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.

- Happy Birthda...16th Aug 2014
- I always like...14th Aug 2014
- The Railway i...12th Aug 2014
- The British o...11th Aug 2014
- John Bishop o...10th Aug 2014
- The Black Alb...9th Aug 2014
- The second fr...8th Aug 2014
- The day the p...6th Aug 2014
- 100 years sin...5th Aug 2014
- I went to see...4th Aug 2014
- RIP Mike Smith.3rd Aug 2014
- To Paul Conwa...2nd Aug 2014
- One of the gr...1st Aug 2014
- Enjoy this so...30th Jul 2014
- Written about...29th Jul 2014 prev next