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.

- When I suppor...18th Oct 2015
- News just in....17th Oct 2015
- I saw my mate...15th Oct 2015
- An offer I co...14th Oct 2015
- RIP Jim Diamo...11th Oct 2015
- News readers ...10th Oct 2015
- Amazing what ...9th Oct 2015
- Hipsters in M...6th Oct 2015
- It's now call...5th Oct 2015
- To the Isokon...4th Oct 2015
- The Road to L...3rd Oct 2015
- You only get ...30th Sep 2015
- My Whyte Bicy...28th Sep 2015
- It's not over...27th Sep 2015
- Sam Smith sin...26th Sep 2015 prev next