Tag Archives: Businesses

S4Ep7 Classy Bars and Grassy Cars

Come to Brentwood High Street and you will see the Sugar Hut – formerly the White Hart coaching inn, and then central nightclub venue for the antics of the The Only Way Is Essex cast – and, if you are lucky, a glimpse of a tiny Smart car covered in fake grass.

Strangely enough, both attractions were brought to the town by the same man, Fraser Donaldson, who’s now the Managing Director of Easigrass Essex and Herts, based at the Hunters Chase Garden Centre in Hutton.

Fraser has been telling The Brentwood Buzz how he came to be involved with classy bars and grassy cars.

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S4Ep6 Getting Businesses Connected in Ingatestone

The Brentwood Buzz celebrates all that’s good about the people and places of Brentwood, Essex – and that’s the whole Borough of Brentwood, not just the town.

There are so many amazing people living here, with great stories to tell, and so many businesses, voluntary groups, arts collectives and societies who do great work in the Borough.

Currently, the three main high streets of Brentwood, Ingatestone and Shenfield, are also being celebrated and highlighted by the Business Improvement District project, known as Brentwood Connected.

This week Brentwood Connected held a networking breakfast in Ingatestone for some of its members, so The Brentwood Buzz popped along for a (very) early morning coffee and chat.

https://theloungeingatestone.co.uk/

https://www.brentwoodconnected.co.uk/the-ginger-tree

https://www.pinneytalfourd.co.uk/

https://www.thestarinningatestone.co.uk/

https://www.brentwoodconnected.co.uk/

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Architects and Interior Designers

S3Ep27 It’s Panto Season (Oh Yes It Is) in Brentwood

The Brentwood Buzz heads to Press Night at Sophisticated Entertainment’s Beauty and The Beast at the Brentwood Centre

There is nothing like a dame, especially one who’s singing Nessun Dorma while dressed in a glorious froth of hoops and ruffles and wearing a teapot on her head.

And that’s what you get in this year’s Beauty and The Beast Panto at the Brentwood Centre, together with some fabulous performances from a close team of young actors and a troupe of sassy and talented dancers who – in the main – are still at school.

Local production company Sophisticated Entertainment is putting on the show until 4th January 2026 (https://www.everyoneactive.com/news/the-brentwood-centre-activity-brochure/) at the Brentwood Centre, and invited The Brentwood Buzz along to press night for an all singing, all dancing night of entertainment.

S3Ep25 Time for Brentwood, Business and a Bacon Butty

The Brentwood Chamber of Commerce brings together businesses large and small from across the Borough of Brentwood, for support, networking and making a difference in the town.

The Chamber works with the Brentwood Improvement District through Brentwood Connected, and ensures the voices of local entrepreneurs are heard when change is afoot.

The Brentwood Buzz got up very early to join some of our local businesses for a bacon butty and a spot of networking at the latest Brentwood Business Breakfast.

http://www.greentornado.co.uk

successionplancoach.com

house of colour.co.uk

djkcleaning.co.uk

brentwoodchamber.co.uk

S3Ep23 Getting Festive with Figo, and a Conversation with a Cabbie

With Christmas and the New Year holiday season looming every closer, the Borough of Brentwood is getting ready to light up, have fun and welcome Father Christmas, many elves and plenty of parties.

The Brentwood Lighting Up Ceremony takes place this weekend – 22nd November – with a focus on bringing the magic of Christmas to the children of the town. Father Christmas will be joining the Rotary Elves on the High Street, Mrs Claus will be in her grotto at the Chicken and Frog Bookshop on Crown Street, and the North Pole Postmistress will be outside the Figo restaurant if anyone wants to send a letter to Santa.

The Brentwood Buzz has been to Figo to meet its Events Manager, Debbie Butcher, who combines events coordination with driving a cab, so is a cracking person to chat with for this latest episode of Brentwood’s most celebratory podcast.

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S3Ep20 Brentwood is the Place To Do Business – Brentwood Business Awards 2025

If ever confirmation were needed that Brentwood is the place to do business, the annual Brentwood Business Awards organised by Brentwood Chamber of Commerce is the place to go.

More than two hundred Brentwood business people, local dignitaries, friends and family gathered this week for a glittering awards ceremony at which awards were given for high Street Impact, Community Engagement, Customer Service and Brentwood Business of the Year.

The Brentwood Buzz was there to chat to as many of these fabulous people as possible.

Photos by David Hale

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.

S3Ep13 The Heart of Brentwood – Celebrating 30 Years of the British Heart Foundation Shop

Brentwood High Street has an eclectic mix of shops, from High Street chains to independent stores to charity shops.

One of the charity shops which has been offering the chance to recycle unwanted goods, and to grab a bargain, is the British Heart Foundation outlet, which is celebrating 30 years on Brentwood High Street this year.

The Brentwood Buzz has been to visit the shop to find out what’s kept it going for three decades, and to meet some of the staff and volunteers.

The Brentwood Buzz is a podcast celebrating all that’s good about the people and places of Brentwood, Essex

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