Crouch End….

is ten minutes’ walk from my house and, like Brighton, it’s painfully right-on and full of liberal, left-leaning lecturers, actors and analysts. It boasts two arthouse cinemas and a clutch of artisan coffee shops. Crouch End is rather like a university campus for buggy-pushing grown-ups. When Woolworth’s closed down, it was replaced by Waitrose which quickly became, per square foot, the busiest Waitrose in the country. So I was always mystified by the continued survival of Wetherspoon’s. But today I noticed that it’s now a brand new branch of Waterstone’s, destined to be as busy as Waitrose. And yet, a branch of Gregg’s clings on. I can only assume that it’s there to cater for the ever-present builders in Crouch End, converting the lofts and basements behind the Farrow & Ball front doors. This track is by a band with Gregg in the title. And Luther Vandross on lead vocals.