As we navigate this pandemic, the world is experiencing times of turmoil like we’ve never known. These past days, weeks, and months have been tough, but there can be solace in knowing we are in this together. During these unprecedented times, it is more important than ever to continue supporting our local businesses and fellow creators. For this reason, I have teamed up with an immensely talented group of travel bloggers based in London. In this post, we share some incredible shops in our community, and we highlight how you can support them both during and after lockdown.
KAITLYN, Founder & Photographer at Trust Me Travel (The blog You’re on Now ♥)
@trustmetravel | www.trustme-travel.com
What is an adored London business of yours?
Atis, a local eatery near Old Street, continues cooking up a delicious assortment of seasonal salads and grain bowls. I love their mission of serving ‘powerful food’. Food that tastes good and does good – for the body, the soul, and the planet. Food you can feel good about eating, and a business you can feel good about supporting.
How can we support them during lockdown?
Atis has been brilliantly resilient during these turbulent times. They are open for lunch and dinner, Monday-Friday. You can order directly from their Old Street location with hands-free service, you can order from their website and collect from the shop, or you can order to your doorstep through Deliveroo. In addition to their standard menu, you can also stock up at their shop on milk (and their alternative counterparts), eggs, hand made granola, coffee, rice, quinoa and a number of other pantry favourites.
What is your favourite item(s) to order from there?
Any of their curated seasonal bowls, which are always changing. They do a phenomenal job of working with local purveyors to showcase yummy seasonal produce. To wash it down, a kombucha is usually my go-to.
What are you looking forward to enjoying there again after lockdown?
After lockdown, I’m really looking forward to securing a window seat in their shop, grabbing a flat white and a salad bowl, and settling in for the afternoon.
@atisfoodldn | www.atisfood.com
ELKE FROTSCHER, architect, storyteller, travel photographer at @ELICE_F • ELKEFROTSCHER.COM
@elice_f | www.elkefrotscher.com
What is an adored London business of yours?
Wood St Coffee. As a freelance design consultant and photographer, coffee shops meant a lot to me before the lockdown. When not travelling on assignment, but editing and writing, I love the atmosphere, the white noise, the community of London’s independent coffee culture. Wood St Coffee roast their own beans, serve excellent healthy food and are amazing people keeping not only craftsmen and statist of the Blackhorse Workshops caffeinated, fed and connected.
How can we support them during lockdown?
They kept their space open to customers as long as possible, selling local produce and coffee beans until they had to close the café, but they’re still roasting now. They’ll deliver whole or ground beans to locals and ship to areas that are not within bicycle reach.
What is your favourite item(s) to order from there?
I have a grinder at home, so I use their whole beans and now have different kinds in my kitchen, for various brewing methods. They have put together online tutorials on how to make good coffee at home and share their recipes too now.
What are you looking forward to enjoying there again after lockdown?
I’m looking forward to sitting in their plant filled but uncluttered space, working on my laptop and chatting with Gareth, the owner/roaster about community, coffee and life in general – while having a cup of coffee. My coffee making skills have improved since they closed their doors, but it’s just not the same!
@woodstcoffee | www.woodstcoffee.co.uk
EMPIRE TRAVELLER, Where to go and what to eat, Around the world with MONIA
@empiretraveller | www.empiretraveller.com
What is an adored London business of yours?
Stoney Street by 26 Grains, a small restaurant in Borough Market by the lovely Henrietta Inman.
What do you love most about them?
Their ability to create such delectable dishes from only a few ingredients. Their attention to quality produce and seasonality makes the simplicity of their food that much better. And the place is just full of joy.
How can we support them during lockdown?
Though they’re not operating a delivery system, we can support Stoney Street by following along on their Instagram for updates, volunteering opportunities, or recipes to make at home and share online. Tagging them in photos from past visits or the recipes you try at home, I’m sure, would make them really happy.
What is your favourite item(s) to order from there?
The Einkorn Soda Bread with butter & jam. Hands down, one of the best breads I’ve had in London.
What are you looking forward to enjoying there again after lockdown?
After lockdown, I’m looking forward to having breakfast there again; sitting by the window with warm soda bread, fresh coffee, and a new day in Borough Market unfolding before me.
@stoneystreet26 | www.26grains.com
MARK & PAUL, the curious & adventurous travel bloggers at ANYWHERE WE ROAM
@anywhereweroam | www.anywhereweroam.com
What is an adored London business of yours?
We love Honey & Co, a tiny diner serving Middle Eastern street food in Fitzrovia. Their intensively flavoured salads and vegetarian brunch sharing platters have us lining up for a stool by the window whenever we’re in London. While they’ve expanded now with an additional restaurant, they haven’t lost their independent vibe.
How can we support them during lockdown?
Easy. They’ve started doing pickup dinners where you can order a 2-course set menu which you collect from their Warren Street store. Tonight we’re having BBQ tahini eggplant with jewelled rice with creamy feta dip with olives. Meat eaters will be enjoying slow cooked lamb braised in tomatoes and red wine. It’s a great way to keep them going during lockdown and having a night off from cooking yourself.
What is your favourite item(s) to order from there?
Their cookbook, Food From the Middle East, is full of heart-warming and inspiring recipes complete with beautiful photography.
What are you looking forward to enjoying there again after lockdown?
After lockdown, we’re looking forward to squeezing into their tiny diner, ordering a coffee and devouring their feta cheesecake on kadaif pastry with thyme-scented honey.
@honeyandco | www.honeyandco.co.uk
CHELSEA, Exploring the Globe Efficiently and Authentically on THE PORTABLE WIFE
@theportablewife | www.theportablewife.com
What is an adored London business of yours?
John Sandoe Books. John Sandoe Books is delightfully cozy, with narrow wooden staircases and shelves that feel more like an old library than a commercial space. They also offer a bespoke subscription service, where a staff member will hand-pick books you might like based on your personal taste. Their bookshop is a shining example of how small businesses can stand out amidst a crowded commercial market.
How can we support them during lockdown?
Although the storefront is closed, their staff is available by phone, email, or post for mail orders. You can browse their current catalog and featured books on their website, or send in a request for a specific book. They’re also offering thematic book bundles during lockdown, including Classic Crime and 20th Century Novels.
What is your favourite item(s) to order from there?
Fantasy and historical fiction are my favorite genres, and I love buying travel guides before a big trip.
What are you looking forward to enjoying there again after lockdown?
I miss the thrill of wandering through John Sandoe’s shelves and discovering new stories to love. Ebooks serve a purpose, but there’s nothing quite like the feeling of cracking open a physical book.
@johnsandoebooks | www.johnsandoe.com
ISABEL CHAI, content creator at BEL’S TRAILS
@bels_trails | www.belstrails.com
What is an adored London business of yours?
One of my all-time favourite bakeries in London is Crosstown Doughnuts.
What do you love most about them?
Their handcrafted doughnuts are always so beautifully made, and they taste just as good as they look. I love that they constantly experiment with flavours, not just with toppings and fillings, but also by adding interesting twists to their signature sourdough.
How can we support them during lockdown?
If you’re still struggling to book supermarket delivery slots, or simply want to limit your trips out for essentials, Crosstown’s here to help. They have recently teamed up with independent local brands to deliver curated food boxes in and around London. They’ve also set up an option to donate grocery or doughnut boxes to a number of London hospitals as a way to thank those who have been working tirelessly on the frontlines.
What is your favourite item(s) to order from there?
Their vegan collective boxes have been a real treat during lockdown, but if we’re only on the subject of doughnuts, then it has to be their matcha tea ones. I’m a lover of all things matcha, so that’s a clear winner in my eyes!
@crosstowndoughnuts | www.crosstowndoughnuts.com
Conclusion
As they say, this too shall pass. I hope you enjoy this guide to supporting local businesses in London and wherever you are in the world, are staying healthy and safe.
Cool! Like this collab with local network!!! Lovely idea and from your post on IG (I think) I’ve followed another super cool account 😀
Love to hear that! It was awesome getting to know other creators in the community and working together to support some phenomenal businesses during these tough times