Welcome

This week we've got the lowdown on Liam and Noel's North London property empire, plus some of their favourite drinking spots.

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Plus a one-night-only Italo-Chinese pop-up restaurant and the new Community Quilt project.

🎤Are the Gallaghers Finchleyites?

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Unless you’ve been living under a rock recently, you probably know that Oasis are reforming. You may even have digitally queued for tickets behind 249,000 other eager Oasisites.

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But the real question? What are the Gallagher’s North London connections?

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While originally from Manchester (like all the best people…) Liam and Noel have lived a stones’ throw from Finchley since the early ‘90s. In fact, as we take a “five miles from Finchley” approach, we might almost call them Finchleyites.

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Belsize Park & Primrose Hill

In Oasis' heyday in 1995, Noel lived in an £8 million property in Steele's Road, Belsize Park, with his wife Meg Matthews.

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He named the house Supernova Heights after Champagne Supernova, the closing track of their album (What's the Story) Morning Glory.

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They were the centre of the Primrose Hill set, hosting rock ‘n’ roll parties at the height of Britpop.

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At the same time, Liam lived with Patsy Kensit in Elsworthy Road, Primrose Hill, which was a hotspot for ‘90s stars including Kate Moss, Johnny Depp, Jude Law, Sadie Frost and Gwyneth Paltrow.

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In 2005, Davinia Taylor bought the house for £3.25 million and then sold it on to author and Britain's Got Talent judge David Walliams.

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In the noughties, Liam lived in Platt’s Lane with Nicole Appleton, part of 1990s girl band All Saints.

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Little Venice

Noel has also lived in Little Venice - here’s his £9m pad (on the market for at least three years) with a huge gym. The Warwick Castle is apparently his favourite local drinking hole.

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Maida Vale

After divorcing his publicist wife Sara McDonald following 12 years of marriage, he moved to Maida Vale. He decorated his bachelor pad in seventies gear from 1st Dibs.

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He told the Sun newspaper he lives near fellow rock stars Chrissie Hynde, Paul Weller, Glen Matlock from the Sex Pistols, Adam Clayton from U2 and Ronnie Wood from the Rolling Stones.

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Hampstead

Liam’s Hampstead residence had privacy issues, and the musician described being heckled by Oasis fans as soon as he opened the door of his home in Hampstead High Street as feeling “like you’re in a bad trip.”

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His favourite pub is said to have been the Prince of Wales in Highgate High Street, which he has been thrown out of numerous times.

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Muswell Hill

In 2019 the Mirror reported that Liam and fiancée Debbie Gwyther had moved to Muswell Hill.

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He has been seen running and walking on Hampstead Heath - once telling the Times "I don't want to sound like a hippy but it's great. I run. World to myself. Birds. Trees. No hassle from idiots."

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Check out Liam’s Sunday Times interview.​

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Highgate

They are now in Highgate. Their plans for a boundary wall and swimming pool have angered locals, including the Highgate Society, who say the plans will "ruin" the street.

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Bonus: top five Kentish Town hangouts for Liam and an Oasis Lover’s Camden Guide. 🎸🎤

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Events

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KIDS

Monday 2nd September

​Barnet Summer Of Fun - Get Active Give It A Go Swimming | Mon, Sep. 02 | Copthall, Finchley Lido and New Barnet Leisure Centres | Free to £1 | Free Swimming for children under the age of 8 while young people aged 8 - 15 can swim for just £1. Swimming can be for anytime throughout the day with no prebooking required.

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SPORTS

Saturday 14th September

​Kaishi Karate School Free Taster Session | Sat, Sep. 14 | Classes in Edgware, Finchley, Frien Barnet, Harrow, Muswell Hill, and Mill Hill | Free | These classes are designed to introduce your child to the discipline of Karate in a fun and friendly way.

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OLDER PEOPLE

Tuesday 3rd September

Beginners Clay Pottery Class | Tue, Sep. 03 | Ann Owens Centre, N2 8LT | £28 for 4 sessions | Pottery class for all newcomers to the art. Starts Tuesday 3rd of September and will continue for the next 3 Tuesdays | Email: helen.nicolaou@ageukbarnet.org.uk​

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MUSIC

Friday 20th September

​Collindale Barnet Folk Club Presents Linda Moylan | Fri, Sep. 20 | 8:00 pm | The Bull Theatre, EN5 5SJ | £6 | Linda Moylan is an Irish-born, London-raised folk singer-songwriter, soon to release her third full album ‘The Fool’. Her second album ‘The Merchant’ was produced by folk royalty Phil Beer.

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Sunday 22nd September

​An Evening of Musical Theatre with Enchord A Cappella | Sun, Sep. 22 | 7:00 pm | Lauderdale House, N6 5HG | From £15 | Test Of Time Entertainment is proud to present an unforgettable evening of musical theatre with Enchord a cappella group. Enchord is coming to North London with an innovative programme of musical theatre classics and contemporary material.

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COMMUNITY

Tuesday 10th September

​Biker Down! - Barnet | Tue, Sep. 10 | 10:00 am to 1:00 pm | Finchley Fire Station, N3 2RP | Free | A Biker Down! session is delivered by London Fire Brigade officers. The 3 hour session will equip you with practical life-saving skills covering: how to manage the scene if you come across a collision, motorcycle-specific emergency aid, how and when to remove a helmet and carry out life-saving actions.

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Friday 20th September

​Friday Night Funnies | Fri, Sep. 20 | 290 Chase Side, London N14 4PE | £13 | Chickenshed's comedy nights continue to light up with laughs, thanks to Resistance Comedy bringing in some of the finest comedy performers to grace our café performance space. Grab your drinks from the bar, enjoy some tasty snacks and strap-in for a night of funnies at this month's Friday Night Funnies.

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Thursday 26th September

​Harvest Community Feast | Thu, Sep. 26 | 6:30 pm to 9:00 pm | OmVed Gardens, Highgate | £30 | Join to celebrate the end of the growing season with an informal community feast celebrating good food, diversity, creativity and connection. Guests will be invited to create their own plates from a colourful display of produce, fermented spreads and seasoning showcasing the flavours of our homegrown harvest.

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FOOD

Saturday 7th September

​Kutchenhaus Cooking Experience | Sat, Sep. 7 | 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm | Kutchenhaus, 169 Finchley Road, NW3 6LB | Free | Exclusive networking event featuring live cooking from a professional chef, showcasing Neff's cutting-edge appliances.

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THEATRE

Saturday 7th September

​Su Pollard: Still Fully Charged | Sat, Sep. 07 | 7:30 pm | artsdepot, N12 0GA | £22 | Oh eck! It’s been 50 years... Meet Su and her accompanist live on stage to celebrate her 50 years in show business with a night of hilarious laughter, fabulous songs and wonderful stories.

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Friday 13th September

​The Gary Numan live experience 1979/80 | Fri, Sep. 13 | Millfield Theatre, Silver Street, N18 1PJ | £24.50 | Recreating the shows of the original 1979 and '80 tours is giving fans the opportunity to relive what was the pinnacle of Numan's career as he dominated the UK music scene and saw hits and sold out tours around the world.

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NATURE

Saturday 7th September

​Nature Journaling Workshop | Sat, Sep. 07 | 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm | Kenwood House, NW3 7JR | £5, Children go free | Nature journaling is a method of recording and collecting your observations through a variety of ways - note making, sketching, writing or whatever method works best for you.

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Saturday 21st September

​Fermentation Celebration | Sat, Sep. 21 | 4:00 pm to 9:30 pm | OmVed Gardens, Highgate | £20 | Everyone is invited to join us and explore the flavours and health benefits of fermentation - celebrating what we believe to be a crucial, forgotten art and ancestral practice.

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ARTS

Wednesday 4th September

​2D Or Not 2D | Wed, Sep. 04 | 10:30 am to 4:30 pm | The Visitor Centre, Stephens House & Gardens, N3 3QE | Free | Unleash your creativity and delve into the exciting world of three-dimensional sculpture in this innovative workshop. Learn how to transform flat card and paper cut outs into dynamic and expressive sculptures.

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Thursday 12th September

​An evening with thriller writers James Woolf and Sophia Spiers | Thu, Sep. 12 | 7:00 pm to | Colney Hatch Lane, N10 1HD | Free | This session is open to anyone who enjoys the thrill of a good mystery novel. Whether you're a long-time fan of local authors James Woolf and Sophia Spiers or looking to discover new authors, all are welcome to join this engaging evening.

Events - Book Ahead

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Saturday 28th September

​Muswell Hill Creatives - Autumn Makers Fair | Sat, Sep. 28 | 10:30 am to 5:00 pm | St James Square, Muswell Hil | Free | Muswell Hill Creatives is a dynamic collective of local artists, designers and makers who take pride in quality craftsmanship and promote creativity within the local community. The fair returns once again for the Autumn season.

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Sunday 29th September

​Make Some Noise | Sun, Sep. 29 | 11:00 am to 12:00 pm | artsdepot, N12 0GA | £12+ | Award-winning poet Dommy B shares a surprising story about growing up, finding a brilliant (but naughty) imaginary friend, becoming ‘Junk the Punk’ and joining a great school band (Whizzkid and the Veggie Burgers).

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Friday 13th December

​Tricity Vogue’s All Girl Swing Band | Fri, Dec. 13 | 7:30 pm| artsdepot, N12 0GA | £18 | Join cabaret star Tricity Vogue and her All Girl Swing Band on a joyous romp through their eclectic setlist, as they playfully mix vintage style with modern sensibilities and feel-good energy.

Local Lowdown

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Pop-up

• Epic Eats. Chef Marta Sandini brings her Italo-Chinese fusion feast back to North Finchley for a one-night-only culinary extravaganza. Dive into six courses of 'Ni Hao Ciao' at Holybella on Wednesday, 25th September. Reserve your spot at £70 per head.

TfL

• Transport twist. TfL's delayed shutdown on the Northern line's Edgware branch is happening. It was originally set from July 25-28th and then postponed. And now it's happening this weekend on September 7-8th. You've been warned.

Makeovers

• Green Thumb Galore. Golders Green Library's once neglected backyard is getting a £85,000 makeover. It'll turn into a lush sensory reading garden, thanks to Arts Council England. Expect planters, biodiversity boosts, and cozy nooks for outdoor reading. Step-free access included. Community planting workshops are on the horizon.

Quilting

• Crafting community. In Barnet, locals are stitching solidarity into every square of the new Community Quilt Project. This grassroots initiative weaves together the diverse threads of our area, from long-time residents to newcomers. It is creating a tapestry of unity against division. Join the movement and add your patch.

Works

• Traffic update. 'Billionaires' Row,' aka The Bishops Avenue, is closing its lavish lanes from September 10th for water works to take place. Prepare for a four-days of works, starting outside number 25.

How did Apex Corner get its name?

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Northway Circus, a busy roundabout in north London, is better known by its nickname, Apex Corner.

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Old maps refer to the area as Gibbs Green. The origin of the Apex name dates back to John Mortimer Drysdale, a WWI Royal Flying Corps pilot who, after the war, established a car service station near the roundabout.

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In 1931, he named it Apex Garage & Filling Station, with "Apex" symbolizing the best or peak. The garage became a local landmark, leading motorists to refer to the roundabout as Apex Corner. The nickname quickly caught on, appearing in Hendon & Finchley Times by 1936.

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John died in Barnet in 1970. The last occupant of the site was the Esso Mill Hill Petrol Station, which was eventually demolished and replaced by The Self Storage Company.

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if you ever wonder how Apex Corner got its name, it’s because a former WWI military pilot decided this was a good spot for a car garage.

Editors' Note - From Tessa

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This week I've been running my Don't Forget The Bubbles Conference in beautiful Christchurch.

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400 delegates over 3 days was fun. The littlest Davis came too and ran our Instagram account for us which was a massive success.

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Also, let us know about local events or local news. We curate our content to keep it a 5-minute read, so can't include everything we're sent.

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You can now get a guaranteed (paid) listing for local events or local lowdown/news items.

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​And email us with any projects or ideas you'd like us to write about.

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Tessa Davis Sasha Frieze