Bromley Buzz

Zeenat Noorani talks with Lauren at the Paws Cat Café in Tonbridge.   Just as when we went beyond Bromley to focus on the lovely Hemsley Conservation Centre (episode here), we have again gone to a fascinating place within a reasonable distance of our borough.    While Hemsley has Geoffroy's Cats, Lauren's cat cafe has 15 rescue cats in what is definitely 'not your usual coffee shop'. While it certainly has cats, coffee, cake and co...

Darren Weale talks again with Cllr Jonathan Andrews, the Mayor Of Bromley, even as his annual term of office comes to a close in May. He shares a tribute to his mother. Theresa is Mayoress, and Jonathan also thanks the whole team around the Mayor that makes this office of optimism such a positive part of the borough.   Jonathan reflects on his event-filled term and, after the closing credits of the podcast, there is a bonus section...

Darren Weale talks with actor James Bradwell ahead of his appearance as Sergeant Troy in Midsomer Murders - The Killings At Badgers Drift, which is on at the Churchill Theatre from 12-16 May. Tickets here.   James is appearing together with Daniel Casey, who created the role of Sergeant Troy, and who is in this production playing Inspector Tom Barnaby.   James talks about the classic whodunnit, with its 'eccentric villagers, shocki...

Darren Weale announces the Best Of Project and the Best Of Bromley, which will run during and before September 2026.   The announcement was made at English Heritage's Down House, the former home of Charles Darwin. Speaking at the 21st April Bromley BuzzUp networking event, attended by the Mayor Of Bromley, Cllr Jonathan Andrews, Darren outlines the thinking and intentions behind the Best Of Bromley.    This new project is separate ...

Bromley's Ripley Arts Centre - home of the Bromley Arts Trust - recently hosted a double celebration.

First, a milestone: showing off its rooms after a refresh so that they can again host music and other activities against a fresh, well-decorated backdrop. Second, sharing the launch of a new exhibition, 'Bowie Unlimited', featuring artwork by Sara Captain depicting the iconic musician David Bowie. We interviewed Sara in episode 280...

Zeenat Noorani talks with Simi Ghuman of Radfield Homecare, Bromley Orpington, and Beckenham.   Simi talks about care and the care business locally, and contributing through Connections Cafe events and sponsoring Let's Talk Better campaign events including one on 27th April.   We are spreading the love! Do listen in and share the Buzz. You can find us on our website www.bromleybuzz.co.uk, where we feature local events here. We are ...

Darren Weale talks with Graham Orr, Chair of Bromley Football Club Community Trust, and Cllr Mike Botting, Armed Forces Champion and Loneliness Champion for Bromley, and formerly a regular on the podcast when Mayor.    The growing work of the Trust, particularly with veterans living in Bromley, is covered, acknowledging the pivotal help of Charlotte Ryan from Bromley Council. A wide range of ongoing and planned activities involv...

Darren Weale attends the opening of 'Bowie Universal' - Sara Captain's David Bowie art exhibition at Ripley Arts Centre, and talks with Sara about David Bowie, her art, and David Bowie's significance for Bromley and culture more widely.

From the late Bromley-grown superstar's early career onwards, Sara captures in various formats his growing popularity, influence, and influences. Visitors can buy artworks, prints and more from the ...

Darren Weale talks with Sarah Newsom and Liz Bromfield from Parkinson's UK Bromley and District Branch ahead of World Parkinson's Day on 11th April, when they will have a stand in Bromley Town Centre outside The Glades shopping centre.   A wide-ranging conversations covers numerous topics including the many things the branch does with and for people with Parkinson's, their families, carers, and those around them in Bromley. 'It isn...

Zeenat Noorani talks with Martin of the newly award-winning Crown & Anchor pub in Bromley, the award having been presented by Bromley Member of Parliament Peter Fortune.    We are spreading the love! Do listen in and share the Buzz. You can find us on our website www.bromleybuzz.co.uk, where we feature local events here. We are also on Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter, and You Tube. The Bromley Buzz podcast is sponsored by Shampan ...

Darren Weale  catches up with previous Bromley Buzz podcast guest (episode 143) Cllr Graeme Casey outside the Lopeto Cafe in Orpington's Priory Gardens, with vocal accompaniment from a Robin, geese, and passing park and cafe users.    While enjoying Basque cheesecake and coffee, and ahead of the May 7th local elections, as usual we steer clear of politics, while encouraging listeners to vote, and refer to how the year is going for ...

Darren Weale and Zeenat Noorani talk with Cllr Gemma Turrell, Deputy Mayor of Bromley,   Gemma comes up with a great tagline for the borough - 'London living with a Kent lifestyle' and talks about her personal journey, her cats, boardgames, and her cool experiences as Deputy Mayor. She also reveals that the Bromley Buzz is her "number one podcast on Spotify"!  The discussion ranges from Pokémon to Mount Everest, and Narnia to Flor...

Darren Weale visits Bromley's Greener Cleaner Hub in The Glades shopping centre during the Spark Festival and speaks with Amber and Michaela from In Common, John Breech from the Hub's energy team - supported by UK Power Networks, and Charlotte from the Hub, who talks about the Hub's current and future activities that people can take part in. 

From a player coming on stage in a coffin, to coming away with awards, and many a mishap a...

Darren Weale and Zeenat Noorani talk about the latest news and events in Bromley, and as we look to share one or two items from our archive, we include an interview with Cllr Thomas Turrell - also London Assembly Member for Bexley and Bromley - and Cllr Will Rowlands, when Thomas was walking for charity and to celebrate the Green Belt last spring (2025). That was recorded at Scadbury Manor. Thank you to BBC Radio London's Eddie Nes...

Darren Weale speaks with Henry, Operations Manager at Hemsley Conservation Centre in Kent.

From the beautiful, rare Golden Conures which can be heard at the start of the episode, to Tayra, Lemurs, Maned Wolves and Jaguarundi (one of only 2 pairs in the UK), Hemsley Conservation Centre is a publicly-open refuge for many animal species that are rare both in the wild and even in zoos.

The Centre loves its animals, and their personalit...

Darren Weale speaks with Wendy, Robin, and Nick from the Farnborough Dramatic Society in the dressing room.

From a player coming on stage in a coffin, to coming away with awards, and many a mishap along the way, we hear about the Society, which is over 75 years old, and features members from 18 years of age to 'as old as you like'. With alumni including Nicholas Gasson from TV's Merlin, several members have gone on to professional ...

Darren Weale speaks with Wendy, Robin, and Nick from the Farnborough Dramatic Society in the dressing room ahead of their next production, Murder At Checkmate Manor, which runs between 19th and 21st February. Tickets here.

We are spreading the love!

Do listen in and share the Buzz. You can find us on our website www.bromleybuzz.co.uk, where we feature local events here. We are also on Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter, and You Tube. The...