturday, 2^nd May. The first event was held on Friday, April 25^th.

Those interested should register their interest at:

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-big-virtual-iftar-registration-102618797586?aff=eand

Ibrahim Ikhlaf, Director for Outreach & Public Affairs says: ” As proven by research there are many physical and mental health benefits of fasting. During these talks you can learn how fasting can strengthen your resilience in the current crisis, help with self-development, root causes of addictions and domestic abuse. Event participants will also have the opportunity to try our Fasting Challenge and join the live event to break the fast with the Muslim community.”

The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community Built the largest mosque in the UK, the Baitul Futuh Mosque as well as the first in London, the Fazal Mosque, in 1924.

Book your FREE Tickets today! Battersea Charities Week

Posted on June 6, 2019 by Blogger

Have you ever wanted to get better at fundraising, recruit and retain volunteers, get your Board of Trustees working more effectively or tell your story more persuasively? Then attend the free events taking place across Battersea Charities Week. Get your free tickets here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/battersea-charities-week-batterseatogether-tickets-62249589197 Book them now as places are limited!

Battersea Charities Week (24-29 June) is for anyone who works or volunteers for a charity, social enterprise, faith group or community organisation for the benefit of local people and the communities in Battersea. It’s a week at the end of June to celebrate the amazing work we all do, by strengthening our relationships with each other, sharing our skills and learning from one another. We hope it will build partnerships and raise the profile of charities and community groups working to rebuild the social fabric of the community in Battersea.

Battersea Charities Week has been organised and is being delivered by local community voluntary sector groups and individuals. Together we’re running a variety of fun and engaging activities, events and trainings, across 6 themed days (including partnerships, funding and volunteering), during 24-29th June 2019, at venues across Battersea, culminating in the Falcon Road Festival on Saturday 29^th June

For FREE tickets to the events register here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/battersea-charities-week-batterseatogether-tickets-62249589197

If you have any questions or thoughts then please do get in touch with us on batterseacharitiesweek@gmail.com

Real life ‘girl from Clapham’ releases feminist reworking of the Squeeze classic

Posted on March 7, 2019 by Blogger

I, Doris release debut single ‘The Girl From Clapham’ – a feminist reworking of Squeeze’s ‘Up the Junction’ – on International Women’s Day, 8 March 2019

Ever wondered what the story of Squeeze‘s classic ‘Up the Junction’ might look like from her point of view? London’s I, Doris are here to tell you.

The band are releasing, this Friday 8 March 2019 (fittingly, International Women’s Day) their debut single, ‘The Girl From Clapham’ – a loving, fuzzed-up tribute to the original song, with a poignant reminder that women’s experiences are all too often erased from history.

The new song lyrics were written by punk poet Janine Booth, and published in her brilliant anthology ‘Disaffected Middle Aged Women‘. Squeeze’s Chris Difford has given the new lyrics – and the I, Doris version of the song – his personal seal of approval. All profits from the sale of the track on Bandcamp are being donated to domestic violence charity Women’s Aid.

I, Doris are a self-proclaimed “kitchenpunk mummycore” band, consisting four 40-something women, dressed in dinnerlady-esque tabards, and answering to the name of Doris (that’s Doris on guitar, Doris on bass, Doris on drums, and Doris on – wait for it – keytar). Audience members are sworn in to the Doris collective with a group pledge at the start of each gig. Their live set is 60s girl-group style pop with lashings of fuzzy punk and plenty of good-humoured swipes at the patriarchy. At least, we think they’re good-humoured.

Bassist Doris (AKA Cassie Fox, previously of Guttfull and Thee Faction, and founder of the Loud Women festival) takes the lead vocals on ‘The Girl From Clapham’.

“I’ve always loved the song, and feel so honoured to get to sing this version” she says, “I am, legit, a girl from Clapham though. My childhood and teens were spent by/on Clapham Common, mostly trying to stay out of the way of my drunk and violent father. The song strikes a big power chord for me. That feeling at the end – of being trapped in a hopeless situation – it’s painfully familiar to a lot of people I’m sure, particularly women. This is the reason I was keen for the profits from the track to go to Women’s Aid.”

I, Doris are currently blazing a gloriously happy trail through the DIY gigs circuit, and beyond – they’ve played with Mekons in Leeds, the launch of Loud Women NYC in Brooklyn, they’re playing the Royal Albert Hall on 17 March, and Rebellion Festival on 2 August. Keep an eye on the I, Doris Facebook page for news of their continued adventures.
‘The Girl From Clapham’ by I, Doris is out 8 March 2019, available to download from Bandcamp for £1 or more, which will be donated to Women’s Aid.

I, Doris gigs coming up:
10 March – SheFest in Walthamstow
17 March – The Royal Albert Hall, with ILL, Nun Habit and Lilith Ai
11 May – The Hope and Anchor, Islington, with Miss Eaves
16 May – Paper Dress Vintage, with HAVVK, Charmpit and Scrounge
7 June – The Bird’s Nest, Deptford
14 June – The Finsbury, with CLT DRP
15 June – Sistafest in Oxfordshire
2 August – Rebellion Festival, Introducing Stage

Links:
I, Doris on Bandcamp – https://idoris.bandcamp.com/track/the-girl-from-clapham
I, Doris on Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/IDoris/

New Classes from Magpie Dance

Posted on September 20, 2018 by Blogger

Magpie Dance have launched new inclusive contemporary dance classes with the Royal Academy of Dance (RAD). Classes start this Friday and continue till the end of November. They’re a drop in basis so no booking is necessary.

Magpie Dance drop-in: Royal Academy of Dance
Weekly drop in class from 21 September – 30 November (excluding Friday 26 October for half term).
Location: Royal Academy of Dance, 36 Battersea Square, London, SW11 3RA
Places available
Day/Time: Fridays, 17:45 – 19:15

Suitable for: 16+ Adults both with and without learning disabilities

These sessions offer adults over 16, both with and without learning disabilities, the opportunity to develop skills in contemporary dance technique. Our unique and highly accessible inclusive dance methodology is about facilitating dancers to express their artistic voice.

For dancers with learning disabilities, the session offers the opportunity to develop their dance technique while supporting them to collaborate with dancers without learning disabilities; giving them greater scope and confidence to engage in mainstream programmes and activities.

Cost: £8 per session, £7 for Wandsworth residents. No booking necessary, pay as you go.

An Indian Abroad – Bread and Roses Theatre

Posted on August 7, 2018 by Blogger

What happens when a 19-year-old Indian student takes a gap year to Britain, in search of spiritual enlightenment?

Sacred places. Mythical structures with healing powers. Nando’s.
Stifled by his life in middle-class India, Krishnan is desperate to see more of the world. He takes a year out from his studies to visit the island of Great Britain.
Keen to seek out the locals, he wants to learn about life through their eyes.
What does Krishnan’s journey teach him about the world?
What might he learn about himself?

And what happens when he falls for one of the natives?

Sunday 23rd September at 7:30pm
Monday 24th September at 7:30pm
Tuesday 25th September at 7:30pm
Tickets: £10 | Concessions: £8
Running time: 60mins

Book now at https://www.breadandrosestheatre.co.uk/an-indian-abroad.html

“A generous and hilarious writer and performer with a keen eye for detail and impeccable comic timing. He has a big future ahead of him” – Nikesh Shukla, Editor of The Good Immigrant

“An exceptional young talent. A sharp eye for social observation, a keen wit and versatile tone. I am particularly impressed by his light candour on stage. Time and space are all we requires to become a much heralded success.” – Dr Edson Burton, Writer and Historian

Gymnastic Summer School: 13 – 17th August

Posted on July 12, 2018 by Blogger

Location: St Marys RC Primary School, Lockington Road, SW8 4BE

9am – 12pm, new places just released. You do not have to be a member of Precision to attend!

A week filled with skills routines, floor, bars, beam, vault, games and making friends.

There will be video analysis in the classes also which you are welcome to have for free at the end of the course and we have a display day on the Friday where you can see everything that we have done!

For more info and to book please see: http://www.precisiongymclub.com/

Learning Differently – How Dyslexic Entrepreneurs Achieve Success

Posted on March 8, 2018 by julianjackson

Elizabeth Kwarteng-Amaning introducing the Dyslexic Entrepreneurs event

Aspire2inspire Dyslexia – the community interest dyslexic support organisation created by Elizabeth Kwarteng-Amaning with only £1.25 a few years ago is powering along. On Tuesday, as part of Wandsworth Enterprise Week, it hosted a trio of dyslexic entrepreneurs who showed how they had built businesses and careers, despite being thought failures at school.

All three felt that their “learning differently” approach allowed them to excel in areas that require creativity and “thinking outside the box.”

Charlotte Childs, who runs a marketing and design consultancy said, “I got thrown out of school. I think in pictures and patterns, so writing is very difficult for me.” She set up her own company after she got tired of the linear thinking of conventional businesses. When she was diagnosed in her thirties, her struggles made sense.

There is research that supports the idea that dyslexics can channel their frustrations, obstacles and original modes of thinking and problem solving into careers where these are recognised and rewarded. Obviously more dyslexics become creative professionals, artists, designers and film-makers, rather than lawyers: rule- and word-bound structures do not appeal to them.

L-R: Dale Smith, Leslie Lewis Walker, Charlotte Childs

Leslie Lewis Walker is a video-maker and musician. He did an interactive presentation, where he gave out Post-its with a couple of words on, and riffed off that for his talk. He initially got a job in the Home Office, where he could use his people skills to sort out emergency visas, which involved schmoozing Consular personnel, which he excelled at. He was promoted due to his fine performance, and found himself in a job where meetings and minute-taking were required, and he wasn’t able to deliver the right material. He got frustrated and “bungee-jumped” into film-making for businesses because he can deliver “thinking outside the box” to communicate ideas effectively.

Business development coach Dale Smith said, “We have been blessed by thinking differently.” As a schoolchild, he was sent to the “Special Needs” class. Fortunately the inspiring teacher did not see him and the other pupils as “stupid” but people who needed nurturing to find their strengths. After succeeding in various conventional jobs, Dale got frustrated with where he was, and started his own business Bridge Consulting, “To help people embrace the best version of themselves.”

Elizabeth Kwarteng-Amaning said, “The Successful Dyslexic Entrepreneurs event 2018 was a life-changing experience for our attendees. A2i Dyslexia can help the individuals to unlock their full potential by setting up their own enterprise.”

The event was rounded off with a networking session and some lovely food.

www.a2idyslexia.org.uk

Author: This article was written by Julian Jackson, Wandsworth Chamber of Commerce’s resident blogger and copywriter – https://julianj.journoportfolio.com

Photos by Julian Jackson

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