Online Bookshop  Order Belsize books & videos here
Pears Building on Hampstead Green Update 2021
Philippa Hutchinson, Interim head of communications, Royal Free Charity reports that as part of the works Camden Council is planning to start work on the Hampstead Green footpath on 15 February 2021. Works are expected to take about eight weeks and the footpath will be closed during this period. This will affect pedestrian access to the hospital from Haverstock Hill. The trust is discussing with the council appropriate signage to divert pedestrians.
Despite slight delays caused by pandemic restrictions, the building is on track to be completed and handed over in the spring to the three organisations which will occupy it. The work will include the new car park.
The charity, the trust and UCL communications teams have discussed the details of future communication plans with the community. We are looking at having a two-stage opening process. A virtual event later this year and an on-site event next year. We are also planning to commission a "virtual tour" of the building as well as look at ways to facilitate virtual and later in-person interactions between the researchers and the community.
January 2021: Stop the Haverstock Hill Cycle Lanes Crowd Justice Campaign February update: Haverstock Hill Cycle Lanes plan dropped by Camden Council
Due to a minor technical error, Camden Council has stated that it is looking at the plans for Haverstock Hill again. The plan was to remove all parking bays along a mile of Haverstock Hill and replace them with two cycle lanes – without any consultation. Businesses said this will force them to close, and older and disabled residents have said this would have a deleterious impact on them. Camden Council did this without any consultation – and tried to cover it up until the decision is made. Read more here
Amit Shah is requesting your urgent support. He is a Local resident who lives on Haverstock Hill, works in the area, supports local businesses, and has a strong sense of community spirit. Please Pledge your Support.
More on the update here
BELSIZE VILLAGE NEEDS YOUR SUPPORT
The Winter lights don't appear by magic!
This year, more than ever, we need some light and cheer in our village. 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.
PLEASE DONATE TOWARDS THE WINTER LIGHTS
Donations Please – Drop in Cash or Cheques to
Heywoods Estate Agents 27 Belsize Lane NW3 5AS
(Cheques payable to Heywoods Estate Agents attn Angela King)
DONATE via credit card through PayPal
With many thanks to the organisers
November 2000: New shop in the Village
The former Oddbins and Sylvester Fine Art premises located on the corner of Belsize Crescent is to become an organic food store. The shop is due to open during the week of 23 November. The store is owned by Alper Kocer who has two other organic shops, one in Highgate and the other in Gospel Oak.
November 2020: Go-ahead for Haverstock Hill Cycle Lanes
The Haverstock Hill cycle route will see parking spaces removed from a stretch of the road running from Pond Street to Prince of Wales Road. Read more here
September 2020: New book on Belsize Park's local history
'Moll' King and her Belsize Houses
full details here
Plus – Dame Janet Suzman brings 'Moll' King to life as she reads excerpts from the book
October 2020: Entrepreneur injects new lease of life into
the Belsize Community Library
700 libraries have closed over the past decade, a figure that will be dwarfed by the loss caused by COVID-19. It was reported that library footfall in September was only at 20 per cent of last year's levels. Simon Squibb, serial entrepreneur and founder of The Purposeful Project, is launching a one-of-a-kind initiative to save the UK’s libraries from collapse post-COVID, starting with his local centre, Belsize Community Library. The project launches on the 8 October.
Read the Press Release
October 2020: Belsize Village Streatery – Update
The Belsize Village Streatery has had its licence renewed until the 1st of January 2021. Robert Stephenson-Padron said: “We are overjoyed to be able to continue providing amazing food and superb service to local residents and visitors.”
The licence also includes permission for environmentally-friendly electric heaters to be installed, Restaurants are purchasing these heaters to encourage people to continue dining outdoors over the winter period.
July 2020: Belsize Village Streatery
On Thursday 30 July the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government Robert Jenrick (pictured centre) visited Belsize as a result of the success of the Belsize Village Streatery. The minister lauded it for being a model for the rest of the country to follow. The Government subsidised meals in August by up to 50% or £10 per person.
The Belsize Village Streatery operated over the summer, running from 4 July to help keep our local restaurants and cafés open in the Village. The temporary arrangement was agreed for the paved area of the Village for the summer months for external restaurant dining. This agreement will enable local restauranteurs and café owners to place socially-distanced tables and chairs in the square.
Operating from 12:00 until 21.30, 7 days per week until 27 September
NEWS May 2020: Covid-19
Please go here for the latest Covid-19 News
including all the cafés, restaurants and shops in the Village
Urgent help needed for families based in the England’s Lane Hostel
Many of the families in the England’s Lane Hostel are struggling, especially during lockdown. Often families with several children are living in one room with very little money. The mothers would like to earn some much needed money, therefore if you would like your ironing done, or wish buy some homemade baked bread please contact Queeny Singh who is volunteering and trying to make life better for these ladies. Queeny Singh is organising a fundraiser here.
News June 2020: Royal Free Hospital Garden damage
Full story here
Pears Building on Hampstead Green 2020
The Immunological Building for the Royal Free
The exterior building work is now at an advanced stage, although the scaffolding is yet to be removed. Some delays have been incurred by the pandemic, nevertheless installation of the windows is complete, with the brickwork and exterior due to be finished shortly. All the flooring is now installed and interior fitting out is now well underway.
Springtime in Belsize Avenue, 2020
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 and 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)
April 2020: Royal Free Nurses' Garden
The relaxing garden fully dedicated to the Royal Free Hospital nurses and staff, Spring 2020 – photo Linda Grove – read more about the garden volunteers here with 2019 photos
November 2019: St Peter’s Belsize Square clock beautifully restored in time to celebrate the 160th anniversary of the opening of the church.
November 2019: Charro de Rio restaurant open
Charro de Rio is located where the Italian restaurant Artigiano used to be in the Village. This restaurant is a very different experience. The menu comprises all you can eat BBQ meat, fish and salads for a set price. They can provide a vegetarian meal, and there's a BBQ fish option (which requires preordering).
The BBQ offerings range from chicken prepared in various ways to beef prime cuts, steaks, ribs, sausages, leg of lamb and lamb fillets. All this is supported by a wondrous variety of salads. There is a excellent selection of wines and tempting deserts. A fun experience – especially for a large groups of six or more.
Calici opens in Belsize Village: launch party held on 2nd October
Tapping into the casual dining scene, Calici offers a new laid-back location coupled with a sleek wine bar located in the front of house. The offerings include classic regional small plates, while pasta makes up a large portion of the menu. There are fish, meat and vegetarian dishes, summer salads, and homemade bread. Desserts include homemade gelato, tiramisu, panna cotta, and orange cake made with almond flour and polenta. With its fresh, clean decor Calici is an excellent addition to dining in the Village.
June 2019: New arrival in Belsize Village
Bourne’s Fishmongers and Fish Bar has just opened in Belsize Village. A premium fishmonger that welcomes everyone with a smile. Their friendly and knowledgeable service offers fish from sustainable sources. Headed up by Lee Bourne and John Long, this is their second venture after opening their Highbury branch. They aim to source all their fish directly from the coast and specialise in providing south coast and Cornish landings. Wonderful for an evening fish meal in the licensed bar and a marvelous addition to the Village!
April 2019: Sky Cyclists in the Village
Filming took place in the sunshine on Belsize Terrace on Friday 5 April. This shoot was for a TV commercial for Sky TV. There were approximately 50 crew members on site during the shoot and plenty of film equipment was in evidence with the crew based on the piazza from where the cyclists set off.
April/May 2019: Royal Free Garden
Charlotte Gascoigne (in the autumn-coloured jacket with local volunteers) researched the plants that would best grow beneath the trees on Pond Street. The land is owned by Camden but the plants are sponsored by the Charity for the Royal Free Hospital. These garden volunteers have bonded as friends following three years of dedicated work. The garden provides much pleasure to all who pass by on Pond Street.
RFH nurses need you! – please help support a much-needed project
Jane and Linda are seeking donations towards the creation of a relaxing garden fully dedicated to Royal Free Hospital staff. Even if you can only spare a few pennies it will all help towards completing the garden – they need to raise £3500. Volunteers are offering their time and skill to help achieve this target. They have already received £1200 in donations – read more here with photos
Belsize Village Flower Baskets
Please help by contributing towards the cost of the flower baskets
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 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
The Belsize Society Formed
The Belsize Residents Association announces a major change to the association. At this year's Annual General Meeting of the Belsize Residents Association held on 10 March, members agreed that officially the association would now become a registered charity. The association passed a motion to dissolve the old BRA and adopt the new charity. The new entity is to be known as The Belsize Society.
Michael Jampel, Neil Harris and Parbhat Vase celebrate the new Belsize Society
Two Blue Plaques unveiled, one at No.4 Downside Crescent
and the other for the Isokon designers, June/July 2018
Read full stories here
Springtime in Belsize
Bluebells outside The Tavistock Centre 120 Belsize Lane
BELSIZE Remembered is a collection of memories of life past and present in Belsize Park.
These reminiscences capture the flavour of what old hands and relative newcomers relish about where they live. Fully illustrated with contemporary and archival images, this book presents more than ninety chronicles from Belsize residents revisiting old experiences and feelings. Over 200 pages illustrated in colour.
Good news – it has become necessary to reprint more copies. The publishers intend to ensure that the book remains in print for others to enjoy. The 2018 reprint is partly funded by the surplus from the initial print run together with top-up sponsorship from Knight Frank, Belsize Park.
BELSIZE Remembered is available from Daunt Books and Waterstone's Hampstead
Read more about the book here See photographs of the launch celebration here
Sir Derek Jacobi reads extracts from BELSIZE Remembered – watch video here
Cheering up Haverstock Hill
Springtime on Haverstock Hill, 2017
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Following on from the success of the Pond Street Gardening Project volunteers have planed bulbs and flowers around the trees on the west side of Haverstock Hill (near the Everyman and Thornton's Budgens). Camden Council agreed to provide soil for the planting.
A group of enthusiasts ensured that Pond Street was also planted with shrubs and covered in daffs for the Spring.
A group of Korean tourists helped to plant the area outside the Royal Free read more >
Read the original idea for Haverstock Hill >
photo: Linda Grove
Volunteers of the Royal Free Charity are raising funds to continue to transform the outlying areas of the Royal Free from the previously abandoned litter-covered patches into beautiful flowery gardens. Please support this ongoing work by visiting their JustGiving page here >
Construction underway on Haverstock Hill
Artist's impression of new building
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Planning permission has been granted for the erection of a five-story building plus basement near Belsize Park Underground station. The scheme will create retail space at ground and basement levels and five self-contained flats from first to fourth floor level following demolition of the previous single-storey building. Architects: Squire & Partners.
 Artist's impression of the proposed scheme
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Cycle Superhighway Swiss Cottage
Massive turnout for the public meeting
held at St Stephen's Rosslyn Hill
The planned cycle superhighway will permanently affect access to Swiss Cottage, Regents Park and the West End. Work wil start along the Finchley Road and the junction with College Crescent/Avenue Road from August 2018.
We will no longer be able to drive into the upper part of Avenue Road from Fitzjohn’s Avenue, read more here
A consultation sets out TfL's proposals for a route from Swiss Cottage southwards, along Avenue Road, the Outer Circle of The Regent’s Park, Park Crescent and Portland Place. Full details here >
Please help to keep our Village and the local area tidy
The Retail section of Belsize Village
Camden council wishes to remind us that the retail section of the village and the flats above the shops have daily morning collections.
For retail premises in the daily collection area you may put out your waste between 8am-9.30am.
Waste should not be presented before 8am or after 10am. To use these daily collections you must be a customer of Camden’s Business Waste Service.
If you are a resident who lives in a flat above a shop you may put out your waste between 7am-9.30am
FOR THE RETAIL SECTION OF BELSIZE VILLAGE THE DAILY COLLECTION TIME IN THE MORNING IS BETWEEN 10AM-12PM
The Residential part of Belsize Village
If you live in the residential section of the Village (other than retail premises or a flat above a shop in Belsize Lane, Belsize Mews, Belsize Place, Princess Mews, Belsize Crescent) the day for your refuse collection is TUESDAY and your waste must be presented neatly and secured for collection from 7am onwards on your collection day. Everyone is requested to please store their refuse in bins – or in your property – on non-collection days. This will prevent foxes from opening up bags on the street. More details >
Charlotte Gascoigne and Linda Grove are looking for local folk to join them to help improve our public spaces in NW3, so if you would like to get involved, starting with the gardens in Pond Street in front of the Royal Free, then please send them an email.
There is no requirement to be a fantastic gardener, just someone who appreciates our lovely location and wants to help to improve and preserve it.
The Peace garden in South Hill Park has been an inspiration, and we are fully aware that by being involved in community projects like this brings our neighbourhood closer together, creating a place where we want all to live, So come on, get those marigolds on and join them! – contact Charlotte and Linda.
Village Flowers in full bloom 2017
The flowers along Belsize Lane were extended last summer, with an additional six baskets along Belsize Lane down to McCrone Mews, a basket on the lower lamppost on Belsize Crescent, and one opposite the entrance to Belsize Court Garages – they look really lovely.
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These flowers are organised by Angela King of Heywoods, Angela says: "It obviously costs us more money to do this, so I would be most grateful for any further donations that our local residents may like to make to help with the annual flowers, as well as our Xmas lights. I have the baskets changed twice annually, so we have a spring/summer show and an autumn/winter show – they are maintained weekly too." Donation information is below.
Chatting to artist Alan Lancaster In the Village
Want to know more about Belsize Park?
The two films about Belsize Park are now free
to view in full online here
And the documentary on Hampstead Garden Suburb celebrating the story
of one of the first garden suburbs is also available to view here
My Partner and I just watched volume 1 of The Besize Story – what a delight this was! We wanted to thank Mr Percy and we hope this note can be shared with him.
The documentary gives a wonderful account of the history of the village, its architecture, its shops and its residents and community. It is very informative and engaging with as a bonus Fiona Bruce’s voice (excellent choice).
Having lived in the Belsize Village and enjoyed its neighbourhood for over 15 years, the movies only reinforces how beautiful Belsize Park is and how privileged we are to reside in this part of London.
– W and R, Belsize Village residents
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
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