Online Bookshop Order Belsize books & videos here
Wonderful films on Belsize Park to stream online
View all films here including The Belsize Story
Sunday 8 December at 6.30 pm
St Peter's, Belsize Square
Bach Christmas Aratorio
Belsize Baroque with the Amici e Voci Choir
Tickets £15, students free. Tickets here.
Remarkable Homes of NW3 – Now Available
"What a delight. A timeless classic that every NW3 resident will want to own.”
– Nicola Manasseh, Editor In the Square magazine.
“At the heart of this fascinating book are David’s stunning photographs. NW3 at its most beautiful. And as David guides us systematically around the area, he introduces us not only to the houses, but the streets and neighbourhoods where they are located. We find out about the country estates that predated the housing, and why and when they were developed. And we see how they looked in previous centuries through a wonderful array of engravings, paintings and old photographs. If you want to lift your spirits on a damp grey day, the bright sunshine and clear blue skies in David’s photos will surely provide the perfect tonic!”
– Averil Nottage, former Chair, Belsize Residents' Association, now The Belsize Society
Coffee table hardcover, 320 pages – Full colour throughout with over 750 photographs
Hampstead, Belsize Park, Primrose Hil
KIRE Publishing – Now available at Daunt Books – RRP £60
Grand Opening of Caldesi Belsize Village April 2024
Our new neighbourhood Italian restaurant in the Village.
A new restaurant by celebrity chef and restaurateur Giancarlo Caldesi and Katie Caldesi. Inspired by their love of Italian food, they use the finest Italian produce and seasonal ingredients to produce true tastes of Italy. Authentic Italian regional cuisine in Belsize.
CALL FOR YOUR SUPPORT
for the Belsize Village FLOWER BASKETS
Costs have risen this year – please donate to the Flower Baskets
DONATE HERE
Belsize Village Lights and Spring Flower Baskets
On behalf of the Belsize Village Association Angela King of Heywoods Estate Agents collects the donations and organises the winter lights & flowers as well as the installation every year.
Donations Please – Drop Cash or Cheques in to
Heywoods Estate Agents 27 Belsize Lane - NW3 5AS
(Cheques payable to Heywoods Estate Agents attn Angela King)
Or donate via credit card through PayPal
Please scroll down to the bottom of the page for the PayPal DONATION Button
Howitt Close
This treasured 1934 Art Deco building in the Belsize Conversation Area was under serious threat from a disastrous development plan. A developer wanted to build homes on top of the block.
Howitt Close is a well-preserved example of 1930s architecture, contributing to variety within the Conservation Area, and thus, to its significance and special interest. It makes a positive contribution to the character and appearance of the area.
A Camden Council Planning Committee meeting was held in January 2023 to consider the application to add an extra storey to Howitt Close on Howitt Road. An Appeal Hearing was held on 4 July 2023. Freshwater’s appeal on their first planning application was dismissed/ rejected on 21 September 2023. But the battle to preserve the integrity of the building is not fully over just yet.
Original details here
Aperitifo Belsize Village is now open
Terra Moderna, an Antipodean
modern Italian restaurant
Terra Moderna – an Antipodean, modern Italian restaurant in England’s Lane, Belsize Park.
Terra Moderna offers a refined yet laid-back dining experience showcasing authentic Italian cooking with Antipodean influences.
Now open for lunch, come and explore a lovely variety of homemade pastas, vibrant salads, satisfying mains, and irresistible desserts. Their menus embrace seasonality, offering options for both quick bites and leisurely meals.
Whether you’re dining solo, with friends, or with family, Terra Moderna will extend a warm welcome.
Hours:
Lunch – Thursday to Saturday 12 – 3pm
Dinner – Tuesday to Saturday 5 – 11pm
Terra Moderna website
Greenberry Hill Haverstock Hill September 2024
Greenberry Hill on Haverstock Hill is now sadly closed. It was
a sister restaurant to the Greenberry Café in Primrose Hill.
Belsize Village celebrates with music, food and wine May 2023
August 2022: XinXin Opening Party, Belsize Village
Left to right: BVBA co-head Aya Khazaal (owner, Pivoine Nail Spa), XinXin owners Furong and Renyu Fong, and BVBA co-head Robert Stephenson-Padron OBE (owner, Penrose Care)
Belsize Village’s new café and Pan-Asian restaurant XinXin is located at the old Belsize Kitchen site, 68 Belsize Lane, and held an opening community party on Friday 12 August, at 12 noon.
This will be followed by its grand opening on Saturday, 13 August at 9am. Please come! XinXin will first open as a café on Saturday & Sunday: 9am-3:30pm Monday, and Wednesday thru Friday: 8am-3:30pm (Closed Tuesday). Pan-Asian cuisine opening in the evenings from 22 August.
June 2022: Belsize Village Celebrates the Queen's Platinum Jubilee
With food, drinks and music, there was a wonderful turnout of local villagers on a sunny afternoon for the Platinum Jubilee party in Belsize Village square.
In Memory of Malcolm Grove
Photo: Linda Grove
Sadly local resident Malcolm Grove has passed away following a tough battle with his health over the past few years. The sum of £5,000 is being raised to fund three park benches which will be in Malcolm Grove's memory. These benches will be placed on the pathway in front of the Pears building on Hampstead Green. Currently there is only one bench on this path. With your help, enough could be raised for these three benches, each one costing £1,590. Any contributions left over will be donated to Abacus Belsize Primary School, in which Malcolm and Linda Grove played a key role in founding. Please donate at Just Giving
A memorial service and celebration of Malcolm's life was held at 11.30am on Wednesday, May 18 at St Peter's Church, Belsize Square, with a reception afterwards in the church gardens.
02 Centre Plans
There is still time to object to the plans for the proposed massive redevelopment of the 02 Centre on the Finchley Road by the developer Landsec.
The application is for the construction of 1,800 flats. These flats would be built in towers of up to 15 storeys high with a number of blocks taller than any other building in the local area. Amazingly, the application does not provide for any parking whatsoever, and makes no guarantees that any additional facilities will be provided.
Trafalgar Square Rally 27 February 2022
Hundreds gathered in Trafalgar Square on Sunday 27 February for a rally to condemn the Russian invasion of Ukraine and to demonstrate their support for the people of Ukraine. Trafalgar Square hosted groups of people holding banners and waving the Ukraine flag. Russians in the UK also joined Ukrainian protesters to criticise the invasion.
Leo, who belongs to a Belsize resident, was there to show his full support.
London Rally 6 March
Photo: Linda Grove
Urgent appeal for Ukranian refugees
Londoners can support the Ukrainian refugees by donating to one of the many donation points set up across the city. There are a number of charities and donation points set up where Londoners can support Ukrainian refugees.
Petition to Grant Emergency VISAS for Ukrainians who are Family Members of UK Citizens you can sign at Change.org.
September 2021: Mayoral visit to Belsize Village
The Mayor of Camden visited Belsize Village as part of her efforts to support small business in Camden. The Belsize Village Streatery, which attracted the Mayor’s visit, holds a special place as the first alfresco dining event after Lockdown 1. It inspired the Streatery/al fresco movement across London and beyond. Notably, according to Cllr Oliver Cooper (Hampstead Town) the beautiful streateries in Sloane Square and Duke of York Square in Chelsea were directly modelled after the Belsize Streatery.
Mr Khan of Pyramid Dry Cleaners, Belsize Village Business Association (BVBA) co-coordinator Robert Stephenson-Padron of Penrose Care, Perkin’s / Pyramid Dry Cleaners manager Mr Rahman, Mayor of Camden Sabrina Francis, Her Majesty’s Deputy Lieutenant for Camden Roxane Zand, Cabinet Member for Sustainable Camden Cllr Adam Harrison
Following the visit, Cllr Adam Harrison said: “Lots of people out in the amazing Belsize Streatery this afternoon. Mayor of Camden Sabrina Francis visited, highlighting the importance of supporting hospitality and independent businesses and helping them recover. In The Square local magazine has also just launched.”
And Cllr Anne Clarke AM said: “Beautiful day for it! Wonderful to see the excellent streatery doing so well! Thanks for all your hard work.”
BVBA gardening volunteer Luisa Vasquez / Louise Lawson, BVBA co-coordinator Aya Khazaal of Pivoine Nail Spa, BVBA head of gardening Jane Lyons, Mayor of Camden Sabrina Francis, BVBA co-coordinator Robert Stephenson-Padron of Penrose Care, Cabinet Member for Sustainable Camden Cllr Adam Harrison, Her Majesty’s Deputy Lieutenant for Camden Roxane Zand.
And 2022 News: Robert “Bob” Stephenson-Padron, Belsize Village Business Association co-head, has been awarded an OBE by Her Majesty The Queen for services to social care in the Platinum Jubilee Birthday 2022 Honours List.
The Story of Moll King's Belsize Houses
An illustrated presentation by David S. Percy with Dame Janet Suzman reading excerpts from the book, now available to view here. This is the fascinating account of some of the first settlers on Haverstock Hill. A story of pioneers who arrived in Belsize in the early part of the 18th century and the houses they lived in. A captivating tale of a really gutsy, determined individual who made her own way, a woman who mixed with harlots, courtesans and lords of the land.
Produced to coincide with celebrations to mark the Belsize Society-BRA 50th anniversary.
100 Avenue Road Update
Following the report in our recent newsletter we can now confirm the appeal by Swiss Cottage tower developer Essential Living has been rejected by the planning inspector. The inspector, Tom Gilbert-Wooldridge, rejected the appeal following an inquiry held 9-12 November 2021. Tom Gilbert-Wooldridge refused Essential Living’s attempt to renege on the 100 Avenue Road affordable housing agreement.
The inspector said, "The appellant claims to be stuck between not being able to sell the site or deliver the development as consented with its various planning benefits… However, I have not been persuaded that the financial position of the appellant means that the only option is the proposed modification to the S106 agreement… While a realistic alternative use value for the site may be lacking, this does not undermine the prospect that another residential-led scheme could be delivered on this site, particularly given the site’s urban location next to a London underground station.”
Janine Sachs of Save Swiss Cottage said, "We can't say what Essential Living will do next, but given the revelation during the appeal of their considerable deficit, it's hard to imagine how they will continue.” There has been no work on the site since mid-2020. Essential Living is now facing a massive £70million deficit over the project.
If Essential Living should go ahead with the project the developer must provide the full amount of affordable housing that they agreed to provide in the original proposals – namely, 28 Affordable Rent units, 8 Intermediate Housing units, and 18 Discounted Market Rent units for a minimum of 15 years post completion.
Belsize Village Summer Flower Baskets
Village Lights and Summer Flowers
YOUR VILLAGE NEEDS YOUR SUPPORT
The spring/summer flowers aren't provided free
On behalf of the Belsize Village Association Angela King of Heywoods Estate Agents collects the donations and organises the winter lights & flowers as well as the installation every year.
Donations Please – Drop Cash or Cheques in to
Heywoods Estate Agents 27 Belsize Lane - NW3 5AS
(Cheques payable to Heywoods Estate Agents attn Angela King)
Or donate via credit card through PayPal
With many thanks to the organisers
The Belsize Village Streatery
Belsize locals and visitors are now enjoying the Belsize Village Streatery, especially with the arrival of the warmer weather.
News: 20 March 2021
The Belsize Village Bambi artwork has been restored. Belsize Village Business Association’s volunteer project foreman and local resident Richard Lagani restored the artwork originally created by street artist Bambi in 2010. Since then the artwork had become mired with mould that had overtaken it and the original perspex had been badly damaged. Richard Lagani removed the mould and replaced the perspex restoring it to its former glory. Read the full story
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