Thankfully, post-lockdown most of the small independents are surviving (just) in the neighbourhood, but it must be a challenge for the area’s only good old-fashioned vinyl store.
And yet Let It Roll, on that stretch of lower Kentish Town Road near Anima e Cuore and Lo Sfizio, is nothing as basic as a mere record shop (read its full story here).
If you haven’t swung by recently, there have been a few changes this year. For a start, check out the brand new coffee residency in the form of Pepita Coffee, whose USP is a very North London mash-up of art, music and luxury blend coffee.
“We now serve our own luxury blend of coffee at the front of the store,” says Pepita’s Andres Puentes. “Pepita Coffee uniquely showcases original artworks on its coffee tins, and as our concept is marrying art with coffee, the shop has been transformed with artwork from internationally renowned artists, from graffiti to murals in the garden.”
Wowsers. And it’s true, new and secondhand records and books aside, the shop – which was always pretty cool – looks even more beautiful now with some elegant lockdown improvements.
And what else to do with a leafy new backyard than throw a Summer Party? It takes place tomorrow, Friday 31st July (2pm-11pm), an all-day licensed event that blends DJs, live music, and paella from Global Gusto. Lest we forget, the temperature is due to set to hit a very tropical 32 degrees. Thank goodness for beer on ice.
Andres is excited about the prospects for this new creative venture. “We’re looking to work with more locals who want space to serve street food, hold markets or events,” he says. “We want the space to be a community hub. We’ve already had two licenced invite-only socially distanced events – and we want to do more.”
Community hub? Record store? Top-notch coffee? Secret garden? Let it roll, indeed.
The Let It Roll And Pepita Coffee Summer party takes place on Fri 31st July, from 2pm-11pm at 121 Kentish Town Road NW1. Please note: all Covid-19 precautions and social distancing guidelines will be followed. The next one after that is on 15th August.
Are you interested in hosting an event at Let It Roll, either in-store or the garden? Get in touch: info@pepitacoffee.co.uk and follow @pepitacoffee @letitrollrecords for upcoming events.
