What’s New  

Gardening Club

If you don’t have your own garden, are already a green fingered enthusiast or just getting started on your own patch and want to learn more about planting, pruning, tending and more, Sands End Arts & Community Centre (SEACC) has just started a gardening club.

Everyone is welcome to join SEACC’s Gardener and Fulham resident Lucy for two hours each week. Lucy Schoonhoven is a professional gardener who also has an allotment at Fulham Palace where for 26 years she’s grown vegetables year round to feed her family and has created two flower plots; from where she was able to donate a number of plants for SEACC’s new courtyard bed. Having studied theatre design and worked around the world as a scenic artist and prop maker, Lucy also paints peoples gardens as well as tending to them.

Lucy told Urban Village LDN “the garden area by the dance studio needs a good general clear, prune and rethink plant wise and there is A LOT of weeding to be done on a particular sandy area at the centre as I am loathe to use any sort of pesticides/ weed killers. I’m passionate about increasing biodiversity within the city and encouraging children to grow things and learn where their food comes from so perhaps that’s something I could help with in the future. In the meantime, I have sown lots of wildflower, sunflower and poppy seeds into one of the wilder areas beside the building, in the hope that we get some summer colour which will also provide nectar for the bees and then seeds for the birds in autumn”.

Lucy hopes other locals (adults only) will get involved and join the Gardening Club. The sessions in June are as follows: Tues 4 (2-4pm), Tues 11 (10-2), Thurs 20 (2-4pm) and Tues 25 (10 - 2pm). No need to book, simply turn up wearing clothes suitable for gardening, tools and refreshments will be provided. The sessions are weather permitting so if in doubt contact SEACC in advance.

How to Age Disgracefully

New York Times best selling author and Fulham Resident Clare Pooley’s fourth book “How to Age Disgracefully” comes out this month. This is her third novel, you may remember us writing about “The Authenticity Project”, set in Fulham, and “The People on Platform 5” in previous issues of Urban Village LDN.

We counted ourselves very lucky to get our mitts on a proof copy (thank you Clare) and the combination of the fantastic array of characters and the setting in a community centre made it a heart warming and uplifting read.

Two of the main characters, and the oldest that feature in Clare’s newest book (makes a change), are most definitely not fading into the background but to use Dylan Thomas’s famous quote, seem more determined to “rage against the dying of the light”. No spoilers but when Lydia takes a job running the Senior Citizens’ Social Club she thinks she’ll be drinking tea and playing card games. The members of the Social Club, however, are not at all what Lydia was expecting. From Art, a failed actor turned kleptomaniac to a Banksy-style knitter who gets revenge in yarn. When the council threatens to sell the community center building, the members of the Social Club join forces with the teenaged father of one of the toddlers in the day care next door and a geriatric dog to try and save the building. We loved “main character” Daphne who, feeling lonely on her 70th birthday, decides to get out more and this leads her to the Social Club. Daphne is a stylish force to be reckoned with and we discover that there’s more to her than meets the eye; we discover that she’s been hiding secrets from her past for decades.

We spoke to Clare about her latest novel and asked about the inspiration behind the book “if I look at my parents and their friends they are not the sort of pensioners that you usually read about in novels. They tend to be a bit part, certainly not a main character and they are portrayed to be sad, old, lonely, unable to deal with technology and generally saved by a younger person who makes them come our of their shell. I thought it would be interesting to flip that narrative and hear about the older generation who are teaching the younger generation how to live”. You can find out more about “How to Age Disgracefully” on the link below. If you haven’t already, why not subscribe to Fulham Chronicles (the SW6 podcast) on YouTube so you can hear co-hosts Zara & Melinda in conversation with Clare later this month. https://youtu.be/FTh8txMGu5g?si=OfMMT4uLnts7-DHX

Joe’s Brasserie

Well not technically new but Joe’s Brasserie is back and although they’ve retained the original name, there’s a new team at the helm, a new look inside and out and a new menu. This neighbourhood gem on Wandsworth Bridge Road has been a much loved Fulham institution for 38 years and its terrace is always rammed come rain or shine. We have no doubt that locals, other than Urban Village LDN HQ, are delighted that Joe’s has gone back to its roots and returned as a 7 days a week, all day brasserie, serving lunch and dinner.

Brunch is now also available at weekends from 9am and the evolving menu will feature new daily and seasonal specials. Perennial favourites like Randalls lamb burgers have made a return and locals will be pleased to hear that Joe’s much loved Sunday Roasts are coming back soon.

Happy hour featuring new cocktails, can’t wait to check those out, is every day from 5 - 7pm and you can also enjoy bar snacks alongside your favourite tipple: Nocellara Olives, Blistered Padron Peppers, Hummus with Flatbread or sharing boards. Starters include Chicken and vegetable gyozas, Crispy Korean Chicken (oh how we’ve missed you!) and Tuna Tartare. We’re super happy to see some lighter additions to the menu, I mean we love a Beer Battered Cod and chips as much as the next gal but sometimes something less is more. So yes to salads including Seared Prawn, Spicy Tofu, Caesar and Fresh Tuna Nicoise. Don’t panic carnivores Joe’s has got you covered with burgers and a 28 Day Aged Highland Fillet Steak also on the menu.

Joe’s new website is coming soon, until then you can follow them on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/joes_brasserie/ welcome back to the hood Joe’s!

Seedy Snacks

Urban Village LDN spoke to Fulham resident Natasha Mangla about her Seedy Snack products which are grain and gluten free. Seedy Snacks was created after Natasha changed careers as a social worker 12 years ago.

Pursuing her love for cooking she decided to attend culinary school after her son was born and from there Thyme in the Kitchen was founded in 2018. During Covid online classes were held for kids and today they continue offering bespoke classes for adults.

Seedy Snacks was born out of a client who had various food intolerances and her wish to find gluten free crackers for a party platter, mezze board. Anyone who is GF will know that it is often hard to find something that has both the right texture and a great taste. Natasha set to work creating and testing different flavours that became popular with friends, family and clients.

Seedy Snacks has gone from kitchen table to commercial kitchen and is a professional affair with great packaging, a range of crackers which includes: The Herby One, The Spicy One, The Moreish One. We can hear you asking what’s new? Natasha told Urban Village LDN that new to the range is Amaranth, Seed and Nut Granola and cookies are coming soon. “We’re growing our product line and we’re excited to be adding to our range. Our products are naturally gluten free, we’re not quite at the stage of being approved for those who are coeliac, however we are being tested at the moment so watch this space. I think everyone knows about the health benefits of seeds, all our products are made out of a combination of seeds so they’re not only delicious but healthy”.

Seedy Snacks use Chia seeds, rich in fibre, protein and omega 3 fatty acids, Pumpkin seeds, loaded with antioxidants, fibre and essential minerals and Sesame seeds rich in iron calcium and magnesium. All products can be ordered on line or found in delis, coffee shops and London stockists including Fulham’s own Gourmet Hound on Fulham Palace Road. Natasha has plans to grow the product line and is ramping up things in the marketing department which is headed up by her sister. Seedy Snacks will be making appearances at Taste of London in June, Hampton Court Food Festival and BBC Good Food in November and we’re sure they’ll be popping up in other Fulham stores soon. You can follow Seedy Snacks on Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/_seedysnacks/

KYN Hurlingham

KYN Hurlingham opens on the corner of Daisy / Broomhouse Lane this month offering personalised, holistic nursing, dementia and palliative care. We’re sure you'll know exactly where and in which building from the image featured here. This Grade II building originally built in 1854, was previously used as the Castle Club and prior to that a school founded by the Sullivan family. It has been sympathetically restored to create a private residential setting featuring stunning interiors by Nina Campbell, a beautiful walled garden and roof terraces providing a lovely environment for families to meet with their loved ones. We’ve watched closely over many months as this building has been renovated, the gardens planted and we enjoyed meeting representatives from KYN Homes at Fulham Social Hub’s recent launch to hear more.

KYN describe themselves as a care home innovator and their second site continues their approach of prioritising the individual and providing a safe, uplifting environment where residents can have as much independence as they wish. Emphasis is placed on giving residents full autonomy, in a beautiful environment, with no set schedule to adhere to and a culture that promotes individual pursuits alongside plenty of opportunities to socialise; building both a sense of belonging and feeling at home.

Residents will be given personal care according to their level of need, with dedicated nurses and carers, an in-house physiotherapist and a weekly GP visit. There are nutritional restaurant standard menus created by chef Tristan Welch alongside consultant nutritionist Eva Humphries. Designed to change daily with an emphasis on fresh, seasonal ingredients, flavours tailored to residents palates and nutritional needs. Meals are delivered in the privacy of the residents own room, at whatever time they choose, or alternatively they can enjoy lunch or dinner with family and friends.

Commissioning Home Manager Jordan Pereira commented: “I am extremely proud to be opening KYN Hurlingham in June, every detail of what we do has been carefully considered to create a beautiful and enjoyable environment where family and friends genuinely look forward to spending precious time together. The KYN philosophy for care is delivered by having the highest industry ratio of team members to residents, and by working with outstanding people. We recruit the best against a defined set of KYN values, we support them with the best training, and we collaborate with the best leaders in their field.” If you’d like to find out more hit the button below, or email kynhurlingham@kyn.co.uk you can also attend KYN Hurlingham’s Open Day on 29 June however you MUST register to book a place. More details here Experience KYN on our Open Day | KYN

Time for Tea

If you’re looking for something a bit more bougie than a simple cuppa. Fancy getting a group of friends together for a fun catch up or to celebrate a special occasion then head to Gourmet Hound at 345 Fulham Palace Road. They are now serving tea on Tuesday’s in collaboration with Row & Ma who we’re told make unique tea blends.

Bookings for this beloved of British traditions can be made up until the Sunday before, for a minimum of two people. You can enjoy a changing menu of Savouries & Sweets (a selection of sandwiches, scones, scotch eggs and pastries) for £25 pp. To book your spot give them a call on 020 3149 8299.

When the sun finally puts in a more constant appearance, we can see this going down a treat on their terrace on the corner of Fulham Palace Road and Gowan Avenue.