TINDERBOX COFFEE PLUS
TINDERBOX COFFEE FREE

Relief flooded over me and I positively skipped up the stairs to get my fix. Heart-broken, I wandered abjectly until, completely by accident, I stumbled across Tinderbox, now relocated to the upper level of the N1 Centre. I attended the show every year and looked forward to my annual Tinderbox visits. Back then it was on Upper Street itself, where its trademark quirky atmosphere and great coffee meant it stood out from the crowd. I first came across Tinderbox almost 10 years ago while attending a trade show at the Business Design Centre. You can read more of my thoughts after the gallery. January 2015: Sadly Tinderbox closed at the end of last year. Tinderbox also has savouries such as sandwiches and stuffed flat breads.

TINDERBOX COFFEE PLUS

The cakes are pretty impressive, with cheesecakes and traditional Italian offerings such as cannoli, plus Portuguese favourites pastel de nata and bolo de arroz. It’s also one of a growing number of places where you can get decent coffee after six o’clock in the evening. It has an uncomplicated attitude, with a straightforward coffee and cake offering, along with a quirky attitude and layout that always makes it fun to visit. I’ve been going there for almost 10 years and it’s still one of my favourite spots. Second only to the Boston Tea Party on Bristol’s Park Street, Tinderbox has a long-standing place in my affections. Walk past the counter, up three flights of stairs at the back and you’ll find yourself in one of London’s most eclectic coffee spaces. Stand outside, though, and look up you’ll see a balcony which promises more. From the street, it’s fairly unassuming: a couple of tables outside and what looks like a short corridor with a counter on the left and a bar at the back. It’s nice to be able to collaborate.Tucked away in the Upper Street entrance to the N1 Centre in Islington, you’ll find Tinderbox. The consultancy created a mezzanine seating level, booths, cubicles, a stepped seating area, refectory style benches and also used ‘a couple of old business-class airline seats’.Ĭlark says the main structure and step area are clad with American black walnut panels, and the consultancy also used stained pine, polished concrete floors and orange and lime green Formica and paint finishes.Ĭlark adds, ‘ “gets” the design – it was a very easy process because we speak the same language. The other Tinderbox was a very constrained site, so we took ideas we explored with the old one and they fitted this space like a glove.’Ĭlark says a large part of the brief was to incorporate many different seating spaces.

TINDERBOX COFFEE FREE

It won the project to create the Islington branch in February 2009, having been recommended by another client.Ĭonsultancy founder Jonathan Clark says, ‘ gave us pretty much a free hand. Jonathan Clark has been working on the store’s entire fit out since the summer.

The consultancy says that the store, at about 2600m2, will probably be the capital’s largest coffee shop.

Tinderbox coffee