September 2025

With real ale, real community spirit and really good causes, Wanstead Beer Festival returns this October with more brews, new names and a fundraising mission. Paul Donovan reports

The third Wanstead Beer Festival is set to return on 4 October. Bigger and better than ever, there will be more beers and ciders this time, topping the 50 mark. Gin, wine, prosecco and a selection of soft drinks will also be on offer. Our hosts, Christ Church, will again be offering their superb burgers and hot dogs.

Among the beers to look out for are Milestone Brewery’s Cromwell Best, a deep, slightly malty bitter. Then, there is the lighter East London Brewing Company favourite, the award-winning Cowcatcher. The always popular, champion-winning beer Captain Bob from The Mighty Oak Brewing Company will again be available. And those who like a dark beer can’t go far wrong with Brentwood Brewing Company’s stout Walrus of Love. Harvey’s Brewery’s Sussex Best will be on tap.

Among the ciders, there will be a good selection from Somerset-based Farmer Jim. Get in early for the tasty Rhubarb Bob.

The Wanstead Beer Festival is once again seeking to blend the local with national in the selection of beers. Among local breweries contributing are Brentwood, East London, Redemption, Neckstamper, Pillars, Pressure Drop, Mighty Oak and Pretty Decent. These are tough times for the hospitality sector, with pubs and breweries under pressure. Thousands of pubs are closing every year; it is a real case of use them or lose them. So, we all need to do our bit to support the sector.

Sadly, since last year, Walthamstow brewer Beerblefish has stopped trading. They were an early backer of the Wanstead Beer Festival. Whilst Beerblefish will be missed, we have a new brewery to add in Leyton-based Libertalia. It is hoped that among Libertalia’s offering will be the popular new bitter Private Eye.

Tickets are selling fast, so don’t miss out. Bought in advance, tickets cost £10, which includes the unique beer festival glass. This year, there is a new twist, with a bit of colour added. Tickets on the door will be £12 and we aim to keep drinks around £5 a pint.

Proceeds from the event are to be split between three charities: the Wren Wildlife Group, Wanstead Community Riding Stables and the Christ Church restoration fund. The funding for the stables will be going towards buying a big horse. “A horse that is safe, strong, kind, well-schooled and suitable for riders with disabilities,” said a member of the fundraising team.

Thanks go to all the local businesses who have sponsored the event and helped make it possible. The Wanstead Beer Festival is a real community effort all round.

The Wanstead Beer Festival will take place in the halls of Christ Church on 4 October from 1pm to 11pm. For more information and tickets, visit wnstd.com/beer

The Parish of Wanstead’s Heritage Lottery Fund bid to save Christ Church’s tower will be decided this month.

“The tower needs significant work to make it structurally sound. This will cost hundreds of thousands of pounds,” said Rev James Gilder.

As part of fundraising efforts, 70 people from Wanstead completed a sponsored walking pilgrimage to Canterbury in July, raising £13,000.

“We’re determined to ensure Christ Church remains a much-loved feature of the local landscape for years to come.”

Visit wnstd.com/inspire

There’s a buzz in the air. Just like in the grand drawing rooms of Wanstead House in the early 19th century, word is spreading: something’s happening in Wanstead, writes Camille Leadbeater

Wanstead House, a mansion built in the 18th century, was once home to Lady Catherine Tylney-Long and her husband William Wellesley-Pole, known for his wild and outrageous lifestyle. The couple hosted events of legendary opulence, none more so than a dazzling celebration in 1814 marking Napoleon’s defeat by the Duke of Wellington. That day, Wanstead became the epicentre of high society, not just for its guests, but for the crowds who gathered outside, climbing trees just to catch a glimpse. It was one of the most lavish social events the area has ever seen.

Over a thousand locals rushed to the grounds to share in the festivities. You didn’t need a printed invitation to know something was happening at Wanstead House that day – you just felt it, heard it, maybe you saw the carriages lining up. The privileged few went inside; the rest found ways to be part of it anyway.

Fast-forward over 200 years, and Wanstead is still a place where stories unfold and people come together. But today, everyone is welcome – not just the titled, the wealthy or the well-connected.

At Wanstead Fringe 2025, the message is clear. Outside every venue, you’ll see a banner: ‘Something’s happening here’. It’s a public invitation, not a private summons. Whether it’s a play at The Bull, a film at The Curtain or a throwing class at Wanstead Pottery, you are part of it.

In that spirit, we can look back to Geraldine Roberts’ 2015 book, The Angel and the Cad: Love, Loss and Scandal in Regency England. Roberts brought to life the glamorous world of Catherine and William, retelling the tale of the party that transformed Wanstead into the centre of London society for one shimmering moment. Back then, it was about being seen. Now, it’s about being included.

As part of this year’s Fringe, and in homage to the glittering world of Lady Catherine, we invite you to a unique and atmospheric event on Thursday 12 September to mark the 200th anniversary of her death. In this reflective tribute, we’ll bring the past vividly to life with readings, music and costumes.

So, whether you’re performing, helping, watching, wandering or just curious, if you see that banner, step inside. Something’s happening here. And like Catherine’s party, it might just become a story we tell for years to come.

This is your invitation. No corset or calling card required.

Wanstead Fringe 2025 runs from 6 to 27 September. For more information on the events, visit wnstd.com/fringe

The Wanstead Fringe returns this month, with 23 days of cultural activity in a range of local venues.

“Join us from 6 to 27 September for a plethora of events uniting the Wanstead community in a celebration of the arts. Our fabulous team of Fringe volunteers are working hard to take over Wanstead with music, theatre, cinema, comedy, author events, tastings, tours and talks,” said Fringe chair Giles Wilson.

Among the more than 100 events taking place across 13 different venues, highlights will include an open-air screening of Paddington in Peru in Christ Church gardens on 6 September, a jumble trail on 13 September and a family book day at the library on 20 September.

“Another highlight will be a tribute to Catherine Tylney-Long – the heiress of Wanstead House – on 12 September, which will be the 200th anniversary of her death. This will be an extraordinary evening of storytelling and music at St Mary’s Church.”

Visit wnstd.com/fringe

A public meeting to discuss the plans for permanent market stalls in Wanstead will be held this month.

“Local councillors are elected to represent our views and to protect Wanstead as best they can. It is important for them to hear from residents in a public forum and to have the chance to put their own views across,” said Colin Cronin, who has organised the event. The Leader of Redbridge Council and Wanstead Village councillors have been invited to attend.

The meeting will take place at Christ Church on 27 September from 4pm.

Permission has been granted for a new development on Holy Trinity Church land, off Hermon Hill.

Under the plans – named Project Arclight – the church’s 100-year-old Trinity Hall will be replaced by a new community hall with flexible spaces, a play area and café. A four-storey apartment block and nine townhouses will also be built on the site.

“This project will see church land developed to better support the needs of the church and the community for generations to come,” said Rev Abi Todd.

Construction is expected to begin in late 2026.

The heavily criticised hourly W14 continues to lack a proper bus stop at the start of its route at Whipps Cross Interchange.

When Calvin Bailey MP raised the issue, TfL told him its “team” went to the interchange and the stops all had shelters, seats and timetables. In response, the MP sent a photo (above) of the tucked-away, unclearly marked, unsheltered temporary stop, which confused W14 bus users have had to rely on for almost a year.

Campaigners are calling for a more frequent W14 service that enters the hospital grounds.