Charli West

South West Londoner • 29th January 2026

WATCH: Singletons ditch dating apps in favour of activity-based in-person events

Singletons are increasingly looking to try something new with in-person dating events that get you doing rather than swiping.

The Antiswipe was set up in May 2024 by change consultant manager Natalie McGinn, who was fed-up with dating apps and wanted to build a community of like-minded people who could come together to do activities.

All the major UK dating apps – Tinder, Hinge, Bumble and Grindr – all lost UK users between May 2023 and May 2024, according to an Ofcom report, showing a gr...

27th January 2026

Hormone health coaches: The women quitting corporate to embark on a new career

It’s a rite of passage for women and girls to feel mystified by their own bodies. With medical studies historically performed on men, and women’s health being chronically underfunded, even the experts have struggled to get answers.

But over the past few years, we’ve started to become more aware of women’s health and, in particular, hormones.

Google Trends data shows that search volume around ‘hormone health’ has gradually been increasing since 2020, and on TikTok there are over 268,000 posts under #hormonehealth as women become less afraid to talk about their bodies publicly...

Time & Leisure • 9th January 2026

Interview: Sam Harrison

Growing up in Hammersmith and Fulham, Sam recognised that West London had less restaurants compared to the rest of the city. So when a warehouse space popped up in Chiswick, he was overjoyed. 
Since that opening, the dining scene has changed drastically. “When I opened my initial business plan in 2005 for Chiswick, I listed seven competitors. I think if I’m writing the same business plan today, it would probably be 77,” he says. The competition goes beyond just other restaurants too, as delivery...

North East Londoner • 4th December 2025

WATCH: Amateur dance company performs showcase at Sadler's Wells theatre featuring popular heels dancing

An amateur dance company put on their second showcase at Sadler’s Wells theatre last week, featuring the popular style of heels dancing – making dreams a reality for many. The showcase, which took place on the 27th November at Sadler’s Wells‘ Lilian Baylis theatre, followed the success of the company’s first performance in April earlier this year.The company was set up by Ukrainian dancer, teacher, and choreographer, Yuliia Palaida, and gives dancers the opportunity to fulfil their childhood dre...

North East Londoner • 28th November 2025

Hackney to receive highest number of Arts Council England National Lottery Grants for eighth year running

Hackney is on track to receive the highest number of Arts Council England National Lottery Project Grants for the eighth year running — but theatre practitioners in the borough are still struggling for funding.The latest data from Arts Council England (ACE), the national development agency for creativity and culture, showed Hackney applicants have received 23 individual Project Grants in Q1 and Q2, ahead of Tower Hamlets and Lambeth with 22 and 19 respectively.Hackney has consistently received t...

Time & Leisure • 19th November 2025

Interview: Steve Punt, Matthew and Elaine Sweetapple

Lost on Infinity follows a boy from Battersea, Moog, and his dog, Rockford, when they find themselves on the ‘Island of Infinity’: home to the last animal of an extinct species. The story originated in a Christmas song Matthew wrote for his niece about her toy dog, so when Battersea Dogs and Cats Home reached out to the Sweetapple’s advertising business to create a Christmas song for them, they already had something perfect to work with. Rockford became a rescue dog, and the song reached number...

South West Londoner • 30th October 2025

Saatchi Gallery celebrates 40 years with special exhibition bringing together the old and new

The Saatchi Gallery will celebrate its 40 year anniversary with a special exhibition that brings together both old and new works of art.


The renowned gallery in Chelsea champions contemporary art and brought back curator Philippa Adams, who was their senior director from 1999 until 2020, to work on the exhibition.


The show, titled The Long Now, launches next week on 5 November and runs until 1 March 2026.


Adams, 52, was pleased to return and curate the exhibition, she said: “It’s been t...

Time & Leisure • 22nd October 2025

Inspired by Strictly? Where to learn ballroom dancing in London and Surrey

Strictly Come Dancing has waltzed back into our lives, reminding us just how accessible dancing can be when you’re given the right support, no matter your age or ability. If the show has inspired you to keeeeep dancing, then we’ve rounded up some of the best ballroom dance classes on offer in London and Surrey whether you have two left feet or are destined for the glitterball trophy.
Dancing is hugely beneficial for your health – both physical and mental. In fact, dancing could help lower dement...

South West Londoner • 21st October 2025

Men's run club set up to tackle mental health as conversations spark ahead of Movember

A personal trainer, who lost six male family members to suicide, has set up a men’s mental health run club to tackle increasing concerns around male suicide rates.


Ciaran Howard, 30, grew up surrounded by alcoholism and domestic abuse, and set up Tribal, a run club for men and their minds, in Putney at the start of this year to provide a space for men to talk.


Suicide is three times more common among men than women in England and Wales, according to data gathered between 1981 to 2023 from...

South West Londoner • 26th September 2025

Speed dating workout set up in Wandsworth to combat app dissatisfaction

A frustrated single has set up speed dating workout at a Wandsworth gym to help like-minded people meet in the modern world.


Ali Hulley, 32, lives in south-west London and set up Push & Pull Fitness Dating last month at Apex Fitness in Earlsfield after feeling dissatisfied with dating apps.


The fitness fan had started to attend real-life dating events with her friends but found herself unable to meet like-minded individuals.


She said: “Dating in London I think is just quite a tough gam...