I so love that this place exists, just back from Oxford Street but feeling like it dropped down from Hawkshead in the 60s: spitalfieldslife.com/2026/04/23/a...

Also by switching off an alarm on your phone reminding you to do anything.

What causes a museum to close? - Museums Association Research has revealed that the risk of closure is far higher in the first decade of a museum’s life, with many venues that opened in the late 20th century not surviving to 2025

www.museumsassociation.org/museums-journal/analysis/2026/04/what-causes-a-museum-to-close

It's in the north west.

Oh my god, yes. We used to drive to that deli for houmous and bagels when we were first adults, and I'd totally forgotten Stella Bagnall's until now.

Ooh, witchcraft! I'm still an absolute novice at the self checkout. Thanks, I'm okay now.

I mean, you go for the cut-through and then you get sucked in... Thank you!

Tremendously depressing read. Also: proper reporting.

open.substack.com/pub/londonce...

'The Interior of Henry VII's Chapel in Westminster Abbey' (1750s) by Canaletto

(Private collection)

They are - I'm at the younger end and I've decided I can't do it. For now...

I know - quite a ticket to have.

Yeah, last time I did three was Suede at Brixton Academy (plus Pete Doherty in Manchester the night before!) and that must be at least 15 years ago. The Mission optimistically have four different nights scheduled at KTF this winter...

Had forgotten about that. It's a shock to see him go - you forget how young he was when he was everywhere in the 80s.

Bloody hell, Manics at the Astoria - literally, from what I've heard.

From Deganwy? Quite jealous of my friend who's moved there, I've always loved Conwy.

Off to #Worthing tomorrow to talk about #sussex #piers and kursaals. The latter were entertainment venues named after the Continental 'cure halls' at spa towns. I give you Ostend, Worthing and Bognor kursaals. Talk details below:
sussexlocal.net/event/sussex...

Oh absolutely, and there are some quite good/oddball sketch ideas, though the delivery is rarely F&L quality. I just find it odd that things like that seem to be an influence, as the show is very *young*.

Stockport's Aimee Lou Wood coming up as an SNL UK host. The show is such an odd combination of "Will this fly in the US?" and forty-year-old Fry and Laurie sketches.

Bear Grylls... has been seen dining with Nigel Farage, indicating a lack of involvement in the political arena.

Copilot showing some sass, here.

So glad they credited you!

It wasn't, they're playing festivals at least this summer. And they won't go without telling us, will they - they love a do!

😄 Or not - maybe he foresaw he'd be playing with him one day!

Oh yeah! But people often think he was the only one who didn't adopt a name.

Personally I find Dave Vanian the most amusing, much as I love him. I don't actually think he's ever called himself that, but he wasn't forceful enough about 'David'!

Sounds real but wasn't - his surname was Robertson. He took James I think from his hero Iggy, plus it sounded more rock and roll/Brian Jones and - like his band mates' aliases - helped him continue to claim dole payments.

Sorry for the delayed reaction, I'm looking for Damned reviews of last night!

I dunno: "... it isn't, and it never shall be"?

Monty Oxymoron on keys, with round glasses and collar-length frizzy hair, vocalist Dave Vanian all in black, including frock coat, fedora hat and eye mask, and Paul Gray on bass in red shirt, black leather jacket and black beret.

Captain Sensible on maroon guitar, in red and white stripey top, round sunglasses and red beret, with a big grin on his face. Rat Scabies on drums, with 'The Damned' on his white bass drum, in his lucky black sleeveless shirt.

DV in black shirt and trousers, Fifties sunglasses and leather gloves, singing while gazing upwards. Monty playing keys.

Captain, in turquoise fluffy 'okapi' jumper, white winged sunglasses and black beret, playing guitar and singing.

They did it, at Wembley Arena - and called it a concrete shithole! Happy 50th to my boys, The Damned. #Damned50

@damagedgoodsrecs.bsky.social Hi Ian, if you see this... Is it true the Courettes stage time has changed to 6.10?

The Blue Maid in Borough High Street is today celebrating the first anniversary of its reopening. Draught beers will be £5 all day, including a special edition ‘Maid of Borough’ Birthday Pale Ale from UnBarred Brewery of Brighton (+ free beer if you turn up in a mermaid costume)

Nope. It's humour.

I live in Brixton and work in Holborn but have just had to order Record Collector for delivery as there's seemingly nowhere I can buy it. Or almost any music mag - Uncut being the only one in so-called TJ Jones among about 30 one-off bookazines.

Screenshot of Granada Reports presenter of the '70s and '80s Bob Smithies - I hadn't realised he was previously a photographer.