Melrose and Morgan
42 Gloucester Avenue
London
NW1 8JD
020 7722 0011
www.melroseandmorgan.com
info@melroseandmorgan.com
Who: Nick Selby and Ian James
“We’re foodies, but we’re not gourmets, we think gourmet is slightly pretentious, impossibly chic and French. We’re about real food, we’re about integrity, about being British – ham, cheese and crusty bread – we’re very much into the quality. My partner, Ian James, comes from a catering background and I used to be a photographic agent.
We are a community-supported deli, we rely on word of mouth. We have regulars who come every week. We have a little coffee bar/tasting bar which seats eight, though the record is fifteen – people use it for breakfast and coffee during the day. At weekends our audience is huge and wide, while during the week we get mostly locals and business people at lunchtime.
Our suppliers are predominantly from the UK but we're starting to work with some French wine suppliers. The main thrust of our business is ready-made meals for busy mums and couples. We sell a lot of hampers, we got 10/10 from the Guardian for our picnic hampers, they go out in truckloads. We do three different hampers, and these can be ordered online.
We have three chefs and one baker – they produce all our pastries, salads and supper dishes. The things we make ourselves do very well – trifles, poached fruit, chocolate mousses, mini pavlovas, muffins for breakfast and Chelsea buns. The Nikima champagne does very well, it's £21.95 a bottle. Another person who gets a lot of interest is Madame Oiseau – she is a chocolate maker based in Canterbury, she makes the most amazing hand-made chocolates.
What: A plush and exciting grocer full of all sorts of deli delights and fare. As well as wines, dairy produce and ready-made dishes to take away you’ll find cereals, teas, tarts, pastries, breads, desserts and vegetables. With a ceiling to floor glass exterior there is tonnes of natural light displaying the shop and all the produce to its best advantage. Things to look out for: Neal’s Yard cheeses, Luskins’ organic drinks and Secrets' wonderful vegetables who also supply Harvey Nichols and Selfridges.
Why: You will not find a better sausage roll, made on the premises from a well-researched recipe – pair with a fragrant jasmine tea and your day’s purpose will be met. The multi-coloured Primrose Hill cupcakes have sent many a child into throes of gluttonous glee. And for something quite exclusive, get down there before the 179 jars made from the Regent Park’s honeybee hives are gobbled up – great for hay fever sufferers.
Where: Closest tube is Chalk Farm. Come out the tube, turn right, head over the bridge and then straight on down to Gloucester Avenue. You think it’s all residential then you spy The Engineer pub looming up on the right and across the road on the righthand side the clean, glass lines of Melrose & Morgan.
When: Monday – Closed. Tuesday-Friday 8am-8pm, Saturday 8am-6pm. Sunday 10am-6pm.
Photograph: Lisa Marker
