What’s on, new & happening in your Urban Village
October 2019
October
“Listen! the wind is rising, and the air is wild with leaves. We have had our summer evenings,
now for October eves” - Humbert Wolfe
Fulham Networking: Weds 2 October
The Fulham Residence Club, who’ve been supporting local businesses since 2018, are holding their second residents and business social on Wednesday 2 October. The evening will be hosted by The Little Blue Door (871-873, Fulham Road) from 6-8 pm and to attend all you have to do is RSVP justknock@thelittlebluedoor.co.uk. We went along to the inaugural event in June and really enjoyed meeting members of the local community from shop owners to founders of children’s clubs. If you’d like to connect with friends, neighbours and local business this is the event for you. It’s also a good opportunity to meet the delightful Natalie Matilda, to find out how The Fulham Residence Club can feature you and what you do on their Instagram account. There will be complimentary drinks and nibbles and for those who would like to stay on for dinner, there’s 25% off the food bill from 8 pm. Hope to see you there!
https://www.thelittlebluedoor.co.uk
https://www.instagram.com/thefulhamresidenceclub/
Oktoberfest: Friday 4/Friday 11 - Sunday 13
Neverland Fulham transforms into a German schloss for Oktoberfest and tickets are selling fast. Picture steins filled to the brim, traditional German food, staff dressed in Lederhosen, live music from a traditional band playing covers, classics and oompah favourites and an eclectic mix of sounds from DJs. Fancy dress encouraged so get your best Bavarian garb on! https://www.neverlandlondon.com/
Lederhosen is also encouraged at Market Hall Fulham when for one weekend the venue will be will transformed into a Bavarian Beer Hall with Bierkeller inspired tables and benches, German-style beer courtesy of the Harbour Brewing company and food specials from the resident Market Hall traders. Their Oktoberfest week-end kicks off with a party night on Friday 11 and finishes with a family day with German-themed kids crafts from Paperbirds on Sunday 13.
Rosé & nibbles: Saturday 5
Head to Neptune 87 - 93 Wandsworth Road from 10 am 6 pm, where French food experts Tariette will be sharing their passion for traditional, simple and delicious produce from the Haute-Provence region of France. They’ll be a pop-up shop in store and you’ll be able to sample a curated selection of nibbles – from tapenade to Marseilles Navette biscuits – and rosé wines. This is a free event and we agree with Neptune it sounds “best to come along to this one on an empty stomach!”. No need to RSVP - just drop in if you’re passing.
Apple Day: Sunday 6
Do you know your Golden Russett from your Worcester Pearmain? We’re not sure we do but we’re looking forward to Apple Day at Fulham Palace. This annual autumn event displays all types of apples from the orchard and there are varieties for sale alongside bottled apple juice. Other attractions include bee keeping and wood turning demonstrations, children’s activities, story telling and if you fancy your chances in the apple cake baking competition hit the link below to register.
https://www.fulhampalace.org/whats-on/events/
https://www.instagram.com/fulhampalace/?hl=en
Paperbirds Spooky Autumn Art Camp: Monday 21/Tuesday 22
We were thrilled to meet Barbara, Paperbirds Founder, at The Fulham Residence Club summer social as we’ve long been admirers of all the creative artwork that comes out of her art classes and workshops. We have no doubt that mini Fulhamites are already getting excited about Halloween with talk of spiders, bats, haunted houses and ghosts so why not consider booking them in for the Paperbirds Autumn camp this half term. Two full days of painting, drawing, sketching and creating some dark, funny and scary art. Places are open for for 5 - 12 years and booking is required. We can’t wait to see all the spooky masterpieces on their Instagram grid.
https://www.instagram.com/paperbirdsldn/
Halloween Trick or Treat Trail: Saturday 26
Head over to South Park for lots of family spooky fun. This Halloween event, organised by the Friends of South Park and sponsored once again by Haus Properties, will start at 3 pm, gather by the cricket pavilion/Paggs Cafe, and end at 5 pm. We’ve heard they’ll be pinatas, face painting, games and hot chocolate. The event organisers are looking for additional volunteers so please contact marisalebus@gmail.com if you’d like to get involved. Circus Circus are also offering a 30% discount valid for all Halloween items purchased online or in store. To receive your discount please show this coupon in store or quote Hallo1019 on the website. 30% off offer is only valid from 01/10/19 -26/10/19
https://www.facebook.com/SouthParkFulham/ https://www.partycircus.co.uk/
At home football matches
Sat 5: Fulham vs Charlton @ 12:30
Sat 19: Chelsea vs Newcastle @15:00
Weds 23: Fulham vs Luton Town @19:45
Tues 29: Chelsea vs Manchester United @19:45
Rose Spacemasks launch
The founder of Spacemasks Harriet Inglis, kindly agreed to be featured in our inaugural issue and we were intrigued to hear there was an exciting hush hush new product on the horizon. That news was made official last month when Harriet launched the limited edition rose scented version of her stellar self heating Spacemasks and broke the internet. The timing couldn’t be better in Breast Cancer Awareness month to tell you that Spacemasks.com is working with The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity and will donate £1 for every box sold. This is a charity close to Harriet’s heart as she sadly lost her mother to breast cancer at a young age. There are five masks in a box which costs £15, they self heat on opening and have helped suffers of migraines, headaches and provided respite for many with sleep issues. They also make fantastic, dare we say that word, Christmas presents! The Spacemask pictured was gifted but we’ve tried, bought and paid for original Spacemasks - they’re amazing, we’d use one every night of the week if we could!
Saturday lunch at Harlequin
Back in August we finally made it to Harlequin, which opened at 194 Wandsworth Bridge Road in December 2018. We were there for an indulgent dinner with a friend from East London who wanted to check out the next restaurant from the team behind Nest in her urban village. After stints at The Ledbury and The Harwood Arms, Chef James Erasmus serves his own food with a monthly changing set menu inspired by the British seasons and James’ ancestral roots of South Africa; dietary requirements can be catered for with prior notice.
After getting over the odd table height and the rambunctious Made in Chelsea crew who were also in that evening, including Jamie Laing (pre Strictly Come Dancing injury) , it was all up from there. The menu was stunningly presented and thought out, the Prawns with Red Pepper Romesco and the Braised Herdwick Lamb Shoulder were our stand out favourites.
The good news is that Harlequin has now opened it’s doors for lunch on Saturdays. The Lunch Set Menu (£30) for October is Salad of Romaine lettuce with Gribiche and Chickpea Dressing, a choice of either - Roast Cod with Aubergine, Samphire and Crispy Chicken Skin or Cumbrian Rose Veal with Mieliepap, Carrots and Roast Onions, Peacan and Pumpkin Pie with Amarula Ice cream. The five course evening set menu (£45) includes a Homemade Crumpet with Marmite Butter and Smoked Ham Hock to start and both main courses. If you fancy a real gastronomic treat in a local neighbourhood restaurant we can’t recommend Harlequin enough. To make an on line booking visit https://www.harlequinrestaurant.co.uk/ Not gifted Urban Village LDN paid for this meal
Child’s Play Opens
Child’s Play has opened it’s second branch on 181 New King’s Road where Cuckoo Hibou used to be. Spa rooms have been added and their timetable of activities includes classes by Caterpillar Music, Little Dance Academy Hip Hop & Ballet, Amanda’s Action Club and The Little London Music School. There are supervised play sessions and a series of upcoming events.
On 7 October Child’s Play are holding a wellness morning from 9 am to 11.30 am when you can enjoy a complimentary hot drink, sample vegan certified and gluten free skincare products by Arbonne and finish the morning with a 30 min pilates class taught by a musculoskeletal therapist and APPI mat level 3 pilates instructor; sounds like a great way to start the week. Booking required (£5 ticket) with limited spaces.
There is also a Pumpkin making workshop on October 31 from 4 - 6 pm.
Create Crew camp debut: 21 - 25
Create Crew Performing Arts will be opening the doors to their debut camp on 21 -25 at All Saints Primary School and is suitable for children aged 5 - 11. Create Crew welcomes all abilities and offers kids the chance to pursue a career in the performing arts or to simply learn confidence boosting singing, dancing and acting skills. They say their team not only teaches children how to perform on stage but shows them how build a variety of skills including how to work as a team.
https://www.facebook.com/createcrewltd/
@createcrewltd
Kanburi Thai spa opens
We haven’t yet been ourselves, but Urban Village LDN picked up great reviews on the Fulham grapevine about this new Thai spa so we decided to investigate. We took a look at their web-site which tells us that after establishing and running a successful Thai Spa in Munich, Germany for several years, Leon Wasan Ruhl has “a passion for the culture and heritage of his native Thailand” and created the Kanburi Thai Spa to bring a flavour of South East Asia to London. The interiors certainly look like they have done just that: red painted walls, Thai fixtures and exotic flowers. We’ve heard the staff “are so nice and friendly” and that the therapists are “well qualified” and certified by Thailand’s Ministry of Health. One resident said “my husband and I have both been and were very impressed (no link to the business)”.
Pampering and healing treatments include body wraps, scrubs and warm oil massages. There is is special introductory offer for their opening: 25% off all treatments and gift vouchers if booked and paid for by 31 October 2019 (to be taken by 31 December).
Farewell Perry’s
After 31 years with heavy hearts Perry’s have announced the closure of their last remaining store on the Fulham Road. Perry’s Art + Office has been run as an independent family business since 1986 and this pillar of the community will be much missed. As they prepare to close their doors at the end of November everything must be sold so do stock up on your essentials or simply pop in to say goodbye and wish the owners a happy retirement. Now more than ever, please think of supporting the amazing range of independent businesses we have in our urban village.
Happy Halloween
We all know that planning a child’s party can be daunting whether it is finding a venue, entertainer, caterer, ordering party bags, decorations, buying a delicious cake, or even hiring a photographer for the day; same applies to Halloween parties! ParentVille Parties was set up by a group of London Mums, including COO and Fulham resident Sally Christina Martin, to make planning a kids dream party fun and stress free. Parents can use ParentVille’s party planning service or shop their curated collection to find everything they need for a children’s party. ParentVille’s selection for Halloween includes everything from sugar skull plates to bat cups; even we’re tempted by the personalised glow in the dark trick or treat bag! Established in 2015 it’s an easy to use on line platform which shares supplier content curated specifically by the ParentVille team and supports over 200 entrepreneurs and London based cottage industries.
@parentvilleparties
Parson’s Green Sports & Social Club re-opens
After undergoing a major re-development for the last 5 years this local sports and social club, with a predominately Fulham membership, will re-open at the end of October/early November. Founded in 1885 the new club facilities will include six tennis courts with floodlights, two squash courts, a bowling green, croquet lawn and a new clubhouse with a members bar, billiards and a private function space (150 standing capacity) which will also be available for hire by non members. We will keep you posted on news of the re-opening, in the meantime if you’d like to hear more or are interested in membership you can contact the club’s General Manager Ricardo Monteiro gm.parsonsgreenclub@gmail.com
Made in Fulham
It never fails to surprise us what a talented bunch you Fulham folks are. Each month Urban Village Ldn introduces you to THe Fulham face behind an idea, product or business and asks them what they love about being a local resident.
This month we talk to Dr Stephanie OOI who practices at My Healthcare clinic in fulham and is also known on instagram as @the_GP-MUm
How long have you called Fulham home? Three years! Although we haven't lived here for very long it really does feel like home. I went to Imperial College to study medicine and was based around Charing Cross Hospital so this neck of the woods feels very familiar.
Tell us a bit about yourself and your family. Myself and my husband are both General Practitioners (GPs) and met at medical school. On the very first day someone told us that a third of us would end up together and that many of us would also end up being GPs. We haven't been very original have we?! We both work at a family owned clinic - MyHealthcare Clinic (www.myhealthcareclinic.com) - a private GP and Dental clinic in Fulham Broadway and Wandsworth. We have a two year old daughter who is a little firecracker and certainly keeps us busy!
What's your favourite local haunt? Being a parent to a toddler means I am frequently at the playground! We are so lucky to have so many green spaces nearby. I love Bishops Park in the Summer especially on a Sunday morning when the farmer's market is on. If you haven't tried the Banh Mi from the Vietnamese food truck you need to give it a go!
What's your slice of Fulham heaven and why? Oh gosh, it's hard to choose! A local coffee and flower shop called Ella's opened up nearby this year and it's been so lovely to watch it grow. They even sell wine which one of the girls has sourced herself. It's my go-to place for flowers - either for home or if taking them to someone else's house.
If you could do one thing to improve Fulham what would it be? One thing that does make me a little anxious is the seeming increase in crime and targeting of the area. I'm signed up to Nextdoor which is a great neighbourhood app but am constantly aware of the unfortunate burglaries and scams that are happening. I feel like it's part of living in London but I would definitely change this if I had a magic wand.
When, how and why did you decide to become a GP? I decided during medical school during my 5th year placement at a GP surgery. Whilst I enjoyed hospital medicine, I just knew that GP was where I belonged. I love the nature of the work and the breadth of knowledge that is needed. I am constantly learning. I appreciate it's not as easy now but I really love the continuity of care in seeing the same patients and getting to know them. It also really lends itself well to part-time working which I really appreciate as a working parent.
What advice would you give to anyone who is thinking of pursuing a career in medicine? Go for it! But first get some work experience and make sure you get a real feel for what it's like. Many think of it as a glamorous career but in reality it really isn't! It's a lot of hard work during medical school and working as a Doctor can be tough too. Long days, working at the weekends and doing night shifts. However, it can be such a rewarding job and that's why I love it so much.
Thank you for talking to Urban Village LDN Stephanie.
New network supports Mums running their own business
We love trying to keep up with what Donna Jackson aka @thecuriousmummy is up to. This Mum of two and kids style enthusiast is even busier with the recent launch of the All by MAMA Network. This new membership community has been set up to help Mums feel supported, encouraged and motivated by connecting them with other women who understand the challenges of running a business alongside raising a family.
Gemma Antikides founded and launched ALL by MAMA after the birth of her first son in 2015. The company began as a place for talented mothers to sell their products, the community has grown from 40 sellers joining them when they launched to 300 and rising. Gemma's background is in retail and shopper marketing. Prior to launching ALL by MAMA, Gemma worked for 10 years within marketing agencies for brands such as Disney, Musgraves and Premier Foods.
Donna joined as Co-Founder in 2018 having worked in the Television industry managing the content and channel strategy for brands such as Comedy Central, Sky Living and Sky Atlantic. After the birth of her son, she decided to leave her career in TV to find a new path to allow her to work around her growing family. Donna's interest in the digital marketing arena coupled with her background in TV, allowed her to carve out a new career supporting ‘Start Up’ businesses with Marketing Communications and Content Strategy.
The All by Mama Network are on a mission to support 150,000 mothers to start and grow their own business alongside raising a family, they are there to help build confidence, find solutions to challenges and provide meaningful connections. The team has a host of experts including Jamie Day, Influencer & Digital Creator of A Day In The Life, Clare Mullarkey, Trade Mark Attorney and Shazia Mustafa Co Founder of Third Door.
Sign up is FREE and you’ll receive a weekly email packed full of actionable advice, invites to meet ups, panel events, offers from their partners, access to their closed Instagram and Facebook page monthly meet ups, panel events, speed mentoring and courses to help you start and grow your business. Sounds like you’ll never feel alone working from home with all these fantastic resources. We love the added sign up bonus of a free “Best Instagram Hashtags” download to get you started!
