Apr 2022

By the way, this is a photo *I* took on September 9th 2021. The Bus Gate and surrounding LTNs became operational 2 weeks later(!) on September 20th. Turns out it was quite quiet in the day before any Bus Gate. Imagine that! x.com/ediz1975/statu…

By the way, this is a photo *I* took on September 9th 2021. The Bus Gate and surrounding LTNs became operational 2 weeks later(!) on September 20th. Turns out it was quite quiet in the day before any Bus Gate. Imagine that! x.com/ediz1975/statu…

Great weekend spring vibe along Church Street. Far cry from the dystopian description some people are propagating recently based on their observation of the street at 8am on a Friday or on a cold miserable evening in January.

By the way, this is a photo *I* took on September 9th 2021. The Bus Gate and surrounding LTNs became operational 2 weeks later(!) on September 20th. Turns out it was quite quiet in the day before any Bus Gate. Imagine that! x.com/ediz1975/statu…

Great weekend spring vibe along Church Street. Far cry from the dystopian description some people are propagating recently based on their observation of the street at 8am on a Friday or on a cold miserable evening in January.

The Rose & Crown is absolutely packed and that’s even without having screens with the footy on. It’s a great sight. Love this pub. One of only a handful of Grade II Listed pubs in the area.

@dhyandeva Yes marketsquaregroup.co.uk/core/eventdeta…

FreeWheelin FEASTival in Clissold Park June 24-6. Free to enter. Street foods, live music stage, children's entertainment, artisan groceries, arts & crafts and bar.

RT @manson_7: @StokeyUpdates new tesco going in on Matthias Road.

RT @douglasbenford: : This sunday, May 1st! The London Improvisers Orchestra will be at St Mary's New Church (NOT the small older one, the…

RT @kate_revere: We are showcasing work by people who feel invisible, marginalised or who are disabled/have a learning disability, whose co…

RT @wtfstokey: @soapachu I live in stoke newington. About as far as you can get north of the river

The music video was filmed in Chesholm Road, Gibson Gardens and Abney Park Cemetery. The homeowner gave permission to use her house on condition that her son, a fan, will be included in the video. He’s in there somewhere! x.com/amywinehouse_u…

RT @mjadamson15: Walked through Finsbury Park and on towards Stoke Newington. Visited Church Street Bookshop (no.36), which was well-stocke…

RT @CorkGourmetGuy: Everyone in Stoke Newington is much cooler than me.

RT @hackneygazette: A housing association has been given the go-ahead to build 76 retirement flats near Woodberry Down. https://t.co/Y7z5VL…

RT @OLDSIRHENRY: Stoke Newington where you can wait in line for a toddler to have a 15 minute conversation about what type of rye bread the…

RT @mightybarnski: @highamnews Hi Nick, I wanted to ask about introducing Anton and Alina to our Ukrainian guests from Kharkiv who are arri…

Any local pub quiz on a Sunday? (@vlelerre)

@realnickperry So the way they are approaching the tree planting project is:
1. Person A sprays white circles randomly where they think a tree would be nice 2. Person B sprays indicators of utilities next to tree planting marker
3. Person C digs up the pavement and may plant a tree if they can

@ClissoldLabour @metecoban92 Sure. I’ll be in touch. Stoke Newington LTN road sign walk sure has a nice ring to it! ;)

@ClissoldLabour @metecoban92 My pleasure. A few of them also need correcting still as they fail to include the 7am-7pm window and give the false impression that Church St is closed to through traffic 24/7.

@BeckyRLH @ClissoldLabour @metecoban92 I was doing to say the same thing. If it was one sign I get it, but in the case of the LTN road signs, quite a few need adjusting at the very least. No idea if it’s due to where they were placed that they get hit often, or maybe in some cases it’s tampering.

@ClissoldLabour @metecoban92 A LOT of them. I can take some photos but most of the ones in Church St especially.

@ClissoldLabour @metecoban92 are the LTN road signs going to be fixed? Quite a few are in poor state, facing every possible direction or hanging by a thread. Irrespective of their purpose in this case, it looks bad and makes the streetscape unpleasant. Also it can be dangerous.

RT @ClissoldLabour: @StokeyUpdates @_AlexBogdan The ‘boundary roads’ are similarly mixed despite the claims that they consist of mainly low…

@_AlexBogdan Stoke Newington, and to an extent London, is mixed, with £1.8m townhouses right next to social housing. There are very few to no “posh” areas in Stoke Newington, especially south of Church St, so I don’t understand people claiming LTNs mostly benefit people that are well-off.

RT @_AlexBogdan: @StokeyUpdates There's been some academic work and most inner London boroughs have done (surprisingly?) well in including…

Almost all the estates in Stoke Newington are in LTNs: Burma Court Estate, Shannon Court, Londesborough Est, Lister Court, Lordship South Est, Yorkshire Grove Est, Hawksley Court Est, Shellgrove Road Estate, Kennaway Est, Milton Gardens Est, St John’s Court, Portland Rise Estate x.com/joncstone/stat…

The votes are in! x.com/StokeyUpdates/…

RT @clissoldpeople: Can you help us make a difference to the park and get more local ppl involved to make it an even better place? We are…

@ClissoldLabour @AlistairSays Any indication at all that it’ll be looked into post-lockdown?

RT @AlistairSays: @StokeyUpdates I emailed TfL about this is March '21 and again in March '22. Answer both times: "Until there is greater c…

The plan from 2018 to remove the 1-system in Stoke Newington High St, to an extent. The plan was to create a southbound lane for buses and cyclists, as well as a northbound cycle track. Under the plan Brooke Rd would become eastbound with Rectory Rd becoming 2-way. https://t.co/5xC6wjQlry

RT @NGMeetingHouse: It's MaryWollstonecraft's birthday this week! And we are celebrating with not ONE but TWO events. Don't miss out - whet…

@HarryVeitch1 @londonbeyond123 How many of the businesses in Stoke Newington Church Street have you spoken to please?

@jackstevensbass Such challenges may require a business to get a bit creative, but are they that severe they put a business at risk? No idea. Similar argument I believe from Koza Curtains on the High St who also rely on a van for their work. Are they making less visits a day as a result perhaps?

@jackstevensbass The locksmith told me appointments in the morning when they “have” to use the van can be a challenge when they need to get to Newington Green for example during rush hour via Lordship Park. That’s a valid point I suppose, but how many Church St businesses face similar challenge?

@jackstevensbass And of course, there pandemic ‘hangover’ to an extent, plus we’re coming out of the winter and so on and so on. In a few cases, perhaps some drivers who would drive through and pop in to get coffee or cigarettes aren’t able to do that, but how much of an impact does that have?

@jackstevensbass There are many variables even a researcher studying the area would likely struggle to derive indisputable conclusions. Increase in cost of living may also be a factor at the moment for many. I believe Church St is still popular with outsiders on weekends, but could be wrong :)

RT @jackstevensbass: @StokeyUpdates I was chatting to two different Church St business owners this morning. Neither of them laid all of the…

@kosintime @ElizMackie Hackney’s goal is to reduce the number of vehicles in the borough by 15% by 2026. The council states that car ownership in the borough is low (30% of residents) with a LOT of short car journeys through the borough. Apart from the environmental impact, it’s also about road safety.

@kosintime @ElizMackie But cars aren’t banned from the roads and the streets aren’t being pedestrianised. Given the cost of an EV, it would mean that only those that can afford them get a privileged exemption, which would likely be an issue. But again, it’s not just about pollution.

@Roger89835988 Thanks

@old_school_alps Possibly though I always understood it was to deal more two-way traffic down those residential streets, though that part of Oldfield Rd is quite wide so I was surprised the parking bay was removed, unless there more to it.

The council expected more traffic along the “exit routes” when it removed parking bays in the surrounding area, stating they may be reinstated based on traffic levels. That’s the only parking bay I’d seen that was reinstated following the pre-Bus Gate removal. Any others? x.com/StokeyUpdates/…

RT @haloodiefoodie: @thenewlove @StokeyUpdates @LidlGB @AmazonFresh @StokeyLTN Furthermore, Morrisons on Stamford Hill has been identified…

RT @antsandthanks: FYI #Stokenewington needs no more coffee shops

@waynex If you struggled to get by and struck gold one day you may have a different outlook on the matter

@waynex I know of a few that made a handsome profit selling property that was semi-derelict and couldn’t believe their luck when someone made them an offer for it. Wasn’t all as tragic as you may want to portray it. Talk to more people that moved out around that time.

@waynex What does North Korea have to do with Church Street?

@waynex Aren’t too many of those around these days. There’s a barbershop, builders merchants and electrics shops from the “olden days” that have luckily survived all this time and provide a much appreciated link to Church Street’s past in the 1950s-70s.

@waynex There was question mark at the end so technically it was a question. Unless it was a rhetorical question? :)

@waynex Well, the High St is a busier, main road compared to Church St, which is quieter and has more of a twee village vibe compared to the bustling A10, which has more daytime footfall, bigger shops, often more affordable options than Church Street’s boutique shops and cafes

@waynex Not all shops open on Monday if that’s what you are referring to. Also lack of traffic during the day due to 7am-7pm restriction on through traffic creates a quiet, peaceful atmosphere that those who associate constant traffic noise with ‘vibrancy’ and ‘vitality’ may find strange

RT @thenewlove: @haloodiefoodie @StokeyUpdates @LidlGB @AmazonFresh There's a Morrisons, numerous Sainsburys, a few Tescos all nearby. We d…

RT @haloodiefoodie: @StokeyUpdates We need a @LidlGB not another @AmazonFresh which we have a mile down the Road in Dalston.

@jennyfmorgan @HackneyLivingSt I reckon there’s been a massive gap in the market since the garden centre opposite the library closed. Surprised it took so long!

@0x47DF @realnickperry They covered it. No tree is going in there.

@kosintime There’s an aspect of improving road safety by reducing motor traffic in order to encourage active travel behind LTN schemes. It’s more than just the environmental impact. I use Zipcar and share a car with many people. Should I get an LTN “pass”?? Where do you draw the line?

RT @clissoldpeople: 1192 people responded to the consultation. 73% ‘liked’ or ‘loved’ the idea. drive.google.com/file/d/1-FJqF7…

@kosintime I was told 29(!) different groups applied for an exemption from the Bus Gate. Everyone of them has what they consider to be a very legitimate reason why they should be allowed through. Once you open that floodgate, you’ll end up restricting only 5 vehicles :)

@kosintime It’s definitely a very saturated market! That’s the owner’s observation and I’m not dismissing it as detached from reality as he may indeed see less ‘driving regulars’ than pre-LTN.

Spoke to an owner of one of the cafes on Church St who described a drop in trade in the mornings mainly which he attributes to less people, such as cabbies, who’d stop to get coffee in the morning. Second business owner to mention to me less elderly people coming in. Post-COVID?

@MillarCaroline Yes. The High Street, like every High Street, is full on multi-national chains and if there’s no demand and if Amazon Fresh will be deserted I imagine they’ll close.

RT @AAttfield: @StokeyUpdates You are right, but my point was that deliveries make car based shopping less attractive overall. Church stre…

An overwhelming objection so far to Amazon Fresh opening in the High St. I heard it may open near the cemetery, possibly where Sainsbury’s was meant to go years ago. It’s unconfirmed and may be a lingering rumour after M&S withdrew their interest a while back. Time will tell. x.com/StokeyUpdates/…

@AAttfield Yes, though this is more in the context local shopping parades as I understand it, and in the case of of Church St, apart from KAC the builders merchants and the flower shop opposite, I cannot think of many other home delivery scenarios. The two furniture shops closed.

"It is traditional for retailers to pursue more car access and parking...Our findings suggest that retail vitality would be best served by traffic restraint, public transport improvements, and a range of measures to improve the walking environment." x.com/StokeyUpdates/…

Would love to see this research done in Church St one day -> 'Shoppers and how they travel’: “Retailers hugely overestimated the importance of the car, and underestimated how many of their customers walked, cycled and used public transport" cidadanialxmob.tripod.com/shoppersandhow…

@realnickperry @visitcamberwell @hanson_pb @cyclingjudy @JonnElledge Trying to find that piece someone posted a few weeks ago about the difference between the % of customers traders say drive to their shop compared to what it is in reality (much lower). Someone posted a research that was done in Canada.

@visitcamberwell @hanson_pb @cyclingjudy @JonnElledge @realnickperry Thanks. I meant investigating the ones that are vacant for a long time. The ones we have are a local mystery by now.

@visitcamberwell @hanson_pb @cyclingjudy @JonnElledge By the way, once you crunch the numbers you can create cool things like this! :) public.flourish.studio/visualisation/…

@visitcamberwell @hanson_pb @cyclingjudy @JonnElledge There are only a handful of sites that have been vacant for a number of years. Not sure how these could be investigated. Any suggestions? (@realnickperry)

RT @clissoldpeople: @StokeyUpdates @arsenal55559 There has already been one consultation about what to do with the former paddling pool are…

@hanson_pb @visitcamberwell @cyclingjudy @JonnElledge By the way, Stoke Newington Church Street is in a conservation area and a shop hasn’t been converted to a residential property since 1940 (No. 108).

@arsenal55559 @clissoldpeople It’s 90 years old and won’t be retained I’m pretty sure. Plans for that space haven’t been agreed as far as I’m aware but an outdoor gym was mentioned as an option. It’s a good spot for fitness training, yoga and meditation ;)

@arsenal55559 @clissoldpeople Not disputing that but from the start referred to your original comment “middle of such historic green space”, which I was curious about given the bowling green hasn’t been used for 20+ years.

@clissoldpeople @arsenal55559 Was the bowling green used 12 months a year back in the day when it was in use??

@arsenal55559 @clissoldpeople disagree with what though? repurposing the disused bowling green so that area could be used again? or having any activity in the park’s area full stop?

@arsenal55559 @clissoldpeople What do you mean by “historic green space”? A disused, neglected bowling green that hasn’t been in use for 20 years? If you refer to the park overall then parts of it have been used for various features/activities since it opened in 1889. This is repurposing an existing space.

@DecaturLondon @sebstrug @harrietblacker Was going to say the same. It’s very popular.

Amazon Fresh in Stoke Newington High Street?

@mattjamesd Of course. This tweet went viral for weeks!

Would ABSOLUTELY love to see this down Church Street one day! :) t.co/6CJhLLEate

RT @clissoldpeople: This is roughly what the new splash pad is going to look like. Please note that this is indicative only and the backgro…

RT @sebstrug: Coffee and black cherry at Romeo and Giulietta in Stoke Newington. Freezer too cold for the hot day made the texture closer t…

@Funwithflares Where exactly please?

@RobbieGardiner1 True, but in most gastro pubs in my experience two pints will set you back about £13 so pint + large wine coming at £17 (depending on the wine) isn’t all that surprising. Cheaper in Spoons.

@RobbieGardiner1 Thanks. Average pint now is £6 in gastro pubs in the area so I suppose £11 for a large glass of a certain wine isn’t THAT outrageous depending on the wine in question.

@RobbieGardiner1 Do you remember which beer and wine? Large I presume!

RT @nursey_sarah: @StokeyUpdates Just had a wonderful walk down a very busy church st all the more pleasant for no cars 😎

@Roger89835988 You’ll have to ask them :) hopefully the likely impending pavement widening in that part of Church St will make that less of a problem.

@CKE1977 The 393 might just ;)

@heatherenaylor @realnickperry This makes me think that sadly, it may likely remain empty for a while x.com/StokeyUpdates/…

@bjornksandberg The Bird Cage has gone down hill in recent years in my opinion especially after the last renovation that included the unauthorised removal of the wooden bar to name a few changes to the interior. I like the the Wheatsheaf. Proper old school pub.

@dogwonder @PubsSaving Stoke Newington lost half its pubs over the years, mainly in the 80s and 90s. I’d be surprised if this particular pub was considered worth protecting in 1975 compared to some of the others that may have even been more historically and architecturally significant.

@PubsSaving @dogwonder @HistoricEngland Thanks but I cannot see any details about the listing. Just the date being 1975. I imagine the original interior and features were still in place then but apart from the simple exterior that’s also been altered quite a bit, cannot think of anything original about the pub

@PubsSaving @dogwonder I’m surprised to find out it’s Grade II Listed given the original interior with the central horseshoe servery and two separate entrances is long-gone. Curious what’s the rationale for the listing.

@PubsSaving @dogwonder So far looks to be internal tidy up x.com/StokeyUpdates/…

@PubsSaving @dogwonder Thanks. Any confirmation who took over the Coach & Horses down the road in Stoke Newington High St? Renovation taking place at the moment.

@dogwonder Same here. Question for @PubsSaving perhaps?

Good news about the Bird Cage pub! x.com/PubsSaving/sta…

@yeeha28 It’s very nice and pleasant with very little traffic noise now during the day, but that’s just my opinion of course. Some people associate constant motor noise and honking with a street being “vibrant” and “lively”, ignoring the fact people make the street vibrant, not cars.

There are 120 commercial properties in SN Church St (excl. 5 pubs). 5 have been vacant for 1-7 years (1 is a small former MOT garage). Two of which I hear might be occupied soon. 5 closed recently, and 4 of which already have new tenants lined up. ~9 new businesses open a year x.com/StokeyUpdates/…

@time_rich I wouldn’t take it THAT seriously :)

@GailRunsSlowly Yes but have been asked not to disclose some yet. jimmyfairly.co.uk is opening in no. 47, formerly Royal India.

@HackneyYIMBY @PubsSaving @burkeswarehouse Thanks!

Don’t believe the panic: Occupancy status of commercial properties in Church St that closed recently: No. 45 - Occupied as an extension of the flowershop next door No. 47 - New tenant confirmed No. 56 - New tenant confirmed No. 115 - Vacant No. 156 - New tenant confirmed

RT @welovestokey: Date for the diary, the Betty Layward primary school Jumble sale Saturday 7th May 2022 #stokey #N16 #stokenewington #hack…

RT @mum_on_bike: @JerichoConnect If you search the internet for pictures of an empty Church Street (from over 6 months ago), that’s what yo…

@ShiettaniD @DanielaNadj Not true: 1. The scheme is in Church St, not the High St 2. The scheme is a 7am-7pm restriction on THROUGH traffic. Every address is accessible 24/7. 3. An average of 9 businesses in Church St change every year. Very normal. 4 of the 5 recent ones already have new tenants x.com/StokeyUpdates/…

@ediz1975 @mayorofhackney :) x.com/StokeyUpdates/…

@TulseHillLTN @susancashmere No idea. A question for @metecoban92

Next time someone tells you Stoke Newington Church St used to be more ‘vibrant’ pre-LTN show them this walking tour of the street a month before the LTN (starts at 5min). Saturday afternoon in August, it’s EXACTLY the same now only without that many cars youtu.be/H8JnW_NvmBE

@Grahamthecabbie @JerichoConnect No. Just a person that lives in the area, knows it very well, especially Church St and as I take interest in what’s going on around me I can point out untruths about Church St very easily, especially when someone uses a photo I took of it and lies about when it was taken.

@antonsh @StokeySye What overspill? From Manor Rd to the A10? That’s the only place somehow related to the LTN if you’re coming from Tottenham and there’s a traffic light there so even if there’s more traffic in Manor Rd it makes little difference to southbound traffic from Tottenham.

@antonsh Again, you can access all the roads, just that now some journeys make take a bit longer. Rush hour traffic is nothing recent. Try it! :) you’ll find it’s really not the doomsday some people like to portray. Good luck!

@antonsh So if you don’t drive and don’t use public transport how did you all get to Church Street before the recent LTNs were introduced 7 months ago?

@antonsh Where did you park before? I’m not aware of any bike parking spaces that have been removed. Which congestion specifically are you referring to and at what time of the day please? I personally haven’t experienced it on the occasion I drive so maybe you should try it.

@antonsh Why can’t you visit? Every address is still very much accessible, though depending where you come from the journey now may be a bit longer but nothing is blocked to access.

@jimleedham @ChinaRockman @ediz1975 @mayorofhackney Correct. Here’s the original photo I took on a typical quiet Thursday lunchtime on Sep 9th 2021. The recent LTN was only introduced two weeks later. Those who know the street know it was also quiet during the weekdays, especially autumn-winter and gets very busy on weekends. x.com/StokeyUpdates/…

Don’t let the Bus Gate stop you ;) x.com/softlaunchldn/…

@antonsh Only that *I* took that photo 2 weeks(!) before the recent Stoke Newington LTN was even introduced :)) so no clue what this post is trying to claim. Church St was always quite “dead” during the weekdays in the autumn-winter months. Always very busy in the weekend when it’s warm. x.com/StokeyUpdates/…

@townieroy @bathnes @bathnesld @DisasterWera @gridlockkev Only that *I* took that photo 2 weeks(!) before the recent Stoke Newington LTN was even introduced :)) so no clue what this post is trying to claim. Church St was always quite “dead” during the weekdays in the autumn-winter months. Always very busy in the weekend when it’s warm. x.com/StokeyUpdates/…

Look! Businesses in Stoke Newington Church St have been closing and opening frequently since 1847 before any Bus Gate and very likely after the current Bus Gate :) public.flourish.studio/visualisation/…

@ElaineMahon13 Have you spoken to the business owner to reach this conclusion? As you may well know, businesses up and down the country close every day for many reasons. Owner moves, retires, dies, rent hike, inability to compete successfully, changing social attitudes to name but a few reasons

@susancashmere Except similar scenes in Church Street in a couple of months. Much welcomed pavement widening in the east side will also help.

@hirstys @hollaa01 @JerichoConnect @holla01 Here’s the animated version! public.flourish.studio/visualisation/… Church Street changes all the time. It survived two world wars and a global pandemic, I’m sure it’ll survive a Bus Gate and a few planters.

@hirstys @hollaa01 @JerichoConnect @holla01 Here’s a survey of all the businesses in Stoke Newington Church Street since 1847 bit.ly/amirstokey In recent years the trend has been about 3-4 businesses change a year out of 115. The Bus Gate has made no difference. Businesses close for many different reasons.

@PaulOBrienArch Actually, it’s a photo I took at 12:33pm two weeks BEFORE the LTN was introduced. It Sep 9th 2021 and the LTN was introduced on Sep 20th. Just in case anyone is interested in truth and facts. x.com/StokeyUpdates/…

@GlynnAlison I’ll start watermarking my photos from now on ;)

@JerichoConnect Howdy. This is a photo I took on Sep 9th BEFORE the LTN was introduced on Sep 20th. For your information 3-4 Church St businesses close every year around this time for many different reasons. Two of the ones that closed are about to reopen soon. It really isn’t THAT bad. Honestly

He deleted the same original tweet so I repeat my tweet: This is a photo I took on Sep 9th BEFORE the LTN was introduced on Sep 20th is being used just now again to promote anti-LTN agenda. 3-4 Church St businesses close every year around this time for many different reasons. x.com/JerichoConnect…

RT @StokeySchool: Wonderful article by @SuzyWrack about former SNS student Lotte's amazing community spirit. We remember that cold day whe…

Haha. Brilliant. The photo I took on Sep 9th BEFORE the LTN was introduced on Sep 20th is being used just now again to promote anti-LTN agenda. Go figure. 3-4 Church St businesses close every year around this time for many different reasons. Did this person talk to any of them? x.com/JerichoConnect…

@ediz1975 @thenewlove @ElizMackie @mayorofhackney My photo aside, why would you expect Church St to be buzzing at 8am on a Friday? Apart from constant traffic during the day pre-LTN, footfall during weekdays was always fairly low, especially during autumn-winter and things pick up in the weekends and as it’s getting warmer.

@thenewlove @ElizMackie @ediz1975 @mayorofhackney Tada! Here’s my tweet from Sep 9th 2021 (two weeks before the Bus Gate and surrounding LTNs were even installed) with the photo that I took that day. x.com/StokeyUpdates/…

@annazaani On the plus side, he didn’t photoshop a tumbleweed in the middle of the road :)

@thenewlove Making and area smarter and more desirable drives property prices and changes the character of the area in a way that some people don’t like for various reasons. Some are valid and some less valid in my view. There’s a lot of nostalgia naturally when people talk about the past.

@Schopflin And my two favourites:
1. This was the Krays local (heard it being said about every pub in Stoke Newington, literally)
2. This is where Eric Bristow started playing darts (also being said about EVERY pub in Stoke Newington)

@thenewlove @jonemmins But that area was never a bit rundown and predominantly working class. Stoke Newington suffered a post-war decline, which began in the 30s actually, and by the 70s was very different from its genteel, well-to-do heritage. Gentrification occurred naturally after it became bohemian

@thenewlove @jonemmins They opened in 1981 and told me how they were seen as aliens by locals at the time given what Church St was like at the time. They really helped rejuvenate the street and make it more fashionable with more to offer than sewing machine repair shops, auto and radio parts etc.

@thenewlove @jonemmins Unfortunately the owners Robbie and Carol Richards very sadly passed away, which is why it closed. They were lovely people.

@realnickperry Yes. The tree marks appeared a few weeks ago and someone added the colourful markings yesterday or the day before.

@realnickperry That’s what I thought but I assumed the tree planting spots would have been chosen in “safe” locations in the first place in terms of any nearby utility.

@realnickperry Any guess why they have been marked around the tree planting points? All quite similar as far as I can tell.

@KarlTroyLondon Yes! :)

@FoxN16 I heard that one of the local off licences complains that people who used to drive through don’t stop now in the middle of the road any more to pop in to buy cigarettes. Another added public health benefit of LTNs ;)

@JamesDAustin Haha. I knew that photo looked familiar!! :) x.com/StokeyUpdates/…

@JamesDAustin I have my issues with how the LTN scheme was implemented (comms, signage etc.), and at not dismissing or disputing claims by some local businesses owner of the negative impact it is having on them, but tweets like that are simply ridiculous and impossible for me to ignore.

@oshea369 It’s the same thing with some people panicking about a few shops closures recently, when 3-4 shops always close around this time of the year for many different reasons. Some people only notice that natural, annual phenomenon and try to link it to their anti-LTN agenda.

@oshea369 An open Pret will definitely add vibrancy compared to a vacant bank branch, that’s for sure. I expect it’ll be very busy in there as it’ll cater to a very wide demographic.

@JamesDAustin I agree. The tweet gives the impression (to me at least) that the photo was taken in that moment to illustrate the point. Could have been taken on a Saturday or Sunday morning and then it’s even quieter!

@oshea369 The Bus Gate was installed in late September and the last six months of autumn and winter are always quieter and a bit depressing outside :) once it gets warmer, and pavements are widened, Church St will feel the busy and vibrant street is always has been, especially on weekends

@oshea369 As I do too. Apart from constant traffic, I wouldn’t describe Church St as vibrant during weekdays in the last 20 years since I moved to the area. Apart from traffic, to me it always felt quiet, and it picks up in the spring and summer as more people naturally go outside more.

@Tom_Hingley Wilmer Place carpark behind the Three Crowns was always busy and is still accessible as always, though only from the High St between 7am-7pm.

@oshea369 He tweeted at 08:09am “Just drove my bus up Stoke Newington Church Street via the LTN.” It was always very vibrant before the bus gate at 8am :) bin lorries mainly.

@JamesDAustin The photo wasn’t taken today. You can tell as the clothes recycling containers outside the Fire Station are yellow whereas they were painted red recently. I think actually it’s a photo I took and shared! :)

@oshea369 How much vibrancy does he expect at 8am on a Friday? To me, Church St was always “dead” during the morning and weekdays in the last 20 years since I’ve been around. High volume of traffic gives a false sense of “vibrancy” and activity, but it’s just vehicles driving through.

Why would a bus driver complain about driving through an empty street during rush hour is beyond me x.com/ediz1975/statu…

100% correct. It wasn’t “Busy” it was simply much noisier with so many vehicles driving through Church St, especially during rush hour of course. It wasn’t like there were hundreds of people in the street back then and all the shops were open at 8am. x.com/kayfourbee/sta…

How much activity does he expect on Friday at 8 in the morning? :) Try noon on a Saturday or Sunday in a few weeks. Some people think pre-LTN Church St felt like the Notting Hill Carnival 24/7. Footfall during weekday was always low. At least now some people WFH and are around. x.com/ediz1975/statu…

@jennyfmorgan @GlynnAlison @ilovestokeyn16 Moderating such large online groups can easily feel like a depressing full time job and in that sense you could argue the group is a victim of its own success.

@jennyfmorgan @GlynnAlison @ilovestokeyn16 The tragic thing is I reckon of the 5,000 members, it’s probably only about 40-50 people who can be very rude and unkind. It takes one person for the whole thing to snowball and turn into an online brawl. Unless you ban them, even temporarily, it gets out of control quickly.

@GlynnAlison Yes. Been there since the early days of its previous incarnation when it was run by @ilovestokeyn16. It got very toxic, mainly due in my opinion to hostile, anti-LTN sentiment from certain people. Now that toxic atmosphere has spread to other topics and is prevalent.

RT @kate_revere: See YOU in Stokey presents Invisible People Art trail. 2nd-10th of July. If you live/work in Hackney feel invisible/margin…

@JamesDAustin I was waiting for someone to mention that Clissold Crescent is an LTN! ;)

RT @TimeOutLondon: 📍The White Hart, Stoke Newington ‘Stokey’s biggest beer garden’ brags The White Hart, and it's a handsome one. During t…

Greetings from Stoke Newington’s vibrant Facebook group Stokey Folks 2.0 x.com/GeoffLloyd/sta…

RT @stmatthiashalls: Only one more sleep before we host the amazing #RiverCruzQuartet @blowfusemusic @deirdcartwright This Friday evening f…

@JamesAnthoney3 Looking at the progress of the ongoing renovation work I’d guess late May at the earliest.

RT @mightybarnski: NOT ONE of the many items I donated to the Stoke Newington charity shop have made the window display. Huff.

@AkashMapara You know you want one! ;)

@AkashMapara You’d have to ask them :)

@StokeySye @Stokebrewington Saw that the other day and similar to Amazon buying Wholefoods a few years ago in a sense. They’ll retain the JoJo brand so we won’t see a big Next sign in Church St any time soon.

RT @Christo28907011: @StokeyUpdates Church Street is so bad for veggie/vegan ethical options when it comes to restaurants … hope that someo…

RT @GiuliaLaPerfida: Why the creative people always own the best apartments in Stoke Newington?

@devske5 I did and was disappointingly low. I asked them at the time and they said it was something to do with the raw burger option they had and the way they cooked or stored it if I remember correctly. Wasn’t a case of rats in the kitchen type thing.

RT @PoetryTranslate: Tonight in Stoke Newington, London Argentinan poet Diana Bellessi and @LeoBoix will be reading from To Love A Woman…

@Stokebrewington Not yet. Will do!

@MillarCaroline What’s the solution? Give them vouchers for healthy food options in Church St??

@MillarCaroline Do you know what were the reasons behind the decision? Ensuring children more likely to eat healthy food as opposed to fast food for example? I’m thinking specifically pizza, chips and fried chicken for lunch if getting it outside the school.

@Stokebrewington I haven’t seen update from TfL or the council for a long time now and it was questionable whether post-COVID TfL will have the funds necessary to implement the scheme.

@Stokebrewington Even if TfL ever does that, southbound traffic will be busses and cyclists only with Rectory Rd becoming two-way and Brooke Rd becoming eastbound. That’s the last proposed scheme I saw.

@Stokebrewington Some people are allergic to any reference to Stoke Newington ‘village’ as they associate it with what they consider to be undesirable gentrification, but the reality is the ancient village of Stoke Newington WAS Church St. It evolved and changed but has retained its village vibe

@Stokebrewington Agree. The reality is Church St isn’t a High St with large sites and big brands everywhere, and it never will be, thankfully. It’s rare nowadays in London to have so many shops and food outlets along a relatively narrow, leafy, quiet, old village road.

RT @thenewlove: @StokeyUpdates Can confirm that's what happened - the school brought in a new lunch provider and made it compulsory for kid…

@Stokebrewington Also, I don’t any of the small shops will entice multi-national chains, and as Pizza Express learnt a few years ago, because Church St is a conservation area, you can join shops together to create a bigger commercial unit.

@Stokebrewington “The arrival of one huge chain, willing to pay a premium price for its spot, will push the rents up for all the businesses, driving them out and opening the door for the next multinational, and the next.” That hasn’t happened. A few London chains and JoJo Maman Bébé, UK chain.

@Stokebrewington April 2008 - “Rachel Dixon explains why she's joined the protesters opposing Nando's.” theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/w…

@Stokebrewington I do wonder if they would have been busier if there were in Church Street

@Stokebrewington A fried chicken chain was the complete opposite of a hip, London-renowned neighbourhood Jazz bar, but the decision to demolish the building was down to the property owner, not Nando’s. While Nando’s may not have the food of choice for some Vortex fans, it’s been very popular.

@Stokebrewington Enjoy reading the replies! x.com/StokeyUpdates/…

@Stokebrewington Why surprising? It always quite busy with a lot of deliveries. Of the 115 commercial properties I think there’s good amount of independents, but we’re still in an inner-city district, not a Cornish village so there’ll always be some chains. There’s something for everyone almost.

@Stokebrewington I asked this question a while ago and a pet shop and cheesemonger were top of the list.

@Stokebrewington I think when people come up with a wish list of shops they’d like to see in Church St, they need to be realistic and remember it’s a fashionable street and the rents reflect that. Most of the shops are rather small so goods will almost always be relatively costly.

“The secondary school used to let two year groups out for lunch every day. That was 400-500 extra bodies on Church St buying stuff. But that stopped a couple of years ago.” Saw this on FB. If correct, could it have contributed to the demise of the chip shop and Pronto Pizza?

Bye bye Pronto Pizza? x.com/_marieremy/sta…

I’m told building work started in the Coach & Horses which I understand is under new ownership. Hopefully it’ll reopen soon. It had a dimly lit, cosy atmosphere and felt rather intimate. It’ll be interesting to see the extent of the renovation and whether it’ll change much.

@HackneyYIMBY @PubsSaving Thanks

@old_school_alps I think that bringing a laptop stand is taking the piss personally. It makes the cafe look like a WeWork and ruins the atmosphere somewhat in my opinion. And ‘yes’ I think a laptop stand makes the difference in this case.

@Christo28907011 Reminded me of this scene from Fleabag youtu.be/hCWvDA2v694

RT @highamnews: Anton and Alina from Kyiv arrived to stay today. First stop: the delights of Stoke Newington’s Clissold Park… https://t.co/…

RT @HistoryOfStokey: Here’s my 8th annual photo survey of Stoke Newington Church St. 41 businesses have changed since 2015 (37%). You can v…

@jackstevensbass Deep pan Morning Special for me!

RT @Apparan2: STOKEY LOVE WALL by @apparan and @jellyjartist showing love to our community and brightening up the area.
Have a look at our…

Good news! Local business owner told me Pronto Pizza informed her they are renovating and are NOT closing. x.com/StokeyUpdates/…

@PubsSaving Any idea what’s going to open there?

RT @jellyjartist: STOKEY! Representing with @Apparan2 - our annual summer mural for #StokeNewington Met so many lovely supportive locals #N…

@ghostsigns @realnickperry That site was used a pop-up space for a while. A shame it’s not in any use any more. There a planning application a while back for a restaurant there.

@DrCSyn x.com/ghostsigns/sta…

@DrCSyn @realnickperry @ghostsigns The sign only appeared though after the business closed in 2017.

RT @zialuciapizza: We are ooooopen! Come and try our CARROT DOUGH 🧡 4 + 1 types of crust to celebrate the opening! 💥 #stokenewington 61 Chu…

@realnickperry @Howson_Halifax @VictorianLondon In response to my tweet about them a few days ago a number of people replied here and also on Facebook that they were replaced with trees eventually. I was surprised to see 4 in a narrow stretch of Albion Rd opposte Barton House and are quite close to each other as well.

@CKE1977 32 years in Church Street is a very impressive run

@LynRennick How so?

@bob_webstershaw I was a big fan of their Morning Special back in the day!

@standawhile @DownsParkE5 See this as well: public.flourish.studio/visualisation/…

RT @standawhile: @StokeyUpdates @DownsParkE5 Fascinating list. Who is now bemoaning the loss of the sadler, the stay and corset manufacture…

@HackneyEars @A_d_e_s_a_n_u Go for it. Is it confirmed that it closed? I guessing so from your tweet but wonder where a confirmation came from. Thanks.

RT @HackneyEars: @A_d_e_s_a_n_u @StokeyUpdates Hi, I'm collecting memories/photos of Pronto pizza for a nostalgia feature in the Hackney Ga…

@DownsParkE5 Nearly 40% of the businesses have changed in Church St since 2015. You can see here: bit.ly/amirstokey but as I explained in past tweets the change is about 3-4 every year and for various reasons. Easy to focus on the ones that close, not the ones that are open for years.

@DownsParkE5 When it opened in 1990 it was very likely the only pizza takeaway in the area. That has changed significantly in recent years. Also, 32 years in “Church St business years” is 320 years!

@old_school_alps Perhaps that’s information the council or a traffic management academic researching the subject will share in the future.

Worth keeping in mind when discussing current and any future shop closures in Stoke Newington x.com/BBCNews/status…

RT @Justin_Writer: Visited the @greenroomN16 cafe on Church Street, Stoke Newington this morning with my uncle who has been staying with me…

@IanPethick Possibly. Also this? ‘Shop sales slow as people rein in spending’ bbc.co.uk/news/business-… The truth is there are various external forces at play. While I totally accept recent road closures may have had some impact on some local businesses, they cannot be seen as the only reason

RT @IanPethick: @StokeyUpdates Had it on good authority that the people behind the excellent Marquess Tavern in Canonbury had taken it on.…

Drone footage over Stoke Newington Church Street (April 2022) youtu.be/D8zQf7qfY6Q

RT @lucyj_ford: stoke newington opening up a pret…. this will be the bane of my existence and the object of all my desires

@Roger89835988 x.com/clissoldlabour…

RT @ClissoldLabour: @StokeyUpdates We are in the pre election period so no announcements till later in may

@Roger89835988 Don’t know. Question for @hackneycouncil. Also, no confirmation this is in fact pavement widening. I’m merely speculating here.

Another option is this will be temporary pavement widening once work start on the Church St entrance to cemetery when a ramp is constructed on both sides of the gate, which will be raised. x.com/StokeyUpdates/…

Church Street changes all the time. Who remembers these two from way back in 2014?? x.com/StokeyUpdates/…

“As part of the NLHF funded Moonbeam Magic and to mark the 115th Anniversary of the Rio Cinema this FREE event will take us behind the scenes at this Hackney gem which holds the longest record for continuous operation as a cinema in the UK.” x.com/arts_unity/sta…

RT @MichaelBaggs: What’s the worst thing you saw this weekend? I’ll go first. How about this squirrel, sat up a tree in Stoke Newington eat…

“Approximately 70% of Hackney residents don’t own a vehicle, yet the kerbside remains dominated by parking. Our valuable kerbside space could instead be used for something to improve the urban realm for all, rather than simply using it for car storage.” x.com/Parklets_UK/st…

RT @TobyCrick: @StokeyUpdates They planted some this morning (on the dots) on the island in Lordship Terrace.

@ClissoldLabour any idea how many trees are due to be planted in the area and when please? Thanks.

@elekuentz The council removed considerable number of parking bays around Church St a few days before the Bus Gate became operational. It was said the traffic along those roads will be assessed and some bays may be reinstated, but I doubt that’ll ever happen so already less parking.

RT @gerireid: @StokeyUpdates These dots on our street turned into trees. I had hoped they were car charging points, our road already has a…

@DMatiqu Yes. I’m pleasantly surprised by the sheer number of them! Why don’t use they a green tree stencil instead though I wonder??

RT @thesupertouch: @StokeyUpdates Yep markers for new trees - we’ve had dozens planted in Clapton

Just saw it with a park keeper who said someone must have thrown it into the deer enclosure, as he cannot figure out how else it got in there. It’s with the baffled park keeper at the moment next to the deer enclosure. x.com/BelindaJEvans/…

@MicheleRagusa6 @JerichoConnect @chriskimber @andisn16 I actually genuinely can. I talk to local businesses and hear about their concerns. My point is that 3-4 businesses in Church St close every year, about this time as well. Any recent shop closure may or may not be linked somehow to a 6 month old Bus Gate. That’s all.

@JerichoConnect @chriskimber @MicheleRagusa6 @andisn16 Such as? And what’s the evidence please? Have you spoken to every business in Church St that closed recently to ascertain the reason why it closed?

@chriskimber @MicheleRagusa6 @andisn16 Church St is changing all the time :) see here: public.flourish.studio/visualisation/…

@ellemayhobson @andisn16 The owners Carol and Robbie Richards very sadly passed away in 2015.

@Slcanning There are 120 commercial properties in Stoke Newington Church Street. 2 have been vacant for more than 5 years and at any point there’s usually 1-2 vacant shops, that reopen after a few months following renovation work. We’re very lucky to have such a vibrant commercial street.

@Slcanning I heard from some local businesses they associate a drop in trade with the Bus Gate, and some had legitimate concerns I’m not dismissing, but none said they are closing down as a result. Definitely not after only six months.

You can see here that 3-4 businesses in Church St close every year docs.google.com/spreadsheets/u…. Usually Oct-Feb. It’s the nature of a commercial street. 35% of shops changed since 2015! The Bus Gate was introduced only 6 months ago. What business would close so quickly as a result?? t.co/BK05cQHRNQ

Andi’s Restaurant in 176 Stoke Newington Church Street lasted only 2 years a few years ago and that was before any LTN. You’d think she won’t jump to conclusions when a Church Street business closes down as to why that shop or restaurant closed. t.co/BK05cQHRNQ

@andisn16 You closed your restaurant in Stoke Newington after it was open for a year or so. Did that have anything to do with any road closure? :) of course not. Because it was before the LTN. Businesses close for many reasons as you know.

Businesses close for many reasons, and especially at the start of the year when leases run out. Other reasons are owner retires, dies, moves, divorces, family feud, poorly run business etc. does this butcher know for a fact all of these 4 businesses closed because of the LTNs? t.co/BK05cQZsFo

@janettemcullen @bloomthecat I’m sure there’ll be a lot of laptops there too! It’s like a mini WeWork for some.

The site of the future Pret Stoke Newington before it was a bank. Guess what? It was just a different chain! :) x.com/HistoryOfStoke…

RT @zialuciapizza: Stoke Newington opening Friday April 15 at 5:30pm. Toooo exciteeeed ❤️‍🔥 61 Church Street #stokenewington https://t.co/D…

RT @ClissoldLabour: So as many of you know after 8 years as a @ClissoldLabour councillor I (@SophieCam) will not be standing again at the l…

@StokeyLTN My thinking exactly. Given the locksmith has been there for 30+ years I suppose some people would drive there out of habit, knowing the locksmith and coming for a chat etc. so it’s more to some than ‘just’ getting a key cut. That said, they can only still pay a visit of course

@oshea369 @StokeyLTN Yes. From what some people claim about the impact of the Bus Gate, you’d think it’s been deserted for the last six months.

@StokeyLTN I was surprised to hear from the Church St locksmith that according to him a ‘significant’ number of customers drive down to get a key cut. I can only guess he knows where they all live and how they got to the shop that day.

Interesting figures. I wonder the extent to which they apply to Stoke Newington Church Street. Thoughts?? (@StokeyLTN) x.com/BrentToderian/…

@Christo28907011 @bloomthecat What do you think will make some people switch to Pret? I mean, people who’ll go to Pret would have otherwise get coffee and sandwich somewhere else, but plenty of options already which is why I don’t think any one business will feel significant drop in customers. Let’s see.

@Christo28907011 @bloomthecat I hope La Duchesse aren’t negatively impacted, but the reality is if your businesses is selling coffee, cakes and wraps and especially in Stoke Newington, you’re operating in a highly saturated market and that comes with significant risk. Plenty of cafes and bistros around.

@Christo28907011 @bloomthecat I don’t think I’m disagreeing with you, just trying to understand your perspective. Stoke Newington is very mixed, despite what some people might claim, which is why I think there’s room for different business types catering for different customer segments. Costa is very popular.

@Christo28907011 @bloomthecat Which ones in particular are you referring to please? The greasy spoon ones like Leo’s and Joseph’s? Again, very different proposition to Pret.

@Christo28907011 @bloomthecat People that go for brunch in an artisan Stoke Newington cafe aren’t going to change that in favour of a Pret sandwich.

@Christo28907011 @bloomthecat They won’t. Different demographic to an extent. I suspect those who frequent the independent trendy cafes go for the atmosphere and what they consider to be better quality coffee. Pret is a different proposition and similar to Costa nearby, appeals to a much wider demographic.

@graemebulcraig @bloomthecat I’m sure it will. Plenty of Pret customers now working at least a few days from home. Also getting a coffee or sandwich in one of the smaller, independent cafe/bistro isn’t for everyone. They definitely landed the best location for a business in Stoke Newington in my opinion.

Anyone knows when the Coach & Horses will reopen? A few people in the past few months here said it was under new management and will reopen but there doesn’t seem to be any activity there.

@StokeySye @SophieCam @askeweyewear I think it’ll be fairly busy and do OK. Looking across the borough and even around in Islington, you don’t have such shops apart from Broadway Market and Upper St (nothing similar north or east of Stoke Newington) so I expect they’ll attract enough of their target audience.

RT @hotdinners: Taking over the old Il Bacio site in Stoke Newington is the latest opening from the @zialuciapizza team https://t.co/Nwzed9…

RT @Brazelephantman: @TfL What's the deal with bus drivers getting as close to the curb as possible as they approach Stoke Newington Church…

@AnnMiddleton2 @j0nfn @welovestokey @realnickperry I’ll keep an eye. Will be good to have more trees around.

RT @hackneycouncil: Abney Park is closed today due to high winds. We will reopen the park when it is safe to do so.

RT @AbneyParkN16: You can't forage in Abney - but you can learn more about the many plants that exist here on this tour. Get your tickets…

RT @j0nfn: @StokeyUpdates @welovestokey any ideas on what these mystery symbols might signify, recently appeared on Winston Road and Clisdo…

@j0nfn @welovestokey Spotted them a few months ago and wondered as well. @realnickperry might know.

@GerardCorvin @michaelhogan @Telegraph x.com/stokeyupdates/…

RT @hackneygazette: A “party starter” from Stoke Newington joined Mel Giedroyc at Buckingham Palace to launch the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee…

Just heard from someone an elderly man had his phone stolen by a guy on a bike in Church Street near Foxtons.

RT @joncstone: NEW 🚲: An incredible way to cycle from Brixton to Stoke Newington with no traffic youtube.com/watch?v=MZHwbx…

RT @clissoldpeople: A huge thank you to everyone who turned up to plant our new hedging in the park - 175 plants in place and watered. http…

IKEA in Tottenham is closing down timeout.com/london/news/ik…

@StokeyLTN @ClissoldLabour @metecoban92 On the plus side, of all the LTN filters around, that’s the only one that’s being targeted and vandalised repeatedly as far as I can tell.

@AkashMapara @mildlysurprized Is it? :) looks like it’s going to be quite comfortable in Church Street around Foxtons, Wholefoods, Ollie Quinn etc.