A review of Drink, Shop & Do

9 Caledonian Road, London, N1 9DX

I don’t quite know where to start in describing this smorgasbord of crafty, cakey delights.  I am in awe of this glorious example of what can be achieved with a coffee machine, some second hand furniture and a selection of craft supplies.

From the street, you walk into a small shop selling crafts made by local designers. From broaches to appliquéd animals in frames, nearly every item I’ve ever seen in a craft market across London is stocked in this veritable treasure-trove.

If you seek handpicked crafts and vintage furniture this is your place – there’s minimal effort involved as owners Kristie and Coralie have exercised their impeccable taste in selecting the quality items on offer. However, if it’s a bargain you’re after you’ll have to venture further afield and explore your local charity and antique shops.

Once you’ve negotiated the small shop and staircase, you ascend into the impressive back room – all high ceilings, majestic pillars and delicate plaster work. Housed in an old Victorian bath house, the space is perfectly suited to a cafe-come-showroom as it’s light, airy and inviting.

One of the most intriguing facts about this place is that everything is for sale – the chair you’re sitting on, the table you’re eating at and even the teacup you’re drinking from. The food and drink is surprisingly affordable for the central location (it’s right by King’s Cross) and afternoon tea certainly doesn’t break the bank.

Keeping it simple proves to be the main success of Drink, Shop & Do’s culinary approach. A choice of mini sandwiches, giant scotch eggs, homemade pies and quiches alongside a glutton of cakes make for easy serving and satisfying results. There’s also a good variety of hot drinks including a good selection of teas and cold drinks.

As well as an afternoon visit, I recently attended this venue for evening birthday celebrations and happily supped upon £7 cocktails – I can highly recommend Ginger Rodgers for anyone visiting for the first time. While our table was steadily weighed down by the amount of glassware collecting on it, those around us used their table tops to partake in the evening’s craft activities – moulding clay into the shape of Michael Jackson. Other activities on offer include knit night and ‘dot to dot’ disco.

For anyone bored of their weekend routine, I can’t think of any better way to mix things up than Drink, Shop & Do.

www.drinkshopdo.com