I've been meaning to write a post for some time now on one of my favourite little haunts in one of my most favourite parts of London. It really felt like Spring had sprung yesterday with beautiful blue skies, and it made me want to share with you the beauty of Blackheath - one of my favourite places to be when the sun is out. If you've never visited Blackheath then you really must. It has a real village feel to it with charming, steep Victorian streets winding through it's centre, boasting far too many estate agents(!), some decent charity shops, a fine collection of upmarket furniture and kitchen shops and a few great little independent shops too. Blackheath has more than just shops though - it offers an impressive array of good eateries, chain restaurants and some commendable, traditionally English pubs. It makes for the perfect place for a weekend stroll, dinner with friends or a relaxed, evening drink with your other half. The village feel is accentuated further on Sundays, when Blackheath Farmer's Market opens in the rail station car park, selling farm produce from London's surrounding counties and further afield. We've been a few times now and picked up some great organic vegetables. It's a treat in London to be able to find a reliable, local food market.
The Heath itself is vast and neighbours on to Greenwich Park, with the main A2 road running straight through the middle. The location at which Blackheath meets the gates to Greenwich Park has become famous for being the official 'start point' of the London Marathon! I have some fond memories of cheering on the marathon runners a few years ago, when I was volunteering for Oxfam. Most days though, the Heath is popular with runners, dog walkers, kite flyers, kids kicking footballs about and, in the Summer, locals enjoying picnics. It's an ideal picnic spot with views over Canary Wharf. I love strolls across Blackheath, I always feel as though I've been transported into the middle of the countryside - it's sometimes hard to believe that I'm still in London when I'm there, it feels so rural and because it's so open it gets super windy!
Back in September last year, we wandered across the Heath and down through Blackheath itself to scout out somewhere to enjoy some lunch. It was then that we stumbled across Hand Made Food, the most incredible deli/cafe situated on Tranquil Vale {one of the main shopping streets leading up to the Heath}.
From the outside, Hand Made Food isn't particularly eye catching, it could be mistaken for any old cafe, but I think it was the swarm of people outside who intrigued us to wander inside. And as soon as we did we knew we'd made the right choice. As you walk through the doors, your nasal passages are greeted with delicious wafts of homemade bread, cakes, fresh cheese, cooked meats and scrumptious hand made FOOD! The name says it all really! It's no wonder they're sometimes referred to as 'South London's answer to River Cottage HQ'. Downstairs is a deli where they serve a range of European cheeses and wines, freshly baked breads, salads, patês and antipastis which you can pack into circular boxes at your leisure to take-away. They also serve the most incredible homemade cakes, tarts and the best sausage rolls we've ever, ever tasted. Just typing this now, I can just smell them, mmm! Upstairs in the 'gallery' is a cafe/seating area where you can enjoy food to have 'in'. All food served is seasonal, healthy and cooked fresh on site, using mostly local produce. There's a real emphasis on 'good grub'.
I love the rustic feel to the interior, with industrial work surfaces, chalk boards on white tiled walls & pendant lights hanging from the ceilings. It's by no means fussy or pristine but it wouldn't be the same if it was. It's a bit rough around the edges but inside you feel like you've stepped into a European delicatessan somewhere off the beaten track. As well as in-house food, Hand Made Food also have a busy schedule of events for which they cater, including weddings, dinner parties etc. You can find out more on Hand Made Food's website here.
As Spring (slowly!!) approaches I'm looking forward to some Springtime walks across Blackheath and some scrumptious lunches in Hand Made Food, my favourite deli. If you're in the area I'd thoroughly recommend stopping by.
Lydia xxx
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