#1 Slowing down and unexpected encounters in Islington
Welcome to the first ever newsletter of The Islington Edit! Follow along to explore and experience Islington together. Not a subscriber yet? Feel free to sign up to not miss any future newsletters.
🍷 As a wine lover myself, I wanted to start with talking about wine bar The Nook on St Paul’s Road. It’s a little removed from the hustle and bustle of Upper Street and therefore easy to miss, but it’s worth wandering over there on a Thursday or Friday night. It’s a small, simple place with wooden tables and chairs, yet it surprises you with its charm. They’ve got a lovely wine menu which you can pair with some beautiful small plates, including charcuterie boards and a delicious burrata. Perfect for a catch-up with a friend or date night!
🌳 While on a sunny walk with my friend the other day, we stumbled across Thornhill Square Garden. Square gardens are common in the area and are usually quite nice, but this one is different. The intentional design really shows here, with colourful flowers and beautiful trees that give it more of a park feel than your average square garden. It felt like such a surprise coming across it and I’ll be sure to return. And fun fact: the square itself is where part of the book Caledonian Road by Andrew O’Hagan is set, which brings it even more to life!
🙏 Whenever I find myself needing to slow down and unwind, I love walking the New River Path. It isn’t new and it isn’t a river - it was actually built in 1613 as a water supply aqueduct! Today, it’s a path that runs from just south of Angel tube station all the way into Hertfordshire. I normally join the path in the Canonbury area and follow it north to Clissold Park. At the beginning, the path runs beside a small creek, with trees and plants that give it a forest-like feel. Further down the path, you’ll find yourself on a green, tree-lined strip in the middle of a residential street. The difference in scenery makes it for a varied walk, especially if you combine it with a stroll through Clissold Park at the end.
Tip: pick up a coffee at Vertige (Highbury Corner) before starting your walk!
🔎 On my radar this week is the pub The Brave, on Essex Road. It opened at the end of last year at the site where the Englefield pub used to be, initially with head chef James Cochran (who previously owned Upper Street’s 12:51 restaurant). While Cochran has moved on from The Brave, both the place and the menu still definitely look worth a visit. Apparently the Sunday Roast is a particular favourite among locals so expect to find me there on a Sunday very soon! Have you been? I’d love to hear your thoughts!
That’s all for this first edition of The Islington Edit. I hope these spots inspire you to explore and enjoy our neighbourhood in new ways. If there is anything you’d like to see more (or less) of, please let me know!
The new river path goes to Clissold Park? I thought it started in Angel and ended at Canonbury!
Love this! Look forward to visiting these places and to the next instalment!