The Bookseller Crow (on the hill)

Bookshops are in the news again, with the ongoing saga of Waterstone's. Just sold by HMV, they now have desires to be the nation's local bookshop. Well, here in Crystal Palace we have our own perfectly good local bookshop, namely, The Bookseller Crow.

Bag artwork by Rebecca Crow

Originally part of a small chain of bookshops called Wordsworth, the shop was reopened in its current guise by  partners Justine Crow and Jonathan Main, back in 1997, and has since become a pillar of the triangle. In that time, small bookshops have been under siege on all fronts. First there was the demise of the net book agreement, which had set prices and prevented book discounting. Supermarkets and the larger chains were suddenly free to undercut each other, leaving independent shops unable to compete. However, according to Jonathan, this has turned out to be a boon. No longer able to compete in the 'blockbusters' market, there is now the space to sell a wider and perhaps more interesting range of titles, including plenty by  local and less well known authors.

The rise of Amazon and more recently ebooks, have provided further challenges, and no doubt some bookshops have fallen by the wayside as a result. But again, The Bookseller Crow has found ways to adapt. By hunting out the more unusual and stocking particular specialisms, the shop encourages people to return and browse, building a dedicated following. For example, the graphic novel, is a particular niche that by his own admission, Jonathan knew little about until recently. It has an avid fanbase, and appears to be less prone to the onslaught of online shopping, presumably as its connoisseurs invariably want to thumb through a few pages before buying. Likewise, children's books are bucking the online trend, and younger readers are well catered for here.

The result is a shop that feels as though you are likely to discover the unexpected, and its far from corporate style makes it feel like something of a community centre; one that even has its own notice board in the form of an entertaining blog, The Bedside Crow. Like all good community centres, the shop holds regular events, from a monthly book club, to performances, both musical and poetic. For the next happening, this coming thursday (26th May), they have lined up writer and broadcaster, Isabel Iosada.

Finally, I would also recommend Jonathan's pithy tweets. If you are not already following him, he's @booksellercrow.

Bookseller Crow

50 Westow Street

020 8771 8831

Website

Jonathan Rowlandson, Metalworker

I'd lived in the area for several months before I actually ventured down any of the alleyways in the triangle. From the 3 surrounding streets, you could be forgiven for thinking that little of interest lies within. And yet it transpires that hidden away are hives of industry, havens of creativity. I was recently tipped off by Mandy at Glitter & Twisted about a metalworker called Jonathan Rowlandson, whose workshop is tucked away off Carberry Street.

The industrial space is full of works in progress, from traditional railings to modern one-off sculptural pieces and furniture. Jonathan learnt his trade in the early 90s at Middlesex Polytechnic, as it then was. Although an arts oriented institution, its 3D and Product Design degree course had strong industrial foundations, teaching the fundamentals of forging, blacksmithing and silversmithing. The students even had to make their own tools, he remembers.

I discover that our paths almost crossed in 1994, when during my former career as an interior designer, I was designing stores for retail chain, Jigsaw, and he was commissioned to make a set of wrought iron orange trees for one of the company's flagship stores designed by Nigel Coates. It is interesting to note, that back then metalwork was enjoying a decorative flowering, with Baroque curls and organic forms. A decade later these styles were displaced by clean lines and modernist simplicity. More recently the tide has turned again, returning to the more organic forms that Jonathan favours.

I asked him, what lead him to choose metal, over say, wood. 'Metal does what it's told' was the honest answer. The implication being that while wood has a life and form all its own, which needed to be worked with and respected, metals could be bended to your will. The variety of possible colours and finishes also appealed to Jonathan, as can be seen on his website.

Living and working locally, Jonathan is an active member of the local Chamber of Commerce. Much of his work comes via word of mouth, and he values his strong local links which have lead to various commissions. You have no doubt noticed his stunning set of gates beside the Alma pub, or his rustic garden fence which incorporates woven panels of hazel at the end of Carberry Street. He also works hard to encourage new interest in his industry. A series of commissions from schools, has involved the children in designing elements of the work.

In addition he has plans to start courses for adults keen to unleash their inner blacksmith. To commission Jonathan, you can contact him on 020 8653 1027 or jonathan.rowlandson@virgin.net

Glitter & Twisted

Not only does the name of this store jump out and embed itself in your memory, but the floor to ceiling display of colourful products arranged in the window is sure to stop you in your tracks. My eye is always caught by the grinning space hopper, which immediately transports me back to my 70s childhood.

Owners, Mandy and Stacey know all about the importance of visual merchandising, having met while studying the subject at the College of Distributive Trades during the 80s. Back then,Mandy gained valuable insights during a period of work experience at Liberty’s before embarking on a career which has included stints working in the hotel design sector, to window dressing for Habitat, and later, room-set design for Ikea, just down the road in Croydon. Meanwhile Stacey pursued a career in textiles, working for both Heals and Sandersons. So it was only natural that they should decide to pool their experience and passions and open a shop together. 

                                      

Vintage, has of late become a retail buzzword, and the Triangle itself, has become a Mecca for all things retro, but Glitter & Twisted was ahead of the curve 6 years ago when it opened on Westow Street. At the core of the business are the eclectic ranges of mid-century homewares, including classic German ceramics from the 70s and vintage cocktail glasses. One of the biggest successes, has been the cake stands. Made up from assorted vintage plates,  they are carefully sourced for size and pattern, before being  assembled in 2, 3 or even 4 tiers. With the vogue for cupcakes in full swing, they are flying off the shelves. Not only nostalgic, but a great example of recycling. In addition, the shop also stocks ranges of traditional toys, gifts and cards. The shop has a delightful, almost village fete atmosphere complete with Union Jack emblazoned tea towels hanging from the ceiling like bunting. With a royal wedding just around the corner, this might be just the place to come if you're planning a street party.

While many might be tempted to expand such a successful business into a string of shops across the capital, the owners are aware that part of what makes the shop work so well, is its individual nature, and that they are at the heart of things on a day to day basis. They have worked hard to offer genuine service in the Triangle, where they know their customers well, and that’s the way Mandy and Stacey would like to keep it.

Mandy is also on hand, as a freelance window dresser, to spread her glitter on other businesses, including recently at Chelsea Football Club's megastore.

25 Westow Street, Tel: 020 8771 9493

Open daily 10.00 to 18.00

Sundays 11.00 to 17.00

Closed Mondays

Good Taste Food

There’s been a growing buzz of excitement and anticipation locally. On Virtual Norwood, they’ve been talking about little else. Now finally it’s here, the most eagerly awaited happening in SE19 for as long as anyone can remember. No! Not the launch of my new blog, but the opening of Good Taste Food, deli and café, on Westow Hill.

As lovely as Crystal Palace is, it has been bereft of certain things for far too long. One of course being a cinema, and another being a decent range of small, independent food shops to balance the might of Sainsbury’s, but also to provide a range of specialities that the supermarket seems unable to provide.

Behind this new deli, is Manish Utton-Mishra, who has clearly put his heart and soul, not to mention his friendly demeanour and community spirit into this exciting new venture. Like me, Manish has had a bit of a career change. While I made the comparatively small leap from interior design to interior photography, Manish has swapped molecular biology and medical publishing for the world of cheese and charcuterie. Quite some leap.

Since leaving home, and his mother’s Indian cooking, Manish has grown more and more passionate about good food. Moving to London opened up a world of possibilities food-wise, but finding unusual ingredients in this corner of southeast London would often prove frustrating. So, passion for good food, a lack of local shops selling interesting ingredients, and a concurrent stagnation in his career, presented Manish with an opportunity and a new direction in life.

From the start of this new venture, long before the doors opened at No.28 Westow Hill, Manish has sought to learn as much as possible from the experts, attending tastings at the Guild of Fine Food, an industry body, and learning from respected cheese expert, Juliet Harbutt, who organises the Great British Cheese Festival. In setting up the shop, Manish is determined to do things a little differently, and with a restrictive budget, has been forced to think creatively. Informality is the key, so rather than regimented rows of shelving and traditional counter, products are arranged in old wooden crates and a welsh dresser. In the middle is a wonderful old Devon dairy table where customers are encouraged to stop and sample what’s on offer. So when you’re passing I recommend you pop in for something delicious, and maybe stay for a chat with Manish and his staff, and a coffee & croissant from Kurt’s  Volcano Coffee Works.

Primarily, GTF specialises in British produce. Among the cheeses on offer, Montgomery’s Somerset cheddar is a favourite of Manish’s for its nutty, earthy flavour, but also to be had, are unusual items such as the Lancashire Bomb, a black wax coated ball of cheese, the like of which I’ve never seen, and Blue Monday, produced by Rory Stone in Ross & Cromarty to a recipe by Juliet Harbutt & former Blur member, Alex James.  Away from cheese, the coppa air-dried ham produced by Trealy Farm in Monmouthshire stands comparison with the best Italian varieties. It’s intense piggy flavour not overpowered by the curing process. In addition there’s a selection of British ales, cider and wine.

Links

Good Taste Food

Volcano Coffee Works

Guild of Fine Food

Juliet Harbutt & The Great British Cheese Festival

Montgomery's Cheddar

Trealy Farm