Starbucks bids to be the next cafe in Earlsfield

In a move sure to be even more controversial than the opening of the new Tesco on Garratt Lane, GE friend Charlie has spied an application for what was the 'Refuel' site next to the station. It's from Starbucks.

There isn't much detail in the application as it seems the main change would be to remove the sheds at the back of the property and extend the existing building. The proposed floor plans are below (pavement to the right of the drawing).

The site will already be zoned for a cafe and from my quick read the extension seems fairly straightforward, so it will be difficult for the council to refuse on planning grounds. I suspect the residents of Earlsfield will have rather more to say on the matter.

If you want to comment on the application, you can do so online. We're lucky in Earlsfield that the high street supports so many independent cafes. If you think so too, make sure to keep giving them your custom, no matter the competition.

Read the GE reviews of Earlsfield's coffee offerings (part one) (part two).

Whisks at the ready - Cake Off is back!

It's that time again - aprons on, wooden spoons to hand - in aid of the Enormous Earlsfield Cake Off 2016. Proceeds of the cake sale will again go to the St George's Hospital Charity.

Competition: tell your story for a chance to win £300 of gifts

Local company Atlas & I have been in touch to let you all know about their competition - but you'll have to be quick as it closes on 31st October.

Atlas & I is a unique gift company that specialises in making wonderful personalised products, all printed with vintage maps of your choice.

Founded by designer Sophie Kirkpatrick in 2011, the bespoke gift company offers a variety of personalised products ranging from leather stationery and fashion accessories to wall art and greetings cards, all made to order, here in the UK. The team individually print and stitch the covers of every journal or album ordered, binding them over the soft Italian paper by hand in their studio in Earlsfield.

Sophie assures me that they think Earlsfield is "just the best" (Ed: well yes!) and use a number of local suppliers in their production.

Here's a little more about what they're looking for:

They are inviting people to tell them a short story about their sporting achievements, romantic memories and other momentous occasions that they can then turn into a lasting memory with one of their beautiful personalised products.
 
Sophie Kirkpatrick says; “Maybe a loved one has just completed a grueling adventure and you'd like us to create your very own bespoke silhouette, or your close friends have just been married and a personalised leather photo album would be the perfect gift. Whatever the memory, we really want to hear from you.”

The competition will run until October 31st when the winner with the best - and most memorable - story will be announced and can order up to £300 worth of personalised products from the Atlas & I website, just in time for Christmas!

Enter the competition via their website.

Pink quiz to raise money for breast cancer

Join teams at The Old Sergeant this coming Monday to raise money to fight breast cancer.

Wandsworth Bake Off is back for 2015

We know Earlsfield loves a cake contest, and this time we've a crown to defend. Don your best pinny to raise money for Wandsworth Radio and Wandsworth Oasis.

The Wandsworth Bake Off is back on Saturday 19th September at the Northcote Records venue in Northcote Road, Battersea. The popular event was created and is run jointly by Wandsworth Radio and Wandsworth Oasis the local charity supporting people affected with HIV.

Last year over fifty local amateur bakers competed for amazing prizes but 30 year old Jade Ripley from Earlsfield pipped them all to the post when she won the STAR BAKER prize with her lemon meringue cup cakes.

Who will take the STAR BAKER prize this year? It could be you. Pop into any Wandsworth Oasis charity store for an application form or email info@WandsworthRadio.com Three local celebrity bakers will be judging the competition (see the original article for details).

How do I enter? 

If you want to enter the Wandsworth Bake off you need to fill out an application form. Entry is £5 per category, or £10 for three categories. For juniors, it is £5

How does it work on the day?

You bake in advance, in your own kitchen, then on the big day you bring your splendid bakes to Northcote Records venue which is at  8-10 Northcote Road, Battersea, SW11 1NT between 11am and 12.

When you arrive you display your bakes in the designated area.

Between Midday and 1pm our judges will stuff their faces and pick the best bakes. Prizes will be given for first in each category, and an overall ‘Star Baker’ will be chosen. If you are happy for us to sell your bakes, they will go on sale.

Categories

1) Cake – Any sponge – fruity, chocolatey, classic – whatever you like. (Icing the cake is optional.)

2) Cupcakes – 12 beautifully decorated cupcakes. (Each must be consistent and must only be made from one recipe.)

3) Traybake – Cake, brownie, flapjacks, shortbread, anything! (Please present cut up into squares or rectangles.)

4) Bread – Any loaf with a maximum of 500g of flour when baking. (You can flavour your bread if you want.)

5) Biscuits – An even batch of 12 biscuits or cookies.

6) Afternoon Tea – A tiered cake stand suitably filled and presented.

Must be made with 2 bake types; scones, cakes, pastries, meringues, etc. –

7) Junior* – Any full cake, 12 cupcakes, a tasty traybake, biscuits, or cookies.

* Junior entries will be judged in two age groups: 7 – 11yrs and 12 – 16 years

Man v Food challenge at the Pig and Whistle

Earlsfield Charity Events summer quiz night

Wandle photo competition

• The competition is open to amateur photographers only living or working in the boroughs of Wandsworth, Merton, Sutton or Croydon.
• Entry is free
• All entries must be your own work
• The closing date for entries is midnight on 16th October 2015
• There is a maximum of 5 photos per entrant.

More information.

Earlsfield Love Your Local competition is back for 2015

Local Conservative parliamentary spokesman Dan Watkins has launched 2015 Earlsfield Love Your Local competition.

The competition is set up to celebrate our local independent shops and you can vote for up to three of your favourites. 

Last year's winners were:

• Impact Hair & Beauty - best hairdresser and overall winner
• Earlsfield Deli - best deli and runner-up overall
• Sea Horse Fish Bar - best take-away, in bronze medal spot
• Sugar Bag Blue - best gift shop
• The Pig & Whistle - best pub
• Bunka - best boutique
• Mel’s - best diner
• Amaranth - best restaurant 
• Belle Amie - best cafe
• Bar 366 - best bar 

Apparently there are even more categories and prizes on offer this year so make sure your favourites are in the running by voting before the end of February!

Earlsfield's Holly is a royal runner-up

I posted earlier about Holly Wren, an Earlsfield girl who was nominated for an award for her work with the Prince's Trust.

The Prince's Trust has been in touch to say that Holly was runner-up at the awards - a huge achievement.

Congratulations Holly!

 Read more about Holly's story below.

Holly Wren
Systematically bullied and fighting an aggressive strain of a painful and incurable condition called endometriosis, Holly, 30, from Earlsfield, thought about taking her own life. She wanted to succeed, but had to have regular surgery to remove growths and often needed extra treatment and pain management. Holly became depressed and exhausted and work became unbearable.

She says, “I had some really dark times – where I started to question my worth and value”. Holly left her job and felt totally lost. Unemployed and in pain, Holly’s whole life was turned upside down.

She says, “I had to go back to the drawing board. I loved photography and wanted to see if I could do it as a business, so I contacted The Prince’s Trust.”

Holly went on the Enterprise programme, a Prince’s Trust course that helps unemployed young people start up in business. She established her own photography company and is busy with numerous commissions, including many from The Trust’s marketing department.

Holly also became one of The Trust’s busiest Young Ambassadors, speaking at many fundraising events and participating in other awareness-building activities. She says, “The Prince’s Trust gave me back my faith in people, I wanted to help them carry on doing their work and reach more young people, which is why I became a Young Ambassador.”

Altruistic and inspiring, Holly is a remarkably down-to-earth young woman who is committed to sharing her story to spread awareness of The Trust’s work. Always remaining humble and realistic without sacrificing her ambition and idealism, Holly shows incredible passion for The Trust and a host of other causes she believes in. Stronger as a person and hungrily chasing the most positive outcomes for people, Holly is in a much happier place and is excited about what the future holds.

Earlsfield girl nominated for Royal award

The Princes Trust has been in touch to tell us about local girl Holly Wren who has been nominated for the Mappin & Webb Young Ambassador Award.

Holly has been nominated for the award as part of the The Prince’s Trust & Samsung Celebrate Success Awards, which is taking place at the Bloomsbury Ballroom on 5 November.  

The awards recognise the achievements of disadvantaged young people across London who have succeeded against the odds, improved their chances in life and had a positive impact on their local community.  

Holly's nomination recognises her as an exceptional Young Ambassador. Young people who have successfully completed a Prince’s Trust course can apply to be a Young Ambassador to volunteer their time, share their personal experiences and inspire others.

Karl Bailey, Senior Manager at Mappin & Webb, says: “The Young Ambassador of the Year Award honours the volunteers who are committed to inspiring others and Holly has done exactly that. She is a real inspiration and she should be extremely proud for coming this far.”  

Good luck Holly!

Vote for your favourite local in the Time Out Awards

Time Out is looking for your votes in the 'Love London' awards. Voting is still open for the shortlisted restaurants, shops, cafes and pubs in SW18.

There are loads of Earlsfield favourites to choose from, from Il Girasole to Belle Amie, Sugar Bag Blue to Bar 366, so show some love by visiting the Time Out site and clicking on your winners. Everyone who enters can also win a pair of tickets to the awards ceremony on November 17.

Voting closes on Monday night so don't miss out, vote now!

Get set - bake! For two good causes

If you're one of thousands of people inspired by the return of the Great British Bake Off, you can put your enthusiasm to use for a good local cause.

Local community radio station Wandsworth Radio and HIV charity Wandsworth Oasis are putting on a competition for budding bakers to show off their skills.

But can they compete with entries from this year's Earlsfield Bake Off?

On Saturday September 20th entrants will bring along their best bakes to Northcote Records on Northcote Road for an all-star judging panel. Dan Lepard, food writer and author (and Tooting resident), Eric Lanlard, Battersea-based master patissier and Laura Amos, the brain and baker behind the Desserts Deli will judge both adult and children's competitions.

Bakers can enter six categories - cake, cupcakes, traybake, bread, biscuits and afternoon tea - and junior bakers in two age groups can try their hand at cupcakes, traybakes or biscuits. The cost is £5 per category or £10 for three, and £3 for junior bakers. Just don't follow GBBO's Iain's example and bin your baking!

For information and to enter, email info@wandsworthradio.com.

Green fingers? Enter the horticultural show!

This year's Wandsworth Horticultural Association's annual vegetable and flower show is nearly upon us.

On Saturday 6 September gardeners will be competing for the best cabbages, chillies, aubergines and much more at the Earlsfield Baptist Church on Magdalen Road.

Doors open at 3pm for visitors, with free entry. Tea and cake will also be available, and if you stick around to the end there'll be an auction of fruit, vegetables, and flowers.

BBQ Guinness World Record success in Earlsfield

You might remember a post back in March about a world record attempt by the Old Sergeant Pub for the longest team barbecue.

After an epic effort by the team, they've been officially recognised as Guinness Record Holders. Congratulations to all involved!

Check out their official listing.

Don't forget! Earlsfield Charity Treasure Hunt this weekend

Massive Earlsfield event this weekend! The Earlsfield Charity Events team write:

Come on people get your entry forms from earlsfieldcharityevents@gmail.com for the EARLSFIELD TREASURE HUNT on the 17th May 2014, starting at 10am, then a BBQ at Bar 366 Earlsfield from 4pm to 6pm.

A fabulous day out for the family or a great excuse to sample the drinking establishments in and around Earlsfield. 

Teams of up to 6, £10 per adult and £3 for under-16s (with paying adult).

Have fun, win prizes, explore Earlsfield

Earlsfield Charity Events has confirmed the details of the very first Earlsfield Treasure Hunt:

  

Get down to Bar 366 for your entry form.

World record BBQ attempt - are you in?

I've written before about the Old Sergeant charity river walk taking place in May. Now the crew are taking things a whole lot further: they're taking on a Guinness World Record.

They say:

On the 9th & 10th of May we are going to attempt to break a Guinness World record. And we need your help! We are attempting to break the record for the longest BBQ by a team – so our boys need to BBQ for 30 hours! We need timekeepers, stewards and witnesses to help keep us going for 30 hours. It will all be done for charity and we will invite all the local services-firemen, police and paramedics down during the event to help us consume the meat we will be barbequing.

The record attempt will take place at The Old Sergeant Pub in Wandsworth and will start at 4pm on Friday the 9th if you are willing to lend a hand and join our team please contact us on 0208 874 4099 or 0208 874 1061 and speak to Keris or Bronwyn.

Surely this is a challenge that Earlsfield can rise to? After all, we can't let ourselves be beaten by the Swiss! Call Keris or Bronwyn and sign up!

Your Wandsworth, #mywandsworth

Wandsworth Council is launching a competition to celebrate the local area. Enter your Instagram images with the hashtag #mywandsworth to be in to win an iPad.

pic.twitter.com/NbjmIJxwZQ
— Wandsworth Council (@wandbc) March 12, 2014

Pictures must be posted on Instagram between 8 and 30 March to be considered. Entries will support the Mayor's Youth Charity.

Save the date: Earlsfield treasure hunt

Clear your diaries on Saturday 17 May for the inaugural Earlsfield treasure hunt.

Organised by the indomitable Earlsfield Charity Events, it's sure to be one to watch for.