Earlier on this summer, we brought you the news that popular North London cafe and bakery group Fink's was taking over all the food and drink side of things at Clissold House. Now we're giving you the first look inside their new Stoke Newington empire.
The first thing to know is that there are three elements to the takeover. First, you have The Kiosk. That's down on the lower level of the house and accessed from the south side. As the name suggests, this is a grab-and-go part of the operation, serving up coffee, breakfast bakes to go and various lovely snackage.
The Kiosk downstairs
Then you have The Pink Room and The Dining Room. They are the main cafe space and the adjoining dining space, both of which have been given one hell of a makeover. Stokey regulars will remember this as being a bit of a drab, council-run space. Now it's awash with colour picked by co-founder, Jess Blackstone and London-based designer, Miles Dean.
This is where you'll be able to order their amazing cakes and sandwiches, salad pots and pastries. On the launch menu, the galettes and savoury turnovers will include delica pumpkin, sage and goat cheese and honey ham with Comte and caraway. We've already tried a pot of their courgette baba ganoush, which we can strongly recommend.
The Pink Room
The Dining Room is probably the biggest change, and that's where you'll be able to enjoy a menu created by Jess and Head Chef Matilde Romeo (ex Serpentine Gallery Cafe). There'll be room for 45 inside and a further 18 under a sheltered portico outside.
The menu sounds good with dishes we very much want to try, including a sausage sarnie on their own homemade Shokupan tin loaf with brown sauce and a pumpkin scapece tart with stracciatella, toasted almonds and mint. A giant rosti with braised cavolo nero, poached eggs, crispy Serrano ham and sage sounds just the thing after a brisk walk around Clissold Park.
Highlights from the new menu in The Dining Room
North London kids are also taken care of by a new Ducklings Menu, with treats like little cheese on toast, cornflake chicken dippers, broccoli & cheese balls with tomato sauce, and pasta with favourite sauce.
Another reason you'll want to head down to the opening is that they're also promising the return of their Princess Cake, but this one will be a Pink Room Princess Cake, with its hue reflecting the new cafe.
We love the fact that co-owner Mat Appleton has been eyeing up the cafe at Clissold Park for almost a decade, wanting to get his hands on it. Well, now he has, and it sounds like a very good thing for Stoke Newington.
More about FINK’S Clissold Park
Where is it? Clissold House, Stoke Newington Church St, London N16 9HJ
When does it open? Open now but officially open on 1 October for breakfast and lunch, from 8am until sundown
Find out more: Visit their website or follow them on Instagram @finks.london
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