London Maps from Herb Lester Associates

Back in July 2010, I wrote about the excellent You Are Here map from Herb Lester Associates and mentioned that they were working on other London guides.

Though I've not gotten around to reviewing them until now, they actually brought out two other excellent maps late last year, with each map being even more beautifully designed than the last.

The second in the series is entitled May We Help You? and lives up to its promise of being a guide to "The best specialist suppliers in London". Though it covers such unusual services as bulletproofing, Japanese knife sharpening and taxidermy, this guide is more than a mere curiosity, offering as it does details of far more essential suppliers - from the sartorial (tailoring alterations, invisible mending, buttons, cobbler) to the practical (locksmith, umbrellas, stationery).

The third map in the trilogy, and the largest to date (at twice the size of the others), is an historic guide to London's lost gems of the 1960s. Billed as "a retrospective guide to London's shops, clubs, boutiques and sundry diversions, 1960-66", Wish you were there is a fascinating and extremely well researched insight into the era of Swinging London, when the city was perceived to lead the world in fashion and nightlife.

For more information on these maps, see the following links:

http://herblester.com/may-we-help-you/
http://herblester.com/wish-you-were-there

All three pocket guides are available to buy from select stockists, or online from the Herb Lester Associates website for just £3 (£4 for Wish you were there): http://herblester.com/buy-the-map/

Do yourself a favour and order your copies today!

Soho News

Here's an update on a couple of Soho stories I discussed here a while back.

First of all, it seems news of star barista Avni's departure from Bar Italia was greatly exaggerated. Having left for only a few weeks, Avni returned to take up the evening reins on the famous Gaggia machine once more. Suffice to say, late-night cappuccino lovers are in safe hands.

Bar Italia, 22 Frith Street, Soho, London, W1D 4RP. (020) 7437 4520

The second story relates to the premises of Amato. As I reported some time ago, this once great patisserie sadly closed down. It reopened as a branch of Richoux, with a restaurant, rather than patisserie, focus. However, that venture did not last long and closed down again shortly after opening. The same premises was then set to become a branch of pizzeria chain Made In Italy. Despite the number of other pizza restaurants in Soho, the wonderful Made In Italy restaurants on The King's Road and Islington's Upper Street made this welcome news. The restaurant is now open and having eaten there the other night, I am happy to report that I was most impressed. Although rather cramped for space (due to the large number of tables squeezed in), the food is divine. Possibly the most authentic Italian pizza in London. Wood-fired ovens, fresh ingredients and home-made mozzarella ensure these pizzas served "a metro" are a cut above the rest. Although I dislike service charges being added to the bill (I strongly believe these should depend on a customer's own discretion), the edge was taken off this annoyance by the limoncello I was served "on the house".

Made In Italy, 14 Old Compton Street, Soho, London, W1D 4TH
www.madeinitalygroup.co.uk

Steinberg & Tolkien closes down

I heard this news a while back, but forgot to post anything about it. Popular King's Road vintage clothes shop Steinberg & Tokien have apparently closed down.

Though geared more towards women than men, I still have fond memories of this place. It was in this quirky little boutique that I bought my first silver tie clip many years ago.

Full story from Time Out here:
http://www.timeout.com/london/features/3330.html