Join the #CountOnMeLondon Movement to Save Small Businesses in London

There are many amazing small businesses all over in London struggling to stay alive these hard days.

Luckily there are many different ways to support them in in lockdown period!

In this blog I will introduce some truly amazing little gems to be supported in London and tips how to support them during and after lockdown.

Let’s Show London Can Count on Us!

Share a photo or a selfie on social media along with the hashtag #CountOnMeLondon and encourage others to support too.

Do you know an awesome family owned business in London struggling during quarantine? Share it on social media and use hashtag #CountOnMeLondon.

Clink Prison Museum

Clink Prison Museum LondonSource: @theclickprison

The Clink Prison dates back to 1144 and is one of the oldest prisons in England.

Clink not only witnessed remarkable changes in history, but also saw famous historical people being imprisoned within its walls:  Sir Thomas Wyatt The Younger (son of the famous Renaissance poet), imprisoned for rebelling against Queen ‘Bloody’ Mary I, John Rogers who was responsible for translating the English Bible from Latin to English or John Duke, a famous actor, imprisoned for a debt of £8.

Maybe you didn’t know but Clink Prison Museum is a family owned museum and 100% of their income come from ticket sales, school booking and gift shop sales.

To keep local history alive, Clink needs your help. They have started a campaign on Crowdfounder to be able to stay alive and avoid permanent closure.

Please donate and help the oldest tourist attraction of Bankside survive.

All donations will be rewarded.

Click here to donate: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/savetheclink

(If you’re unable to donate, please share this post on social media.)

Charles Dickens Museum

Charles Dickens Museum LondonSource: dickensmuseum.com

Charles Dickens and his wife Catherine moved to 48 Doughty Road, London just before Queen Victoria begun her reign in 1837.

Dickens and his wife raised three of their eldest children there, and the famous storyteller wrote Oliver Twist, Pickwick Papers and Nicholas Nickleby within those walls.

Before Coronavirus pandemic outbreak Dickens Museum was about to announce the acquisitions of Dickens rarities, install a ‘lost portrait’ of Dickens following its disappearance of 170 years and open a new exhibition.

Charles Dickens Museum Garden Cafe LondonSource: facebook.com/pg/dickensmuseum

Due to the fact that Dickens Museum has been operating as a self-founding charity (they rely on visitors) since its foundation (95 years ago), the museum is not receiving funding from the government. This means, Dickens Museum has lost almost all of their income after Coronavirus outbreak.

Work at the museum, however, cannot stop. They have to continue to take care of their precious collections.

They need to raise £30,000 every month to cover the basic cost of looking after and take care of the house itself and the collections in it.

 

How to Support?

 

Once lockdown is over…

  • Visit Dickens Museum and enjoy their amazing collections
  • Pop in for a coffee and a slice of cake or a light lunch to their Garden Café. The café is FREE to visit. NO admission fee to pay.
  • Consider hiring one of their beautiful rooms in the historical building for either formal or informal event
  • Participate in a ‘Dickens Walk’ and discover streets Dickens knew intimately, follow Dickens to streets he often passed as a child and visit a secret garden which the adult Dickens influenced.

 

God’s Own Junkyard

God's Own Junkyard #CountOnMeLondon

This absolutely wonderful neon sign jungle has the largest vintage neon sign collection in Europe. In addition, God’s Own Junkyard is the oldest neon signmaker in London.

You probably didn’t know but their neon signs have appeared in Hollywood super productions such as Avengers, or Eyes Wide Shut with Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman. God’s Own Junkyard has been hired by the most famous magazines for photo shoots (e.g. Vouge) and by singers to record video clips.

How to Support?

 

Once lockdown is over…

  • Buy a nice coffee and a slice of cake at their lovely café: The Rolling Scones Café (Psst…their carrot cake is legendary)

 

Café Van Gogh

Cafe Van Gogh #CountOnMeLondon

Café Van Gogh is a not for profit social enterprise and they are working together with three charities to run an on-the-job training programme for people with disabilities or mental health problems.

In addition, Café Van Gogh is a zero-waste business and 100% vegan. Oh, and dog friendly. Wow!

How to Support?

Once lockdown is over…

  • Try something from their delicious vegan menu
  • Enjoy a relaxing afternoon on the top floor with Van Gogh inspired painted ceiling and decoration
  • Hire the place for private events

 

Tombo Café

Tombo Cafe London #CountOnMeLondon

Tobo Café is a family run café with three shops in London.

They offer healthy authentic Japanese food and drink in a modern accessible way. They believe in the health benefit of green tea. That’s why we can recognise the influence of green tea in their entire menu.

Tombo is the first Japanese kawaii character themed café in London.

How to Support?

  • Purchase tea selections, teaware and Sanrio themed goodies online

Once lockdown is over…

  • Order sandwiches, wraps, treat boxes or hot food for small meetings or home
  • Try their delicious character themed Japanese sweets or desserts
  • Choose from their wide variety of soups and dishes (their katsu curry is an absolute winner)
  • Purchase some exclusive Sanrio and Hello Kitty goodies from the shop

 

Attendant

The Attendant Cafe London #CountOnMeLondon

Attendant is a small business with three shops each of them offering different experience and focusing on local community.

They offer delicious seasonal menu and coffee all from sustainable and ethical source.

Probably their quirkiest shop is in Fitzrovia where they renovated a disused Victorian toilet. They preserved the original green Victorian style tiles and restored the Victorian style urinals to make your café experience as quirky and unique as possible.

 

How to Support?

  • Support their awesome team by purchasing gift card from as little as £5
  • Order exclusive coffee blends or reusable stylish ceramic coffee cups online

Once lockdown is over…

  • Choose one from their endless coffee menu. They have such specialities like Babyccino, Turmeric Latte, Matcha Latte or Chai Latte
  • Have your breakfast or lunch at a Victorian style urinal
  • Hire the place for private or corporate events

 

Crypt Café

Crypt Cafe Trafalgar Square #CountOnMeLondon

Located under the ground near Trafalgar Square, Café in the Crypt is a unique place with historic tombstones and brick-vaulted ceilings.

All profit from Café in the Crypt go to St-Martin-In-The-Fields church.

How to Support?

  • Donate online to help the homeless, the church services in the future or to help providing safe and secure place to the vulnerable

 

Once lockdown is over…

  • Pop in for a coffee or a meal and enjoy the thrillingly unique atmosphere of the crypt café
  • Enjoy a glass of fine wine or bubbly in the crypt
  • Join for a Jazz Night in the café

 

Lady Dinah’s Cat Emporium

Lady Dinah's Cat Emporium London #CountOnMeLondon

Picture source: ladydinahs.com

 

Lady Dinah’s Cat Emporium is the UK’s longest running cat café.

The wonderland themed cat café is a cozy place to enjoy your time with rescue cats.

Enjoy an afternoon tea with human and furry friends or take part in a Pet First Aid Course.

How to Support?

  • Order online: tea selections, exclusive designs of cat charms and NHS cat charms (they donate for NHS Charity)
  • Purchase stylish gift vouchers from as little as £10 online
  • Order other cat care essentials and exclusive gifts from their online shop

 

Once lockdown is over…

  • Buy a cat face mask at the door on your arrival
  • Make a booking and enjoy the company of cute rescue cats with a coffee, afternoon tea or choose something yummy from their al a cart menu
  • Private hire the café or part of the café
  • Adopt a cat
  • Participate in their Pet First Aid Course

 

The Knot Churros

The Knot Churros London #CountOnMeLondon

The Knot Churros is located in South Kensington and has only one but truly extraordinary shop with giant gummy bears, floral ceiling and a swing chair and pinky flamingos.

They sell beautifully designed themed ice creams, hot churros, cotton candy burritos and much more.

How to Support?

  • Visit their physical shop between and order something yummy from their full menu list for takeaway

Once lockdown is over…

  • Drop by and try one of their Disney themed ice cream creations and don’t forget to take a selfie with it while sitting in the swing chair surrounded by flamingos
  • Book for a Dumbo inspired magical afternoon tea

 

Mamasons Dirty Ice Cream

Mamasons - Filipino Ice Cream London

London’s first Filipino ice cream parlour, Mamasons has two tiny yet Insta-worthy shops in Kentish Town and China Town.

They sell traditional Filipino ice creams, shakes and hot and cold drinks.

How to Support?

  • Pop in for a delicious Filipino ice cream to their Kentish Town store. Now open Mon-Thurs 1pm-10pm and Fri-Sun 12pm-10pm

 

Know an awesome small business in London? Share it! #CountOnMeLondon

#BuyLocal #StaySafe #CountOnMeLondon #SupportLocal