Action Against Hunger: The orginization behind the Putney pop-up restaurants

Rebecca Mascarenhas who owns and runs popular Putney Restaurant, Phoenix, is the lady behind the wonderfully generous idea of hosting some of London’s top restaurants and chefs in her very own Putney restaurant. The drive is in aid of raising much needed funds for the island of Haiti which is still struggling to get back on its feet after the disastrous earthquake that hit the island earlier this year. The Putney restaurant owner is working in conjunction with Action Against Hunger and is currently doing an excellent job of raising funds for Haiti.

The basic formula is that up to 15 dates will be arranged when popular restaurants will take over Mascarenhas’ Putney restaurant for a day. Chefs and staff will work for free and do one service each. Patrons can expect to pay a flat rate of £60 each for a three course dinner of the highest drawer.

Mascarenhas had the following to say about the initiative:

“One of the reasons we wanted to work with Action Against Hunger is that they are very committed not just to the immediate crisis in Haiti but the aftermath in supporting the country. I didn’t realise, for instance, that all the food aid that goes there now and is free, is actually destroying the farming economy there because the farmers can’t sell their crops. The charity offers support for long term sustainability as opposed to just aid.”

Below are some of the confirmed one-day Putney Bridge restaurants that Putney property owners can look forward to having in their very own community in the coming weeks:

Acclaimed Chef Bruce Poole from Chez Bruce gets the ball rolling with the first pop-up Putney restaurant on the 2^nd of March. Bruce will be bringing his classic European medley of flavours with inspiration from the French, Spanish and Italian ways of cooking. This is going to be one of the highlights of the month so make sure you book early.

Phil Howard and his Michelin-starred staff will be tantalizing Putney Bride restaurant goers’ taste buds on the 4^th of March. His menu that perfectly adapts to seasonal ingredients sees many different meats and veggies cooked to perfection and combined in a perfect manner.

Executive Chef Helena Puolakka from Skylon will be bringing her top-class seafood and grill menu to Putney for a day on Thursday the 25^th of March. To check out an example of what you can expect from her menu that is coming to the pop-up Putney restaurant, just click here.

These are just some of the highlights, other top chefs that have been confirmed include: Atul Kochare who will be bringing his staff from Benares along to create the perfect Indian Restaurant in Putney for a day, Rowley Leigh from le Café Anglais, Rick Stein from The Seafood Restaurant, Jesse Dunford Wood and Patrick Williams, will all be turning this London property into their very own restaurant for the day.

There are still a few more chefs and restaurants to be confirmed, so be sure to check out the pop-up restaurant site regularly to see who has been added to the menu for the month.

The month of March promises to see a medley of Indian, Italian and Thai restaurants coming to Putney. Make sure you do your bit in supporting Haiti and attend at least one of these one day Putney Restaurants with your friends and family. Remember, it’s for a good cause so do your part in supporting Action Against Hunger.

Bon appétit!!

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The London night club in Putney which was established in 1963 has been staging live music almost every night for close to 50 years. Some of the UK’s finest bands of modern times performed there during the early stages of their musical careers, namely The Rolling Stones, U2, Kasabian, Van Morrison and Kate bush, to name just a few.

As we all know, the recent recession that our economy is slowly recovering from, had a terrible effect on thousands of people as well as London clubs and bars around the capital. It was due to this very reason that The Putney Halfmoon club in the South West of London was facing closure. A press release which was released by The Halfmoon in November stated the following reasons for its proposed closure:

“Due to market forces, the current economic climate and other circumstances beyond our control, The Halfmoon will not be able to carry on as a music venue after 31st January 2010”.

They later added that: “It is important to reflect, that the troubles the Halfmoon have faced financially are not because of low turnout of gigs. Rising rents, alcohol duty, wholesale beer prices and the recession are the reasons for The Halfmoon dilemma, not a downturn in live music”.

It was later also revealed that the Landlords of the Putney property were looking to revamp the large venue and change it into a Gastro Pub.

Regular party goers and customers of the Halfmoon were horrified to hear that the venue would be closing down. The London night club’s manager sent out a plea to their faithful supporters to do everything they could to save the venue from eviction. A Facebook group was launched and grew to a size of almost seven thousand supporters who petitioned for the landlords to reconsider their decision to close the London club. A later press release posted on the Halfmoon’s website stated:

“There has been overwhelming support from the public, the press, the music industry, our local MP, Wandsworth Council, The Musicians Union and even a few celebrities, all shocked that a successful live music venue with over 50 years of legendary music heritage may be forced to close it’s doors to make way for a gastro pub.”

All of the pressure and commitment shown by the community, music fans and the club owners themselves finally resulted in the landlords changing their minds and agreeing to give the London night club another go at beating the recession. A few changes have however been made with one or two ex-employees of the club having been recalled to once again optimize the running of the club and implement some new and fresh promotional strategies.

The current tenant, James Harris expressed his relief in a recent interview with the BBC:

“The support from the public and the industry has been overwhelming. This was never just about jobs, but about a part of our music heritage. We still face tough times ahead, but at least we can move forward now, and my staff and myself are thrilled and excited”.

Putney residents are thrilled at the outcome of their efforts to save the club. Some big names in the industry have been booked for gigs over the coming weeks to show their support for the London club which has a special place in the hearts of many accomplished bands around the world.

Click here to check out the Halfmoon’s latest gig guide!

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Some of the more unique and highly recommended pubs in Putney include:

•    The Duke’s Head: At 8 Lower Richmond Road, Putney, the pub is suffused with ye olde worlde charm; original fireplaces and gleaming woodwork, but youngsters will also enjoy the basement pub, which often boasts live music, while a private room with a lovely view of the river caters to large groups and private parties.

A selection of ales and draught beers will appeal to the traditionalist in Putney bar enthusiasts while menus based on the availability of fresh seasonal produce will satisfy even the fussiest foodie.

The Duke's Head

•    The Boathouse: On Brewhouse Lane, Putney this pub is considered one of the most picturesque in all of London, owing to its amazing Thames riverside location. The bar occupies three levels catering to different needs. The top floor has more of a restaurant feel than Putney bar and is perfect for intimate dinners of the romantic or platonic kind. The mezzanine level and ground floor terrace offer traditional pub fare and an appropriately relaxed atmosphere.

The Boathouse, Putney

•    The Prince Alfred: What list of recommended pubs would be complete without an allusion to royalty? The Prince Alfred, located at 5A Formosa Street, Maida Vale, Putney is a prime example of a British pub that has stood the test of time. Dating back to 1863, the pub maintains it original curved front window and compartments that were designed to enforce English societal castes. No self-respecting Gentleman would drink in the company of a chimney sweep (no matter what Mary Poppins may try to tell us) and no self-respecting labourer would feel free to quaff in the presence of a Nob. As a result, there is a Ladies Bar, a Private Bar and some general plebian drinking compartments for those like to drink without judgment.

The Formosa Dining Room is particularly well esteemed among food connoisseurs with tantalising dishes such as roast salmon and pink trout.

•    The Halfmoon is perhaps not as old some of the other bars in the Putney area, but it has a reputation as one of London’s most popular (and long running) venues for live music. The Rolling Stones, The Who and U2 are among the famous rock bands that have graced The Halfmoon’s hallowed pub halls, while Billy Connolly and Harry Hill have used the bar as their Putney destination of choice. With an eclectic mix of old and new and live performances 7 days a week, The Halfmoon is the place for you if you have a hankering for live music. You can find the pub at 93 Lower Richmond Road, Putney.

Putney bars epitomise the traditional pub experience that so many people look for when they visit London. But even residents will be surprised by the variety Putney pubs offer and although estate agents in Putney won’t admit it, the presence of so many pubs can’t hurt sales.

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