21/05/2026
Does the restaurant make an area or does the area make the restaurant?
Last week I popped into a new local, The Latimer, in North Kensington. Family-owned and buzzing, it’s a welcoming space full of locals, vibey staff and Scampi Fries behind the bar. It felt current, but without the pretension.
I hesitate to mention North Ken - a loaded description for the area between Ladbroke Grove and White City, mostly because I grew up here. In the 90s, W10 was the poor relation to its sexier neighbor, W11; a melting pot of young families with a rougher edge. At one point, my road housed David Cameron at one end and a 7/7 bomber at the other. Irony at its finest.
When Notting Hill came out in 1999, the area became a destination overnight. Asked where I lived, I’d flirt between Ladbroke Grove (to sound edgy) or Notting Hill (to sound boujee). I’d never say North Kensington; no one knew where it was. Over time, those priced out of W11 moved into W10, bringing a new vibe.
I feel fiercely protective of it now, wanting to shout, “I lived here first!” It comes from pride, but also a fear that its raw edge will get diluted into just another “it” spot. Gentrification reshapes London; my dad, a born and bred Stamford Hill boy, still can’t believe Hackney now houses some of the best culinary spots in town.
Which brings us full circle. Latimer Road used to be a dodgy street; now it houses multimillion pound homes, a fringe theatre and this wonderful pub. Yet Mick’s Fish & Chip shop and my favourite newsagent are still there. My parents sold our childhood home a few years ago and a piece of my heart went with it. I still cry when I pass it, aching for my feet to sink into its garden.
So, does the restaurant make an area or does the area make the restaurant?
I’m leaning toward the latter. W10 was always cool; I was just blind to it. West London is having a massive restaurant renaissance, and .latimer is a win for both the owners and the locals. North Kensington was always on the map, but now it’s firmly imprinted in everyone’s minds. And for me? It’s etched into my heart forever.
