If a major style mag editor rubbers London Fashion Week’s A-list bashes for an eccentric party in N1, as happens the night I rock up at Drink, Shop & Do for its official launch party, its owners must be getting something right. And, trust me, childhood chums Coralie and Kristie have got their concept very right. Take one split-level Victorian bathhouse/ former bordello of considerable architectural charm, paint it gallery white, whack in skip loads of ‘You’ve never had it so good’-era furniture, ‘more tea, vicar?’ crockery, car boot booty and quirky crafts by local artists - everything you see is for sale - and you have the basis of this cheeky new tearoom-cum-cocktail lounge. Factor in Amaretto Sour at £7.50, Pinot G at fifteen, a late license, cool tunes and an ‘I want them as my new friends’ crowd, stylish but distinctly un-poseur-ish, and you’d be mad not to Drink and Shop here. As for the ‘Do’, that’ll be a mental minestrone of paper plane making and flying lessons, mini robot wars, ‘filthy’ conversational French classes and chocolate truffle rolling to a rocking Fifties soundtrack, arranged nightly. My only issue is ‘How the hell do I get a Biba peacock chair, a £200 G-Plan dining suite and an embroider-by-numbers nude of a buxom young Karen Black back from King’s Cross, sherried-up at 2 am?'
9 Caledonian Rd N1
