I was over in Holborn the other day. I used to work there, took it for granted and really miss it. I’m in Victoria now and there’s no comparison. In Holborn you’ve got Leather Lane featuring the Soho bookshop, I used to go in nearly every lunchtime (not down to the basement you understand) – such a chilled out shop, Nick Cave on the stereo, I think he’d had a joss stick on the go. Strutton Ground over in SW1 does alright for books with a very good Oxfam and a bargain books type place (both also tend to play good music as it happens).Back on Leather Lane I didn’t notice if Farina’s café was still going – though I think it must be, its closure would have caused a noticeable disturbance in the Force. Up past Farina’s is Peter’s, which I suppose is another institution. I went there a few times but gave up in the end. The last time I’d given the barber (the man himself?) quite detailed instructions and he paused before giving a Gallic shrug and saying “What is this haircut? I don’t know this haircut?”. Life’s too short to get into disputes with barbers.
Right next door though is Bamalama Gallery. This excellent, and far less uptight shop is run by (at least) two very nice blokes. Every house should have a psychedelic concert poster on the walls and I’m going back very soon to sort out a copy of the Pink Floyd one there that I fell in love with. I’ll treat myself to a burrito at Daddy Donkey’s burrito stall as well – I had to pass it up the other day due to a lunch date at Poppin’s – not one of the all time greats, nice location (down an alley), nice big window, run by a fierce-until-she-gets-to-know-you-east-European lady. It's let down a bit by the food though.
I don’t want to completely run down SW1, while I’ve said previously that I prefer Farina’s I’m a very happy eater at the Regency. On the non-edible front there’s Wippell’s on Tufton Street. Utterly amazing garments, check out the Episcopal Regalia catalogue. Looking through the shop window (I’m not brave enough to go in) it looks like a shop for wizards. I’m not sure but are these outfits the only examples of clothing from antiquity still in (admittedly rarified) everyday use? It’s a pity we’re all too uptight to go around in embroidered cloaks.
And there’s The Prisoner’s house in Buckingham Place (the one where the man in the top hat gets him with the knock out gas) – I’ve been on a little pilgrimage there. But other than that there’s not much going on.
