A new project to help promote the diverse range of restaurants and cafés in Finchley Central has launched this week. The Finchley Feast Food Trail includes a map of Finchley Central restaurants and includes details of the upcoming restaurant Discount Week taking place from 1-7 July in the town centre. The Food Trail encourages local Finchley residents to explore and enjoy the tantalising food from around the world that is on their doorstep.

During Discount Week diners can enjoy a special week of 15% off at participating restaurants to mark the launch of the Finchley Feast Food Trail. From cocktails to coffee beans, Persian specialties to Caribbean flavours, there is something for everyone to enjoy. Specific discount details for each restaurant can be found online at finchleycentraltowncentre.co.uk.

The Finchley Feast Food Trail is brought to you by Finchley Central Town Team, a voluntary group of residents, business owners and community changemakers aiming to improve and enhance the experience of living and working in Finchley Central. The Town Team works closely with local communities, businesses, and organisations to improve Finchley Central and create a thriving town centre.

Over the past year Finchley Central Town Team have steered the piloting of a community-led events series in Finchley Central that included markets, music performances, workshops, and art trails.

These events developed new connections between local businesses, residents, and the wider Finchley community, enhancing the experience of Finchley Central town centre.

For more information check out www.finchleycentraltowncentre.co.uk or visit their pages on Instagram and Facebook @finchleycentraltowncentre.

Udenson Caldbeck Associates worked on behalf of the Finchley Central Town Team to engage local businesses to participate in the Discount Week initiative, and also produced the content for the Finchley Food Trail map, copy for the website and supporting social media posts.

Barnet Council was involved with supporting the Finchley Feast Food Trail initiative and provided funding to Finchley Central Town Team.

On Wednesday, 21 June 2023 the West Hendon Arts and Culture Society (WHACS) hosted a Summer Solstice Festival for local residents. This vibrant community event took place from 3pm-8pm on Damsel Walk by West Hendon Broadway. The event provided fun for all, whilst showing the opportunities for bringing the public space to life with activities.

The Summer Solstice offered a fantastic mix of local and professional performers including vintage pop trio the glamourous London Belles, bohofolk singer-songwriter PandorasDiary, and Jada Funk Collective performing 70s and ‘80s hits. A Chinese ribbon dance and Indian classical music helped transport festival goers around the world while Broadfields Primary School students joined the celebrations with a flowing dance and the BEAT Jazz Ensemble and Barnet Education Arts Trust shared jazz hits with flare.

Offstage, local children enjoyed the chance to make and create at the Art Workshop with a Summer Solstice theme while balloon modelling artists brought smiles to many faces with their colourful creations. The African Drumming Workshop introduced those of all ages to drumming, adding to the day’s musical theme.

The event also featured in the London Festival of Architecture programme for 2023, the theme of which is ‘In Common’. This month-long celebration of architecture and city-making aims to open up discussions around architecture, environment and city spaces. The Summer Solstice Festival included an interactive architecture and design workshop led by Middlesex University on the theme of interiors and a student exhibition of work on ways in which local communities can re-engage following the Covid-19 pandemic and design can re-energise high streets.

With tantalising street food and lots of useful information from community stalls there was something for everyone throughout the afternoon and evening festivities.

Naomi Stanford, a member of WHACS said: “The Summer Solstice Festival showed the possibilities for exciting community events in West Hendon. We look forward to sharing more opportunities to come together as a community.”

The Summer Solstice Festival was curated by Udenson Caldbeck Associates, an urban regeneration, economic development, and events consultancy based in northwest London.

For more information, please contact Osita Udenson on 07875 588 107 or udenson@btinternet.com.

Udenson Caldbeck Associates (UCA) specialise in innovative ideas and solutions to issues, project development and initiation, and ongoing project management.  UCA developed the Oaklands Road Playable Street Project on behalf of Cricklewood Town Team, and successfully bid for funding from the London Borough of Brent’s Neighbourhood Community Infrastructure Levy Fund in 2019.

The project was devised to address long-standing problems associated with the congested environment, air pollution and lack of public space in Cricklewood town centre. It will pedestrianise part of Oaklands Road by closing off vehicular access from the Broadway to Oaklands Mews, removing the current high levels of illegal parking, idling, and the dangerous pedestrian crossing at the junction.

With a strong background in developing partnerships, UCA pulled together a project team, including:

• Cricklewood Town Team – chairing the project board and activating the site with a calendar of events when complete
• Brent Council Highways and Infrastructure Service – delivering the civic works and installation of new trees
• Hellion Trace, an award-winning company specialising in world-class productions that fuse movement and technology together – to provide an interactive art installation called Press Play
• Airlabs, a leading pioneer in clean air technology – providing a study to understand the local airflow dynamics of the site and determine the best means of intervention, and monitor pollution levels going forward using sensors installed on the site and Cricklewood Broadway.
• Rainbow Properties – providing a living wall on their new development in Oaklands Road, further greening the area and contributing to pollution reduction.

The new space will be celebrated with a launch event, including the installation of the Press Play art installation. A calendar of site activation events will also be planned by Cricklewood Town Team.

On Saturday 14 and Sunday 15 December, Muswell Hill town centre will again get a taste of France. The authentic “France at Home” market comes straight from Normandy and will be visiting Muswell Hill, with a selection of delicious foods and quality gifts, fashion accessories and home wares. The market will be open from 9am to 5pm on Saturday and from 10am to 4pm on Sunday.

The market, which will be located outside Planet Organic in St James Square, has recently made visits to two north London town centres – Mill Hill and Cricklewood – and gained a loyal following.

In addition to helping Muswell Hill celebrate the festive season, the French Market aims to increase dwell time and footfall for the town centre, and add vibrancy to the high street.

Osita Udenson, managing director for Vibe Market, said: “We are excited to bring the French Market to Muswell Hill. As a visiting market, its specialist products will complement the existing offer on the High Street. We look forward to seeing a bit of Normandy in Muswell Hill.”

Mill Hill and Cricklewood town centres will again get a taste of France this November. The “France at Home” market from Normandy will be visiting Mill Hill Broadway on Friday 1st and Saturday 2nd November and then continuing to Cricklewood Lane on Sunday 3rd November, with a selection of delicious foods and quality gifts, fashion accessories and home wares.

In Mill Hill, the market will be located outside Santander bank, and continue up to Mill Hill Wines. The market opening hours will be 9am to 5pm both days.

In Cricklewood, the market will be located on Cricklewood Lane by B&Q. The market will be open from 10am to 4pm.

Osita Udenson, managing director for Vibe Market, said: “It is great to have the French Market return to Mill Hill and Cricklewood, which shows that business is good and a sign of more people visiting the town centres. We look forward to seeing a bit of Normandy in northwest London this November.”

On Saturday 12 and Saturday 13 October, the In St James Square Autumn Market will be coming to Muswell Hill town centre.  The market is the perfect place to stop for a bite to eat from one of the many tempting food stalls and a browse among the quality stalls. The market will be held outside Planet Organic in St James Square from 11am- 5pm both days.

The market offers a great opportunity to take a tasting tour around the world with a selection of international cuisines, including Nigerian, Indian, Moroccan, Portuguese and Brazilian food, plus fudge, bread and pastries, cakes, and beer from the local Muswell Hillbilly Brewers. Don’t miss the gorgeous hues of hand-made jewellery and craft items, chic fashion, and health and well-being products on offer from the market stalls.

The In St James Square Market is organized by Vibe Market to increase dwell time and footfall for the town centre, and add vibrancy to the high street. Vibe Market also organises the biannual visit of the France at Home Market from Normandy to Muswell Hill and worked in partnership with the Friends of St James Square to deliver the MidSummer Muswell festival market in June 2018.

In St James Square Market is kindly sponsored by Muswell Hill Golf Club. The Club features a beautifully maintained 18-hole parkland course, offering a challenge to golfers of all abilities, and a welcoming clubhouse for members, guests, and visitors. Founded in 1893, it has evolved to become North London’s premier course, hosting regional and county events.

Osita Udenson, managing director for Vibe Market, said: “We are looking forward to another fantastic market in Muswell Hill. Join us for great food and drink and shopping – all while supporting your local town centre.”