I am a lifelong Barnet resident who treasures the community and appreciates how hard local businesses work to keep the High Street area alive. Shot over six months during 2023, this photographic project is intended to show the character and diversity of the shops, businesses and people as they are now, and to reveal insights into the potential for the future of the High Street. The collection is being exhibited by Barnet Museum in their gallery space in The Spires Shopping Centre from December 2023.
Thanks to the owners, staff and customers of Dory’s Café, T&H Motors, MinimuMaximuM, Wilkinson’s Chemist, Ozzi’s Burrito Shack, The Sound Garden, Greengrocer’s Choice and Wanders for their assistance and patience.
Thanks to the owners, staff and customers of Dory’s Café, T&H Motors, MinimuMaximuM, Wilkinson’s Chemist, Ozzi’s Burrito Shack, The Sound Garden, Greengrocer’s Choice and Wanders for their assistance and patience.
Thanks also to Mike Noronha and Emilia Bryce at Barnet Museum, Gail Lazer, Peter Wanders and Sue Hollins.
Tap or click on any image to see it enlarged
Dory’s Café
Dory’s has been a family institution in Barnet since the 1950s, when the café was taken over by Ottorini (‘Dory’) Pellicci. Run for many years by Dory’s daughter Dorina and her husband Tony, it is now in the hands of their children Angela and Giuliano. Tony still helps out from time to time. Regulars enjoy the mix of traditional Italian coffee and home-made meals alongside English tea and all-day breakfasts.
Wilkinson’s Chemist
Part of a Hertfordshire family for many years, Naresh took over the pharmacy with his father in 1981. After a pursuing a career as an interior designer, Kusum joined in 2003 and retrained as a pharmacy dispenser. Customers and patients appreciate the friendly, flexible service and the wide range of products.
Greengrocer's Choice
A family run market stall, which Andy took over in 1987, adding the online delivery business in 2010. Andy’s day starts at midnight selecting fresh produce from the wholesalers at New Spitalfields Market. By 4am the team begin ‘packing out’, setting up the stall and laying out the fruit and vegetables ready for customers to arrive from around 7.30am.
MinimuMaximuM
Opened in July 2022, MinimuMaximuM aims to bring West End designer fashion to High Barnet and Hadley. Run by manager Amy, the store won the Boutique Magazine Award for New Independent Retailer of the Year 2023.
The Sound Garden
Founded by Rupert in 1994, The Sound Garden moved to its present site in 1995. The shop expanded further in 2007 and also opened a music school. It has become a hub for local musicians, from professional bands to choirs and school orchestras.
Ozzi’s Burrito Shack
Ozzi opened his Burrito Shack in 2015 after many years of working as a chef and restaurant manager locally. When he refurbished the shop in a contemporary style using reclaimed materials, the original decorative tiles were exposed and incorporated into the design. The shop is now well known as a distinctive feature of the High Street.
Wanders
Peter Wanders has been running his shoe shop and wholesale business for nearly 40 years, on a site in the High Street that has been a shoe shop or bootmaker since at least 1840. Peter’s own career started as a teenage ‘Saturday Boy’ at Chic of Hampstead. Fashionable customers like Twiggy, Lulu and Cilla inspired him to develop a career designing and selling shoes in the UK and Italy, including opening over 50 stores for Russell and Bromley. After years of working together, Peter, Kayleigh and Antonella have become experts at quickly shifting large numbers of shoe boxes when a delivery arrives.
Peter Wanders has been running his shoe shop and wholesale business for nearly 40 years, on a site in the High Street that has been a shoe shop or bootmaker since at least 1840. Peter’s own career started as a teenage ‘Saturday Boy’ at Chic of Hampstead. Fashionable customers like Twiggy, Lulu and Cilla inspired him to develop a career designing and selling shoes in the UK and Italy, including opening over 50 stores for Russell and Bromley. After years of working together, Peter, Kayleigh and Antonella have become experts at quickly shifting large numbers of shoe boxes when a delivery arrives.
T&H Motors
Stuart took over T&H Motors in 1981, specialising in the coach built Rolls Royce and Bentley cars that he had trained on. Peter joined him as a teenage apprentice shortly after. They worked together for over forty years until Stuart retired and sold the business in 2023. The workshops and office have now been completely refurbished by the new owners; Peter remains part of the new team.
