Snapshot of Northcote Road

May 2, 2015June 6, 2015 / swishjunction / Leave a comment

This not-so-humble road, a stone’s throw from Clapham Junction station and Battersea territory, has an exhaustive list of shops, restaurants and cafes so for now we’ve built a small snapshot.

Sure, there’s the high street chains – Oliver Bonas, Phase Eight, Whistles, Bill’s, Byron, Franco Manca, Nando’s, and so on – but we can’t forget the local independent gems too.

Pictures for sale on their Saturday street market

Inside Hutton’s on Northcote Road

Many of the gift shops are admittedly hard to tell apart, as a lot of them sell pretty much the same stuff, but as ever the key is in the little quirks. In Hutton’s they post a daily horoscope on the counter (when they can remember to – the cashier admitted it’s easy to forget on a busy day) and their gift bags have recipes printed on them.

Flip the bag over for the recipe – cute!

Outside Hamish Johnston

We’re building a little hit list of places to eat, drink and shop (oh hello Hamish Johnston, you look like a cheese haven), but let us know if there’s anywhere in particular that deserves a shout out.

Blackbird Bakery, West Norwood

March 4, 2012March 4, 2012 / swishjunction / 1 Comment

On a mission to purchase a property we found ourselves on a freezing Saturday morning on West Norwood high street. Cold and in need of food and drink before we embraced (ahem) the company of an estate agent, we considered our options (probably a supermarket) before we stumbled upon the Blackbird Bakery.

Opened just over a year ago and being a few minutes walk from the station we dare say it makes an ideal breakfast fix before enduring a Southern train journey. There are a couple of tables in the corner but on a busy occasion it could get a little cramped. Now for some yummy pictures of bread and pastries…

Featuring more classic breads and pastries than anything with a twist, we reckon it’s a great place to get your old favourites at the weekend. Prices are very reasonable for pastries; you’ll get small change from a fiver for a takeaway coffee and a couple of croissants. Plus the quality is there; the giant pastries aren’t just full of hot hair. Nom indeed.

Blackbird Bakery, 1 Beadman Street, SE27 0DN

Dee Light Bakery, Ritherdon Road, Balham

February 8, 2012April 5, 2015 / swishjunction / 3 Comments

Since its opening last December Dee’s Bakery has enjoyed a strong, regular trade. Every Saturday their bread flies off the shelves – one recent visit for a cup of tea saw several customers being told to come back shortly while they were baking their umpteenth batch. The array is impressive; multi seed, brioche, focaccia, plus the old favourite white and wholemeal. Carbaphobes, look away now. Dee’s team work hard throughout the week to ensure everything is ready for 7am when the bakery opens As you can see, their efforts haven’t gone to waste. (Above: what is to be our next conquest. Why oh why didn’t we purchase a slice?!) We indulged in their sweet treats at the weekend. Cheesecake brownies, banana and walnut bread – deliciously moist with an occasional hit of chunky walnut, lemon cake, muffins, plus they have wheat-free options too which still satisfy a sweet tooth without feeling like you’re missing out on any of the fun stuff. Pay around £2.50 for a generous slice of cake.