School's IN For Summer!

Welcome back good shoe folk. Whilst the debate about whether we're in Islington, Hoxton or Shoreditch rages on the reality is that, a bit like the Bermuda Triangle, we are on the borders of all three depending on who you ask....but what borders they are! 

With summer school under way at 50 Chocolate Studios from Monday...

Here's our tambour cabinet packed with seven shoe making kits, lasts and uppers

...we thought we'd give you a taster of some of the fabulous architecture, food and culture on our new doorstep.

Palladian architecture around Bank

The magnificent, Sir Edward Lutyens-designed, Grade II listed 1 Finsbury Circus...
pictured above and below

The original door of the Honourable Artillery Company

And it's turrets

Bunhill Fields Burial Ground - a leafy oasis of calm and handy cut-through
between City Road and  Bunhill Row

Home to William Blake's cenotaph

A juxtaposition of old and new with the Museum of Methodism

Wesley's Chapel and Museum

The Chapel's stunning gardens

Ultra-cool workspace White Collar Factory

...hip hotel The Hoxton (image courtesy of thehoxton.com)

and ultra-hip, members-only, Shoreditch House (image courtesy of londontown.com)

Street signs new and old ...or not

Some great, characterful public houses - The Angel

Great food and atmosphere at The Three Crowns nestled between its modern neighbours 
and below, at our local the Eagle

London's changing skyline in a nutshell

Shoreditch Grind for great brunch and coffee

The old and the new

The wonderful facade of Imperial Hall, built in 1930 as a Methodist mission
originally known as the Leysian Mission. Now Grade II listed, it is apartments

A bit of retro browsing just around the corner at Renaissance under what looks like the most amazing, sadly private, roof garden

Cosy Westland Coffee for a cuppa on the way to the workshop
and a glass of convivial wine on the way back

And that really is just a snapshot of the locale...we can't wait to get to know it better.

Until next week - when normal service resumes with an update from the first shoe making course at Chocolate Studios - a belated 4th of July, happy shoe making and good luck to England tomorrow!