Andrew Kersley
@andrewkersley.bsky.social
Investigative journalist at @londonermag.bsky.social - andrew@the-londoner.co.uk
Subscribe to support my work - https://www.the-londoner.co.uk/#/portal/signup
Previously freelance at Observer, Sunday Times, Mirror, Private Eye etc
Subscribe to support my work - https://www.the-londoner.co.uk/#/portal/signup
Previously freelance at Observer, Sunday Times, Mirror, Private Eye etc
Wait... it's all private equity and massive landlords?
Always has been.
Always has been.
Ever wondered how London's high streets suddenly got filled with Blank Street, Farmer J and Popeyes?
Today, @andrewkersley.bsky.social explains how private equity and landlords that own huge swathes of London are reshaping the city's storefronts.
www.the-londoner.co.uk/londons-high...
Today, @andrewkersley.bsky.social explains how private equity and landlords that own huge swathes of London are reshaping the city's storefronts.
www.the-londoner.co.uk/londons-high...
London's high streets all look the same. Why?
How Covid, private finance and reformed planning regulations led to an increasingly homogeneous city
www.the-londoner.co.uk
October 29, 2025 at 10:30 AM
Wait... it's all private equity and massive landlords?
Always has been.
Always has been.
This was an absolutely insane saga to report on
It started with an email and a picture of a cheap pleather manbag.
It spiralled into a saga of assassinations, ambulances and a “catastrophic and potentially fatal” chemical explosion.
@andrewkersley.bsky.social on maybe the craziest housing story in South London
It spiralled into a saga of assassinations, ambulances and a “catastrophic and potentially fatal” chemical explosion.
@andrewkersley.bsky.social on maybe the craziest housing story in South London
Man-bags at dawn on the Loughborough Estate
Alleged assassination attempts, hazardous chemicals and £374,000 of gifts
www.the-londoner.co.uk
October 23, 2025 at 9:05 AM
This was an absolutely insane saga to report on
Reposted by Andrew Kersley
Newspapers are full of stories about the disappearance of London’s historical East Enders.
But the reality is a lot more complex: a strange story of 14th century chickens, Yiddish slang and 1960s town planning.
Check out @andrewkersley.bsky.social's story:
www.the-londoner.co.uk/is-the-cockn...
But the reality is a lot more complex: a strange story of 14th century chickens, Yiddish slang and 1960s town planning.
Check out @andrewkersley.bsky.social's story:
www.the-londoner.co.uk/is-the-cockn...
Is the Cockney extinct?
Newspapers are full of stories about the disappearance of London's historical East Enders. The truth is a lot more complicated
www.the-londoner.co.uk
October 9, 2025 at 9:18 AM
Newspapers are full of stories about the disappearance of London’s historical East Enders.
But the reality is a lot more complex: a strange story of 14th century chickens, Yiddish slang and 1960s town planning.
Check out @andrewkersley.bsky.social's story:
www.the-londoner.co.uk/is-the-cockn...
But the reality is a lot more complex: a strange story of 14th century chickens, Yiddish slang and 1960s town planning.
Check out @andrewkersley.bsky.social's story:
www.the-londoner.co.uk/is-the-cockn...
Particularly proud of my latest @londonermag.bsky.social investigation into Linea Homes, a developer that says it saves pubs but actually shuts them and turns them into luxury flats.
I spent a night with Oli Carter-Esdale, the landlord of their latest victim, The Trafalgar in Wimbledon.
I spent a night with Oli Carter-Esdale, the landlord of their latest victim, The Trafalgar in Wimbledon.
October 7, 2025 at 1:27 PM
Particularly proud of my latest @londonermag.bsky.social investigation into Linea Homes, a developer that says it saves pubs but actually shuts them and turns them into luxury flats.
I spent a night with Oli Carter-Esdale, the landlord of their latest victim, The Trafalgar in Wimbledon.
I spent a night with Oli Carter-Esdale, the landlord of their latest victim, The Trafalgar in Wimbledon.
Reposted by Andrew Kersley
Oli is a mate of mine and one of the best publicans to grace London. These developers are ripping the heart out of so many communities and it's truly disgusting.
www.the-londoner.co.uk/trafalgar-wi...
www.the-londoner.co.uk/trafalgar-wi...
They claim to save London pubs. So why have they shut so many down?
Linea Homes has been called the “grim reaper” of pubs. Their targets include some of Peckham, Wimbledon and Camden’s most iconic boozers.
www.the-londoner.co.uk
October 4, 2025 at 9:51 PM
Oli is a mate of mine and one of the best publicans to grace London. These developers are ripping the heart out of so many communities and it's truly disgusting.
www.the-londoner.co.uk/trafalgar-wi...
www.the-londoner.co.uk/trafalgar-wi...
Reposted by Andrew Kersley
Ryan Bridge has become a familiar face in Stirchley lately. He's one of two "company directors" of raisetheflags.org, where he collects donations from £10-£500 for flags.
October 4, 2025 at 6:40 AM
Ryan Bridge has become a familiar face in Stirchley lately. He's one of two "company directors" of raisetheflags.org, where he collects donations from £10-£500 for flags.
Reposted by Andrew Kersley
Linea Homes says it brings London pubs "back to life".
But we've discovered the firm has tried or succeeded to shut dozens of pubs to turn them into luxury flats.
Their targets include some of Peckham, Wimbledon and Camden’s most iconic boozers.
www.the-londoner.co.uk/trafalgar-wi...
But we've discovered the firm has tried or succeeded to shut dozens of pubs to turn them into luxury flats.
Their targets include some of Peckham, Wimbledon and Camden’s most iconic boozers.
www.the-londoner.co.uk/trafalgar-wi...
They claim to save London pubs. So why have they shut so many down?
Linea Homes has been called the “grim reaper” of pubs. Their targets include some of Peckham, Wimbledon and Camden’s most iconic boozers.
www.the-londoner.co.uk
October 4, 2025 at 11:15 AM
Linea Homes says it brings London pubs "back to life".
But we've discovered the firm has tried or succeeded to shut dozens of pubs to turn them into luxury flats.
Their targets include some of Peckham, Wimbledon and Camden’s most iconic boozers.
www.the-londoner.co.uk/trafalgar-wi...
But we've discovered the firm has tried or succeeded to shut dozens of pubs to turn them into luxury flats.
Their targets include some of Peckham, Wimbledon and Camden’s most iconic boozers.
www.the-londoner.co.uk/trafalgar-wi...
Reposted by Andrew Kersley
On their holiest day, Manchester’s Jews face their ‘darkest of moments’.
Our story about today’s attack.
manchestermill.co.uk/on-their-hol...
Our story about today’s attack.
manchestermill.co.uk/on-their-hol...
On their holiest day, Manchester’s Jews face their ‘darkest of moments’
Amid fasting and prayer, terror comes to Crumpsall
manchestermill.co.uk
October 2, 2025 at 6:34 PM
On their holiest day, Manchester’s Jews face their ‘darkest of moments’.
Our story about today’s attack.
manchestermill.co.uk/on-their-hol...
Our story about today’s attack.
manchestermill.co.uk/on-their-hol...
Reposted by Andrew Kersley
From scooping Jay Rayner to breaking news of the death of the beloved Corsica Studios, it’s been a landmark month here.
But we need help. We’re ten new subscribers away from hitting our monthly target.
If you enjoy our work, please help us get over the line!
www.the-londoner.co.uk#/portal/signup
But we need help. We’re ten new subscribers away from hitting our monthly target.
If you enjoy our work, please help us get over the line!
www.the-londoner.co.uk#/portal/signup
The Londoner
London's new quality newspaper
www.the-londoner.co.uk
September 30, 2025 at 5:23 PM
From scooping Jay Rayner to breaking news of the death of the beloved Corsica Studios, it’s been a landmark month here.
But we need help. We’re ten new subscribers away from hitting our monthly target.
If you enjoy our work, please help us get over the line!
www.the-londoner.co.uk#/portal/signup
But we need help. We’re ten new subscribers away from hitting our monthly target.
If you enjoy our work, please help us get over the line!
www.the-londoner.co.uk#/portal/signup
Reposted by Andrew Kersley
Great reporting here, of something I'd been looking at, after receiving a bunch of emails from aggrieved people. Clearly I didn't get on to it quickly enough. The Londoner very much have the story.
Victor Garvey is one of London's biggest chefs; beloved by critics like Giles Coren.
But ex-staff, friends and investors paint a different picture; of bailiffs, mid-restaurant fights and Warhammer 40k fans losing their savings to Garvey.
Our weekend exposé:
www.the-londoner.co.uk/the-rise-and...
But ex-staff, friends and investors paint a different picture; of bailiffs, mid-restaurant fights and Warhammer 40k fans losing their savings to Garvey.
Our weekend exposé:
www.the-londoner.co.uk/the-rise-and...
He's one of London’s most famous chefs. So why do so many people say Victor Garvey owes them money?
Giles Coren called him his “favourite kind of chef”. But former staff and business partners paint a different picture of the Michelin star winner.
www.the-londoner.co.uk
September 30, 2025 at 3:33 PM
Great reporting here, of something I'd been looking at, after receiving a bunch of emails from aggrieved people. Clearly I didn't get on to it quickly enough. The Londoner very much have the story.
Reposted by Andrew Kersley
September 29, 2025 at 5:02 PM
Reposted by Andrew Kersley
🚨 EXCLUSIVE: Iconic south London club Corsica Studios is set to close next year.
Read: www.the-londoner.co.uk/exclusive-co...
Read: www.the-londoner.co.uk/exclusive-co...
Exclusive: Corsica Studios is closing next year
Plus, Thames Waters’ wasted £500mn, arson attack on an asylum hotel and the return of one of Bermondsey’s best boozers, all in your Monday briefing
www.the-londoner.co.uk
September 29, 2025 at 2:24 PM
🚨 EXCLUSIVE: Iconic south London club Corsica Studios is set to close next year.
Read: www.the-londoner.co.uk/exclusive-co...
Read: www.the-londoner.co.uk/exclusive-co...
Reposted by Andrew Kersley
Cracking reporting here 👇👇
Victor Garvey is one of London's biggest chefs; beloved by critics like Giles Coren.
But ex-staff, friends and investors paint a different picture; of bailiffs, mid-restaurant fights and Warhammer 40k fans losing their savings to Garvey.
Our weekend exposé:
www.the-londoner.co.uk/the-rise-and...
But ex-staff, friends and investors paint a different picture; of bailiffs, mid-restaurant fights and Warhammer 40k fans losing their savings to Garvey.
Our weekend exposé:
www.the-londoner.co.uk/the-rise-and...
He's one of London’s most famous chefs. So why do so many people say Victor Garvey owes them money?
Giles Coren called him his “favourite kind of chef”. But former staff and business partners paint a different picture of the Michelin star winner.
www.the-londoner.co.uk
September 29, 2025 at 10:03 AM
Cracking reporting here 👇👇
Check out my latest @londonermag.bsky.social exposé on Michelin Star winner, and Giles Coren's "favourite kind of chef", Victor Garvey.
It's one of those insane sagas that feels impossible to sum up in a single tweet or headline.
It's one of those insane sagas that feels impossible to sum up in a single tweet or headline.
Victor Garvey is one of London's biggest chefs; beloved by critics like Giles Coren.
But ex-staff, friends and investors paint a different picture; of bailiffs, mid-restaurant fights and Warhammer 40k fans losing their savings to Garvey.
Our weekend exposé:
www.the-londoner.co.uk/the-rise-and...
But ex-staff, friends and investors paint a different picture; of bailiffs, mid-restaurant fights and Warhammer 40k fans losing their savings to Garvey.
Our weekend exposé:
www.the-londoner.co.uk/the-rise-and...
He's one of London’s most famous chefs. So why do so many people say Victor Garvey owes them money?
Giles Coren called him his “favourite kind of chef”. But former staff and business partners paint a different picture of the Michelin star winner.
www.the-londoner.co.uk
September 29, 2025 at 8:28 AM
Check out my latest @londonermag.bsky.social exposé on Michelin Star winner, and Giles Coren's "favourite kind of chef", Victor Garvey.
It's one of those insane sagas that feels impossible to sum up in a single tweet or headline.
It's one of those insane sagas that feels impossible to sum up in a single tweet or headline.
Reposted by Andrew Kersley
Reposted by Andrew Kersley
After 9 months of fighting, we've obtained secret docs from Redbridge Council that shine a new light on our Jas Athwal exposé.
Plus: underground film screenings, getting trapped in sewage tunnels and the truth about Declan Rice’s £14m housing donation.
www.the-londoner.co.uk/a-new-develo...
Plus: underground film screenings, getting trapped in sewage tunnels and the truth about Declan Rice’s £14m housing donation.
www.the-londoner.co.uk/a-new-develo...
A new development in our Jas Athwal investigation
Plus, underground film screenings, getting trapped in sewage tunnels and the truth about Declan Rice’s supposed £14mn housing donation
www.the-londoner.co.uk
September 22, 2025 at 2:02 PM
After 9 months of fighting, we've obtained secret docs from Redbridge Council that shine a new light on our Jas Athwal exposé.
Plus: underground film screenings, getting trapped in sewage tunnels and the truth about Declan Rice’s £14m housing donation.
www.the-londoner.co.uk/a-new-develo...
Plus: underground film screenings, getting trapped in sewage tunnels and the truth about Declan Rice’s £14m housing donation.
www.the-londoner.co.uk/a-new-develo...
Reposted by Andrew Kersley
Reform’s first London councillor is a rogue landlord with a 33-person HMO!
Great story by @andrewkersley.bsky.social.
Shooter has been fined for illegally renting out crammed bedsits in Camden. And one of his former tenants is.. @zackpolanski.bsky.social.
www.the-londoner.co.uk/reforms-firs...
Great story by @andrewkersley.bsky.social.
Shooter has been fined for illegally renting out crammed bedsits in Camden. And one of his former tenants is.. @zackpolanski.bsky.social.
www.the-londoner.co.uk/reforms-firs...
Reform’s first London councillor is a “rogue landlord” with a 33-person HMO
Mark Shooter has been fined thousands of pounds for illegally renting out crammed bedsits in Camden. One of his former tenants just became Green Party leader.
www.the-londoner.co.uk
September 13, 2025 at 12:56 PM
Reform’s first London councillor is a rogue landlord with a 33-person HMO!
Great story by @andrewkersley.bsky.social.
Shooter has been fined for illegally renting out crammed bedsits in Camden. And one of his former tenants is.. @zackpolanski.bsky.social.
www.the-londoner.co.uk/reforms-firs...
Great story by @andrewkersley.bsky.social.
Shooter has been fined for illegally renting out crammed bedsits in Camden. And one of his former tenants is.. @zackpolanski.bsky.social.
www.the-londoner.co.uk/reforms-firs...
EXCL: Reform's first councillor in London is a convicted "slum landlord" who rents out a 33-person HMO.
While digging into him I found out one of his former tenants is new Green party leader Zack Polanski.
www.the-londoner.co.uk/reforms-firs...
While digging into him I found out one of his former tenants is new Green party leader Zack Polanski.
www.the-londoner.co.uk/reforms-firs...
Exclusive: Reform’s first London councillor is a “rogue landlord” with a 33-person HMO
Mark Shooter has been fined thousands of pounds for illegally renting out crammed bedsits in Camden. One of his former tenants just became Green Party leader.
www.the-londoner.co.uk
September 13, 2025 at 9:06 AM
EXCL: Reform's first councillor in London is a convicted "slum landlord" who rents out a 33-person HMO.
While digging into him I found out one of his former tenants is new Green party leader Zack Polanski.
www.the-londoner.co.uk/reforms-firs...
While digging into him I found out one of his former tenants is new Green party leader Zack Polanski.
www.the-londoner.co.uk/reforms-firs...
Reposted by Andrew Kersley
Revealed: how Boris Johnson traded PM contacts for global business deals
A trove of leaked data from Boris Johnson’s private office reveals how the former prime minister has been profiting from contacts and influence he gained in office in a possible breach of ethics and lobbying rules.
A trove of leaked data from Boris Johnson’s private office reveals how the former prime minister has been profiting from contacts and influence he gained in office in a possible breach of ethics and lobbying rules.
Revealed: how Boris Johnson traded PM contacts for global business deals
Exclusive: Leak exposes how former leader has used publicly subsidised office to manage commercial interests
www.theguardian.com
September 8, 2025 at 6:17 PM
Revealed: how Boris Johnson traded PM contacts for global business deals
A trove of leaked data from Boris Johnson’s private office reveals how the former prime minister has been profiting from contacts and influence he gained in office in a possible breach of ethics and lobbying rules.
A trove of leaked data from Boris Johnson’s private office reveals how the former prime minister has been profiting from contacts and influence he gained in office in a possible breach of ethics and lobbying rules.
Reposted by Andrew Kersley
From Washington Post to Manchester's @millmedia.bsky.social for new investigations editor Cameron Barr
Barr wants to help "restore and revive the kind of investigative accountability, tough minded, rigorous reporting that that we all need" pressgazette.co.uk/the-wire/med...
Barr wants to help "restore and revive the kind of investigative accountability, tough minded, rigorous reporting that that we all need" pressgazette.co.uk/the-wire/med...
September 4, 2025 at 8:00 AM
From Washington Post to Manchester's @millmedia.bsky.social for new investigations editor Cameron Barr
Barr wants to help "restore and revive the kind of investigative accountability, tough minded, rigorous reporting that that we all need" pressgazette.co.uk/the-wire/med...
Barr wants to help "restore and revive the kind of investigative accountability, tough minded, rigorous reporting that that we all need" pressgazette.co.uk/the-wire/med...
So I failed to post this as I was on leave, but I wrote about how London is dying of thirst for @londonermag.bsky.social.
Give it a read: it's a weird saga of sweaty firefighters, collapsing bank vaults and references to the ancient Trojan seer Cassandra.
www.the-londoner.co.uk/is-london-ru...
Give it a read: it's a weird saga of sweaty firefighters, collapsing bank vaults and references to the ancient Trojan seer Cassandra.
www.the-londoner.co.uk/is-london-ru...
Is London running out of water?
Between data centres, industry and new homes, London is facing record demand for water just as climate change leaves the capital drier than ever. The real problem is what comes next.
www.the-londoner.co.uk
September 2, 2025 at 10:29 AM
So I failed to post this as I was on leave, but I wrote about how London is dying of thirst for @londonermag.bsky.social.
Give it a read: it's a weird saga of sweaty firefighters, collapsing bank vaults and references to the ancient Trojan seer Cassandra.
www.the-londoner.co.uk/is-london-ru...
Give it a read: it's a weird saga of sweaty firefighters, collapsing bank vaults and references to the ancient Trojan seer Cassandra.
www.the-londoner.co.uk/is-london-ru...
Reposted by Andrew Kersley
"He's a serial pub killer ... a danger to urban life as we know it"
Billionare developer Asif Aziz has bought and shut dozens of London pubs for redevelopment. Good reporting by @andrewkersley.bsky.social for @londonermag.bsky.social
Billionare developer Asif Aziz has bought and shut dozens of London pubs for redevelopment. Good reporting by @andrewkersley.bsky.social for @londonermag.bsky.social
Exclusive: The billionaire developer closing London's pubs
Companies linked to Asif Aziz have been buying up and shutting down some of the capital’s most beloved boozers. Now, we’ve mapped them.
www.the-londoner.co.uk
August 18, 2025 at 11:20 AM
"He's a serial pub killer ... a danger to urban life as we know it"
Billionare developer Asif Aziz has bought and shut dozens of London pubs for redevelopment. Good reporting by @andrewkersley.bsky.social for @londonermag.bsky.social
Billionare developer Asif Aziz has bought and shut dozens of London pubs for redevelopment. Good reporting by @andrewkersley.bsky.social for @londonermag.bsky.social
Reposted by Andrew Kersley
Another story about a very rich man determined to strip London's cultural assets. And another story that highlights the job that the London Evening Standard *hasn't* been doing: reporting on London.
Billionaire developer Asif Aziz is one of London's most powerful and influential landowners.
In my latest investigation for @londonermag.bsky.social I found out how he has brought and shut down dozens of London pubs for redevelopment.
www.the-londoner.co.uk/exclusive-th...
In my latest investigation for @londonermag.bsky.social I found out how he has brought and shut down dozens of London pubs for redevelopment.
www.the-londoner.co.uk/exclusive-th...
Exclusive: The billionaire developer closing London's pubs
Companies linked to Asif Aziz have been buying up and shutting down some of the capital’s most beloved boozers. Now, we’ve mapped them.
www.the-londoner.co.uk
August 18, 2025 at 8:43 AM
Another story about a very rich man determined to strip London's cultural assets. And another story that highlights the job that the London Evening Standard *hasn't* been doing: reporting on London.
Reposted by Andrew Kersley
Has your local pub closed down?
It might be the work of the billionaire property developer Asif Aziz. If you recognise the name, that's because he's the man behind Criterion Capital, the firm that was recently accused of trying to shut down the Prince Charles Cinema.
It might be the work of the billionaire property developer Asif Aziz. If you recognise the name, that's because he's the man behind Criterion Capital, the firm that was recently accused of trying to shut down the Prince Charles Cinema.
Exclusive: The billionaire developer closing London's pubs
Companies linked to Asif Aziz have been buying up and shutting down some of the capital’s most beloved boozers. Now, we’ve mapped them.
www.the-londoner.co.uk
August 18, 2025 at 7:23 AM
Has your local pub closed down?
It might be the work of the billionaire property developer Asif Aziz. If you recognise the name, that's because he's the man behind Criterion Capital, the firm that was recently accused of trying to shut down the Prince Charles Cinema.
It might be the work of the billionaire property developer Asif Aziz. If you recognise the name, that's because he's the man behind Criterion Capital, the firm that was recently accused of trying to shut down the Prince Charles Cinema.
Reposted by Andrew Kersley
Another excellent investigation into Aziz who appears story by story to be a total menace to London’s social fabric at the motivation of profit by property
Billionaire developer Asif Aziz is one of London's most powerful and influential landowners.
In my latest investigation for @londonermag.bsky.social I found out how he has brought and shut down dozens of London pubs for redevelopment.
www.the-londoner.co.uk/exclusive-th...
In my latest investigation for @londonermag.bsky.social I found out how he has brought and shut down dozens of London pubs for redevelopment.
www.the-londoner.co.uk/exclusive-th...
Exclusive: The billionaire developer closing London's pubs
Companies linked to Asif Aziz have been buying up and shutting down some of the capital’s most beloved boozers. Now, we’ve mapped them.
www.the-londoner.co.uk
August 18, 2025 at 8:15 AM
Another excellent investigation into Aziz who appears story by story to be a total menace to London’s social fabric at the motivation of profit by property