For the sixth year running, the independent shopkeepers of Columbia Road will be opening late on four consecutive Wednesdays in the run up to Christmas – offering a potent mix of eclectic gift ideas, live music, top-notch food and seasonal cheer.
Over 50 shops will be involved this year. Opening times will be 5-9pm on Wednesday 30th November and the 7th, 14th, 21st of December. Street entertainment in past year’s has included: much-loved Soho blues act ‘Manuela and The Music Makers’, The Puppet Barge, She’koyokh (the famous Klezmer band) and of course a proper Father Christmas grotto.
Columbia Road, known for its world-famous Sunday flower market, is one of the few streets in the capital composed entirely of independent shops. From artisan perfumiers, vintage clothing boutiques, art galleries to antiques, homewares and critically acclaimed restaurants and pubs, you’ll find all you need to tick off your Christmas list without the stress of the high street.
This year, Columbia Road Christmas Wednesdays will have all the kit to turn your home and office into a festive grotto, from spruces and pines great and small to bountiful wreaths and kiss-inducing mistletoe.
After crossing off that final niggling item on your Christmas list, reward yourself with a much-deserved drink or a bite to eat. There’s excellent charcuterie from a runner-up in Time Out’s ‘best local restaurant of the year’, authentic Mediterranean dishes, generous sarnies, oysters, hearty pub fare and lashings of mulled wine!
Columbia Road is located 20 minutes from the centre of town, in the heart of London’s East End. The philanthropic Baroness Angela Coutts originally built the shops on a watercress field as a Victorian shopping arcade over 150 years ago. The steel and glass towers of the City are just a stone’s throw away and form a striking contrast to the brown brick and slate roofs of this endearing street. Columbia Road retains a Dickensian atmosphere with cobbled streets, traditional shop fronts and Victorian street lamps. The street and surrounding area are frequently used as film and television locations due to its unique character.
Shops open on Christmas Wednesdays include:
| Angela Flanders Bahasa Ben Southgate Beyond Fabrics Bob & Blossom Brawn Campania Columbia Road Gallery Degustation Delicious Home Elphick’s Given Idonia Van Der Bijl Jessie Chorley and Buddug |
Jones Dairy Kay Symons Leather Goods Keeping House L’Orangerie Laxeiro Lee’s Seafood Lily Vanilli Marcos and Trump Milagros Nelly Duff Nelsons Head Nom Open House Our House Gallery |
Queenie and Ted
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For latest Christmas Wednesdays updates and
product images check out: www.columbiaroad.info
Product from the shops can be found
www.columbiaroad.info/product.html
Travel:
Tube: Bethnal Green (Central) or Old Street (Northern)
Hoxton & Shoreditch High St (East London Line)
Bus: 8, 26, 48, 55 and many others (please see our map)
Train: Cambridge Heath Road (National Express/National Rail) or Old Street (First Capital Connect)
Directions and parking details on our website at (please see our map)
Other transport information can be found at http://journeyplanner.tfl.gov.uk
Directions and parking details on our website
Christmas Wednesdays take place on 30th November, 7th, 14th, 21st December - 5pm to 9pm
For further information and photographs
Contact:
If you require any more details, don’t hesitate to contact Kathleen Molnar 07973 510866 or
Juliette Tuke 0207 613 0876 or by email christmas@columbiaroad.info