Why Crouch End Rocks - The Best Independent Hotspots
Written by Gifted Local co-founder, Helen Robinson. Last updated May 2021.
I’m a born and bred North Londoner who moved to Crouch End four and half years ago. I love the fact that people who don't reside in Crouch End only vaguely know where it is and certainly have no idea how to get there as they can't see it on the tube map. Otherwise known as London’s creative village, with many independent shops, cafes & restaurants, living here you certainly get a feeling that you’re part of a little village. There is a lot of camaraderie but being so close to the city centre we get the best of both worlds. Crouch End is hilly but the steep climbs are more than made up for by the views; indeed, Grizzli Bear's top local love is seeing the glorious Alexandra Palace as you come over Crouch Hill into Crouch End. So here’s Gifted Local's guide of Crouch End’s Best Bits if you fancied a visit one weekend.
Gifted Local is the online marketplace for those who love to buy local. We’re here for you to discover artists, designers and makers tucked away in your neighbourhood who put their heart and soul into their creations to create something truly special. Currently live across North London.
PLEASE CHECK EACH SHOP'S WEBSITE FOR SPECIFIC COVID-SAFE DETAILS BEFORE VISITING.
Shopping
Murray Store; Photo credit: Murray Store
Murray Store
A great supporter of independent brand selling on trend men’s clothing and accessories.
142 Crouch Hill, Crouch End, London N8 9DX; 020 8342 5200
Change of Heart
A second hand women’s clothes shop, this is one of my favourite places to go and browse. They’ve been in Crouch End for years and were way ahead of the curve in terms of the circular economy and realising that re-selling clothes is better for the environment. Based around the premise that if you’ve had a ‘change of heart’ about a piece of clothing you bought new, they will sell it on for you. It’s full of great brands so it's well worth spending time to find some hidden treasures.
The Old School, 59b Park Rd, London N8 8DP; 020 8341 1575
Visit Change Of Heart's website
Mahala
Emily and Redwan opened the Crouch End branch of Mahala in 2019. Mahala is an independent lifestyle store selling unique handmade homewares, accessorises and apparel from across the globe. It's a beautiful store to browse and pick yourself up a treat for yourself or your home.
20 Middle Lane, Crouch End, London N8
T Jewellery
Having spent years buying cheap jewellery that tarnished after 5 minutes, I bought my favourite pair of rose gold hoops from here a few years ago and have never looked back. An understated shop which you could easily walk past, the husband and wife team are extremely knowledgeable, friendly and never go for the hard sell.
61 The Broadway, N8 8DT; 0208 341 6078
Website currently construction
Urban Flower Co
I absolutely adore browsing in this high quality florist, it’s a real treat to buy something from here. And I’m not the only one who loves them, local Susie Sandford Smith attends their seasonal courses.
47 Park Road, London N8 8TE; 020 8347 6236
Indish Design Shop
The team who set this up have a ridiculously sharp eye for beautiful functional products. I basically want everything in there.
16 Broadway Parade, N8 9DE; 02083401188
Niddle Noddle
A lovely baby and toddler shop for clothes and gifts. As recommended by local e-commerce expert, Anna Heneback.
5 Topsfield Parade, N8 8PR; Tel +44 2083474333
Pickled Pepper Books
Fantastic kids book shop who often have local authors in and there is a space out the back you can hire for kid’s birthday parties. As recommended by Gifted Local The Little Cloth Shop.
10 Middle Ln, Crouch End, London N8 8PL; 020 3632 0823
Visit Pickled Pepper Books Website
Art & Music
The Church Studios & Coffee Circus; Photo credit: TheOnlyHelleBelle
The Church Studios
First used as a recording studio in 1984 by Eurythmics to record Sweet Dreams and since then host to Adele, Stormzy & Madonna to name but a few. Walking past this converted church, you would have no idea of it's history and the fact that A list stars are often recording here.
145H Crouch Hill N8 9QH; 0208 347 6784
Visit The Church Studios website
Jealous North
A contemporary gallery, print publisher and printing studio. They are part of a larger gallery in East London.
27 Park Road, Crouch End, London N8 8TE; 020 8347 7688
Flashback Records
Smaller than it’s Islington sister, this shop still covers a huge variety of musical genres and is an absolute must if you’re a vinyl lover.
144 Crouch Hill, Crouch End, London, N8 9DX; 020 8342 9633
Visit Flashback Records website
Food & Drink Shops
The Crouch End Cellars; Photo credit: The Crouch End Cellars
The Crouch End Cellars
Wine, Tick.
Cheese, Tick.
Wine Bar, Tick.
Can I please move in? This is our go to shop whenever we are in need of some serious cheese. Which is quite often.
55 The Broadway, N8 8DT
Visit The Crouch End Cellars website
Clocktower Green’s
Wonderful, colourful and tasty loose fruit and vegetables where you can take your own bags to reduce packaging and plastic waste.
52 The Broadway, N8 9TP; 0208 348 7845
Visit Clocktower Green's Instagram
Broadway Fruiterer
Another favourite place to pick up seasonal fruit and veg and their deli is always worth a visit (as recommended by Jacqueline Marz, owner of Mom in Balance London)
15 The Broadway, Crouch End, London N8 8DU 020 8340 8593
Visit Broadway Fruiterer's Facebook page
Walter Purkis & Sons
An excellent family run local Fishmongers. We recently featured their sister shop in our recent Muswell Hill blog.
23 Broadway Parade, Crouch End, London, N8 9DE; 020 8340 6281
Visit Walter Purkis & Sons website
Morley Butchers
I really believe that every high street needs a local butcher. Morley Butchers have been around for years, have great produce and really know their stuff.
17 The Broadway, Crouch End, London N8 8DU; 0208 340 2436
Bakers
Dunn's Bakery; Photo credit: TheOnlyHelleBelle
Dunn’s Bakery Crouch End
Baking in Crouch End since 1820 so they must be doing something right and their pretty shop lights always brighten up my day as I travel over Crouch End Hill.
6 The Broadway, Crouch End, London N8 9SN, 020 8340 1614
Sable d’Or
Cakes and pastries that taste as good as they look. We often stop here to pick up some cakes after the kid's swimming lesson (cakes are absolutely not used as a bribe).
43 The Broadway, N8 8DT, +44 20 8341 7789
Sour Dough Sophia
Sophia and her husband Jesse started making sour dough at home for local deliveries during the March 2020 lockdown. 12 months later, they've opened up the most amazing sour dough shop in the heart of Crouch End.
24 Middle Lane, N8 8PL.
Visit Sour Dough Sophia website
Brunch, Lunch & Coffee Shops
Caffeinate; Photo credit: TheOnlyHelleBelle
Caffeinate
The best decorated coffee house and lovely staff, I can’t get enough of the flamingo wall paper.
140 Crouch Hill, Crouch End, N8 9DX; 020 8350 1926
The Haberdashery
A supporter of local creatives, you can always view & buy local artist's work on their walls. Surrounded by vintage and eclectic décor, delicious juices and coffees are served alongside wholesome food. As recommended by local Karen, owner of the new Crouch End work space & nursery Playhood.
22 Middle Lane, N8 8PL; 020 8342 8098
Visit The Haberdashery Website
Coffee Circus
Every time my father-in-law visit us from Yorkshire, he briefly disappears for about thirty minutes each day. Turns out he heads to Circus Coffee for a quick (and quiet!) cup of coffee.
136 Crouch Hill, N8 9DX; 020 8340 8221
Velasquez & Van Wezel
Sophia of Sugar Tea Room loves this place for it’s fantastic coffee and service.
78 Park Rd, Crouch End, N8 8JQ; 07930 480160
Visit Velasquez & Van Wezel website
Café Beam
Mediterranean and British cuisine and a great place for brunch. It’s always hard to get a table here but the food is excellent so worth booking.
40-41 Topsfield Parade, Crouch End, N8 8PT; 0208 348 3748
Ginger & Mint
Mainly a juice bar but does healthy vegan food too where they pile a bit of everything on your plate - delicious.
11 Park Rd, Crouch End, N8 8TE; 020 8341 9181
Banners Restaurant
Recently overheard in Crouch End: "Oh, I know, let's go to Banners – they do a ‘banging breakfast". I can confirm this, they certainly do. Since 2005, they’ve raised a staggering £55,584.26 for Wateraid by simply adding an optional 15p to any bill where someone orders a glass of tap water. And if that is not enough, they even have a table where Bob Dylan once sat.
21 Park Road, N8 8TE; 0208 348 2930
Evening Food & Drinking
Nickel; Photo credit: Lets Eat There
Nickel
My favourite place to go for a cocktail. Nickel provides an intimate feel with amazing cocktails and delicious sharing plates.
143 Crouch Hill, N8 9QH; 020 8340 2888
Lyon's Seafood & Wine Bar
Fairly new to the area, this is run by a lovely team who are all very friendly and knowledgable. A great place to go for an evening meal if you fancy seafood.
1 Park Road, Crouch End, London N8 8TE; 020 8350 8983
Simply Wow Japanese
Simple decor but brilliant sushi and other Japanese food; they also do takeaway.
18 Crouch End Hill, Crouch End, N8 8AA; 020 8340 4539
Visit Simply Wow Japanese website (you can order from here as well)
Bar Estaban
A gem of a place combining Spanish tapas cuisine with a New York edge.
As recommended by local photographer, Melissa Gray Peters, a new seller on the Gifted Local site.
29 Park Road, London, N8 8TE; 020 8340 3090
Little Mercies
Another very good local cocktail bar with good food and friendly staff.
20 Broadway Parade, Crouch End, London, N8 9DE; 07852253136
Small Beer
Our final entry in this section goes to Small Beer, a small pub serving beer and pizza. Always a fun place to go if you fancy a night out.
22 Topsfield Parade, N8 8PT; 0208 350 0032
Cinemas, Theatres & Comedy
Art House Cinema; Photo credit: TheOnlyHelleBelle
Art House Cinema
Unbelievably, Crouch End has not one but two cinemas. If you fancy a more independent movie, then the Art House Cinema is the place for you. The space is also home to fine art, live music, theatre, dance and comedy.
159A Tottenham Lane, N8 9BT
Visit Art House Cinema website
Downstairs At The Kings Head
If you fancy a laugh, get yourself down to a Downstairs at the Kings Head comedy night. Just don't get there late otherwise the only free seats will be at the front which is never a good place to sit at a stand up gig.
2 Crouch End Hill, N8 8AA
Visit Downstairs At The Kings Head website
Just as an aside, it’s been incredibly hard to write this as there are so many amazing places on our doorstep! This has been compiled by myself, some local business owners as well as some input from Gifted Local's founding sellers.
Thanks for reading. You can check out our other local blogs about the best independent businesses in Muswell Hill and Wood Green or visit Gifted Local to shop items made by the very best local creative talent.
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