Wee Birdy

March 2, 2010

Best of London shopping: Hope & Greenwood*

Lollies, toffees and bon bons – oh my! If you thought I was done with British childhood nostalgia, you’d be wrong. Big time.

It’s
a cold and icy Thursday morning in Covent Garden this week that finds
me trudging towards Hope and Greenwood’s pillarbox red front door.
Everyone is feeling the effects of London’s extended frigid weather.
The Big Issue bloke outside the Tube shouts to nobody in particular, “Get yer Big Issue, yer bunch of tight, miserable sods.”

But
then the front door bell tinkles and a rush of warm air and ‘40s show
tunes greets me as I step over the welcoming threshold into the most
charming old-fashioned sweet shop emporium. It’s ridiculously gorgeous,
with row upon row of shiny glass jars filled with sugary delights and
colourful bunting catching my eye at every turn. The store is straight
out of my childhood dreams fuelled by Blyton-esque boarding school
tales of tuck boxes crammed with delicious treats and illicit midnight
feasts.

The
genuine loving care and consideration that has gone into decorating the
shop and fulfilling a certain British vintage aesthetic from the ‘30s,
‘40s and ‘50s is obvious. For example, the handsome green enamel
pendant lamps that hang over the front counter are from the old Rover
factory in the Midlands, while said glass counter was sourced by Mr
Greenwood from an old haberdashery shop in Wales.

Elsewhere,
a vintage kitchen dresser is packed with Hope and Greenwood’s exclusive
range of chocolates and sweets, and an old stepladder serves to display
a range of liquorice allsorts, Catherine Wheels and sugar pigs. Other
sweet treats are tucked into painted wooden crates and old Hovis tins,
while slabs of fudge and chocolate truffles are piled on footed cake
stands with glass bell jars.

Miss
Anita (all the staff at H&G are known as either Miss or Mr) greets
me warmly from behind the marble-top counter, and displays a superb
knowledge of H&G’s confectionery as she takes me through the
glorious selection of truffles (£5 per 100g). Hope and Greenwood’s
handmade British chocolates are one of the considerable main
attractions, with a delectable line-up including Champagne Charlies,
Lime Creams and Bitter Raspberry truffles.

The
120-strong pick and mix selection is also a major drawcard, which
includes childhood favourites like apple whips, giant gobstoppers,
Anglo Bubble gum, Fruit Salad chews, Black Jacks, Mojos and Parma
Violets. Adding to the overall sense of nostalgia, there are war-time sweetie ration cards, as well as a choice selection of vintage items, including packets of ric-rac, pretty chocolate tins, children’s annuals, Ladybird books and egg
cups. A delightful slice of bygone British life in the heart of London's West End.

Hope and Greenwood
1 Russell Street
London WC2 B SJB
Tel. 020 7240 3314
Nearest tube: Covent Garden
Click here for a Wee Birdy map.

Opening hours:
Monday to Saturday 10.30am-7.30pm
Sunday noon-7.30pm

Click here for Wee Birdy shop reviews in West London.

* Please bear with me – I'm flying back to my Sydney nest so I'm digging into the Wee Birdy archives for a couple of weeks. Normal posting (and ace new London shops) will resume shortly. xx

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