9/6/2019 1 Comment Bookshops of BrixtonBy Layla There are few things that I love more than a good bookshop. Anyone who likes to read will surely sympathise with that moment of stepping from the world of everything else into a little world of books. But do such havens exist in Brixton? Of course they do. Here's what I think are the top bookshops of Brixton, for your reading and gift-buying delight: Round Table Books Best for children's books This little children's bookshop, just opened earlier this year in Brixton Village, may be the loveliest bookshop in London. They are lovely because they are bright and colourful; stock a beautifully curated range of shiny new books for children; because they have a cute bookshelf sheep outside; and because they are friendly to both humans and dogs (well, that was my experience!). They also have signings and book events. But they are extra-lovely because:
I hear that two of their most popular books of the moment are children's books based on Bob Marley songs - and written by his daughter! But what if you're not a kid? It's worth noting that while they technically cater to a 0-18 audience, some of their young adult books may be of interest to adults readers too - plus they have a tiny but lovely shelf of books for adults . I was quite touched (and humiliated, as an alleged grown-up reader) to spot on their shelves one of the LGBT+ YA books I'm currently reading! Essentially this bookshop is for everyone and you should probably go and buy presents for all the kids you know (and a little something for yourself too...) Selling books in Brixton for more than two decades, Bookmongers is a delightful and cosy bookshop filled with second hand books on Coldharbour Lane. They have a really interesting range of books split into the usual categories. Since the last time I came in and bought a stack of books, their contemporary fiction section seemed to have become more updated and very tempting. I realised I've been underappreciating this excellent little bookshop. Obviously others have not - there were quite a few customers while I was in. Of note, they also have a cute little children's area where you can snuggle up with a good book. Note this bookshop is not dog-friendly because they have 'a very aggressive cat'. But I did venture in with my dog carried in my arms, without incident... They don't currently do events, which is a shame, as this is a lovely space. Beautiful Books Best for books about Christianity Another bookshop that has been trading in Brixton for more than two decades (almost three in fact!) is Christian bookshop Beautiful Books. They've just moved back into one of the refurbished arches on Brixton Station Road, though they tell me the refurb is not 100% finished yet. I asked them what their most popular books were and they laughed and pointed to a whole wall of bibles. The shop also sells other religious-themed books, including a section for children, and has a good selection of cards, coasters and bookmarks too. When I was there the shop was pretty busy. I asked them if I could bring in my dog, and at first they looked as though nobody had ever asked such a question, and suggested I leave him outside, but did then sweetly let me carry him. Note they also do various bible study classes in the bookshop. WH Smith Best for bestsellers WH Smith is of course a prosaic choice - if you're a book lover, you might not gravitate to its shelves. But go into the Brixton branch, head for the right-hand side aisle, and amidst the general chaos, a pretty good selection of books quietly waits for you. They have all the latest bestsellers, a decent selection of contemporary fiction, and a passable children's section too. They even have little recommendation labels, and while I am a great advocate of the independent bookshop (and of bookshops rather than stationery shops with book aisles), there's no disputing that if you're looking for a specific, recently published book, this aisle is pretty well-stocked, and possibly underrated by us Brixtonians. Or maybe that's just me. Other bookshops in Brixton There is another Christian bookshop called Christian Books Plus, on Brixton Road, which I'll visit and add in due course. TK Maxx often sells a few children's books at a good price. Not to mention the selections in the second hand shops. Barnados usually has a nice selection.
I was really keen to include lovely 20 Storey but I've walked past it several times in the last few weeks and it's always closed - I fear it might have closed down... Any other suggestions, please add in the comments section.
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8/23/2019 0 Comments The Best Yoga in BrixtonBy Roz There are two things you need to know about me as a yogi. The first is that I’ve been practising for nearly two decades - it’s been the one constant despite living in three countries (the UK, Japan and the US). And the second is that I’m not very good. You know those photos you sometimes see of people balancing on their noses with their legs in the air (or a less extravagant version of that)? That’s a million miles from me and the kind of yoga I do. I mention these two facts because different people want different things; what I want from a yoga studio is somewhere that has lots of classes, is nearby and is a place where I feel I belong - but for those who want to balance on their noses, there are options in Brixton for you too. Fierce Grace This is a lovely hot yoga studio, with a class at every hour of the day pretty much (with a welcome greater amount of variety than Bikram studios). Excellent teachers, good showers, and a staff who know you, this is a great option. There’s a lovely emphasis on being an inclusive venue no matter your shape/skill (and it is). I used to go there all the time, but hot yoga can feel a bit like a fitness experience rather than “proper” yoga which made me less enthusiastic (though I did very much like finding that I’d become thin and strong without changing my diet). I would nonetheless be likely to make it my main studio were it not for all the accoutrements. You can’t really do hot yoga without a mat, two towels and a large bottle of water. I find it wearisome to tout these around with me, and yet paying an additional £4 per class to hire these is expensive if you go as often as I do. Drop-in is £19/class. Monthly membership is £109. (If you get a yearly pass for £1099 you do get free mat rental.) Website. Fierce Grace, Brixton. Photo from their website. More Yoga A recent phenomenon across London, these are budget yoga studios and are springing up everywhere. I’ve been going to the Brixton studio for more than a year, and have very mixed feelings about it. They have lots of classes. The space is nice and there are free mats. Some of the teachers are fab and know the students and care about our practice. Other teachers are less good. So it very much comes down to identifying the good teachers and avoiding the others. But even the good teachers mainly aim classes at those who want to balance on their noses. The scheduling is a bit unpredictable with teachers / classes disappearing without notice. There’s also an odd quirk that many of the classes overrun, which I personally find rude and means that I have to keep an eye on the time, which feels unyogic. But overall, it’s a great choice at a v good price. Especially if you take a watch. Especially recommended teachers are David Ramcharran and Claire Alexander. Single class is £9.90. Monthly pass is £50 per month for a life founder membership, otherwise monthly unlimited is £75. Website. More Yoga Brixton. Photo from their website. Brixton Yoga My current favourite studio (with one caveat). Brixton Yoga is the brainchild of the lovely Gupreet and is based in several different locations (The Dogstar, Pop Brixton, 41 Acre Lane, Brockwell Park). The newest location, Simulacra Studio, has been a game changer for me. It’s a lovely space under a railway arch which feels a glorious combination of urban and serene. The classes are amazing with lovely teachers who focus on students as individuals whether they be stand-on-nose types or otherwise; I float home afterwards. And the difference between the quality of these classes and More Yoga is huge. There’s a lovely sense of community, with the odd picnic or Indian meal after class. The only challenge for me is that there aren’t currently as many classes as I’d like - none on a Monday or Friday morning, nor on weekend mornings (but they intend to expand hours). What can I say, I’m a morning person! But I’ve loved the classes enough to - at least for now - relinquish my More Yoga class pass and keep my fingers crossed that their promise of scheduling more classes from September does come off. Single class is £10. Monthly pass is £58. Website Brixton Yoga. Photo from owner. Other yoga options in Brixton
There are three other options in Brixton to flag. The first is Stillpoint Yoga. This is primarily based in London Bridge where they run excellent ashtanga practice which I used to go to when I lived elsewhere (and is one of the best ashtanga options in London). So far as I can tell the Brixton outpost is really just a collection of classes by teachers who they like (including Brixton Yoga), and are primarily during the working day, meaning that I’ve not been. But the quality of their London Bridge studio is such that if you are free in the day, it’ll definitely be worth going to. The second is HotPod Yoga, part of a big European franchise. I feel bad I haven’t tried this (and so I will, and will then update this blog). It’s another hot yoga option, but seemingly with unusual lighting and the smell of bergamot, and it takes place in a ‘pod’, whatever that may be. Seems to be cheaper than Fierce Grace (though I suspect you also have to pay to hire towels etc). And finally I should mention Yoga Point; personally I think of this as being in Herne Hill, but it’s really half way between Brixton and Herne Hill. I’ve not tried it but they have a very solid offering, with some outstanding teachers (who I’ve come across at Pop Brixton, when there was yoga there, and elsewhere). If there weren’t other excellent options closer to me, I’d be doing a dance of glee at having Yoga Point in my neighborhood. In summary, if you are a balance-on-your-nose type and favour quantity of classes over all else, go to More Yoga. If you are a hot yogi, and don’t mind bringing accoutrements (or paying to hire them), go to lovely Fierce Grace (or experiment with HotPod and let me know what you think!). If you live in Herne Hill environs, Yoga Point seems like a great option. And if you want brilliant, life-affirming classes, go to Brixton Yoga. On Brixton Road between Stockwell and Ferndale Roads lies the old Quin & Axtens building. According to the Brixton Blog, this building (once a big department store, taken over by Bon Marche, then bombed in the war - read the history) is to become a 250-bed hotel with the entrance opposite the O2 Academy. Also offices and a nightclub, a couple of shops and some studio space). Not exactly clear when (for better or worse) this transformation is going to happen, but in the meantime, two establishments that previously had big footprints (The Jobcentre and Mothercare) have sadly closed and the spaces have been taken over by two temporary shopping arcades: Brixton Mall and Brixton Palza (sic). With the diversity of shoppers in Brixton, I wondered what shops I might personally find useful within these bittersweet temporary shopping caverns. I go past them every day. Their entrances give little away. What mysteries might lie behind the entrances facing Brixton Road? I decided that it was time to explore.
I'm sure the shops change quite a bit, but as of today, the highlights of Brixton Mall for me are:
Apologies to the establishments: I haven't got the knack of Instagrammable phototaking yet... they looked lovely!
Again, I'm probably going to have to update this as the Palza fills up, but as of today, there is one clear highlight for me, since I've been baking a lot recently:
So in the hypothetical battle between Brixton Mall and Brixton Palza, the Mall has more cool stuff, but the Palza does have that very nice party shop... Maybe we'd better wait and see what else comes into the Palza, since at the moment, the Mall is so much more occupied. The Poundland shop is next to go - another huge footprint within that block (and I'm going to miss it - I bought a lot of piping bags, cleaning products, and other random things there). I wonder what will pop up in that space...
If there's one thing I love, it's a specialty shop. When I lived in Tokyo one of my favourite things was to walk through a whole neighbourhood packed with literally hundreds of book shops, or musical instrument shops, or snowboard shops. With a few exceptions (Like Hatton Row), specialty shops are more scattered in London. It's fun when they're hidden and I happen upon them. So it was delightful, when on the hunt for some acrylic paint, to find lurking in a completely unexpected corner of Brixton... Kingshield Stationers, Arts and Crafts (387 Brixton Rd). I don't think it has a website. It barely even has a shopfront. But it has persisted for 30 years so far as one of the best art shops in the area. Why do I call it 'hidden', you ask? Because it's on the first floor above a pharmacy that is in itself the very most delightful pharmacy in Brixton, Kingshield Pharmacy, a little oasis of serenity that makes you feel like you have stepped from the chaos of Brixton Road into a little village pharmacy of yore. It's small and lovely and friendly. Trust me. Climb the stairs from the charming little pharmacy and emerge into an quiet little artist's paradise of specialty papers, paints, equipment and interesting things. I mean, there's special sketchpads for everything from watercolours to manga. There's easels. There's acrylics and oils. There's Fimo. There are lovely big sheets of coloured cardboard and paper in different colours. There are even these amazing stencils I loved when I was in high school so you could draw beakers and bunsen burners and other high school science equipment in your exercise book (which they also sell). Thinking of standing in that hellish post office queue for a particular type of envelope? No need! Kingshield Stationers has a great selection. All sensibly priced too. They even have a Western Union in the back if you're looking for that.
This is the sort of shop that just makes you feel happy (if you like art supplies). And what's more, they have been here for THIRTY YEARS. Sure you could buy your Brixton art supplies in WH Smith or the Pound Shop, if you wanted basic equipment in a dull environment. If you buy your art things here, you can't help but feel like an artist. 7/29/2019 0 Comments BAR SNACKS OF BRIXTON VILLAGEBy Layla Brixton Village is brimming with bars - but as someone who doesn't drink all that much, what interests me more is what I'm snacking on alongside my glass of wine. (And whether my dog is allowed to join us.) Which is why my current drinking spots of choice in Brixton Village are Champagne and Fromage, and the new Wine Parlour bottleshop (as opposed to the Wine Parlour main shop on Atlantic Road which doesn't allow dogs, but does offer wine tastings and WSET courses). So what am I snacking on? Well if I'm in Champagne and Fromage I have an important decision: savoury or sweet? If it's savoury, you can order a cheeseboard of up to seven cheeses (or presumably more if feeling exciting - I still remember a 20-cheese cheeseboard I had in Washington DC...) and it's extra fun as you can you and look at all the cheeses and choose what you want and they come on a lovely board with various accoutrements. But to be honest, I'm swayed by sweet, and Champagne and Fromage unexpectedly has my favourite dessert item in Brixton: a trio of caneles. They come in three flavours (vanilla, salted caramel and rum) and they are decadent, delicious little bites of dessert heaven. Also because there are three, you can share them, or at least pretend to. £6.50 for the three. Borrowed this photo of caneles from here because I keep eating them before I remember to photograph them... But these seem a bit extravagant for a little bar snack, say you of low ambition. No problem: that's where the Wine Parlour comes in. Water lily seed snacks are amazing. I don't even know how to describe them. Maybe like a more substantial, savoury popcorn or Japanese rice cracker with a light spice to them. The taste and texture are subtle and unusual and I am just a little bit obsessed with them... What are your favourite bar snacks around Brixton? Suggestions in the comments please, and maybe I'll set out on a bar snacks safari later in the summer...
The simultaneously brilliant and terrible thing in Brixton is the vast number of restaurant incubators. So we get all this diverse, amazing quality food... but sometimes just as we get to love a restaurant it moves on to a permanent space. When Donostia Social Club left for Tooting, we wailed “What are we going to do?” And the DSC owner replied: “Smoke and Salt.”
He was absolutely right. One of the elevated restaurants in Pop Brixton, the look of Smoke and Salt is sleek and elegant yet casual and welcoming in its little shipping container. And there are three great things: 1. The food. It’s smoked, it’s salted, it's cured, and it’s one of the only places I go where I think ‘there is no way I could have made a version of this at home.’ The flavours and textures are subtle and exciting. The dishes are always called something dull like ‘carrots’, then you order and find it’s something spectacular that you’re still thinking about days later. 2. The drink. They are masters of flavour and it comes out in their cocktails. We had them make a special cocktail for my wife’s birthday and everyone was swooning ‘What IS this?’ They have good wine too. And our favourite non-alcoholic beer of all time, Lucky Saint. 3. The people. They are friendly and cheery and talented and create a really convivial ambience. We just did a private party there and the food was amazing. It almost felt like we were somewhere like Noma. But at Brixton prices. Best meal I’ve had in years. Possibly one of the best contemporary British restaurants out there. Don't tell the rest of London though. I like being able to stroll in for a sneaky sourdough bread and whipped butter... And, icing on the cake, we're even allowed to bring our dog! (not on Thu- Sat evenings though - see Pop Brixton dog rules) 6/22/2019 0 Comments A Dog's life in brixtonBrixton is not technically the dog epicentre of London. It doesn’t have a proper park (though there are many a mile in most directions from Brixton centre), pet businesses, or other explicit dog-friendly amenities. But it’s nevertheless a good place to live for the discerning city dog. Kaseki came here from Tokyo where there were nice leafy places to walk, and many dog groomers... but what he really wanted was to hang out with us in the shops, cafe, bars and restaurants in the city. It's fairly rare that I need to go out without him. Even though he always tries to drag me to the tube station so we can go on an adventure, he has lots of happy places in Brixton too, which are much more fun than his Tokyo life. In this blog for canine Brixtonites, I'll talk about the places to eat, drink, shop and play with dog in tow, and then at the end I'll talk about some of the good places for dog-specific amenities. Coffeeshops
Kaseki likes a good flat white. Or rather, he likes to sniff one, while gazing lovingly at his dogmother. As such, he is a big fan of the independent coffeeshops of Brixton. His particular recommendations for dog-friendly coffee hangouts are Federation Coffee, Caya, Brixton Blend, F Mondays, Parissi and Blank. Blank is his favourite as they sometimes give him treats. Restaurants Kaseki looks favourably on a certain number of dog-friendly restaurants. It's probably about 50:50 in Brixton, with the majority being in Brixton Market, Brixton Village and Pop Brixton (hereby abbreviated to Brixton MVP) and other various patios and other outside spaces. But even on a cold night, Kaseki can enjoy dining out. He is a particular fan of sitting inside Mamma Dough, who make an amazing sourdough pizza, and Three Eight Four. He is huffy with the dog-unfriendly policies of Kricket, Canova Hall and Cattivo. Booo. Brixtonian restaurants note: it is the dog-friendly restaurants that end up with our custom! Bars and Pubs While Kaseki loves being welcome at most of the bars and pubs of Brixton MVP, he is sad about a lack of enthusiasm from some of the other nice venues. We’re looking at you, Shrub and Shutter. His irritation at not being allowed in the Wine Parlour has partially abated because they’ve opened a second outpost within Brixton Market, and according to the person I spoke to there, dog-friendly demand was one of their reasons for doing so. Outside of the Brixton MVP, he has enjoyed a sneaky drink in Three Eight Four and SW9 bar. Pub-wise, the Trinity Arms and the Duke of Edinburgh, and he has of course ventured to Naughty Piglets. Brixton entertainment Kaseki hates not being allowed in the Ritzy upstairs bar so his dogmothers can’t attend their storytelling shows and board game nights, but he does appreciate the Ritzy’s occasional dog-friendly film screenings, which are brilliant. Also hilariously, he’s been allowed to attend the life drawing classes at Brixton Pound Cafe - but that’s probably on a case by case basis, so ask first! I am pleased to report the life model didn't flinch that one time Kaseki wriggled free of his tether and curled up on the comfy cushions on which said model was reclining... He's also made an appearance at the Brixton Book Club in Effra Social. Shopping with dog in tow If you want to shop with a dog in Brixton, your best bet is the shops of the good old Brixton MVP triumvirate. Kaseki has never been turned away from a shop in the Brixton MVP. His favourite is Guzzl where they sometimes give him treats while I browse the balsamic vinegars and other posh deli things. Philip Normal sometimes has a shop dog. Kaseki is much less loved in the largely chain shops of Brixton Road but then, surprise, he’s also welcome in Morley’s Department Store! This has increased my spending in Morley’s exponentially. Obviously there’s the outdoor farmers’ markets outside Brixton Rec too. We would love a newspaper shop that allows dogs so we could buy our weekend papers while on a dogwalk but alas I think the only one is the outstanding news stand in Brixton tube station (which is no good for Kaseki because he gets too excited about going on a tube adventure and I can’t face breaking his heart by grabbing a paper and taking him home). Note: Dogs are always welcome in Brixton Market and Brixton Village. Pop Brixton previously said no to dogs but they had a change of heart. Now dogs can enjoy Pop Brixton all day Sun-Wed and before 7pm on Thu, Fri and Sat. Which is fair enough: it’s really busy on weekend evenings and when Kaseki has popped his head in, he’s feared trampling. Dog-specific shopping Guzzl sells posh dog treats. And of course food can be found in the supermarkets, plus various dog accoutrements in the Poundland. For a better selection, head over to Herne Hill's Brockwell Vets which has a proper pet store attached. It's opposite Herne Hill station. Or to the lovely Hound Hut near Oval Station. Dog-specific amenities There are no real dog-specific amenities in Brixton.
Dog-specific activities The loveliest dog activity in Brixton is the dog agility class at the Ebony Horse Club in Wyck Gardens. They offer a 6-week course for all levels, with a trainer. They're also home to Paws and Pause, a dog-sitting/doggy daycare social enterprise (and sometimes they even offer dog-friendly art events). There is of course also the occasional dog-friendly film screenings at the Brixton Ritzy cinema. Dog parks Brixton does not really have a central park where dog owners congregate.
Dogs on Facebook To keep up to date with Brixton dog news and participate in dog-themed chat, join Dogs of Brixton on Facebook I will update this page with new information, so keep an eye on it. 6/21/2019 0 Comments Becoming brilliant brixtonI’d only just moved to Brixton when my gentle, loving little dog was savaged by a staffie while its owner looked on, saying “You’d better get your dog out of my dog’s jaws.” We were both left bleeding and heartbroken while the owner casually shouted “Run, or he’ll attack again!” After lots of expensive, distressing surgery my dog learned to walk again and is now doing well. But for the past year, both of us have walked in Brixton without loving it: on high alert for attacking dogs, for smashed glass from passing revellers that has cut his paws, for discarded chicken bones that have choked him.
But now I want to change this narrative. These things may continue to be risks, but that’s not what Brixton is. Brixton is brilliant. And I don’t want to miss it. Brixton is many things to many people because there is huge diversity of every kind. It is a youthful neighbourhood, yet in my block alone live people of every age. It is diverse in terms of race and nationality. Just over half of Brixtonites were born in England. The others come from places like Jamaica, Nigeria, South America, Ghana, Somalia, Ireland, Scotland, Australia and the US (I come from Scotland). After English, Portuguese, Spanish and African languages are the most commonly spoken here. There are numerous different places to worship. There are specialist shops and facilities catering to the needs and preferences of masses of different sub-cultures present within Brixton. There is poverty and affluence and everything in between. The shopping and nightlife attracts locals and people from across London. Living in Brixton is many things to many people. This blog will be about what it is to me, to my wife and to my little dog. It’s called Brilliant Brixton because I’ll talk about what’s brilliant to me. In homage to Electric Avenue, the first market street to be lit by electricity, back in the 1880s, I want to shine a light on what makes Brixton the best place for me to live in London. And hopefully you’ll get some inspiration too. |
AuthorI moved to Brixton in 2015 with my wife and dog, from faraway Camberwell, via Washington, Tokyo and Hong Kong... Archives
September 2019
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