London food walk: Crouch End (N8)
Words and photography by Fiona Symington.
JULY 2013
JULY 2013
Don’t be put off by the distance – a twenty-minute walk from Highgate tube station, as Crouch End is more than worth the effort. In this small London village tucked behind Alexander Palace (Ally Pally), you'll find a thriving community with an artsy edge and a high street full of vintage finds, design stores, and an inspiring supermarket that sells produce from its garden in the sky.
Start your walk at 20th Century Quarters (no. 65 Archway Rd) opposite Highgate tube station. This combined antiques, design store and café with its quirky interior and appealing menu is a perfect welcome to your food walk . Don't pause for too long as Crouch End awaits. Follow Shepherd’s Hill (it becomes Wolseley Road) to its conclusion at Park Road, enjoying your stroll through one of North London's more affluent areas.
On arrival, your first stop is Futuraneon (no. 59) – the atelier/ workshop of Rocco Borghese whose flights of imagination takes luminous form. All his work - think light installation meets sculpture, is made on site. Continue along Park Road, exploring the design and vintage stores. Little Paris (no. 39) brings the flea markets of Paris to the high street with its inspired collection of home-wares, bistro and industrial furnishings. Directly opposite at Of Special Interest (42a-46) you will find more French classics albeit with contemporary styling. Be sure to find the hideaway garden, while you are there.
Close by The Jealous Ideal Home Show curated by the Jealous Gallery (no. 27) celebrates the British home. This exhibition of familiar popular culture references, travel memorabilia, and urban design is open until 24th July 2013. ( Jealous Gallery has recently expanded to Shoreditch to accommodate its growing print studio of new and emerging artists but still calls Crouch End "home".)
Stock your London larder along The Broadway. Drop by Freemans (9 Tottenham Lane) for your free-range and organic meats. Nearby is Food from the Sky (no. 21-23) that harvests its own organic and biodynamic produce and plants from its roof garden every Friday. It is then sold from the supermarket downstairs. This unique partnership between Azul-Valerie Thome and Thornton’s Budgens has been going for four years. Its vision to grow food and foster community is a worthy one. (Unfortunately, Food from the Sky closed in March 2014. It will remained included in this walk as it is a true food story inspiration.) Britain's Best Small Wine Shop winner (2011), Bottle Apostle (no. 49 Park Road) stocks an impressive selection of good wines and boutique beers such as Kernel Brewery.
Off the main street is Topsfield Parade. Visit Queen’s Hotel (no. 26 Broadway Parade) to see the Grade II listed stained glass windows as well as its remarkably intact interior. While there, Indish (16 Broadway Parade) is a must see for staples of contemporary design. Look out for My Kind of Coffee (no. 13) for a very local roast. This café has been roasting its own coffee for two years (right inside the café), serving it to its customers as well as selling to local businesses. Further along, The Haberdashery (22 Middle Lane) offers a great menu, including a local supper club. Call and book to get the best of the British summer.
With a vintage heart and creative pulse, Crouch End is one of London’s hidden local secrets – or it was!
EAT
The Haberdashery, 22 Middle Lane, N8 8PL. Tel. 020 8342 8098
DRINK
My Kind of Coffee, 13 Broadway Parade, N8 9DE. Tel. 020 8340 4100
Bottle Apostle, 49 Park Road, N8 8SY. Tel. 020 8347 7577
LARDER
Ally Pally Farmers Market, Alexandra Palace Way, London, N22 7AY
Freemans, 9 Topsfield Parade, N8 8PR Tel. 020 8340 3100
WARE
Jealous Gallery, 27 Park Rd, N8 8TE. Tel. 020 8347 7688
20THC QUARTERS, 65 Archway Road, N6 5BS Tel. 07955383233
Indish, 16 Broadway Parade N8 9DE Tel. 020 8340 1188
Little Paris, 39, Park Road, N8 8TE. Tel. 0208 340 9008
Start your walk at 20th Century Quarters (no. 65 Archway Rd) opposite Highgate tube station. This combined antiques, design store and café with its quirky interior and appealing menu is a perfect welcome to your food walk . Don't pause for too long as Crouch End awaits. Follow Shepherd’s Hill (it becomes Wolseley Road) to its conclusion at Park Road, enjoying your stroll through one of North London's more affluent areas.
On arrival, your first stop is Futuraneon (no. 59) – the atelier/ workshop of Rocco Borghese whose flights of imagination takes luminous form. All his work - think light installation meets sculpture, is made on site. Continue along Park Road, exploring the design and vintage stores. Little Paris (no. 39) brings the flea markets of Paris to the high street with its inspired collection of home-wares, bistro and industrial furnishings. Directly opposite at Of Special Interest (42a-46) you will find more French classics albeit with contemporary styling. Be sure to find the hideaway garden, while you are there.
Close by The Jealous Ideal Home Show curated by the Jealous Gallery (no. 27) celebrates the British home. This exhibition of familiar popular culture references, travel memorabilia, and urban design is open until 24th July 2013. ( Jealous Gallery has recently expanded to Shoreditch to accommodate its growing print studio of new and emerging artists but still calls Crouch End "home".)
Stock your London larder along The Broadway. Drop by Freemans (9 Tottenham Lane) for your free-range and organic meats. Nearby is Food from the Sky (no. 21-23) that harvests its own organic and biodynamic produce and plants from its roof garden every Friday. It is then sold from the supermarket downstairs. This unique partnership between Azul-Valerie Thome and Thornton’s Budgens has been going for four years. Its vision to grow food and foster community is a worthy one. (Unfortunately, Food from the Sky closed in March 2014. It will remained included in this walk as it is a true food story inspiration.) Britain's Best Small Wine Shop winner (2011), Bottle Apostle (no. 49 Park Road) stocks an impressive selection of good wines and boutique beers such as Kernel Brewery.
Off the main street is Topsfield Parade. Visit Queen’s Hotel (no. 26 Broadway Parade) to see the Grade II listed stained glass windows as well as its remarkably intact interior. While there, Indish (16 Broadway Parade) is a must see for staples of contemporary design. Look out for My Kind of Coffee (no. 13) for a very local roast. This café has been roasting its own coffee for two years (right inside the café), serving it to its customers as well as selling to local businesses. Further along, The Haberdashery (22 Middle Lane) offers a great menu, including a local supper club. Call and book to get the best of the British summer.
With a vintage heart and creative pulse, Crouch End is one of London’s hidden local secrets – or it was!
EAT
The Haberdashery, 22 Middle Lane, N8 8PL. Tel. 020 8342 8098
DRINK
My Kind of Coffee, 13 Broadway Parade, N8 9DE. Tel. 020 8340 4100
Bottle Apostle, 49 Park Road, N8 8SY. Tel. 020 8347 7577
LARDER
Ally Pally Farmers Market, Alexandra Palace Way, London, N22 7AY
Freemans, 9 Topsfield Parade, N8 8PR Tel. 020 8340 3100
WARE
Jealous Gallery, 27 Park Rd, N8 8TE. Tel. 020 8347 7688
20THC QUARTERS, 65 Archway Road, N6 5BS Tel. 07955383233
Indish, 16 Broadway Parade N8 9DE Tel. 020 8340 1188
Little Paris, 39, Park Road, N8 8TE. Tel. 0208 340 9008
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