Forum Topics

Riverside Pubs & outside drinking

Anyone shed any light on what's happening here? Have they been 'dropped in it' by the new Green Cllr Rowe, or is it the Calendar getting worked up, again?https://chiswickcalendar.co.uk/council-tells-riverside-pubs-at-strand-on-the-green-to-remove-outside-seating-and-beer-shelves-from-railings/

Davy Jones ● 9d65 Comments ● 12m

Lost watch

Last Sunday just after 8pm I lost a gold watch with a dodgy clasp somewhere between Chiswick Lane South and the western end of Chiswick Mall. I searched for it that evening but did not find it. It was of great sentimental value and I would be so grateful if someone picked it up, to have it returned and am offering a substantial reward ....My tel numbers are 02089953000 or 07846244482

Joy Skinner ● 7d2 Comments ● 3h

The Bollo House Pub - metal nail in my steak

This evening I went to The Bollo House for dinner and ordered the Flat Iron steak. On recommendation from the staff, I asked for medium rare, It arrived very well done. The replacement steak was medium rare but had a metal spike buried in the meat, which I discovered as I ate. I was told by the manager and the chef that it was the metal probe from a meat thermometer. The chef hadn’t noticed it missing. Luckily, it was such a large piece of metal that to swallow it unnoticed would have been impossible, but I have lost my trust in that kitchen. I won’t eat there again. We were not asked to pay for our meal. If you eat at The Bollo, be careful.

Tim English ● 4d9 Comments ● 5h

Is the real point being missed on Hammersmith Bridge?

It has been quite interesting to see how the coverage of the Hammersmith Bridge debacle has developed. By the time it made it into the national press the focus was entirely on the ending of hopes that government funding would be forthcoming for a full reopening.This is not inaccurate, there seems to be now zero chance of this happening within the next decade if at all, but we already knew this would be the case if the Structures Fund wasn't going to provide the money.The scenario appears to have been that the Department for Transport decided that the money needed for Hammersmith Bridge was too big a proportion of the Structures Fund perhaps mindful that a prime minister with a more northern outlook was about to arrive. Also there was a previously undisclosed timeout on the funding which required work to be complete by 2030.It therefore appears to have originated the suggestion that a 'phased reopening' be the strategy i.e. further strengthening and restoration but no motor vehicles.Hammersmith & Fulham Council is clearly very cross about this as it put a huge amount of money into restoring the bridge on the basis that it was an investment in full reopening (possibly with payback through a toll). They are now demanding refunds from both TfL and DfT of money they have spent and appear to be making this a condition of accepting any grant from the Structures Fund.If this situation can't be resolved quickly (and it has been rumbling on for some time) the money from the Structures Fund will go elsewhere. Then Hammersmith & Fulham say they will be spending the statutory minimum on the bridge which amounts to enough to stop it falling down. This will mean that in the not too distant future the bridge will have to be closed to pedestrians and cyclists as well. The point is implicit in the article published on this site but when I went back and read the full report, I felt that it had been underplayed. As most subsequent reporting was based on this original coverage, this looming problem seems to be slipping under the radar.

Jeremy Parkinson ● 11h1 Comments ● 7h

Farage- Public statement

I hope the whole left wing establishment and their supporters absorb what Nigel Farage had to say this afternoon, including the atrocious attacks he has endured over the years, and now including his daughter.The man is no quitter and has made the decision to task Clacton to fight against the establishment.The upcoming by-election smacks of a bit of a circus, I hope for Bertha's sake she hasn't moved to Clacton-on -Sea.

Denis I. Fox ● 2d28 Comments ● 9h

Relic at Lyric Hammersmith

Entertaining, funny, moving all at once, I recommend this 'darkly comic family drama' as an escape from real life at the moment, finishes 18th July.

Anne Paterson ● 8d1 Comments ● 12h

New box junction - how are you supposed to get out of Barrowgate Road West from the A4 and cross?

the Sounthbound SCR traffic will fill up all the space between the A4 and the box; and you can't turn right onto a box junction if the exit is blocked. The box junction is split but there is not enough room to wait in the middle without one or more tyres being on the boxes — so just HOW does this work? i know everyone has pretty much said all this, but surely there must a SOME way to do it or they wouldn't have installed it — or are they really that incompetent/ venal? i am hoping they are not and i just need it explaining to me ....

Ceinwen Mailvagnam ● 20d30 Comments ● 12h

Double room wanted

Hi, I am looking or a double room for reasonable price to rent. I am a mature female professional, calm, clean, helpful, non-smoking. I`ve been living in Chiswick for over 15 years. Now I have to find a new home as my Landlady needs the room back.(no contract) If you can help or know someone who has a room, please let me know.Thank you very much! Chris (yes, I know sparerooms etc. but I thought I try my luck here too)

Chris Bur ● 9d1 Comments ● 13h

Using sash windows best to keep cool

I see so many sash windows not open in the best way to keep the house cool.  Here's an explanation of how this Victorian design works:https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1438187/Experts-reveal-best-way-to-keep-cool-open-the-window.html

Philippa Bond ● 2908d80 Comments ● 1d

Winterwatch BBC

Gee whizz BBC has after 14 years scrappedwinterwatch due to tight funding challenges. When will the BBC start moving toa alternative digital funding.Its already facing money issues but isnot doing anything about it while anaverage 500,000 a year are not renewing there TV license.

Julian Pavey ● 6d7 Comments ● 1d

Can anyone recommend a pest control company?

Noticed mice running across our Kitchen floor.  Anyone have good experience with a pest control company and can recommend?

Chi Chiu ● 1d3 Comments ● 1d

What a way to run a country !

June 1987 Margaret Thatcher wins a General Election with a 102 seat majority. The Conservative Party ousted her in November 1990 and the next election was held in April 1992. May 2005 Tony Blair wins a General Election with a 66 seat majority. The Labour Party ousted him in June 2007 and the next election was held in May 2010.  May 2015 David Cameron wins a General Election with a 10 seat majority. He resigned in June 2016 following the Brexit referendum and the next election was held a year later.June 2017 Theresa May wins a General Election without an overall majority. She was pushed out by the Conservative Party in July 2019 and the next election was held five months later.December 2019 Boris Johnson wins a General Election with an 80 seat majority. He was ousted by the Conservative Party in July 2022 and the next election was held two years (and two Prime Ministers) later. July 2024 Keir Starmer wins a General Election with a 174 seat majority. He was ousted by the Labour Party in June 2026. I heard someone say on TV over the weekend that the last PM to stand down of his own accord in mid-term was Harold Wilson in 1976. He was also the first PM after losing to remain party leader to fight the next election since Winston Churchill. Since then, James Callaghan, Gordon Brown and Rishi Sunak were defeated in General Elections the first time they faced the electorate, John Major lost his second General Election as leader, and Liz Truss never faced a General Election. Both Margaret Thatcher and Tony Blair had already won two General Elections before their third and final wins. We used to regard the constant turnover of Prime Ministers in Italy with a degree of contempt, but now they have Giorgia Meloni who has been in charge since October 2022 and looks set to provide an example of political stability by comparison to the UK. It was also notable how she hit back at Dumbass Donald over the weekend, showing a lot more fighting spirit after his foolish remarks than Starmer managed in similar circumstances. I'm not a fan of Keir Starmer but, like those I listed above, he won a General Election and ought to have been given the chance to serve a full term. Previously I accepted that it was legitimate to change PMs in mid-term without a General Election, but I am beginning to think that in circumstances where the ousted PM remained in good health and was attempting to carry out the policies outlined in the party manifesto (and did not have any legal or financial shenanigans coming to light) then if the party's MPs want a change of leader, the new leader should be required to set out their policies in front of the electorate and call a General Election to legitimise the new regime. IMHO the quality of our PMs has shown a marked decline since the 1960s, and I'm afraid that I can't see Andy Burnham bucking that trend. About the only thing be might do right would be to keep Nigel Farage away from Downing Street. But to do so he would have to do a lot better in the next three years than Starmer has in the last two. Could Kemi Badenoch or Penny Mordaunt become a British version of Giorgia Meloni ? We can but hope !

Richard Greenhough ● 17d81 Comments ● 1d

Fancy dessert

I need to buy a dessert instead of a birthday cake. The kind of thing that patisserie Valerie used to do. I need it today. Any suggestions ?

david ward ● 1d2 Comments ● 1d

Pillock

Farage has resigned but has said he will stand again in the by election that will be held.

Vanessa Smith ● 2d3 Comments ● 1d

Farage: I will not tolerate intimidation of my family

Just give tacit approval of intimidation others. Pure, cold rage.Karma is a b**ch, Nigel. Cue the orchestra comprising the the world's smallest violins.

Andrew Jones ● 2d2 Comments ● 2d

Live Music Concerts at the Gtech

Just a thought about the plans by Brentford for live music at the Gtech (which I am in favour of) - would this have been feasible if lots of weekends over the summer were already hosting events at Gunnersbury Park and, if Brentford get approval for their programme, does that mean that Gunnersbury Park will be restricted in what they can host assuming they get their act together on permissions?

Mark Evans ● 13d4 Comments ● 2d

World Cup 2026

I hold no truck with the World Cup and fail to understand the media's excitement around it.I have endured 60 years purgatory watching England play through false dawns, Gazza's tears, infuriating red cards, missed penalties, bloody WAGS and to cap it all, the Hand of God.FIFA, avaricious and corrupt are asking spectators exorbitant ticket prices to travel the length and brenth of the Americas and Canada to follow their teams.I would sooner watch 5 days of sedate cricket down at the Oval, or sit through cool Pimms at Royal Ascot than go bankrupt following our dreary footballers.Cry "God for Harry, England, and Saint George".Come on England, bring it home for Winston Churchill, William Shakespeare, Rupert Brooke, William Blake, Queen Vic, Issac Newton, IKB, Princess Diana, Bobby Moore.Howay the lads.

Denis I. Fox ● 22d14 Comments ● 2d

keep the post office petition

I just signed a petition for keeping a standalone post office:https://www.change.org/p/chiswick-needs-and-deserves-a-stand-alone-full-service-post-office

Simon Pedley ● 12d8 Comments ● 2d

Native Spanish speaker for lessons

I am looking for a naitve Spanish speaker for one to one face to face lessonsndoenmybson over the summer who is in year 12!” And studying a level Spanish. I would also be interested in any local Spanish conversation classes.  Thank you

Louise Marsh ● 2d0 Comments ● 2d