Cambridge Edition October 2024 - Newsletter

LOCAL SPOTLIGHT

Don’t miss the special Green Street Christmas event from 13 to 15 December, with promotional discounts for shoppers and fun activities and tasting sessions. Check out its Instagram page Discover Green Street for details. Festive fun on Green Street

well,” explains sales assistant Chelsea. “On Thursdays, we bake an olive sourdough and on Wednesdays and weekends, an ancient grain loaf, which was recently shortlisted for speciality bread of the year at the Baking Industry Awards.” Cloud Nine at number 14 is an exciting new start-up founded by a core team of stylists who formerly worked at Directors, a Green Street salon that closed its doors last December. “Our former boss Michael Lovett has joined us too,” comments stylist Lucy Constable. “He trained all of us, so it’s nice to have him on board. The interior is like a luxury Scandi spa; we offer beauty treatments as well as hair services – lashes, brows, tinting and waxing, fillers, facials and skincare. It’s a one-stop shop where you can get everything done.” At numbers 16-17, French-style crêperie Café au Chocolat offers a blend of speciality coffee, patisserie, authentic French crêpes, luxury French chocolates and afternoon tea with a Francophile twist. Founder Krystyna Szypryt is a linguist of Polish descent who – after studying languages at university – enjoyed a successful sales career and travelled the world. “Having spent time in coffee shops, restaurants and airports far and wide, I tasted a range of flavours but never found anything that trumps French food,” she admits. “Our authentic French crêpes are made in the Brittany style, using buckwheat flour, with an array of sweet and savoury options, including gluten-free and vegan.” Mercado Central at number 24 is inspired by Spain’s historic markets and restaurants, sourcing high-quality seasonal ingredients from Britain and southern Europe. “You can enjoy a casual lunch at the open kitchen or a special dinner in the upstairs dining rooms,” suggests owner Mark Hughes. “Our suppliers are small- scale specialists who ensure sustainable and high-welfare produce.”

Knoops at number 28 is dedicated to the specialist art of ‘knoopology’ – pairing drinking chocolate with different flavour notes: spicy, herby, fruity or floral. “It’s similar to cocktail mixology,” claims sales assistant Damian. “Choose from a menu of dark, white or milk chocolate buttons, then add your own choice of flavourings – such as cardamom, chilli or ginger root, marshmallows or whipped cream. Darker chocolates, at 96% and 100% cacao mass, are higher in antioxidants, less sugar and have a more intense flavour.” Finally, we pop into Oska at number 29 – a stylish German womenswear store offering sustainable, relaxed-fit clothing for discerning women. “Our vibrant colours for the autumn/winter collection have really drawn people in,” expresses store supervisor Louise Mitcham. “The clothes are designed for ladies who appreciate comfort, good design and quality tailoring. Oska makes small amounts of styles each season, so individuality is key too.” O-shaped corduroy trousers, boiled wool jackets and Italian knitwear have been big hits so far. “Our use of minimalist design and natural fabrics – such as cotton, wool and hemp, as well as the development of our own colour dye house – makes our collections desirable and unique.”

PURE BLISS Indulge at Cloud Nine (top) or enjoy bespoke hot chocolate at Knoops (bottom)

Many intriguing listed properties give Green Street the air of Harry Potter’s Diagon Alley

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