Again within the Nineties and early 2000s, it was infamous for having one of many worst crime charges in Britain, as ‘yardie’ gangs promoting crack cocaine fought brutal turf wars.
However now Harlesden in north-west London has a brand new and somewhat extra welcome declare to fame – because the setting for the eagerly awaited new BBC comedy Amandaland.
Within the collection – a spin-off from the ever-popular Motherland – social climber Amanda, performed by Lucy Punch, has divorced and moved from the upmarket West London enclave of Chiswick to Harlesden.
Or, extra exactly, to what she calls ‘South Harlesden’ or ‘So-Ha’, as she tries to place a glamorous gloss on her decreased circumstances.
‘I’m performed with W4 [Chiswick] – I’m all about So-Ha,’ the famously snobbish mom of two gushes of the realm, which is to the north of Wormwood Scrubs and is famend because the centre of British reggae music, because the historic house to a variety of report labels. ‘It’s what the property specialists name South Harlesden.’
Amanda’s mom, Felicity, deliciously performed by Dame Joanna Lumley, makes her personal views of the realm clear with beautiful sarcasm. ‘Darling, let me in earlier than I get mugged,’ she rasps on arriving for a go to through the first episode, aired this week to five-star rankings all spherical.
Complaining in regards to the lack of an area Waitrose, she broadcasts that she has introduced her daughter and grandchildren a ‘tuck parcel’ because the poor mites have ‘solely acquired a Tesco Metro’.
However had been her fears justified? And what’s it actually like in ‘So-Ha’ – gritty city centre or gentrifying soon-to-be yuppy paradise?Â
Harlesden is the setting for the brand new spin-off of Motherland, BBC comedy collection Amandaland
Lucy Punch and Joanna Lumley as Amanda and Felicity in Amandaland
Emily Russell, 36, a fan of Motherland and moved to Harlesden together with her husband and two boys 18 months in the past, says the realm is just not ‘remotely gentrified’
Some sources report, hilariously, that Amandaland wasn’t truly shot in Harlesden – as an alternative being filmed within the extra upmarket Islington, and Muswell Hill, which needed to be ‘artfully distressed’.
In the meantime, when the Mail visited the actual Harlesden yesterday, the brand new sobriquet and present had been actually bringing smiles to the faces of native residents.Â
‘I’ve heard children utilizing the abbreviation already,’ revealed Conor Jeeves, 30, a PE trainer at an area college (in reality, the one he attended as a baby).Â
He added: ‘I do know Harlesden’s had its difficulties. However you possibly can go down the highway and see individuals you grew up with.
‘It’s an actual neighborhood. Bits of it may be tough, however so can bits of wherever. I’ve by no means suffered it myself. It’s undoubtedly posher than once I went to highschool. There’s some very nice cafes now and it’s in a fantastic location, sandwiched between Wembley Stadium and Westfield.’
Close to Harlesden Tube station, we ran into Eddie, 39, a burly however pleasant bailiff. ‘I’ve been round right here for 25 years and have by no means heard anybody discuss So-Ha,’ he chuckled. What about these fears that you simply may get mugged if you happen to loiter too lengthy open air?Â
‘Should you maintain your small business to your self it’s OK, however if you happen to mess about and get on the flawed facet it may be very robust,’ Eddie admitted. ‘It has a little bit of a fame for crime among the many kids however it’s not a foul place to reside.’
Only a quick stroll away within the Excessive Road, James Jooste, 63, gross sales director at Churchill Mathesons property brokers, was tickled by So-Ha too – however understandably eager to hail the positives of the realm. ‘There’s no such factor as South Harlesden,’ he stated.
PE trainer Conor Jeeves says Harlesden has a ‘actual neighborhood’ and is in a fantastic location
Harlesden’s excessive road. The brand new sobriquet and present had been actually bringing smiles to the faces of native residents when the Mail visited the realm
Grasp’s Grocery store in Harlesden, north west London. Whereas property brokers use the time period ‘South Harlesden’ or So-Ha – some residents are sceptical in regards to the time period
Blue graffiti on a brick constructing. Higher worth houses is amongst causes cited by residents as to why they picked the realm
Harlesden Library. One property supervisor at an property brokers admitted the realm ‘may really feel a bit edgy’ and the ‘reverse of posh’
‘Nobody would ever say they reside in So-Ha, and we don’t promote it as such.’Â
He warned: ‘There’s a notion that Harlesden is gritty. I’ve been conscious of two capturing incidents within the 18 months I’ve been right here, together with a drive-by at a pizza place – however nobody acquired shot.’
Mr Jooste, who moved along with his spouse to London 5 years in the past from South Africa, added: ‘A number of skilled individuals are coming right here as a result of property is nice worth for cash in comparison with areas like Acton which have already develop into posher.
‘Harlesden is on the Bakerloo line and has nice hyperlinks to city. With HS2 coming, it will likely be even higher. You will get a pleasant household house for £700,000 or £800,000, with bigger indifferent properties over £1 million.’
Within the excessive road, the cosmopolitan character of Harlesden is very obvious.
In days passed by the realm was primarily recognized for its Irish neighborhood and Caribbean tradition, however now Brazilian grocers and low outlets rub alongside Jamaican takeaways, in addition to a Portuguese deli, halal supermarkets and a Nigerian restaurant.
James Jooste moved along with his spouse to London from South Africa, and says houses are ‘nice worth for cash’ in comparison with many different areas within the capital
The cosmopolitan character of Harlesden is instantly obvious
Harlesden was traditionally one of many nation’s worst crime spots however is now a melting pot of cultures and lessons
Yesterday, there was a definite whiff of marijuana within the air. Mr Jooste instructed us: ‘You do get some, shall we embrace, vibrant individuals within the excessive road, the place the vibe is sort of eclectic. However there are good residential areas too.’
One other property supervisor at a unique property agent stated: ‘Should you’re new to this space it may really feel a bit edgy. I’ve recognized people who find themselves coming for viewings who’ve cancelled after visiting the realm for the primary time. It’s in all probability the other of posh.’
Emily Russell, 36, a fan of Motherland who was out together with her sons aged three and one, moved from Kilburn right into a four-bedroom Victorian terraced home in Harlesden together with her lawyer husband 18 months in the past.
‘We got here right here as a result of it has properties we may afford,’ she stated. ‘I’ll be watching Amandaland. Calling it So-Ha is a parody, however it’s so removed from the reality. The world is just not remotely gentrified.’
Requested about crime within the space, she stated her cell phone had been stolen at virtually the very spot the place she was talking to us, ‘however that would occur wherever in London’.
She added that as a household they hadn’t encountered anti-social behaviour, however did suppose litter was an issue.
Houses in Harlesden. It is not Chelsea or Mayfair, however the neighbourhood is on the way in which up
With professionals transferring in and HS2 (hopefully) on the way in which, this can be the subsequent place to snap up a property
After spending a number of hours assembly the residents of Harlesden, we had been struck by what a melting-pot the realm is, bringing each nationality and all social lessons collectively in a energetic, vibrant combine.
Sure, it might be a good distance from Chelsea or Mayfair – however it’s clear that it’s on the up.
Certainly, with attorneys and different professionals clearly transferring in, this can be the subsequent place to snap up a property in a rising market.
Maybe Amanda has landed on her ft in spite of everything – and that So-Ha nickname may catch on ahead of anybody thinks.
