- 20 hours ago
- 2 min read
Up My Street By Isabel Farchy
This is a marvellous new feature and one that gives me enormous pleasure to introduce. It is called Up My Street. The premise is simple: we ask someone with exceptionally good taste to build their perfect high street. A fictional one. First up is textile artist Isabel Farchy, who has assembled her ideal parade of shops, cafés and restaurants into one glorious imagined destination: Farchy Street.
I wanted this feature to celebrate the places still making our streets feel exciting, eccentric and worth leaving the house for. More importantly, it is a chance to discover genuinely good places through people whose taste we trust. As you will agree it is a perfect feature.
Kingsland Road
Amazing haberdashery, and happily just across the road from me. It's an old, family run business. You used to have to go round to the back warehouse to collect orders which was fun as it felt like stepping back into Hackney's past. They recently moved to a new site across the road though and it is a beautifully calm place to browse tailor's chalk and dress pins.
Englefield Road
Another family run business, this time ironmongery. They have all the screws and hooks you could ever want here. They cut wood to size and the whole family are incredibly helpful.
Dalston
Has a lovely, relaxed feeling. Cheap(ish) drinks on a Wednesday. Sometimes they host visiting chefs but when the kitchen is closed, they let you bring your own food. I went there last night and ate a packet of Squares with my Spritz.
Baring Street
Incredible pub come restaurant, more restaurant in Islington. I had my birthday here last year. They have a very nice dining room upstairs for private parties.
Middleton Road, Haggerston
Coffee shop where the service is incredibly personal. I go here with my kids sometimes and they choose a crocheted key ring while I have a cup of tea and chat to whoever is in there.
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