Keep up at the back, it's changed already!

Ha! No sooner had I put up the previous post on the shop front in Flask Walk than I was up in Hampstead...

Blow me down if the shop hasn't been re-opened as this ice cream parlour (pic right).

So I thought it only polite to update the blog with the after as well as the before!

Capturing yesterday, today

One of my first blog posts was on the loss of Joe Steele's the butchers in Hampstead village and so I was it passing the other week and thought I would capture the 'now'.

The building has great charm and simple decor and there is something quite special about the early Edwardian shop front and internal decor of butchers, fishmongers and the like.

Flask Walk remains one of the nicest features of the local area - if you haven't been then get yourself over to Hampstead for that early saturday morning walk and stroll...

The preservation of the shop front in South End Green is one of the best examples I have seen for the charm of a old shop

http://474towin.blogspot.com/2008/07/butchers-and-then-there-was-one.html

and the development of the Wet Fish Cafe remains the best conversion and development upon a theme I have yet seen...

http://474towin.blogspot.com/2008/06/wet-fish-cafe-is-just-best.html

A good cut on request

I gave the retirement of Steele's the Butcher's in Hampstead quite a lot of coverage and was pulled up sharp in sunday by a resident who said I hadn't givent he same coverage to her local butcher...


So here putting the record straight is Barretts Traditional Butchers - they are in England's Lane, Belsize Park, and they do a roaring trade

They do food to order and to season and so are able to cater for all tastes and needs.

It's not unusual to see a long queue so get there early.

It's quite interesting to note the extent to which there were butchers in each local shopping parade and the extent to which these have no closed down in favour of the in house supermarket butchery provision.

Of course I will be giving coverage to the butcher on the Kilburn High Road have no fear... more to follow.

Butchers - and then there was one

With the closure of Steele's in Flask Walk the end of butchers in north london seemed terminal, when I was reminded that there was a butcher in South End Green - just on parliament hill.

Sadly now long gone, but happily this shop front preserved...

For old time's sake I have put in the link for the Steele's pictures below.

In line with the Ham and High this week I ought to point out that for over 100 years Barrett's have operated in England's Lane and anyone who wants advice and quality from a good local butchers would be advised to head there...

Here is the notice that sat in the window of Flask Walk butchers - currently being used as a store by the local traders... whoever moves in i just hope they keep the blood red tiled interior so typical of old butchers and fish shops.



http://474towin.blogspot.com/2007/12/when-is-it-too-late-to-try.html

Long live the fresh fishmongers shop!

It might be considered sentimental, it might be slightly daft, but my deep affection for local independent shops is at the core of my political beliefs.

This fishmongers in Kilburn, on the High Road, encapsulates it for me - local, genuine, fresh, popular.

The whole notion of what makes up a strong thriving community is demonstrated by this fishmonger - for me it is as important as the butchers was in Hampstead (before it closed!).

So it's really very simple - use it or lose it. I use it - please do go along - they're friendly, helpful, informative, great value...

KILBURN: the closer you look... the better it gets!