How the Shaftesbury was saved

The Shaftesbury nearly didn't make it.  In 2007 it was owned by Sabretooth Vintners:  

Sabretooth Vintners

They gave up and tried to turn it into flats. It would have gone from this: 

To this:

Note how trees magically appear in the second drawing. 

The council turned them down because 'the proposal would result in the change of use of the host building that contributes to the liveliness and vitality of the street scene and provide a service of local value'.

If you're worried your local pub might close, go talk to CAMRA.

A blueberry smoothie from Hamlet's

suits a rainy/sunny/rainy/sunny spring day.

and is an excuse to try out the new foodie HipstaPak. 

Park Kitchen @Wray Crescent.

The Park Kitchen opened in Wray Crescent this Saturday. I meant to review the opening because I take my responsibilities as one of the Hornsey Road's leading bloggers seriously. It's a vocation. A calling. A quest.

The thing is, I got there too late and it was closed. There was wailing, gnashing of teeth and peckishness. All the more so as the trailer/cafe looked promising. 

My laziness was rewarded though, because the owner (who I think is called Paul) was still around closing up, as was  his mother and a friend. 

Paul's mother had a tupperware box with her, and the box had cakes that he had baked and she was proud and surprised at how good they were and, well, somehow I got a free cake. 

It was an excellent cake, crumbly and moist and all the things cakes should be. And I know cakes. 

This bodes well. Wray Crescent is a sweet little park (and the Friends of are doing good things) but it couldn't be perfect while it didn't have a cafe. And now it has a cafe that does sterling cakes.

Did you go when it was open? What did you think?

Follow @TheParkKitchen on Twitter for more information.

Valentine's Day plans, how to make them better.

Estelle Kokot is playing Ajani's on Valentine's day. 

I looked around to see what she sounded like, and  found way more than I expected. 

Here she is live: 

Here is what proper reviewers think of her: 

'Kokot makes it clear that she wants the rhythmic drive of the music to be a dominant force, though the occasional price is an obscuring of lyrics that deserve more foregrounding than they always get. But her strong and soulful voice cut through both the funky rumble of the rhythm section and the noise of some hysterically supportive fans at the back on her opening feature.' Guardian

'South African pianist/singer/composer Kokot is an exceptional talent, with a repertoire that stretches from ethereal, English-accented pop to modern jazz, with Latin and worldbeat touches. Back for her annual seasonal appearance, she performs a wide ranging set of musical styles with help from bassist Mick Hutton and drummer Gene Calderazzo.' Time Out

'Has gained a deserved reputation as a purveyor of intellegent, thought provoking lyrics set to subtle yet memorable melodies - highly auspicious debut recording'  The Times

Go see and tell me what you think. 

Libertea

Libertea is on Marlborough Road near Hornsey Road rather than on the echt Hornsey Road, but I like it enough to forgive it for that and for having a name I'm not sure how to pronounce. Liberty? Or Liber-teh-ah?

It's where I'd go if I were trying to write a short story. They do proper Moroccan mint tea and croissants for breakfast. There are books (on that shelf you can just see above and on another small bookshelf) I could read to distract myself and trick writers' block. It's quiet enough on a weekday afternoon that I could commandeer a table in peace and I could watch people come and go.

I should try and write a short story.

                                     

Or I could drink carrot, apple and ginger smoothies or white orchard tea and pretend I did sun salutations every day and never overslept.  And then think sod it and have croque monsieur and apple tart instead. 

                                     

 It's across the road from this:

I must find out more.

Where: 159-163 Marlborough Road N19 4NF
When: Mon-Fri 7.30am to 7.00pm; Sat-Sun 8:30am to 6:30pm
Telephone: 020 7272 5627
Contact: info@liberteacafe.com

Wheelchair access and high chairs

Platform Cafe'

Platform is a GOOD thing. A new youth centre in the old Hornsey Road Baths building (more on that in later posts) it has  a theatre, a performance space, media suites, a recording studio, dance studio and a cafe all for and by young people. It even has a fabulous neon sign by Morag Myerscough that says  'I am the creation of your imagination'. But good things can be worthy. I worried that it would be well meaning,  a little dowdy and melancholy. I also worried that it would be full of intimidatingly cool young people and I'd feel old and dowdy. 


Anyway, I was wrong on all counts. It's a beautiful space.There are more neon signs inside:

There's enough mid century modern furniture to make an Apartment Therapy post

 

 and even the stools. lights and banisters have been turned into art:

 

It was busy enough to feel lively, but not too crowded, the people were likeably cool and my coffee was good.   

Where: 260 Hornsey Road - immediately on the left as you go into the courtyard. 

When: Mondays 9.30am - 4pm; Tuesday s9.30am - 4pm; Wednesdays 9.30am - 8pm; Thursdays 9.30am - 8pm; Fridays 9.30am - 8pm; Saturdays 10am - 8pm; Sundays Closed

Ajani's Grill Restaurant and Jazz

Ajani's owner, chef, designer and main waiter is Patrick. Patrick's a brave man. A Nigerian who loves Miles Davis as much as Fela Kuti he opened a restaurant in a tough year (2010) and on a stretch of the Hornsey Road with more boarded up shops than thriving ones. Instead of going for restaurant bland he painted it red, put jazz legend posters up and a piano in the corner until it looked, as someone online said, like 'a jazz place - dark walls covered in photos and jazz paraphernalia - with a New Orleans or Left Bank feel'.

For the first few months it seemed like he'd been too brave. Ajani looked welcoming, intriguing, romantic; and was empty or nearly empty night after night. But Patrick can cook. I mean really cook. I must stop ordering the bruschetta and ribs every time because I know there are many other tasty things on the menu, but they're so good that I struggle.

He slashed his prices, so the place went from pretty good value to amazingly good value and started getting rave reviews on stroudgreen.org and a hat tip from the Islington Gazette.

And he kept on going, getting more and more live jazz acts in, hosting an exhibition, organising a wine tasting, making running a restaurant look like the most rewarding job in the world. It looks like he's doing okay nowadays and long may that last.

289 Hornsey Road

N194HN

07533 658 641

0207 272 55 66

Open Monday to Friday: 5pm to 1am

Saturday: 12 noon to 1am

Sunday: bookings only.