To celebrate Indie Day 2020, here are our favourite local independents across Muswell Hill, Crouch End, Hornsey, and Haringey. As a collective we believe it is incredibly important to support local independent retailers, cafes, restaurants, pubs, and cinemas. It is good for the local economy and community wellbeing.
Now, more than ever, independents need your help to survive the Covid crisis. Please do share this blog and share the love.
Now, more than ever, independents need your help to survive the Covid crisis. Please do share this blog and share the love.
Tash & Tanya
106A-106B Alexandra Park Road, Muswell Hill, London, N10 2AE
Head here for beautiful, handmade products that are built to last, made by local people and sold at a fair price. Run by Natasha Barton and Tanya Kreisky, the shop made its name as ‘home of the Ally Pally cushion’ for the duos’ collaborative work based around local landmarks. T&T stocks products made by Muswell Hill Creative member Rob of Romor Designs.
Muswell Hillbilly Brewers Taproom
14 Avenue Mews, Muswell Hill, London, N10 3NP
We had a pop up shop in the building which now houses the Muswell Hillbilly Taproom. Also on Avenue Mews, Pete, Martin and team produce bottle conditioned craft beer and cask and kegged real ales in their microbrewery. The beer is great!
Cosi Homewares
85 Fortis Green Road. Muswell Hill, London, N10 3HP
An established shop on Fortis Green housing design led furniture and homewares boutique. Great for products sourced by the owner Sarah, who is very skilled at helping you find the right gift for the right occasion.
Slipstitch
108 Alexandra Park Rd, Muswell Hill, London, N10 2AE
We've held two pop ups in the fabulous and welcoming space which is Slipstitch and Rob of Romor Designs has taught regular classes in their lovely workshop space. You may also recognise it as the location for the 'concept store' in the last series of Motherland. The physical shop is still closed for browsing but Rosie and team are open via their website offering in-store collection and can offer craft help via email.
Sunshine Garden Centre
Durnsford Road, Bounds Green, London, N11 2EL
Creativity of the gardening kind. We think this is the best run independent garden centre we know. It did a fantastic service during lockdown and has now launched Click & Collect. Excellent customer service and a huge wealth of knowledge - just ask any member of staff!
Aleion
346 Muswell Hill Broadway, Muswell Hill, London, N10 1DJ
We had a happy month before Christmas sharing Aleion's downstairs homeware boutique thanks to the lovely owners of Aleion - Alex and Ian. We hope to see them back open soon for great food and gifts. Aleion really is an important part of the Muswell Hill community and we miss them!
Nest Knitting
102 Weston Park, Crouch End, London, N8 9PP
An experienced seamstress and teacher, Genevieve West has always wanted to pass on her love of sewing and crafting; her opportunity to do so came along when she took over as the owner of Nest in January 2015. Having seen the demand for classes explode, she decided to change the use of the space from a yarn shop to purely a sewing school in 2019. Rob of Romor Designs teaches Shibori and other dyeing & stitching techniques here.
Morley Butchers
23 Broadway Parade, Crouch End, London, N8 9DE
Award-winning butchers, Morleys are continuing a long tradition. There has been a butchers shop at the same location on Broadway Parade in Crouch End since the end of the 1800s. The butchers comes highly recommended by our leather worker Steph Rubbo.
Arthouse Cinema
159A Tottenham Lane, Crouch End, London, N8 9BT
The friendly local cinema will not be open again until September as they want to be sure that their visitors and staff feel safe and confident in returning. Our weaver, Cecilia of By Cecil, will be first in line when they do re-open. In the meantime, they have commissioned local artist Julia Clarke to make an angel sculpture to hang over the door.
Pickled Pepper Books
10 Middle Lane, Crouch End, London, N8 8PL
Pickled Pepper Books offers a fantastic selection of books for all ages and runs a book fairy service. You decide how much you want to spend, leave a note describing special interests and favourite books and they handpick a selection for you. They even hand delivered an order during lockdown. Cecilia is really really looking forward to their theatre opening up again soon.
W Martyn
135 Muswell Hill Broadway, Muswell Hill, London, N10 3RS
Muswell Hill Broadway would not be the same without specialists in tea and coffee and retailers of fine food, W Martyn. The shop opened was opened in 1897 by the current owner's great grandfather. You can now have goods delivered to your door for free, if you live locally.
Dunn's Bakery
6 The Broadway, Crouch End, London, N8 9SN
Dunn’s of Crouch End is a family owned bakery, run by Christopher and his wife Christina. Christopher’s great-great-grandfather, Robert Freeman, came down from Brackley, Northamptonshire in 1820 on a hay wagon and started work as a baker in South Grove, Highgate. You may have spotted a cake by Dunn's in the latest series of Killing Eve and in bank commercial.
The All Good Bookshop
35 Turnpike Lane, Wood Green, London, N8 0EA
This is a community-run bookshop and events space selling both new and second hand books. The team behind it missed having a bookshop in Wood Green/Turnpike Lane so they got together and set up the All Good Bookshop cooperative. The shop comes highly recommended by Steph Rubbo of Steph Rubbo Leather Work & Saddlery.
Indish
16 Broadway Parade, Crouch End, London, N8 9DE
When discussing this list, Indish the vote was unanimous. The shop has been flying the design flag in Crouch End since 1996. Kasha and Melanie came from a background in publishing to a change of career in retail. Twenty years later the shop still stands proud and packed with the most amazing home-oriented products.
Children's Bookshop
29 Fortis Green Road, Muswell Hill, London, N10 3HP
The award-winning Children's Bookshop is an independent family-owned children's bookshop which first opened in 1974. The team led by Sanchita has a deep commitment to enthusing children - and their carers - with a passion for books that is so important to building the booklovers of the future. Their knowledge of the books they sell never fails to impress!
Harmless
79 Tottenham Ln, Hornsey, London, N8 9BE
The Harmless Store started its life at the Blue House Yard in Wood Green, before a successful crowdfunder led by its owner Tami, led to a relocation to Hornsey. The store is a vegan, minimal packaging, grocery shop with a goal of helping you lead a more ethical lifestyle.
Sally Bourne Interiors
26 Muswell Hill Broadway, Muswell Hill, London, N10 3RT
A favourite of our floral designer Natasha of Rolling with the Posies, the shop offers over 12,000 colours of paint, with hundreds of colours painted onto large boards, to enable true comparisons. Wallpapers and fabrics are also available along with Sally’s own range of handmade tiles. The huge range of home accessories, ranging from dishcloths of Swedish linen to antique French furniture, makes for destination shopping.
Victoria Stakes
No.1 Muswell Hill, London, N10 3TH
The Stakes dates back to the turn of the century, originally built as a coachouse & stables. The building sat firmly at the foot of the hill, and became a welcome spot for those wishing respite and a friendly welcome. Run by Ben, his wife Lucy, and brother-in-law Marc, community is at the heart of what they do and we have been fortunate to use their wonderful yard for sales and celebrations over the years. They re-open on Independents Day - 4 July.
Owens
90-92 Alexandra Park Road, Muswell Hill, London, N10 2AE
Owen’s Food Store opened in November 2010. Local residents Simon & Sarah Owen decided they wanted to open a food store to bring good honest food into the heart of the local community – and to offer an alternative to often laborious supermarket shopping. Having worked as a chef for many years, Simon was able to draw from his inherent knowledge and passion for food to create a local store that provided almost everything any kitchen could need.
Cheeses
13 Fortis Green Road, Muswell Hill, London N10 3HP
Cheeses is small but perfectly formed. Morgan and her team are passionate about quality, well sourced farm house & artisan cheese. They sell the finest quality cheeses online from all over the world. It is the most fun queue to be in at Christmas time!
La Dinette
3-5 Fortis Green Road, Muswell Hill, London, N10 3HP
Our knitwear designer Tracey Lord was a regular at La Dinette before lockdown and is happy to be able to return. The cafe owner Claire says "La Dinette is about trying to recreate (in a very modest way) her childhood memories which are mostly filled with Sunday trips to the local patisserie and market with her dad, long family lunches ending with delicious and beautiful cakes, rainy days at home baking with her sister and making tons of jam with her mum and grandma, and talking (and arguing) about food with her brother."
Cachao Toys
452 Muswell Hill Broadway, Muswell Hill, London N10 1BS
A colourful place filled with toys, gifts, party supplies, cards & gift wrap. Everything in the shop has been carefully chosen by owner Jennie and team to give you a happy buying experience. You really don't need to turn to the big online retailers when you have a shop like this on your doorstep. If you saw balloons being walked around Muswell Hill during lockdown that was Jennie making deliveries to ensure celebrations were extra special.
Please check websites for COVID closures and any safety measurements in place.
106A-106B Alexandra Park Road, Muswell Hill, London, N10 2AE
Head here for beautiful, handmade products that are built to last, made by local people and sold at a fair price. Run by Natasha Barton and Tanya Kreisky, the shop made its name as ‘home of the Ally Pally cushion’ for the duos’ collaborative work based around local landmarks. T&T stocks products made by Muswell Hill Creative member Rob of Romor Designs.
Muswell Hillbilly Brewers Taproom
14 Avenue Mews, Muswell Hill, London, N10 3NP
We had a pop up shop in the building which now houses the Muswell Hillbilly Taproom. Also on Avenue Mews, Pete, Martin and team produce bottle conditioned craft beer and cask and kegged real ales in their microbrewery. The beer is great!
Cosi Homewares
85 Fortis Green Road. Muswell Hill, London, N10 3HP
An established shop on Fortis Green housing design led furniture and homewares boutique. Great for products sourced by the owner Sarah, who is very skilled at helping you find the right gift for the right occasion.
Slipstitch
108 Alexandra Park Rd, Muswell Hill, London, N10 2AE
We've held two pop ups in the fabulous and welcoming space which is Slipstitch and Rob of Romor Designs has taught regular classes in their lovely workshop space. You may also recognise it as the location for the 'concept store' in the last series of Motherland. The physical shop is still closed for browsing but Rosie and team are open via their website offering in-store collection and can offer craft help via email.
Sunshine Garden Centre
Durnsford Road, Bounds Green, London, N11 2EL
Creativity of the gardening kind. We think this is the best run independent garden centre we know. It did a fantastic service during lockdown and has now launched Click & Collect. Excellent customer service and a huge wealth of knowledge - just ask any member of staff!
Aleion
346 Muswell Hill Broadway, Muswell Hill, London, N10 1DJ
We had a happy month before Christmas sharing Aleion's downstairs homeware boutique thanks to the lovely owners of Aleion - Alex and Ian. We hope to see them back open soon for great food and gifts. Aleion really is an important part of the Muswell Hill community and we miss them!
Nest Knitting
102 Weston Park, Crouch End, London, N8 9PP
An experienced seamstress and teacher, Genevieve West has always wanted to pass on her love of sewing and crafting; her opportunity to do so came along when she took over as the owner of Nest in January 2015. Having seen the demand for classes explode, she decided to change the use of the space from a yarn shop to purely a sewing school in 2019. Rob of Romor Designs teaches Shibori and other dyeing & stitching techniques here.
Morley Butchers
23 Broadway Parade, Crouch End, London, N8 9DE
Award-winning butchers, Morleys are continuing a long tradition. There has been a butchers shop at the same location on Broadway Parade in Crouch End since the end of the 1800s. The butchers comes highly recommended by our leather worker Steph Rubbo.
Arthouse Cinema
159A Tottenham Lane, Crouch End, London, N8 9BT
The friendly local cinema will not be open again until September as they want to be sure that their visitors and staff feel safe and confident in returning. Our weaver, Cecilia of By Cecil, will be first in line when they do re-open. In the meantime, they have commissioned local artist Julia Clarke to make an angel sculpture to hang over the door.
Pickled Pepper Books
10 Middle Lane, Crouch End, London, N8 8PL
Pickled Pepper Books offers a fantastic selection of books for all ages and runs a book fairy service. You decide how much you want to spend, leave a note describing special interests and favourite books and they handpick a selection for you. They even hand delivered an order during lockdown. Cecilia is really really looking forward to their theatre opening up again soon.
W Martyn
135 Muswell Hill Broadway, Muswell Hill, London, N10 3RS
Muswell Hill Broadway would not be the same without specialists in tea and coffee and retailers of fine food, W Martyn. The shop opened was opened in 1897 by the current owner's great grandfather. You can now have goods delivered to your door for free, if you live locally.
Dunn's Bakery
6 The Broadway, Crouch End, London, N8 9SN
Dunn’s of Crouch End is a family owned bakery, run by Christopher and his wife Christina. Christopher’s great-great-grandfather, Robert Freeman, came down from Brackley, Northamptonshire in 1820 on a hay wagon and started work as a baker in South Grove, Highgate. You may have spotted a cake by Dunn's in the latest series of Killing Eve and in bank commercial.
The All Good Bookshop
35 Turnpike Lane, Wood Green, London, N8 0EA
This is a community-run bookshop and events space selling both new and second hand books. The team behind it missed having a bookshop in Wood Green/Turnpike Lane so they got together and set up the All Good Bookshop cooperative. The shop comes highly recommended by Steph Rubbo of Steph Rubbo Leather Work & Saddlery.
Indish
16 Broadway Parade, Crouch End, London, N8 9DE
When discussing this list, Indish the vote was unanimous. The shop has been flying the design flag in Crouch End since 1996. Kasha and Melanie came from a background in publishing to a change of career in retail. Twenty years later the shop still stands proud and packed with the most amazing home-oriented products.
Children's Bookshop
29 Fortis Green Road, Muswell Hill, London, N10 3HP
The award-winning Children's Bookshop is an independent family-owned children's bookshop which first opened in 1974. The team led by Sanchita has a deep commitment to enthusing children - and their carers - with a passion for books that is so important to building the booklovers of the future. Their knowledge of the books they sell never fails to impress!
Harmless
79 Tottenham Ln, Hornsey, London, N8 9BE
The Harmless Store started its life at the Blue House Yard in Wood Green, before a successful crowdfunder led by its owner Tami, led to a relocation to Hornsey. The store is a vegan, minimal packaging, grocery shop with a goal of helping you lead a more ethical lifestyle.
Sally Bourne Interiors
26 Muswell Hill Broadway, Muswell Hill, London, N10 3RT
A favourite of our floral designer Natasha of Rolling with the Posies, the shop offers over 12,000 colours of paint, with hundreds of colours painted onto large boards, to enable true comparisons. Wallpapers and fabrics are also available along with Sally’s own range of handmade tiles. The huge range of home accessories, ranging from dishcloths of Swedish linen to antique French furniture, makes for destination shopping.
Victoria Stakes
No.1 Muswell Hill, London, N10 3TH
The Stakes dates back to the turn of the century, originally built as a coachouse & stables. The building sat firmly at the foot of the hill, and became a welcome spot for those wishing respite and a friendly welcome. Run by Ben, his wife Lucy, and brother-in-law Marc, community is at the heart of what they do and we have been fortunate to use their wonderful yard for sales and celebrations over the years. They re-open on Independents Day - 4 July.
Owens
90-92 Alexandra Park Road, Muswell Hill, London, N10 2AE
Owen’s Food Store opened in November 2010. Local residents Simon & Sarah Owen decided they wanted to open a food store to bring good honest food into the heart of the local community – and to offer an alternative to often laborious supermarket shopping. Having worked as a chef for many years, Simon was able to draw from his inherent knowledge and passion for food to create a local store that provided almost everything any kitchen could need.
Cheeses
13 Fortis Green Road, Muswell Hill, London N10 3HP
Cheeses is small but perfectly formed. Morgan and her team are passionate about quality, well sourced farm house & artisan cheese. They sell the finest quality cheeses online from all over the world. It is the most fun queue to be in at Christmas time!
La Dinette
3-5 Fortis Green Road, Muswell Hill, London, N10 3HP
Our knitwear designer Tracey Lord was a regular at La Dinette before lockdown and is happy to be able to return. The cafe owner Claire says "La Dinette is about trying to recreate (in a very modest way) her childhood memories which are mostly filled with Sunday trips to the local patisserie and market with her dad, long family lunches ending with delicious and beautiful cakes, rainy days at home baking with her sister and making tons of jam with her mum and grandma, and talking (and arguing) about food with her brother."
Cachao Toys
452 Muswell Hill Broadway, Muswell Hill, London N10 1BS
A colourful place filled with toys, gifts, party supplies, cards & gift wrap. Everything in the shop has been carefully chosen by owner Jennie and team to give you a happy buying experience. You really don't need to turn to the big online retailers when you have a shop like this on your doorstep. If you saw balloons being walked around Muswell Hill during lockdown that was Jennie making deliveries to ensure celebrations were extra special.
Please check websites for COVID closures and any safety measurements in place.
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