The SOAS Ethical Guide by Student Hubs

THE

ETHICAL GUIDE TO SOAS

TIPS FOR SUSTAINABLE LIVING IN BLOOMSBURY, KINGS CROSS AND ANGEL

Hello From Us We are a small group of students from the hub at SOAS. In the summer of 2015, we got together to write this ethical guide so that we could share with the current and future SOASians, the best-kept secrets of the area surrounding our university. The world today is full of complex issues and challenges: from widespread inequality, environmental collapse, racism, war, and poverty. But before we get too bogged down by all of this, we’d like to show you that something is being done about these issues. While it is true that much of the action is happening on the global, multi-national level; however, even in the back-streets of Kings Cross and the pedestrian zones of Bloomsbury, independent businesses are tackling huge problems simply by existing. This guide is an attempt to consolidate these efforts and showcase the ethical shops, cafes, bookstores, restaurants, community centres, markets, and more. Although, as London is too big to map in a summer project, we’ve restricted ourselves to the Bloomsbury, Kings Cross, and Angel areas. The good news is there is always a lot of ethical stuff going on in this city! This area has an incredible and rich history. Charles Dickens, Virginia Wolf and Charles Darwin are just some big names who lived here. Not so long ago, Kings Cross was a hot-bed of prostitution (pun totally intended!).

As most people in our generation know, Harry Potter’s train to Hogwarts leaves from platform 9 and 3/4 in Kings Cross station. Amy Winehouse lived just up the road in Camden. Exactly ten years ago this summer, the 7/7 bombings shook Tavistock Square Gardens. In the last two years, Google have moved into the area surrounding Regents’ Canal as part of a wider neighbourhood regeneration project. If the city gets too overwhelming for you, which it does for us all at times, this guide also has a few recommended walks and green spaces which are open to public where even a modest SOAS student can get some peace and quiet. We hope you end up loving this guide as much as we do. If you’d like to get involved or contribute to the next issue, just get in touch (contact details on the back page)!

From the Hub with Love.

Contents 1 Hello From Us 2 Contents 3 Food 14 Book Shops 17 Activities 18 Shops 20 Apps 21 Miscellaneous 23 Contact the Hub

This booklet was produced by: Student Hubs at SOAS. Find out more about our work turn to page 23. Special Thanks to Mitchell Smolders, Rudhayaini Mukane, Amandeep Sangha, Leonie Le Borgne, Taaka Odera & Issy Schmidt

This booklet was printed by: Student Hubs at SOAS.

Students & Charities get 20% off Tel: 0207 837 9843 info@onoffmarketing.eu www.onoffprint.com facebook.com/onoffprint

BIG thanks to:

O2 Think Big, SOAS Ventures Society, and our many volunteers for all their support.

Food:Markets/Stalls Torrington Square Farmers’ Market

Right in the heart of Bloomsbury, this Thursday market is a great place to relax and unwind in the peaceful Torrington Square. It is the perfect location for a local lunch and food shopping. There are always good selections of farm produce and hot food to take away. So escape from your studies for an hour, pop down and grab some fresh food and air.

Area: Bloomsbury Website: http://www.lfm. org.uk/markets/bloomsbury/ Where: Between SOAS Main building and Birkbeck Opening hours: Thurs 9am-2pm. Come early for lunch, they sell out quickly! Price Range: Most hot meals are £5 and portion sizes are good!

Food:Markets/Stalls

What Nature Offers Area: Bloomsury and Online Website: http://www. whatnatureoffers.com/shop.php Where: In front of SOAS Opening hours: Irregular - see website Price Range: Dependent upon harvest

Organic, fresh, seasonal Sicilian produce brought to us directly by Sicilian farmers. The products are high quality and certified 100% organic. The farmers do not use any genetically modified organisms or harmful synthethic fertilizers and aim to maintaint the local ecosystem. Their main aim is to build a direct link between farmers and the final customers, to make sure everyone gets the value and benefit they deserve. Last but not the least, the founders are also former SOAS students!

Pierrepont Arcade Market Hidden in the back streets of Angel, almost anything can be found in this market. From denpassageislington.co.uk/pages/ Japanese art prints to handmade chocolates pierrepont-arcade-market.htm and retro goodies - this market transforms Where: N1 8EA from a antique market to a book market Opening hours: Mon 9am-3.30pm, every other day. And the best bonus? It’s all Wed 8am-3.30pm Sat 8.30am-3.30pm (more or less) covered, to protect you from Price range: Varies widely the unexpected British rains! Area: Angel Website: http://www.cam-

Food:Markets/Stalls

Islington Farmer’s Market/Chapel Market This is London’s most established street market, with around 30 stalls each week offering a wide range of products, from artisan breads to fresh fish. Islington Farmer’s Market is certified by FARMA, which means you can trust that all stalls sell products which are grown only in the UK. They offer seasonal and organic food along with freerange meat/poultry whilst maintaining high hygiene standards. This is definitely a good place to take a stroll with your friends on a sunny sunday afternoon, while also doing your weekly grocery shopping!

Area: Angel Website: http://www.lfm.org.uk/ markets/islington/ Where: N1 9PZ Opening hours: Mon closed, Tues-Sat 9am – 6pm,Sun 8:30am - 4pm Price range: Varies widely

Cafes Fairly Square

Area: Bloomsbury Website: http://www.fairly-square.com/ Where: WC1R 4PF Opening hours: Tue.Wed 12 - 11pm Thu-Sat 12pm - 12am Price range: Medium (but cocktails are quite cheap) This multi-functional, creative space serves as a café, a cocktail bar, a shop and is also available for private hire. Whether you’re interested in having a coffee or having fun with friends on a night out, this space caters for it. This space is relatively affordable with most food being available under £10, and most drinks available under £10. Great creative space in the Kings Cross area.

Area: Kings Cross Website: http://www.drinkshopdo.com/ Where: N1 9DX

A unique location with an aim: to provide a space for people to hangout and have fun, all while bringing together folks with an interest in economic, social and environmental justice. This is London’s first fairtrade cafe-bar. They believe that economic justice can bring real positive change to people’s lives. Therefore, they stock a wide range of products which are mainly fairtrade, rainforest alliance or from other local/community initiatives. For example, they get all their house-wines and beers from organic, local sources and even their cocktails are made out of fairtrade quinoa vodka!

Drink Shop & Do

Opening hours: 10.30am-12.00am MonThurs 10.30am-2am Fri and Sat, 10.30am8pm Sun Price Range: Food under £10, Drinks under £10

Cafes

Continental Stores

Alara Continental Stores combines your daily dose of coffee with seasonal ingredients, allowing for an ever-changing range of dishes for you to try out. Moreover, the beans they make your coffee with are directly bought from the farms. They also have an in-house baker. You should also check out their sister branch at 40 Store Street.

Crussh Fit Food and Juice Bar

Area: Bloomsbury Website: http://www.storestespresso.co.uk/ Where: WC1H 9RG Opening hours: Mon - Fri 9am-6pm Sat 9am-7pm, Sun 10am-4pm Price Range: £2-3 for coffee, < £5 for food

All of Crussh’s juices and nutmilks are freshly made, raw and unpasteurised. They also have artisan food that is delivered fresh to the store every morning. “Healthier, tastier and easier” is their motto and through Crussh’s wide variety of ‘Fit’-foods, they try to aid you in achieving fitness too. They are a regular supporter of breast-cancer charities and sell Life water in their store (which provided 100 litres of drinking water to communities in the developing world. Therefore, you won’t feel as guilty spending a bit more as their prices are slightly above Bloomsburry standards. Area: Bloomsbury Website: http://www.crussh.com/ Where: The Brunswick Centre Opening hours: 7am-7pm Mon-Thurs7.30am-6.30pm Fri, 11am-5.30pm Sat Price Range: Fit Food around £5, drinks between £3 and £6

They provide foods that are organic, gluten free and fair trade. They were one of the first companies in the UK to be registered with the coeliac society. They are committed to being as sustainable as possible - minimising energy use and maximising recycling rates. Area: Bloomsbury Website: http://www.alarashop.com/ Where: WC1N 1AB Opening hours: Mon-Fri 9am-7pm Sat 10am - 7pm, Sun 11am-6pm Price Range: £2-3 Drinks, £3-5 Muesli products

At Yumchaa, they pour their tea with a passion and follow the “Loose Leaf ” principle. They believe that tea served in bags restricts the leaves from mingling with the water; its tastes and the natural leaf-oils are less “Yum” as well. Also their tea is served in specially filtered water, catering a wide variety of teas, to every tea-fanatic at any hour of the day.

Yumchaa Area: Kings Cross Website: http://www.yumchaa.com/ Where: N1C 4AB Opening hours: 8am-8pm Price Range: £2-3 for a cup of tea, £3-4 for cakes and sandwiches

Supermarkets

Cafes

Coffee Art Net This is a coffee shop within the P21 Gallery, which also helps fund it. They provide a space to speak about the Palestinian issue through art, whilst also selling Palestinian art.

Planet Organic

Area: Bloomsbury Website: http://www. planetorganic.com/ Where: WC1E 7HJ and online presance Opening hours: Mon-Fri 7:30-9pm, Sat 9am-8pm, Sun 12-6pm Price Range: £5 for a large box of organic hot food (delicious!!) but regular supermarket ingredients (if you were doing your daily shop here) are expensive.

Area: Kings Cross Website: http://www.p21.org.uk/ Where: NW1 1JD Opening hours: Wed-Sun 12pm-6pm Price Range: £2-3 for a wide range of coffee

Bloomsbury Coffee House The Bloomsbury Coffee House combines freshly made food with a great location below street-level; ideal for escaping the noise SOAS might bring. It’s lunch menu changes daily and everything is freshly made with organic milk and free-range eggs. Furthermore, the Bloomsbury Coffee House cooperates with “Cafe Art” which exhibits art pieces made by disadvantaged and socially vulnerable people.

Area: Bloomsbury Website: http://bloomsburycoffeehouse. co.uk/ Where: WC1H 9RE Opening hours: Mon - Fri: 8am - 6pm Sat/ Sun: 1:30pm - 6pm Price Range: £2-3 for a wide range of drinks, <£5 for food

The Co-operative The food sold is sourced from their own farms and they support over 200 fairtrade lines. They distribute at least 40% of their profits to members of the Co-operative, staff and community groups, and they help fund social action projects. These include supporting other co-operatives, keeping communities thriving, inspiring young people, protecting the envrionment, tackling global poverty, responsible retailing and finance. Their ethical plan for 2012-2014 and beyond can be found here: http://www.co-operative.coop/corporate/ csr/our_ethical_plan_2012-2014.pdf

It is the UK’s largest, fully certified organic supermarket. They are ethically minded and say that they are the place to go to stock up on organic goods, gluten-free and vegan foodstuffs, along with hard-to-find ingredients like natural, low-sulphite wines. You can also visit their website and use the tool/settings option in the top right hand corner of the page to set your allergy/food preferences and view the website through your own eyes (and tummy!)

Area: Bloomsbury Website: http://www.co-operative.coop/ Where: WC1E 7DB Opening hours: Mon-Sun 7am-11pm Price range: Normal supermarket prices

Supermarkets

Restaurants

The People’s Supermarket

Caravan

Community-minded, ethical grocery store selling healthy, responsibly sourced, seasonal local foods at reasonable prices. Their vision is to create a commercially sustainable, social enterprise that achieves its growth and targets whilst operating within values based on community development and cohesion. The intent is to offer an alternative food buying network, by connecting an urban community with the local farming community.

Part innovation lab, part business incubator, and part community centre, they offer their members a unique ecosystem of resources, inspiration, and collaboration opportunities to grow impact. Joining their diverse community of members and collaborators will inspire, connect, and enable people to develop their best work, every step of the way.

Area: Bloomsbury Website: www.thepeoplessupermarket.org Where: WC1N 3LP Opening hours: Mon-Sat: 8 am to 10 pm, Sun: 10 am to 9 pm Price Range: Average

Restaurants Indian Veg

It is a vegetarian’s oasis in London. They are totally inexpensive and their aim to convert people to vegetarianism. Luckily for them, they do this by giving people good, healthy, very tasty vegetarian food. Area: Angel Website: https://theindianveg.wordpress. com/ Where: N1 9EX Opening hours: 12pm-11:30pm everyday Price Range: £4.50 all you can eat

Area: King’s Cross Website: http://www.caravankingscross. co.uk/ Where: EC1R 4QD Opening hours: Weekdays: 8am-10.30 pm, Weekends: 10am-10.30pm The bar is open till 11 pm on weekdays and till midnight in the weekend.

Green and Fortune Cafe An exemplar of fair-trade and locally produced ingredients, they use beef and lamb which is sourced from their own fields. All their cakes are hand made daily. Their coffee is from ethically run farms and they change their dishes based on the seasons and available ingredients. Area: Kings Cross Website: http://www.greenandfortunecafe. co.uk Where: N1 9AG Opening hours: Mon-Wed 7.30am-6pm, Thu-Fri 7.30am-8pm Sat-Sun10am - 4pm Price Range: £5 for a dish, £2 for a drink

Restaurants

Bookshops

Persephone Books

Itadaki Zen Area: Kings Cross Website: http://www.itadakizen-uk.com/ Where: WC1X 9BJ Opening hours: 12pm- 3pm, 6pm-10pm Price Range: Individual dishes are between £5-10, set menus are between £10 and £20

This is Europe’s first organic and vegan Japanese restaurant. By using only vegan and organic product, Itaki Zen’s cuisine is characterized by “Slow Food” values in order to counter illness and maintain a healthy and balanced lifestyle. They also regularly hosts free cultural events and food workshops. Students get a discount so make sure to show your SOAS ID.

Foodilic Kings Cross Providing both take-away and in-house meals (and also do catering), Foodilic serves high quality, great tasting and healthy dishes. Many of their vegetables, coffees and teas are fairtrade or organic! Foodilic also offers an All Day Breakfast menu. Simple decor with an open kitchen. Area: Kings Cross Website: http://www.foodilickingscross. co.uk/ Where: N1 9JY Opening hours: 7am-9pm Mon-Sat, Sun closed Price Range: Dishes for £3-10

Persephone books is a second hand bookshop and a publishing company. They print only a handful of out-of-print books every year and most of them interwar novels by women.

Skoob Books They are the hub for used and secondhand books. You can buy and sell books, all for very reasonable prices! They have a range of of second-hand academic books, including text-books for Philosophy, Psychology, Modern Literature, Art, History, Politics, Economics, Classics, Science and Technology.

Area: Bloomsbury Website: https://www.persephonebooks. co.uk/ Where: WC1N 3NB Opening hours: 10am-6pm Mon-Fri, 125pm Sat, Closed Sun Price Range: Most books are around £12

Area: Bloomsbury (Brunswick) Website: http://www.skoob.com/ Where: WC1N 1AE Opening times: 10.30am-8pm Mon-Sat, 10.30am-6pm Sun Price Range: Low (the second hand books are heavily discounted)

Bookshops

Judd Books

The sell incredibly good quality, used academic books. We, SOAS students, have often used this bookshop but reviews on Google are glowing as well. One review claims that it is significantly “cheaper than Amazon! Floor to ceiling bargain books... I have lost many hours circumnavigating a book buyer’s paradise. Cannot recommend enough.”

Dar-al Hikma

Area: Bloomsbury (Brunswick) Website: http://www.juddbooks.com/ Where: WC1N 1AG Opening times: 11am-7pm Price Range: Low (the secondhand books are highly discounted)

The Magreb Review They have rare and out-of-print scholarly books on North Africa, the Arab world and Islam. Here you can find the unfindable. Established in 1987. Area: Bloomsbury Website: http://www.maghreb-studies-association.co.uk/en/shophome html Where: WC1H 9AL Opening Times: Unspecified Price Range: >£10

Gay’s the Word Providing a large collection of books promoting queer youth, lesbian and gay parenting and diversity, Gays The Word has been a pioneer in promoting queer literature in Great Britain. This independent bookshop is a non-judgemental safe-space for the gay scene and offers monthly Lesbian and Trans Discussion groups, as well as a LGBT bookgroup. A self-described straight-friendly gay-family business, it is definitely worth a visit. Insane book collection, monthly discussion groups.

Area: Bloomsbury Wesbite: http://freespace. virgin.net/gays.theword/ Where: WC1N 1AB Opening times: 10am-6.30pm MonSat, 2pm-6pm Sun Price range: £5 for second-hand books.

Activities Nike Womens Run

This is a weekly running club that NIKE organises. This group run’s twice a week, on Monday’s and Wednesday’s, and welcomes people of all athletic abilities. Whilst this activity is outside of the Bloomsbury area, it’s a great way to socialise, it’s at no cost to the environment, and is only 2 stops away from Russell Square Station.

Area: Covent Garden Facebook Group: https://www.facebook. com/groups/157727054295358?ap=1 Where: WC2H 9LY Time: Meet at 6pm for a 6:30pm start. Every Monday (ONLY WOMEN) and Wednesday (EVERYONE). Price Range: Free

Activities

Regents Canal Walk The Regent’s Canal walk is one of London’s best-kept secrets - a peaceful haven often hidden by the surrounding buildings. Today it is well-loved by boaters, walkers and cyclists all looking to escape the capital’s busy streets, but this gem of a canal was all too nearly converted into a railway.

Shops Camley Street National Park This is a great option for those interested in nature, or looking to experience open space. This cosy space was re-invented from an old coal yard in 1984 and is run by the help of volunteers and the London Wildlife trust. It is a home to various species of flora and fauna. A great way to relax and take a break from the busy London atmosphere!

Area: Kings Cross Where: N1C 4PW Opening Times: Mon- Sun 10am-5pm, (104pm in the wintertime). Price Range: FREE!

Area: Angel Website: http://www.thefaraworkshop.org/ Where: N1 9HJ Opening hours: Mon to Sun till 5pm Price Range: Cheap

Top tip: If your family is coming to visit London, this is hands down the best (and free!) way to discover the ‘real’ London, weather permitting of course. Go through Little Venice, Camden Lock, Kings Cross, Primrose Hill, and Warwick Avenue.

The FARA Workshop FARA gives off the polished thrift-shop feel we have all been looking for after hearing Macklemore’s famous song. If you want to give your old clothes or fabrics a new home, consider donating them to FARA. Working together with commercial companies and local social enterprises, FARA crafts new and amazing pieces from your old stuff.

Shops

Apps

Annie’s Vintage With its amazing collection of quirky dresses, Annie’s vintage clothes shop in Islington’s Camden Passage, knocks spots off most of the vintage clothing stores in London.The fashion set love it. Everyone, including Alexander McQueen, John Galliano, Nicole Farhi, Ralph Lauren and Donna Karan have raided the place for quirky trimmings, accessories and one off pieces such as feather capes, embroidered shawls, original flapper dresses and bias-cut numbers in fabulous prints. Kate Moss and Pearl Lowe are regulars. Real vintage, real quality. Lots of lace, original 1920s clothes and accessories.

Area: Camden Website: anniesvintageclothing.co.uk Where: N1 8ED Opening hours: 11am-6pm everyday Price Range: High

Animal Free (Andriod&iPhone) This App lists all of the various foods that contain animal products. All the way from regular milk to pharmaceutical casing of pills, it informs you of what they are and their contribution to the meat and dairy industry. For those not interested in consuming

animal products, or wanting to be more conscious of what they consume, or for making sense of what the labels at the back of products mean, this app is good to have a look at.

VegMan (Andriod&iPhone) For anyone looking to find Vegan or Vegetarian restaurants in the surrounding area, this app is perfect. It lists all the nearby

Vegetarian/Vegan restaurants nearby or those that have vegetarian options available for anyone interested in ethical ways to eat!

Aperture Camera and accessories specialist with an emphasis on Nikon products and a cafe with outdoor seating. They also offer film processing and camera repairs! Cafe offers drinks, juices, paninis and (home-made) soups. Cameras and coffee! What’s not to like? “At Aperture we specialise in second hand camera equipment, dealing in a range of brands including: Leica, Nikon, Canon and other professional photographic equipment”

Area: Goodge St Website: http://www.apertureuk.com/ Where: W1T 1JE Opening hours: 11am – 7pm Mon-Fri, Sat 12pm-7pm Price Range: Low

GoodGuide (Andriod&iPhone) This App helps find socially responsible products, based on a series of scientific ratings. The ratings are structured based on health (nutritional value), environment (how they manage their products, their transparency on where they stand environmentally etc.), and society (worker treatment policies, relationship with the community etc.). Whilst it only covers

American products, a lot of these products are available internationally and thus it is worth having a look at in order to understand what kind of process was undergone in order for the products to be made. The categories on the app range from food, to beauty and homeware. It’s a great shortcut, if you don’t have time to research the products individually.

CONTACT THE HUB Tasha Unwin Manager tasha.unwin@studenthubs.org Issy Schmidt Hub support Officer issy.schmidt@studenthubs.org Address: At SOAS, we are based in the Student Enterprise office or in the Careers Service. Look for us in F406 (Faber Building) or in R101 (Main Building) Phone: 0207 898 4902 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/studenthubs.soas Twitter: https://twitter.com/SH_SOAS