Castle’s Pie & Mash, Royal College Street
Where you can still sup on your eels and liquor for £2.55, with a bargainous cup of tea to boot
Month: November 2010
Old Eagle
Old Eagle (251 Royal College St) feels like a secret, although some would argue it belongs in Camden not Kentish really. A proper boozer with a mind-boggling variety of musical instruments dangling from its ceiling, it’s cosy by night, attracts a nice eclectic crowd of locals and hipsters, and its main USP is the £3 …
Kelly Street
Kelly Street is one of the jewels in the Kentish Crown (the others being Quadrant Grove and Little Green Street). It’s a perfect curve of mid-19th century Grade II-listed pastel terraces, all worth far too much money to be called ‘bohemian’ but swooningly lovely nonetheless. You might need a restorative gin or two at The …
Abbey Tavern
The Abbey (124 Kentish Town Road) is actually really pleasant. I say ‘actually’ because nobody I know goes there regularly, although, on the rare occasions when we do, we will inevitably comment on its red-lit, wooden-floored, rather elegant long bar and interior. Its winning card is a very shady secret garden, with hidden treehouse and …
Cafe Bintang
Bintang is a Kentish Town institution, yet is still not as consistent as it should be. Oozing vibes and atmosphere, with its Malaysian shack-like interior, candle-lit tables in close proximity, and BYO wine policy (hooray!) our advice remains to stick with vegetarian and fish dishes and avoid anything meaty (chicken knuckles have been known to …
Forum
Back in the day this was the Town & Country Club, and scene of my first ever London gig, since you ask (autumn 1989, Inspiral Carpets, two pints of cider). Still one of the best-sized venues in London with an always enviable line-up. And don’t forget to look up, as it was a lovely art-deco …
Little Green Street
OK, so if there’s a hierarchy of cute NW5 streets, then this one sits fatly at the summit (and isn’t the sky blue?) It’s just about the oldest byway in the area, too (most of the other 18th century buildings were torn down in the industrial revolution, history fans). And, if you like a period …
The Kentish Town! Graffiti
So you like where you live and want to, you know, tell everyone. How do you climb up what is basically a flat wall? And at what time of night (or day)? Who knows, but a cautious high-five to whoever bothered; and you can pontificate its gestation from the platform, awaiting the train to (god …
Earth Natural Foods
Yes, yes, we keep talking about all the independent shops on Kentish Town Road, but that’s because it’s true. Earth is fabulous, all glass windows and frizzy-haired eccentrics fingering the jars of herbs and spices. And, as the photo suggests, you can even park your bike outside, you eco-warrior you.
Bench Tales: ‘They Could Do With A Bench Here’: Lewis Greifer (1915-2003)
A renowned TV scriptwriter, whose work included The Prisoner, Dr Who and Crossroads, Lewis Greifer was a true lover of Hampstead Heath, not just because of its beauty, but also because, according to his son Josh, it belongs to the people. ‘My father was municipally minded, a committed socialist.’ For the last fifteen years of …
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