The Hidden Lane

The Hidden Lane has much to offer. Unfortunately, it’s also a bit too hidden, so lots of people miss it, which means that the turnover of the retail businesses is fairly high, as they often don’t get sufficient foot fall to sustain their business. The landlord really needs to get his act together, and get some proper signage and lighting. The entrance to it could be really cool — I’m thinking maybe some sort of art installation of neon lights in the lane entrance, or big neon arrows, or something along those lines.
When you get into the lane itself, signage would really help with finding the businesses too, as it is a bit of a rabbit warren, and it’s hard to work out where things are, even when you know they are definitely there. Signs with numbers would be a great help. Particularly in the winter months, when it gets dark so early, it can be a bit intimidating stumbling about a lane in the dark. Also, cars are allowed to park right in front of the doors pretty much, so even if there is a small sign that the business has put up, it’s often easy to miss. Seriously landlord dude, get it sorted.
The businesses that are there though, are typically worth seeking out. There is the AWESOME Hidden Lane Tearoom, a vintage style café, with beautiful cakes and teas. Currently, the lanes are also home to Paul Tasker Music — cool guitar teacher, A Shore Thing — a guy who makes great things from driftwood — top tip — you’ll see a lot of his stuff in some of the pricier west end boutiques at much more expensive prices than if you buy from him directly. There’s also the newly opened Sweetheart Creations selling up-​cycled items, Dragonfly Boutique selling beautiful jewellery, art, and home-​ware items (well worth a visit — they have some gorgeous stuff including items made from beach combed glass), Monday’s Child, selling textile home-​ware, and Emily Rose vintage.
Aside from the retail units, there are also all sorts of people doing really cool things. Sew Confident offer sewing courses, which I really like the sound of, there’s Shona Jewellery, who mostly sells online but works from a studio here, Bobbin & Fleck who do furniture restoration and upholstery, and lots more including a picture framer, a laser cutting and engraving place, a landscape architects’ studio, and the New Hellfire Club, which is a not for profit record and book shop. Plus there’s a recording studio! La Chunky Studios are right at the back left hand corner of the lane, and it’s a fantastic place, offering high-​end recording facilities for musicians, film-​makers and voice over artists. I was lucky enough to have a look about recently, and hidden at the back of their studio there’s a massive sunken room for hanging out in — it’s so cool.
So, The Hidden Lane is a quirky place, fully of brilliant people who deserve a better landlord — one who has the vision to turn this into a thriving hub of creativity and successful businesses. The Hidden Lane is cool already, but it could be utterly amazing.

I think this is one of those spots which is so much better when you stumble across it unexpectedly. So if you’re reading this STOP!
Ok if you must know, down this lane you’ll find a tearoom with delicious cakes, a few shops, artists studios, a yoga studio, some cats and a few other things. Seriously just go for a wander, it’s the best!

I would love to love the Hidden Lane more — I mean, it sounds so exciting. But once you’re down there, it’s a bit more like a car park rather than a fun discovery experience. The businesses tend not to be too well signposted and I struggle to find where I’m looking for. I almost get that feeling like I’m trespassing some of the time! I’d love it if there was a map at the start of the lane to tell you which businesses are where.
That being said, the businesses I’ve visited down here definitely have that hidden gem quality that only comes with the fun of trying to find them.