There's always a new bar to be discovered and nice boutiques to pop in for a treat in Battersea, says local resident Verena Enderby
“I’ve lived in Battersea for seven years! Although for one of those I was away travelling. It’s convenient, and safe and easy to get home at any time. There are lots of young people around, bars, restaurants and shops. I live on Lavender Hill – it can be noisy with the buses, police cars and people going home late at night on Saturdays and Sundays.
It’s great being able to meet friends locally for spontaneous drinks, everything you need is on your doorstep. You’ve got Clapham Common, and you’re spoilt for choice of bars and restaurants. I’m still discovering new ones after seven years! My favourite local is a bar called The Lavender. And for eating – Le Bouchon, Pizza Metro, Mis en Place on Battersea Rise, Le Pampa, 'Half Price Italian', Fish in a Tie and Osteria are all favourites! And there's an Italian deli on Northcote Road which is great, but I'm not sure of the name of it!
I usually get my groceries in Sainsbury's Local in Clapham Junction. Fresh ‘n' Wild is great for odd yummy things. And Asda is very good for a big shop once in a while. For recycling – lots of trips to the bottle bank!
A boutique called Bullfrog has just opened on Northcote Road which is fun. The first floor of Arding and Hobbs is like a mini highstreet with TopShop, Oasis, Warehouse, Miss Selfridge. Joy in Clapham Junction is also great and always tempting to pop in for a treat on your way home.
I do feel I’m part of a community. I have quite a few friends in Battersea, Clapham and Brixton so there are always people to meet up with locally. And my aunt lives in Wandsworth, so not far away.
At work I love working with like-minded people, but I don’t like being in Hammersmith in the middle of the roundabout. Although the commute is very easy – ten minutes on the train to Olympia.
When I’m not working I like to go for drinks or supper with friends and watch films at home or the cinema. To wind down and relax it’s lovely to walk around Clapham Common or Battersea Park.
At the moment I’m reading Brick Lane - it's great! I’m also about to finish Embers by Sandor Marai which is also very good. When I was little I wanted to be a granny – think I've got a while to go!"
