Inside London's 'hidden village' that's a bit like going back in time

03 September 2023 , 09:54

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Inside London's 'hidden village' Barnes Village, that's a bit like going back in time (Image: MyLondon/Tai Kolade WS)

Residents and traders alike have spoken of their "proper village community" in what can only be described as London's "hidden village". Locals say the location is like stepping into a bygone era, where chain store conglomerates are often shunned in favour of independent retailers and services.

The small district situated in the South West of the capital has seen a thriving sense of community - particularly since the coronavirus pandemic - with residents rallying around to support each other in the wake of the cost-of-living crisis.

The neighbourhood in question is Barnes, part of the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames with a population of just over 20,000, according to the 2011 census. It's situated on a peninsula curving around the River Thames in the north east of the borough, with Hammersmith and Fulham only a bridge crossing away.

The village boasts a butcher's, a bakery and a fishmonger's among its independent stores, and although familiar names like Caffe Nero and Gail's Bakery sit alongside them on the High Street, local businesses have the unwavering support of its inhabitants. One such shop, Parish Bakery has been a mainstay in the tight-knit community since 1950.

Chelsea Smith and Alan Marshall at Barnes Fish Shop (MyLondon/Tai Kolade WS)

Workers Elaine, 54, and Daniela, 30, can't speak highly enough of the area. Elaine told MyLondon: "It's nice. It's a nice place with nice people around, it's like a little village for families. We have regular customers who come in almost every day. And we know when they go on holiday because they don't come in here and we have some customers who we speak to about their lives and everything. We have this and we also have some workers, people working locally like builders come in all the time."

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Daniela added: "The people around here come to buy a cheese [from a shop across the road] for the weekend or to go to have a picnic. Then they come here to buy the bread, they get their fruit from next door. If they get sick at any point they go just over there to the pharmacy."

In a single 300m strip, it appears the village has everything you might need. There are restaurants and jewellers, a wine shop, barbers, estate agents, and even quirky outlets including a specialist Swedish shop.

Chelsea Smith, 28, and Alan Marshall, 27, who both work at Barnes Fish Shop - which dates back to the 1990s - are proud of the community-feel and have explained exactly why people love it.

Alan said: "There's one butcher, one fishmonger, one fish and chip shop, one carpenter, a few jewellers, a few nail shops, one barber, just one of everything really. That's what it's like, it's just beautiful, everyone likes it."

Chelsea agrees, adding that the community spirit is what makes everyone like it. She said: "It's such a community. Everyone kind of knows everyone. Once you've worked here a couple of months everyone just kind of says hello and even if you're not at work and you're just walking down the high road, [everyone] says hello."

She also believes that the high street has seen a surge in its fortunes since the pandemic. "Up until Covid a lot of young people were still buying from supermarkets and stuff like that, but we've noticed a lot of younger people coming in now since Covid happened," she explained. "Everyone kind of wants to buy local and buy fresh and not really buy pre-made bags."

Barnes' The Real Cheese Shop (MyLondon/Tai Kolade WS)

Alan added that the geography means the area feels even more like a village and increases the high street's importance. He said: "We're segregated from everyone else. The only way to get over here is through bridges - Chiswick, Hammersmith or Putney."

Another Barnes institution, meanwhile, is The Real Cheese Shop. Located on the High Street for 45 years, it is in keeping with many of the other legacy shops. Valentina Keen, who runs it with her business partner, grew up in Barnes and despite not living there now, says she hopes to move back in the future.

Asked about the community, Valentina said: "I would say there're some very smart, clever people who run incredible businesses and [have] built it up, but they don't like shouting about it. They're very understated and very accepting. So it's quite a nice, understated community."

Alan Johnson