It is a week until the London Jewish Cultural Centre closes its doors at Ivy House in Golders Green following the merger with JW3, where some of its activities have transferred. And regulars enjoying the final classes at Ivy House - and the farewell photographic exhibition from the Friends of Jerusalem Botanical Gardens - are already experiencing a sense of loss.

Linda Samuels has taught an art class for nine years which will continue under her leadership at the Sternberg Centre in Finchley. But she says it will not be the same.

"I'll miss it here very much. We won't see the crocuses in Golders Hill Park any more. There are some beautiful grounds at the Sternberg, but nothing like this.

"The people here are always warm.They always say: 'Where have you
been? I didn't see you last week.' And there is the lovely café, so intimate and personal."

The café, where many locals popped in for a light lunch and a social, has served its last meal.

It's very sad that it's closing. We're all very upset

Among students at her final class was Edgware resident Walter Schneiderman, 92, whose own artistic background was as a make-up supervisor on movies including Fiddler on the Roof, Yentl and The Elephant Man and who also worked with Richard Gere and Vanessa Redgrave on Yanks.

"It's a great shame they're closing it down," he said, "a great pity. I'm not sure I'll go with this class to the Sternberg Centre. I am very sad to see Ivy House close. I think it's a big mistake."

His favourite Ivy House memory was giving a talk on his career in the main hall in 2013. "It was completely packed," he recalled.

Working on her watercolour, June Grossman, from Cricklewood, said she had sold a painting through one of the Ivy House exhibitions.

"I've always found the staff helpful. People know you around here. It's a family atmosphere. It's really sad that it's closing. We're all very upset."

Suzan Roth, from Mill Hill, said she would miss the "lovely atmosphere. It's peaceful and friendly, more intimate than JW3. I doubt the atmosphere will be the same there."

Volunteer photographer Adrian Dell, who covered many of the LJCC's celebrity events, believed that some regulars would find the transition to JW3 difficult. "I think people are trying to embrace it, but part of the problem is that it's an unfriendly kind of building. It's big, glass-walled, without much character."

A sale has been agreed for Ivy House, which was on the market for £6.25 million. It will become a school.

Over in Finchley Road, a JW3 spokesperson pointed out that "virtually all LJCC events are already taking place at JW3 and we're delighted that the average number of attendees has increased. The integration of staff, teachers and students has been really successful."