The Brentwood Buzz

11/10/2025

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 has had a busy old week recording interviews and was there to chat to as many of these fabulous people as possible. Have a listen via the website or Spotify, like and share!

https://thebrentwoodbuzz.co.uk/2025/10/11/s3ep20-brentwood-is-the-place-to-do-business-brentwood-business-awards-2025/

Brentwood Connected Essex County Council Brentwood Borough Council Chicken & Frog Bookshop Saint Francis Hospice Ink Digital Crown Street Dental Group Crown Street, Brentwood

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 hundre…

11/10/2025

Brentwood is fortunate to have a unending succession of keen amateur and professional singers, dancers, actors and musicians who perform regularly in musicals, plays and concerts in venues throughout the town.

This month Brentwood Musical Theatre Society - formerly Brentwood Operatic Society – is staging Rock of Ages at the Brentwood Theatre from 21st-25th October, bringing a hit of the 1980s to all those who love a ra-ra skirt and mobile phones the size of bricks.

The Brentwood Buzz joined the team for a rehearsal and to find out what makes the BMTS members give up their time and skills to put on a show.

https://thebrentwoodbuzz.co.uk/2025/10/10/tbb-s3ep19-backstage-with-the-brentwood-musical-theatre-society/

01/10/2025

Brentwood has its own Climate Action Group which is a growing collection of people wanting to talk about what needs to be done to tackle climate change.

But it's not all climate. Great effort is being made to bring together a community of like-minded people to talk, debate, have picnics on Shenfield Common and, every so often, enjoy and evening of poetry and music.

Hey Joe Music, just off Crown Street, was the venue for the latest evening of words and music, and The Brentwood Buzz was there to meet Brentwood Climate Action chair, Kat Anderson, and singer/songwriter, Lucy Blu

Brentwood has its own Climate Action Group which is a growing collection of people wanting to talk about what needs to be done to tackle climate change. But it’s not all climate. Great effort…

25/09/2025

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. Brentwood's favourite celebratory award-nominated podcast, The Brentwood Buzz has been to meet Joey, and to go behind the scenes in the shiny new Brentwood Maccy-D's.

https://thebrentwoodbuzz.co.uk/2025/09/25/s3ep17-the-golden-arches-return-to-brentwood/

Brentwood Connected Kemi Badenoch Brentwood Chamber of Commerce

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 cl…

17/09/2025

The Brentwood Buzz celebrates all that's good about the people and places of Brentwood, Essex - but when the 1st Warley Cubs organised a weekend camp at Stow Maries Great War Aerodrome just outside Danbury in Essex, it seemed like a good excuse to Buzz a little further afield.
Stow Maries Great War Aerodrome was used as a base for some of the earliest Royal Flying Corps war planes to take off and land when defending the East of England and London from the Zeppelins of the Great War of 1914-1918.
At the time the airmen and crew lived first in tents, and then in buildings which have largely survived the last 100 years and are now open to visitors. But now the tents are back too, as the amazing team at the Aerodrome have started to allow youth organisations to camp overnight and earn some of the stages of the Air Activities badge.
1st Warley Cubs were among the first Cub Scouts to have this amazing experience, so The Brentwood Buzz was there to find out more about the Aerodrome, and what it takes to make a good and safe Cub Camp.
You can hear the episode on Spotify, Amazon Music or on The Brentwood Buzz website here:
https://thebrentwoodbuzz.co.uk/2025/09/11/s3ep16-camping-with-1st-warley-cubs-at-stow-maries-great-war-aerodrome/

The Scouts 1st Warley Scouts Royal Air Force

It’s not often The Brentwood Buzz ventures outside the Borough of Brentwood, but sometimes a great opportunity presents itself and cannot be missed. This was the case when 1st Warley Cubs dec…

10/09/2025

Any parent of a child with autism or ADHD - or any adult living with the joys and challenges neurodiversity can bring - needs to pop in to the Chicken & Frog Bookshop in Brentwood where a new sensory space and a room full of books, resources and toys has been set up over the summer.
The Brentwood Buzz popped in to the shop on Crown Street to see the changes, and found it was already being praised by parents and local psychologists who had been in to browse.

https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/the-brentwood-buzz/episodes/S3Ep15-Welcoming-Neurodiversity-at-the-Chicken-and-Frog-Bookshop-e38207m

SNAP Charity Hall and Co. Educational Psychology Services Brentwood Connected

Any parent of a child with autism or ADHD - or any adult living with the joys and challenges neurodiversity can bring - needs to pop in to the Chicken and Frog Bookshop where a new sensory space and a room full of books, resources and toys has been set up over the summer.The Brentwood Buzz popped in...

01/09/2025

Well, this is exciting! The Brentwood Buzz is a finalist in the Brentwood Chamber of Commerce Business Awards for the High Street Impact category!

AND THE HIGH STREET IMPACT FINALISTS ARE...

and
Brentwood High Street Branch
thebrentwoodbuzz

🎉 Congratulations to our finalists!
We're thrilled to celebrate your achievements and can't wait to crown the winner at our Awards Ceremony this October. Stay tuned for more details! 🏆✨

Sponsored by

31/08/2025

Brentwood's first Brentwood International Cultural Festival is taking place in the town this September, with talks, films, food and activities from local people who have come to the town from a multitude of countries and cultures.
From those who came to Brentwood to work for the Ford Motor Company, and skilled workers who were invited to the UK to work in the NHS, to those who came from Ukraine to escape the war with Russia, and those who came for love, there are many people living in the town who bring different cultural experiences to this part of Essex.
The Brentwood Buzz has been to meet Preen Chakadonha, who has set up a website www.blackandbeingessex.co.uk, to enable the black community in Essex to share resources, advice and - very importantly - tips on where to find a good hairdresser.

https://open.spotify.com/episode/0NEOj4KTJ3vvEpjjxDjwGf?si=d7S3D2VXQAGYDSyD1uV-Qg

The Brentwood Buzz · Episode

17/08/2025

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.

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 Br...

10/08/2025

Brilliant fun!

PARENTS IN BRENTWOOD

👊WING CHUN KUNG FU FREE PASSES👊

Are you looking for a new activity for your children this Summer??
😎 We have 10 x FREE Kids Summer Passes to give away - no obligation unlimited free training every week during August!!

Simply complete the booking form on our website ASAP to claim your free pass - places will go fast!!!

Classes available - Monday, Thursday & Friday's

Due to last years popularity we are now extending our Free Summer Pass offer to Adults too!! Simply use the Adult booking form on our website.

https://meridianbrentwood.co.uk/meridian-kung-fu-free-two-week-trial/

Sifu Andy Dennis

07/07/2025

My friend, Mark P Reed, whose endless positivity and support set me on the road to starting this podcast, died suddenly and unexpectedly on Saturday 5th July.
Mark, a local Brentwood Borough Council ward councillor, a former Mayor of Brentwood, the former manager of Brentwood Theatre, a great supporter of so many local organisations and charities and a fantastic animal wrangler, will be hugely missed by all who knew him.
While working at Brentwood Theatre, he encouraged me to record some interviews about the shows which were taking place, and gave me the chance to host the theatre's own awards, The Brents. He restored my enthusiasm for broadcasting and The Brentwood Buzz was born.
When I needed a forgiving first guest for The Brentwood Buzz, who had endless joy for the people and places of Brentwood, Essex, I knew Mark - aka Mr Brentwood - was the best person to ask. And he was brilliant.
If you knew Mark, I hope this repeat of his interview from January 2023 will remind you what a cracking chap and glorious friend he has been to so many of us. And if you did not know him, this is a chance for you to hear one of Brentwood's finest chaps talking about the town he loved and served so well. Mark was very proud to be my first guest, and that his is the most listened to interview in this series.
RIP Mark. Best buzzings and thank you for everything ###

Summary 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…

16/04/2025

The latest episode of The Brentwood Buzz is up and ready for you to hear. This week we've gone all sporty and had a go at table tennis, which - if you've not tried it before - is more complicated that a bit of pinging and ponging.
Thanks to the Hutton Table Tennis Club for letting The Brentwood Buzz join a training session and not be too badly beaten by an 11 year old...

Table Tennis England Hutton CommunityCentre

Brentwood is a hotbed of talent when it comes to table tennis, with multiple teams meeting across the Borough to take part in local and national leagues, training and socialising.From Bat and Chat to world class players, there is a level for everyone.The Brentwood Buzz has been to meet some of the p...