Website Upgrade
As all you many regular visitors to this site will immediately notice, we have completely re-designed and expanded the site, the most popular independent website in the Stoke Newington area.

By the end of October we intend to have full information on all local businesses, community events and information, music and other gigs and performances, and much more. Click on the links above and to the right for further info. We hope you will continue to find this the most valuable and comprehensive website in the area. Write in and let us have your comments.

Assembly Rooms on schedule to open in Feb 2010
True to their word, Hackney Council will be re-opening the refurbished Assembly Rooms and Town Hall in February 2010. They are now taking bookings for the Grade II listed, Art Deco Assembly Rooms, for music, dancing, performance, parties and receptions of all sorts. There will be room for 550 people standing, plus a balcony for another 100 people and a bar. This is splendid news for the area, and provides us with a major venue at last. For more info contact the Council on 020 8356 5505.

Church Street roadworks
Local shops and businesses, as well as those trying to get the buses home from the West End, have been irritated and inconvenienced by the seemingly interminable roadworks on Church Street. It happens every year, folks, so get used to it. However, in this case the contractors appear to be making good progress and apparently will be finishing on time.

Let's hope it's the last time that they will be digging up the street.

Local business healthy
As usual, there has been a deal of coming and going by local businesses. Sadly, Tana Mana and Ocean Books have closed, but arrivals include Lilly's Social Eaterie and the new vinyl record shop, both on Church Street. Good to see Shaheen back on the High Street again, next to Sainsbury's. Also Hugh, who runs the Londesborough and the Three Crowns has taken over the Red Lion on Church Street. It will be interesting to see what he does with what many years ago used to be the local lock-up.

Hackney Winter Night Shelter - seeking volunteers 
The estimable Hackney Winter Night Shelter, a registered charity, is again seeking volunteers for local churches to help to prepare supper, look after the local homeless overnight, prepare breakfast and clear up. Fuller details will soon be announced, and the project lasts from 1 January to 31 March. Donations are also very welcome. Find out more from This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or keep watching this page.

Hacney Empire due to close after panto ends in January
Shame about the impending demise of the Hackney Empire. The old theatre is closing after the end of the much-loved and highly professional regular panto in January. The word is that the theatre will go dark for nine months and the reconstruction will be taking place under a recently appointed, experienced chief executive. It took long enough to re-open the venerable venue, so let's hope this doesn't signal the end of Hackney's and the East End's most famous theatre.

After Banksy fiasco are the 'ghost signs' next?
No more to say about the fiasco of the Banksy mural on Church Street, although the Council now seem very embarrassed about the entire business. Rumours abound that the 'ghost signs', ie the old company names going back for years all over the area are being considered also as 'graffiti' and are being scheduled for removal by Hackney. Over our dead bodies.