The Armstrong style has been our best seller in recent seasons because of its individual look and its comfort. For Spring / Summer 2012 we have released it in bitter chocolate, dusk blue, grey leather, chestnut oil, grey sand, putty and finally bitter chocolate suede.

Built in 1882, this Victorian pub could be the perfect spot for an evening after-work drink, if you can find it, that is. It is tucked away up a narrow alley inside Shepherd Market.

Inside the decor is a fantastic example of olde England, but betrays none of the pub’s racy past as a centre of Victorian prostitution.

The interior is as dark and atmospheric as you’d expect from an ancient pub, with plenty of snug inglenooks where you can cosy up with your companions, not to mention the carved grapes on every free corner or edge.

The high, dark ceilings and wood-panelled walls are hung with all manner of historic bric-a-brac; flintlocks, stuffed animals, and horns dangle interestingly.

If the weather is fair, the customers from Ye Grapes and the neighboring pubs spill out into the square creating a boisterous atmosphere.

Ye Grapes, 16 Shepherd Market, Mayfair, London, W1J 7QG.

Our newest store, selling our menswear and a selection of ladies shoes opened in Mayfair in September last year.  We chose Shepherd Market as, out of all the places we looked at, the area has a feel and a look similar to our first store on Lambs Conduit Street. It’s tucked away in between Curzon street  and Piccadilly and has a strong community feel with an eclectic mix of independent stores, restaurants and pubs.

The area itself is steeped in history and there is a feeling of stepping into a different era when you enter the main square.  The name “Mayfair” came from a fifteen-day cattle fair that began in the 1680s on the site where Shepherd Market is today.   Its often confused that the name Shepherd came from that fair but it was actually named after Edward Shepherd, a local property developer who built the area in a time when many fine houses were built in the surrounds creating the Mayfair that we know today.

The village-like area of Shepherd Market still has something of a jaunty reputation. It was round the corner at 9 Curzon Place that Cass Elliot (Mama Cass) of The Mamas and Papas died in July 1974, and, four years later, Keith Moon, drummer with The Who, died of an overdose.

In the 1980s Shepherd Market was where politician and best-selling author Jeffrey Archer met the prostitute Monica Coghlan, an encounter which he tried to cover up in a court of law, and which eventually led to his imprisonment.

Despite the drama today’s Shepherd Market is a hidden treat to get yourself away from the hustle and bustle of the surrounding areas.  Very much like Lambs Conduit Street, you either know it and love it or you have never heard of it, so for the un-initiated here’s what we think is interesting to see and do in the area.

Part 1 – The Curzon Cinema

Walking through the doors of the Curzon cinema is like walking back in time to 1950s Hollywood.

The Mayfair crowd is what you would expect, even for the cinema people really dress up & look glamorous. The cinema often hosts for VIP’s and even has Royal Box seats upstairs for those with a big budget.

This Mayfair branch was the original of London’s Curzon cinema chain and maybe it’s owing to this legacy that it’s often chosen as the location for the Curzon’s premiers and Q & A events.

If you’re on the ball you can get tickets to some really great events with big name directors. The advanced screenings here really are far ahead of anywhere else & The films here are pretty much always of a high quality.

38 Curzon Street London W1J 7TY

Part 2 – Piccolo Bar (café)

If you wanted to find out where the locals go, you’ve found it here. By locals, we are talking taxi drivers, construction workers, and other blue collar guys. Open pretty much 24hours, Piccolo will never let you down with its Heaping helpings of comfort food.

Stuff that sticks to your ribs at rock bottom prices. Spaghetti Bolognese, melts, chilli con carne, muffins, samosas, sandwiches of every description and a self-service salad bar.

The service is quick and efficient. “How are you darling? Want a nice cuppa, love? Peachy.”

15 Shepherd Street, Mayfair, London, W1J

The Finlay shoe has been with us for 6 seasons now and the old adage, if it aint broke dont fix it is very appropriate to this style.

Named after the child of one of friends, these shoes, like him, will grow in character over the years.

This summer’s versions include an ambra leather which we have repeated from previous seasons due to its popularity plus 2 new arrivals in brick red and grey suede.

The newest Folk stockist, Anthem, has just opened in East London. We’ve been down to see it and were impressed by the interior and Folk’s in good company amongst brands such as Kapital, Waist Twice, Riding High and Vlas Blomme from Japan, Save Khaki from New York to Yves Andrieux from Paris and Nanok from Norway.

I’ve grown to realize, location doesn’t count for a whole lot in Maxvorstadt. Being situated on a main high street or a drab back street, high quality establishments are everywhere here and ‘Urbike’ is no exception.

Tucked away within Amalienpassage, just down the street from Folk, this custom bike store is just unfurling its wings. The space, more a showroom than a store, is a gleaming white room filled with bright custom painted bikes and parts. Run by Mr. Mike Gaser, a bike enthusiast, the store is incredibly young, being open just six weeks.

Mike’s sheer passion and pride in his work was clearly evident as he talked to Sebastian, a friend and more importantly a fluent German speaker. The raw parts, made in Taiwan and assembled in the Czech Republic, can either be picked in store at Urbike or online, via a really simple online shop.

In Munich, a city no stranger to cyclists, it seems Mike may have hit the nail on the head, offering a practical tool for inner city living but one that looks good too.

Urbike
Nymphenburgerstr. 70
80335
Munich

On the corner of Barerstraße and SchellingStraße, draped head to toe in the blue and white of the Bavarian flag sits the ‘Schelling Salon’. In a district fueled by young creative’s, whether it be business or at university, it’s easy to take historic hubs, such as this one, that are scattered around Maxvorstadt, for granted.

The billiard hall dates all the way back to 1872 when the original owners, Fridoline and Silvester Mehr founded the establishment. Despite the current ownership being in its 4th generation, Evelin Mehr, keeps the sam traditions alive within this heirloom. I have a suspicion not a lot would have changed. Low lighting and rows of billiard tables mixed with the scent of stale beer and salty snacks sets the scene in this truly unique bar.

My severe lack of German really hit home here, feeling as though I’d stepped into the past. However, despite the slightly reserved owner, Evelin Mehr, being slightly apprehensive of my eagerness to know about the establishment, she allowed me to take some photos. Many thanks go to Evelin.

Schelling-Salon
Schellingstr. 54
80799
Munich

Photographer Brian Sweeney is having an exhibition at the Folk Store, 11 dray Walk, Truman brewery London, from Thursday 8th September for four weeks, with an opening launch on Thursday 8th from 7-9 pm at the same address.

The show is called were the antelopes sleep and its an ongoing project,its part of two projects “the great stadiums of europe” stadiums found around europe mainly lower league or non league,a hark back to days when football wasnt about airline companies sponsering teams ,overpriced tickets and overpaid players,more about the community aspect of the sport,the images are always empty,because in a sense they are architectural as well as social,as the architecture reflects in many cases the main industries of the places they are found in,through the materials they are built with, and accordingly a reflection of the communities themselves.
The antelopes sleeps are the places i find peaceful in between shooting these stadiums.
All the images have previously not been shown and are part of an evergrowing body of work.

www.sweeneypix.com – www.briansweeneyphotography.com – www.this.is/stadiums

Reiterating my opinions regarding mindsets and personalities of the people here in Munich there stood Jo. Visiting the small, neatly pieced together ‘Jo Van Der Loo Gallery’ was a pretty welcoming experience. Despite being faced with a small bout of nerves each time I walk into a new establishment, due to my distinct lack of German, any worries were soon quelled as soon as I met this Gallery’s founder.

Jo Van Der Loo, the eponymous owner of the gallery greeted me with open arms. The 6 foot something; frizzy haired German was delighted to engage in conversation as I explained Folk’s newest journal series. Already familiar with the store and the brand, Jo was more than happy to tell me a little about the gallery and why he feels it’s so special.

Opening on March 5th 2011, Jo described the space as “A new space and position for contemporary photography in Munich” and the current exhibition highlighted that. Disinterested in oil paintings and traditional exhibition art, Jo’s true excitement came in modern mediums such as photography and video.

Paul Krazler is the artist whose photographs dominate the walls of the gallery at the moment. ‘Brut’, running from March 5th right up until June 26th Krazler’s pieces, a collection of photo’s showing Family members in a personal and albeit peculiar light, are a real eye opener offering intriguing viewing.

Words and Images: Sam Smith