Shy One

DJ, Shy One plays an eclectic range of music on her sets. From grime to hip-hop and jazz, her sound reflects the rich cultural history of her London home, a city she can only really describe as wildly "diverse." Having lived in the city so long, she has seemingly experienced London's many layers, and has over time found the underground culture and niche spots that attract likeminded people.

From queer clubs to vegan Caribbean spots, we caught up with Shy One at Peckham's 

 over this weekend to uncover many of her favourite event spaces, bars, restaurants and music venues -- some of which have a particular focus on celebrating the LGBTQ+ and Black community.

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I love TOLA on Peckham High Street. It's in the heart of Peckham and has a great rooftop.

Peckham

Club

TOLA

My friends do cute stuff at Ridley Road Market Bar -- it has a jazzy soul vibe.

Food

Community

Market

Ridley Road Market

An LGBT+ space which is a club, cafe and gallery. A great meeting spot for friends and having a night out.

Art Gallery

Nightclub

Dalston Superstore

This is an indoor spot just off Rye Lane, you can get amazing food. Any food stalls that aren't dressed up -- those are the ones you wanna go into as that's really where you find the best food.

Rye Lane Indoor Market

Vegan and run by Rastas. I love it! I get a bit of everything when I go there. Love the tofu.

Vegan

Black-Owned

Restaurant

Zionly Manna 

They've got bangin' cocktails, natural wines, they do coffee in the day time. The staff they've got there are wonderful.

Cocktails

Coffee

Funkidory

Another Black-owned venue. It's in Hackney Wick, there's a lot of amazing people who play in there. Amazing staff, security, everything! Has a great sound system and is a wonderful programme.

Events

Colour Factory

VSource is another vegan Jamaican place opposite Brockwell park.

VSource

This list of Black-owned B2C businesses in London is a result of collaboration across our global community and is by no means exhaustive. There are so many more incredible businesses out there and we welcome all suggestions. We have also listed some local initiatives for you to donate to, if you can. We’ll be updating this guide regularly, so if you feel like sharing, please email 

, as well as other contributors who asked to remain anonymous, for helping us put this together.

The category is…Black storytelling! Their focus is to make stories by African, Caribbean and Afro-Latinx fam available and readily accessible. You can currently find them at their bookstore pop up in Shoreditch Boxpark.

London’s first ever cactus and succulent shop. Offering a selection of the most unusual and exotic plants sourced from across the UK and Europe. Their online store is still available to shop on.

Eat of Eden serves up some of the best tasting specialist plant based cuisine in there many locations across London. We recommend the callaloo, ackee and macaroni pie.

Brixton Soup Kitchen are a Brixton-based service for the homeless and people in need. However, they help people who are from London and surrounding areas. Their charity provides hot food, support and counselling for people in need. They rely on donations and volunteers to continue their work, which you can easily donate to on their website.

2021 Andam prize winner and a distinctive new voice in the menswear arena, Bianca Saunders has been capturing the attention of the fashion world, alongside the likes of Kanye West and WizKid. The London designer's pieces counter the traditional notions of gender and masculinity and draws from touchstones on either side of her British and West Indian background. Her collection is available to purchase at Browns.

Black Cultural Archives is the home of Black British History. Their mission is to collect, preserve and celebrate the histories of people of African and Caribbean descent in the UK and to inspire and give strength to individuals, communities and society.

If you’re looking to cleanse your home and space, Cremate’s natural incense hand-dipped in London is the shit. They come in two scents: Mary Mother of God and Middle Way. We love both.

Homage Tees are responsible for those T-shirts emblazoned with the faces of British icons like Louis Theroux, Princess Di and David Attenborough.

South London rooted Jewellery and accessory brand Image Gang has garnered a global community of courageous and creative young women. You can purchase Image Gang on ASOS and directly via their website.

Who doesn't need fresh crepes? One of the many businesses created for our culture.

The world would not be the same without Carribean food. Riaz Phillips created Belly Full: Caribbean Food in the UK, to document a journey across the UK meeting the people behind the county's most popular Caribbean eateries. If you love your jerk and rice & peas, why not educate yourself on their history?

Whilst in quarantine, supply yourself with the more fresh and delicious fruit straight to your door weekly. They also give more variety than your basic Tesco selection.

The only paradox we want to be in. Delicious plant based recipes, plant based catering for dinner parties.

Exploring the space where football and the Black experience intersects.

Black Thrive is a partnership between communities, statutory organisations, voluntary and private sector. They work together to reduce the inequality and injustices experienced by Black people in mental health services. They address the barriers which lead to poorer outcomes across a range of social factors, such as education, employment, housing, and so on, all of which may negatively impact one’s health and wellbeing.

Born from a lack of ethnically diverse natural hair care in the luxury beauty industry. Nigerian-Italian Loretta De Feo devised Dizziak – a deep conditioning formula that provides course, textured hair with the rich hydration it needs and deserves. A revolution in multi-cultural hair care, Dizziak has been coined an aphrodisiac for Afro hair – delivering visible and touchable results in minutes.

Specialists in African and Caribbean Literature since 1966. For over 50 years New Beacon Books has made available to Britain and its communities poetry, literature, non –fiction, history and children’s books from Africa, Caribbean, Asia, African America, Europe, South America and Britain.

Welcome to the home of natural honey! Founded by local Walthamstow legend, you can subscribe to receive raw honey to your doorstep or even buy bees for yourself.

SEASON is a trailblazing football and fashion platform that launched in London in 2016 to counter the male, pale and sometimes stale state of modern football culture. They tell stories that showcase, celebrate and empower female fans authentically, while unpacking important issues, emphasising diversity and collaborating with exciting creative talent.

Founded by Karl Jouanni, Alive & More is a forward-thinking, and gravity-defying fashion brand. Living within the cosmos of his other venture, TEAM RELMS, ALIVE & MORE is a streetwear label that brings something new, fresh, and all-encompassing to the table. The concept is simple, get the RELMS app, play the game, and travel to the virtual fashion shrine to unlock your very real garments, and, while you’re at it, immerse yourself in the world of Team Relms as well.

Bleu is a creative interior design, mid-century furniture store based in Herne Hill, South London. They source our illustrious stock from around the world. Most of their products are mid-century modern, 20th century design, decorative art, vintage industrial furniture, vintage African masks and art. They also offer specialist upholstery and restoration too!

Trap House Salon is a safe, judgement free space to get your your hair, nails and lashes done at affordable prices. They give you that good good experience and you always leave looking fly.

Gingham doll is a small womenswear brand based in London who continuously excite the fashion palette, using classic silhouettes but with a fresher twist. They are still operating and offering Free post worldwide and have just been informed that our boutique in Shoreditch will reopen on the 20th June.

Pureté Nature is wellness brand for luxury skincare, haircare, aromatherapy and home fragrances. All of their products are ethically sourced and handcrafted by themselves using the finest natural ingredients.

The best radio station in the world. Need we say more? You can subscribe to NTS and become a member now.

Learn how to use your space with Storage Goals. They offer customised and stylish storage solutions that are tailored to your personality. Using Scandinavian designed products from Elfa, they cater for all your home and office storage needs.

In 2016, Dutch streetwear brand Patta, opened its London store doors in the middle of Soho. Ready to introduce London's community to everything it represents, Patta have continuously stayed a brand that influences culture in London and across the world.

The Prince of Peckham is a pub for south London, by south London. The community pub is for everyone in the area, with a downstairs bar and pub, and an amazing event space. On the top floor there is a music room for parties, weddings, meetings, location shoots, live music, art exhibitions, and all other celebrations. Street food kings White Men Can't Jerk are kitchen residents serving up jerk chicken, Caribbean roasts and stacks of wings. It's a vibe all year around.

Based in East London - Hackney. They specialise in running fitness classes, personal training, membership and hiring out our space to fitness professionals. Their goals are to create a safe space for groups and individuals to improve their lifestyles through health, fitness, sports and wellbeing.

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Black-Owned Businesses in London

East London’s Hak Baker is the artist redefining what it means to be a folk singer in the capital. His sound, which he calls “G-Folk”, is a blend of grime and folk combining gritty lyrics and acoustic guitar playing. It’s a combination inspired by his past grime career and emotional outtake on life. In Conundrum he sings about “growing up in East London” where it was “forty pence for a bus/ Still the lads jump in the back with no fuss.” It’s these tales about the minutiae of London life that mean listeners find it easy to connect with Hak, and, with this he’s set to bring G-Folk to the UK in a big way. Check out Hak's favourite spots in London.

Top cafe, top food, top proper east end people

Good priced and top quality Sunday Roasts. Morn like these silly gastro pubs. Good price beer and authentic East End Pub feel. Ain’t much of that around, too conversation just don’t act moody, we’ll sniff you out!

Members club - I ain’t got a membership but I got the blag to get in there. Good food and wild impromptu nights. Variety of people

Home of Thirsty Thursday. Best free party in town and can't go wrong. Free entry free beer and Live music.

Venue fluctuates but if ya in town and it's on go to 'Glitterbox' top old skool sounds and good ravers

London with Hak Baker

It can be overwhelming to think about where exactly to go on a date in London. Soulful south London-based singer-songwriter and rapper Collard helps us 

 out though by sharing with us his favourite date spots. As a cultural hub, the city is packed with an amazing array of date venues and activities – from museum hopping, to boutique cinemas and dining. Even when eating out, there are hundreds of restaurants and eateries to choose from, with each serving up a different cuisine. As a cultural melting pot, London's food scene is definitely not one to overlook when making date night plans.

Collard's suggestions include places which encourage open conversation, perfect for when you're trying to get to know someone better and see if you really connect. From antiquated bars to new cafés and free activities, read to discover some of the chicest and the cheapest ways to spend time with your favourite person in this buzzing city.

Gorgeous Italian spot, candle lit and romantic as romantic can be. Forest green decor and seating for either an intimate date or group date. It’s usually pretty full in there so I’d advise you to book in advance -- but it’s worth it. Recommended dish: Lobster Linguini with a side of Quail Eggs.

Perfect day time date spot in Belsize Park North London, a breakfast menu with a Persian influence. Lovely service, get to see a few actors and actresses that live around the area which is cool but just don’t be weird, practise your nonchalant “too cool for school, yeah whatever famous person”- nod in the mirror. Close proximity to Primrose Hill park also which is a staple date location. Recommended dish: Baked Eggs.

The finest of fine dining, beautiful restaurant, decor levels on a thousand. Would recommend for relationship daters. Probably a bit over-blown for a first date experience unless the person you’re trying to court has a great pallet for French cuisine and loves a glamorous atmosphere. Recommended dish: Black-legged Chicken to share & Escargot for the side.

My girlfriend coined this spot “The Thinking spot” she took me there all the time and said it’s where she does all her best thinking. Pull up in the car and chat for hours in front of the bird decorated lake or take a stroll down the lake side. It really is a beautiful and calming spot inside such a popular Royal Park. I recommend going at night to avoid having to weave around large crowds.

This is the low key pre-drinks date spot you hit for if you’re about to go out for drinks (my Londoners know what I’m on about) -- the drinks before the drinks. Lounge-y and quiet, Polo Bar is perfect for conversation and shaking off nerves before you go out for the “after drinks” at a restaurant or club once were allowed back in them.

Why not look at some art if you’re both into it? This particular gallery is situated in central london so it’s surrounded by an array of food spots and makes the whole dating experience a lot more eventful. Doing something is cool. Always incredible exhibits on show here also, from artists like Reginald Sylvester and Coco Capitán.

For the film enthusiasts the Curzon Bloomsbury is the perfect cinema for a movie date. It’s a smaller and more boutique feel as opposed to the usual cinema experience elsewhere. There’s a boatload of great restaurants and cafes in the Bloomsbury area to eat at before or after the film if it’s all going well, and if it’s not then it’s only five minutes from the tube station.

London’s Finest Date Spots with Collard

Nabihah Iqbal, pegged as a ‘trailblazer for Asian women in rock’ is about as versatile as you can get. She boasts a BA in History and Ethnomusicology from SOAS, a MPhil (focused on African history) from Cambridge, experience working in human rights law, and to top it off a black belt in Karate. Born and raised in central London, Nabihah shed light on her love for her hometown following her set at Beat Hotel. Below are her hot spots for music, food and views in the British capital.

If the weather permits, walk up to the top and sit there and look out on the city. It’s quite central but at the same time it’s really chilled. I grew up next to Primrose Hill so for me it’s an integral part of my childhood, and my London experience. It’s just a nice way of looking at the whole city.

If you’re into genres from different parts of the world this is your spot. It has a lot of jazz and they’ve got a big second hand jazz section and books.

It’s just a little shack, but it’s been there my whole life and the same woman still works there that did when I was about 10 years old. I used to go there in my karate suit and she’d know what time it was. The queue can be a madness, but it shows you people are dedicated to the cause - they stand there even in the winter. It’s the best crepe I’ve eaten and definitely better than anything in France (French people agree too). So go there!

Always a staple. Good value for money Japanese food. They’ve got a few branches around central.

Nabihah Iqbal's London Guide

East London's finest, D Double E aka the Sea Food King, shares his personal guide to his favourite spots across London city. The grime legend has just dropped his new album, Double or Nothing, which features the likes of Giggs, Ms Banks and Ghetts. The album is sonically crazy, with our favourite track, Catch of the Day, of course being inspired by his one true love: 

. We recommend putting on your headphones and playing it as you hit up the first stop on the guide...

This is the spot for Caribbean food, gets me ready for the day.

This spot is my personal favourite. Especially for a great steak or lamb chop 10/10

When I’m not too busy i go and play basketball need to try and keep fit.

My Brudda Sonny sorts me with the exclusive, always got the bangers in there.

We all need to treat ourselves every now and then, all that hard work needs some therapy lol.

Shy One's Favourite Places To Experience Culture in London

Shy One's Favourite Places To Experience Culture in London