Area
Finchley news
124 stories from and about Finchley, mostly local news, culture & arts, council & politics. The most recent ran on 29 October 2026. Page 1 of 7.
Public records for Finchley. Explore the Home Office street-level crime figures for this area. Review the planning applications recently validated across the borough.
Reported from Finchley
Local News · FinchleyFinchley pub leaseholder fears closure within six months
The leaseholder of The Fishmonger's Arms in Southgate faces potential closure within six months due to escalating operational costs and ongoing financial difficulties. Rising wages, a significant Sky Sports subscription fee, and increasing rent are impacting profitability, with little confidence in government support.
Finchley3 min readTrust 30 · Craft 65 · Hype 45
Local News · FinchleyHibiscus the cat waits eight months for adoption in Finchley
Hibiscus, a cat who has been in the care of RSPCA Friern Barnet Adoption Centre for over eight months, is still seeking a permanent home. Found as an underweight stray with significant fur loss, she has recovered but remains the centre's longest-stay resident.
Finchley2 min readTrust 30 · Craft 50 · Hype 45
Local News · FinchleyMan in his 20s killed when tree fell on car on Dollis Road, Finchley
A young driver was killed after a tree struck his vehicle on Dollis Road in Finchley at 12.40 pm on Sunday. By 7 pm the Energy Networks Association reported 90,600 homes remained without power following Storm Boelo.
Finchley3 min readTrust 82 · Craft 87 · Hype 35
Local News · FinchleyArtsdepot Finchley receives £25,000 grant for building works
Artsdepot in North Finchley has secured a £25,000 grant from the Christos Lazari Foundation. The funding will be used for essential building repairs and refurbishment, ensuring the arts centre can continue its community and cultural programmes.
Finchley2 min readTrust 30 · Craft 65 · Hype 20
Local News · FinchleyFinchley student dies after asthma attack, fundraiser launched
An international student from Nigeria, Obanyeli Jesse Chima, 26, died in Finchley on September 25 after a severe asthma attack. A fundraiser has been established to help his family transport his body back to Nigeria for burial.
Finchley2 min readTrust 40 · Craft 60 · Hype 45
Local News · FinchleySpaniards Inn named among UK's most haunted pubs
The Spaniards Inn in Hampstead has been recognised as one of the most haunted pubs in the United Kingdom. The historic establishment, dating back to 1585, features in a national ranking compiled by card machine provider Dojo.
Finchley3 min readTrust 30 · Craft 50 · Hype 65
Local News · FinchleyNoah's Ark Hospice Raises £1.27m in Fundraising Drive
Noah's Ark Children's Hospice has successfully raised £1.27 million through its 'From That Moment' fundraising campaign. The initiative surpassed its £1 million goal, with the money designated to provide specialist care for seriously ill children in north and central London and Hertsmere.
Finchley3 min readTrust 40 · Craft 60 · Hype 20
Local News · FinchleyStudents reimagine Phoenix Cinema foyer in East Finchley
Eighteen students and graduates from Middlesex University have developed design concepts for the foyer of the Phoenix Cinema in East Finchley. The proposals are now on display, with the cinema's trustees set to select a winning design by the end of 2026.
Finchley3 min readTrust 42 · Craft 63 · Hype 20
Business · FinchleyFinchley Showroom for Creative Reuse Platform
Used Creative, a platform for reselling theatre and film props, operates a showroom in Finchley. Founded by Jo Kotas and Tim Brown in 2025, the company aims to reduce waste in the creative industries and plans to seek funding for international expansion.
Finchley3 min readTrust 42 · Craft 80 · Hype 28
Local News · FinchleyTollington Arms fire: Pub landlord warns of months-long closure
The Tollington Arms pub in Hornsey Road faces a lengthy closure after a fire damaged its basement in the early hours of Friday, October 9. Landlord Martin Whelan stated the venue could take months to reopen, with one person treated for smoke inhalation.
Finchley3 min readTrust 30 · Craft 65 · Hype 20
Property & Planning · FinchleyO2 Centre Finchley Road begins £multi-million upgrade
The O2 Centre on Finchley Road is undergoing a multi-million pound upgrade to improve its public areas and retail mix. This work forms part of a long-term masterplan by developer Landsec to eventually redevelop the site with 1,800 new homes and other facilities.
Finchley3 min readTrust 30 · Craft 65 · Hype 45
Transport & TfL · FinchleyGhostly train tales on Northern Line linked to real engines
Reports of a ghostly steam train on the Northern Line, specifically between East Finchley station and Wellington sidings, may have a rational explanation. Departmental steam engines operated on the London Underground until 1971, and an experimental locomotive known as 'Fowler's Ghost' was also tested in the area.
Finchley3 min readTrust 66 · Craft 77 · Hype 65
Property & Planning · FinchleyNorth Finchley Home Plans Include Garage Conversion
Plans have been submitted for alterations to a property on Granville Road in North Finchley. The proposals include converting part of the garage into a habitable room and adding a first-floor side extension. Changes to windows are also part of the application.
Finchley2 min readTrust 30 · Craft 45 · Hype 15
Local News · FinchleyBelsize Library marks 90 years with Victoria Coren Mitchell
Belsize Library, a Grade II listed building in Finchley, is celebrating its 90th anniversary this month. Victoria Coren Mitchell will attend a launch event on October 15, marking nine decades of community service. The library, originally opened in 1937, is now managed by The Winchester Project.
Finchley3 min readTrust 42 · Craft 61 · Hype 20
Lifestyle & Food · FinchleyBonoo restaurant named global 'hidden gem' by Tripadvisor
Bonoo, an Indian tapas restaurant on Finchley Road, has been named a global 'hidden gem' by Tripadvisor. It is the only UK restaurant to receive the Traveller's Choice award in this category for 2026, based on thousands of customer reviews.
Finchley3 min readTrust 56 · Craft 62 · Hype 30
Local News · FinchleyHolocaust educator Rev Bernd Koschland MBE dies aged 94
Rev Bernd Koschland MBE, a Kindertransport refugee and dedicated Holocaust educator, has died at the age of 94. He arrived in Britain in 1939 and later became a minister, teacher, and advocate for Holocaust remembrance.
Finchley2 min readTrust 42 · Craft 57 · Hype 20
Local News · FinchleyWingate & Finchley set for FA Cup replay after 2-2 draw with Bedford Town
Bedford Town and Wingate & Finchley drew 2-2 in the FA Cup third qualifying round on Monday. Wingate played the final half hour with ten men after Kai Thomas‑Fraser was sent off. George Moncur’s penalty in the 85th minute forced a replay on Tuesday evening at Bedford’s ground.
Finchley3 min readTrust 30 · Craft 77 · Hype 15
Property & Planning · FinchleyNW3 Community Land Trust to build 14 homes in Belsize Park
NW3 Community Land Trust is preparing to start construction on a 14-flat development in Belsize Park. The project at 31 Daleham Gardens will offer eight affordable homes and six for the open market. The trust was co-founded in 2016 to address the loss of affordable housing in the area.
Finchley2 min readTrust 30 · Craft 53 · Hype 41
Local News · FinchleyFinchley MP Sarah Sackman Links Local Hate Crimes to Historic Anti-Fascist Struggle
Sarah Sackman, MP for Finchley and Golders Green, has drawn parallels between the 1936 Battle of Cable Street and recent hate crimes in her constituency. She highlighted attacks on Jewish volunteer ambulances and the stabbing of two Jewish men, linking them to broader extremist ideologies.
Finchley3 min readTrust 42 · Craft 69 · Hype 25
Transport & TfL · FinchleyFinchley residents lose Night Tube service to Stratford on Friday
Night Tube services between Finchley Road and Stratford will not run on Friday 2 October due to track maintenance. TfL will operate replacement buses, and other lines such as the Northern and Victoria will also face limited service over the weekend.
Finchley3 min readTrust 44 · Craft 70 · Hype 15
Also affecting Finchley
Borough-wide and national stories that name Finchley or bear directly on it.
Property & Planning · BarnetWhy London’s leak detection specialists are busier than ever this autumn
Demand for leak detection in London is up 35% on last year. What is driving it, what a visit costs, who pays, and what Barnet homeowners and tenants should do first.
Barnet5 min read
Local News · CricklewoodWaitrose to open Chalk Farm convenience store in 2028
Waitrose has announced plans to open a new convenience store in Chalk Farm in 2028. This follows the recent opening of a larger supermarket on Cricklewood Broadway as part of a nationwide expansion.
Cricklewood2 min readTrust 30 · Craft 45 · Hype 41
Property & Planning · Golders GreenBarnet Council approves 130‑room Hotel Unique redevelopment in Golders Green
Barnet councillors gave unanimous backing on 14 October 2026 to a scheme that will add a four‑storey hotel with 114 rooms, refurbish the existing building for 16 more, and keep the locally‑listed Refectory Pub at 4 Golders Green Crescent. The plan was called in by Childs Hill councillor Cory Turner and submitted by Pressfield Limited.
Golders Green3 min readTrust 72 · Craft 87 · Hype 15- World
Labour forecast to win up to 60 London seats, poll shows strong swing in Barnet
A poll commissioned by PR firm PLMR and carried out by Find Out Now surveyed 6,699 people in late September. It projects Labour winning 59 or 60 of London’s 75 seats, a rise that could reshape representation in Barnet’s constituencies.
3 min readTrust 74 · Craft 64 · Hype 48 
Local News · North FinchleyNorth Finchley site manager wins NHBC award
Harvey Scott, site manager at Taylor Wimpey's The Tramworks development in North Finchley, has won a National House-Building Council (NHBC) Pride in the Job Regional Award. The award recognises excellence in the multi-storey category.
North Finchley2 min readTrust 42 · Craft 61 · Hype 41
Transport & TfL · High BarnetNorthern line suspended between Camden Town and East Finchley, High Barnet commuters face severe delays
A signal fault at Kentish Town has halted Northern line service between Camden Town and East Finchley. Severe delays now affect travel from East Finchley to High Barnet, with trains being diverted to Edgware. The District line also suffers minor delays around Earl’s Court.
High Barnet3 min readTrust 30 · Craft 77 · Hype 15
Council & Politics · BarnetMuswell Hill Cattery Owner Banned From Keeping Animals
A Muswell Hill cattery owner has been disqualified from keeping animals for three years after admitting to running an unlicensed cat boarding business. She was also fined a total of £1,368. Separately, a Finchley chicken shop and its director were fined for using an unlicensed A-board.
Barnet2 min readTrust 42 · Craft 57 · Hype 20
Culture & Arts · Barnet97-year-old artist's exhibition opens at Barnet care home
An exhibition featuring sculptures and paintings by 97-year-old resident Joy Feld is now open to the public at Carlton Court Care Home in Bells Hill, Barnet. The display, which includes artwork from the last 40 years, will run until 25 October 2026.
Barnet2 min readTrust 56 · Craft 80 · Hype 15
WorldHome Office data show hate crimes rise 7% to 146,825 in year to March 2026
Police‑recorded hate crimes in England and Wales increased by 7% to 146,825 in the year to March 2026. Anti‑Muslim offences jumped 15% while antisemitic hate crime remains at an unacceptably high level, according to the Home Office, the British Muslim Trust and the Community Security Trust.
3 min readTrust 74 · Craft 87 · Hype 28
Local News · North FinchleyNorth Finchley brewery wins national CAMRA award
London Brewing Company, based in North Finchley, has received the John Young Memorial Award from the London branches of CAMRA. The award celebrates significant contributions to real ale and pub culture in the capital.
North Finchley3 min readTrust 42 · Craft 57 · Hype 20
Council & Politics · BarnetBarnet depot workers reject 18‑month backpay offer, council faces strike
Barnet Council’s second offer of 18 months’ backpay for depot staff was turned down in a September ballot with more than 90% turnout. Unison says the council must improve the offer by 9 October or risk a strike ballot in November and possible action in December.
Barnet3 min readTrust 56 · Craft 95 · Hype 30
Local News · BarnetBritish Heart Foundation to close Barnet and Finchley stores
The British Heart Foundation will close its Barnet and Finchley shops as part of a wider plan to shut 150 stores across the UK. The charity reported a £3.3m retail loss in the last financial year, citing increased operating costs and shifts in consumer behaviour.
Barnet3 min readTrust 60 · Craft 65 · Hype 45
Culture & Arts · Golders GreenAckermans Chocolates shop on Goldhurst Terrace closed after 50 years
Ackermans Chocolates, established by Werner and Lotte Ackerman on Goldhurst Terrace, operated for five decades, earned a Royal Warrant in 1968 and welcomed the future King Charles in 1996. The shop closed roughly twenty years ago, ending a notable chapter in Golders Green’s culinary history.
Golders Green3 min readTrust 58 · Craft 69 · Hype 30
Local News · Golders GreenTories to regain Finchley and Golders Green seat, poll suggests
A new YouGov MRP poll projects that the Conservative Party will win back the Finchley and Golders Green constituency. The survey suggests Labour will lose eight seats in London overall, while the Green Party is not expected to secure any MPs in the capital.
Golders Green3 min readTrust 50 · Craft 60 · Hype 45
Local News · North FinchleyGifts in Wills fund nearly a fifth of North London Hospice care
Legacies account for almost 20% of patients cared for by North London Hospice, which offers free specialist palliative and end-of-life services. The hospice has teamed up with two providers to offer free Will writing.
North Finchley3 min readTrust 30 · Craft 53 · Hype 15
Local News · Brent CrossNew Brent Cross Town neighbourhood to welcome Holybella, Stamp, and Social Pottery
Mediterranean-inspired cafe Holybella, Post Office services provider Stamp, and creative studio Social Pottery are set to open in Brent Cross Town. The development, planned by Related Argent, aims to provide residents and workers with local amenities.
Brent Cross3 min readTrust 30 · Craft 65 · Hype 15
Council & Politics · BarnetDan Thomas quits Reform UK Wales leadership after arrest
Former Barnet Council leader Dan Thomas has resigned as leader of Reform UK in Wales following his arrest on suspicion of assault and controlling or coercive behaviour. He denies any wrongdoing and will continue as a Member of the Senedd.
Barnet3 min readTrust 60 · Craft 65 · Hype 45
Crime & Safety · Golders GreenMcDonald's late licence bid faces police opposition
The Metropolitan Police has urged Camden Council to reject a bid for extended late-night hours at a McDonald's on Finchley Road, citing a string of incidents including assaults and historical armed robberies. The franchisee has proposed body cameras for staff.
Golders Green4 min readTrust 64 · Craft 95 · Hype 35
Council & Politics · BarnetBarnet appoints former Grenfell housing chief despite survivor backlash
Barnet Council confirmed Laura Johnson, former housing director of Kensington and Chelsea, has been hired as group director of development and property by The Barnet Group. The council says the recruitment was legal and transparent, but Grenfell United and survivor Ed Daffarn have called for an immediate review.
Barnet3 min readTrust 50 · Craft 95 · Hype 15
Local News · North FinchleyHalifax North Finchley branch to close September 2026
The Halifax branch in North Finchley will close its doors on September 28, 2026. This decision by Lloyds Banking Group reflects a broader industry move towards online banking, with nearly 200 Halifax branches set to become Lloyds locations by 2027.
North Finchley2 min readTrust 40 · Craft 57 · Hype 41