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.

- It was like a...14th Oct 2014
- I've waited a...13th Oct 2014
- My son is hom...12th Oct 2014
- The first pos...11th Oct 2014
- Gareth Thomas...5th Oct 2014
- Possibly the ...3rd Oct 2014
- The first sta...2nd Oct 2014
- I never liked...1st Oct 2014
- If you really...30th Sep 2014
- Goodness grac...29th Sep 2014
- I never go to...27th Sep 2014
- It's been ove...26th Sep 2014
- Death of the ...13th Sep 2014
- My son had tw...11th Sep 2014
- To a special ...9th Sep 2014 prev next