QuecumBar Reborn as Lousiana & Creole Bar Opening May 3, 2024

The “home of Gypsy swing” in London, QuecumBar closed during Covid and was a victim of the financial pressures of the pandemic as it did not reopen.

The site, formerly The Old Woodman, at 42-44  Battersea High St remained closed and empty until March 2024 when signs of life started to emerge. It’s now been revealed that the new owners are Peacock Taverns and they’re launching a concept bar/restuarant called The Doghouse.

Described as a “Lousiana Lounge & Creole Kitchen”, the inspiration is 1930s New Orleans. The poster on the bar window promises “A wide range of great drinks, live musice and little cuisine from the deep south”.

Opening Night

The Doghouse is hosting a launch event on 3rd May 2024, with live music from Liam Joseph, a well know jazz, blues and big band swing performer. Expect the sounds of Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Nat King Cole, Michael Bublé and many more.

 

 

 

Celebrating Elizabeth Braundt: A Legacy Cemented at Providence House

In the heart of Battersea, a new blue plaque gleams in the sunlight, a testament to the enduring legacy of Elizabeth Braundt, the visionary founder of Providence House. This emblem of recognition, unveiled in a touching ceremony, marks more than just the physical space where Braundt’s transformative work began. It symbolizes the countless lives she touched and the community she uplifted through her unwavering dedication to service.

A Vision Born in Battersea

It was in the bustling streets of Battersea that Elizabeth Braundt saw the potential for change. Amidst the post-war reconstruction, she envisioned a place of refuge and growth for the youth—a sanctuary that would come to be known as Providence House. Her mission was clear: to create a haven where children and families could find support, education, and a sense of belonging.

The Unveiling Ceremony

The unveiling of the blue plaque was a momentous occasion, bringing together members of the community, local dignitaries, and those who had been directly impacted by Braundt’s work. As the cloth was drawn back to reveal the plaque, there was a collective intake of breath—a moment of shared pride and reflection on the profound influence of Providence House.

A Legacy That Lives On

Elizabeth Braundt may no longer be with us, but her spirit endures in the walls of Providence House and in the hearts of those it serves. The blue plaque is a beacon of hope, a reminder that one person’s compassion can ignite a flame that burns brightly for generations.

As we celebrate this well-deserved recognition, we are reminded of the power of community and the indelible mark one individual can leave on the world. Elizabeth Braundt’s legacy is not just etched in stone; it is woven into the fabric of Battersea and beyond.


Providence House continues to be a pillar of the Battersea community, embodying the values and vision of its founder. The blue plaque is not only an honour for Elizabeth Braundt but also an inspiration for all who believe in the power of giving back

The Asparagus Pub: A Fresh New Look and a New Beginning

Nestled in the heart of the community on Falcon Road, the beloved Asparagus Pub has undergone a remarkable transformation. This local favourite is set to reopen its doors on Monday, welcoming patrons old and new to experience its fresh makeover.

A New Chapter with Portobello Pub Company

The Asparagus Pub’s revitalization comes under the new stewardship of the Portobello Pub Company, known for their passion for creating warm and inviting pub atmospheres. The group’s takeover marks a new chapter for the Asparagus, promising to infuse new life while honoring the pub’s rich history.

A Makeover Worth Celebrating

The makeover, rumored to be a blend of contemporary chic and traditional comfort, aims to offer a space where everyone feels at home. Regulars can expect to find their favourite spots refreshed, and new visitors will discover a place that feels instantly familiar.

A Toast to the Future

The Asparagus Pub’s journey has been one of resilience and community spirit. From being put up for sale by Wetherspoons with a hefty £2 million price tag to now standing renewed and ready for the future, it’s a story of transformation that reflects the very essence of the neighborhood.

Join us on Monday to raise a glass to new beginnings and to the memories yet to be made at the Asparagus Pub. Here’s to good food, great company, and the start of something special.


We invite everyone to come and witness the Asparagus Pub’s new era. Whether you’re a long-time local or just passing through, there’s a seat at the bar and a story to share. See you there!

Please drink responsibly. For more information, visit Portobello Pub Company’s website or follow @portobellopubco on social media.

Three Cheers Pub Co Celebrates 20th Anniversary

Popular Balham pub “The Bedford” has some amazing offers this summer, celebrating 20 years of the Three Cheers Pub Co which owns it, along with 8 other pubs.

Three Cheers Pub Co says “This June, July and August, we will celebrate our twentieth birthday. Twenty years ago we opened The Abbeville in Clapham and today we own nine of your favourite London pubs.

All of our birthday activity will take place throughout June, July and August 2023.”

Check out the fun below:

Drinks at 2003 prices

In honour of the year we were born, we will hold 20 one-hour micro parties, simultaneously at all our pubs, where we slash drinks prices to what they were in 2003.

Draught beer will costs as little as £2.80 a pint, house wine £2.70 for 175ml, Prosecco £3 a glass, a house spirit and mixer will be £3.40, a Moscow Mule and Cosmopolitan (noughties classics) will be £5 and for a moment it may seem as if the cost-of-living crisis is a figment of our imagination.

Timings of the flash sales will be announced 24 hours in advance via our social media channels @threecheerspubs. Give us a follow, turn your notifications on and enjoy the spontaneity.

£20 3 course menu

Cost conscious customers will love the celebratory £20 three course menu which will be available at all pubs, seven days a week this summer.

Dishes will vary between pubs and throughout the seasons but enjoy starters such as broad bean, asparagus and new potato salad with soft boiled egg and romesco; mains including pan roasted bream with samphire, spinach, brown butter as well as lemon posset with Kent strawberries and shortbread to finish.

Add a glass of Three Cheers Pub Co bespoke 2018 vintage English sparkling wine for just £5, for an even better deal! You can enjoy this offer as many times as you like.

£20 voucher

Locals will receive a £20 voucher through their letter box which can be used throughout the summer of celebrations.

Enjoy the discount on combined food and drink bills when you spend £60 or more. You can also pick up a voucher in any of our pubs which can be used as many times as you like until the end of August. Alternatively just click here!

In short, you can save a third on your bill this summer. Who’s in?

Live Music at The Bedford

The Bedford is well know for it’s live music nights, and is listed on popular Country Music listings site www.countrymusic.co.uk where you can find upcoming gigs from Country/Americana artists.

Katherine Low Settlement seeks new CEO to lead its community work

Katherine Low Settlement (KLS), a charity that has been serving the communities of Battersea and Wandsworth since 1924, is looking for a new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) to take over from Aaron Barbour, who is stepping down after 10 years in the role.

Aaron Barbour

Aaron Barbour

KLS provides a range of services and activities for children, young people, families, older people and refugees, with a focus on tackling poverty, isolation and inequality. Some of its programmes include Love to Learn, an education programme for refugee young people; Elders Programme, a social and wellbeing programme for older people; and Battersea Together, a partnership of local organisations working to improve the lives of Battersea residents.

The charity is seeking a new CEO who embodies its values and who will bring the strategic and operational leadership that ensures that KLS continues to deliver and expand its programmes in genuine co-production with the communities it serves. The ideal candidate will have experience of leading a complex organisation in the voluntary sector, working with diverse stakeholders and communities, developing sustainable income streams and managing change.

The new CEO will also have the opportunity to shape the future direction of KLS as it prepares to celebrate its centenary in 2024.

The closing date for applications is Monday 26th June 2023. For more information and to apply, please visit https://www.klsettlement.org.uk/kls-blog/news/we-are-looking-for-our-new-ceo/ or contact simon.lloyd@nfpconsulting.co.uk

Battersea Jazz Festival returns for Summer 2023

The lineup for the Battersea Jazz Festival 2023 has been announced and it looks amazing! The festival will showcase some of the incredible and diverse talent of the London jazz scene, as well as some special guests from around the world.

The festival will take place across various venues in Battersea from 6th to 21st July and will be free of charge for all audiences.

Some of the performers include the Hugo Jennings Trio, Nigel Price and Alban Claret, the The Sean Fyfe Quartet , and the Social London Orchestra, who will play a range of jazz styles from swing to bebop to original compositions.

You can visit their website or follow them on Instagram for more updates on the lineup and the venues.

99 years at the heart of Battersea

Hooray for today – Katherine Low Settlement in Battersea is 99 years young!

It’s amazing that they’ve reached this ripe age. This is testament to their fantastic members over the ages, working with their staff, volunteers and partners, to shape their family here at KLS and their wider community in Battersea.

Birthdays are of course about celebrating, and they’re having cake today!

They are also about reflecting on the past, and they have such a rich history to do so, filled with wonderful people and memories. But more importantly they are about looking forward to new horizons. New possibilities. New opportunities for them to come together again with their members and residents to build a stronger community here in Battersea.

They hope you’ll join them in raising a glass and toasting Katherine Low to another 99 years.

 

1950 - Norman Wisdom opens the Children’s Playground

1950 – Norman Wisdom opens the Children’s Playground

 

KLS 100th Birthday: save the date in 2024

In 2024 KLS will be celebrating their 100th birthday throughout the year.

Please save the date 18th May 2024 for a ‘once in a lifetime’ street party for the whole community on Orville Road. More about next year’s celebrations will follow soon.

Contact KLS

Katherine Low Settlement
108 Battersea High Street
London SW11 3HP
020 7223 2845
info@klsettlement.org.uk

www.klsettlement.org.uk

‘Say Yes’ to free school meals for all.

A new national campaign Say ‘Yes!’ to free school meals for all, aims to unite the nation behind a vision of ending means testing of children in school for food. It is being launched on International School Meals Day with the premiere of a short film starring children of Sacred Heart RC Primary School, Battersea. In addition to the young stars, attendees will hear from local MP Marsha de Cordova and other leaders.

Marsha de Cordova

Marsha de Cordova

London, Scotland and Wales are all currently rolling out universal free school meals in primary schools during 2023-24. The evidence shows that the best health, educational and economic impact school meals can have is when they are provided universally. This is why we are asking people across the UK to call for equity in provision from the government.

We are asking citizens from across the nation to pledge their support for expanding quality school meals across the whole country by 2030: free of charge, free of stigma. A brand new interactive map at www.schoolfoodforall.org  will invite individuals, organisations, councils, MPs and businesses to show their support and Say Yes. This is in the face of a government failing to act despite massive public support.

The launch event is being coordinated by the Children’s Food Campaign and School Food Matters, and will reveal the breadth of support across the nation for free school meals for all.

You can find more information and evidence about the many benefits of free school meals here

Jared Brading, Executive Headteacher, Federation of Sacred Heart & St Mary’s RC Primary Schools, Battersea, LB Wandsworth said:

“Hot, healthy school meals are so important to children and their families. We see the results of a quality lunch in the classroom: better fed children become better performing pupils. After the brilliant news that the Mayor of London will fund school meals for all children in London primary schools, it would be great to see this vital support extended further. This is why the children of Sacred Heart have starred in this film, because here we say ‘yes’ to free school meals for all.”

Barbara Crowther, Children’s Food Campaign Co-ordinator at Sustain, said:

“Children have to be in school all day, for 190 days a year, and we know nutrition is as essential for good learning and concentration as providing books, desks and chairs. So why do we insist on means testing children before offering food in school? We don’t impose means testing on meals for patients in hospital, or even prisoners in prison. But we do this to our children. It’s time to unite behind a fully inclusive, modern education system, similar to a growing number of countries around the world that now provide school food for all, regardless of background, as an investment in the health, attainment and future prosperity of the nation.”

 

Stephanie Slater, Founder/ Chief Executive of School Food Matters, said: 

“Too many children are missing out on the nutrition they need to thrive. Quality school food has so many benefits. It boosts children’s health and attainment, it gives confidence to parents, who know that their children are well-nourished and ready to learn, and it supports the local economy offering employment opportunities and a market for local producers. It makes no sense to us to means test children for food in school: we do not talk about ‘free school teachers’ or ‘free school footballs’! It’s time to say ‘yes’ to free school meals for all.”

The introduction of universal free school meals is the leading ask of the School Food Review Working Group.

Research by Child Poverty Action Group revealed that one in three children living in poverty in England are currently not eligible for a free school meal.  This is because of the government’s draconian eligibility criteria, which require families to be in receipt of universal credit and have a total household income below £7,400 per year.

Local authorities in the London Boroughs of Islington, Newham, Southwark, Tower Hamlets and Westminster already fund school meals for all their primary school pupils. Tower Hamlets is going even further and planning free secondary school meals from this September, an initiative already piloted in Hammersmith and Fulham.

FREE Annual Christmas Day Party for Elderly People

The Annual Christmas Day Lunch and Tea Party for Elderly People of Wandsworth is now open for bookings.

You can join us as an elderly guest for a fun filled Christmas Day. It’s free of charge and you will be collected and dropped off by our volunteers.

To qualify for a ticket you need to be:
* 65 years of age or older
* Living in the London Borough of Wandsworth

‘Spoons confirms Asparagus to be Sold

JD Wetherspoon has put 11 London pubs on the market in big selloff including Battersea’s Asparagus.

The Asparagus, Falcon Road

The Asparagus, Falcon Road in August (Image: MyLondon)

JD Wetherspoon spokesman Eddie Gershon said: “On occasion, Wetherspoon does put some of its pubs up for sale. This is a commercial decision. We understand that customers and staff will be disappointed with it. The pubs will continue to operate as Wetherspoon outlets until they are sold.”

With another Wetherspoon in Clapham Junction less than half a mile away, punters won’t need to go far to enjoy £1,99 pints and cheap food.

An unnamed local source said “this is only slightly further than the toilets so it won’t affect me much”.

The Asparagus can be found at 1-13 Falcon Rd, Battersea Park, London SW11 2PL

Hours:

Wednesday 8am–12am
Thursday 8am–12am
Friday 8am–1am
Saturday 8am–1am
Sunday 8am–12am
Monday 8am–12am
Tuesday 8am–12am