Ealing North
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Steve Pound MP Ealing North |
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It's far from grim up (Ealing) North June 2004 It’s nice to be proved right once in a while. For years I’ve been banging on about the wonders of Ealing, and making the obvious point that it the best possible place to live in, while many have mocked me. Imagine my delight when I cast a bleary eye over the “Independent on Sunday” last weekend. I expect Mrs.P.to produce the freshly ironed paper on a tray tastefully decorated with fine linen, possibly a single rose in a fluted vase, and a large plate of thick cut marmaladen white bread toast and set off with a delicate serving of Irish Breakfast Tea in a cherished Fulham FC mug. In reality the paper was slung at me with the instruction to make my own breakfast if I wanted any. Normally I, like all reasonable people, read a newspaper from the back but on this morning my eye was guided magically to a feature on the Living London Awards “Celebrate Your Neighbourhood” shortlist. Readers should be sitting down at this stage when I tell them that out of all the London Boroughs Ealing has the best spread of nominations. In the “Best Gastro Pub” category the Ealing Park Tavern in South Ealing Road leads the field. I haven’t got a clue as to what a “gastro-pub” is and thought that it sounded like the proper name for a snail but the word “pub” does ring a few bells with me and good luck the Ealing Park Tavern. Best neighbourhood restaurant? The Siam Orchid in Acton, best neighbourhood bar? The Common Room on Grosvenor Parade by Ealing Common. Best original store category features the wondrous Darch and Duff on Northfields Avenue. A treasure house of delights presided over by the most friendly and helpful staff you could hope for. Acton swings it again in the Best Neighbourhood Gym list with Acton Baths and Harpers Fitness attracting the nominations and the best bookshop is, as if there was ever any doubt, the Pitshanger Bookshop. We only lose out in the Cinema and Theatre category – but we can work towards that. Then a cold hand gripped my heart. Where was Northolt in the list? What of Greenford, Hanwell and Perivale? Is this another example of the metrosexual urban elite seeing Ealing as only the Uxbridge Road? A quick call to the Editor on Monday won the promise that consideration would be given to a few additional nominations. Best Snooker and Pool Hall, the Hurricane Room on Greenford Broadway. Best all day breakfast – the Clock Café on Station Parade Northolt a few doors down from the best chip shop – the Sea and Land Fish Bar. South Asian food – the Spice of Hanwell, of course! When I rang back to propose an additional category (Best Pint of Guinness in London) I was rather snootily told that the list had closed and my nomination of the Pub that Keeps Changing its Name next to the Methodist Church on Ruislip Road, Greenford could not be accepted, despite my offer to undertake extensive in-depth research in my own time. Yet again the finest parts of the borough are scorned by the style gurus of the Capital, but do we care? I think not! The last thing that we want is hordes of fashionistas shuffling round Ealing North with “Independent” in hand looking for gastro-pubs. Let us glory in our best kept secret – the boundless joys of Ealing North. I’ll raise a glass to that! |
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| Disclaimer | Copyright | Designed by Bassam Mahfouz. Promoted by Julian Bell, The Labour Party, Ruskin Hall, 16 Church Road, W3 8PP on behalf of Steve Pound MP |
