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We’re all suckers for a well-told story.

Give us a ripping yarn, a fiendish conspiracy or a clever sales pitch and we’re easily enthralled.

With the brilliant, all-too rare clarity of his own storytelling, bestselling Sapiens author Yuval Noah Harari neatly suggests that human beings’ ability to invent – and to believe – fictional tales is the ‘superpower’ that has driven civilisation, distinguishing us from all other animals.

But despite a natural willingness to stake our lives on over-simplified, ultimately make believe constructs – nations, faiths, financial systems, egos – creating a simple-to-grasp narrative is still devilishly hard to pull off.

Only making things harder: today’s polarised society.

Try and spin up a narrative and an ‘opposing’ make believe story is often leaped upon - or conjured up wholesale - by eager culture warriors. We’re left lacking a generally agreed viewpoint on anything, from what constitutes a healthy diet to how successful the first 100 days of a presidency have been.

And so to last weekend’s pedestrianisation trial and the Council’s accompanying 60th birthday party on Camden High Street, which suffered both from confusing messaging and the standard knee-jerk howls from ‘the motorist’.
Continues below…

I suppose it was naive to think that Camden Town’s gritty main thoroughfare would be transformed into some kind of European piazza overnight, but the huge black and yellow anti-terror barriers and hastily tarmacked-in bollards were not giving quite the calming human-centric vibes I had envisioned.

Visual storytelling is incredibly important, and while there are obviously very real risks to mitigate, the blockades do look a touch hostile - which isn’t the most immediately welcoming messaging.

It’s also fascinating to see how people react to the visual cues of the pavement/road when traffic is no longer flowing. On day one, the queue for the Electric Ballroom dutifully followed the curb, as ever, while people leaving the tube seemed hesitant to step out into the road.

However, by the time they’d got to towards the bridge and the freestyle foot traffic had swelled, pedestrians became comfortable with road-walking to the extent that six stewards with megaphones were hastily posted to compel the hordes away from the path of the busses and trucks reentering their domain.

It always did seem strange not to reroute the traffic a touch further, along Castlehaven Rd instead of Hawley Crescent, since the canal bridge is so obviously – and visually – ripe for being car-free too.

I wonder why – does anyone know?

That’s another bit of confusing storytelling right there, and the resulting dramas we seized upon as ‘road chaos’ by the naysayers. The botched handling of disabled access (sticking barriers in front of tactile paving and crossings) just felt like it was playing into the hands of more nefarious anti-LTN Online Right types.

When Oxford attempted a solution to gridlock in the city, you may remember that it resulted in actual Nazis marching in defence of the rights of ‘the motorist’, and I imagine our Council would prefer not to trigger that as the enduring image of this trial on Camden’s world-famous high street, if it can be avoided.

The street party suffered from some haphazard storytelling too, which is a shame, as this was actually a joyous reclamation of the roadway, enjoyed by a genuinely local crowd, complete with London Irish Centre dancers (see main photo), musicians and more.

The scourge of over-officious crowd control saw largely pointless ticketing, barriers and bag searches, all for the privilege of sitting at a long empty table. The bit about this also being a VE Day celebration had not landed, adding to the befuddling narrative, and Camden hitting 60 isn’t particularly special, as all London’s other boroughs share the same birthday.

But still. The pedestrianisation trial is very much a living laboratory, which is admirable, if rather unpredictable. If Camden can steer the storytelling back to the gifting of a large section of public realm to free entertainment, celebrations and culture, then the success of this section remaining forever car free will surely grow.

Those up in arms about having to make what is a very slight detour should remember that not that long ago, horse-drawn carriages and barrows dominated this very stretch. The motor car muscled in, but – for the future of this busy part of Camden High Street at least – it has now also surely had its day.

Bemused tourists flowed their way past the festivities, hearts set on the lure of the Market, but this space really was giving something to locals – a new village square, even.

Despite growing pains as the story unfolds, we should really commend the Council for a bold experiment, so do give feedback to help make the inevitability of radical change here a genuine success.

I’d say that’s one fairy tale we should believe in. 😉

📊 This week’s one-click poll

Do let us know your thoughts in the comments, too, either when voting in the poll or via the online version of this newsletter…

Last week we asked the question: Which feeling most sums up your thoughts about summer 2025 in Camden?

Excited - I can't wait for the season of street fairs, outdoor dining and park picnics
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 56%

Fearful - I can't wait to go on holiday and get out of here
⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️ 7%

Cautiously optimistic - we may have our problems, but the rest of the world doesn't exactly look much better
🟨🟨🟨⬜️⬜️⬜️ 37%

Some of your comments:

“It has felt like a long old winter and the time for renewal, optimism and promise is here for those bold enough to grab it. Let's go!”

“Crowds, drug taking and selling awash in Camden.. they get delivered to the buyer in pubs.. too much drinking and raucous behaviour… litter everywhere.. and others who're homeless and have trouble eeking out a living. Everything is too costly in Camden.”

“I think Camden’s calendar of summer fairs and street parties is one of the best things about living here - it really gives you faith that you live around exceedingly nice community-minded people, something that isn’t often perceived to be the case in a gritty city environment like ours, but shines through when we all get together outside.”

FOOD & DRINK

Panadera Bakery is back

It was sad having to report that Kentish Town’s trailblazing Filipino bakery, Panadera, was closing back in January. The venture, famed for its chunky sandos, top coffee and purple ube-filled pastries, helped transform the otherwise down at heel strip of the high street into a global food destination.

However, owner Florence Mae Maglanoc’s winning concept has made a swift return - in a lovely Soho backstreet just behind Berwick St Market.

“I was always looking for a bigger space,” she tells us, “and a restructuring of the Miginhawa Group that I previously ran meant we parted ways.” She insists this was as amicable as it could be, and she left with both Panadera and her acclaimed Kingly Court restaurant, Donia.

“I was only 19 when I ran my first business, Mamasons Ice Cream, which quickly went stratospheric,” she says. “The Bakery came next, a real passion project where I made the first corned beef sando and had to quickly add others to the range just to stop that one selling out every day. My team at Panadera have virtually all been with me since the start in 2021, and while we miss Kentish Town, some of my regulars did come down on the opening day here. That strip has done so much for Filipino food and they are going to take it to another level now, but I wanted to pursue the bakery, so I’m really happy as I’ve been keeping an eye on this spot for a couple of years and it’s perfect.”

Meanwhile, back in K-Town, her former colleagues have just opened a new Cafe Mama and Sons cafe in the former bakery unit, the Hoodwood Caribbean takeaway next door, and just yesterday, French-Asian fusion newcomer Belly Bistro.

Plenty to go check out…

FESTIVALS

Talking of sandos, after last year’s tasty debut, the sandwichtastic Sarnie Party is back on the Wilkin Street Mews cobbles next weekend from Fri 10h - Sun 12th May at Camden Town Brewery’s Beer Hall. From banging banh mi to fat ciabatta and jaw-breaking doorsteps, each ticket includes three sandwiches from London’s top streetfood sarnie crews.

MUSIC

This week’s local gigs span the decades

🪕 80s rock darlings Then Jericho play an acoustic show at Pizza Express Live Holborn this Fri 10th May, with live unplugged versions of all their big hits.

🎤 Kingston Jamaica’s 450 has quickly risen to prominence with his infectious energy, distinctive style, and chart-topping hits. His sound blends raw emotion with undeniable dancehall vibes, making him one of the genre’s most exciting rising stars and he’s live at Roundhouse Sun 11th May.

🎶 One of Egypt and the Middle East’s most celebrated bands, Massar Egbari has reshaped the independent music scene with their blend of rock, jazz, blues, and Arabic influences. The iconic five-piece play the Jazz Cafe on Sun 11th May.

🎸 The 90s band ‘too sophisticated for Britpop’, Rialto bring their cultured alt-pop to the stage of The Scala on Wed 14th May.

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