Lagos Island opens while Albert’s Table and Cát Bà Island close
Openings
Croydon has a new Nigerian restaurant! Lagos Island at 41 St George’s Walk is a family-run business offering delicious home-cooked food such as gizzard with fried plantain in hot pepper sauce, okra stew, and jollof rice.
A grocery shop called Eastern European Food Store has opened at 171 London Road, and another called Monika’s European Food & Grocery has opened at 181a North End. The proprietors of these assure us that, although they know each other, the shops aren’t related.
Other food-related openings include a tapas bar called Casafina at 91–101 High Street and a second branch of Indian wrap shop Zabardast at Unit 25b in Centrale.
A virtual reality cafe called Limitless VR has opened at 79 High Street, and is offering free 10-minute taster sessions throughout December.
A new clothes and accessories shop called Sheba World Fashions/EDM Hair And Accessories has opened at 11 Surrey Street. This shop unit had previously been vacant for several years, so it’s good to see it in use again.
A tattoo studio called Just Ink About It has opened at 10 Ye Market, Selsdon Road.
A homewares and gift shop called Billboard has opened at 145–147 North End, and a candle shop called Yankee Candle has opened at Unit 63, Centrale.
Closures
There have been several rather surprising closures since our last report. Albert’s Table at 49c South End closed very suddenly, without explanation, and signs in the windows now indicate that a bar and grill called Obia is soon to open in its place.
Another closure on South End is Cát Bà Island at 18 South End, which like Albert’s Table will be very much missed. Both restaurants offered high-quality food of styles hard to find elsewhere in the local area.
The Baskerville at 13–15 Selsdon Road has also closed, as have Kaakyire African Market at 61 London Road and RE/MAX Property Centre at 302 High Street.
Other news
Wing Tai Supermarket at 75–77 Church Street is now Daily Fresh Supermarket, and Finest Touch dry cleaners at 290 High Street is now called King.
Friendly House at 9 Selsdon Road has suffered a fire, but does now seem to be open again.
Finally, beauty salon Posh Clinic has moved from Purley to 33 St George’s Walk.