Clapton Pond Blog

There goes the Jackdaw jazz cafe

Last July the story was: "Here comes the Jackdaw jazz cafe." But the venture has lasted less than a year. This is a shame, just as the closure of Maeve's Kitchen is shame. Now there are two empty spaces where examples of local gentrification had been, once again raising questions about why some manifestations of the "new Clapton" have taken root and others haven't. The Jackdaw seemed nice enough, but did it over-estimate the Dalstonisation of this neck of the woods?

Here comes the Jackdaw jazz cafe

Exactly as I took this photograph a jazz trio was warming up at Dom's Place next door. That was fitting and hints at a potential for some interesting competition because Jackdaw, which is set to open soon at 201 Lower Clapton Road, has been described to me by one of the men doing it up as a forthcoming "jazz cafe". It replaces Cave of Plunder, whose treasures, it appears, weren't alluring punters in sufficient numbers.

The men who made Candela

Nine months have passed since Lukasz and Miguel opened the Candela restaurant opposite the Salvation Army church on Lower Clapton Road. For me, they've represented the best of the Great Change that has come to the neighbourhood. They are full of goodwill, energy and enterprise. They've added to the variety of the area while complementing the best of its spirit. I've enjoyed every visit I've made there, whether dropping in with friends or after making a mass booking for my darling mob of a family.