SHEPHERD'S BUSH ...

It's the new Notting Hill, the groovy place to live, with house prices rising faster than would be Bushites can put their offers in; it's an overpriced jumble of boarded up mini cab firms, gaudy textile shops and greasy takeaways. So what's the story?

It is a mixture: the wide tree-lined streets between the Goldhawk and Uxbridge Roads are fast filling up with steel kitchen ranges and reclaimed oak boards, while the off licences are still doing a fine trade in single cans of Tenants Super. There are areas of intense deprivation but there is a fantastic cultural mix.

It is not a grey place to live – Caribbean takeaway; an authentic Bengali sari; seared scallops with rocket? – they are all within 100 yards of each other. A huge amount of public and private money has been ploughed into the area in the last few years and plans for future investment are huge. The best in theatre, cinema and music is on your doorstep; new restaurants are opening every week - get on down to the Bush!

What's happening
Libraries
Kids
Shopping
Nurseries & playcentres
Restaurants, bars & pubs
Going out
Night in
Buying property
Estate agents

What's happening?
White City Development - It is going ahead, for those of you who were wondering if the access roads going up to the M40 were going to be the ultimate roads to nowhere. Planning permission for new shopping and leisure use has been given, due for completion 2006. As part of the regeneration proposals, Shepherd's Bush Green itself is being given an overhaul. A feasibility study for an open-air arts centre and park is being undertaken and plans are being considered by the Council at the moment.

West 12 Shopping Centre - previously the very down at heel Concord Centre, this has been given a multimillion pound revamp. New additions include a 12 screen Warner Village cinema complex (opening 7 December 2001), restaurants and a Books Etc
Top of page

Libraries
Shepherds Bush Library
7 Uxbridge Road
tel: 020 8576 5062
Under 5's sessions, Tues, 10.30-11.30am

Askew Road Library
87/91 Askew Road
tel: 020 8576 5064
Under 5's sessions, Thurs 10.30-11.30am
Top of page

Kids

Music House for Children at Bush Hall - Shepherd's Bush residents should be shouting from the rooftops about Bush Hall - it is fantastic. Built in 1904 as a ballroom dance hall, it has returned to music, complete with ornate cornicing and twinkling chandeliers. Great for adults (see "going out" below); in the day it runs a variety of music and movement, percussion, dance and drama classes for babies to teens.

Professional musicians and trained teachers lead the classes. See kids' london.
Bush Hall
310 Uxbridge Road
W12 7LJ
tel: 020 8932 2652 or
see website for details

Sports

Janet Adegoke Leisure Centre
Bloemfontein Road, W12
tel 020 8743 3401
Beach wave pool
Under 5s noon-1.30pm weekdays
Open to all 3-7pm weekdays.
Classes run during term time between 4 and 6.30pm
Adults £2.75; 5-16 yr olds £1.35; under 5s free.

Splash - small swimming classes at Vanessa Nursery (see nurseries/playcentres below). Parent and toddler groups on Saturday afternoons and classes for 4 to 8 year olds between 4 and 7pm on Mon, Tues and Thurs during term times. Classes cost from £5.50 per lesson (bookable per term) and there are between 5 and 6 children per class. Call 020 8354 9225 for further details.

Mini Football/Rugby
Queens Park Rangers Soccer School at the Westway Sports Centre, Mon-Fri during school holidays 10am-3.45pm, 6-15 yr-olds
tel: 020 8740 2509 for details

Wasps-Rugby
under 7s–under 12s although they will take kids from 5.
Training Sun mornings 10am–noon
Twyford Avenue Training Ground in Acton. Fixtures once every six weeks.
Call Jan Mathieson - tel: 020 8840 7456 for details.
Top of page

Shopping

Shepherd’s Bush Market
Vests, plastic toys, brightly coloured silks, endless nightdresses, falaffel, excellent fishmonger, fruit and veg either end, hardware, lots of suitcases – take your pick

Damas Gate
81-85 Uxbridge Road
tel: 020 8743 5116
fantastic fresh vegetables, wonderful herbs and spices

Forrest the Baker
75 Uxbridge Road
tel: 020 8743 2675
old- fashioned bakery, freshly baked bread available from 5am

The Nutcase
352 Uxbridge Road
tel: 020 8743 0336
from cashews to coconuts, all you could imagine and more

Majestic Wine
169 Goldhawk Road
tel: 020 8740 4641
You have to buy a case (although it can be mixed); the only decent wine shop in the area.
Top of page

Nurseries, Playcentres
The Hut
59 Godolphin Road
Tuesday and Thursday 1.15-3.15pm, 75p
tel: 020 8743 2034
Centre Manager: Jacquie Boyce
Parent and toddler groups from 0-4. Supervised group activities. Healthy snack and drink provided. Broad cultural mix. There is an Afro-Caribbean influence (the playleader is a rasta) although the ethos of the Hut is to respect and celebrate all cultures.

Little People of Shepherds Bush
61 Hayden Park Road
tel: 020 8749 5080
Manager: Holly Winchcombe
full-time day nursery (8am-6pm)
6 months-3 years.

Vanessa Nursery
14 Cathnor Road
tel: 020 8743 8196
Manager: Alison Hyam
3-5 year olds - children start after their third birthday. There are two classes: 9.15-11.45am and 1-3.30pm.
The school has the advantage of a garden and a small indoor swimming pool and promotes all three learning environments (indoor, garden, pool) throughout the year. The school is state-funded and extremely popular. Names are taken from the age of two and preference is given to siblings, those who live close to the school and special needs pupils.
Top of page

Restaurants, bars & pubs
Bush Bar and Grill
45A Goldhawk Road
tel: 020 8746 2111
November 2001 marked the first anniversary of this Groucho-backed venture that has done much to promote the "new Notting Hill" image. The team behind it was also responsible for Kensington Park Road's 192 almost 20 years ago and comment that the Goldhawk Road feels much the same as KPR did then. A good bar - try a champagne mojito - and consistently excellent food at reasonable prices seem to be a winning formula. It is also very child friendly - high chairs and home made fish and chips go down well. A private room that takes 50 for diner or 70 for drinks has recently opened.

Blah, Blah, Blah
78 Goldhawk Road
tel: 020 8746 1337
Good cheap vegetarian, BYO but don't rely on picking up a decent bottle in the immediate vicinity.

Patio
5 Goldhawk Road
tel: 020 8743 5194
Authentic Polish, regularly recommended as among the best cheap eats in London.

Esarn Kheaw
314 Uxbridge Road
tel: 020 8743 0930
Above average, very spicy Thai, friendly staff, nice fish tank.

Crown & Sceptre
57 Melina Road
tel: 020 8746 0060
Recently re-opened under new management, a first visit was encouraging: good, hearty, well-cooked Modern British cooking and a nice garden.

West 12
74 Askew Road
tel: 020 8746 7799
Relatively new opening in a bit of a no-man's-land. Reports are that it is doing well.

Vesbar
15-19 Goldhawk Road
tel: 020 8762 0215
Top of page

Going out

Bush Hall
310 Uxbridge Road
tel: 020 8222 6955
Great line up of contemporary and classical music performances; pleasant bar.

Bush Theatre
Shepherds Bush Green
tel: 020 8743 3388
See tomorrow's West End stars walk the boards today

Shepherds Bush Empire
Shepherds Bush Green
tel: 8740 1515

Warner Village Cinema
West 12 Shopping Centre
tel: 08702 406 020 (bookings); 020 8749 5014 (cinema)
Top of page

Night in
Pizza
The Askew, 269 Uxbridge Road, tel: 020 8743 4820;

Pizza Express, 7 Rockley Road, tel: 020 8749 8582

Curry
Kathmandu Inn, 6/7 Paddenswick Road, tel: 020 8743 7192

Chinese
Walk In, 94 Askew Road, tel: 020 8749 9064

Video
Blockbuster Video, 31 Uxbridge Road, tel: 020 8742 9272

Channel Films.com, 62 Uxbridge Road, (Shep Bush Grn), tel: 020 8743 1200
Good selection of independent/foreign language films.
Top of page

Buying Property
What you can expect to pay for a ...
Two-bedroom flat: £190,000-230,000
Three-bedroom house: £300,000-500,000+
Five-bedroom house (very few): if in good condition, £750,000 plus

Estate Agents
Faron Sutaria, tel: 020 8740 7766
Willmotts, tel: 020 8749 2475
Winkworth, tel: 020 8749 3394
Finlay Brewer, tel: 020 7371 4171
Top of page

First published in angels and urchins, Christmas 2001