When I was growing up, London had four main Afro-Caribbean areas: Brixton in the south, Tottenham in the North, Dalston to the East and Harlesden/Ladbroke Grove to the West. Tottenham is now the only one yet to feel the fashionable force of gentrification. I was down there today because Cobblers Lodge on West Green Road is the best place in London to get shoes re-soled or rucksacks repaired. The area is remarkably unchanged, retaining a colourful, urban vibrancy totally devoid of artisan coffee shops or organic delis. In truth, it’s a bit of a dump. Tatty old shops and streets of shabby terraced houses with satellite dishes rather than Farrow & Ball’d front doors. There’s clearly a lot of poverty around Tottenham but there was also something about its 1980s Jamaican vibe that made me feel very at home. Especially when I heard this blasting out of an old BMW.
It’s the only one left.

- Withnail & I16th Apr 2017
- First I'd plu...15th Apr 2017
- Why it was wr...14th Apr 2017
- I joined Gary...7th Apr 2017
- Darc Days.6th Apr 2017
- Stewart and M...2nd Apr 2017
- He started it...19th Mar 2017
- Who do you th...11th Mar 2017
- The clue was ...5th Mar 2017
- Art direction.28th Feb 2017
- Doris Day.23rd Feb 2017
- This is not h...19th Feb 2017
- A big boost f...17th Feb 2017
- She thought I...16th Feb 2017
- Oh, they're a...15th Feb 2017 prev next