Latest news with #PrimroseHill
Daily Mail
28-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
GAIL's bakery wins Deliveroo's top community champion award - amid 'gentrification' row and furious boycotts from hipster residents
GAIL's Bakery has won a prestigious award for its commitment to community engagement by a huge restaurant platform - as residents in trendy neighbourhoods are left up in arms over the stores opening in their areas. The upmarket bakery chain has been awarded Deliveroo's Heart of the Community gong in the Restaurant of the Year awards, celebrating its commitment to quality and community engagement. It comes as the upmarket bakery chain's rapid expansion has sparked boycotts and petitions throughout the UK, with many locals expressing concerns about the impact on independent businesses and the character of their communities. In November last year, GAIL's announced it would be opening a new branch in Primrose Hill and locals quickly defaced the shops hoardings with graffiti which said 'Fail's – Go Away'. Meanwhile residents of Walthamstow Village fumed when they found out the chain was opening on their high street in 2024. Locals claimed the branch was the 'ultimate sign of gentrification' and will see independent coffee shops lose trade. It led to hundreds of people signing a petition against the opening after the chain announced plans to open 35 new UK sites. Last year, the Heart of the Community accolade went to a local family-run cafe in Rushden, Northamptonshire, Happy Mondays. The judges, who included notable food critic Jimi Famurewa, were inspired by the cafe's community-first ethos, which included supporting local suppliers to serving fresh, locally sourced food and products, as well as fundraising for local charities and hosting markets and events for Rushden residents to enjoy. The independent café pipped Gail's to the post in 2024 and also fended off competition from Wingstop, GAIL's Bakery, and Zambrero Ireland. The Deliveroo Restaurant Awards' mission is to celebrate the best and most loved independent restaurants across the UK and Ireland. The website explained the reasoning behind awarding GAIL's the accolade this year. It read: 'GAIL's has supported local charities since it first originated, equating to over 99 charities in the past 18 years, namely through their partnership with Neighbourly, donating surplus food to over 400 local charities and organisations in their communities. 'This partnership goes back to what GAIL's is – a modern neighbourhood craft bakery, integrated into communities.' Despite the recent backlash, GAIL's continues to thrive, with plans to open additional branches in various locations. In the year to February 2024, it achieved a turnover of £232 million, up from £182 million the previous year, according to the most recent accounts it has filed at Companies House. Known for its artisanal pastries and upscale clientele, the bakery has even become synonymous with the so-called 'GAIL's effect' — the idea that a new branch signals rising house prices and accelerating gentrification in the area. This theory is backed up by Brandling-Harris, who owns the House Collective estate agency, and who has lived in Primrose Hill for 15 years. Speaking to Mail Online he said: 'GAIL's is good for the area, it's a community hub. It is really consistent – good sandwiches, good coffee. And, importantly, it has filled a void. This was an empty site before.' Many local residents, however, would have preferred to see an independent business open, rather than another outlet from a rapidly expanding chain. Primrose Hill critic, Cuitlahuac Turrent, told the Mail Online: 'It could destroy local neighbourhood bakeries with its bland, soulless food and atmosphere.' Another resident, Martha Swift, who owns Primrose Bakery which opened 20 years ago said: 'There are just so many GAIL's. There are five others within walking distance. She added: 'It is really tough to run an independent business on the high street at the moment – the cost of ingredients has gone through the roof, it's a nightmare. Then there's the price of electricity, plus the cost of business rates. You just can't pass on these costs to customers.' 'A chain like GAIL's can afford to lose money, whereas if you are an independent business you have to make a living.' This concern was so accurate that when GAIL's moved into Walthamstow last year, a petition garnered 1,800 signatures. 'It's about choosing inclusive growth, preserving diversity and creating equitable and sustainable local economies,' the petition claimed. Locals in the East London enclave spoke to MailOnline about their concerns as some fought to stop the upmarket bakery opening. Some business owners claimed local resistance was down to the firm's pro-Brexit and anti-lockdown chairman Luke Johnson, who called some eco activists 'alarmists'. There is an apparent feeling that Mr Johnson does not align with the politics of the area, which backed Remain in 2016 and has had a Labour MP for more than 30 years. Residents also feared GAIL's could put independents out of business, while others claimed that the plans were 'not great for coolness factor' and the chain was 'probably out of reach price-rise for a lot of the community'. Others pointed out that while they liked GAIL's and had visited other branches, they did not agree with it coming to Walthamstow and would instead support local firms. Resident Fanie, 30, painter, said: 'Gail's coming in, it's not great. The Gail-sification of London. That's why I don't want to live in Wanstead, I don't want to live in Leyton, I want to live somewhere with cool and interesting stuff - not stale pain au chocolate. Sorry, Gail's.' Misha, 35, human resources worker, said: ''I quite enjoy that there are local coffee shops here. I like Gail's, I would go there if it was here, but I do try and shop local if I can.' Dawn, 50, local resident, added: 'I think any new business in the area is great, but I think the concentration just on the village is disproportionate to the rest of Walthamstow. 'The gentrification of the area is fantastic, but I think it needs to be spread out and some of these bigger chains need to come and revive the high street and not just concentrate on the most affluent areas of the borough.' Meanwhile Gail's was also met with a new backlash for the same reason in Bath recently. Chief executive Tom Molnar has slammed claims the chain is ruining high streets, as they spread at a rate of a new shop every fortnight. Mr Molnar has insisted that he only ever wanted to give the customers choice. 'We build small sites so they are a part of a diverse high street, so whenever I build a Gail's I think what it would be like if I was a resident here,' he told The Times. 'I'd encourage people to look at what we're trying to do, rather than taglines. There's good independents and bad, and good chains and bad chains.' Gail's Bakery started as a single store in Hampstead, north London, and slowly began to spread across the capital before cherry picking new towns and cities to set up in. The chain now has more than 130 shops across Britain already and is seen by many as the successor to Waitrose, with plans now in place for new sites to be opened across Britain. Mail Online have reached out to Gail's Bakery and the Deliveroo Restaurants of the Year Awards for comment.
Daily Mirror
24-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Soap icon devastated over mum's cancer death - 'I'll never get over it'
After losing her mother 12 years ago, Davinia Taylor couldn't bear the thought of dying young and leaving her four sons early, so she transformed her diet and lifestyle to ensure she'll be healthy for decades to come Ten years ago, Davinia Taylor felt old before her time. 'Bearing in mind I hadn't drunk for five years, I felt hungover, sluggish, I had no self-esteem and no get-up-and-go,' she says. 'Life was like walking through quicksand.' So the Hollyoaks actress changed her diet and lifestyle, dramatically transforming her physical and mental wellbeing, which, in turn, sparked a passion for health and wellness that inspired her 2021 book It's Not A Diet and Hack Your Hormones in 2023. And the results are startling. Davinia, now 47, has discovered – thanks to a GlycanAge blood test that identifies chronic inflammation – that she has a biological age of 20. 'I feel better than I ever did in my teens, twenties or thirties,' she says. 'Internally, you could be ageing ferociously and you don't even know it.' In fact, she reports that the average woman in England and Wales spends 23% of her life in poor health. That's the statistic that prompted her shift of focus towards the idea of 'healthspan' – the number of years we spend in good health – rather than just lifespan. 'Research shows only 25% of differences in lifespan is down to genetics. The rest is down to what we do,' she says. Already a wellness entrepreneur with her own supplements brand, WillPowders, Davinia has now done a deep dive into the world of health longevity and the result is Futureproof: Build Resilience, Feel Younger, Live Longer, which distils extensive in-depth research into a game-changing, accessible wellbeing bible that she hopes can help women everywhere. Davinia may seem like an unlikely health guru. A former party girl who was part of the 90s Primrose Hill set, she socialised with Kate Moss and Sadie Frost, and married first husband Dave Gardner, David Beckham's best friend. Life looks very different today. Happily wed to builder Matthew Leyden, she has four sons aged nine to 17. Davinia has been sober for 16 years and practises what she preaches, following the science to stay fit, healthy and active for as long as she possibly can. And it's clearly working – she glows with health and has an enviable line-free complexion that is testament to her lifestyle. But while many are motivated by vanity, Davinia is driven by something more profound – her mother's death from cancer at the age of 60. 'That was 12 years ago and it's still too much for me to deal with,' she says. 'I'll never get over it. And I'm coming up to my 50th. If I think about my boys going through losing me, not having a grandmother for their children and everything I'd miss out on... suddenly mortality is very much on my radar.' One of Davinia's key discoveries was that her supposedly 'healthy' low-fat diet was having a disastrous impact on her wellbeing. 'After my mum passed away, I didn't realise that I was eating unhealthily. I was eating five or six portions of wholegrains a day, a low-fat diet and not much meat.' But she felt hopelessly lethargic. 'If I was going to the supermarket, I'd always park in the mother-and-baby space. And if there wasn't a space, I'd drive home.' Then she learned that her brain was insulin resistant, due to over-exposure to sugar. She addressed this by taking a tablespoon of MCT oil (a type of easily digested fat), which boosted her brain energy and reduced hunger pangs. She also changed what she eats. 'My diet is very meat heavy now. Meat and two veg makes sense, that's what we evolved on. I have a super-high calorie intake because I've got such a high-fat diet. But it's not about calories, it's about the nutrition you're getting that will stop you snacking.' Her ideal snack, though, isn't 'a handful of nuts and a corner of dark chocolate', she was a crisps and mint Aero girl, so making these changes didn't come naturally. She explains, 'We've had our palates hijacked by the five big companies that make 95% of our snacks – but you can hijack them back. I don't get cravings any more, unless I'm due on my period or something stressful has happened – even then, I'll crave a big sandwich, not a mint Aero.' And she's determined to help others do the same. 'Growing numbers of people are dying of chronic diseases,' she says. 'We're living longer, but we're living worse.' Futureproof: Build Resilience, Feel Younger, Live Longer by Davinia Taylor (Orion Spring), £16.99, is out now How to stay forever young Davinia Taylor's simple tips for slowing down ageing, boosting energy and feeling great: EAT FOR VITALITY Most age-related diseases are linked to chronic inflammation, and processed food is a key cause – cut it out. Reduce your intake of sugary foods. Try intermittent fasting – eating all your meals between 11am and 7pm – as it repairs and regenerates cells. Plan meals around protein. It curbs cravings by steadying blood sugar and supports muscle growth. GET STRONGER People who move more live longer. Just 90 minutes each week can reduce your risk of dying from all causes by 14%. I run daily for 20 minutes – not to lose weight, but to help my brain. ○ Join a gym and build muscle. CALM DOWN Alcohol might feel like instant relief, but you won't get deep sleep and your anxiety will fly up the next day. Ditch the 'treat yourself' mentality (sugar is linked to anxiety) and get outside. Enjoy sunlight, exercise and connection.
Daily Mail
22-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
The celebrity hotspot besieged by e-bikes: Primrose Hill restaurant says dozens of cycles are being dumped on doorstep and blocking deliveries
A Primrose Hill restaurant popular with celebrities is being besieged by e-bikes after a parking bay was installed on its doorstep. Greek restaurant Lemonia, which has been a staple of the trendy suburb for 50 years, regularly has up to 60 Lime and Forest bikes dumped outside. Owner Anthony Evangelou said the addition has caused havoc for his business - popular with celebs such as Madonna and Harry Styles - and is considering taking legal action. The 80-year-old claimed the bikes leave the restaurant's deliveries entrance blocked and disrupts the day-to-day running of the business. When the parking space is full, Lime and Forest users leave their bikes on the pavement or down the street, Mr Evangelou said, which he claimed is 'dangerous' for his customers and stops neighbours leaving their garages. As a result of the chaos, Mr Evangelou has even had drivers threaten to stop delivering to him, because of how difficult it is to reach the restaurant. Mr Evangelou, who lives with his wife in nearby Highgate, said: 'The parking spot was put there a few months ago and it has been getting worse and worse ever since. 'Bikes are piling up outside our restaurant and they're not being left in the designated area. Our entrance we use for deliveries is blocked - and drivers can't get our food to us. 'Some have even threatened to not deliver because they can't carry the stuff into the restaurant as the bikes are in the way. 'That can't happen. We have lots of customers. We need our deliveries. 'Some of the bikes get dumped on the pavement which is dangerous for customers. And some are put outside our neighbour's garage. 'He's a doctor. He needs to get out for emergencies and at times hasn't been able to. 'It's frustrating because Camden Council gave us an outdoor space for our restaurant. Why are they ruining it with the bikes? 'Whoever decided this was the place for a parking spot made a bad decision. 'And that's alright. Everyone makes mistakes. But mistakes should be rectified.' The parking space outside Lemonia was brought in back in February after companies like Lime and Forest were criticised for allowing users to leave their bikes anywhere. Now, users have to end their ride in a designated bay, such as the one outside Lemonia. But Mr Evangelou said that other businesses shouldn't be punished as a result. He said: 'This designated parking area is in the wrong place. It should not be outside a restaurant. But it also shouldn't be moved and just impact a different business. 'Highways teams need to figure out spaces where the bikes can go without disrupting people - such as near traffic light crossings. The parking space outside Lemonia was brought in back in February after companies like Lime and Forest were criticised for allowing users to leave their bikes anywhere 'It shouldn't be that the bike companies benefit and the rest of us get punished. 'The system shouldn't work like that. 'We're considering taking legal action if something isn't done about this.' To make matters worse, a huge bin for nearby flats was also recently placed outside the restaurantwhich has resulted in 'mountains of rubbish' piling up on the street. This, combined with the e-bikes, has left Mr Evangelou concerned about the impact this may have on the reputation of leafy Primrose Hill. Lemonia is popular with locals and celebs alike - with A listers such as Madonna, Harry Styles, Kate Winslet and Matt Smith all reported to have dined there. Mr Evangelou said: 'Name a celebrity - they've been here. I just think the bikes will bring down the atmosphere of the restaurant. 'And is this the image we want to give of Primrose Hill - a popular destination to visit?' Responding to Mr Evangelou's concerns, a Lime spokesperson said: 'We never want our e-bikes to obstruct access for residents or local businesses. 'The recent good weather has seen record demand and trip numbers in Camden, particularly around the borough's popular green spaces and hospitality venues, including in Primrose Hill. 'While it's encouraging to see more people choosing sustainable transport, we understand the frustration when bays become overcrowded. 'We've increased our on-street team working in Camden and are monitoring this location closely to help keep the area accessible for everyone.' Meanwhile, Alex Berwin, head of policy at Forest, added: 'At Forest, we take all reports of any of our e-bikes causing an obstruction extremely seriously, particularly when it inhibits access or obstructs the public highway. 'We are committed to operating a safe and responsible service for our users and the communities we operate in. 'Our Operations team are operative 24/7, and we have a dedicated team of on-foot Guardians in Camden who proactively relocate abandoned e-bikes and tidy parking bays. 'This is in addition to in-app AI technology we have implemented into our app which grades users' end-of-ride photos and can detect when an e-bike is left irresponsibly, and after which we will warn, fine or suspend their account.' A spokesperson for Camden Council said: 'A dockless bike and e-scooter hire bay was installed at this location following a full consultation with residents and local businesses, with the aim to encourage active travel and improve local air quality and reduce carbon emissions. 'We will monitor the use of the bay and work with bike providers to ensure that any excess bikes are removed promptly.'
Daily Mail
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Gail Porter and Muse frontman Matt Bellamy seem in good spirits as they attend Primrose Hill dog show in north London
Gail Porter and Muse frontman Matt Bellamy seemed in good spirits as they attended the Primrose Hill Summer Festival & Dog Show in north London on Sunday. The festival saw a host of dog owners descend upon Regents Park with their pets looking as cute as ever ready to be judged by a panel including former model Gail, 54. The TV personality wore some blue jeans teamed with a pair of Adidas trainers and a green bomber jacket for her day as a judge. Singer Matt, 46, who too donned a green bomber jacket for the occasion, was one of the many dog lovers vying to win the competition. Unfortunately for the Muse singer, his dog was not lucky enough to be placed in the top three. Matt was gracious in defeat nevertheless and posed for a picture with the competition's adorable winner - 13-year-old miniature schnauzer Arnie. As well as the dog show, the Regents Park festival featured a host of entertainment for attendees to enjoy. 'Celebrating all things Primrose Hill', the day saw a host of Londoners soak in the sun while enjoying live music, tea and cake, traditional fairground rides and a great selection of street food. All of the donations received by the dog show were used to support community programmes at St Mary's Church Primrose Hill. Gail's appearance as a judge at the show comes after she opened up about her 'special bond' with Prince William in an interview with The Mail on Sunday last month. The pair had bonded over a shared concern for the plight of the homeless, with Gail having been on the streets herself. The Prince of Wales and the Scot struck up a friendship last year when she was invited to Windsor to became an advocate for his charity, Homewards. Gail said: 'It took me by surprise when I got the letter with the royal seal. My first thought was what have I done wrong? The festival saw a host of dog owners descend upon Regents Park with their pets looking as cute as ever ready to be judged 'But it was signed by Prince William, and it said he'd like me to come and have a chat about his Homewards idea and how he's hoping to eradicate homelessness in the next few years.' Homeless charities have always been close to Gail's heart ever since she was declared bankrupt in 2017 and was forced to sleep rough and spend six months on friends' sofas and in their spare rooms. 'No one knew. I was too embarrassed to tell anyone I was homeless. It can happen to anyone, but I never thought it would happen to me,' added Gail, who began her career on Children's BBC Scotland, Top of the Pops, Children in Need and The Big Breakfast Desperate to help others in the same plight, Gail had no hesitation in rising to the occasion when she received William's letter. But when she met him for the first time to discuss the charity, she was unfazed by the imposing surroundings of Windsor Castle and the presence of royal courtiers and was her usual chatty, warm self. 'Everyone else was shaking William's hand but I just went in for a hug. When my friends saw it in the papers, they said, 'Oh my God, you didn't just do that!' 'But he's just another human and now he's used to me going in for a hug every time we meet. 'He must have known about my background and when I was leaving, he said, 'Is everything all right with you now?' And I said, 'Yeah, it's all right.' And he said, 'Okay, I'm glad.' 'We all need to feel we belong and that we are not nothing, and Prince William makes those connections. He really listens and is interested, and then he acts. He doesn't just nod sympathetically.' Homewards is a £500,000 five-year project funded by the Royal Foundation attempting to help homeless people find accommodation and employment.
Daily Mail
26-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
EDEN CONFIDENTIAL: Sienna Miller spotted at 'party rottweiler' Fran Cutler's 62nd birthday - but former Primrose Hill friend Kate Moss is nowhere to be seen
Sienna Miller was among the guests at Fran Cutler's 62nd birthday party this week, but there was no sign of Kate Moss, for whom the host used to act as 'gatekeeper'. In the 1990s, Fran was known as the 'party Rottweiler' for the Primrose Hill set. She would organise hedonistic gatherings for Moss, 51, and her friends, while refusing to admit anyone who she deemed not important enough to join them. The supermodel was conspicuous by her absence at the birthday bash in London, at South Kensington's Nexus Club. Surely Moss can't still be sore about an unfortunate incident that happened between the pair back in 2018? That year, Cutler, pictured, accidentally sent an unflattering message about Moss's appearance directly to her. Hollywood star Sienna, 43, wore a white slip dress under a brown Denebola jumper and was joined at the party by her boyfriend, actor Oli Green, 28, who appeared in Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy. The smart set's talking about... Pearson follows polo pal and pops the question too My colleague Vere Harmsworth's engagement to horse-loving Alexandra Wood seems to have inspired another. I hear Vere's best friend George Pearson also got down on bended knee last week. 'I proposed while we were on holiday in the south of France,' says George, 29, whose father, Charles Pearson, is the half-brother of Viscount Cowdray and owner of Dunecht estate in Aberdeenshire. George's bride-to-be is lawyer Chesca Durnford, 30. 'Vere and I did discuss things beforehand,' George tells me. The double engagement amused the family of Vere, 30, whose father is Viscount Rothermere, chairman of the Daily Mail and General Trust plc, publishers of the Daily Mail, Mail Online and The Mail on Sunday. 'George and I were at Eton and Oxford together,' Vere says. 'We also played in the same polo team.' They will not, however, have a joint celebration. George says, laughing: 'I think we'll stick with separate weddings.' (Very) modern manners West End star Ruthie Henshall, an ex-girlfriend of Prince Edward, may return to the Big Smoke to find Mr Right. 'I've thought about moving back to London and getting an apartment,' says the Olivier Award-winning actress, who lives in Clacton-on-Sea, Essex. 'I do have this lovely thatched cottage. I could stay here, but most of my life is in London. How can I meet people if I am not going anywhere?' Henshall, 58, who has two adult daughters with her ex-husband, actor Tim Howar, has not enjoyed online dating. 'I did that twice, but found it awful,' she says. 'I didn't match with many people and some would drop off halfway through a conversation. It's just swipe, swipe, swipe.' Fatboy's boy surprises DJ dad with award As superstar DJ Fatboy Slim, Norman Cook would fly to Ibiza one day and be back behind the decks in London the next. These days, the former Housemartins bass guitarist, 61, doesn't seem to leave his home in Hove, East Sussex, very often. But he did turn up at the Music Producers Guild Awards this week, in east London, to collect a prize for Outstanding Contribution to UK Music. And he was taken aback when his son, Woody, 24, came out to present it to him. 'It takes a lot to get me up the A23 [to London from Brighton], but this is great,' Cook joked. Woody's mother is the DJ's ex-wife, broadcaster Zoe Ball, who Cook last month said remains a close friend and his 'soulmate'. The awards were described as a 'magic moment' by his son. Medal for Wood's forgotten war hero He has walked the length of the Nile and been embedded with Iraqi troops fighting ISIS, and now Levison Wood has completed an even more poignant mission. The TV explorer went to India to present a Second World War veteran with a Burma Star medal and a letter from King Charles. Corporal Con Herh, of the Burmese Chin Rifles, who turns 100 in June, served in the Burma campaign. 'We tracked this guy down, he never received his medal,' says ex-Army officer Wood, 42. 'We thought it'd be a nice touch to go and meet him.' Aspinall curse as Tansy shuts brand Has the Aspinall name been jinxed? A week ago I disclosed that Aspers Group – the casino company founded by Damian Aspinall – had gone into administration. And his daughter, Tansy, has now put her jewellery firm, into liquidation. Tansy, pictured right, set up Tada & Toy with a friend in 2013 and fans were said to include Harry Potter star Emma Watson. But now £119,000 in debt, the company has been brought to a halt. 'It's not goodbye, it's see you later,' the website says. Tansy, 35, last night declined to comment. Townshend: the fame got to Rod and Jagger The Who guitarist Pete Townshend, who turns 80 next month, clearly feels it's time to tell some home truths about his fellow rock stars Sir Mick Jagger and Sir Rod Stewart. Talking about the latter's band, he says: 'The Faces and The Who did a gig together at The Oval [in 1971]. It was such a great day, and they were such a great band. 'Then Rod became the "face" of The Faces, a sex symbol. And I hope he won't mind me saying this, because I love Rod, but I think it kind of went to his head.' Of Rolling Stones singer Sir Mick, Townshend questions whether riches have made him happy. 'I wonder, for example, whether Mick Jagger really gives a f*** whether he has a plot on Mustique where he can spend Christmas, or whether he'd prefer to come and have dinner with a bunch of friends in London,' he says.
