It's been 12 years since I got my first job: working in the Stables Market in Camden. It was illegal, I'm not that old. Back then, I loved the grimeyness of it all: the PVC bits and pieces that we wondered about, Nirvana hoodies piled high on dusty floors, the Sunday Electric Ballroom nightclub turned market space that still stank of Beer and whatever else had covered its floors the night before.
Amongst proper NW5 gals like me, Camden has since become a bit of a no-go zone: a shopping district for tourists whose turgid mass you have to push your way through only to remember that Camden tube station closes for most of the day on the weekends to prevent 'over crowding'.
There are a handful of places that we've held onto however, because they are truly awesome and if you go off season or not on the weekend, the delights of Camden can be relived: wonderfully proved this winter gone with the Camden night market - a market essentially set up for people in the know so that they could enjoy the Camden they knew without the clutter.
There are a handful of places that we've held onto however, because they are truly awesome and if you go off season or not on the weekend, the delights of Camden can be relived: wonderfully proved this winter gone with the Camden night market - a market essentially set up for people in the know so that they could enjoy the Camden they knew without the clutter.
First up, not quite in Camden but between Kentish Town and Camden stations is the best coffee shop in NW5: Doppio Coffee. The staff will give you a full coffee consultation as to what kind of coffee you like and need - if you use a filter, you'll be better off with a different kind of coffee from if you use a Bialetti and so forth.
People are paying a lot of money for this kind of service through 'official' coffee tasting courses, but these guys just do it for the love and have a great selection. The pastries are delicious and refreshed throughout the morning and you get to eat them amongst old storage crates and other coffee trappings. Oh and if you're a bit of a philistine like my lovely flatmate, they do an excellent hot chocolate too.
Next, a short wander away from coffee, you'll find one of London's original Army surplus stores: Squadron HQ - like a proper one... not full of copies... at incredible prices and sold to you by people who actually know and care about the clothes. This is the kind of shop that you almost don't want to tell other people about at the risk of it becoming too popular and changing, but it's more important to support local business so here it is.
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| French Sailor tops - that actual French sailors wear. |
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| Me in an Eastern European army coat - I have particularly narrow shoulders so this must have been made for a toy soldier but I'm not complaining. Apparently these sell out quickly and mostly to women so call ahead if that's what you're after. |
Obviously between Kentish Town and Camden (a 5 minute walk), we got hungry again and stopped off at The Aranchini Factory for a bite. This place is absolutely incredible - everything they make is to die for. Their main thing is Italian aranchini balls served either on their own with salad, in a wrap or in a hot stew but their baked goods are also fantastic and they have a great selection of fresh 'free from' treats including wheatless brownies. Mmmm. The concept was developed by The Aranchini Brothers who also tour various London markets so keep an eye open for them or follow them here.
In Camden, I always head straight to the Stables as there's nothing on the High Street worth bothering with any more and it's even more crowded than the more out of the way areas.
Little Japanese market stalls selling rip-off Chanel style jackets and prosethetic lace are two-a-penny in Camden, but there is one which is truly worth a visit for it's authentic looking Marc by Marc Jacob's bags and leather shoes. You'll find it tucked in the narrow stall filled alleyway that you arrive at if you enter The Stables market between Gilgamesh (to your left) and the permanent hot food stalls (to your right). As you walk up, past t-shirt, bag and bondage shops, look out for it on the right hand side. It'll sell this kinda thing...
For sterling silver and semi-precious stones: Hand hammered Indian Jewellery of a high quality isn't as easy to find as you might think. The guy who runs this stall makes all the pieces himself, and whilst they're not cheap for Camden and all sold by weight, they're worth checking out.
Onto what's probably now my favourite. A glasses shop so great, it makes me look forward to needing a prescription. General Eyewear is tucked away at the back of The Stables towards Chalk Farm. You could easily miss it if you walked past in a hurry, as it's outside is subtle and you have to walk under flaps of plastic sheeting to get inside, but once inside you feel more like you're in an art gallery than in a shop. They have a proper eye test and consultation room set up in the back, but in the front you can choose from every shape, size and colour of repurposed vintage frames with a mixture of designer and unknown accompanied by matching price tags. Check out their super-cool website here.
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| Yes, I know they're too big but I like them. |
My final old favourite is Episode - also towards Chalk Farm. They import their vintage wares from Amsterdam (so I'm told) which means they have different kind of stuff from the other places. Their prices are impeccable and they also make reclaimed vintage things that people might actually want to buy *this is unusual in my book.
Episode have always been great for vintage leather holdalls. They've also currently got a great selection of leather backpacks - some vintage starting around £20 and some that they've made, at £50. I'm a little obsessed with them.
Of course some things do never change... Pac-man beanies may have morphed into angry bird woolies but the tat remains.
