A podcast celebrating all that's good about Brentwood, Essex
The Borough of Brentwood, Essex, UK
Brentwood is a town with low crime levels and a general feeling of safety. But some people, especially women, feel less safe when out for a run or walking home in the dark.
In the last couple of years Essex Police and Brentwood Borough Council have worked with local martial arts instructors to offer free self defence classes to anyone who wants to sign up to come along.
The Brentwood Buzz has been to join them.
If you thought the Beast of Brentwood was a large black panther-like creature spotted roaming the town’s parks in the early 2000s, think again.
Today’s Beast is the bane of Brentwood Park Run’s participants – a lung-challenging 5k course around Weald Country Park.
The Brentwood Park Run is one of the friendliest and most inclusive free activities available in the town on a Saturday morning, so The Brentwood Buzz has donned some running shoes and headed off to Weald Park for a bit of a weekend workout.
If this sounds like your sort of thing, you can find out how to register for the Brentwood Park Run at http://www.parkrun.org.uk/brentwood
If you’ve not popped into Chantilly aka The Pink Cafe on Crown Street for a spot of lunch, a cup of coffee, or one of their amazing afternoon teas, you’ve been missing out!
Co-owned and run by two cousins, Natalie and Sally, Chantilly is a great little independent tearoom. The Brentwood Buzz visited Chantilly and co-owner Natalie Sutherland to find out why the cafe has become the go-to place for people needing a coffee and a catch up.
Nestled in the heart of Brentwood’s wonderful Crown Street is the Chicken and Frog bookshop, run by Natasha and Jim Radford. The bookshop provides a focus for young readers wanting to find new inspiration, and for adults who want to read something which might be less widely available online or in High Street chains. The shop embraces diversity and everyone is made to feel welcome – unless they are a chicken…
This week The Brentwood Buzz visits the Chicken and Frog to meet owner Natasha Radford to find out what Brentwood, and books, mean to her.
S1Ep3 Tucked away on a small row of shops behind Brentwood High Street is Brandler Galleries. Its owner, fine art dealer and street art collector, John Brandler has lived in Brentwood all his life and has become known as a world expert on the art of Banksy. The Brentwood Buzz has been to meet John to find out what keeps him in Brentwood and why Banksy holds such a fascination for him.
This episode was recorded in January 2023 on a sunny day at the Pavilion at King George’s Playing Fields when Julian was in good health and keen to get back to walking. Sadly, the ailments persisted and Julian died at the end of December 2025. He is greatly missed, and this second ever episode of The Brentwood Buzz exists in memory of his cheerful, determined, stoicism and humour.
Summary
S1Ep2 The Brentwood Buzz is back, with walking boots on and out in the open air with Julian Goode. Julian’s survived leukaemia and lockdown in the the last four years and has walked 500 miles across all four countries of the UK to raise money and awareness. And, in the words of the Proclaimers, he will walk 500 more as he’s set up a business giving all of us the chance to have a good walk in the countryside and woods around Brentwood and Essex.
The Brentwood Buzz is hosted by Kay Bellwood. You can find out more about Julian and his walks at GoodeWalks.co.uk
The Brentwood Buzz