Village Raw - ISSUE 6

APRIL TO JUNE 2019
FREE
VILLAGE RAW
STORIES FROM CROUCH END, EAST FINCHLEY, HIGHGATE, MUSWELL HILL AND SURROUNDING AREAS
Artists Open Up: The Crouch End and East Finchley open studios / Warm Hugs and Sweet Memories: A
farewell to Edith’s House / The State of our High Streets: Keeping them alive and healthy / Dinner with
a Difference: The local supper club scene / Shaping the World Around Us: The importance of biodiversity

CONTENTS
EDITORIAL
04
06
12
14
15
16
18
22
26
VILLAGE NOTICEBOARD
Things to do and community notices
ARTISTS OPEN UP
The Crouch End and East Finchley
open studios
FUZZY AND LOUD /
LO-FI AND MOODY
Musician Michael Jablonka
discusses his music
ON THE TRAIL OF PINK
A project to celebrate Highgate’s
historical women
LIGHTING IT UP
The Bounds Green Window Show
lighting up the neighbourhood
COMMUNITY MATTERS
The consultation results are in and
what’s next for the HTH Arts Centre
WARM HUGS AND SWEET MEMORIES
In celebration of Crouch End
institution Edith’s House
THE STATE OF OUR
HIGH STREETS
Keeping our high streets
alive and healthy
DINNER WITH A DIFFERENCE
Exploring the local supper club scene
Welcome to this sixth issue of Village Raw. We originally wrote a couple of lines
about Brexit here, but when we came back to it the next day what we’d written
already seemed woefully out of date. Needless to say, when you read this
things are going to be different – in one way or another…
One change to note, which you may have spotted on the cover, is that this
issue is covering April to June. It’s not been a quick or easy decision, but we’ve
decided to make Village Raw quarterly – we just don’t have the resources to
keep the magazine bi-monthly. We launched the Kickstarter exactly a year ago,
and while it feels like we’ve covered a lot of ground since then, the Village Raw
project is still in its infancy. Publishing every three months will give us the time
and space to develop the magazine, and the project around it, further.
We’ve also evolved the first couple of pages into an events calendar and a
space for community announcements – we hope you’ll find this useful. There’s
lots coming up, from the summer festivals (Alicia Pivaro previews the Pink
Plaque project for The Highgate Festival) to the Crouch End and East Finchley
art trails which Zoe Bee explores. Carla Parks samples some of the area’s supper
clubs, we pay homage to one eatery that has now sadly closed its doors
– Crouch End institution Edith’s House – and Peter Cox considers the wider
state of our high streets. Emma Ross checks out a seasonal, sustainable and
local flower company, while Chris King reflects on huge losses to our biodiversity.
Huma Qureshi is laying down roots, and Dr Emma Svanberg contemplates
what happens when we become parents. Some quiet respite is offered up by
The Lab, and other partner content includes details of a couple of amazing opportunities
at OmVed Gardens, and a first look at the results from the Hornsey
Town Hall consultation courtesy of The Time + Space Co. The soundtrack for
this issue is provided by Michael Jablonka.
David and Luciane
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29
30
32
35
36
37
38
RECIPE
Blue Gods Butter’s Baingan Bharta
THINKING LOCAL TO ACT GLOBAL
OmVed Gardens considers how
we can make our relationship with
the environment more reciprocal
SHAPING THE WORLD AROUND US
The importance of our biodiversity
FLOWERS FROM SEED
Growing seasonal local flowers
for sustainable bouquets
HAVE WE HAD ENOUGH
OF PARENTING?
Has all of the parenting advice
made it harder?
LAYING DOWN ROOTS
The place we call home
FUELLING MIND AND BODY
A sanctuary to escape
the pressures of modern life
EDITORS
Luciane Pisani
David Reeve
GRAPHIC DESIGN
Luciane Pisani for Studio Moe
COPY EDITORS
Emily Spurling, Carla Parks and Patrick Steel.
CONTRIBUTORS
Zoe Bee, Dan Bridge, Thomas Broadhead, Giorgia
Carlini (Lobster and Pearls), Peter Cox, Alison Evans,
Chris King, Kate Kuzminova, Laetitia Lafont, Emily
Manos, Katrina Mirpuri, Kerrie O’Connell, Carla Parks,
Alicia Pivaro, Huma Qureshi, Amit Sibal, Anna Souter,
Emma Ross, Dr Emma Svanberg and Dominique Woolf.
ADVERTISING
hello@villageraw.com
PRINTING
Printed in East Finchley by JG Bryson on chlorine
free paper produced by an EU Ecolabel certified
mill from FSC and PEFC regulated forests.
VIDEOS
David Reeve
Cover image by Dan Bridge
Tweet us twitter.com/VillageRawMag
Like us facebook.com/villageraw
Follow us instagram.com/villageraw
Contact us hello@villageraw.com
Subscribe villageraw.com/subscribe
Village Raw April to June 2019
Designed and published by Studio Moe Ltd.
© 2019 Studio Moe Ltd. All rights reserved.
Reproduction of any contents of Village Raw
magazine without prior permission
of the publisher is strictly prohibited.
THANKS TO:
Seb Barre, Alex Bonfanti, Anne-Marie Butlin, Michael
Camp, Damal Carayol, CEOS artists, Julia Clarke,
Mike Cole, Anna Eavis, EFO artists, Lucie Fitton, Carla
Francome, Friends of Alexandra Park, Peter Hale,
Katherine Harding, Lori Hillman, Katherine Ive, Michael
Jablonka, Eaton James, Guillaume Jounot, Claire Jury,
Maria Katz, Tom Kemp, Camila Klich, Maria Kramer,
Hatice Kucuk, Karen Leason, Caroline MacAskill,
Andrew Major, Jessica Miller, Marianne Mogendorff,
Michèle Oberdieck, Kochi Okada, Maja Pauling,
Claire Pearce, Monica Peiser, Jo Pethybridge, Joan
Podel, Caron Pook, Piers Read, Ed Santry, Beatrice
Searle, Zitta Smith, Maria Ventricelli, Greg Vukasovic,
Catharine Wells, Tony Yates.
03

VILLAGE RAW
VILLAGE NOTICEBOARD
WHAT’S ON
APRIL
MATHEMATICAL PHOTOGRAPHY:
LIFE AND DEATH
Justin Mullins’ photography records moments
of profound significance in life, love and death
– using mathematics as a vehicle of emotional
exchange. Ends 29 April. Lauderdale House,
Waterlow Park, Highgate Hill, N6 5HG.
www.lauderdalehouse.org.uk
CHASING DREAMS
An exhibition of expressive watercolour paintings
by artist Yasaman Emami. Ends 29 April.
Lauderdale House, Waterlow Park, Highgate
Hill, N6 5HG.
www.lauderdalehouse.org.uk
CHRIS DRURY
An exhibition of echograms from Antarctica,
mushroom works and earth waves. Ends 30
April. Avivson Gallery, 49 Highgate High Street,
N6 5JX. Check website for opening times.
www.avivsongallery.com
ON THE EDGE OF THE LIGHT
A mixed group exhibition focusing on artists
reacting to and capturing fringes of light, darkness,
shade and haze. Ends 12 May. Thrown, 26
Highgate High Street, N6 5JG. Check website
for opening times.
www.throwncontemporary.co.uk
HANDMADE IN HIGHGATE
This spring fair at the Highgate Literary and Scientific
Institution features 30 of the UK’s best
and brightest designers and makers. 12 April to
14 April. Highgate Literary & Scientific Institution,
11 South Grove, Highgate, N6 6BS.
www.hlsi.net
HIGHGATE HORTICULTURAL
SOCIETY SPRING SHOW
Classes (for both adults and children), flowers,
plant and produce stalls, a raffle and refreshments.
13 April, 2pm to 5pm. United Reformed
Church, South Grove, Highgate, N6 6BA.
www.highgatehorticulturalsociety.org.uk
SPRINGFEST GERMAN BIER FESTIVAL
Lederhosen is encouraged – so is getting there
early, to have the best chance of a prime spot
in the Bier Keller with your friends. Live music
and DJs will play on the main stage all day. 19
April. Alexandra Palace, N22 7AY.
www.alexandrapalace.com
TOO MUCH OF A PERSON
An exhibition, workshops and discussions looking
at the experiences of self-identifying womxn
and non-binary people. 24 April to 26 April. Om-
Ved Gardens, Townsend Yard, Highgate, N6 5JF.
www.omvedgardens.com
MAY
REWIND/REWILD
An exhibition exploring the ecological implications
of rewilding and the broader possibilities for rewilding
human lives (see page 30). 1 May to 7 May.
OmVed Gardens, Townsend Yard, Highgate, N6 5JF.
www.omvedgardens.com
SECOND GLANCE
Photographer Graham Parkinson combines a
desire for narrative with beautiful composition.
1 May to 27 May. Lauderdale House, Waterlow
Park, Highgate Hill, N6 5HG.
www.lauderdalehouse.org.uk
WORKS ON PAPER
Rhonda Whitehead’s large, colourful works are
created using oil paint and a sand ground on
linen and paper. 1 May to 27 May. Lauderdale
House, Waterlow Park, Highgate Hill, N6 5HG.
www.lauderdalehouse.org.uk
HIGHGATE GALLERY CELEBRATES
JUDITH DOWNIE
This exhibition honours the life and work of Judith
Downie (1934-2016), Kentish Town painter,
etcher, teacher and cook. 3 May to 16 May.
Highgate Literary & Scientific Institution, 11
South Grove, Highgate, N6 6BS.
www.hlsi.net
DOROTHY BOHM EXHIBITION
Photographs of a grand dame of British photography
– Hampstead-based 94-year-old Dorothy
Bohm - curated by Monica Bohm-Duchen. 3
May to 14 June. Avivson Gallery, 49 Highgate High
Street, N6 5JX. Check website for opening times.
www.avivsongallery.com
CROUCH END OPEN
An annual celebration of the area’s creative
community, when studios and homes are thrown
open to the public (see page 6). 11 May to 12 May.
Check website for map and further information.
www.crouchendopenstudios.org.uk
AN EXHIBITION OF STILL LIFE
A group show featuring work by Jon Doran,
Benjamin Hope NEAC, Philip Richardson, Sarah
Spackman and Kate Verrion. 16 May to 1 June.
Highgate Contemporary Art, 26 Highgate High
Street, N6 5JG. Check website for opening times.
www.highgateart.com
CHELSEA FRINGE AT OMVED GARDENS
A series of exhibitions, workshops and performances
in conjunction with the alternative
garden festival – the Chelsea Fringe. 18 May to
26 May. OmVed Gardens, Townsend Yard, Highgate,
N6 5JF.
www.omvedgardens.com
FROM THIS LAND
A mixed group ceramics exhibition celebrating
connections to the natural landscape. 19 May to
23 June. Thrown and OmVed Gardens, Highgate.
www.omvedgardens.com
www.throwncontemporary.co.uk
SUMMER QUEST AND CRAFT
A creative workshop bringing Kenwood’s world
famous paintings to life. 28 May to 29 May.
Kenwood House, Hampstead Lane, Hampstead,
NW3 7JR.
www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/
kenwood
PEACE AND RESOLUTION
BY KATY SAYERS GREEN
An exhibition and workshops from Ruskin-trained
artist Katy Sayers Green - the culmination of an
art project in Israel/Palestine in 2018. 31 May to
13 June. Highgate Literary & Scientific Institution,
11 South Grove, Highgate, N6 6BS.
www.hlsi.net
MUSWELL HILL CREATIVES SUMMER MARKET
Work on sale by artists, designers and makers
from Muswell Hill and beyond. Find ceramics,
prints, art, homewares, jewellery and more.
18 May, 10.30am to 4.30pm. St James Square,
Muswell Hill, N10 3HS.
www.muswellhillcreatives.com
JUNE
CROUCH END FESTIVAL
A celebration of local creativity and culture with
film, photography, art, poetry, drama, dance, comedy
and plenty of music. 7 June to 16 June. In and
around Crouch End - check website for details.
www.crouchendfestival.org
STROUD GREEN FESTIVAL
A community event for music lovers featuring
classical, jazz, folk, etc. with workshops and
events. 6 June to 23 June. In and around Stroud
Green - check website for details.
www.stroudgreenfestival.org.uk
FAIR IN THE SQUARE
Over 100 stalls, fairground rides, live performances
and the ever-popular sheep show. 15 June,
12.30pm to 5.30pm. Pond Square, Highgate, N6.
www.fairinthesquare.co.uk
HIGHGATE FESTIVAL
A week of culture, music, theatre and art. Look
out for special events, exhibitions and talks
(see page 14). 16 June to 23 June. In and around
Highgate - check website for details.
www.highgatefestival.org
NADAV DRUKKER
The ceramics of physics professor Nadav Drukker,
who endeavours to mirror the creativity of his
scientific research in his ceramic works. 19 June
to 29 June. Avivson Gallery, 49 Highgate High
Street, N6 5JX. Check website for opening times.
www.avivsongallery.com
EAST FINCHLEY FESTIVAL
This annual community festival has been bringing
locals together for almost 40 years. Offering
a mix of live music and performance art, children’s
activities, local crafts and food stalls. 23
June, 12pm to 6pm. Cherry Tree Wood, N2 9QH.
www.eastfinchleyfestival.org
EXTRAORDINARY ARTISAN MARKET
Local, ethical and sustainable shopping – including
arts and crafts, gifts, vintage, homewares
and clothing. 23 June, 11am to 5pm. Lauderdale
House, Waterlow Park, Highgate Hill, N6 5HG.
www.lauderdalehouse.org.uk
CITYSCAPES AND LANDSCAPES
BY LIZ SUTHERLAND
An exhibition of fluid iPad drawings, dynamic
charcoals and colourful oil paintings from artist
Liz Sutherland. 28 June to 11 July. Highgate
Literary & Scientific Institution, 11 South Grove,
Highgate, N6 6BS.
www.hlsi.net
OLD BAKERY MINI GIN FESTIVAL
Meet some of the UK’s finest artesian distillers
and check out their gins. Two sessions: 11am to
4pm, and 5pm to 11pm. 29 June. The Old Grain
Store, 4 Pymmes Mews, N13 4PF.
www.oldbakerygin.com
EAST FINCHLEY OPEN
Organised over two weekends - a trail of open
houses and studios featuring the work of 70
artists (see page 6). 29 to 30 June and 6 July
to 7 July. Check website for map and further
information.
www.eastfinchleyopen.org.uk
AMERICANA
An exhibition of oil paintings and mixed media
work by artist Emma Loizides, whose works of
colourful urban landscapes combine elements
of pop art and landscape painting. 30 June
to 7 July. Lauderdale House, Waterlow Park,
Highgate Hill, N6 5HG.
www.lauderdalehouse.org.uk
SHINE A LIGHT
Mimi’s is Muswell Hill’s newest independent
hangout, offering a family- (and dog-)
friendly space to eat, drink, socialise and
relax. Opening at 8am, during the day Mimi’s
fulfils the full duties of a high-functioning
cafe with an all-day breakfast,
fresh pastries, and lunch and a-la-carte
menus – all of which have plenty of options
for vegans, vegetarians and those
with other dietary requirements. Taking
pride in freshness and ethics, the cafe
serves fantastic fair trade drinks – including
their coffee, which is ethically sourced
by Equal Exchange, a company which dis-
Local photographer Maria Katz is undertaking a community project called Shine a
Light. The idea is for people to nominate someone who is always there for them,
or the person who makes them think or inspires them in some way – and Maria
will arrange a small photography session in any location they like. “The human
spirit has always amazed me,” says Maria. “I have had the honour and privilege to
have met so many people who have made it a habit to make a difference.” You can
nominate someone by emailing: maria@mariavkazphotography.co.uk
CAFFEINATE N8
Caffeinate N8 is a new independent
cafe in Crouch End which focuses on
positive, nutritious, seasonal, and ethical
dining. The light, airy cafe with its
flamingo décor is already pulling in
plenty of customers – perhaps drawn
by the speciality teas, pastries, or fragrant
Allpress coffee (a sophisticated
blend of Colombian, Brazilian, Guatemalan
and Sumatran beans).
www.caffeinaten8.co.uk
MIMI’S CAFE BISTRO
RECIPES ONLINE
As a part of the evolution of Village
Raw we’re looking to expand what we
do with our online space. The first step
is to consider additional content – and
we’re going to start the ball rolling
with a space for recipes. The first is for
aromatic butternut squash and chickpea
tagine provided by Dominique
Woolf: www.villageraw.com/recipe1.
Follow Dominique on social media:
@thewoolfskitchen
04 05

VILLAGE RAW
ART & CULTURE
ARTISTS OPEN UP
Local artists, designers and makers are opening up their homes
and studios for three weekends in May, June and July for people
to visit and see their work for free. Village Raw talks to
the artists to find out why we should go along.
Words by Zoe Bee. Photos courtesy of Crouch End Open Studios and East Finchley Open Artists.
What we learn to do with our hands makes us unique. Both Crouch
End Open Studios and East Finchley Open Artists are welcoming
the public into the homes of local painters, printers, ceramicists,
glass makers, jewellery makers, sculptors, film-makers and photographers,
providing opportunities to see exclusive handiwork
and buy locally made artwork directly from the creators.
Crouch End Open Studios
Established in 2004, the aim of Crouch End Open Studios is to
promote and nurture the local art community. Painter Anne-Marie
Butlin became a member of the group in 2012. “Joining the group
was such a lovely thing to do,” she says. “It focuses your energy
working towards an exhibition, and it’s a nice way to keep in touch
with people who do a similar thing and live in your area.”
The open house weekends attract thousands of visitors every
year. Anne-Marie says: “I think people like meeting the artist and
hearing the story behind the artwork. It’s a big commitment,
buying a painting. It’s quite emotional sometimes. People might
come for three or four years and then they’ll buy something or
commission a portrait. There’s a mix of seasoned art buyers and
people just taking a look. Lots of families come too, so I always
have a supply of chocolate biscuits for the children.”
Damel Carayol is a new member. “Art is something we share,
and working in a group takes things to a different level. The artists
interact and push this thing forward – art – which is so important.
When people come together it’s powerful – more powerful than
one person.”
Some of Damel’s family tragically died in the fire at Grenfell
Tower, including his niece, the photographer Khadija Saye. Afterwards,
he painted Pause For Thought, showing Khadija alongside
a play button – the same icon we see every day online. “Pause
for thought – it’s what we as a world need to do,” Damel explains.
06

VILLAGE RAW
“We need a rethink. Are we getting this thing right or not? No we
are not. That’s what this piece is based on. Khadija will always be
paused. She will never play.”
Eyesore!! The Final Straw is another powerful painting which
Damel created after Grenfell, in response to hearing people on
the radio talking about the “aesthetically pleasing look of the
tower” two days later. He will be showing Eyesore!! The Final Straw
at the open house weekend alongside new work – including the
first painting in a trilogy he’s working on. “The theme will be entrance,
arrival and departure. It will represent my recent trip to
Gambia – and me as well, if I’m honest. It’s about me coming and
going there. There’s the leaving and the airport. But it’s all of us.
That’s what we do really. Making an entrance is a good thing.”
Michèle Oberdieck will be exhibiting glass pieces for her second
year. “I’ve worked with textiles for more than 20 years but
have recently discovered glass. It was the first time I started
working with form and I love it,” she says. “People often wonder
how I made the leap from one to another, but when you think of
the translucency of silk and then of glass and then the colour
mixing – it’s wonderful. I get really excited because you never
know how the colours are going to come out.”
Julia Clarke will be exhibiting at the open house for her fifth
year. She says: “I enjoy making things out of willow and combining
it with other materials, such as ceramic and clay. I show some
big outdoor pieces in the garden, but am making lots of smaller
pieces which people like to buy. Visitors seem to enjoy talking to
the artists and being able to ask them questions. You can see artists’
pieces in a gallery, but you wouldn’t get that insight into their
work. If you’re interested in art, homes or interiors, it’s really nice.
You’re seeing artists in their element showing their best work.”
East Finchley Open Artists
“I joined the group because there was an article in the Archer
newspaper asking if any artists in East Finchley would like to do
exhibitions and get together to discuss art,” notes ceramicist
Peter Hale. “I also joined because I need a push – having a deadline
for an exhibition spurs me on to create new work.”
“East Finchley Open is unique. I haven’t met another group like
us,” he adds. “There’s a real village feel to what we do. We enjoy
helping and being part of the community.”
The East Finchley Open, which started in 2003, now has 60
members who work together to produce leaflets, posters, guides
and run the website. There’s a continual programme of exhibitions
throughout the year, including at Stephens House, the Phoenix
08

VILLAGE RAW
Page 6: Jo Pethybridge, Autumn Trees.
Page 7: Julia Clarke, Large loop.
Page 8 (clockwise): Damel Carayol,
Eyesore!! The Final Straw; Anne-Marie
Butlin, White Cosmos (detail);
Mike Coles, School Run.
Page 9: Francesca Raphael Lincoln,
Three figures.
Page 10 (clockwise): Kochi Okada,
Silver, Quartz and Moonstone Brooch;
Michèle Oberdieck, Gold Shimmer,
Amber Soleus and Celadon Bronze
Conker; Peter Hale: Carafe.
and the Barbican, and art fairs at the youth theatre, the Archer
Academy and Martin Primary School. As well as helping local
schools on projects and sponsoring art competitions, the group
also donates to charities by holding raffles where artists give
their artwork as prizes.
Jewellery maker Kochi Okada says: “There are groups of artists
all over London, but this one feels different. I love it. If you’re
not born in England, it gives you a sense of place, not just with
geographical boundaries, you feel attached and rooted.”
East Finchley Open Artists offers quite a diverse group of
talent and backgrounds and its members enjoy its support network.
Photographer Mike Cole says: “Being part of an art group
focuses your mind on your work and feedback from other members
offers new insights that you could never get working on your
own. There’s always something going on – new exhibitions, new
themes, new challenges.”
Ceramicist Jo Pethybridge, who has been a member of East
Finchley Open Artists for six years, loves the open weekends and
being able to chat with the public about her work. She’s opening
up her home this year with Pat Marvel, who makes beautiful
glass, and Zitta Smith, who does bead work and jewellery, plus two
guest artists. She says: “It’s lovely to see the art in situ, on a wall
or on a table. It’s a different way of seeing a group of people’s art
that you’d never get to see anywhere else.”
For Jo, the open house also lets her work differently too.
“I’m interested in pattern, colour and design, more than making
things. This morning I started a few pieces like pendants to show
at the open house. You wouldn’t really show things like that at an
exhibition, but you can in your home. I’m hoping lots of people will
come and take a look.”
Whether you want to buy some locally made artwork or simply
take a look and chat with the artists, come along and enjoy the
combined talent of more than 100 creators in over 30 homes and
studios. The Crouch End and East Finchley weekend art trails are
a real community endeavour, and demonstrate the strength of
creativity where we live. •
Crouch End Open Studios will be taking place on Saturday 11 and Sunday 12 May, between
12pm and 6pm on both days. There is also a group taster exhibition at the Hornsey Town
Hall from 7 to 12 May. Find out more at: crouchendopenstudios.org.uk/
The East Finchley Open Artists open house will be running on Saturday 29 and Sunday
30 June and Saturday 6 and Sunday 7 July, with venues open between 11am and 6pm
on both weekends. Learn more at: www.eastfinchleyopen.org.uk/
Both websites have details of all the artists taking part in the weekend art trails,
maps to help you plan your trail, and links to individual artists’ workshops. They also
provide information on how to join the groups.
10

VILLAGE SOUNDS
FUZZY AND LOUD
LO-FI AND MOODY
Michael Jablonka is a local musician with a contemporary take on
blues-infused folk rock. He tells us about his work, creative
freedom, and his new direction under the influence of the Rhythm King.
Interview by Luciane Pisani. Photo by Dan Bridge.
Why music?
There’s always been music in the house – my mum influenced
me quite a lot. I remember listening to a lot of reggae but when
I got older she started talking to me about the stuff she used to
listen to as a kid, from Joni Mitchell to Sparks and glam bands
like T.Rex. Then I got a guitar for my barmitzvah and everything
shot off from there. I couldn’t think of doing anything else. It was
the only thing that felt natural.
How did you get started?
I took a couple of lessons at school and then the guitar teacher
advised me to keep on doing what I was doing and learning on
my own. I’m quite thankful for that as I feel like you develop your
own style a little bit more. Then me and my neighbour started
learning guitar together and it was becoming easier and easier
to pick things up on either TV or radio, so it’s been a gradual
progression, I guess.
Who’s the most important influence on your music?
I love blues music – that was the main thing that got me into the
guitar. It’s probably going to be a cliché but I’d have to say Jimi
Hendrix, just for the wildness and ferocity and everything he
stood for. I try and carry a lot of those philosophies in my music.
My music is kind of going into two parts – usually with my band
there’s three or four of us and it’s quite fuzzy and loud and then
there’s this other facet to the music which is lo-fi and moodier.
What’s the difference between playing alone and alongside
other musicians?
I really enjoy playing for other people. I started off pretty early
on playing for all different types of artists and it was great fun
for a while, but playing with my own group, there’s no other feeling
like it, really. You have all this space and creativity to just
do whatever you want and let your mind go wherever and that’s
always been the appeal – the sheer freedom of it all.
What’s your most memorable life experience?
I did a Michael Kiwanuka gig in 2017 at The Royal Albert Hall and
it was just like a dream – all of our favourite artists had played
there. I play lead guitar for Michael, and he gives us total freedom
to be ourselves and everyone in the band is super nice. It
was such a surreal feeling being on the same stage as all of our
heroes and doing what we love.
Name a song or piece of music that blows your mind?
Every time I listen to White Light/White Heat by The Velvet Underground
it feels completely different and I discover something
else and it inspires me in a different way. Or there’s an
Australian band called The Avalanches – they sample records
to make a composition, but their first album Since I Left You is
probably one of the most incredible things I’ve ever heard. Highly
recommend listening to that.
Where are you now with your music?
Right now, I’ve just finished off a little lo-fi EP called Go-Go, incorporating
this drum machine that I picked up a couple of years
ago in America called the Rhythm King. I guess it was just an
excuse to play around with my new toy. I’m a little bit nervous to
see how people will receive it because I don’t think this is a part
of me they’ve heard before, so it could go either way – but I’m
alright with that.
How do you deal with live nerves?
If I wasn’t nervous then I think that would be a problem. I think
it’s really important to be out of your comfort zone at most
times, actually – I think it just adds a bit more to the performance.
I’ve definitely found over the years the times I’ve been
most nervous have been my favourite gigs.
Do you have any favourite places to hang out in the area?
I love Cha Cha Cha if I can get down there on a Saturday afternoon
– it’s a really great hang-out. It’s quite nice to go to Ally Pally and
just hang out there, on the grass or steps, and I sometimes go to
Kiplings in Highgate, which is a great Indian restaurant. •
Go-Go will be out in May - check: @michael_jablonka for up-to-date information.
You can also view a live performance video of his new song Make Believe and more
photographs on our website: www.villageraw.com/jablonka
12 13

VILLAGE RAW
COMMUNITY
ON THE TRAIL
OF PINK
With the dearth of blue
plaques commemorating
women, a Highgate
project has developed
to readdress the balance
for this year’s festival.
Words by Alicia Pivaro.
Illustration by Kerrie O’Connell.
The Highgate Festival returns for a second
year from 16 to 23 June – directly after
the Fair in the Square has been packed
away. Last year, we drew attention to
Highgate’s largely forgotten female history
with the Women Only exhibition. This
year, we’re looking to extend that focus
through the Pink Plaque project – a more
provocative and public reclamation of the
area’s great women.
Embroiled in a media row around the
choice of pink, the project has already
stimulated debate around the lack of female
recognition in history, and also in
our built environment – whether in street
names, statues or plaques.
Currently, only 14% of English Heritage
plaques in London are dedicated to women
– reflecting a “historic blindness to both
the role women have played in our society
and the type of roles deemed worthy of
celebration,” says Anna Eavis, Curatorial
Director and Secretary of the English Heritage
Blue Plaques Panel. But the English
Heritage’s selection criteria are so strict
that many groups and areas have tried
to redress the balance themselves. Rose
Collis’ iPhone app, Brighton Pink Plaques,
gives trails of the town’s LGBT past, Stoke
Newington Literary Festival recognises its
local characters, and the English Hedonists
have installed a plaque to Priss Fotheringham
– the “second best whore in the
city” – on Whitecross Street, EC1.
Developed by Maria Kramer, Catharine
Wells and myself, our Highgate HERitage
Pink Plaque trail will include over 15 locations,
including commemorations over
Holly Lodge for Angela Burdett-Coutts,
Stella Dorothea Gibbons, Felicity Sparrow,
Harriet Mellon and others. The project
launched at the third local heritage weekend
at Lauderdale House, with artists
from last year’s project, Catherine West
MP, and Georgie Gould, Head of Camden
Council attending – Georgie also shared
the exciting news of the possible arrival
of a Vagina Museum in Camden.
Katherine Ive, Director of Lauderdale
House, explained: “Our heritage weekend
seemed the perfect opportunity to bring
together our interest in highlighting Highgate’s
female movers and shakers with
other local projects. Since the refurbishment
we have increasingly realised how
the stories of the women of Lauderdale
House have been overlooked and marginalised,
and are starting to uncover more
about them.”
The Lauderdale House website will
soon be inviting suggestions and stories
for a pink plaque. The ideas will form part
of a larger initiative to develop a more permanent
plaque trail with local schools, The
Highgate Society, Highgate Neighbourhood
Forum, the Highgate Literary and
Scientific Institution, Highgate Cemetery,
and the wider community.
More from the festival
To celebrate the deeper culture and history
of Highgate, we also want to focus on
exploring the creativity of our community
at every level. We are keen to hear from
individuals or groups who want to organise
something small – a play in your living
room, a tour of your strange collection, an
open mic night, and more.
Other highlights for this year include
teaming up with local radio station,
Boogaloo Radio, on Sunday 16 June. The
day will feature a line-up of hosts and
shows presented by locals – some of
whom you may already be familiar with.
You can visit the studio in the beer garden
all day long and there will be live music in
the main bar from north London bands. We
also have young musicians and singers
playing mini-concerts at various venues
around Highgate, including Kenwood, and
numerous walks, talks and tours on anything
from slavery to radical thinking to
our great trees and pubs.
Blacktooth Productions will stage a
History of Highgate, and we will also have
a screening of the sell-out film The Ponds.
OmVed Gardens will host an eco-event
where you can pledge to do your bit to cut
down pollution and plastics amongst other
ideas about making Highgate greener. •
To get in touch about any of the above, please email:
info@highgatefestival.org. The developing programme
can be found at: www.highgatefestival.org.
LIGHTING
IT UP
During the darkness
of winter the residents
of Bounds Green were
on hand to shine a light.
Words by Katrina Mirpuri.
Run solely by a group of locals since
2018, the Bounds Green Window Show is
a street exhibition which tells visual stories
through the windows of houses in the
area. For a few days in winter, colourful
scenes come to life, temporarily taking
centre stage and catching the attention
of passers-by. Displays have included Here
Be Dragons, New Beginnings, Suffragette
Art, and Travels Through Your Imagination.
The window show proved the power
of community spirit, as local creatives –
and any interested residents – were able
to work together and turn a fun idea into
reality. Bounds Green has proved itself as
a friendly, community-driven area, and it’s
events like this that reaffirm the power of
togetherness. It’d be great to see other
areas shine like this. •
For further information visit:
www.boundsgreenwindowshow.com
14 1 15 2

VILLAGE RAW
PARTNER CONTENT
COMMUNITY MATTERS
We will continue to consult the local community over the future of
Hornsey Town Hall Arts Centre, says Piers Read, the managing partner
of The Time + Space Co., which is leading the restoration:
it’s only the beginning of the conversation, not the end.
Words by Carla Parks.
What would you like to see happen at Hornsey Town Hall Arts Centre
when the restoration is completed? It’s a question that could
have many answers depending on your perspective. A clearer picture
of what the local community wants has emerged as a result of
a Haringey-wide consultation undertaken late last year. Most said
they would like it to become a creative hub, showcasing and developing
talent in a welcoming space that is available to everyone.
The consultation – run independently by the Audience Agency
– consisted of an online survey, one-to-one interviews and three
workshops. Some 60% of the survey responses came from the N8
postcode, with additional input gathered from N4, N10, N11 and
N19. Of those, 60% want there to be programming with a visual
arts focus, while 40% said they would like to see partnerships with
local artists and performers.
“The consultation is an excellent foundation that we can build
upon. The feedback sits very harmoniously with our intentions,”
says Piers Read, the managing partner of The Time + Space Co.,
the arts operator that is leading the arts centre’s renaissance.
Piers, who lives in Crouch End, explains that he wants to better
understand the community’s aspirations for Hornsey Town Hall
Arts Centre and how to cater to their needs. He envisions the arts
centre as a highly flexible space that will host the community, small
businesses and freelancers, and the wider creative arts sector.
Pivotal to this will be a steering group that will ensure community
access is a priority after the restoration, in keeping with the
results of the consultation. Piers believes that a primary function
of this group, the brainchild of Hornsey Town Hall Trust, should be
helping to develop the cultural offer at the arts centre. “Inclusivity
is key”, he says, and he is eager that it should work “collaboratively”,
with participants proactively curating the artistic programme
and output. It is envisaged that the group will promote end users
including local businesses and arts and community organisations,
ranging from the Crouch End Players to the police, while an artistic
director will be appointed to lead on the programming and events.
One concern that emerged from the consultation was cost.
But the tariffs for artistic programmes will be “competitive and
affordable”, given the location, size and quality of the venue,
with subsidy initiatives being explored for the unemployed and
children. They have based their pricing on similar arts centres
and venues in the area, he says, including Jackson’s Lane in
Highgate, Bernie Grant Arts Centre in Tottenham, artsdepot in
Finchley, and the Park Theatre in Finsbury Park, and it’s something
they will keep monitoring.
However, a balance needs to be struck between the commercial
use and the community use, he adds, as the arts centre will
not receive a public subsidy and must be commercially viable. The
business plan is predicated on delivering community access, as
well as private hires on full commercial rates. Corporate and civic
functions, and elements of the redevelopment, including the hotel,
will have different price points. The arts centre’s renovation will be
funded largely by the sale of flats on the site. The result will be that
the Grade II listed building will be removed from Historic England’s
“at-risk” register and turned into a first-class arts centre.
Piers stresses the survey is only the starting point for ideas
about its future. The Time + Space Co. will be transparent about
plans, he says, continuing the conversation with more parts of
the borough, and maintaining an open-door policy for locals.
Some parts of Haringey didn’t take part in the survey, and Piers is
keen to bring everyone on board. “This is a borough-wide opportunity
and we want accessibility to extend across the borough,”
he tells Village Raw. “This is not just about Crouch End. There is a
wider opportunity that must include people from further afield.”
The Time + Space Co. will be reaching out to “key influencers”
in Haringey and inviting them to collaborate on different initiatives.
Piers uses the Bernie Grant Arts Centre in Tottenham as an example.
He envisages partnerships with “like-minded organisations”, including
tie-ups with children’s groups who use the Tottenham space
and those using the arts centre at Hornsey Town Hall. Another aim
is to use the arts centre as a place for learning and educational development,
potentially leading to direct employment for some.
The next step, says Piers, is to get people excited about the
pending renovation and to move the project from a “mythical
thing” to something that’s tangible. To cement some of the shorter-term
plans, The Time + Space Co. is hosting a special event that
will provide a glimpse of the future operation, reveal the survey’s
full details, and examine how the results of the consultation will
shape the future arts centre. It will take place at the new reception
adjacent to the original box office for the Assembly Hall. There will
be drinks, canapés and a presentation by the Audience Agency. •
If you are interested in coming to the event at 6pm on Thursday 11 April, please RSVP
to: boxoffice@hthartscentre.com. Numbers are limited and on a first-come, firstserved
basis.
Clockwise from top: A computer-generated
projection of the reception area after
the restoration. A consultation workshop.
The Time + Space Co.’s Andrew Major (left)
and Piers Read (right).
16 1
17

WARM HUGS AND
SWEET MEMORIES
Photos by Dan Bridge.

VILLAGE RAW
VILLAGE IN PICTURES
There is still time for you to be part of the restoration of The People’s
Theatre. Find out more at: www.theatre.alexandrapalace.com/support-us
After eight months of sourcing vintage and retro furniture,
fixtures and fittings, Eaton James and Michael Camp opened
Edith’s House on The Broadway in Crouch End in October 2015.
Just over three years later the Crouch End institution is now
closed for business.
Named after Eaton’s nan, the cafe offered a trip down
memory lane for the many Brits who visited – and for the non-
Brits, it felt like a museum of UK life. Eaton and Michael wanted
to create a cosy, dog-friendly (their dog Roux became one of the
regulars) environment where people felt relaxed and “looked
after” – essentially, like you would be at your nan’s house.
The initial response was warm, with people saying the space
was a welcome respite from the generic, minimalist coffee
shops that pervaded London’s streets. “Once three sisters
came in to dine and they’d travelled quite a distance to see us
specifically,” says Eaton. “They sat and reminisced about their
mother, who had sadly passed away some years before. Her
name was Edith too.”
While the summers have been slow, business has generally
been good and the decision to close is based on their own life
choices: “We are both actors and we really miss performing,
so we hope to find some way to start being creative again,”
explains Eaton. Edith’s House closed at the end of March – and
it will be missed by many. •
For more images visit: www.villageraw.com/edithshouse
20

COMMUNITY
THE STATE OF
OUR HIGH STREETS
While a 2018 report revealed our high streets are thriving,
recent closures suggest otherwise. Peter Cox met with a couple
of local cafe owners to get their perspectives.
Words by Peter Cox. Photos by Kate Kuzminova.
As a former retailer I give talks on the state of our high streets,
and I’ve been alarmed at how rapidly they’ve altered in the last
five years, under the onslaught of online shopping. Unchecked by
the rise of unscrupulous online gambling sites, betting shops all
over the country are still encouraging people to lose their money
– there are 86 in Hackney alone. Banks have become coffee
shops or payday lender outlets. Where I live in East Finchley, there
is no mainstream bank left, though you can get cash from outside
the new local Sainsbury’s or the UOE, which now provides postal
services because the old Post Office has gone. RIP.
I’ve been working with friends from North London U3A, a group
that encourages retired people to pursue their interests, to analyse
changes in some of our local high streets. I have looked at
Muswell Hill, East Finchley, Church End and North Finchley, starting
from before the Second World War through to today. Soon after
I began last November, out came a report – Running on Empty
– from the Royal Society for Public Health (RSPH) doing just that
for all 146 substantial shopping centres in London, and 70 of the
largest in the country. It ranked them, using a method that scored
libraries and health services at the top, down to payday lenders
and betting shops at the bottom, assessing them on four measures
of “benefit to the community”. Not surprisingly, nationally,
Edinburgh came first and Grimsby last.
The results for London were striking. Top came Muswell Hill
and bottom West Green Road/Seven Sisters, the rich and poor
ends of Haringey. Does that do any more than identify where the
rich and poor residents are? Does it mean Muswell Hillites can relax?
(Spoiler – NO.) Our other local centres came in clustered between
10th and 20th: East Finchley at 12, Crouch End 14, Chipping
Barnet 15, Church End 16 and North Finchley 17. But there’s a margin
of error, so next year they might easily be reversed. Near us
in the top ten were Temple Fortune, Hampstead and Whetstone,
ranked from five to eight respectively.
While the results for Muswell Hill and neighbouring Crouch
End are positive, two small business owners in these areas are
not necessarily feeling the benefit: Greg Vukasovic, who owns
The Haberdashery in Crouch End, and Claire Jury at La Dinette in
Muswell Hill. Both establishments are distinctive and give the appearance
of thriving but, as Claire points out, running a cafe is
tough. It’s a very physical job, she tells me, and the hours are long,
with margins that are very slim.
Both Greg and Claire point to the huge change since they
started. Greg opened The Haberdashery 10 years ago, just after
the 2008 crash. He says there was far less competition and lower
costs, which made starting up easier than today. Greg points out
that any new business is now thrown right in the deep end. He
says many have closed and the area has been flooded with lookalikes:
cafes, hair and beauty salons, and estate agents.
Claire, who opened in November 2015, feels as if La Dinette
has relocated to an area she no longer recognises – 10 other
coffee shops have opened and three established chains have
expanded too. Both Greg and Claire agree that they have to
be nimble and constantly adapt – standing still means going
backwards.
Recently, Greg has increased his vegan offering, and Claire is
trialling opening for dinner. She has other plans but they all mean
more investment and, with no profit coming in, it must come from
elsewhere. Battling with the bigger chains, who have lower costs,
is really hard, and both feel that in the next few years cafe chains
will expand while independents increasingly go under.
22 23

COMMUNITY
This page: Claire Jury at La Dinette in Muswell Hill. Previous page: Greg
Vukasovic at The Haberdashery in Crouch End.
What can be done to help dedicated enthusiasts like Greg and
Claire keep going? Claire says business rates need to go down,
and there must be “some regulation put in place to encourage a
more eclectic high street to represent the rich cultural diversity
of London”. Greg points out that in the UK he pays 20% VAT; a similar
business in France – where Claire was brought up – would pay
just 5%. Decision-makers need to focus on actions to keep their
high streets alive and to employ local people.
Crucially, does the rapid and inexorable advance of internet
shopping mean that we’ll soon no longer be shopping locally for
“things” but only for services? There are exceptions to the trend,
but they are few and far between. Although they’re both on the
service side, Claire and Greg are pessimistic. The turnover of
businesses is immense.
Of the shops in Muswell Hill that have continued to be used
from before the war to today, the grocer William Martyn stands
out, with its signature coffee roaster in the window trailing its
scent down the street. An extraordinary five generations have
run this business, though a key to their survival is that they have
bought the freehold. The fishmonger in the Broadway is another
shop that has been selling seafood under different ownership
since before the war. East Finchley, too, has a fishmonger which
has been in the same spot for over 80 years.
Will the decline continue? It’s not just small local shopkeepers
that are feeling the pinch, but most large retail chains are in
some degree of trouble, even John Lewis. The RSPH report, which
you can find online and is worth reading, gives some examples
of places that have managed to stem the decline. This requires
determined local action and sympathetic councils – whose sympathy
has been overridden by the battle to keep crucial services
going under a severe austerity squeeze. The report lists recommendations
to increase taxes on online businesses; to provide
rent relief for shops which “promote better public health”; to ensure
all food outlets reduce calorie content; to restrict the opening
of betting shops; and to prevent takeaways from operating
within a quarter of a mile of any school.
Will any of that happen, and would it be enough? What can we
do locally to make sure our high streets are as health-promoting
and community-fostering as possible? It depends where we live,
but we have to be vigilant and active if we are to avoid the slide
that is affecting so many different parts of the country. There’s
no shortage of young energetic retailers keen to make a go of it.
As Claire says: “Running La Dinette brings me so much joy, but it
needs to provide a sustainable livelihood too.” •
You can view the RSPH’s report at: www.rsph.org.uk/our-work/campaigns/health-onthe-high-street/2018.html
You can find out more about La Dinette at: www.ladinette.co.uk,
and Haberdashery at: www.the-haberdashery.com
24

VILLAGE RAW
FOOD & DRINK
DINNER WITH A DIFFERENCE
If you like dinner parties, but not the hassle of playing host,
then get yourself down to one of north London’s supper clubs. Whether
they’re held in someone’s home or in more unusual spaces, they’re
a great way of meeting people and supporting talented locals.
Words by Carla Parks. Photos by Emily Manos.
I’ve lived long enough to have had some memorable dining experiences,
but it’s safe to say I’ve never seen a chef spray chocolate
sauce all over a white dining table while accompanied by the
pulsating soundtrack to Pulp Fiction. I hold my breath as dessert
is served with a theatrical flourish and added sparklers. It’s not
entirely the sedate evening I was expecting when I was invited
to a supper club hosted by Thrown Contemporary, a ceramics
gallery in Highgate.
I’d had some apprehensions about the evening. I was going
on my own and, even worse, knew nothing at all about ceramics.
Did watching Demi Moore sitting at a pottery wheel in Ghost
count? But the gallery looked inviting on a blustery night, and I
was quickly handed a welcome cocktail by Maja Pauling, one half
of Fabulous 698B – the team behind tonight’s six-course menu.
“We started by hosting supper clubs in our flat,” Maja says. Having
had success at home, they expanded to private events, pop-ups
and special occasions and are now looking to start a restaurant
in London. She introduces me to Guillaume Jounot, her business
partner and chef, who hails from Brittany and has trained with the
likes of the Soho House Group.
“What’s difficult here is the logistics,” admits Guillaume, who
is squeezed into a corner that looks a bit impractical for serving
12 guests. There’s no kitchen and the menu looks ambitious –
it includes chestnut hummus, “funky” beets, Cornish mackerel
escabeche and pulled pork with cider reduction. “You have to
adapt to different situations,” he says with a wry smile. “Often
you don’t know what you are walking into.” In this instance, all
the food – with an emphasis on seasonal and local produce – is
prepared in advance.
Claire Pearce, the gallery’s director, explains that tonight’s
di s hes will be served on plates sold by the gallery. Initially, the
supper club was simply part of a series of events tied to a specific
tableware exhibition, but they proved so popular that she
now hosts one to celebrate each new show. Claire loves the creativity
of Fabulous 698B: “I saw that they were already doing
wonderful, creative things [on Instagram] and got in touch with
them to see if they would like to work with me. Within 24 hours,
they were standing in front of me and going through ideas.”
Supper clubs are not a new concept, having been popular as
all-evening entertainment in the 1930s and 40s. The modern interpretation
is going through a renaissance in cities, spurred on
by social media and a positive trend of pop-up foodie events. As
I take my seat, I find that one of my dining companions is Tom
Kemp, a ceramicist whose work is being exhibited by the gallery.
There are several large vases with bold calligraphic strokes on
display. The brush strokes, he explains to the table, are inspired by
ancient techniques once used in Rome for signwriting. I learn that
Tom used to be a mathematician at Oxford and has only taken up
ceramics recently, yet he’s finding commercial success.
Across from us is Anne, a Highgate resident since 1979, who
has been to one of these events before and says they are “great
fun” for meeting people, including some of the artists. She sits
next to Elise, another mathematician and MA student in ceramics
and glass, who follows Tom on Instagram and has travelled from
Battersea to be here. If I was worried about the conversation
stalling, I needn’t have been. Tom is easy to talk to and we are
soon swapping pictures of pets. We discuss the merits, and drawbacks,
of city life and adapting to new places. “I have no regrets,”
says Tom, who sold up in London and moved to Devon so that he
could work on his art full time.
Each course is introduced by Maja, while Claire gives a brief
description of the plates it’s served on and the techniques used
26 27

VILLAGE RAW
FOOD & DRINK
This page: Plates by Melisa Dora with lobster tails.
Previous page: Shannon Bartlett-Smith toasting the
supper club table with her ceramic champagne flutes.
to make them. Thrown Contemporary is celebrating its first birthday
tonight, and Claire is happily watching the gallery come alive
with conversation. “I do love the ceramic converts that these
events have inspired,” the director says. “We get a whole range
of people coming to these supper clubs, including lots of foodies
who have been intrigued by the idea.” A recent guest was Andrew
Marr, of BBC fame, who was exhibiting some of his paintings (yes,
he paints). “It made for some very interesting table chat – and
some very surprised guests – when they realised it was THE Andrew
Marr they were having dinner with,” she tells me.
By the time the spectacular dessert is served, one half
of the table appears to be best friends and exchanging hugs.
This in spite of the fact that two glasses of red wine have been
knocked over – luckily all the ceramics are still intact – and one
of the guests sporting a large stain on his shirt. A sign of a good
dinner party, I’d say. •
Thrown Contemporary’s supper clubs cost £60pp for six courses
and a welcome cocktail. Wine is available from £20 per bottle.
To book, visit: www.throwncontemporary.co.uk/supperclub
Fabulous 698B are on Instagram: @fabulous698b
You can see more of Tom Kemp’s work: @tom_kemp_
LOCAL SUPPER CLUBS TO TRY
BLUE GODS BUTTER
Amit Sibal and his wife Aditi throw open
the doors of their Bowes Park house for
up to 12 people. Their menus are Indianinspired,
with some Mediterranean and North
African twists. Courses vary, £30-40pp, BYO.
Instagram: @blue_gods_butter
BARAVIN AT LA DINETTE
Once a month La Dinette hosts Baravin –
delicious small plates and deserts, natural
wines and impeccable cocktails. For details
pop into the cafe or check their
Instagram: @ladinettemacarons
JOGINDER’S SUPPER CLUB
Saira and Rani have been hosting up to 12
people in their Tufnell Park home for 10 years.
Even one of Obama’s speech writers has been a
guest. Expect Punjabi food influenced by family
recipes. Vegetarian and gluten-free diets are
catered for. Nine courses, £35pp, BYO.
www.jogindersupperclub.com
THE GLASS KITCHEN
Hosted by Spanish chef Francisco Capel and
his partner Ian at their home in Crouch End,
they can seat up to 14. The menus reflect
Mediterranean and Asian influences. Three
courses, welcome cocktail, canapès, petit
fours and homemade liqueur. BYO. Prices vary.
www.theglasskitchensupperclub.co.uk
THE CROUCH END SECRET SUPPER CLUB
Host Catherine Coulson can have up to 24
people in her Crouch Hill home. She focuses
on seasonal produce and some of the dinners
are accompanied by chamber music. Five
courses (veggie options), complimentary
cocktail and canapès, BYO, £35pp.
crouchendssc@hotmail.com
THROUGH THE WOODS
Once a supper club, chef Chris Slaughter
has made his concept permanent in an intimate
space in Crouch End. The focus is on seasonal
and sustainable food. There is a single
sitting at 8pm (Thursday to Sunday)
and a changing, plant-focused set menu.
www.throughthewoods.london
RENAISSANCE CAFE SUPPER CLUBS
Once a month Bounds Green’s Renaissance
Cafe hosts a themed supper club – whether
it’s Spanish, a seasonal feast, influenced
by the Savoie region of the French Alps,
or April’s Fawlty Towers themed evening -
with proprietor Paul Handley taking on
the role of Basil.
www.facebook.com/rerenaissancemusicltd
PHOTO SUPPLIED BY BLUE GODS BUTTER.
BLUE GODS
BUTTER
Amit Sibal is not a trained chef but a civil
servant. This has not stopped him throwing
open the doors to his house in Bowes
Park for a supper club that takes inspiration
from across the world. Some of the
food comes from his family’s native Punjab
and other recipes are more of an interpretation,
with influences from the Mediterranean
and North Africa.
He admits to being obsessed with food
and has cooked for as long as he can remember.
His wife Aditi, a solicitor, designs
the menus and table plans. They can host
up to 12 guests for a sit-down dinner in
their home.
“The idea of being able to share our
food in a more intimate setting and getting
to meet new people really appealed,” says
Amit. He even enjoys the pressure of cooking
for relative strangers. “We are hoping to
meet new people from the local community
and beyond, creating shared memories
through food. We also get a chance to continue
trying and testing new recipes.”
BAINGAN BHARTA
(BAKED AUBERGINE PURÉE)
This traditional North Indian dish is a great
way to cook aubergines, is simple to follow,
and will impress at any dinner party.
INGREDIENTS (FOR FOUR PEOPLE)
2 aubergines
Rapeseed/vegetable oil
1 medium onion
2 cloves of garlic
200g tinned chopped tomatoes
Handful of fresh baby plum/cherry
tomatoes, chopped in half (optional)
2 teaspoons sea salt flakes
1/4 teaspoon red chilli powder
(or more if you like it hot!)
1 teaspoon cumin seeds
50g fresh or frozen peas
Garnish (all optional):
Fresh coriander
Pomegranate seeds
Pickled mooli
Roasted grapes
METHOD
Preparing the aubergines
If you are confident enough and have the
option, you’ll get a better result by blistering
and charring the aubergines over an
open flame (gas hob or barbecue). If not, a
grill or oven will do just fine.
Take your aubergines and use a fork to
prick the skin on all sides.
Place them on a foil-covered baking
tray and put them under the grill or in an
oven (pre-heated to 200C) for thirty minutes.
Turn the aubergines occasionally so
that they cook evenly on all sides. Once
the skins are seriously wrinkly and the
flesh is soft to the centre, take them out
and set aside.
The rest
While the aubergines are cooking, finely
chop your onions and garlic.
Once the aubergines are safe to touch,
but still warm, remove and discard the
stalk. Peel the skins (save for a veggie
stock or soup or discard).
Slice the aubergines so that you are
left with small strips each about 1cm thick.
Heat the oil in a frying pan over a medium
heat. Gently fry the onions until they
start to brown. Add the garlic and cumin
and fry for a further 30 seconds.
Add the chopped and fresh tomatoes,
salt and red chilli powder. Stir well and fry
for another minute.
Stir in the aubergine, and turn the
heat down low (otherwise it’ll burn). Cover
and cook for about 10 minutes. The water
should evaporate and the colour of the
aubergine will change.
Throw in the peas and cook for a further
30 seconds. The residual heat will ensure
that that the peas are cooked through.
Taste and season as required.
TO SERVE
Place the bharta on your serving dish.
Garnish as you like. You can always add
some fresh coriander and sprinkle some
pomegranate seeds. If you’re feeling fancy,
you can swap out the pomegranate
seeds for some roasted grapes for a different
texture, or for some pickled mooli
for a balance between sharp and sweet. •
You can follow Blue Gods Butter on Instagram:
@blue_gods_butter
28 29

VILLAGE RAW
PARTNER CONTENT
THINKING LOCAL
TO ACT GLOBAL
Photo by Thomas Broadhead.
How can we make our
relationship with
the environment
more reciprocal?
Two upcoming events
at OmVed Gardens
explore the symbiotic
role of human beings
within the local
and global ecosystem.
This spring sees the start of a new programme
of events at OmVed Gardens, with
a focus on increasing awareness of the role
of human beings within local and global
ecosystems. In particular, two events take
different approaches to exploring symbiosis,
personal ecology, and the interconnectivity
of the natural world: Human and
Planetary Ecology, a series of workshops
run by Lori Hillman; and Rewind/Rewild, a
contemporary art exhibition and forum focused
on rewilding.
Human and Planetary
Ecology
In April, Lori Hillman will launch a series of
five weekend-long workshops on Human
and Planetary Ecology, to be held over
the course of the year at OmVed. Trained
in acupuncture, mindfulness, traditional
Chinese medicine and conscious ecology,
Lori will use her workshops to explore
food energetics – how the food we eat and
grow is linked with the health of our bodies
and the environment. The course will help
participants adapt the food they prepare
to optimise health and to develop a comprehensive,
individual health plan.
Spread across the year, the sessions
are closely connected to the season in
which they take place, and will involve the
cultivation of a permaculture vegetable
bed. Qi gong, a Chinese practice that helps
achieve a calm, meditative mind, will also
form part of the sessions.
To understand the bigger picture of the
natural world and our role within it, Human
and Planetary Ecology takes the individual’s
personal health or garden as a microcosm,
helping us to cultivate a more reciprocal
relationship with the ecosystem more
broadly. Lori’s approach is informed by an
understanding of soil, the fragile layer on
the earth’s surface upon which our lives
depend. Soil is a place of symbiosis, where
microorganisms feed other life forms in
return for being fed themselves.
Lori says: “OmVed Gardens is like a
‘wild corridor’ in the centre of London. Not
only is there biodiversity of nature, but of
people with a diversity of knowledge and
experience. They pass through this corridor
sharing and seeding ideas for the benefit
of human and planetary ecology, as do
the biodiversity of organisms that journey
through the wild corridor of a garden.”
Rewind/Rewild
For the first seven days of May, OmVed
Gardens will host an exhibition of contemporary
art that explores rewilding – a
movement dedicated to allowing natural
processes to resume without human interference.
Rewind/Rewild investigates
the ecological implications of this movement,
and the broader possibilities for
rewilding human lives. It will feature artworks
that analyse or challenge our relationship
with plants, animals and landscapes,
and our role in ecosystems. The
exhibition considers our need to re-engage
with the natural world and discover
a wilder way of living within the constraints
of human society.
Elements of the natural world will be
relocated into the space to create surprising
encounters, with contributions
from artists working across a variety of
media – from sculpture and installation to
video and photography. The glasshouses
at OmVed Gardens collapse distinctions
between indoors and outdoors, the urban
and the rural, suggesting that all environments
are potential sites for encounters
with wild flora and fauna.
Rewind/Rewild is collaboratively curated
by Glasgow-based artist Beatrice
Searle and writer Anna Souter, who lives
locally in Stroud Green. “Since moving to
this area, I have become much more aware
of the important role of green spaces, gardens
and wildlife in urban life,” she says.
“I often walk along the Parkland Walk
and through Highgate Woods. These are
spectacular examples of biodiverse urban
spaces, but there are opportunities to increase
our contact with the wild even on
a much smaller scale. We need to rethink
how we use urban space and maximise
biodiversity wherever we can if we want to
make a difference on a global level.”
As part of Rewind/Rewild, OmVed will
also host a day-long rewilding forum, bringing
together experts and the wider public
for a day of debate around ecological
awareness, our involvement in natural processes
and ways of living within healthy
ecosystems. The role of science, art and
architecture in protecting and res t oring
our ecosystems will also be explored. •
Personal and Planetary Ecology: Personal
Understanding and Healing with Lori Hillman is at
OmVed Gardens over five weekends: 6/7 April,
8/9 June, 6/7 July, 21/22 September and 12/13 October:
www.omvedgardens.com/events/human-planetaryecology-personal-understanding-healing
Rewind/Rewild is at OmVed Gardens 1 to 7 May.
The Rewilding forum takes place on 4 May:
www.omvedgardens.com/events/rewind-rewild
10
1 31

VILLAGE RAW
SUSTAINABLE VILLAGE
SHAPING
THE WORLD
AROUND US
We are in a geological
epoch defined by human
impact - the Anthropocene.
What we do with that
knowledge will shape
the world for ever.
Words and photos by Chris King.
I listen intently to Ed Santry, the new Nature Conservation Officer
for Haringey Council, as he gives a talk on the latest Biodiversity
Action Plan (BAP) he’s working on for the borough. His audience
are members of the Friends of Alexandra Park, a volunteer group
which plays a vital role in maintaining and monitoring the plants
and animals within the park - one of many such groups in the area.
He stresses how conserving those green spaces, and the
corridors between them, is vital to maintaining biodiversity within
the borough, and it will be one of the priorities of the new BAP.
After he finishes talking about Haringey’s new plan, Ed tells
me that one of the key challenges to creating positive change is
the need to raise awareness of the impact we are having on biodiversity
in all aspects of our lives and society. That means not just
across the council and government departments, or the boardrooms
and offices of corporations, but also within the household.
Over 25 years ago that awareness actually existed, with an
acknowledgement by governments, scientists, and the wider
public alike, of the need for swift, meaningful action to be taken,
at a national and global level, to address the issue of biodiversity
loss. There was seemingly a political will to do exactly that…
In 1992 over 150 heads of state, and thousands of other delegates
from across the globe, descended upon a sunny Rio de
Janeiro. They were there to participate in the UN’s Conference
on Environment and Development (UNCED), more widely known
as the Earth Summit, motivated by increasing scientific evidence
highlighting the impact of human activities on the environment.
The gathering was unprecedented in its size and political
support. Never before had so many heads of state attended a
convention, never before had the environment been given such a
high priority within the global political agenda. As the UK government
would later declare, there was a “shared belief that action
must be taken to halt the worldwide loss of animal and plant species
and genetic resources”.
At the convention, Prime Minister John Major signed the
Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), the first treaty to provide
a legally binding framework for biodiversity conservation. It
calls on the signatories to establish and enforce national strategies
that ensure the conservation and sustainable use of biological
diversity.
Two years later, the UK published its Biodiversity Action Plan,
to tackle biodiversity loss at a national level - the first country to
do so. The plan set out to “conserve and enhance biological diversity
within the UK and to contribute to the conservation of global
biodiversity through all appropriate mechanisms”.
Despite this, we are now in the midst of a sixth mass extinction.
Not caused by an asteroid collision, or a volcanic eruption shrouding
the sky in ash, but by our actions. We have managed to wipe out
60% of mammals, birds, reptiles and fish since 1970, and over 40%
of insect species are declining and are under threat of extinction.
The UN’s latest Global Biodiversity Outlook report states that
33
drivers linked to agriculture account for “70% of the projected
loss of terrestrial biodiversity”. The UK itself has lost 54% of its
species of farmland birds since 1970. Examples of species in decline,
near extinction or becoming extinct over the past few decades,
within the UK and beyond, are numerous.
It’s clear the legislation that has existed to date, at all levels
of government, and both nationally and globally, has failed to
counter the impacts of our ever-growing industrialised societies.
Until we start to value the life around us more, engage in helping
preserve it and nurture it, and become more conscious of the
interconnectedness of all things, then the situation is only going
to get worse - spelling disaster for those plants and animals that
still remain, including for us.
While individual responsibility is undoubtedly important, and
we should inform ourselves and do all we can to minimise our own
impact, this alone is not enough - we must also engage with our
politicians. It is they who can introduce legislation that can have
a meaningful impact in a short timeframe on issues such as pesticide
use and air pollution, if the political will is there.
It’s been proven time and again, that when an issue moves
up the public agenda, it also moves up the political agenda. We
must therefore work individually and collectively to ensure the
protection of biodiversity is at the top of our government’s agenda,
much like it was in 1992, and to do all we can to keep it there,
lest history repeat itself. •
This page: Ed Santry, the new Nature Conservation
Officer for Hanringey Council.
You can find out how to contact your local MP, as well as members of All-Party Groups
and Select Committees, by visiting: www.parliament.uk/get-involved/contact-your-mp
To help with the conservation projects in your area, visit your borough’s website and
search for “conservation groups” or “get involved”.

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FLOWERS FROM SEED
Words and photo by Emma Ross.
How many air miles had the last bunch of flowers you
bought flown? The truth is that no one really knows. We’re
a nation becoming increasingly obsessed with where our
food comes from and how it gets to us, but what about
the other crops travelling from fields to our homes? With
approximately 90% of all flowers in the UK imported from
abroad – mainly from Holland and Kenya – and typically
treated with huge amounts of pesticides and fungicides,
perhaps it’s time to assess the environmental impact and
sustainability of cultivating cut flowers and the flower
trade overall.
This was exactly the thinking of Camila and Marianne,
two friends from university and the brains behind Wolves
Lane Flower Company – a seasonal, sustainable and local
(to many of us) flower business specialising in growing
and selling chemical-free British flowers. WLFC work out
of an huge, three-and-a-half-acre plot in Wood Green.
Once owned by the council, the site is now run by OrganicLea
and is largely inhabited by small food producers and
distributors – it’s also a beautiful, sprawling piece of land
complete with its own woodland, palm house and cacti
house. Within it, WLFC occupy a cutting garden, two propagation
greenhouses and a renovated studio space. They
grow all their flowers from seed and are committed to a
totally organic approach that protects the eco-system
from start to finish. They practice the ‘no dig’ method,
which causes less disturbance to the soil than traditional
digging and involves initially layering mypex down over
the weeds to prevent light getting in before replacing with
cardboard and mulch. They also use eco compost made
from green waste and are currently experimenting with a
natural pesticide made from mixing neem oil and water –
which crucially doesn’t kill pollinators or harm the soil.
“For something so ephemeral as a bunch of flowers,
does it really make sense to fly them across the world?
Maybe people just need to accept that you can’t have a
dome of peonies in February,” says Marianne, gently but
firmly. I nod in agreement. To me, it seems that we’ve lost
our connection to British-grown flowers – and WLFC are
on a mission to change that. They also try to grow flowers
that aren’t readily available to differentiate themselves
from other florists or to sway consumers tempted to buy
from supermarkets.
A recent study, the first of its kind, by Life Cycle Analysis
compares carbon emissions of a UK-grown bouquet
versus its Dutch or Kenyan counterparts. It analyses water
use, fertiliser use, heating, air transport, electricity
use and labour conditions involved and the results are
fascinating – an imported mixed bouquet produces 10
times more emissions than a British-grown mixed bouquet,
with British-grown flowers having a much lower
carbon footprint than any other flowers. Emissions were
found to be highest for Dutch lilies (3.478kg CO2) per
stem), followed by Kenyan gypsophila, Dutch roses and
Kenyan roses. In contrast, an English alstroemeria produces
only 0.052kg CO2.
For WLFC now, it’s about balancing the growing and
the floristry sides of the business – both of which they
clearly love and are flourishing. They’d just done an event
the day before I visited and are busy with weddings and
the recent launch of a subscription delivery service,
which includes with it a handful of phacelia seeds to
encourage consumers to get growing in their own back
gardens. Still only two years in, Marianne and Camila tell
me they’re constantly learning on the job, and that’s what
they thrive on. “We make tonnes of mistakes. I always say
that you have a year to learn that lesson before the season
starts again – at least you know you won’t make the
same mistake again!” jokes Camila.
And with that, they get back to the land and send me
off with a bunch of the most beautiful flowers left over
from the day before. •
Follow Emma on her social channels: @mamalinauk
35

VILLAGE FAMILY
VILLAGE FAMILY
HAVE WE HAD
ENOUGH OF
PARENTING?
Words by Dr Emma Svanberg.
Illustration by Lobster and Pearls.
When I first started working with parents, my job was pretty
simple. People may have read one or two parenting “manuals”,
like Gina Ford or The Baby Whisperer, but generally
information came from family members, midwives, health
visitors and fellow parents. The phrase I talked about with
nearly everyone I saw was “This is not what I expected”.
People were shocked at how different the reality of parenting
was from their expectation that it would come naturally.
Those most frequently caring for their children – usually
mums – came to see me feeling surprised at the level of
need their babies had, the transformation of every part of
their lives, the loss of their identities. Partners were lost
too, not knowing how to be the parent they thought they
would be, and wondering what had happened to their relationship.
Both parents were coming into my room with the
baggage of their own childhood histories, wondering how
to come together again as a new unit.
Fast forward ten years, and we’re drowning in information
about parenting. There are too many books to read
in one lifetime, every newspaper has a parenting section
and there are endless blogs, influencers and coaches on
the subject. Instamums and celebrities like Chrissie Teigen
and Rachel McAdams have revealed the side of parenting
that usually stays behind closed doors. There are
not only documentaries about parenting, but TV shows
like The Letdown and Ali Wong’s Hard Knock Wife which depict
its realities (while leaving you crying with laughter).
So now, surely, we know what to expect? In that ten
years, are parents any less shocked? Have we smashed the
myth that parenting is easy? Are we united in a new belief
that parenting, like the rest of life, is full of ambivalence –
both joyous and despairing, often at the same time?
Well…no. Somehow the pressure has ramped up even
more. While we have revealed the truth that parenting
isn’t easy, we’ve simultaneously made it even harder. It’s
not surprising – many psychologists have identified that
we are living in a pandemic of perfectionism. This generation
of parents, brought up in the 80s with its emphasis
on competitiveness and individualism, have brought
that same level of self-scrutiny to parenting. It becomes
something which we can “get right”, rather than a lifelong
transition which we will never quite finish.
And alongside parenting, there is a new pressure too.
Even before the six-week check, parents talk about setting
up businesses while on maternity leave, getting back
into a fitness regime, or renovating a home. We have become
so driven by the need to be productive that it becomes
increasingly hard to focus in on the new person we
have just produced.
Somehow we have managed to talk (and talk) about
parenting without actually talking about parents. We talk
about parenting behaviours and assess them as choices
– when any parent will tell you that many of the actions
they take are often driven by necessity, not choice.
Perhaps, then, we need to start talking about parents.
What is it that happens to individuals when they
become parents? How does it feel to be responsible for
a new person in these highly turbulent times? How can
we support people in their parenting journey, either alone
or as a partnership? What needs to happen to reduce the
endless pressure on parents so that their only immediate
concern is getting to know their babies?
When we answer some of these questions, we move
away from viewing parenting as an activity. Not just a series
of tasks, but a shift in every part of our outer lives and
inner worlds. Then, as we create and nurture a new life, we
can start to see it for what it is – a transformation. •
Learn more about Emma and her work at: www.mumologist.com. Find her on
Instagram and Twitter as: @mumologist, or on Facebook as: themumologist
LAYING DOWN ROOTS
Words by Huma Qureshi.
Illustration by Lobster and Pearls.
People ask me often if we will ever move out of Crouch
End. They see our home – a modest apartment with a
lucky little garden – and they wonder how, as a small but
growing family of five, we all fit in it.
Our home is by no means diminutive and nor is it a
lesson in absolute puritan minimalism. But on an avenue
where most of the handsome Victorian homes offer up
twice, if not thrice, as much square footage (the majority
of them have not been carved into flat conversions as
ours has), it seems many people can’t understand why we
haven’t just left the area yet.
My husband and I moved to Crouch End when we were
expecting our first child six years ago. We were indeed
that cliché of the young couple from Islington, moving
for green spaces and baby-friendly cafes. It is the sort
of privilege that rightly makes people’s eyes roll – we are
incredibly lucky to live here and to be able to afford the
home we now have.
But when people ask if and when we will move, we
shake our heads and say: “We don’t know.” We say: “Not
yet.” It is not that we have not considered it, but skyhigh
property prices in our neighbourhood mean that
the sort of homes that might accommodate us while our
three little boys grow from preschoolers into teenagers
remain somewhat out of reach for now. So we stay put.
We make it work. We tell each other we’ll figure it out. And
besides, what we have is more than enough, because it is
our home. We have made it so, and love it dearly. We are
lucky to have it.
Still, there are days when I’m fed up – when our walls
feel more cramped than they really are, and I feel closed
in by small hands and limbs climbing all over me, wanting
something. There are days when even though it seems
like far too much effort, I still herd my small children and
their cumbersome bikes out the door not just so that they
can let off steam outside, but so that I may too. And it is
easy to do this in our little pocket of London because, as
I’ve written before, there is more than enough for us to
do. A short walk to the park is all it takes to reset a difficult
morning or a tricky afternoon. I see my five-yearold
catch his breath sharply on the zipwire, as though
he’s flying, his cheeks flushed by the thrill, and I realise
that’s all he needs to change his mood. Or we might take
a five-minute ride up the hill to our favourite cafe for a
treat – the sort of warm neighbourhood cafe where the
owner knows our names and always offers us a macaron
or two. On a good day, a hike (for that is what I believe it
must feel like, to a three-year-old) up to Alexandra Palace
to fly a kite or eat ice-cream feels as glorious as an entire
day out – and yet it is really just up the street.
It is not as though we have not been tempted by more
affordable prices outside of the city. Charmed by a weekend
away to Kent and astonished by the considerably
lower costs of homes there, we once went so far as to arrange
house viewings (entire houses!) and school tours.
But, well, none of it felt like home. None of it felt like here.
And so we stay, content with our lot – grateful for it
too. We have laid down roots here. It will be hard to ever
unearth them. I truly hope we shan’t have to. •
Huma is an author and blogs at: www.ourstorytime.co.uk
You can also follow her on social media: @ourstorytime
36
37

PARTNER VILLAGE CONTENT RAW
FUELLING
MIND
AND BODY
Unwind at The Lab - the
perfect environment to
escape the many pressures
of a hectic London life.
Photo courtesy of The Lab.
“Our members stay with us because they
value what we offer and love what we do,”
says Seb Barre, the new general manager
of The Laboratory in Muswell Hill. The attention
to detail is evident as soon as you step
into the facilities of this spa and health club
surrounded by tranquil green spaces.
First thing’s first, it doesn’t look like
a standard gym. There are fresh flowers
in the changing rooms, private treatment
rooms and an airy juice bar. Equally impressive
are the workout areas, which
are flooded with natural light and kitted
out with cutting-edge equipment. A team
of personal trainers is also available for
one-to-one coaching and to boost your
fitness routine.
For those who don’t like motivating
themselves to run on a treadmill, there’s a
choice of over 100 different fitness classes
– and it’s not your average schedule
either. There are high-intensity classes,
bootcamp and cycle classes, as well as
more unusual offerings such as salsa,
ballet and qi gong, a Chinese practice that
underlies martial arts training.
The Lab’s philosophy, Barre explains, is
not to just treat the body on its own, but
the mind and soul as well. “We provide an
oasis of calm in a busy life. We aim to help
you achieve your goals and increase your
individual wellbeing,” he adds.
One such oasis is the spa, which
38 1
boasts a 25-metre swimming pool that
is cleaned with UV light technology. It ensures
the pool maintains high standards of
hygiene with minimal levels of chlorine. The
water is bright and inviting and the club offers
adult swimming classes for all levels.
In addition to the pool, there are twin spa
baths and saunas - great after a workout
or a long day. Treatments in the spa include
facials, massages, body care therapies, hot
stone and reflexology, to name a few. “The
aim is to help you emerge refreshed, balanced
and energised,” Barre says.
The Lab has twice won UK Health Club
of the Year at the National Fitness Awards
and has previously been voted best private
Health Club by Time Out. It’s not difficult
to see why. Chris, one of their members,
says: “It’s a real pleasure to have
found The Lab. The friendly staff have a
wealth of knowledge and it’s truly like no
other club I have been a member of.” •
To find out more about The Lab, Lab’s visit: spa days, www.labspa.co.uk
visit There co.uk or is call no annual 020 8482 contract. 3000.
www.villageraw.com/subscribe
ILLUSTRATION BY LAETITIA LAFONT @TIA_FOG

TAKE YOUR PLACE IN HISTORY
HORNSEY TOWN HALL, CROUCH END
A collection of 1,2 & 3 bed apartments, together with an
arts centre, a new hotel and an improved public square
set around this iconic Grade II* Listed building.
020 8341 4664
INFO@HORNSEY-TOWNHALL.CO.UK
WWW.HORNSEY-TOWNHALL.CO.UK
Hornsey Town Hall, The Broadway, Crouch End, London N8 9JJ
Computer-generated images (CGIs) are indicative only and should not be relied upon as depicting the final as built development or apartment.