On a complete spur of the moment, the Englishman and I decided to go on a pub crawl last night. He'd been going on and on about the fact that I'd not finished The Knowledge (this self-imposed task involves visiting every pub in the area) and thought last night was good as any to finally achieve my … [Read more...]
Crouch End Knowledge: Scarlet Rage Vintage
I have to come clean: I don't like vintage shops. The only good item I've ever got in a second hand shop (as they used to be called) was a beautiful Victorian christening gown for Son. And that was nearly twenty-six years ago. (Time flies). I still have it, for the next generation, and I truly … [Read more...]
Best Fish & Chips ever in North London
Last night, after the Six Nations Rugby, we couldn't be bothered to cook and decided to sample the fish and chips we'd heard a lot about in Muswell Hill. Toffs, on The Broadway is supposed to serve North London's best fish supper, so that's where we headed.Doing our usual 'fly-past' check, the place … [Read more...]
Brunch at The Blue Legume Cafe, London N8
When we moved to this particular corner of North London last January, I set out to do The Crouch End Knowledge, i.e. visit all pubs, bars and cafes in the N8 area and report back to you. But, due to some other important business (such as the publishing of my book), this task has been rather on … [Read more...]
First day of the Crouch End Festival
In pictures:Festival beer and scotch eggs at The Maynard ArmsGuerilla Bunting gang had been at A Special Interest, one of the Barboot locations.Sold!Me with Wendy Saunders whose wonderful paintingsN adorned the walls of Oddbins.Barboot at The Haberdashery It's all in the detail: the light … [Read more...]
A Swedish Evening at The Haberdashery
I first noticed that The Haberdashery was a little different from the other coffee houses in our new London area of Crouch End because of this sign:It says, 'Unattended children will be given espresso and a free kitten.' I chuckled to myself all the way home - it was such a refreshing and funny sign … [Read more...]
The Crouch End Knowledge: The Queens
From the outside this pub looks far too large to be any good, and it took some emotional blackmail type of comment from the Englishman to even get me through the door, 'But we said, we'd to try all the pubs!'The thing was that as soon as I'd written the first post about The Maynard Arms, promising … [Read more...]
The Knowledge Crouch End – Part One: The Maynard Arms
In the UK, there's a test called 'The Knowledge' for London black cab drivers. Before being awarded a licence, they have to pass a test of the best ways to navigate the thousands of roads, cul-de-sacs and one way systems in London. Basically they have to carry a complete A-Z in their heads. Not an … [Read more...]
