Chiejina/Connolly/Hulett/Riches/Crouch End Fest Chorus/London Mozart Players/Temple(Signum two CDs)An excellent choir and impressive soloists do justice to Elgar’s rather inert oratorio but don’t quite match existing recordings but this is still a work hard to loveChiejina/Connolly/Hulett/Riches/Crouch End Fest Chorus/London Mozart Players/Temple(Signum from three years earlier and to have been followed by The Last Judgement a score that got no further than a few sketches Elgar himself thought highly of The Kingdom and though it has never achieved the popularity of The Dream of Gerontius claiming it as the greatest of his oratorios with its orchestral writing in particular seen as far superior which give it a compelling dramatic intensity The Kingdom seems to be wedded too much to the Victorian oratorio which for all its incidental highpoints makes it inert and uninvolving Elgar: The KingdomThat lack of popularity is reflected in the scarcity of recordings conducted by David Temple and recorded in the newly restored Victorian theatre at Alexandra Palace in London seems to be only the fourth of the complete work currently available Temple is clearly a huge admirer of the score – “a gem from first note to last” he calls it – and that admiration shines through his performance with the excellent Crouch End Festival Chorus and a fine quartet of soloists But to my ears at least it lacks immediacy and alongside the existing versions – conducted by Adrian Boult Listen on Apple music: This article includes content hosted on embed.music.apple.com We ask for your permission before anything is loaded as the provider may be using cookies and other technologies Listen on Spotify: There is a wonderful cognitive dissonance to Bistro Aix It thinks it is in Paris but it is really in Crouch End a district so charismatic it had its own serial killer in Dennis Nilsen but Willesden doesn’t receive its due: here or anywhere.) We pick our way through the Versailles of north London Be part of the conversation with other Spectator readers by getting your first three months for £3 Already a subscriber? Log in From some of the most beloved parks in the capital to brilliant boozers here are some of the absolute best things to do in and around the North London neighbourhood of Crouch End Nestled in North London and completely surrounded by many a famed park, including Ally Pally and Finsbury Park Crouch End is a charming neighbourhood with a relaxed village vibe and plenty of hidden gems to discover this eclectic and diverse area has something for everyone here are some of the best things to do in and around Crouch End for your next visit 📍There are several entrances to the Parkland Walk, including at the bottom of Crouch End Hill and Crouch Hill. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Beam (@cafebeam) boasting a fabulous menu that merges Middle Eastern cuisines with classic morning staples a rich and hearty dish that’s perfect on those slower weekend mornings This iconic boozer from the Victorian era beautifully blends old-world charm with a modern flair. The King’s Head offers a stellar menu of pub grub, an awesome selection of craft beers and there’s even a theatre downstairs that is famed for its legendary comedy nights and improv From big-name acts trying out new material to up-and-coming local talent, make sure you stop by this hotspot for a barrel of lols, especially if you’re always looking for top-rated comedy clubs. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Park Road Lido User Group (@parkroadlidousergroup) View this post on Instagram A post shared by 🦆 Max Sandwich Halley 🦆 (@lunchluncheon) Forget about your bog-standard sandwiches from a supermarket meal deal Max’s Sandwich Shop elevates the humble lunch staple into a properly gourmet experience You can expect overflowing stacks of premium ingredients it’s always indulgently drool-worthy We’ve already mentioned ArtHouse, but what if we told you there’s another fantastic cinema located only a stone’s throw away Boasting a forever-exciting lineup of the latest blockbusters and more indie options it’s the perfect place to switch off for a few hours and immerse yourself with some fabulous films We stated in the introduction that Crouch End is surrounded by incredible parks and green spaces that are worthy of a day of exploration head to this beloved part of North London to reconnect with nature Whether you’re strolling through Highgate Wood or Finsbury Park you’re never too far away from a bit of peace and quiet in Crouch End it would be rude not to mention Alexandra Park & Palace which is accessible via the Parkland Walk and features one of London’s favourite entertainment venues This upscale gastropub is a Crouch End staple, known for its traditional yet stylish interiors, excellent craft beer and drool-worthy menu packed with elevated pub classics From its grand exterior to the beautiful stained-glass windows inspired by the Art Nouveau movement it’s one of those pubs that needs to be seen with all the fantastic detailing View this post on Instagram A post shared by House of Books CE (@houseofbooks42) The lovely staff are also more than happy to give you recommendations so don’t be shy if you’ve been in a bit of a foggy era with your reading Crouch End effortlessly blends laid-back charm with so many awesome things to do Whether you’re a foodie on the hunt for London’s best restaurants or a nature lover looking to escape the hustle and bustle this neighbourhood is home to a whole lot of local magic that’s yearning to be explored Born in Malaysia, brought up in Sydney, with a Mother of Chinese/Indian descent and an Irish/Balinese Father and now living in North London, chef patron Ramael Scully’s food reflects his diverse upbringing. His eponymous restaurant, Scully can be found in St James’s Market and serves up a menu that marries innovative dishes with sustainable practices He’s agreed to share his favourite food and drink places near his home in Crouch End always packed and so well-loved and supported by the locals They do a really nice wood fired pizza and great tiramisu (which I’m a sucker for!) I really love that I have an independent pizza place near-by rather than a chain I remember being one of their first customers when they opened but unfortunately I can’t go here as much anymore as they’re now closed on Mondays and Sundays They always have a fresh market fish of the day that is cooked simply but done so well I also love the oysters here - they do them three ways (natural My favourite local spot for sweet treats and bread which is like a muffin but made with croissant pasty is what I usually go for - they have them in different flavours like pistachio and tiramisu I also love their focaccia and sometimes they do a Basque cheese cake with chocolate which is a delicious treat The bakeries started in during Covid when the founders were making pastries and bread at home and selling it through their window and now they’ve recently gone on to open a second site in Islington so it’s a lovely story and great to have such an amazing bakery nearby little Italian run by a young team doing delicious and unfussy food Their fresh pasta is great and I love the Negronis and Espresso martinis here A really cool concept that serves a regularly changing set menu of seasonal British dishes made with incredible local and foraged ingredients They focus on veggie dishes and reducing waste as much as possible something I really champion at my restaurant too For more of these local area guides, visit the My Manor page.  Subscribe to hear the latest from Hot Dinners Please enable the javascript to submit this form By signing up you agree to our privacy policy About us  |  Contact Us  |  RSS Feed  |  Site directory  |  Privacy policy  |  Log in/out Join 50,000 other Londoners getting exclusive news and restaurant offers from Hot Dinners. Please enable the javascript to submit this form By signing up you agree to our privacy policy See our previous newsletters here which has been celebrating its 40th anniversary this year the choir was formed to provide a local amateur chorus for Crouch End Arts Festival about 80 singers were supported by members of the London Philharmonic Chorus (LPC) in a performance of Verdi’s Requiem in Hornsey Town Hall in September 1984 where it performs frequently at local churches and venues such as Alexandra Palace but many of its members travel from much further afield to rehearsals Performances take place at all the capital’s main concert halls and arenas and occasionally beyond Friends in high places: Crouch End Festival chorus performing alongside Hans Zimmer ©Crouch End Festival Chorus CEFC is unusual in the breadth of its repertoire and performance style rock and video games are an important part of a portfolio of activity – over the past 20 years the choir has recorded many movie soundtracks including the Elton John biopic Rocketman as well as numerous television series including Doctor Who The Chorus performs alongside Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds ©Crouch End Festival Chorus ‘I think we must be one of the busiest and most successful choirs in the world,’ founding conductor David Temple told LBC Radio recently adding that CEFC doesn’t have its own sound but prides itself on being able to produce whatever sound is needed for a particular concert or recording Temple taught himself to read music after joining the London Philharmonic Choir (LPC) at the age of 18 who persuaded him to take up the baton and conduct CEFC’s inaugural concert little guessing where the venture would lead musical director of the Hertfordshire Chorus as well as CEFC and a guest chorus master for both the BBC Symphony and London Symphony Choruses Temple’s unorthodox introduction to conducting means that CEFC is unusual in not including sight-singing in the audition process He is looking for vocal quality and musicality ‘For years our entry test was just singing “Happy Birthday”,’ he says adding that it’s possible to get a very good sense of a potential member’s capacity for accurate pitching and sensitive phrasing even from such a short There’s a bit more to the process these days but music is provided in advance and the choir’s website includes a video including clips of auditions so that new recruits can see what to expect 'David is an incredible conductor; he makes it fun but he has high standards and expects us to pull out all the stops for every performance' ©Zoe Norfolk applied to join CEFC with his wife after hearing the choir in a concert at the Barbican now that our children were becoming more independent I hadn’t sung since school and wasn’t at all sure that I would get in but the next challenge was learning the music But there’s a really collegial atmosphere and the rest of the tenor section have been very supportive ‘We’re expected to go and do our homework between rehearsals and listen to the recommended recordings and David is great at telling us about the music and explaining how to sing it as a mid-40s bloke who is not at all part of this world to think I was able to share a stage with Bryn Terfel!’ Alto Tina Burnett has been in the choir almost since it started; she could read music when she joined but her singing experience was limited and she says she has definitely learned ‘on the job’ as CEFC has developed ‘The standard of our performances has just gone up and up,’ she says ‘and it’s now much harder to get in because we’re so popular We’ve a waiting list for all sections except the tenors David is an incredible conductor; he makes it fun but he has high standards and expects us to pull out all the stops for every performance Singing on the Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury with Ray Davies one of the highlights of my four decades in the choir is just as important as singing Verdi at the First Night of the Proms.’ Burnett is part of a team that has recently been set up to acknowledge the demographic imbalance that exists in choral music generally and try to redress it by making CEFC more representative of its North London community but includes offering workshops for local singers providing diversity and inclusion training for committee members and trustees and offering free concert tickets to people who either cannot afford to attend or might not think a CEFC performance is for them The aim is that growing and diversifying audiences will in time lead to a more diverse choir Home and away: The choir performs in North London venues including Alexandra Palace ©Yang Liu Photography At the other end of the musicianship scale, for the past five seasons CEFC has run a mentoring scheme for young conductors, two of whom spend a season with the choir, helping with rehearsals, receiving guidance from Temple and taking part in an annual conducting workshop. Bach’s B minor Mass is on the menu for the 2025 workshop, on 15 February in Crouch End. Might this be part of a succession plan? David Temple says not; when he is ready to put down his baton, he will give the committee plenty of notice and they will advertise for a new musical director. But he doesn’t expect this to happen any time soon: ‘I feel as fit, agile and energetic as ever.’ Jake Missing and cosplaying as a Boleyn sister after your third glass of vino French Crouch End Les 2 Garçons is a charming little bistro adored by Crouch End locals (and everyone else) or lazing in a pool of oil—here's where to eat anchovies in London Jake has always been in London but still makes a wrong turn in Soho Good things come in threes, and so it is for Jumi Cheesemongers, who you may have had the pleasure of visiting in Borough Market or Newington Green and now we bring you news of their third London outlet Specialising in cheeses from the Emmental Valley in Switzerland (where their great-great-grandfather began producing cheese in 1896) Jumi is the place raw-milk hedonists and lovers of freshly baked artisan bread should vehemently add to their cheese-toastie lists (if it’s not on there already) The even better news is that Jumi’s popular ‘cheesy nights’ will be a feature at the Crouch End shop which has taken over the former site of late-night venue Moors Bar Apart from satiating your raclette or fondue cravings Jumi also has an abundance of cheese for sale everything from the ‘blue brain’ – one of the mouldiest cheeses available in the UK – to a truffle raclette to a 30-month-aged Schlossburger Turophiles will need no introduction to Jumi’s legendary cheese selection but it’s especially exciting news for Crouch End as this specialised shop will be a prime place to pick up picnic ingredients to enjoy in nearby Highgate Wood or Ally Pally this summer Or you could go all in with some impressive cheeseboard accompaniments Chäg (an apricot-chilli-ginger jam) or pickled onions And allow us to make a suggestion for that difficult foodie friend to buy for - Jumi’s tealight-powered raclette machine Find out more: Visit their website or follow them on Instagram @jumicheeselondon Subscribe to be the first to get the news from Hot Dinners Please enable the javascript to submit this form By signing up you agree to our privacy policy View on Google maps What to do with your late great-grandfather's huge a solution to an age old dilemma arrived in Crouch End Lifestyle | Fashion Ever found yourself at a loss with what to do with wardrobe items inherited from the deceased When a jacket is too sentimental to simply give away On Saturday in Crouch End a solution to the dilemma arrived: the first of a series of pop-up events by Reincarnation Club giving people the opportunity to have their lost loved ones’ clothes upcycled into something new The event is the brainchild of Sophie Lewis a London-based independent designer and founder of independent brand Sim3Allenkey “Often clothes are really emotional,” says Lewis their loved ones often keep “particular items that are getting moth-eaten in wardrobes but they can’t quite bring themselves to take [them] to a charity shop because they mean too much but they’re never going to wear them as is.” Lewis came up with the idea for Reincarnation Club when her mother-in-law was at a loss as to what to do with her late husband’s gold club captaincy jacket an item she felt was too special to leave hanging discarded in the cupboard Lewis offered to repurpose the jacket into something more to her mother-in-law's style a close-fitting box jacket with raised shoulders is now a cherished wardrobe item which her mother-in-law wears to special occasions fondly thinking of her husband every time she does so The launch event is a collaboration between Reincarnation Club and Exit Here, a design-focused funeral home which takes a modern approach to funerals, founded by restaurateur Oliver Peyton When Lewis stumbled across Exit Here’s new branch on her local high street in Crouch End they seemed the perfect partners for a collaboration the “lace curtains and seventies” look of most funeral directors The pop-up is the first live event of Lewis’ service offering people the opportunity to bring in the clothes they have collecting dust in their wardrobes for a made-to-measure from which Lewis will make some design drawings “I don’t touch their items until they’ve seen the design drawings and they’re happy to go ahead with something.” But it’s always worth remembering to triple-check with family members before you bring in an heirloom fashion piece as Lewis reminds people: “this is a radical reinvention rather than an alteration service.” The item you leave with may well be unrecognisable from the one you brought in Lewis' creativity allows even the most unexpected items to get a second wind Opportunities for reinvention range from simple alterations like redesigning men’s jackets wearable for women Lewis radically rehashed her late mother’s tired and threadbare old striped tops into an entirely unique modern item that honoured her mother’s love of stripes because there was no way she could wear [the old tops]” adds Lewis Reincarnation Club’s services aren’t limited to transforming fashion pieces - if there’s a particular furnishing fabric or curtain material from your childhood you’re particularly fond of Lewis encourages you to bring these along to receive the Reincarnation Club transformative treatment It is something Lewis is hoping to run on a monthly basis This pop-up is a unique opportunity to breathe new life into heirloom pieces while honouring the lives lived in the threads before them “I think everyone’s clothes tell stories,” says Lewis “It’s the stories and joy that people get back from something they thought they wouldn’t.” Reincarnation Club X Exit Here starts Saturday 30th Nov from 12-3pm at Exit Here Prince Louis steals the show at VE Day parade as he keeps dad William looking sharp and mimics brother George Prince Louis steals show with sweet antics at VE parade VE Day 2025 fashion: best looks from the day VE Day 2025 fashion: Princess of Wales to Lady Victoria Starmer Royals watch historic flypast as huge crowds turns out for VE Day 80th anniversary  Royals watch historic Red Arrows flypast for VE Day 80th anniversary UK tourists face major travel shake-up as Dubai airport set to close Ukraine 'launches stunning Kursk offensive' in major blow for Putin ahead of Victory Day celebrations Ukraine 'launches stunning Kursk offensive' in blow for Putin David Beckham’s 50th birthday bash in London 'shut down' by council over noise complaints David Beckham’s 50th birthday bash 'shut down' over noise complaints Essential digital access to quality FT journalism on any device Complete digital access to quality FT journalism with expert analysis from industry leaders Complete digital access to quality analysis and expert insights complemented with our award-winning Weekend Print edition Terms & Conditions apply Discover all the plans currently available in your country See why over a million readers pay to read the Financial Times The actor and star of The Gentleman shares her favourite spots around the capital Lifestyle North London. I grew up in Holloway and have always rented between Islington and Harringay I don’t think I could ever leave north London — I very rarely venture south of the river I’m pretty sure I even lost signal on my phone once down there I love The Soho Hotel for its colourful decor and the great pub right outside the back door the hum of scaffolding and drunken revellers in Soho is oddly relaxing On Camden Road It was a tiny studio where the bed had to be pulled out of the wardrobe You could brush your teeth in the bathroom stir a pot on the hob and watch TV at the same time But I absolutely loved living on my own in the city I worked as a florist on Seven Sisters Road during secondary school work experience They kept me on when I turned 15 as the Saturday girl I earned £20 a week and learned a lot from the owner about the importance of knowing your local community My dream is to have my own little flower shop one day Right now, my favourite restaurant is Humble Chicken in Soho. I recently took my The Gentlemen co-stars The chefs prepare a Japanese-inspired tasting menu right in front of you — it’s amazing Dunn’s bakery in Crouch End for the best sourdough of your life I go to the Brazilian Centre in Stamford Hill — I am half-Brazilian and cook Brazilian food three or four nights a week at home There’s something very special about buying a teddy from there I’d make it mandatory for someone to shout “ANTICIPATE THE BARRIER!” at every Tube station escalator for tourists but please get through the barriers faster He taught me to say “be lucky” when leaving a taxi — it’s like a secret code between cabbies I bunked off school and got stopped by a policeman in my uniform ran back to school and have been very respectful of the law ever since which had a speakeasy in the back with an Elvis impersonator and candles — you just go for a “can of Stella” to be allowed in or singing 1990s classics in my kitchen with friends until the early hours James Norton joins Guy Ritchie film about aristocracy as full casting announced Leo Woodall: Bridget Jones’ love interest character was meant to be Scottish Ella Richards' guide to London: Rellik Don’t miss this free immersive light experience at Westfield London Since I started working at 14 my goal was to be able to get a mortgage I’m trying to set down some roots for my kids and their future The Spriggan sculpture along the Parkland Walk Otherwise known as The Fairy Bodyguard of North London It’s my London stage debut and I’m excited to be working with a wonderful company on a new play and how humans see their relationship with technological advancement East is South is at the Hampstead Theatre, opening on February 7 CCTV footage of crash shows moment Anette Collins ‘went flying’ after being struck by a Lime Bike News | London This is the shocking moment a dog walker “was left bleeding in the road” after a Lime Bike crashed into her while she was walking over a zebra crossing Anette Collins, 56, was walking her two dogs, Izzy and Ginny, in Crouch End when a man on an electric bike crashed into her at speed at around 9.15pm on July 27 CCTV footage of the crash shows the rider remained at the scene for around 22 seconds before riding away - as onlookers rushed to make sure Ms Collins was not badly injured She told the Standard: “He left me bleeding in the road and just got on his bike and left “I don’t think he even spoke to me I don’t know because I was a bit ‘what the hell has just happened’.” Ms Collins sprained her ankle during the collision and was left bleeding from her ankle and left hand She continued: “Thankfully I didn’t hit my head The next day I still have a bruise on the top of my thigh the shape and size of a lime bike basket I had extensive bruising down my right arm The north Londoner explained that she was forced to get a tetanus jab from her GP after the cut on her ankle became infected She told the Standard that the driver had been banned from hiring Lime Bikes following the crash “I was limping for a good few weeks,” she added “I’m still not very comfortable crossing the road with the dogs I’m hypervigilant and a little bit anxious about it I was trying to actively not cross roads (with the dogs) No evidence of ‘third-party involvement’ in woman’s disappearance Man and dog stabbed as fight breaks out in popular east London park Trains between London and Stevenage 'disrupted until end of day' - LIVE Meet the winners of the AXA Startup Angel competition 2024 “It is still not 100 per cent comfortable and if a car stops for me to cross I am forever looking around the car to see if any madness comes down on the outside.” Despite the footage of the incident the Met Police told the Standard they have not been able to trace the Lime Bike rider A Met Police spokesperson said: “Met officers contacted Lime formally on 8 August 2024 to obtain details about the rider Lime’s ‘Global Law Enforcement Response’ team provided the information held about the rider who was believed to be using the bike at the time of the collision “The information provided by Lime was limited to an anonymous email address which did not assist officers in identifying the person involved the account was linked to a fraudulent bank card meaning officers were similarly unable to explore financial checks to progress their investigation “Should further information come to light it will of course be considered.” a Lime spokesperson said: "We were sorry to hear about this incident involving unacceptable and dangerous behaviour by a Lime rider This rider has been permanently banned from our service "Lime has processes in place to support police and investigations and we work closely with the police to support their investigations We provided the requested information on this rider to the police By from the familiar “guys sitting around and talking about strange events” frame to the way it uses King’s empathy and understanding of emotion to explore grief and trauma In its terrifying and hallucinatory spiral “Crouch End” elevates the Lovecraft Mythos by giving its nameless horrors emotional stakes and a genuine air of menace that few writers outside 1970s-era Stephen King could provide a modern portrait of how things can go with one simple turn of bad luck a hysterical American woman named Doris Freeman rushes into the police department with a terrifying story of her missing husband Lonnie and a nighttime detour through an alternate version of Crouch End neighborhood populated by monsters and unusual inhabitants While the policemen (particularly the younger PC Farnham) are incredulous something rings unnervingly true about Doris’ story to the elderly PC Vetter—something related to several unusual open cases in his “back file.” By the end of the night and all will be forever marked by the Freemans’ excursion to Crouch End all the story requires is a single bad moment to suddenly unleash the chaos roiling behind the world The second the Americans get into the cab that takes them to the alternate Crouch End King’s story is a masterful plunge into the depths of horror beginning with an odd headline reporting “SIXTY LOST IN UNDERGROUND HORROR” and a brief glimpse of rat-headed delinquents before gradually sliding into deeper and more surreal territory with every step one slow enough that it can easily be dismissed early on seemingly random bad moment is an important distinction between Lovecraft and King—Lovecraft’s protagonists tend to be curious souls who seek out knowledge only to be confronted with unnamable horrors as a result There’s safety and distance in a Lovecraft protagonist’s eventual madness All you must do is avoid going in the scary house or reading the wrong book which is why Lovecraft’s cosmic horror occupies Hartwell’s “moral-allegorical” and “psychological” strains and not his third category Modern horror refutes that barrier of safety as King does here—the Freemans have done nothing to deserve or invite their fates they’d be safe but as with many modern cosmic horror stories they simply stumbled upon a point where (in the words of Vetter) “the world is a bit thinner” and fell face-first into Crouch End Towen an alternate version of Crouch End serving as a feeding ground for the “underground horror” living in that thin point The Freemans’ only crime was taking the wrong cab a thing that could happen to literally anyone King’s influence also extends into the empathy we feel for the horrible situation the Freemans find themselves in King’s strength has always been crafting characters that make you care what happens to them and the Freemans continue the trend by acting like the odd touches of Crouch End can be explained away as momentary tricks of the light or odd turns of phrase—after all the couple are already in an unfamiliar space and lost in a neighborhood they barely know looking for a colleague Lonnie Freeman’s barely met Even after the sudden and mysterious disappearance of the cab and its (in retrospect) mildly unnerving cabbie trying to find an address they should easily have been able to walk to The more normal they try to pretend their situation is starting with deformed children and escalating to their sinister encounter with the man-shaped hole in the ground where something gets hold of Lonnie Lonnie’s eventual aging and decay in front of Doris’ eyes is similarly a fear that’s grounded in reality—watching the person you love grow old and die in front of you while you can do nothing to stop it it seems to be Doris’ thoughts and fears Crouch End feeds upon—the “underground horror” appears only after she reads the signboard the increasingly sinister cat that stalks them through the suburb is first seen in the window of the curry shop when the cab strands her in Crouch End and the more grounded if sinister elements are common fears tourists experience like being lost in an unfamiliar place and having encounters with sinister locals Doris is further tormented by her husband aging and decaying before her eyes just as he gets pulled into the shadows and messily eaten by what looks like a giant version of the stray cat There’s a sense that Crouch End itself is wrong not that it’s a place for any kind of nameless god but that the area itself feeds on the unwary…and mercilessly enjoys playing with its food where local (and terrible) customs and spirits terrorize newcomers who unwittingly stumble into their clutches which jibes well with the idea of King’s modern take on Lovecraft all King’s own—while Lovecraft might have stopped with Doris’ escape King continues four years into the future to show how the two disappearances that one summer night affected everyone involved King is fantastic at showing the horror that bearing those scars entails It’s an emotion and focus not seen in Lovecraft even if some of the characters have managed to move on fusing Lovecraft’s hostile universe and hallucinatory visuals with King’s gift for empathy and understanding to underscore a growing sense of menace and unsettlement It’s this fusion of elements and the introduction of ones just outside the normal Lovecraftian mythos that makes “Crouch End” a disquieting and horrifying elevation of Lovecraft’s themes with a voice and sensibility all King’s own paying tribute to Lovecraft’s Mythos while maintaining its own distinct tone and persona And now to turn it over to you: Did King do enough to differentiate himself from Lovecraft while drawing on his work How much of Doris Freeman’s experience was with a Silent Hill-esque genus loci And what’s the best depiction of trauma in cosmic horror you’ve read truly this story is a shameless and appalling betrayal of H it’s amusing to wonder what a letter from H.P Lovecraft to Mr Stephen King would look like (Heck an exchange of letters between the two might be an excellent hook for a short story told in epistolary form): I believe the late Mr Lovecraft kept up a correspondence with quite a number of fellow scribes in the weird tales genre a series of letters between a blue collar “aw heck aw shucks” guy and the most arch and dramatic man on the planet I think they’d talk mainly about cats and dogs For all the cats are also rough customers in King “General” and the intensely depressing parts of Pet Sematary make me think he likes cats Two things I would give to HPL…a few episodes of Star Trek so it might change his outlook—and a copy of 1982’s THE THING makes me think that Crouch End not only feeds on the unwary but actively lures them in because he understands how to negotiate the dangerous terrain but the ones who do not see the dangers are as folders in the ‘back files’ of unsolved cases The idea of being constantly under threat like this precedes similar works by Barker and Ligotti I don’t think the Towen lures people to it because that would defeat the overarching feeling of the piece: That the universe is thin at points and when people fall through That requires a creature that doesn’t care enough to lure prey It’s also a call-forward to (and I wish I had more space and time to get into this in the piece) From A Buick 8 where a similar “thin place” is anchored to a strange car in a state trooper garage King’s more Lovecraftian creations aren’t actively malicious they just do things that are horribly damaging to humans (for example the thing that replaces the Turtle in It) The things that are malicious enough to seek out victims are of a lesser order: Ardelia Lortz the Little Doctors…these are all things that can be defeated If we look at King’s greater world alongside “Crouch End,” the truly weird and eldritch creatures are often the ones that kind of just shrug their shoulders and keep moving indifferent of the horrors they leave in their wake undefeated and unscathed by the attempts of humans to fight them if they even notice at all But that begs an interesting question: With things like the transitional forms like the way the room in “1408” is between the Deadlights and Crouch End is it malicious enough to know what it’s doing or does it just have an effect on the unwary who stumble into its stomach for digestion I occasionally find other King works where aware characters do navigate the ‘thinness’ successfully And some of the cosmic Lovecraftean critters do seem more actively malicious so I am sure we can locate those entities like Room 1408 or the Overlook from The Shining where their sentience is just below the surface of human awareness but sometimes bubbles up and over what gets me is that essentially it built up so many ghosts it became an entity via bootstrapping itself I keep flashing back to that one scene in Doctor Sleep with the room full of tackleboxes as Danny’s tried to take the hotel apart piece by piece over years and he’s nowhere near done by the end of that book The Reactor newsletter is the best way to catch up on the world of science fiction “Writing is the closest thing we have to real magic.” For compliance with 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London keeping close watch across the beautifully kept gardens this red-brick library is the very definition of wholesome There are regular events for children (such as Playful Crafts for Under 5s and the older kids’ Comics Club) and Shared Reading groups for adults In an area where so many are passing through this is a real – and essential – community hub Thanks for subscribing! Look out for your first newsletter in your inbox soon! tiktokfacebooktwitteryoutubeAbout us Contact us Chef and food writer Dominique Woolf decided to move to Crouch End after going for dinner Where to live It was food that drew us to Crouch End and went out to what was then a Loch Fyne restaurant for dinner We walked around in the early evening before the meal and were blown away by how many restaurants there were Both have a great atmosphere and are very reasonable – we’ve been going for years and years which is a problem because they eat as much as we do Tomo, on Hornsey High Street, is a great local Italian pizzeria. It’s family-run and is very reliable. Les 2 Garçons, on Middle Lane, hasn’t been here that long, but feels like it’s already an institution. It’s a buzzing, French brasserie-style restaurant is a beautiful pub with a lovely covered outdoor area I had my book launch there a couple of years ago We’ve sampled quite a bit of the street food at Ally Pally Farmers’ Market on a Sunday too You’ve got some hills to give you a bit of a workout There’s a playground at the top and a lake — well we call it a lake — as well as lots of different parkland areas and I basically lived at Priory Park for five years It’s brilliant because there’s a little café We’re lucky to have so much on our doorstep There are little versions of all the main supermarkets here but I love Walter Purkis on the Broadway for fish Middle Lane Market is a little deli with lots of nice things in it we’ve got two cinemas: the ArtHouse and the Picturehouse We’ve got a House of Books and Waterstones We’ll go to the Kaleidoscope Festival in July There’s music — Ministry of Sound Classical are headlining this year — comedy and street food but the W3 and W7 buses go to Finsbury Park they look fantastic and they’ve got a grandeur about them but I think the area is good for transport South Harringay Junior School and Noel Park Primary School are all rated outstanding the top choices nearby are Greig City Academy Artist and designer John Booth on the "understated cool" of New Cross Why I live in Muswell Hill: Iraina Mancini on her peaceful neighbourhood with 'beautiful old pubs' Why I live in Canary Wharf: Comedian Eleanor Conway on why her part of London is 'soulless...but I love it' For those who have yet to pick up a padel (it probably won’t be long before they do) the game that is now outpacing tennis in Spain and other countries and is the second-most played sport after football Played in an enclosed court (smaller than tennis and bigger than squash) with players hitting a ball (similar to tennis but less pumped up) over a net with the added fun of the walls being in play Originating in Mexico in the 1960s before taking off in Spain where many Jews first discovered it on their summer holidays padel has exploded in popularity in recent years and we are among the most enthusiastic adopters joining more than 30 million amateur players worldwide The first UK courts were built by David Lloyd Leisure in 2011 and are now popping up at an incredible pace – from 40 in 2019 to more than 500 today which is on a mission to revolutionise the UK’s padel scene by creating accessible community-focused clubs across the country Jonny launched Padel Pod’s debut site in Crouch End which quickly became a hub for Jewish players He will imminently open indoor courts in Shenley and the Hackney Wick Padel Pod is on target to open later this year Still exploring potential UK sites (particularly in areas with large Jewish populations) is the reason why it’s been a hit with the community “Jewish people love to socialise and community is a big part of the culture – this aligns perfectly with padel which is all about playing with other people and not forgetting the FOMO (fear of missing out)!” he jokes Jonny hopes to have 23 courts in operation by the end of 2025 and a total of 12 Padel Pod ‘micro clubs’ over the next five years Each club will feature four or five courts either indoor We want to create great spaces with no frills and a strong community vibe.” Padel Pod also runs summer camps for children and tournaments for players of all ages Jonny discovered padel while he was living in Lisbon during the pandemic “A French guy walked past me with his padel racket and I had to ask what it was We got chatting and he invited me to play and I was hooked.” Jonny returned to the UK in 2023 and saw an opportunity to bring the fast-growing sport to British shores he had teamed up with top UK padel coach Toby Bawden to help him with his courtbuilding business Hexa Padel before launching Padel Pod and opening Crouch End where comedian Michael McIntyre is a regular “I popped into the club one day and saw Michael on the court playing with his son and a friend and his son One of the things that’s so great about padel is how accessible it is for all ages and different abilities The global padel industry is projected to triple from $2 billion (£1.6bn) in 2023 to $6bn by 2026 Tennis supremo Novak Djokovic has even cautioned that it could usurp his sport’s top spot Husband and wife Daniel and Ilana Epstein have been playing padel for the past few years They try to play several times a week at David Lloyd in Bushey “I used to play tennis but hadn’t in years then everyone was talking about padel so I gave it a go as I am now completely addicted,” says Ilana who runs her own post-production script services company a partner at TK International estate agency feels like he is “getting more cardio out of it than tennis as it’s faster-paced” He says it is a “great way” to stay fit as you age is much gentler (on the knees) and still keeps me active.” Daniel is part of a growing David Lloyd padel WhatsApp group full of players looking for games Yet is the rapid growth now outpacing the availability of courts “Members of clubs are struggling to find available slots,” notes Daniel with Ilana adding that David Lloyd players are setting their alarms to book courts Mum-of-three Sarah Rubin is a more recent convert “I’ve only been playing since December but I’m hooked.” Sarah joined a ladies’ social group at The Padel Hub in Whetstone which has become an increasingly popular indoor location for the Jewish community’s north London ‘paddlers’ His love for the game was rekindled during a recent family holiday to Spain “I played it years ago but we were at a resort this summer with courts and I started playing daily with other people.” he couldn’t stop raving about it to his friends “We set up a WhatsApp group just for padel I’m now on five or six with people looking for others to play with The padel craze is also spreading to university campuses where students are trading study breaks for rallies is studying business management and entrepreneurship at Nottingham Trent and plays three or four times a week at the National Tennis Centre in Nottingham or on the courts near the Notts County football ground He says: “I got hooked about two years ago.” For Jacob the appeal lies in both the social and competitive elements “It’s a great way to stay active with friends we would probably just be sitting around doing what students usually do.” If you fancy a game, a quick search on Google, the Lawn Tennis Association website or on the Playtomic or Padel Mates apps will throw up many options With the sport set to debut at the Brisbane 2032 Olympics there may just be time for you to be that Jewish presence on the court Last month I took to the courts for the first time to see what all the fuss was about Four of us played at The Padel Hub in Whetstone which has become a popular north London venue Arsenal midfielder Jorginho played there shortly after us and so on…We played “golden deuce” where the winner of the next point after deuce wins the game There is also the option of a silver deuce and bronze deuce but we weren’t quite ready to overcomplicate things just yet The main difference is the walls – they’re part of the game but if it hits the wall before bouncing first and if you’re hitting it back after it’s hit the wall Short-handled and no strings – somewhere in between a tennis racket and table tennis bat or left it for our partner while yelling: “Yours!”– only to watch it bounce past the both of us which at times managed to escape the court entirely there were also lots of laughs and even time for the odd quick schmooze between points I loved it (it really is fun) and within a few hours of my first rodeo joined a padel WhatsApp group and tried to book onto a padel social Three Jewish News readers can win a one-hour court booking for up to four people at a Padel Pod of their choice Or maybe you’re a regular who’d like to play somewhere new To enter click here thepadelpod.co.uk @padel.pod 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