Tag Archives: Business

S3Ep17 The Golden Arches Return to Brentwood

There was a time, in the dim and distant past, when Brentwood had two McDonald’s restaurants – one on the High Street, and a drive-thru on the Mountnessing roundabout. Then they both closed and those with a taste for McNuggets or a Happy Meal had to travel to Chelmsford or even Romford for a full fat fix.

But this year, McDonald’s reopened on Brentwood High Street under the watchful eye of former McDonald’s Customer Care Assistant turned current franchisee, Joey Antwi-Kusi. The Brentwood Buzz has been to meet Joey, and to go behind the scenes in the shiny new Brentwood Maccy-D’s.

TBB S1Ep3 John Brandler and Banksy

Summary

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.

TBB S1Ep2 Julian Goode – If I Could Walk 500 Miles

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.

You can find out more about Julian and his walks at GoodeWalks.co.uk

The Brentwood Buzz is hosted by Kay Bellwood

TBB S1Ep1 Cllr Mark Reed…and a hedgehog

S1Ep1 The Brentwood Buzz’s first guest is Mark Reed, a current Brentwood Borough Councillor and a former Mayor of Brentwood, who used to run Brentwood Theatre and now wrangles animals at children’s parties.

Addendum

My lovely friend Mark died suddenly on 5th July 2025. Hundreds of people attended his funeral at St Thomas’s Church in the centre of Brentwood, and his coffin was adorned with his Mayoral hat.

Mark’s animals were rehomed with friends and fellow animal wranglers.

A bench in his memory was installed by Brentwood Borough Council, with the encouragement and support of his fellow ward councillors, Mellissa Slade and Roger Hirst, and his sisters, Kim and Lynne.

We all miss Mark. He was the best of men.

Photo by Mark – Chesney Hawkes, Alex Burghart MP and Cllr Mark Reed – combining Mark’s passion for theatre and politics.