Crouch End, North London’s premier nightspot
In the current panic over the future of the High Street, one theme often emerges – retail is on the way out (particularly the comparison shopping variety) and should they want to survive and prosper High Streets must become centres for leisure and services. We’ve blogged our surveys on this issue before, and we’re minded to conclude this diversification is precisely what is happening to Crouch End… more restaurants, more cinemas, more gyms, and more nail bars – food and beverage businesses alone now occupy 1 in 4 of units across the the town centre (9% growth last year). Well, we’re not complacent about this stuff, and if Crouch End can keep its head above water and avoid a fate of boarded up shops, who are we to complain.
But there are potential downsides, and a little consideration of the issues may well be warranted. The number of bars and restaurants (and cinemas, etc.) produce a healthy, but occasionally noisy (even antisocial?) night time economy – and the redevelopment of the Town Hall will bring further high profile attractions, with a venue, cinema, roof top bar and restaurants due to open before long.
A couple of maps were recently brought to our attention which rather underline the point.
Licensing hotspots, 2012 figs.
These heat maps, produced as part of the Council’s Licensing Policy Statement, show the numbers of licensed premises across the borough. This doesn’t capture everything about the evening economy as it doesn’t give extra weight to cinemas, venues, theatres or bowling alleys, but as most of those are licensed, as are restaurants – it presents strong evidence. The first map is 2012, the second 2006, so quite a few things have changed subsequently, not least in Crouch End – including the opening of the cinemas (2014 and 2015).
The conclusion and the direction of travel seem abundantly clear: Crouch End is the most significant night time economy in Haringey and across a swathe of North London.
Licensing hotspots, 2006 figs.
Night time economies and the London Plan
Now, we think the importance of the evening economy deserves consideration in the drawing of planning policy and future development. So the Forum were somewhat surprised to see no recognition of Crouch End’s status in the draft version of the new London Plan, within which all significant night time economies across London are graded. For instance Wood Green is given an ‘NT2’ status, ranking it alongside the night life of Islington, whereas Muswell Hill, Finsbury Park and Green Lanes are all rated ‘NT3’ meaning “more than local significance” (see table A1.1).
Yet Crouch End wasn’t mentioned at all. Zero rated, zip.
How come? Well, apparently those responsible for the London Plan rely on data provided by the Boroughs, which means of course that Haringey, for reasons we can’t imagine, think that Crouch End has no night time economy whereas Wood Green is the new West End (they have form on this, and the very mention of ‘Crouch End’ within Council documents have given rise to outraged complaints from councillors before – we suspect Haringey may be actively pursuing a policy of pretending we don’t exist).
A correction has been sought.
The new London Plan has a whole policy section (HC6) devoted to supporting night time economies (click here). Worth a read – should the Forum be considering policies to support, enhance, control or limit our evening economy? How do we see the town centre in 10-15 years time? Let us know.
Crouch End’s current evening economy in figures –
A3/Restaurants (evening) / 27
A4/Bars / 8
A5/Hot food takeaways / 5
D2/Cinemas, concert halls / 3
SG/Theatres, clubs / 2
Total nightime assets / 45
2 Comments
My examination of the list of licensed premises in N8 8 and N8 9 finds 102, of which some, like M&S are not night time.
Moors, 57 Park Road, Hornsey, London, N8 8SY
Londis, 306 Park Road, Hornsey, London, N8 8LA
Riley, 32 The Broadway, Hornsey, London, N8 9SU
Jerkmaica, 23 Park Road, Hornsey, London, N8 8TE
Monkey Nuts, 2 Park Road, Hornsey, London, N8 8TD
Oddbins, 31 The Broadway, Hornsey, London, N8 8DU
Nickel, 143B Crouch Hill, Hornsey, London, N8 9QH
Paesan, 48C The Broadway, Hornsey, London, N8 9TP
Basilico Ltd, 51 Park Road, Hornsey, London, N8 8SY
Fresco, 145 Tottenham Lane, Hornsey, London, N8 9BT
Priory News, 161 Priory Road, Hornsey, London, N8 8NB
Waitrose, 35-39 The Broadway, Hornsey, London, N8 8DU
Oddbins Ltd, 139 Crouch Hill, Hornsey, London, N8 9QH
Kiss the Sky, 18-20 Park Road, Hornsey, London, N8 8TD
The Hornsey Club, Tivoli Road, Hornsey, London, N8 8RG
Chicken Shop, 46 The Broadway, Hornsey, London, N8 9SU
Co-op Food, 21-23 The Broadway, Hornsey, London, N8 8DU
Gen Dan Fushia, 300C Park Road, Hornsey, London, N8 8LA
Haelan Centre, 41 The Broadway, Hornsey, London, N8 8DT
Tesco Express, 25 The Broadway, Hornsey, London, N8 8DU
Pizza Go Go, 85 Tottenham Lane, Hornsey, London, N8 9BE
The Harvest, 69 Tottenham Lane, Hornsey, London, N8 9BE
Bar Esteban, Shop, 29 Park Road, Hornsey, London, N8 8TE
Firezza Ltd, 60 Crouch End Hill, Hornsey, London, N8 8AG
Park Local, Shop, 68A Park Road, Hornsey, London, N8 8SX
Mathew’s Kitchen, 14 Middle Lane, Hornsey, London, N8 8PL
The Haberdashery, 22 Middle Lane, Hornsey, London, N8 8PL
The Blue Legume, 130 Crouch Hill, Hornsey, London, N8 9DY
Banners Restaurant’, 21 Park Road, Hornsey, London, N8 8TE
Bottle Apostle, Shop, 49 Park Road, Hornsey, London, N8 8SY
Domino’s Pizza, 151 Tottenham Lane, Hornsey, London, N8 9BT
Rajco Food Wine, 41 Tottenham Lane, Hornsey, London, N8 9BD
Kimura Enterprises, 167 Priory Road, Hornsey, London, N8 8NB
Venus 3, 19 Veryan Court, Park Road, Hornsey, London, N8 8JR
Silk Maker, Shop, 99 Tottenham Lane, Hornsey, London, N8 9BG
Edith’s House, Cafe, 59 The Broadway, Hornsey, London, N8 8DT
Haelan Centre Limited, 304 Park Road, Hornsey, London, N8 8LA
The Royal Palace Cafe, 298 Park Road, Hornsey, London, N8 8LA
Wine Booze, Shop, 64 Crouch End Hill, Hornsey, London, N8 8AG
Sumak Restaurant, 139 Tottenham Lane, Hornsey, London, N8 9BJ
Pizza Sacro Cuore, 10 Crouch End Hill, Hornsey, London, N8 8AA
Curry Cosheli, Shop, 89 Tottenham Lane, Hornsey, London, N8 9BE
Middle Lane Food & Wine, 24 Middle Lane, Hornsey, London, N8 8PL
WOW Simply Japanese, 18 Crouch End Hill, Hornsey, London, N8 8AA
The Priory, Public House, 169 Priory Road, Hornsey, London, N8 8NB
Bengal Indian Cuisine, 153 Tottenham Lane, Hornsey, London, N8 9BT
Co-op (Petrol Station), 156 Tottenham Lane, Hornsey, London, N8 8SE
Kings Head Public House, 2 Crouch End Hill, Hornsey, London, N8 8AA
Crouch End Best Kebabs, 131 Tottenham Lane, Hornsey, London, N8 9BJ
S & D Supermarket, Shop, 65 Tottenham Lane, Hornsey, London, N8 9BE
Belash, 53 Topsfield Parade, Tottenham Lane, Hornsey, London, N8 8PT
Little Green Shopper, Shop, 149 Crouch Hill, Hornsey, London, N8 9QH
Miranda, 28 Broadway Parade, Tottenham Lane, Hornsey, London, N8 9DB
Les Associes Restaurant, Shop, 172 Park Road, Hornsey, London, N8 8JT
The Maynard Arms, Public House, 70 Park Road, Hornsey, London, N8 8SX
Funky Brownz, Public House, 5 Tottenham Lane, Hornsey, London, N8 9DT
Hornsey Food & Wine, Shop, 95 Tottenham Lane, Hornsey, London, N8 9BG
The Crouch End Cellars, Shop, 55 The Broadway, Hornsey, London, N8 8DT
Khoai Cafe, 6 Topsfield Parade, Tottenham Lane, Hornsey, London, N8 8PR
Pizza Hut, 34 Topsfield Parade, Tottenham Lane, Hornsey, London, N8 8PT
The Queens, 26 Broadway Parade, Tottenham Lane, Hornsey, London, N8 9DE
Bistro Aix, 54 Topsfield Parade, Tottenham Lane, Hornsey, London, N8 8PT
Porky’s BBQ, 4 Topsfield Parade, Tottenham Lane, Hornsey, London, N8 8PR
Royal News, 42 Topsfield Parade, Tottenham Lane, Hornsey, London, N8 8PT
Harringay Arms, Harringay Arms, 153 Crouch Hill, Hornsey, London, N8 9QH
Jade Palace, 20 Broadway Parade, Tottenham Lane, Hornsey, London, N8 9DE
Martini Bar, 10 Broadway Parade, Tottenham Lane, Hornsey, London, N8 9DE
Heirloom Restaurant, Restaurant, 33-35 Park Road, Hornsey, London, N8 8TE
Middey’s Brasserie & Lounge Bar, 26 The Broadway, Hornsey, London, N8 9ST
Dixy Chicken, 44 Topsfield Parade, Tottenham Lane, Hornsey, London, N8 8PT
La Bota Tapas, 31 Broadway Parade, Tottenham Lane, Hornsey, London, N8 9DB
Jamie Supermarket (Cornacopia), 83 Crouch End Hill, Hornsey, London, N8 8DD
O’s Thai Cafe, 10 Topsfield Parade, Tottenham Lane, Hornsey, London, N8 8PR
Railway Tavern, Railway Tavern, 23 Crouch End Hill, Hornsey, London, N8 8DH
Irvin Bar Grill, 43 Topsfield Parade, Tottenham Lane, Hornsey, London, N8 8PT
Rusty Bike Cafe, 50 Topsfield Parade, Tottenham Lane, Hornsey, London, N8 8PT
Saki Sushi & Hot, 33 Broadway Parade, Tottenham Lane, Hornsey, London, N8 9DB
Bufala Di Londra, 18 Topsfield Parade, Tottenham Lane, Hornsey, London, N8 8PT
Dragon Chinese Restaurant, Restaurant, 8-10 Park Road, Hornsey, London, N8 8TD
Pandan Leaf Thai Kitchen, Shop, 66-68 Crouch End Hill, Hornsey, London, N8 8AG
Meghna Restaurant, 55 Topsfield Parade, Tottenham Lane, Hornsey, London, N8 8PT
Too Too Moo Crouch End, Restaurant, 12 Crouch End Hill, Hornsey, London, N8 8AA
Earl Haig Social, Earl Haig Memorial Hall, Elder Avenue, Hornsey, London, N8 9TH
Hornsey Library, Hornsey Central Library, Haringey Park, Hornsey, London, N8 9JA
Melange Restaurants Ltd, 45 Topsfield Parade, Tottenham Lane, Hornsey, London, N8 8PT
Crouch End Picture House, Rosebery House, 165 Tottenham Lane, Hornsey, London, N8 9BY
Crouch End Cricket Club, Crouch End Playing Fields, Park Road, Hornsey, London, N8 8JP
Hanley Lawn Tennis Club, Crouch End Playing Fields, Park Road, Hornsey, London, N8 8JP
Small Beer, Public House, 22 Topsfield Parade, Tottenham Lane, Hornsey, London, N8 8PT
Crouch End Food Centre, 34-35 Broadway Parade, Tottenham Lane, Hornsey, London, N8 9DB
Princess Alexandra Crouch End, Villiers Terrace, 120 Park Road, Hornsey, London, N8 8JP
Muddy Boots Real Foods Ltd, 29 Broadway Parade, Tottenham Lane, Hornsey, London, N8 9DB
North London Cricket Club, Crouch End Playing Fields, Park Road, Hornsey, London, N8 8JP
Georgians Lawn Tennis Club, Crouch End Playing Fields, Park Road, Hornsey, London, N8 8JP
Marks & Spencer Simply Foods, Exchange House, 71 Crouch End Hill, Hornsey, London, N8 8DF
BEAM CAFE (Crouch End Cafe), 40-41 Topsfield Parade, Tottenham Lane, Hornsey, London, N8 8PT
Canlar Off License & Supermarket, 14 Broadway Parade, Tottenham Lane, Hornsey, London, N8 9DE
Shell Hornsey Park Road, Petrol Filling Station, Garage, 93-113 Park Road, Hornsey, London, N8 8JN
Hornsey Vale Community Centre, Hornsey Vale Community Centre, 60 Mayfield Road, Hornsey, London, N8 9LP
Coolhurst Tennis & Squash Club, Coolhurst Lawn Tennis and Squash Racquets Club, Courtside, Hornsey, London, N8 8EY
The Pavilion, North Middlesex Cricket Lawn Tennis and Bowls Club, Crouch End Playing Fields, Park Road, Hornsey, London, N8 8JP
Highgate Cricket And Lawn TennisClub, Highgate Cricket and Lawn Tennis Club, Crouch End Playing Fields, Park Road, Hornsey, London, N8 8JP
Lots of premises – though in my rough total I didn’t include off licenses, supermarkets, petrol stations, daytime cafes, cricket clubs, or anything outside the town centre…
The comparison is the thing though, and all other localities are likely to have just as many supermarkets and the like. When I counted Muswell Hill’s night time assets, it totalled 31, compared to Crouch End’s 45.
Muswell Hill –
A3/Restaurants (evening) / 22
A4/Bars / 2
A5/Hot food takeaways / 4
D2/Cinemas, concert halls / 1
SG/Theatres, clubs / 2
Total / 31
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