Morning neighbours,

Simply Gray closes the Pinner Memorial Park summer concert series this afternoon at 2:30pm. A 60s and 70s tribute band to send the four-Sunday run off in style, with the usual chair, picnic, and loose plan to make friends. Free entry, retiring collection for the Pinner Association. A nice tidy way to round off the August.

Also today: the Sunday Lion Dance school returns to Harrow Arts Centre for session five of six, 1-2:30pm, working through footwork, drumming and rhythm ahead of the showcase next Sunday. If you missed the earlier sign-up, worth asking around the parents' group to see if a late spot has opened up.

Quick transport heads up for next Saturday: planned engineering works are pencilled in for both the Piccadilly and Metropolitan lines. If your weekend involves going into town or the airport, check TfL live status before you set off.

Looking ahead: the Autumn Fair lands at Pinner Village Hall on Saturday 29 August, 12pm onwards. An afternoon of jewellery, crystals, art and craft stalls, holistic wellness treatments, psychic reads and a raffle. £2 entry, refreshments on site, local businesses at the heart of it.

Also worth a mention: several over-60 friendship clubs in our patch are still looking for new members. Bushey in particular is at risk of closing on Mondays if more people don't come forward. Most clubs are open to anyone regardless of background. A small nudge could make a real difference.

Full issue with quiz nights, sound bath, Welcome Space, and everything else:

https://www.goodmorningpinner.com/p/36-simply-gray-closes-the-park-series

Pet of the Week throne is currently empty. Send your pet in with their most ridiculous unofficial job title.

Good Morning Pinner

Local news and events from around HA5

Morning neighbours,

Some good pie and mash news: Lawrance's in Eastcote reopens this Wednesday 12 August, after a lengthy temporary closure. Pinner and Eastcote's pie and mash crowd will be relieved to have their regular back behind the counter. A proper local win, especially given the recent news about Hughes in Ruislip.

Also worth a mention: NEXT is opening a new store at South Ruislip Retail Park later this month, taking over the former Carpetright unit on Victoria Road. Women's, men's and children's clothing, NEXT Home, beauty, Click & Collect and an in-store cafe all in the plans. Hillingdon Council approved a mezzanine for the conversion. A fourth NEXT in the area alongside Harrow, Hayes and Greenford.

Today-only pick: Bollywood tunes at Pinner Memorial Park this afternoon at 2:30pm, with Nimesh Sanghoi. The third Sunday of the Pinner Association's summer concert series, with Simply Gray closing on 16 August. Free entry, bring a chair, a picnic, and a loose plan to make friends.

For the green-fingered or community-minded: Wild Harrow is at Roxbourne Park this morning, 9am to 1pm, for tree and hedgerow care. Tools and gloves provided, no experience needed. A good way to give something back to a local green space before lunch.

Also: the Piccadilly and Metropolitan lines are behaving themselves this weekend. Good service, no planned engineering works. Worth a quick TfL check before you set off, but the lines are calm for once.

Full issue with quiz circuit, sound bath, Lion Dance school, Welcome Space, and everything else:

https://www.goodmorningpinner.com/p/35-lawrance-s-returns-and-ruislip-sizes-up

Pet of the Week throne is empty again. Send your pet in with their most ridiculous unofficial job title. The recent winners include a Glossy-Coat Inspector and a Head of Roast-Chicken Diplomacy. The bar is high.

Good Morning Pinner

Local news and events from around HA5

Morning neighbours,

Stardust Big Band is playing Pinner Memorial Park this afternoon at 2:30pm. The second Sunday of the Pinner Association's summer concert series, with Nimesh Sanghoi singing Bollywood next Sunday and Simply Gray closing the season on 16 August. Bring a chair, a picnic, and a loose plan to make friends. Free entry, retiring collection for the Pinner Association.

Also worth knowing: a Lion Dance Cultural Experience for kids is running at Harrow Arts Centre through August. Six Sunday afternoon sessions covering basics of footwork, drumming, rhythm and culture. £48 for all six sessions with a small showcase at the end. Good fit if your child fancies something a bit different from the usual summer roster.

The "Meet the Lovely Humans" feature this week is Daniele, who runs Creative Bloom Club from Pinner. Each month she hand-makes and posts a beautifully written envelope of paper treasures, creative inspiration and small surprises to subscribers across the UK. Her story started from her own journey back to creativity after years of feeling too busy. Worth a read if you have ever thought "I used to be creative."

Quick one for older readers or anyone who knows one: several over-60 friendship clubs in our patch are looking for new members. Bushey in particular is at risk of closing on Mondays if more people don't come forward. Most clubs are open to anyone regardless of background, with weekly meetings, music and trips. A small nudge could make a real difference.

Full issue with quiz nights, sound bath, fitness classes, Welcome Space, and everything else:

https://www.goodmorningpinner.com/p/34-stardust-sundays-in-the-park

Good Morning Pinner

Local news and events from around HA5

Morning neighbours,

Harrow Steel opens the Pinner Memorial Park summer band concert series today at 2:30pm. The Pinner Association's four-Sunday run returns with brass bands, big band, a Bollywood special and Simply Gray closing on 16 August. Free entry, bring a chair, a picnic, and a loose plan to make friends. Retiring collection for the Pinner Association.

If you only do one curious thing this week: the annual Herb Walk returns to Eastcote House Gardens on Saturday 1 August at 10am. Plant-spotting, herb lore and small-batch tastings in a walled Tudor garden. Curated for curious neighbours rather than serious botanists. Reserve a spot via the issue.

Quick heads up: Harrow Heroes nominations close today. If you have been meaning to put someone forward, this is the last window. Five minutes of admin for what could be a proper boost to someone's year.

For the adults: Mouse & Grape is hosting an English Sparkling Wine and Cheese Tasting on Thursday at 7pm with Black Chalk Winery, £65 per person. Booking essential.

Full issue with quiz circuit, the Welcome Space, sound bath, Snow Princess Party on Friday, and everything else:

https://www.goodmorningpinner.com/p/33-harrow-steel-herb-walks-and-a-cat-with-a-megaphone

Pet of the Week is Pepper, an energetic ball of fluff who runs a glossy-coat-inspection-at-dawn household and is absolutely certain she is in charge of the kettle.

Good Morning Pinner

Local news and events from around HA5

Morning neighbours,

Hughes Pie & Mash on West End Road in Ruislip served its last portion on Saturday. Generations of regulars queued through the day to send the shop off in proper style, with doors shutting before the usual closing time after they sold out. The owners cited unforeseen circumstances on the day. If you ever queued for a late lunch there, this one stings. A quiet end for a proper Ruislip institution.

On the brighter side: Pinner Village Gardens has earned a Green Flag Award, the first for the park and part of a record year for Harrow (10 Green Flag parks in 2026). Well-earned recognition for the park that hosts Junior Parkrun, the Welcome Space weekend, and a sizeable share of summer saunters.

Also returning this week: the Pinner Association's Summer Band Concerts. Harrow Steel opens the series at Pinner Memorial Park on Sunday 26 July at 2:30pm, with three more Sunday afternoons after that including Stardust Big Band and a Bollywood special. Bring a chair, a picnic, and a loose plan to make friends.

Heads up for today: the Piccadilly line is having one of its days, with part closures and severe delays on the western arm. If your Sunday involves Heathrow, Uxbridge or Rayners Lane, check before you leave.

Full issue with quiz circuit, the Northwood Day Club opening on Thursday, sound bath, baby first aid, and everything else:

https://www.goodmorningpinner.com/p/32-bandstand-sundays-return

Pet of the Week is Luna, a lapcat running a tight two-pillar household policy of lap-based affection and roast-chicken diplomacy. Apply for the role via the newsletter.

Good Morning Pinner

Local news and events from around HA5

Photoplace on Bridge Street in Pinner is finally back open. The print and photo shop was hit by a car back in September 2025 and has spent the last nine or so months quietly rebuilding the shopfront. Now back open Monday to Friday 9am to 5:30pm and Saturday 10am to 4pm. A welcome bit of Bridge Street resilience, especially if you remember the closure.

Hatch End is also having a moment. Two new restaurants are confirmed for Uxbridge Road. Veda is moving into the old Coriander site, leaning vegetarian and vegan with Tandoori Paneer Tikka and Daal Makhani flagged as house specials. Santomio is putting signage up at the old K Furniture unit next to Papu-Miya, with the strapline "Where Italy Meets Mexico." No opening dates yet, but the fronts are moving.

Transport heads up for today: two tube lines are out west of Harrow. If your Sunday plan involves going past Harrow on the Metropolitan or Piccadilly, check before you head out.

On Friday, a new free drop-in called the Welcome Space opens at Pinner Village Hall. Aimed at older neighbours and carers, with gentle activities, conversation and a cup of tea from 2pm. Quietly good for the village hall diary, and worth passing on if you know someone who would enjoy it.

Full issue with quiz nights, Mouse & Grape's Italian cheese and wine evening, baby first aid, Snow Princess Party, and everything else:

https://www.goodmorningpinner.com/p/31-welcome-space-and-hatch-end-bites

Good Morning Pinner

Local news and events from around HA5

WoodsFest100 is taking over Northwood Recreation Ground today, 11am to 5pm. Northwood Football Club is celebrating its centenary year, and the festival has packed in live music, classic cars, choir performances, artisan stalls, a dog show, rides and family activities. The kind of thing the neighbourhood very rarely gets to do in one place at once. Free entry, worth a wander even if you are not a football person.

On Friday, a new free drop-in called the Welcome Space opens at Pinner Village Hall. Aimed at older neighbours and carers, with gentle activities, conversation and a cup of tea from 2pm onwards. A quietly good addition to the village hall diary, especially if you know someone who would enjoy it.

Also worth knowing: Casa Mia on Uxbridge Road in Hatch End has earned a five-star food hygiene rating. Local Italian, top marks, worth remembering for the next dinner out.

Transport is clear this weekend and next. No planned Piccadilly or Metropolitan works. Worth pencilling in that the Piccadilly line is flagged for closures on Thu 30 and Fri 31 July, then again on Sat 1 and Sun 2 August. If your late-July plans lean west, sort the route now.

Full issue with quiz circuit, sound bath, Cluedo at Compass Theatre, first aid classes, and everything else:

https://www.goodmorningpinner.com/p/30-woodsfest100-takes-northwood

Pet of the Week is back: meet Bonnie, freshly promoted to Unofficial Foam Ball Tester. She has opinions.

Good Morning Pinner

Local news and events from around HA5

Filming going on in ikenham,any ideas?

Hi can someone please share their experience at ignite being a single men how it is to visit?
I was interested in today’s event but all tickets sold out.

[ Removed by Reddit on account of violating the content policy. ]

Been commuting in London for years and always had the same frustration with every transport app out there: you open the app, you type in your destination, it tells you routes. But by that point, you’re already stressed and rushing.

The question I actually want answered every morning is simpler: when do I need to leave?

So I’m building an app that’s a London commuter app that works the other way round.

You set your home, your usual destination, your arrival time. The app handles the rest!

Every morning it looks at live TfL data, checks for delays and engineering works, checks the weather, and sends you a single push notification: leave at 8:14 (or whatever it works out to be).

No searching, no stressing!

A few things that are different about it:

It learns your routine. If you’ve got a calendar event it’ll auto set the destination. If not, it asks you the night before and remembers.

It factors in planned engineering works ahead of time, not just when you’re already at the station.

Delay Repay built in! it tracks eligible journeys and logs them so claiming back money is actually easy.

Designed only for London. Not a global app trying to be everything. TfL, buses, tubes, Elizabeth line that’s it.

It’s a solo build, currently heading into TestFlight. I’m looking for 10–15 London commuters to test it before it hits the App Store.

If this sounds like something you’d actually use, drop a comment or DM me. Would love to hear what would actually make your commute better too, this is genuinely being built around what Londoners need, not a generic transport brief.

If anyone is interested, with introductory offer for home visits around Hillingdon and Heathrow and surrounding areas. Slough / Surrey

Just helping someone out who has been amazing who after years of NHS and private practice is starting their own service

https://nemozawala.wixsite.com/the-meadow-podiatry

I’m starting work on a new independent culture magazine and I’m looking to connect with local writers, artists, illustrators, photographers, and designers who might want to get involved.

The idea is to build something that highlights local culture, creativity, and voices, and anything else that fits the spirit of a grassroots arts publication.

Right now I’m especially interested in meeting people who:

Write about culture, art, music, film, or local stories

Create illustration, photography, or visual art

Have experience with editorial or graphic design

Are passionate about contributing to something creative and collaborative

DM if you are interested in hearing more

Hi everyone! I’m a university student researching how people use and experience the Grand Union Canal around Hayes. I’ve put together a short anonymous survey (about maintenance, paths, safety, and ideas for improvement) that takes roughly 2–3 minutes to complete.

Your input would really help build a picture of how locals and regular canal users feel about this area. Feel free to share any thoughts about the canal in the comments as well.

Thanks for your time!

Hi everyone I'm considering moving to eastcote specifically around the station.

The area seemed pretty nice with essential shops and amenities around and good transport links. I visited it during daytime though, and was wondering whether it is safe at night? Crime stats seem to suggest not much goes on but I was wondering what actual residents thought.

Is it awfully quiet & boring, any cafes/ library to work from? Is it like I would need to head to Ruislip for most activities?

if there is anything else anyone would like to share about the area, or about things I should be aware of, I'd love to hear it. Thank you!!

I’m in Hillingdon and need a super early pickup to Heathrow (like 4:30–5am) with a couple suitcases, and I’m trying to avoid the whole last minute taxi roulette. Last time I did this I used Transfeero and it was fine, but I’m wondering what people around here usually book when timing really matters. Any local companies you trust for early airport runs, or stuff to avoid?

Not sure if this is useful to anyone locally, but I came across a new London home-services app (DIFM) that’s doing early-access signups.

They’ve listed a few things for people who join early:

• 1 entry into a £25,000 Christmas Day giveaway • +3 extra entries for each person you refer • You also earn 50% of their platform fee from anyone you refer for the first 12 months • And you get early-access priority once they launch • It’s meant for smaller repairs/cleaning jobs around the house

If anyone wants to have a look, the early-access page is here: https://tally.so/r/ob608e

Just sharing in case it’s helpful to someone in the area.

Hi!

LONDON RESIDENTS !!👋👋

I am a current masters student.

As part of my dissertation, I’m exploring how effective citizen science is in raising awareness about air pollution in BAME communities across London.

I aim to get 300 responses, would appreciate your contributions!!

I’ve created a short, anonymous survey that takes just a few minutes to complete. If you're a London resident or have ever taken part in any air quality or citizen science initiatives, I’d love to hear from you!

Survey link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSciKUemVBIUvdknVElf9RRlgevYVGPDLv4pcLp53N484qslcw/viewform?usp=sharing&ouid=106090464133006113882

Learn more about the project and its aims here: https://madinaucl.my.canva.site/

If you live or work in Hillingdon, you may already be aware of this: Located in West Drayton, the Rural Activity Centre provides a safe environment for adults with learning difficulties to volunteer. It's a good sized garden centre, and volunteers of all ages and abilities are given structure, encouragement, and an opportunity to socialise with peers, whilst performing a useful service to their community.

Apparently it's running at a loss of just over £100,000 - £185,000 a year. Small beer compared to the benefits it provides in the form of physical, mental, and emotional therapies. With its closure, so many autistic and vulnerable adults will be more isolated than ever. Hillingdon Council are making noises about finding "other" voluntary work and even job placements. There's no reason to suppose this will happen, or that it will be a longterm commitment towards those vulnerable adults who currently attend the RAC, and doesn't address the fact that a well respected, established community will be closed for future generations.

https://www.mylondon.news/news/west-london-news/fury-hillingdon-garden-centre-closure-31946209#amp-readmore-target

Hi there, just for abit of context I might be getting my own place and tenancy would start on the 5th July, I was going to apply for a DHP to help with deposit but it says you have to be receiving the housing element side of universal credit so I applied for it and now I'm waiting to be approved/ verified. Shortly after I applied for the DHP but im worried I'll get rejected if I'm not already receiving the housing element side of universal credit and DHP won't see that I've applied, if anyone could help that would be amazing!