Rough Trade on Brick Lane
They've done a very brave thing and opened a retail outlet when most shops are shutting down. But what exactly does the new Rough Trade look like?
Turn west off Brick Lane on a Saturday and you're now greeted by this. Once upon a time there used to be one or two people at most lurking here at the weekend.
The shop front.
Presumably this is designed as a notional substitute for the legendary wall of 7"s of the Notting Hill Shop? Laptops ahoy.
From the front of the shop looking backward. Notice the security guard!
From the back of the shop.
The counter, note the de rigeur geek chic (beards and heavy glasses) of the clerks.
What do I think about it? Erm, I like it, it's very impressive. However it's slightly like a mini-HMV and is a little bit anti-septic. Am I allowed to say that?