|
|
 |
| |
Philip Godfrey (left) and Godfrey’s manager Patricia Head collect their award |
Chapel and butcher’s two of the best
AN Islington music venue that doubles as a church and a Highbury butcher’s shop which has counted royalty among its customers have been voted by the public as the best in London.
The Union Chapel, which has staged concerts by U2, The Killers, Coldplay and Kasabian, has been named the capital’s best music venue in the Smooth Radio Love London Awards.
And Highbury butcher Frank Godfrey has been named Best Local Shop. Food writer Nigel Slater, celebrity chef Jamie Oliver, former Prime Minister Tony Blair and the late Duke of Windsor are among past customers.
The Upper Street chapel and the Highbury Park shop were awarded prizes at a glitzy Café de Paris ceremony in Leicester Square on Friday.
The Grade II*-listed Union Chapel’s intimate gothic atmosphere, lighting and acoustics have made it a favourite with musicians. For the past three years, Radio 1 DJ Jo Whiley has chosen it as the venue for her annual Mencap Little Noise Sessions.
Project manager Pete Stapleton said: “We were up against the O2 Indigo and a smaller venue in Forest Hill called The Hob. It’s good to beat such a big organisation as the O2.”
He said the venue was special because “the sight lines are great, we like to create an ambiance and it’s got wonderful Victorian gothic architecture”.
Butcher’s shop Frank Godfrey has been trading for 100 years. The family used to own rights to graze cattle in Clissold Park and would buy livestock weekly from Market Road. At Christmas they would buy the prize beast from the Agricultural Hall in Upper Street.
The company is now run by fourth-generation butchers Christopher Jeremy and Philip Godfrey.
Chris said winning was “the proudest day of my life”. He added: “We’ve won awards in the past but this one seemed more special because it was a public vote. It’s a big honour.
“We do things in a traditional way. We care where our animals come from, we know all our farmers and we’ve got four generations of know-how. We’re not the biggest company but our reputation is bigger than us.” |
 |
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
|
