22 women-owned independent London businesses to visit in 2022
Some good news – more women than ever are running their own small businesses. Female-owned businesses have risen by 18 per cent since 2017, now accounting for 29 per cent of all small businesses in the UK. While this is something to celebrate, there’s still a way to go before it’s a level playing field. So why not get to know and support London’s wonderful women-run shops, cafés, salons and bars this year? Here’s our pick of the best independent establishments owned by women in the capital.
Tom LombardBars
1. Diddys
Diddy Varley’s dreams of running a bar started as a child, when she set up a pub called The Georgian Dragon and sold gin for pennies. Fast forward several decades and careers – she cut her hospitality teeth at Bistrotheque – Diddy’s eponymous Hackney bar, café and grocery store sells far more than just Mother’s Ruin. Focused on independent suppliers and producers, there’s locally-made homewares and larder goods for browsing, with a menu of Spritzes, Margaritas, Sours and Negronis for sipping.
Address: Diddys, 69 Mare Street, Cambridge Heath Road, London E8 4RG
Website: diddys.co.uk
Bernard Zeija2. Tayer & Elementary
Fusing two atmospheres – Elementary’s counter space for day drinkers and co-workers, and Tayer’s buzzy bar for next-level cocktails – this Old Street spot was crowned the world’s second best bar at the end of 2021. But owners Alex Kratena and Monica Berg have always aimed for mixology that bends the mind and challenges the palate. T+A’s signature? The One Sip Martini – a dynamite blend of vodka, vermouth di torrino and fino sherry, with a giant gorgonzola stuffed olive.
Address: Tayer & Elementary, 152 Old Street, London EC1V 9BW
Website: tayer-elementary.com
Martina O'Shea3. Weino BIB
Known for putting bag-in-a-box wine and wine-on-tap on the capital’s cultural map, this dine-in deli, bar and shop is the kind you pop into for one thing and end up whiling away an evening, partly aided by its regularly changing menu of small plates and charcuterie. Dalston locals love its wine refill and bottle deposit scheme, and owner Kirsty Tinkler added another string to her bow in 2021 – importing Weino BIB’s very own vin from organic growers.
Address: Weino BIB, 39 Balls Pond Road, London N1 4BW
Website: weinobib.co.uk
Justine Trickett4. The George Tavern
Standing proud on a corner of Stepney’s main thoroughfare, the Grade II-listed George Tavern is the stuff of London lore. Appearing in the writing of Charles Dickens, Samuel Pepys and Geoffrey Chaucer, it’s hosted some serious talent; Phoebe Waller-Bridge first performed Fleabag here, and the likes of Nick Cave and Anna Calvi have taken to the mic. Formidable landlady Pauline Foster is fighting yet another battle to stay open amid developers' building proposals. Check out the email petition here.
Address: The George Tavern, 373 Commercial Road, Stepney Green, London E1 0LA
Website: thegeorgetavern.london5. Half Cut Market
Half Cut Market’s co-founder Holly Willcocks collaborated with friends Edwin Methu, Paul Rosser and Danny Eilenberg to create an off-licence of the highest pedigree. Formerly manager at MEATLiquor and Noble Rot’s assistant head sommelier, Willcocks curates a list of low-intervention wines, while Methu oversees craft beers and experimental sodas to enjoy in situ or at home. Its gourmet mini-mart features grub from My Neighbours the Dumplings, Willy’s Pies and Mystic Borek. Look out for HCM’s workshops, from wonton-making classes with Ling Ling founder Jenny Phung to oenological wisdom (and tastings) with Willcocks.
Address: Half Cut Market, 396 York Way, London N7 9LW
Website: halfcut.world
Luke Fullalove6. Doña
A vision of pink flamingo feathers, fuschia fringing and sultry low lighting, mezcal bar and arts venue Doña is a recent addition to the capital’s vibrant nocturnal scene. Tucked behind a sequinned door in Stoke Newington, co-founders and friends, Lucia Massey and Thea Cumming nail their dream of a basement bar humming with independent creativity and feminine energy. Sip small-batch rare mezcales, catch a live music gig and refuel with a snack upstairs at Tigre Tacos.
Address: Doña, 92 Stoke Newington High Street, London N16 7NY
Website: bardonalondon.com7. Albertine Wine Bar
A former watering hole for The Eastenders scriptwriters in the eighties, this Shepherd’s Bush gem is said to have inspired the naming of Albert Square. Chef, author and TV presenter Allegra McEvedy took the reins from her mother Sarah in 2017, and it remains a bustling neighbourhood gem. Naturally, wine is the star of the show here, with an impressive European-influenced list, but you’d be wise to head up to the cosy upstairs restaurant for its hearty, holiday-on-a-plate menu.
Address: Albertine Wine Bar, 1 Wood Lane, London W12 7DP
Website: albertine.london
Cafes
8. Luminary Bakery
The seed for Luminary Bakery was sown in a Brick Lane church in 2014, where Alice Williams helped teach disadvantaged women to bake. Seeing their skills soon improve, and them grow to overcome past trauma, the social enterprise has now helped over 130 women graduate and launch promising careers in the food industry. Running two bakery-cafes in Camden and Stoke Newington, Williams and Luminary’s all-female senior team are helping women build a better future. Its cakes, pastries and brownies are as pleasing as its mission. Get the cinnamon bun and ask for extra cream cheese icing.
Address: Luminary Bakery, 71-73 Allen Road, London N16 8RY
Website: luminarybakery.com
9. Wood Street Bakery
Jenny Moseley earned her patisserie stripes in the city’s buzziest eateries: Bread Station, The Modern Pantry, and most recently as Wild By Tart’s head pastry chef. When lockdown hit, Moseley made her own bakes at home, and biked them to her lucky Walthamstow neighbours. Word spread fast and demand skyrocketed. Seeing the iconic Percy Ingle close down on Wood Street, she jumped to open her own neighbourhood bakery. Enjoy Wood Street Bakery’s gorgeous pastries, sourdough loaves and weekly rotating bakes in their light and airy café space, or grab them to takeaway.
Address: Wood Street Bakery, 21 Wood Street, London E17 3JX
Website: woodstreetbakes.com
10. Aries Bakehouse
Jackie McKinson’s bakery stands on the same site as the sweetshop her mother ran in the eighties and on the same Brixton street as the playground she frequented as a child. Now a standout success with queues snaking round the block, the open-plan space allows for punters to watch McKinson and her team hard at work as they enjoy their wares. Made using her mother’s original Jamaican recipe, the jerk chicken sausage roll is extraordinary, but look out for basque cheesecake, stellar vegan pastries and challah on a Friday too.
Address: Aries Bakehouse, 99 Acre Lane, Brixton Hill, London SW2 5TU
Website: aries-bakehouse.square.site
11. Cutter and Squidge
Now mavens of the afternoon tea scene, with a cookbook and two thriving bakeries to their name, Emily and Annabel Lui started Cutter and Squidge after seeing a gap in the market for all-natural sweet treats. Adept at changing with the seasons and catering to cult moments, surprise and delight is at the heart of everything the sisters do – expect immersive elements in all their afternoon teas, which also ship nationwide.
Address: Cutter and Squidge, 20 Brewer Street, London W1F 0SJ
Website: cutterandsquidge.com
12. Treats Club Dessert Bar
‘Female-owned, female-led and run by Black girl magic,’ Treats Club Dessert Bar was born out of Lungi’s Mhlanga’s love of baking for family and friends. This Hackney micro-bakery is your go-to for ambrosial hand-filled doughnuts: think Boston cream, biscoff salted caramel and pistachio white chocolate. Mhlanga was on the Forbes 30 Under 30 Europe list in 2021, and we can see why – this is real dessert nirvana.
Address: Treats Club Dessert Bar, Containerville, 35 Corbridge Crescent, London E2 9EZ
Website: thetreatsclub.com
Shops
13. Prick LDN
Following a trip to Yves Saint Laurent’s Jardin Majorelle in Marrakech, Gynelle Leon became besotted with succulents and cacti. The photographer began her own collection and travelled all over the world developing her knowledge of horticulture. This expertise eventually grew into the Dalston boutique Prick LDN. From giant statement plants to those dinky enough for a window ledge, it has its own range of terracotta ‘Prick pots’ and stocks beautiful ceramics by local artists.
Address: Prick LDN, 492 Kingsland Road, London E8 4AE
Website: prickldn.com14. Dark Sugars
You’ll smell Dark Sugars before you see it. This rich scent of this artisan chocolatier wafts from its Brick Lane store, where handmade truffles, bars and vegan treats are displayed in hand-carved wooden platters. A feast for the eyes and stomach, it is the product of founder Nyanga Mendy’s three years in Ghana, where she researched cocoa at her family’s farm. Beginning as a stall in Spitalfields, Dark Sugars has expanded to an ice cream shop and shop-meets-cafe in Greenwich. Wherever you visit, don’t miss the Pitch Black Hot Chocolate.
Address: Dark Sugars, 141 Brick Lane London, E1 6SB
Website: darksugars.co.uk
Martin Nosek15. BookBar
Imagine a bookshop where readers could crack open their favourite novel with one hand, and sip a glass of wine in the other. Well, fantasise no more, because Chrissy Ryan opened every bibliophile’s dream: BookBar, an integrated bookshop and wine bar that, since launching in 2021, has hosted speaking events with authors like Hanya Yanagihara, Emily Ratajkowski, and Caleb Azumah Nelson. A social space that’s ideal for book clubs and supper clubs, BookBar also runs the ‘Shelf Medicate’ subscription, which curates and delivers a selection of hand-picked titles for your exact profile.
Address: BookBar, 166 Blackstock Road, London N5 1HA
Website: bookbaruk.com
16. Alkemi Store
If innovative interior design is your soft spot, Alkemi could be just the ticket. Korean-born Londoner Jeane Chung curates a swoon-worthy selection of homeware, lifestyle goods and gifts at her Nunhead flagship, and also has a second boutique in Forest Hill. United under the motto of ‘beautiful objects for everyday life,’ expect candles from Korean design studio Honey Flamingo, wooden kids toys by the Kiko + gg and slick Kinta ceramics, all of which are made in Vietnam and the Philippines.
Address: Alkemi Store, 62 Nunhead Lane, London SE15 3QE
Website: alkemistore.com
Rocio Chacon17. Folka
Folka is Karolina Merska’s love letter to her native Poland’s folk art. Her passion emerged when she made her first pająki, a traditional chandelier fashioned from Polish rye straw and colourful paper, which dates back to the 18th century. Keeping the tradition alive, Merska collaborates with artists from all over Poland to showcase the breadth of the pająki, as well as unique ceramics, woven wall hangings, wooden sculptures and traditional toys. An unmissable paean to folklore and craftsmanship.
Address: Folka, 84 Stoke Newington Church Street, London N16 0AP
Website: folka.co
Self care
18. Relax LDN
After retraining as a nutritionist and facialist alongside her role at a global beauty brand, Katie White began re:lax skin studio in her spare bedroom. Her packed appointment book soon signified she needed a dedicated space and in 2019, she opened a permanent hub in Hackney. Expect high-performance, natural facial treatments, with the now seven-therapist strong team taking into account holistic lifestyle factors such as stress, sleep, and diet.
Address: Relax LDN, The Gossamer City Project, Unit 34, Gossamer Gardens, The Oval, London E2 9FN
Website: relax-ldn.com
19. MASAJ
Working to combat the toll of busy city living and create an inclusive environment for tailored massage treatments, MASAJ founders Scarlet Crawley and Alice Vaughan launched their Shoreditch studio in May 2021. Instead of a short-term treat or quick fix, the duo want to redefine massage as an integral part of health and wellbeing. Visiting regularly shouldn’t be too much of a chore though – the space is awash with muted shades and serene as they come.
Address: Masaj, 10 Charlotte Road, London EC2A 3DH
Website: masaj.me20. StrongHer Gym
London’s first strictly women-only strength and conditioning space aims to break down barriers in a historically male-dominated arena. By cultivating a safe and compassionate environment to get educated and push to new heights, co-founders Lyanne Hodgson and Sam Prynn want to empower women in their own fitness journey. The Bethnal Green-based gym is the heart of their fast-growing community and hosts group classes, courses, and one-on-one personal training.
Address: StrongHer Gym, 19a Cudworth Street, London E1 5QU
Website: strongher.co.uk
21. Kelechnekoff Fitness
Noticing the dearth of diversity in the pole fitness industry, Nigerian-born Londoner Kelechi Okafor opened Kelechnekoff Fitness in 2016, and the Peckham studio has gone from strength to strength under this multi-hyphenate founder’s steer (Okafor is a trained actor and also hosts the podcast ‘Say Your Mind’). Check out the studio’s expansive program, spanning yoga, Wing Chun self-defence, and soca meets dancehall, as well a range of pole levels.
Address: Kelechnekoff Fitness, Sojourner Truth Centre, 161 Sumner Road, London SE15 6JL
Website: kelechnekoff.com22. Hair Lounge by Charlotte Mensah
Charlotte Mensah’s career started in the eighties under the tutelage of Winston Isaacs – the godfather of British afro hairdressing – and she has since developed a peerless empire of her own. As well as her Hairlounge salon on Portobello Road, frequented by stars like Michaela Coel and Zadie Smith, she’s created a range of luxury hair oils, a bestselling book and a heaving trophy shelf. Mensah was crowned British Afro Hairdresser of the year three times and became the first Black woman to be inducted into the British Hairdressing Hall of Fame. A true legend in our time.
Address: Hair Lounge by Charlotte Mensah, 347 Portobello Road, London W10 5SA
Website: charlottemensah.com