Newsletter - 18 December 2020

Your Xmas/NYE at home sorted, plus special reasons to shop local

Continuing deliver positive emails to the bitter end of this truly discombobulating year: recommendations for the latest lockdown, with love and stalwart good cheer, from the whole team at Camdenist

If you aren't leaving home, but are still in need of an inventive, artisanal gift or two, then our friends at the award-winning Camden Tea Company have an exclusive offer just for Camdenist readers. The first three customers to redeem a special code will get an automatic 25% off any purchase from the online Camden Tea Shop. If you haven't been quick enough, the next 15 people will also get a 15% discount on their orders too. Find the secret codes here. Hurry and they can still deliver gifts in time for Xmas, for the tea-lover in your life.

Send 2020 packing, with Camden's best  comfort food and cocktails

With NYE just around the corner, we're coming to terms with the fact that our chances of painting the town red are virtually nil. But if we can't wave goodbye to this shocker of a year at one of our fave Camden haunts, we can show them the love from home by feasting on the many amazing delivery services on offer. No doubt you'll have your favourites, but we're doffing our caps to those that have soothed us during 2020's darkest months - with shout outs for Kentish Town's hug in a bowl from Ramo Ramen (pictured) the Mexican delights of Euston's Mestizo, Gospel Oak's Gipsy Queen's ace Japanese streetfood pop-up, and superior ice cream deliveries from Ruby Violet in King's Cross.

For help getting your sofa-based NYE shindig nicely oiled, take a look at Bring Your Bar Home. It's the UK's first guide to local cocktail deliveries, with plenty of North London tipples-to-your-door to choose from, including subterranean fave Ladies and Gentleman Bar's pleasingly hassle-free Disco Cocktails, which come in a bag ready-mixed and ready-to-go. Don't mind if we do!

Against all the odds, there's been a smattering of new food stores popping up across Camden. Highgate Rd's eye-catching yellow grocers has launched another organic offering in Belsize Park (pictured) thanks to a soar in lockdown trade; whilst West London's Bens Fruit & Veg have a new outpost in Primrose Hill. Watch this space in early 2021 for Filipino Bakery Panadera - an exciting new prospect from the creators of Mamasons Dirty Ice Cream.

There's no way round it  - if we want live music then we're going to have to head online. Thankfully Camden's institutions deliver plenty of audible treats. The Green Note will continue it's impressive run with a seasonal 'in the round' special tonight, whilst Kings Place streams a Christmas show on Sunday, celebrating winter traditions with five of the English folk scene's top artists. And if you're missing carols this year, zoom in and sing along at St Martin in the Fields.

Without the usual hordes of tourists, Camden Market has become an unlikely haven of retail tranquility, making it an ideal place to pick up some last minute gifts while keeping at a safe distance. Even better, they're really encouraging locals to shop out to help out, with a tasty 50% off up to £40 on goodies purchased. Surely a Camden Christmas experience like no other.

There's no shortage of alternative home entertainment catering for families in Camden this Christmas. Skip the endless Elf and Home Alone re-runs and tune in to some boredom busting online activities, with crafting, carols,and stories live from Hampstead's Burgh House, festive art projects courtesy of Sir John Soane's Museum, and a jam-packed season of dance classes from The Place - inspired by everything from snow days to K-Pop.

Exclusive Local Deals - this month only

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