Wild is Earth lands in KT
First up, an intriguing one: next month kombucha brewery Wild Is Earth opens at Tolli on Kentish Town Road, the brainchild of Livia Palmiero, the long-running store owner’s eldest daughter. The idea, she says, “is to set up permanent residence within the family business as a kombucha micro-brewery in the mezzanine area of the shop space.”
And don’t worry, the ongoing pop-ups will continue below (as they have been doing so for a while now). “My target is to be on tap at local bars, as well as offer a refill station to locals at Tolli. I hope to do monthly events after the launch as I get myself more organised with volume growth.”
Speaking of which, the launch party takes place on May 25th and will, she promises, be “an unforgettable evening of kombucha, music, connections, and pure ‘booch’ bliss, from cocktails to insights into the craft, as well as live music from Italian folk act Amara Terra. “Together,” she says, “let’s create a community that celebrates the goodness of nature and the joy of a booch-filled life.” We’re intrigued. @wildisearth at Tolli, 25th May, 7pm, 327 Kentish Town Road (Opposite Kentish Town station)
Greetings, Duke Of St Alban’s
Heath-walkers will no doubt already have popped into the latest (and geographically last) watering hole in NW5 (pictured above). In fact, isn’t it great that Swain’s Lane finally has its boozer back? When reviewing the awesome fish restaurant London Shell Co opposite, a pre-prandial pint on this street was the only thing we could think of that would improve the experience.
Best of all, after a a few false starts, it’s returned to the name it traded by from its inception in 1859 until 2008. So it’s no surprise that one of our preferred indie pub groups, Grace Land, is behind the simple refurb and pubby takeover: they run the excellent Axe in Stoke Newington, Camden’s hidden gem by the tube, the Black Heart – and our personal fave – the King’s Head in Bethnal Green. All in all, a very good sign that this newest NW5 boozer is once again here for the long run. @dukeofstalbansnw5, 15 Highgate Rd NW5 1QX
More booze news
Finally, congrats to another great north/east London indie that’s coming up to a decade of existence. And to celebrate their ten beery years, locally loved Clapton Craft have finally got that handy taproom seating inside the Kentish Town Road store, with a table or two outside as well for good measure. Meanwhile, just a few minutes’ amble further north, iconic Fortess Road gastropub The Junction has a new Canadian team running it; let’s hope this new energy gets the once-revered Tufnell Park institution back on track.
In October 2024, Kentishtowner will celebrate its 14th birthday (unbelievable, right?). But with the demise of our free monthly print titles due to local advertising revenues in freefall, we need your support more than ever to continue delivering cultural stories that celebrate our neighbourhoods. Every reader contribution, however big or small, is invaluable in helping the costs of running the website and the time invested in the research and writing of the articles published. Support Kentishtowner HERE for less than the price of a coffee – and it only takes a minute. Thank you.
