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The Fringe...
...the Festival
Martin Rowson
News in Brief
Readers Letters
Park Life
News in Brief
Dissent
Tapas Time
Back to the Fringe
Straight to the Point
Royal Bengal
Handy Contacts
Summertime Blues
Summery Justice
Up the Junction
Books/Poetry
The Factory
Summer Allergies
Farmers Market
The Arts
Away Days
A Royal Visit
Coffee Corner
Surfing N16
Man in North Bank
XWord
View from the Lane

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It’s at the wrong end of Belgrade Road in terms of passing trade and the wrong end of Stokey if you think Church Street is where it’s really at. But that’s part of Coffee Corner’s appeal.

Squatting on the corner where Belgrade Road meets Wordsworth Road, opposite Moving East and a (hefty) stone’s throw from Yogahome, this café has charmed its way into the hearts of local residents who probably prefer that it stays a well-kept secret.

Voya and Vesna, both originally from Belgrade in Serbia, run the café with help from friend Erica and have created a place that has a bohemian, artisan feel backed up by a friendliness rare in London establishments. Added to that is a range of tasty food spanning paninis with a choice of 15 different fillings, fresh combination juices and what has to be a close contender for the prize of best coffee in Stoke Newington.

Two years ago Voya, a graphic designer by profession with a second life as a catering manager, was walking his dog down towards Butterfield Green when he spotted that the former computer shop was available to lease. Noticing the way the sun streamed through the windows, the lack of noise and traffic and the appealing view of the Church opposite, he dashed off to tell partner Vesna that he’d found the perfect place for a new café. The fact that it was on a street named after their home town gave it that meant-to-be feeling.

If you like to read while you sip your cappuccino, the usual newspapers are supplemented by books on film, surrealism, yoga and cooking, and Buddhist magazines. Original artworks supplied by local artists adorn the walls. These are changed every 6 weeks or so with the aim of giving as many artists as possible a chance to exhibit their work. Occasionally there are spontaneous events when customers bring their musical instruments. ‘We want to inspire people to do things spontaneously’, says Vesna, who is an actor herself. ‘We’ve had jazz musicians, violinists come in and perform, even a stand-up comic reciting poetry.’

Vesna would like to see this develop even further. ‘I have a vision that one day we’ll organise regular artists’ evenings, where people come along to perform bits of their work, get feedback and exchange ideas and opinions. It seems that in England artists are more isolated and work on their own.’

If Coffee Corner has its way, artistic isolation may one day become a thing of the past in Stokey.

Coffee Corner is open Monday-Friday 9.00-5.00, Saturday 9.30-10.00 and Sunday 10.00-4.00 and can be hired for parties, meetings etc. If you would like to exhibit your work pop into the café and talk to Voya or Vesna.

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