Stockwell

Chris Daniel

Senior CRM Operations Executive

Wedged in-between Brixton and Clapham in South-West London, Stockwell frequently finds itself overlooked in favour of these more well-known neighbourhoods. But I find this is a part of Lambeth that is continuing to grow, with more young families being welcomed. It’s an area of the city stoked in history, with an ethnically and socially mixed community, a vibrant food scene, excellent pubs and a real representation of London.

The truth is there are so many amazing pubs in Stockwell and most corners you turn in the capital, so it was a difficult decision to narrow it down to one, but if the words quirky and pub together grab your attention, then I recommend you check out The Cavendish arms. Full of artsy Grandma vibe kitsch heirlooms and an indoor forest feeling, it’s hard not to feel at home in this pub. It also supports the arts by hosting grassroots live music and comedy.

Being in Stockwell quickly becomes food-centric, as one of my favourite food scenes in the south of London. There’s so much choice but having to choose one to recommend, I have to mention A Toca. Stockwell really is the best place in London to get a feel for real authentic Portuguese food and A Toca for me really represents this.

With a great choice of Portuguese small and large plates all worth sharing – from pork’s ear with garlic and onion (Orelha de porco) from the tapas menu, to boiled octopus with potatoes and vegetables (Polvo com todo), Brazilian style picanha (Picanha a brasileira); all best served with a glass of Portuguese wine.

Number one shop – in food centric fashion and within an area heavily influenced in Portuguese culture you must head to a patisserie and treat yourself to something sweet. There’s plenty of options but my pick right would have to be Funchal Bakery. You should what I’ve been told is a Portuguese institution in the pastel de nata – A mouth-watering yellow custard tart dotted with little patches of caramelised sugar.

When I’m not feeling the walk or crowdedness of Clapham common or Battersea Park I’ll head to Larkhall Park which offers plenty to do, from open space to picnic, football pitches, tennis courts and ping pong tables to swings, slides and climbing frames for the kids. Perfect for a sunny day out with a pastel de nata.

An unforgettable Landmark – have you heard of the Bronze Woman? In Stockwell Memorial Garden stands a statue 10 feet high of an African-Caribbean woman holding a child, based on a poem of the same name by Cécile Nobrega who lived in Stockwell in 2008. The statue became the first public monument of a black woman in England and was created to celebrate the contribution of Africans in the community and worth viewing and taking a deep dive into the history of the statue.

An interesting fact around Stockwell is its nickname Little Portugal because of the large Portuguese community with an estimated 30,000 Portuguese in this part of London and a sizable Brazilian community residing in Little Portugal as well.

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