Need help from London imamothers

etky

Sat, Jan 30 2016, 12:42 pm

A friend is travelling from Israel to London next month with her DH and teenage son.
They will be there for just 4 days (midweek) and are wondering whether they should stay in Marble Arch or other central to shopping and tourist attractions areas like Bloomsbury or in one of the Jewish neighborhoods in northern London to be nearer to minyanim and kosher food.
Which do you think is preferable and also, if they stay in any of the Jewish areas can you recommend accommodations there?
In addition, their son - a diehard Arsenal fan- has a ticket to a match at Emirates Stadium and they are worried about him going alone. Is their concern warranted? Any tips about that?
Any help and input is appreciated.
TIA

Mrs Bissli

Sat, Jan 30 2016, 1:35 pm

Hi Shavua tov.

About areas to stay, Marble Arch is also in central London, near Hyde Park and Primark. Though perfectly safe and convenient, it is also an area popular among Saudi, Lebanese, Kuwaiti and other Arabic countries. There is a daily miniyan at a nearby synagogue.

You can stay in Golders Green or Hendon, but it is in Zone3 so it's more expensive to travel to central London and takes 30-45 minutes one way. The only hotel I can recommend is the Pillar in Hendon (its about 10 -15 min from Hendon tube station), other hotels are more like B & B.

Probably a happy compromise is stay in central London but along Northern Line so it's easy to get to restaurants . For miniyanim, there are enough choices among Central Synagogue, Western Marble Arch and Bevis Marks plus a few more.

Now that both kosher resto in the City and another in Westfield shopping centre have closed, the only kosher restaurant in central London is Reubens near Baker Street . Though you can find prepackaged kosher sandwiches in large supermarkets and London Beth Din publishes a list of kosher packaged foods (crisps, crackers, chocolate cereal bar etc ).

As for going to the football match at the Emirates Stadium, there will be lots of people so he should be ok. I presume he's in late teens, as I don't think it's appropriate for anyone under 15 to be wondering off on his own. Though common sense rules, stay away from drunken yobs, and maybe a better idea to cover kippah with another headgear . There are definitely lots of frum Arsenal supporters.

etky

Sat, Jan 30 2016, 2:59 pm

Thanks Mrs. Bissli!
From your description things haven't changed much since I was in London myself a few years ago with my DD. We stayed near Marble Arch (yes, tons of Middle Easterners...) davened in the Western Marble Arch synagogue on Shabbat, ate once or twice at Reubens, bought the kosher sandwiches at Selfridges etc.
Once we travelled to Golders Green for a meal and it was quite a shlep.
My friend's family though will need daily minyans and 'real' food daily so that is why I thought of the Jewish neighborhoods for her.
Your idea of a central hotel along the Northern line is a good one which could capture the best of 'both worlds'.
Their son is 18 but very unworldly so that is why they are nervous about him.
They think that they will hang around the area of the stadium and escort him back to the hotel when the game is done. Is there anything for (frum) adults to do in the general area or within a short Underground ride from there? Is the immediate area around the stadium a safe one? Will the Underground be totally mobbed after the match?

amother

Goldenrod

Sat, Jan 30 2016, 3:02 pm

I would recommend staying in NW London ie Golders Green or Hendon. It's so easy to get around here by underground that it's not worth restricting yourself with food and Shul. You can have a good breakfast in the morning, pick up lunch to go and then travel 45 mins to anywhere in London. Then back again for supper after a long day out. It's not a big deal and there'll be far more options.

Re accommodation, it doesn't need to be a kosher hotel as there are so many places to eat here or bakeries and presumably it's not over Shabbos?

Re Arsenal, if an older teen, I don't see a problem with it. It's not unsafe but stay away from drunk fans!

amother

Black

Sun, Jan 31 2016, 4:09 am

If they stay in central London there are two places that deliver kosher food.

http://mezzo-kitchen.co.uk/dinner - new takeout delivery in central london(hot food)

https://www.sushihaven.co.uk will deliver sushi.

Central Synagogue don't have a Maariv minyan on a weekday, Marble Arch do and it's a much nicer place to be on Shabbat. Chabad of Bloomsbury have a tourist centre for shabbat meals.

etky

Sun, Jan 31 2016, 4:41 am

They're not going to be there over Shabbat so Shabbat meals are not an issue. They will of course need everyday food and they're not the type to make do with sandwiches....
I've spelled out the pros and cons of staying in the center vs. the Jewish areas for them and
I've given them the information regarding the Pillar Hotel in Hendon.
Are any of the smaller B&B type establishments in the Jewish neighborhoods decent?
The Croft Court Hotel used to advertise in Israel. Do you recommend it? Any other places?
Also, are there any department stores or other shopping areas at all in the NW? How is transportation from Golders Green to Brent Cross?
Thanks for your help!

amother

Mauve

Sun, Jan 31 2016, 5:11 am

The arsenal stadium is actually a short bus ride from the Stamford Hill community. They could hop on a bus there and have supper or a snack whilst waiting for their son: Parkside-milky restaurant, Uri's pizza or tasty pizza-pizza parlours, cremeyo-frozen yogurt shop, pikanti or grill on the hill-shwarma shops.

Arsenal after a game becomes very wild (worked across from the stadium for 5 years) but there are hundreds of police/horses/vans and cars. The stations and trains become absolutely packed and the fans are sometimes agressive too. My cousin is frum and an avid fan and attends all games with his friends though.

etky

Sun, Jan 31 2016, 5:40 am

amother wrote:

Thank you. This is very helpful.

amother

Blush

Sun, Jan 31 2016, 6:43 am

amother wrote:

In Stamford Hill, there are a plethora of shuls. You also have two shuls that have minyanim running all round the clock, so you can catch a tefilla anytime literally.

There are also two meaty eateries right in the heart of Stamford Hill. Anshy's (located inside the Asda Shopping Village) and Kadimah. You can eat in or take out at both these venues.
BTW, Tasti Pizza is currently shut due to refurbishment and are only operating via phone orders.

The Kadimah restaurant is located at the Kadimah Hotel (there is a separate entrance from the street for non hotel guests) where many guests from abroad stay at. It is right near to kosher groceries, shops etc.
It is right across the bus stop, from where it is just a short bus ride away to "Manor House Station" from where you can catch the Tube (underground train) to the West End/Marble Arch areas, plus all the major tourists attractions,shopping centres etc

Stamford Hill would definitely be the best area in terms of closeness to the Arsenal Stadium and easy access to all transport links to take you further afield.

etky

Tue, Feb 02 2016, 11:58 am

Raisin wrote:

From past experience, much better to stay near the food/shul options. Golders Green has much better options food wise than Stamford Hill. Especially if they are foodies.

LOL - I wouldn't say they're foodies in the 'gourmet' sense but they certainly do like to eat - lots!
They have indeed decided to stay in Golders Green though they probably will take Blush and Mauve amothers' advice about going out to eat in Stamford Hill while their son is at Emirates watching his game (if he manages to get a ticket...).

Raisin

Tue, Feb 02 2016, 12:05 pm

etky wrote:

be aware that a lot of the stamford hill eateries are out of the way. Except for the two she mentioned, NAshys and kadimah, which I have never eaten at. Grodszinski bakery on stamford hill has pretty good takeaway food options although its not really a restaurant. (much better then the gg grodzinski) Their hot snacks are famous, and I like the falafel and pitta they make. They also have lots yummy cakes, buns, doughnuts, sandwiches etc. I often see non Jews shopping there.

etky

Tue, Feb 02 2016, 12:18 pm

Raisin wrote:

Thanks for the info!

amother

Blush

Tue, Feb 02 2016, 1:32 pm

Raisin wrote:

Correct. They have a fantastic range in the sense of bakery goods and take-away.
They sell french fries. latkes. felafel. hot snacks. parev franks in pastry, cheese blintzes, salads. ready filled bagel and rolls, wraps. sandwiches. iced coffees. reg coffees. slush and much much more. You can also ask them to fill you a roll/bagel or sandwich with any fillings of your choice.

BTW, the eating area at Anshy's is tucked in at the side of their premises and not particularly noticeable. So, pls make sure to tell your friends to tell the staff that they want to eat-in otherwise chances are they will pack the food up for them. Most of the people who eat-in at Anshy's are NOT locals.

wispalover

Tue, Feb 02 2016, 1:35 pm

amother wrote:

Oh dear. You all need to become Spurs fans and then we can be friends Twisted Evil