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.

- Lunch with Tr...29th Aug 2013
- "She was thir...28th Aug 2013
- Frank Sinatra...27th Aug 2013
- It was the re...26th Aug 2013
- Don't you lov...25th Aug 2013
- Some records ...24th Aug 2013
- I like to thi...22nd Aug 2013
- There's a big...22nd Aug 2013
- Ever had a ha...21st Aug 2013
- So many peopl...20th Aug 2013
- Oh God, I'm A...19th Aug 2013
- It used to be...18th Aug 2013
- Can you liste...17th Aug 2013
- It's 36 years...16th Aug 2013
- There were a ...15th Aug 2013 prev next