What’s New, On & Happening in Fulham

What’s New

Bridge Baker 2.0

The first Bridge Baker on Wandsworth Bridge Road opened a few months after we launched Urban Village LDN so we’ve always kept tabs on the development of this bakery/cafe.

Sauntering down the Fulham Road one day, we spied a notice on the doors of what was previously the home of Pollyanna shoes. We immediately messaged Fulham resident and Bridge Baker owner Gauri Nafrey to congratulate her on the start of making the second Bridge Baker store a reality.

We popped in to see the new store ourselves when it soft launched and the doors at 811 Fulham Road opened. Gauri told Urban Village LDN “we think we’ve successfully created a familiar feel but a slightly different vibe here at Fulham Road. The soft launch has gone well and we’re seeing a mix of people who already know us and new locals who are discovering us for the first time. We’ll be opening our downstairs seating area soon and intend to use that as our events space for parties, pizza making classes, wine tastings and we will be licenced until 11pm”.

We noticed the familiar Bridge Baker trademarks, grey and white tiles, wood counter, exposed brick, plants and other soft touches. The menu is the same as Wandsworth Bridge Road so you’ll find their daily salad selection, egg dishes from Shakshuka to Benedict, our fave take out, the pepper and chorizo sandwich, and their freshly prepared juices.

Bridge Baker as well as having a great reputation for their baked goods, also ordered wholesale by the likes of the Wolseley and Colbert, are applauded for their pizzas. These will be coming soon to Fulham Road and downstairs you’ll be able enjoy dinning in, see their working kitchen and your pizza being made there. They’ve got a new wine list and have dropped prices to make them more competitive to pick up a bottle in store, take home and enjoy with a take away pizza; delivery options also available. They’re currently open 7 days a week from 7am - 7pm so pop in and check the new branch out!

Homeopathy with Athena

Urban Village LDN spoke to Fulham resident and newly qualified homeopath Athena Bray-Mucha. Already a health coach and Pilates teacher, Athena has many years experience working with women and after finding homeopathy a huge help to her personally she decided to train to become a practitioner.

From day one her course offered practical, in clinic experience which she is now using to help patients at her space at Fulham Massage & Wellness on the New Kings Road; Zoom appointments also available. Homeopathy with Athena offers treatment for the whole family, acute walk in appointments and long term treatment for long term ailments. 

Homeopathy for those not familiar, is a natural form of medicine that can restore balance and harmony within the body, assisting the immune system to stimulate a healing process.  It’s natural, safe, non toxic and can be used by all. Many people suffer symptoms of various ailments long term, a few examples are hayfever, various skin issues (acne, eczema, psoriasis), gut issues, recurrent headaches, migraines or menstrual issues and imbalances. Athena told us the list is limitless and many ailments can be helped by remedies prepared from natural sources - plant, mineral and animal.

Athena told us that she is fascinated by women’s wellness, wants to assist women by helping with pre and post natal health. “I suffered the loss of my first child halfway through the pregnancy, the experience was hugely traumatic not just emotionally but physically too. I suffered with allergic reactions to medications and was very poorly for a long time post birth.  I was put in touch with a Homeopath who really took care of me, not only did the remedies I was given, help my body to begin to heal and recover, the symptoms I was suffering with disappeared and my emotional wellbeing was looked after too. I was grieving - I was prescribed remedies to help my body and mind to gently cope with the loss of my child. This prompted me to delve deep into Homeopathy, I wanted to know what was in these magic little pills that had brought me such relief both physically and emotionally.  When we become Mothers we take a back seat and put everyone else in front of us. I want to be there to assist, help during pregnancy and with hormonal balance. Homeopathy is safe, effective with no horrible side effects so it is perfectly suited to new mums”.

READER OFFER: Mention Urban Village LDN for a £20 discount off the first consultation.  First Consultation 1 hour is usually £120, Follow Up Appointments  30-40 minutes £75, Acute Urgent Appointments 20 minutes £35

Appointments can be made via email abraymucha@googlemail.com or call / message Athena on 07930 390002

Arthur’s House

Fulham local Katie Hulbert-Powell got in touch with Urban Village LDN to tell us about her new business, Arthur’s House an agency that offers bespoke childcare and support. After 18 years in the city, growing tec start ups, and following the birth of her son Arthur who the business is named after Katie saw the pitfalls and issues parents faced when trying to find a nanny.

“It was a hard environment to navigate, due diligence was lacking and I wasn’t the only one feeling this way. Friends were telling me they were having a similar experience and that there was generally a lack of support from agencies, not just in finding good childcare but on going support for families and nannies. I’d always wanted to start my own business and Arthur’s House is it”.

Katie is determined to do things better by bringing her corporate experience to the childcare market. “Hiring a nanny into your home is a two way street and should be the start of an amazing relationship for parents, nannies and children alike. We’d love to meet local Fulham families and see how we can help them, from contracts, not having to sift through piles of CV’s and support with childcare issues. Often, families are unsure about the basics of what is required when employing someone and nannies are often left in the dark until they turn up on day one. We want to challenge the status quo by using years of experience built up in corporate environments to professionalise the nanny recruitment industry”.

Arthur’s House believe there is a gap where nannies and families are not fully vetted before being matched and want to focus on the small things that make a massive difference to the day to day working environment for both parties. They want nannies to trust Arthur’s House and to know that the jobs they place them in are with the right people and that they can turn to them, their virtual HR department, when they have questions and concerns. Arthur’s House offer full time, part time childcare/baby sitting, maternity and night nurses.

READER OFFER: discount available to SW6 families if you mention Urban Village LDN

What’s On

Free digital support sessions: Monday 5 (11.00am - 1.00pm)

Do you need help getting the most out of your laptop, phone or tablet or know someone else who would benefit from some assistance? Fulham Good Neighbours are running free weekly digital support sessions at 70 Rosaline Hall. Bring your own device or use one of the laptops provided by FGN. For more information contact info@fulhamgoodneighbours.org or get in touch on 020 7385 8850

Volunteer Fair: Tues 6 (1 - 4pm)

Volunteers week is celebrated between 1 - 7 June every year. If you’d like to become a volunteer why not find out how and what roles are available within the local Fulham community. Meet local groups including: Bishops Creighton house, Citizens Advice H&F, Healthwatch H&F and Fulham Good Neighbours. Volunteering is a great thing to have on your CV, not to mention the feel good factor and the invaluable help to support others. 1 - 4 pm Fulham Good Neighbours, Rosaline Hall, 70 Rosaline Road.

Wine Tasting: Thurs 8 (7-10pm)

Head to Zara’s At the Palace, 349 Fulham Road, where you can “indulge, learn, and taste delicious wines, mouth-watering food pairings, sharing boards/ deserts and then enjoy a great social at the end of the event where everyone gets the opportunity to meet and greet properly”. For more details and to book your place get in touch hello@zarassw6.co.uk

Ashes Wine tasting: Thursday 8 (6.30 - 8pm)

To mark the start of the Ashes, Kenrick’s are inviting you join them for a free tasting of unusual grape varieties from Australia! “Actually, they’re familiar varieties, but just not commonly grown down under”. Head to 275 Wandsworth Bridge Road to meet Ken, the team and to discover some great wines!

Summer Vibes Day: Sat 10

Zara’s At The Palace are holding a “Summer Vibes Day” where Jag London Beachwear will showcase their range, Cider brand Maison Sassy will be holding a tasting and their outside bar will be serving delicious cocktails made from Calvados, Asalia Salts. No need to book!

German Baroque concert: Fri 16

The newly formed early music ensemble, Parnassus, along with soprano Lauren Lodge-Campbell, will present a concert of music of the German Baroque period at the Sands End Arts & Community Centre (SEACC) on Friday 16 June. Centred around Bach’s dramatic cantata BWV 199 ‘Mein Herz schwimmt im Blut’, they will perform a wide range of secular and sacred works written for voice. 

“These pieces will be interspersed with instrumental works that will enhance the varied affects encountered in the vocal pieces and will act as bridges into the following piece through improvisation, as they journey through this reflection on both the human and the divine.”

Father’s Day wine inspo: Sat 17 (4.30pm - 8pm)

Drop into Kenrick’s on Wandsworth Bridge Road anytime after 4.30pm and taste some wines they’ve chosen for Father’s Day weekend! Free event.

Wellness Day: Sat 17

Wellness Day at Zara's At The Palace, starts with 7 am Pilates on their little Patio area and is held by the talented Tiān, powered by Goodrays CBD drinks. Various wellness-related talks and workshops will be taking place throughout the day, so stay tuned. Get in touch hello@zarassw6.co.uk for more info!  

Out of the picture: Sat 17 (7.30 - 9.30pm)

SEACC is hosting the free preview performance of "Out of the Picture" as part of the Windrush 75 Commemorations this June. "Out of the Picture" is the true story of Fanny Eaton, a Jamaican artists’ model in Victorian London. Born in 1835, Fanny Eaton became a sought-after model for the young Pre-Raphaelite artists responding to the great issue of the day - the abolition of slavery, and for women artists fighting for professional recognition and remuneration.

Cry and laugh with Fanny, her family and the artists, and see the pictures they created revealed on stage in this 50-minute, one-woman show, featuring 12 characters. The play is written by Angela Bolger, art historian and writer. Fanny and all the other characters were her constant companions during lock down. The play is directed by actress Faith Tingle Bartoli. The part of Fanny Eaton is played by Ellouise Shakespeare-Hart, soon to be seen in Studio Canal's all-female thriller, "Something in the Water". Doors open at 6:30pm and guests can enjoy pre-performance drinks at the Walnut Tree Café. Hit the link below for more information and tickets.

The Big Weekend: Sat 24 / Sun 25

As part of the Mayor’s Weekend, Sands End Arts & Community Centre (SEACC) in partnership with the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham and Friends of South Park is hosting “The Big Weekend” – a fun filled weekend of activity for all the family.

On the Saturday they will be Basketball Tournaments for U12s, U16s and over 16s, to register a team visit the link below. Throughout the weekend there will be live music, food and drink, an invitation football tournament, face painting, cricket for all taster sessions, a fun run, inflatables, dance classes and more.

Live at the Palace: 28 - 30 July

Not sure how “Live At The Palace” didn’t get on our radar sooner but we snapped up some tickets last minute dot com at the first weekend in May and saw some fantastic DJ sets with Groove Armada rounding off the night.

What a night it was standing on the Palace lawn as the sun went down, the energy as well as the music was incredible. The bars were busy but ran smoothly and there were some great food vendors on site.

Next month there’s another three days of music featuring Emilie Sande, Aswad and UB40. Gates open at 4.00pm, so if its a beautiful day you can arrive early sit on the lawn until it gets busy and enjoy the vibes until the music starts at 5.00pm. Last / headline act normally comes on around 9pm and the event finishes at approximately 10.30pm. Hit the link below for more information and tickets.

What’s Happening

Zara’s At The Palace

Urban Village LDN is very aware of how many local businesses had to twist and turn to survive the pandemic. The onslaught continued with huge increases in energy bills and inflationary costs. We always doff our caps to the local entrepreneurial spirit, the bravery of reinvention, the need to regroup and go back to the drawing board. One such business is Zara’s at The Palace who first opened its doors weeks before the pandemic. Now, after a month out to refurb and rebrand, cafe / deli owner Zara Thomas has reopened the doors at 349 Fulham Palace Road and Zara’s (formerly The Local) is back with a punch. We headed over to check it out, sit down with Zara and find out the inside story of what Fulham locals can now expect.

On arrival you’re welcomed by a bright colour palette of blue and orange, a lovely outdoor patio space and of course owner Zara. Inside the space has been reconfigured with the counter right by the door, a comfy sofa, new seating and marble topped tables and a hand painted message on the front door.

“We’re very happy with how things have gone since we reopened our doors. We’ve kept the same high food standards using quality ingredients and where possible local and previous suppliers. The meat we use comes from the same farms in Sussex, fruit and veg from our New Covent Garden supplier, cakes and delicious treats by Tamsin Bakes, brownies by Ama and pastries, carrot cake and bread from Bridge Baker. Our social events are selling out and we were over the moon to have had 150 plus locals here on opening night celebrating our reopening with us”.

Zara told Urban Village LDN “we want Zara’s to be a community place that has a living room vibe, a friendly and homely feeling, the place for an amazing speciality coffee, brunch and lunch as well as the place to come in the evenings for a great cocktail. Customers are like friends and family coming in to see us, having a chat whilst I cook their order”.

The menu has a lovely selection of sandwiches, toasties, bagels, wraps, acai / chia bowls, quiches and a cabinet showcases the cakes. There’s also a kids menu with two of the specials named after Zara’s boys: Theodore and Christopher. We enjoyed a delicious avo, mushroom and feta sandwich washed down with a strawberry and rhubarb kombucha brewed in Suffolk.

Zara’s at The Palace is a great work from home space, with high speed internet sockets all round and they are about to launch their “Work and Lurk” membership scheme. There’s a special offer for readers of Urban Village LDN see below and membership, only when you’re working at Zara’s, entitles you to three free drinks, 10% off any food, free dessert on Friday and free participation in their networking events. Talking of networking, Suni Sekhon from Defy Brands and Zara connected at our last Urban Village LDN social. Suni wanted to give back to the community and Zara’s was her first community based project. Zara told us “we worked to really well together and we delivered an amazing, welcoming, and colourful brand that matches my name and has all my personality. I cant recommend her enough!”.

If you're a local, small business, or brand who would like to use Zara's as an events space get in touch, Zara would love to hear from you and is always up for a chat. Head to our “What’s On” page to find out full details of their June events which include: a wellness day, Swimwear showcase and wine tastings. Go and see the changes at Zara’s for yourself, we think the whole look, feel and vibe is fantastic but you don’t have to take our word for it as, hot off the press, they’ve just won “The Best Bespoke Cafe in London” award. See more and follow them on Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/zarassw6/

READER OFFER: Work & Lurk Membership - £25 a month if you mention Urban Village LDN (normally ££5) get in touch with Zara hello@zarassw6.co.uk

Fulham Society competition

Calling all green fingered Fulhamites! The Fulham Society are once again holding their front gardens, balconies and window box competition. Now in its 6th year they are also awarding a prize for best pub flowers in Fulham. The one rule is simple: everything must be visible from the street! It’s free to enter and we’re told the the prizes are generous, National Garden Gift vouchers which are redeemable at any good garden centre. So now the cold snap has passed and the sun is finally here why not get involved?

Submit two photographs and your entry form by 30 June. The winners will be announced at the Fulham Society Summer Garden Party at Fulham Palace in early July. Hit the link below for full information, competition forms etc and whilst you’re there why not consider joining The Fulham Society for some great intel on new projects, developments in our area and local history.