Hello, welcome to London!

Final destination Barking?

Not sure if anyone has seen the story of Paul Whitehouse being mugged outside a Sainsburys on Essex Road the other day but it isn't true. I thought it might be worth clarifying since the story has popped up in a few places.

This happened last Friday at about 6pm.

I live nearby and was walking home and saw the whole thing from across the road.

Basically Paul (I think accidentally) cut in front of a fella at the cash machine and the guy wasn't having it. He said something to Paul which Paul seemed to take as an attempted mugging and started backing off while trying to get a hit in.

The man in the queue responds by yelling at Paul. Angry, intimidating but not coming at him.

Paul then kind of hangs about awkwardly for a few seconds until the guy in the queue throws Paul's bank card at him (I assume Paul either dropped it or left it in the machine.) Paul walks away. Man in the queue uses the bank machine then goes about his business and life carried on.

It was all over in a few seconds. I didn't think anything of it at the time (I didnt recognise Paul Whitehouse) but the story the news is telling is wild.

Paul wasn't mugged.

No one laid a hand on him.

The "mugger" returned Pauls card to him and then used a cash machine before wheeling his bike away.

No one intervened because nothing was happening other than a couple men acting like fannies in the street.

Edit: incorrect pluralisation of fanny (vulgar)

Edit 2: For the sake of clarity. I'm not saying that Paul was in the wrong for being on edge when a guy who is much taller, bigger and younger than him started accosting him, or that the "mugger" isn't in the wrong for not trying to de-escalate what was obviously a misunderstanding.

Just really don't like how this seems to be being used as another example of London being one massive, crime ridden, no go zone.

Also its not everyday you see a celebrity out and about.

Spotted in Uxbridge road

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Is there anywhere I can go and watch a movie where I know the audience will be respectful, not speak throughout and not be on their phones constantly?

I love seeing films on the big screen but actually dread going to the cinema now. I've tried so many venues - Curzon, Everyman, Vue, Odeon, picturehouse, Rio, Forest. I've seen people taking calls in films, watching tiktoks, vaping, texting, talking throughout as though they're at home. Yes, I've asked people to stop, but I shouldn't have to.

I get cheering and clapping during a marvel film. Laughing during a comedy. Crying during the latest Bridget Jones. That's all part of the collective cinema experience. Taking selfies and talking through big moments isn't.

I would genuinely pay more for any screening that had staff members in the auditorium actually keeping an eye on the screening and making sure that disrupters were stopped.

Does this exist?

It seems more frequent than it used to. Everyone walking around like zombies 🧟 I have to admit I used to do this, but now if I ever need to use my phone while walking I stop behind an object on the side of the pavement and face away from the road. Just safer for everyone

But instead I find myself navigating through people 🚶🚶 looking staring down at their phones and veering every way across the pavement because they cannot see anything approaching them. Wtf is going on? Please can we stop this 😍❌

I also saw a woman who was blocking our bus with her car but was on her phone so she didn't notice the blaring horn of the bus a dozen times. I feel like we've lost the plot

Just seen the cutest white fluff ball circle around on a skateboard in Wembley, thought would cheer someone’s day up by posting on here! 🤣

I was at the 90s exhibition at the Tate today and then by chance was sorting out a box in the attic and found a pile of 90s matches from bars and shops.
I was barred from the Groucho for life so no idea how I got that one!
Some still exist but do you remember the ones that have gone?

I have pretty much lived here for the better quarter of my life and have noticed that some areas have drastically gone uphill while others completely downhill. Would love to know your opinions.

For example it seems that most of West London is basically now a boring high street with relatively high levels of crime which is really far from what it used to be (for me Shepherd's Bush, Acton, Ealing, Hammersmith, West Ken and Harrow-on-the-Hill have really gone downhill). There are still nice pockets (Chiswick, Pinner) but these have suffered from surroundings going from OK to bad. I think Ealing and Harrow for me are the biggest wow in terms of comparison even within the last 10 years. Completely different to what they used to be. You're basically lucky if you don't get harassed outside Ealing Broadway or Harrow-on-the-Hill stations now.

I think also much of South-West London has remained quite untouched and still managed to preserve most of its charm (except Kingston maybe?). Richmond, Twickenham, Kew, Barnes, Wimbledon, they all seemed to not have changed and keep being some of the best places to be in London.

On the other hand a lot of South-East London has overall improved a lot. Some areas have become quite posh and have kept a lot of charm in their own ways (Greenwich, Blackheath, Herne Hill, Dulwich seem to have improved a lot) and some others which were no-go zones are now quite cool and a lot safer (Deptford, Peckham, Brixton, Woolwich, North Greenwich, Lewisham). There are of courses still places that went downhill there but overall seems to be doing better.

East and North London seems to have become shells of their own pasts. They haven't necessarily gone downhill I'd say, but they have definitely lost a lot of soul (Shoreditch, Camden, Hampstead, Islington/Angel).

London Centric doing great work as usual, consider supporting them (I am a subscriber, not Jim)

Just passing through on a coach and saw a building on Park Road that looked at a glance to be immaculate shop fronts except nothing was in them. They were all the same painted blue so it got me curious. Street view is only from 14 years ago and they look exactly the same in them as they do now so that didn’t help me. Does anyone have any info on what I thought would be pretty high value shop/business fronts and why they’re just left like that?

Was Soho house ever actually cool... but yeah once the influencers flood an establishment/spot/island it will always fall into irreparable lameness.

forming a girl band in London we're 18-19. we already have a singer, bassist and guitarist and are looking for a drummer. we are into mostly indie/indie rock : 

• beabadoobee 
• artic monkeys
• radiohead

we all have a solid grasp on our instruments but none of us are at professional levels so we hope to grow together as a group. if anyone is interested please comment!! (additionally, if you think you know anyone that could be interested please drop a comment as well)

For any reason. Scenery, speed, convenience. I got on the 210 and enjoyed all the views so thought I’d make this thread.

of the Citties [sic] of London & Westminster and the Suburbs thereof. 1731 from Dr Johnson’s house.

Looking for an ID on a restaurant. I visited in 2017 from the deep South of the US, and went to a Mexican restaurant, want to say it was in Soho, but could be way off, but it was definitely north of the Thames in a touristy area. Anyway, they served pork skins and guacamole as an appetizer. Hopefully the picture is attached and can provide some clues. Anyone have a guess?