News from The Barnet Society

Police failures which have led to the Borough of Barnet becoming a London hot spot for gangs stealing cars provoked a heated debate at a summit on car theft held by the Chipping Barnet MP Dan Tomlinson.

High Barnet’s acclaimed drama group is busy rehearsing for their autumn production -- an imaginative presentation of The Tragedie of Macbeth, William Shakespeare’s play about the destructive consequences of unchecked ambition and political power.

After missing out on the award for several years, Barnet’s oldest hostelry Ye Olde Mitre Inne has been voted pub of the year for 2025 by the Enfield and Barnet branch of the Campaign for Real Ale.

Displays and training demonstrations by reservists and cadets filled the parade ground at the Army Reserve Centre in St Albans Road, Barnet, in celebration of Armed Forces Day.

A celebration of the joy of growing and eating beans organised by members of Barnet’s innovative Incredible Edible campaign group was a journey from start to finish – from seed to plate.

Barnet’s long-established international folk dance club is being relaunched to take advantage of the growing popularity of the traditional folk music and dancing of the Balkans with the hope of attracting a wider membership.

Since the start of the year police officers in the neighbourhood team for High Barnet and Barnet Vale have spent most of their time in plain clothes targeting persistent offenders including shoplifters and drug dealers and have made a total of 55 arrests.

An art workshop arranged as part of the London Festival of Architecture combined the idea of dreams and visions seen through notable window frames of historic buildings in and around High Barnet.

A purpose-built space where young people can be themselves has been built in the grounds of Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospice in Byng Road, Barnet.

In advance of a key meeting which campaigners understand will be held in mid-July, BringBarnetBack have launched a last-minute appeal to Barnet Council to give the go-ahead for a new football stadium at Underhill.

A concerted police operation targeting shoplifting in Barnet High Street and around the Everyman cinema has resulted in 47 arrests in the last five months – far more than the total number of arrests made during the previous three years.

Barnet Museum’s trustees have had to withdraw their bid to save High Barnet’s historic Tudor Hall for community use because of a lack of financial resources to repair and then maintain the building.

Seven Barnet winners of the King’s Badge – the highest award in the Boys’ Brigade and Girls’ Association – were honoured at a special service at Barnet United Reformed Church after an official presentation at Guildhall in the City of London.

Mock battles with weapons made from foam were one of the highlights for children attending the annual Barnet Medieval Festival at its new and enlarged site on farmland in Galley Lane.

Greater London’s first 3x3 basketball court – with a vibrant blue playing surface -- has been opened at Barnet Playing Fields off Barnet Lane, Underhill. 3x3 basketball – for six players instead of the usual ten – is growing in popularity.

Despite an ominous weather forecast, Barnet’s sixth annual medieval festival attracted a record number of military re-enactors and medieval traders to its new site on farmland in Galley Lane.

A container garden which won an award at this year’s Chelsea Flower Show has been recreated at the Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospice in Byng Road, Barnet. The aim of the layout is to provide a calming sophisticated space – an ideal amenity for the hospice garden.

After being boarded up for the last 20 years a fresh attempt is about to be made to see whether it might be possible to get the abandoned Quinta Youth Club in Mays Lane, Barnet, refurbished or rebuilt and returned to community use.

Arkley’s annual village fayre attracted even more entrants than last year for its all-comers dog show – and the class for golden oldies among local canines proved especially popular. First prize went to Tracey with Teabag, her eleven-year-old Bichon Frise. Another old timer, Raffi, took second place – Sue’s 15-year-old Chinese crested hairless.

Opening the fifth annual High Barnet Chamber Music Festival will be a family concert at St Mark’s Church, Barnet Vale, a new venue for this summer’s event.