The Xtra Diary - Chip shop owner says ' expansion has made a huge difference '

Published: 9 July, 2010

THE heady aroma of fish’n’chips will be stronger than ever in Marylebone because legendary chippie the Golden Hind has just got bigger, writes Sarraounia Christianson.

Owner of the Marylebone Lane favourite Tony Christou has extended his dining area into the former crêperie next door.

He hopes the extra space will ease queues, which can often be seen snaking down the lane.

First opened in 1914, the restaurant serves traditional fish and chips alongside a few Greek-inspired dishes and is popular with celebrities, including Noel Gallagher and Paul Weller.

The expansion was completed three weeks ago after the crêperie next door was revamped.

Mr Christou, the owner since 2002, said “it’s made a huge difference” to the business.

Star names’ readathon

VISITORS to the Oxfam bookshop in Marylebone High Street would have got a shock on Monday when they found themselves on something resembling the set of Jackanory.

Some of the country’s best-loved authors took to the comfy armchair set up by the window for the readathon; among them Joanna Trollope, Esther Freud and Helen Simpson.

Part of the charity’s second annual bookfest, readings began at 8am and ran into the night, featuring 60 authors, both published and unpublished.

Oxfam trading director David McCullough said: “The readathon is a fantastic way to launch Bookfest 2010, and it’s so exciting to have such well-known faces involved.

Bookfest is our way of saying thank you to shoppers and book-donors around the country for their tremendous support, and of encouraging more people to come and experience the fantastic range of books available in our shops.”

The bookfest runs until July 17, with the  aim to boost donations.

An apple and a posy – paid in full

HERE’S one for the traditionalists: Covent Garden has celebrated 180 years as home to the capital’s most striking market building with a special rent ceremony.

In honour of its long history as a fruit, vegetable and flower market, members of the Covent Garden Area Trust paid “rent” of a posy of flowers and a red apple to the freeholders of the Central Market Building at the ceremony.

Its high point was a jazz-band accompanied parade around the piazza led by former trustee Tim Wacher.

The trust was set up in 1988 – eight years after the newly restored Covent Garden Market was opened – to replace the Greater London Council’s role in the area, and it was granted a 150-year head lease on the properties.

Nostalgia plus

“They don’t make them like they used to” is a refrain that will be repeated by parents as they walk around the Cartoon Museum’s latest show.

Bagpuss , Ivor the Engine and Dangermouse are among the celebrated characters brought to life at Toy Tales, an exhibition of retro children’s TV at the Bloomsbury gallery.

This is more than just a nostalgia-fest.

There are 100 items on show, including models, posters, animation cels and even a Clangers set, that provide an insight into the creative process.

Toy Tales runs until September 5, at the Cartoon Museum, Little Russell Street.