Welcome

This week we've got great local breakfast spots, a Repair Cafe, comedian Johnny Ball and the Fair in the Square in Highgate.

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Plus our new mayor... and a great TV recommendation.

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Also, welcome to our dozens of new readers since last week - it's been busy.

🥐 Five Finchley Breakfast Spots

The sun’s out – why not start your day right with these five Finchley gems, serving up tasty breakfasts from classic fry-ups to artisan pastries.

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1: 93 Degrees

201 Regents Park Road N3 3LD

Trip Advisor 5.0

​93ºC is the optimal temperature to get the best tasting espresso – and these guys really deliver on both great illy coffee and brilliant Italian cuisine.

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Recommendation: the scrambled eggs with smoked salmon are to-die-for. Insta.

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2: Boulangerie Bon Matin

29-31 Ballards Lane, N3 1XP

​Trip Advisor 4.7

Since arriving in Finchley a little less than a year ago, Boulangerie Bon Matin has infused a slice of Paris into our local community.

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Owned by the culinary duo Dahmane Ladjassa and his wife - Dahmane trained in Paris and Westminster Kingsway College - Everything is made onsite.

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Recommendation: Don’t miss their eggs benedict with turkey bacon and a side of sausages or treat yourself to a lemon tart if you’ve still got room. All the meat is halal. Insta.

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3: Bluebelles of Portobello

357 Regents Park Road London N3 1DN

Trip Advisor 4.6

While it launched in Portobello, it’s been a mainstay of North London (Mill Hill and Finchley) in recent years.

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Recommendation: the All Day Breakfast has a ton of great options and my friend Jude swears by the pink latte, if that’s your thing. Insta.

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4: Boulangerie Joie De Vie

359 Ballards Lane, N12 8JL

Trip Advisor 4.4

Relaxed French café in North Finchley – attentive staff and good food and coffee. Has another branch in Temple Fortune.

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Recommendation: great veggie breakfast and French breakfast crepes.

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5: Campbell and Syme Coffee Roasters Cafe

9 Fortis Green, N2 9JR

​Trip Advisor 4.4

​Fancy leaving Finchley? Campbell and Syme are known for their profound respect for coffee. They offer exceptional brews.

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Their breakfast menu complements their outstanding coffee. There are treats like avocado toast with smoked salmon or a hearty kimchi toastie.

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Recommendation: The granola is fab and perfectly paired with their expertly crafted coffee. Insta.

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​Whether you're craving a full English or just a great flat white, these spots hits the mark. Local favourites where breakfast feels both comforting and consistently delicious.🥐

Events

ARTS

Wednesday 11th June

​Flower Arranging Course | Wed, Jun. 11 | 10:30 am to 11:30 am | Friends Meeting House, 53 Leicester Rd, EN5 5EL | £40 for the course | New Flower arranging course beginning Wednesday 11 June 2025 then every two weeks on 25 June, 9 July and 23 July.

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Sunday 15th June

​CommUnity Quilt Project | Sun, Jun. 15 | 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm | Swan Lane Open Space, N20 | Free | Over the last 6 months, over 100 local people from schools, libraries, refugee groups and charities have come together to create three community quilts in support of asylum seekers and refugees. Join us to celebrate these beautiful artworks and promote peace in our community as we walk them through the streets of Barnet.

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COMMUNITY

Friday 13th June

​Finchley Lakeside Community Co-design Event | Fri, Jun. 13 | 2:00 pm to 6:30 pm | Lakeside Office Campus, entrance from Squires Lane, N3 2QT | Free | Discover the beautiful lake at the heart of Finchley, share local knowledge and contribute to co-creating a new Vision for Finchley Lakeside through a range of activities, including site tours, and workshops facilitated by the JTP design team. Drop by.

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Saturday 14th June

​Capture It for Dad | Sat, Jun. 14 | 11:00 am to 3:00 pm | The Spires, 111 High Street, EN5 5XY | Free | The spires is hosting a fun and free event where you can take a Polaroid photo and turn it into a personalised Father’s Day card for Dad.

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Sunday 15th June

​Repair Cafe At Brent Cross | Sun, Jun. 15 | 11:00 am to 3:00 pm | The Workshop, Brent Cross Town, N2 1FE | Free | Join the BarNET ZERO repair cafe where expert volunteers will help repair your items for free, bring along small electrical devices like laptops and kitchen appliances, clothes or textiles or even bicycles.

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MUSIC

Thursday 12th June

​Electronic in the Tower - at Crouch End Festival | Thu, Jun. 12 | 7:00 pm | The Intimate Space, Hornsey High Street, N8 7NT | £12 | Immerse yourself in the medieval tower of The Intimate Space as TDC Tunes takes to the stage with his machine of wires, flashing lights and unpredictability, Joining him this time will be the mysterious (partly robotic?) duo from outer space: Spacewreck.

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SPORT

Sunday 15th June

​Bowling And Croquet Open Day | Sun, Jun. 15 | Finchley Victoria Park Bowling and Croquet Club, Ballards Lane, N3 1LP | Free | During the open day, you and your family will have an opportunity to try out bowls, croquet and pétanque, celebrating the 100th anniversary of the club. There will be games and competitions for children.

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THEATRE

Friday 13th June

​Johnny Ball: My Previous Life in Comedy | Fri, Jun. 13 | 7:30 pm to 8:45 pm | artsdepot, 5 Nether Street, N12 0GA | £18 | As energetic as ever, Johnny  Ball will regale you with often unbelievable, but all perfectly true tales from his life. So come and sit back while Johnny tells of the more than one thing he lost on his honeymoon, “The man who robbed a bank and caught a bus home?” Plus the time the Duke of Edinburgh suggested a wife swap, with pictures to prove it.

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NATURE

Wednesday 11th June

​Gardening Volunteering | Wed, Jun. 11 | 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm | The Hive, Hampstead Heath Nassington Road, NW3 2TY | Free | Wednesdays 4pm in term time, with additional weekend and holiday sessions. There will be gardening and light conservation tasks around the Hive area. All equipment provided, as well as tea and biscuits.

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Saturday 14th June

Terrific Totteridge: A Guided Walk | Sat, Jun. 14 | 2:30 pm to 4:30 pm | Meet outside Totteridge & Whetstone tube station N20 9QP | £15, £5 under 12s | A guided walk around one of the loveliest of London suburbs, with stunning houses, famous names, and a gorgeous green. With Paul Baker, City of London guide. Email.

Events - Book Ahead

Sunday 6th July

​Fair In The Square | Sun, Jul. 6 | 12:30 pm to 5:30 pm | Pond Square, Highgate, N6 | Annual Highgate street festival with food, music & handmade items.

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Saturday 12th July

​Big Beat Playground - Summer Festival 2025 | Sat, Jul. 12 | 1:00 pm to 7:00 pm | Our Yard, Clitterhouse Farm, Clitterhouse Playing Fields, NW2 1AP | Pre-walking infants - free; Child - £7.50; Adult - £14.50 £14.50 | It's a family friendly dance music festival with a warm, welcoming and safe environment for children, young people and their families and very much community focussed. Expect lots of fun-filled activities including music stage with fun effects, mobile circus with have-a-go sessions, arts & crafts, inflatables, giant games, craft stalls, retro gaming stations, street food, licensed bar and loads more...

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​Grow Farm Open Day | Sat, Jul. 12 | 10:00 am to 3:00 pm | The Grow Farm at The Totteridge Academy, N20 8AZ | Various - free ticket option available | Bring the family and friends for a day of fun & outdoor learning with farm tours, food, music, kids activities, and more.

Local Lowdown

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Renovating

• Rookery rescue incoming. Stanmore’s 17th-century Grade II listed Georgian mansion, The Rookery, is set for a complete restoration. Unlawful works had left it literally gutted.” Harrow Council has approved plans to revive some classic elegance. This time, they hope for less "fake old" décor and more real history.

Exhibiting

• Dollar princesses unveiled. Kenwood House features a rare exhibition of 18 portraits by John Singer Sargent. These portraits highlight American heiresses who married into British aristocracy. Beyond the glamour, discover the real stories of these formidable women, challenging stereotypes and revealing lives of love, duty, and public service. Runs until October 2025.

Leasing

• Leasing legends. Camden Art Centre has secured a 99-year lease on its Finchley Road location. It raised £1.9 million in only nine months. This artsy lifeline brings more exhibitions, workshops, and creative energy for many years ahead. Big win for local culture vultures.

Painting

• Painting spirits. Gond art lands in north London. Santu Tekam, farmer and self-taught artist from India’s oldest tribe, brings his solo show “Nature’s Spirits” to Lauderdale House, Highgate Hill. Expect bold patterns and mythical vibes. On until June 23, daily 12–5pm.

Shopping

• VAR comes to the veg aisle. Tesco’s new self-checkouts now feature overhead cameras that replay your every scan. Fumble a barcode and you’ll get an instant replay, football-style. Some shoppers are amused (“Tuna Disallowed!”), others less so. But Tesco says it’ll speed things up and keep shoplifters on their toes. Is there one near you?

The Finchleyite: Mayor Danny Rich

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​Councillor Danny Rich has been sworn in as the 61st Mayor of Barnet at a ceremony held at Hendon Town Hall. Deputy Mayor will be Councillor Edith Ngozi David, accompanied by her husband Flint David.

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He succeeds Councillor Tony Vourou, with his wife, Ms Laura Lassman, as Mayoress. His chosen charities for the year are Unitas Youth Zone and the Jewish Deaf Association.

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A long-time South Londoner turned West Finchley councillor in 2018, Danny brings decades of service as a rabbi, charity supporter, and chaplain. He is currently a Trustee of The Finchley Charities and a representative of Barnet Standing Advisory Committee for Religious Education (SACRE).

He now hopes to meet residents across Barnet and continue championing community support, local services, and voluntary work - values that have shaped both his civic and spiritual journey.

Editors' Note - From Sasha

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SXSW – one of the world’s biggest media, creative and arts events – came to London this week. Known as South-by-London.

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I was blown away by the keynote fireside chat with Konrad Kay and Mickey Down, creators and writers of BBC / HBO’s Industry. If you liked Succession, Billions or remember This Life you’ll love this. They’re making season 4 right now.

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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