Chalkhill Allotment Open Day Friday April 14th 14.00-16.30 - come and see our transformed green space

 

Chalkhill Community Growers ready for Spring planting and sowing thanks to Metropolitan Housing and Pinnacle

Gardeners at the Chalkhill Community Allotments beside the Metropolitan Line on Chalkhill Estate are delighted at works being undertaken by Metropolitian Housing Thames Valler who manage the estate and their maintenance team Pinnacle.

The allotments have been in existence for a number of years but were limited to some extent by the fact that the growing beds were made out of builders' bags that dried out quickly, limited the numbers of worms in the soil,  and collapsed without support.

Using rescued  decking Pinnacle have been constructing raised beds to replace the bags and compost has been provided.  At the same time the maintenace team have removed rubbish, cut the grass and cut back brambles and other vegetation.

The Chalkhill Community Growers* that now include the Lounge Cafe,  Daniel's Den and Chalkhill Primary School are very pleased with the results.

 

Before - the sack beds with one wooden experimental raised bed

 

Raised beds under construction (Photo: Amanda Rose)

 

After - this bed has wheelchair access

* Declaration of interest: I am chair of Chalkhill Comunity Growers Group

Peer Support Group at Chalkhill Community Centre - next meeting April 6th

Click on image to enlarge

A great eating place in Chalkhill, Wembley

A few years ago such a claim would have been met with disbelief but the Lounge Cafe at Chalkhill Community Centre has joined the amazing new Chalkhill Park (oposite the cafe),  the popular and high-achieving Chalkhill Primary School and the diverse local community in challenging the negative stereotypes that used to be attached to the Chalkhill Estate.

Maria Kuehen, Director of the Lounge Cafe says:

This is a second cafe, the first being in Kilburn which has received a Good Food Award (out of half a million food businesses we were one of 160 to achieve this) and also The Time Out Best Cafe 2105. 

Our philosophy is simple. We prepare everything on a daily basis. We make all our soups and specials, have an eclectic breakfast and brunch menu and have an 'ask and we will do our best' policy. 

My food blog mindingbellieswell.blogspot.co.uk has 500 entries which include local restaurant reviews and hundreds of recipes. 

I have also started my programme "Walk, Talk, Fork' at the cafe, aimed at individuals who want to better their health through exercise and healthy cooking lessons. 

People are welcome to book the cafe for an event, a lunch or dinner party as well and we also cater for take out food.

The Cafe is rapidly building a reputation beyond Wembley but retains its community feeling. A recent reviewer on Trip Advisor said LINK:

Of course, it's the first place you'd think of to go and have a good breakfast, not! I mean, c'mon, it's a café in a Community Health Centre. Who wants to eat in those sort of places? Well, put your pre-conceived ideas aside and check it out. Heard of hidden gems? Read on..

Light and airy space with fresh flowers on the table. Good menu choice and reasonably priced. Service was warm, welcoming and attentive. We had breakfast; smoked salmon and scrambled egg on toast for my partner and for me, breakfast burrito. Both delicious.

After settling our bill, and the owner realising we weren't locals, she took great interest in to what our plans were and also gave us a number of her personal recommendations as to where to eat in Central London. That's engaging.

We left very satisfied and what a lovely start to the day.

Visited March 2017

Here is the menu but remember the 'ask and we will do our best' policy:

Lounge Cafe, Chalkhill Community Centre, 113 Chalkhill Road, HA9 9FX  Tel:  07790 506609

Nearest station Wembley Park (Met and Jubilee) 83, 182, 206, 297 buses alight at station or 245 alight at ASDA.