Along with the rest of the capital’s Heath walkers, both occasional and regular, I first encountered Funny Weather, NW5’s entirely delightful new coffee shop and bookstore, after a blustery circuit of Parliament Hill.
On a chilly midweek January afternoon, its small front cafe counter was thronged, while the deceptively spacious bookshop behind, where just a couple of folk stood browsing, exuded a calm as deep as the woods.
And yet here’s the thing: this instant cultural treasure wasn’t meant to open round these parts at all. Couple Celeste Dodwell and Ed Franklin have, in fact, been searching for the right location for a wearying four-and-a-half years. “Originally we were looking in Walthamstow,” says Celeste, “and then we also almost opened up in Dalston.”
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So what happened? “After missing out on a bunch of spaces again and again — or for one reason or another each not feeling quite right — we found this little gem.”
So it’s a real case of right place, right time. While Celeste is originally from Australia, Ed grew up in north London, studied English literature and has been a bookseller, with family in publishing. “He’s always dreamt of having an independent bookshop,” she says. “And we’ve both got experience in the London coffee scene — and too many combined years in hospitality to count.”
If you can’t picture what the unit was previously, Celeste explains that “it was a disused gym when we viewed it. We even had to angle grind a dormant running machine apart to get it out the door. But it was so worth it.”
The fit-out was also the first they had ever done. “Without the help of countless friends and family, who picked up a paint brush or learnt to tile off YouTube, we never would have opened the doors,” she says, “especially just before Christmas. It’s been an immense labour of love, in the best kind of way.”
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Naturally the renowned literary history of the area adds an immediate gravitas to the shop; and, while pondering the shelves, I noticed their fiction edit feels contemporary and well-curated. “The community spirit already growing here is really quite special,” Celeste says. “We’re still pinching ourselves daily that we’re finally up and running, selling books and planning events (full programme incoming).”
The quality extends, of course to the food and drink offer, spearheaded by Oxford-based roasters, Routes Coffee, supplying the beans, and London legends St John’s Bakery croissants and other pastries.
And lastly, isn’t it a witty, Heath-appropriate name to boot? “Safe to say,” says Celeste, “it’s been the best beginning to a year either of us have ever had.”
Funny Weather, open daily (except Tues) till 9am-530pm @funnyweatherbooks, 31 Grove Terrace, Highgate Rd, NW5 1PL
