Author: Blake Foster

When The Times released its list of the 41 best ice cream parlours in the UK, I was thrilled to see a few south London favourites on there. One that really stood out to me was Minus 12 Degrees, tucked inside Herne Hill Station. With all the hype, I knew I had to check it out and I’m so glad I did. As I arrived at Herne Hill, the first thing that caught my eye was the bold pavement sign outside of the building, enticing members of the public to come in and experience the gelato flavours. Herne Hill Station…

According to PA, more than 100 people protesting with Stand Up to Racism gathered outside the Britannia Hotel yesterday evening (August 8). A similar number of counter-protesters waving Union flags and St George’s Cross flags were also seen on the pavement opposite the hotel. Metropolitan Police said that they issued an order requiring people to remove face coverings at the demonstration. One person protesting against the use of the hotel by asylum seekers was arrested after a bottle was thrown at officers. A member of the opposing protest group was arrested after allegedly failing to remove a face covering. The…

South east London is bursting with vibrant neighbourhoods and diverse culinary delights, yet some of the best local cafes and takeaway spots fly under the radar.  To celebrate these hidden gems, we asked our News Shopper Facebook community: which cafes and takeaway places in south east London deserve more love? Their answers revealed a fantastic mix of cosy cafes, legendary fish and chip shops, and mouth-watering milkshake makers – all worth a visit. Terry Knight kicked off the list with a shoutout to Mem’s Cafe on Kings Highway, praising its welcoming vibe and tasty offerings. Tel Pamps mentioned two local…

The property, listed by Balgores Hornchurch, boasts 3,100 square feet of accommodation, complete with a bar, swimming pool, and hot tub in its150ft by 48ft rear garden. The house has a frontage of 65ft, offering off-street parking for multiple vehicles. Detached five-bedroom house with a 65ft frontage and off-street parking, located in the centre of Emerson Park (Image: Balgores Hornchurch) It also features an integral garage and four reception rooms. The open-plan kitchen, living, dining, and sitting area is equipped with integrated appliances, including two Neff Hide ‘n’ Slide eye-level ovens, a full-length Bosch freezer and fridge, and an induction hob…

Zaahir Jan was walking out of Queen Elizabeth, Queen Mother Hospital in Margate shortly after 4pm on August 7. The bus, a white single decker vehicle, was travelling near the entrance to the A&E department. @azariaafghan #zaahirjan ♬ original sound – 𝙕𝙠. Zaahir was taken inside the hospital and he was pronounced dead shortly after. His next of kin has been informed. Navid Feizi, Zaahir’s dad, said his son was a “sweet and charming boy”, adding “even when he was hurt, he was always smiling”, as reported by the BBC.  Mr Feizi said that his son had been visiting his grandmother…

Plans to remove gum and “restore pride in our streets” have been unveiled by Haringey Council, which has joined a campaign by the Keep Britain Tidy environment charity to help reduce litter. Street cleansing was a major issue in the council’s recent ‘state of the borough’ public consultations, with two-out-of-three people putting it top of their list of things to do. Haringey is one of 52 local authorities that has joined the charity’s Chewing Gum Task Force programme, now in its fourth year. “Chewing gum is unsightly litter,” the charity’s chief executive Allison Ogden-Newton said. “Our scheme thankfully is leading…

Namaaste Kitchen in South Grove was last week selected by the Asian Catering Federation in their guide to the UK’s top 100 Curry Houses. So we went along to try out the dishes and delicious cocktails and meet chef patron Sabbir Karim. Chef patron Sabbir Karim (Image: Namaaste Kitchen) The restaurant is airy and elegant with multicoloured chairs outside and a back room with a skylight and greenery. Once installed in comfy chairs we started with a cocktail and a mocktail. For me a refreshing concoction of raspberry, vodka and lemonade, and for my teenager a tall, iced passion fruit and lime drink…

The masterclass was for this year’s Harrow Photographer of the Year contest, organised by the Harrow Giving charity to attract support for good causes, with the winner due to be announced in October. The area is now being turned into the new ‘Eastman Village’ development and the class involved a treasure hunt around the new Barratt development with tuition from professional photographer Niaz Maleknia, who has been documenting the Kodak site for Headstone Manor museum’s Now and Then exhibition. “The Kodak chimney tower is such an iconic symbol,” Niaz said. “But it’s the people and their stories that really bring photographic images…

The Epping Forest Community Lottery is offering the chance to win the luxury holiday, along with weekly cash prizes of up to £25,000. The draw will take place on Saturday, August 30, and tickets must be bought before then to be in with a chance. Tickets cost £1 each and can be purchased online or by calling 01992 363016. Sixty per cent of each ticket sold goes towards community projects in Epping Forest. The lottery, set up by Epping Forest District Council, aims to raise money for charities and good causes in the district. Currently, 64 good causes are part…

Ghosts of the Madrugada will run at Highgate Gallery in South Grove from September 12 to 25 and sees Johnson going “back to her roots” with paintings which draw on the home where she grew up. She says many of the originals were destroyed by fire in 2015, but she has reimagined these lost paintings and brought them back to life alongside objects from her parents’ extraordinary collections. Pandora is one of the artworks in the show at Highgate Gallery. (Image: Wilma Johnson) Born in London in 1960, Wilma studied fine art at St Martins College of Art in the early 80s. As a student there…