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	<title>Hackney Citizen &#187; Homes</title>
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		<title>Let&#8217;s move to: Haggerston, east London</title>
		<link>http://hackneycitizen.co.uk/2011/04/30/lets-move-to-haggerston-east-london/</link>
		<comments>http://hackneycitizen.co.uk/2011/04/30/lets-move-to-haggerston-east-london/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 30 Apr 2011 07:59:41 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Hackney Citizen</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Homes]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Article]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Features]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Let's move to ...]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Life and style]]></category>
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		<category><![CDATA[property]]></category>
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		<category><![CDATA[The Guardian]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Tom Dyckhoff]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Weekend]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://hackneycitizen.co.uk/?p=50459</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[It's a great in-betweener]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><em><strong> </strong></em></p>
<hr /><!-- GUARDIAN WATERMARK -->
<p><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/money/2011/apr/30/lets-move-to-haggerston-east-london"><img class="alignright" src="http://image.guardian.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/pictures/2010/03/01/poweredbyguardian.png" alt="Powered by Guardian.co.uk" width="140" height="45" />This article titled &#8220;Let&#8217;s move to: Haggerston, east London&#8221; was written by Tom Dyckhoff, for The Guardian on Friday 29th April 2011 23.02 UTC</a></p>
<p><strong>What&#8217;s going for it? </strong>Now that Dalston is practically Knightsbridge, where is an aspiring hipster to lay down his or her bowler hat (trilbys are <em>so</em> 2005)? Haggerston has a modish and affordable in-between-ness. It&#8217;s not quite anywhere. It has a name, a park and a new station on the London Overground. But no centre, really. It&#8217;s essentially cobbled together from the leftover streets discarded by its more illustrious neighbours. West, De Beauvoir Town; north, Dalston. South, Shoreditch and Hoxton went fancy years ago; even Hackney out east has acquired delusions. Who cares? Because look carefully for a home in-between (a street here or there makes all the difference), and you can be walking distance from the delights of all of them – artisan bread and attitude on Broadway Market, the brilliant London Fields Lido, catfish on Ridley Road Market.</p>
<p><strong>The case against </strong>Dark alleys and dubious streets. There&#8217;s a strong community, but some might miss the lack of a centre. The pretensions of Broadway Market might drive some to insanity.</p>
<p><strong>Well connected?</strong> And lo! The London Overground line did arrive, transporting you north to Highbury &amp; Islington, and tube connections. Copious buses ply Kingsland Road, Dalston Lane, Mare Street.</p>
<p><strong>Schools</strong> Primaries: <a href="http://www.gayhurst.hackney.sch.uk/" title="Gayhurst Community">Gayhurst Community</a>, <a href="http://www.randalcremer.hackney.sch.uk/" title="Randal Cremer">Randal Cremer</a>, <a href="http://www.sebright.hackney.sch.uk/" title="Sebright">Sebright</a> are all &#8220;good&#8221;, says Ofsted, with <a href="http://www.londonfields.hackney.sch.uk/" title="London Fields">London Fields</a> zooming up recently to join them; <a href="http://www.queensbridge.hackney.sch.uk/" title="Queensbridge">Queensbridge</a> is &#8220;good&#8221; with &#8220;outstanding aspects&#8221;. Secondaries: <a href="http://www.haggerston.hackney.sch.uk/Pages/Haggerston.aspx" title="Haggerston School">Haggerston School</a> and <a href="http://www.hackneyfree.hackney.sch.uk/" title="Hackney Free  Parochial CofE">Hackney Free &amp; Parochial CofE</a> are both &#8220;satisfactory&#8221; but greatly &#8220;improving&#8221;.</p>
<p><strong>Hang out at…</strong> Broadway Market, natch, in one of the cafes with too-cool-for-school-or-smiles staff. Or have a nice time and go to <a href="http://www.timeout.com/london/bars/venue/2:20372/dove" title="">the Dove</a>.</p>
<p><strong>Where to buy</strong> A mix of delicious early Victorian streets and pre- and postwar housing estates. The rack of&nbsp;streets off Queensbridge Road (Richmond, Middleton et al) are the plum spots, though there&#8217;s some interesting property down back alleys. There&#8217;s been loads of property speculation, especially along the canal and the London Overground line: mixed bag, though some, like <a href="http://www.adelaidewharf.com/" title="">Adelaide Wharf</a>, are lovely.</p>
<p><strong>Market values </strong>One-bed flats, from £115,000 for ex council, from £180,000 for period conversions/new builds; two-beds, from £160,000 for&nbsp;ex-council, £250,00 for period conversions/new builds; three-, from £200,000 and £350,000 respectively. Terraces: three beds, from £550,000.</p>
<p><strong>Bargain of the week </strong>Four-bed 1960s terrace house on Albion Drive with a nice back garden, needs modernising; £499,995, with <a href="http://www.keatons.com/content/Buying/search/detail/4-bedroom-property-for-sale-in-Albion-Drive-E8-kearps-HAC100846-1302113119-" title="Keatons">Keatons</a>.</p>
<h2>From the streets <br /></h2>
<p><strong>Sue Wardell</strong> &#8220;Haggerston Park is a walled haven, away from the overpeopled London Fields.&#8221;</p>
<p><strong>Danielle Goldstein</strong> &#8220;I live in De Beauvoir Town, close to Haggerston station and the canal. I can walk to Angel, Camden, Victoria Park, and avoid the traffic and crowds.&#8221;</p>
<p><strong>Kathy Benyon</strong> &#8220;A truly magnificent Moscow underground-style London Overground station means we&#8217;re now wonderfully connected – four stops to Kings Cross via Highbury &amp; Islington. Near the action, but not in the action.&#8221;</p>
</p>
<p><em>• </em>Live in Haggerston? Join the debate below.</p>
</p>
<p>Do you live in Thame, Oxfordshire? Do&nbsp;you have a favourite haunt or a pet hate? If so, please write, by next Tuesday, to <a href="mailto:lets.move@guardian.co.uk" title="">lets.move@guardian.co.uk</a></p>
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<p><img src='http://hits.guardian.co.uk/b/ss/guardiangu-api/1/H.20.3/98867?ns=guardian&amp;pageName=Let%27s+move+to%3A+Haggerston%2C+east+London+Article+1544492&amp;ch=Money&amp;c2=51584&amp;c4=Property+%28Money+-+UK+consumer%29%2CHomes+%28Life+and+style%29%2CMoney%2CLife+and+style&amp;c3=The+Guardian&amp;c6=Tom+Dyckhoff&amp;c7=11-Apr-29&amp;c8=1544492&amp;c9=Article' width='1' height='1' /><!-- Guardian Watermark: money/2011/apr/30/lets-move-to-haggerston-east-london|2012-05-23T01:01:42Z|416d4c8c0547aa9f6cd81511f9d14f3d3b7df8c1 -->
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		<item>
		<title>Hackney property now</title>
		<link>http://hackneycitizen.co.uk/2010/08/16/hackney-property-now/</link>
		<comments>http://hackneycitizen.co.uk/2010/08/16/hackney-property-now/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 16 Aug 2010 12:25:44 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Hackney Citizen</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Homes]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[estate agents]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[hackney]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[homerton]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[hoxton]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[olympics]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[property]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[sales]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[shoreditch]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Stirling Ackroyd]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.hackneycitizen.co.uk/?p=15800</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Independent firm of estate agents Stirling Ackroyd offers the latest on residential and commercial properties in the borough]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div id="attachment_15802" class="wp-caption alignleft" style="width: 470px"><img class="size-full wp-image-15802" title="Hackney Empire Photo Stirling Ackroyd 006" src="http://www.hackneycitizen.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/Hackney-Empire-Photo-Stirling-Ackroyd-006.jpg" alt="Photo: Stirling Ackroyd" width="460" height="276" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Photo: Stirling Ackroyd</p></div>
<p><strong>Advertisement<br />
</strong><br />
If you’re looking for a property in Hackney, you’re either sifting through the Hackney estate agents&#8217; websites searching for a family sized home, or for the perfect professionals&#8217; pad, or for your business needs in the neighbourhood. Whichever of these three groups you fall into, our quick rundown of the current state of play highlights your property, lifestyle and enterprise options.</p>
<p><strong>1. Family Homes: Gardens and Views</strong></p>
<p>For families, you will still find those wonderful Victorian conversions and unlike other parts of the capital, there are some lovely garden properties to be had. Towards Homerton High Street, many quiet residential roads offer Victorian conversions, many with their own well-proportioned gardens.  Alternatively, you’ll also currently find new builds with superb views over the Regents Canal. If you have an eye on conversions, one fantastic example of what can be achieved with a skilled design team has to be Institute Place. Here you’ll find high ceilings, original features and up to minute interior design. Again, unlike other parts of London, this comes with an incredible amount of floor space.</p>
<p>Do also look at Hoxton and Shoreditch – they’re often thought of as a magnet for young media types but these days, have a growing following among families. With all the famous lifestyle amenities these neighbourhoods offer right on the doorstep, it’s easy to see why you should take advantage of the property market conditions and snap up a two, three and four bedroom property.</p>
<p>Hackney has 62 parks, the largest expanse of green space in inner London and many designated play areas. Sports and leisure facilities gained a boost recently from hosting the 2012 Olympics. Free  swimming for under 18s/over 65’s will not be affected by the coming nationwide cutbacks. Chat’s Palace and the Space and the nearby Circus Space all run children’s programmes, plus who could forget the legendary Hackney Empire. There’s also the V&amp;A Museum of Childhood and the Geffrye Museum also hosts regular children’s events.</p>
<p><strong>2. Singles, Young Professionals &amp; Extraordinary Properties</strong></p>
<p>Hackney property for this group is a smorgasbord of good quality Victorian conversions, particularly around De Beauvoir Town. Like family homes, there’s also plenty of funky new builds, for example, right now Hackney estate agents have stylish 1 and 2 beds on Lea Bridge Road. Pricing could well be boosted by the Olympics and will likely retain that added value in the longer term, so in many ways now is the ideal time to invest. Whilst many focus on the obvious attractions of the Hoxton and Shoreditch lifestyle, the rest of Hackney should never be overlooked. There’s also the Columbia Road Flower &amp; fashionable Broadway Markets plus and four more vibrant street markets offering produce form around the world for gourmet cooks.  Speak to Hackney estate agents like Stirling Ackroyd for more info.</p>
<p><strong>3. Optimal Time For Commercial Property</strong></p>
<p>Right now, commercial Hackney property represents more than four square walls to trade in. You’ll also get real opportunities, not only due to the transport links and the local opportunities afforded by the Olympics Development Agency &amp; London Development Agency involvement.  Hackney has an extensive network of business support agencies. HBV Enterprise offer funding opportunities, as well as free business advice and support, similarly Invest In Hackney will help you identify potential funding and give free support. Speak to Hackney estate agents and the council’s Economic Development unit for more information.</p>
<p>Stirling Ackroyd is one of the foremost estate agents in the Hackney area.  For any property query contact<a href="http://www.stirlingackroyd.com/" target="_blank"> Stirling Ackroyd</a> their website – <a href="http://www.stirlingackroyd.com/" target="_blank">stirlingackroyd.com</a>.</p>
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		<title>Away from the Hackney main stream</title>
		<link>http://hackneycitizen.co.uk/2010/07/05/away-from-the-hackney-main-stream/</link>
		<comments>http://hackneycitizen.co.uk/2010/07/05/away-from-the-hackney-main-stream/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 05 Jul 2010 15:01:56 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Eloise Horsfield</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Homes]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[boat]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[canal]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Kingsland Basin]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[mooring]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[narrowboat]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.hackneycitizen.co.uk/?p=13701</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Some of the borough's more adventurous residents share the secrets of life on the river]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div id="attachment_13702" class="wp-caption alignleft" style="width: 470px"><img class="size-full wp-image-13702" src="http://www.hackneycitizen.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/Houseboat-Hannah-Engelkamp-001.jpg" alt="Kingsland Basin resident Hannah Engelkamp Photo: © Bruno Conrad" width="460" height="276" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Kingsland Basin resident Hannah Engelkamp Photo: © Bruno Conrad</p></div>
<p>Tucked behind Kingsland Road and encased in a rickety black fence lies Kingsland Basin, home to Hackney’s secret narrowboat community. From the bridge overlooking the basin from the Regent’s Canal, a series of neatly moored narrowboats bob like toy ships. The brightly coloured vessels are surrounded by pots of budding vegetable plants, compost bins and paint pots: a tidy yet shambolic home to the basin’s residents.</p>
<p>I am greeted by Hannah Engelkamp, a freelance journalist and relative newcomer to the canal lifestyle, who has lived in the basin for two years. The problem with the boat dwelling, she says, is that there is a chronic shortage of moorings. As most are short stay, the majority of narrowboat dwellers ‘tow path’ &#8211; travelling from mooring to mooring. Kingsland Basin is different. It is a permanent community, with electricity, water, recycling and even a floating garden, donated last year by the <a href="http://www.shoreditchtrust.org.uk/" target="_blank">Shoreditch Trust</a>.</p>
<p>According to British Waterways, Kingsland Basin is the only independently owned and run residential mooring in the UK. The <a href="http://www.chug.org.uk/" target="_blank">Canals in Hackney Users Group</a> – appropriately abbreviated to CHUG &#8211; are the collective leaseholders of Kingsland Basin and as a local charity, they work to preserve and promote the canal for the benefit of surrounding communities.</p>
<p>This unique collective ownership structure gives a tremendous sense of homeliness. “Everyone who lives here likes to live in a community and wants to have a hands-on relationship with their own environment,” says Engelkamp. The Hackney lifestyle, she says, is the perfect environment for boat dwelling. “The DIY feel in Hackney is so conducive to canal life. Everyone just rubs along together and it’s okay to do something a bit different.”</p>
<p>Many Kingsland Basin residents have nine-to-five jobs and live here as a welcome retreat from the daily grind of commuter life. Jerry Stephenson has been boat dwelling since 1982. Before settling in Kingsland Basin, he moved around the south of England, mooring near a railway station on a Monday morning to commute into the City, where he worked as an insurance broker. “I always wanted to live on a boat since I was a kid,” he says. “After the Second World War, the Normandy D-Day landing vessels were used as temporary housing for some of the families who fell victim to the Blitz. I had a friend who lived on one and I put it to the back of my mind as something I always wanted to do one day.”</p>
<p>Reese Jones, a freelance TV producer, had never been on a narrowboat before he gave up his flat for the canal life. “It takes a while to get used to the extra chores you have living on a boat. I never thought I’d be living in a house that rusts! Every time I’m out and get a call from one of the neighbours, I’m paranoid that they’re going to tell me the house has sunk!” But, he says, the simple things make it worthwhile. “I wake up to the sound of coots and moorhens, rain on the cabin roof.”</p>
<p>I am introduced to Jack Reay, who is clasping a set of freshly laundered towels. Reay is one of the three non-residents in Kingsland Basin. “I’ve lived in Hackney for 38 years,” he says proudly. “My father worked on the docks and I’ve messed around in boats since I was a toddler.” Reay has spent the last ten years restoring what was once an empty vessel into a traditional working narrowboat. His boat is pristine, with comfy sofas, expertly matched wallpaper and dollhouse-proportioned kitchen appliances. He shows me out the back, where a glossy green engine gleams in front of the traditionally restored back cabin. I ask when he plans on finishing his restoration project. “You’re never finished,” he sighs. “There’s always something more you can do.”</p>
<p>I am shown out by the other Basin residents, who regale me with stories about the biggest taboo – falling in the water. “Sometimes when we’ve had barbeques on the Basin you see someone teetering on the edge of the water with a drink – then splash!”, says Hannah Engelkamp. But the water is only a couple of feet deep. I turn back to thank Jack for showing me onto his boat. He has entered into an impassioned conversation with a neighbour. “I always come with good intentions of working on the boat, but do nothing,” he chuckles. “But there’s an old saying among boat dwellers: ‘narrowboating is the fastest way of slowing down’”.</p>
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		<title>Make yourself at eco home</title>
		<link>http://hackneycitizen.co.uk/2009/11/29/make-yourself-at-eco-home/</link>
		<comments>http://hackneycitizen.co.uk/2009/11/29/make-yourself-at-eco-home/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 29 Nov 2009 10:53:38 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Hackney Citizen</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Homes]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.hackneycitizen.co.uk/?p=6041</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Discover furniture of the future at the Geffrye Museum’s exhibition]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div id="attachment_6204" class="wp-caption alignleft" style="width: 470px"><img class="size-full wp-image-6204" title="Recycled domestic objects 001" src="http://www.hackneycitizen.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/Recycled-domestic-objects-001.jpg" alt="Recycled  homeware will be showcased at the Geffrye Museum until early next year" width="460" height="276" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Recycled  homeware will be showcased at the Geffrye Museum until early next year</p></div>
<p>The Eco Home exhibition at the Geffrye Museum, running to 7 February 2010, is a must for anybody with a professional or personal interest in sustainable design and budding eco-enthusiasts alike.</p>
<p>It is curated by eco designer Oliver Heath, who is passionate about the challenge of creating attractive-looking green products; and supported by John Lewis, which has just published The Rise of the Conscious Home, a report about sustainable homes.</p>
<p>The sustainability message is everywhere; we are being forced to rethink our consumption habits and this is reflected in product design. Eco Home encourages us to make small environmentally friendly changes by examining how ecological considerations have come to the forefront of home design.</p>
<p>The exhibition is divided into four sections: saving energy, sustainable materials, lifecycle assessment and recycling. Through presenting a range of established products and more futuristic prototypes, it demonstrates how eco-conscious styles are developing.</p>
<p>One of the most inspired takes on a traditional product is an ingenious integrated toilet and sink, which drains the water from washing your hands straight into the cistern to power the next flush. Another favourite of mine was a prototype of solar-panelled wallpaper, which could harvest and store energy.</p>
<p>One of the rooms displays the REEE chair’s life from ‘cradle to grave’, following its journey from manufacture to repair and finally recycling. Designed and manufactured in the UK, the REEE chair is made recycled plastic from Playstation 2s. Showing this life-cycle gives visitors an idea of the thinking that goes into creating deliberately innovative eco-friendly objects for the home.</p>
<p>Wanting to feel better informed about eco-friendly design issues, I went along to the debate on 12 November about how we can run our homes efficiently and stylishly. What ensued was a lively discussion that explored the issues around making our homes greener.</p>
<p>The debate featured guest speakers Oliver Heath, Sean Allam (Head of Product Servicing at John Lewis), David Kenington (Head of the Energy Saving Trust), Tom Savinger (Strategy and Insight Manager at the Future Laboratory) and Russell Smith (Managing Director at Parity Projects), and was chaired by Alex Godard, who co-curated the exhibition.</p>
<p>Sean Allam spoke about how to change consumer habits. “People are prepared to spend a great deal of money on their homes but they often don’t think about the climate impact before they buy. Just switching to using low-energy lights can make a difference,” he said.</p>
<p>Of course, the audience of this debate weren’t looking to hide behind excuses to avoid reducing their emissions. As one participant pointed out – the panel was preaching to the converted. The challenge is to reach everyone else, especially those on tight budgets – could the exhibition’s message reach them?</p>
<p>David Kenington estimates that the average family can save up to £250 a year just by following some simple and sensible steps for saving energy. The Energy Saving Trust particularly focuses on “delivering cost effective carbon reduction measures, such as loft and cavity wall insulation,” he said.</p>
<p>As technology makes it easier to be more wasteful (think digital photo frames and i-phones), how is it possible to change people’s habits? This question from the audience raised some interesting points.</p>
<p>Tom Savinger explained, “It’s all about considering the pragmatism of the future – we are a technology-driven world and finding a balance that works is important. So instead of trying to adopt a zero carbon lifestyle, go low carbon instead.&#8221;</p>
<p>Russell Smith agreed, and talked about the idea of payback &#8211; establishing what is important to us and valuable on a moral standing.</p>
<p>He said, “Younger generations will start to change social norms as green thinking becomes a valued part of everyday life.”</p>
<p>Another interesting question raised was the promotion of responsible design through educating students about environmental and sustainable issues. How do we create a generation of design students who are going to bring that incentive to the market?</p>
<p>Oliver Heath agreed that the education doesn’t seem to be there, and that there is a need to reappraise the notion of good contemporary design so that sustainability is embedded within it. Great design is green design that doesn’t compromise on sense of style, he said, it should be worked into its very nature.</p>
<p>The exhibition echoes this sentiment, helping to dispel the myth that good design and style are incongruous with eco-products and conserving the planet.</p>
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		<item>
		<title>Bargain toys and togs</title>
		<link>http://hackneycitizen.co.uk/2009/09/25/bargain-toys-and-togs/</link>
		<comments>http://hackneycitizen.co.uk/2009/09/25/bargain-toys-and-togs/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 25 Sep 2009 14:29:40 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Hackney Citizen</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Homes]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.hackneycitizen.co.uk/?p=4829</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Saving cash on children’s clothes and toys doesn’t mean skimping on quality]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div id="attachment_5803" class="wp-caption alignleft" style="width: 470px"><img class="size-full wp-image-5803" title="Vintage-toys-at-Three-Potato-Four-001" src="http://www.hackneycitizen.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/Vintage-toys-at-Three-Potato-Four-001.jpg" alt="Vintage toys at Three Potato Four, Newington Green" width="460" height="276" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Vintage toys at Three Potato Four, Newington Green</p></div>
<p>WITH autumn weather providing a fresh challenge to parents struggling to keep up with their fast-growing tots, help from bespoke second-hand retailers will be welcome news to many.</p>
<p>Second-hand children’s goods, you might ask? Trendy period dresses and fashionable antique furniture perhaps, but many never even consider buying  used clothes and toys for their kids, though it makes perfect sense.</p>
<p>Younger siblings, relatives, neighbours and friends are often the grateful recipients of items that one child has grown out of, but that are still in good condition.</p>
<p>Yet there are occasions when casual exchanges won’t provide everything you might need for your child, and times when there’s no obvious person to whom to give the push-chair or book that your own family no longer needs. It is times like these when specialists are particularly useful. Hackney boasts a small clutch of such shops.</p>
<p>Merry Go Round in Clarence Road is a community institution that has been around for nearly 30 years. The shop sells a wide range of children’s goods, including quality clothes, toys, books, furniture and equipment.</p>
<p>Following an unexpected closure, it was taken over in September 2008 by Melanie Morley and Gary Beelders, largely in order to prevent the well-loved store from disappearing.</p>
<p>Though some of the stock is new, most is excellent quality second-hand. The sales work on an exchange or commission basis, with the sellers receiving a portion of the sale price when an item is sold. The goods are carefully selected and well displayed, distinguishing Merry Go Round well apart from a charity shop.</p>
<p>A sister shop &#8211; called Meadow &#8211; opened on Northwold Road in Stoke Newington in June of this year, much to the delight of local parents. Though the Stokey shop is smaller than its counterpart on Clarence Road, the quality of the items is just as high and the décor is that of a high-end boutique. Melanie is enthusiastic about the prospects of the new venture, noting that is has already become “very popular with local residents”.</p>
<p>The ethical bonus of buying used goods is something Melanie believes in strongly, and this is also an aspect of the shop that is popular with customers. “We think small steps can make a big difference to the good health of our planet,” she says.</p>
<p>Just a stone’s throw across the Hackney-Islington border, <a href="http://www.threepotatofour.co.uk/" target="_blank">Three Potato Four</a> on Newington Green is a children’s boutique that has been selling new and vintage children’s clothes and toys since October 2008. Here you’ll find an excellent collection of matchbox toys, classic Fisher-Price items from the 1970s and 1980s and wooden pieces.</p>
<p>Owner Genna Savastio explains that many parents are drawn to these toys by the nostalgia factor, but kids love them as well. Three Potato Four is spacious enough that children can play with toys while their parents browse the shelves and racks.</p>
<p>Demand for vintage items is high, and Genna will soon be selling online as well as in the store. Three Potato Four also boasts a children’s hair salon that operates Thursday through Saturday.</p>
<p>For larger items, another popular source for parents is <a href="hhttp://groups.yahoo.com/group/hackney_freecycle/" target="_blank">Freecycle</a>, where goods are offered free of charge to anyone prepared to collect them. This is both a good way to get rid of things you no longer need and to find second-hand goods that someone else’s child has grown out of.</p>
<p>Meadow<br />
9 Northwold Road<br />
N16 7HL<br />
Tel: 020 7254 7321</p>
<p>Merry Go Round<br />
12 Clarence Road<br />
E5 8HB<br />
Tel: 020 8985 6308</p>
<p><a href="http://www.threepotatofour.co.uk/" target="_blank">Three Potato Four</a><br />
44-45 Newington Green Square<br />
N16 9QH<br />
Tel: 020 7704 2228</p>
<p>More about Freecycle <a href="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/hackney_freecycle/" target="_blank">here</a>.</p>
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		<title>Furniture second to none</title>
		<link>http://hackneycitizen.co.uk/2009/06/06/furniture-second-to-none/</link>
		<comments>http://hackneycitizen.co.uk/2009/06/06/furniture-second-to-none/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 05 Jun 2009 23:00:37 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Hackney Citizen</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Homes]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.hackneycitizen.co.uk/?p=1741</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[In the third of series on where to find quality second-hand goods, Sarah Birch seeks out the borough’s vintage furniture shops]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div id="attachment_2331" class="wp-caption alignleft" style="width: 310px"><img class="size-full wp-image-2331" title="bennetandbrown" src="http://www.hackneycitizen.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/bennetandbrown.jpg" alt="Curios and collectables at Bennet and Brown" width="300" height="194" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Curios and collectables at Bennet and Brown</p></div>
<p>THERE is a nostalgia for the past in the current economic climate – perhaps one of the many consequences of recession – that is increasingly drawing nest-building shoppers away from high-street stores to little out-of-the way shops stuffed with eclectic jumbles of ageing leather chairs, carved wooden chests, railway carriage seats, and antique signage.</p>
<p>It is perhaps not fashion alone that accounts for the popularity of such goods; anything that has been around for thirty or forty years and is still in good nick will likely last for a fair few years yet.</p>
<p>Not surprisingly, purveyors of vintage furniture have sprouted up in abundance in Hackney over the past few years, with concentrations in Finsbury Park, Stoke Newington Church Street and London Fields. Prices here are far more reasonable than you will find in most of London’s more central antique centres, and proximity to your home can be a distinct advantage when it comes to bulky purchases.</p>
<p>Starting in Finsbury Park, ‘87’ on Blackstock Road boasts a wide range of 1950s-1970s homeware, with particularly good ranges of chairs, sofas, lights, and lamps.</p>
<p>Around the corner in Mountgrove Road is Bennet &amp; Brown, perhaps the most charming of the shops in the area, with an excellent selection of lovingly-restored furniture and fittings, many of which are from the first half of the twentieth century. ‘Interesting things to buy’ is the shop’s fitting motto; of particular note are the fine oak pieces and unusual antique toys.</p>
<p>You may also want to come here if you don’t fancy spending your weekends stripping paint from that slightly-battered piece you found in a junk shop. Furniture restoration is in fact the main occupation of owner Dominic Bennet. As he explains, people like the idea of buying vintage furniture in part because the items tend to come from nearby, thereby reducing their ‘furniture miles’.</p>
<p>Dominic sources almost all of his stock from within the M25, and for the ethically-conscious, he notes an additional advantage of buying vintage: “It is almost certainly sustainably sourced if it’s pre-war, because that’s just what they did then.”</p>
<p>Moving east to Stoke Newington, we come to another hotspot, based around Church Street. The Cobbled Yard on Bouverie Road is the largest vintage furniture shop in the borough, featuring a showroom in a former stables opening onto the eponymous cobbled yard.</p>
<p>Across the street in Bouverie Mews there is an even larger second space, open at weekends, that is well worth a visit for its historic value alone. As Cobbled Yard owner Carole Lucas explains, Bouverie Hall ballroom still has the original sprung floor and oak-panelled ceiling that once adorned this former function room and dance academy.</p>
<p>The size of this space makes it possible to display a range of larger items that would not fit in most vintage goods shops, so this is the place to go if you are on the lookout for a wardrobe, a table or an armchair. There is an especially good selection of tables and chairs, as the shop caters for the pub and restaurant trade as well as selling retail.</p>
<p>The Cobbled Yard does not specialise in any particular period, but it generally has a wide range of Victorian wooden items, in addition to more recent things. If the piece you want to buy is in less than perfect condition, the shop also offers a restoration service.</p>
<p>To finish off decorating your home, you may want to have a look in the pair of smaller vintage shops on Church Street itself – Nanadobbie and Pictures &amp; Light &#8211; both of which feature items from the 1950s, 1960 and 1970s. Nanadobbie is a great place to look for glass and ceramics, while prints and posters feature strongly in the collectibles to be found at Pictures &amp; Light.</p>
<div id="attachment_2332" class="wp-caption alignright" style="width: 310px"><img class="size-full wp-image-2332" title="dogandwardrobe" src="http://www.hackneycitizen.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/dogandwardrobe.jpg" alt="V, Porto and Jane at The Dog and Wardrobe" width="300" height="492" /><p class="wp-caption-text">V, Porto and Jane at The Dog and Wardrobe</p></div>
<p>The third main area of concentration of vintage furniture is London Fields. Here we find what is perhaps the most unusual shop of its kind in Hackney – the Dog and Wardrobe. This tiny space on the ground floor of Regent Studios is open at the weekend and during the week by appointment.</p>
<p>Owners Jane and V spend their most of their weekdays as designers working on shop displays, windows and props. Many of the goods in the shop represent over-flow from the couple’s week-time work, so you will often find multiples of a single type: from globes and desk lamps to 1950s bevelled mirrors, brass lettering and even animal skulls.</p>
<p>The Dog and Wardrobe benefits from ample space outside, where shoppers can sift through bigger pieces such as chairs and tables. Jane and V will also source items for customers on demand, which makes them popular with celebrities and locals alike.</p>
<p>Just north on Broadway Market, there are another two places worth a look. Stella Blunt has a choice selection of mostly smaller items; especially noteworthy is the glassware to be found in this shop. A few doors down is Broadway Retro, with a varied collection of furniture and bric-a-brac from the 1950s-1970s. Here’s the full list of the outlets reviewed:</p>
<p><strong>87</strong><br />
87 Blackstock Road N4 2JW<br />
07751 906 739</p>
<p><strong>Bennet and Brown<br />
<span style="font-weight: normal;">84 Mountgrove Road N5 2LT<br />
020 7704 9200<br />
<a href="http://www.bennetandbrown.co.uk" target="_blank"> www.bennetandbrown.co.uk</a></span></strong></p>
<p><strong>The Cobbled Yard </strong><br />
1 Bouverie Road N16 0AH<br />
020 8809 5286<span style="color: #551a8b; text-decoration: underline;"><br />
</span></p>
<p><strong>Nanadobbie</strong><br />
106 Stoke Newington Church Street N16 0LA<br />
020 7923 0391<br />
<a href="http://www.nanadobbie.com" target="_blank"> www.nanadobbie.com</a><br />
/span&gt;</p>
<p><strong>Pictures &amp; Light</strong><br />
41 Stoke Newington Church Street<br />
N16 0NX<br />
020 7923 7923</p>
<p><strong>The Dog and Wardrobe<br />
<span style="font-weight: normal;">Unit 3B Regent Studios<br />
8 Andrews Road E8 4QN<br />
07855 958 741<br />
<a href="http://www.thedogandwardrobe.com" target="_blank">www.thedogandwardrobe.com</a></span></strong></p>
<p><strong>Stella Blunt</strong><br />
75 Broadway Market E8 4PH<br />
07958 716 916</p>
<p><strong>Broadway Retro<br />
<span style="font-weight: normal;">16 Broadway Market E8 4QJ<br />
07858 771 803</span></strong></p>
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		<title>Good old bikes</title>
		<link>http://hackneycitizen.co.uk/2009/03/14/good-old-bikes/</link>
		<comments>http://hackneycitizen.co.uk/2009/03/14/good-old-bikes/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 13 Mar 2009 23:00:52 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Hackney Citizen</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Homes]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.hackneycitizen.co.uk/?p=787</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[In the second of a series on where to buy quality second-hand goods, Sarah Birch looks into bike shops]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div id="attachment_854" class="wp-caption alignright" style="width: 293px"><img class="size-full wp-image-854" title="rob-sargent" src="http://www.hackneycitizen.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/rob-sargent.jpg" alt="Rob Sargent outside his shop in Mountgrove Road" width="283" height="417" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Rob Sargent outside his shop in Mountgrove Road N4</p></div>
<p>WITH the weather warming and the economy cooling, more and more people are down-sizing from four wheels to two. In this climate, second-hand bikes are a good option. Not only will they generally save you money, but vintage cycles are often of better quality than newer models, and they can be kitted out to order at specialist shops.</p>
<p>The three best such shops we’ve found have all opened in the past year. These are places that can be trusted both to offer you a decent bike for the price, and to have acquired the item legitimately.</p>
<p>In addition to selling and repairing bicycles, they each also provide their own unique range of goods and services, from vintage cycling jerseys to bacon and eggs.</p>
<p><strong>Lock 7</strong></p>
<p>Conveniently located on Regent’s Canal opposite the bottom end of Broadway Market, Lock 7 is a friendly shop with a strong community orientation.</p>
<p>Owners Lee and Kathryn have an approachable and accommodating manner that begets confidence. Their one-stop-shop sells cycling accessories (mostly new) in addition to bicycles. They can also usually repair your cycle the same day or the next, which is quicker than what you’ll find most places.</p>
<p>They’ve got about a dozen bikes for sale at any one time, including children’s and adult models. The prices are eminently affordable, ranging mostly from £50 to £500. A typical purchase at this shop might be a chopper for between £75 and £150.</p>
<p>While considering your options, you can have a bite to eat on the premises. One of the shop’s main attractions is its popular café, which seats 33 and serves a wide range of breakfasts and lunches, in addition to very nice coffee.<br />
An original feature of Lock 7 is their new series of evening courses in bike building and maintenance. These will be tailored to the needs of a variety of cyclists, and will offer specialist advice to DIY bike-builders.</p>
<p><strong>Sargent &amp; Co.</strong></p>
<p>Sargent &amp; Co. on Mountgrove Road (between Finsbury and Clissold Parks) is a tiny place packed with atmosphere. Beneath the hand-painted sign, tomato plants grow in the window in season and resident cat Cassius snoozes in the sun.</p>
<p>The shop sells and restores classic steel-framed road bicycles; vintage English models from the 1930 to the 1990s are a specialty. Straight-talking proprietor Rob Sargent will tell you both what’s right and what’s wrong with the cycle you’re thinking of buying.</p>
<p>With a vast knowledge of bicycle history, Rob prides himself in delivering a personalised service. His customers range from octogenarians seeking to restore history-laden bicycles from the 1930s to young professionals wanting a quicker way to get into central London. He tries to match rider to cycle and builds up bikes to order as required.</p>
<p>Cycles at Sargent &amp; Co. generally sell for £140 and upwards. One that particularly struck our fancy was lovely 1970s lemon-coloured Peugeot touring bike with a leather saddle, fully restored and priced at £450. At any one time, Rob will have about 20 such bicycles for sale.</p>
<p>The shop is also chock-a-block with cycling memorabilia, which spills over in abundance onto the associated website (www.sargentandco.com). Sargent &amp; Co. may be in the far corner of Hackney, but it’s well worth the trip.</p>
<p><strong>Tour de Ville</strong></p>
<p>Having opened just before Christmas, Tour de Ville is the newest of the three stores, and also the largest. The space on Lamb Lane (running between London Fields and Mare Street) caters to hard-core bicycle officionados in addition to ordinary commuters.</p>
<p>The yard in front is decorated by Dutch graffiti artist Erosie, and much of the stock inside is sourced from the Netherlands and Belgium.  Though it has a number of fixed-gear and single-speed bikes, Tour de Ville carries a variety of models, including a range of new (unused) vintage bikes from the 1970s.</p>
<p>Prices start at about £350, and a typical purchase here might be a built-up fixed-gear bike, which would set the buyer back by about £750. Approximately 25 bicycles are on sale at any time. But if you can’t find what you’re looking for, owners Keith and Jos will build you a bike to your specifications.</p>
<p>In addition, they sell an interesting selection of vintage collectibles: bicycle parts, accessories, and jerseys. There is also a shelf of (new) cycling books, which customers can browse while sipping an espresso in the small on-site café.</p>
<p>Lock 7<br />
129 Pritchards Road<br />
London, E2 9AP<br />
Telephone: 020 7739 3042</p>
<p>Sargent &amp; Co.<br />
74 Mountgrove Road<br />
Finsbury Park<br />
London, N5 2LT<br />
Telephone: 020 7359 7642</p>
<p>Tour de Ville<br />
50 Lamb Lane<br />
London Fields<br />
London, E8 3PJ<br />
Telephone: 07867 804 600</p>
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