Blustons, just one of the shops now standing empty in Kentish Town 

• THE grim face of Kentish Town High Street seems to worsen by the month.

It must have been over two years ago that we all felt rather excited about the prospect of our very own independent cinema.

There was also that gut-wrenching moment that we heard Mike Ashley had decided that he’d be expanding his empire to what was a carpet showroom and a betting shop at the south end of the street.

The feeling soon changed to – ahhh, (with a smile) Sports Direct on our doorstep… cheap footwear for our children’s ever-increasing feet.

Blustons (for gowns and coats); the famous red polka-dot dress has long gone. Boarding is now covering the windows as if predicting a potential riot.

The once popular-with-the-working-class sports bar, Annies, on the corner of Patshull Road, has had its upstairs converted into luxury, over-priced, small flats, and the street-level space left empty; although seemingly the perfect spot for a new venture.

Now, among the other places “to let”, we can add the post office. Never very pretty on the inside, it served a purpose, a purpose that would often leave a 20-strong queue leading out the front door.

Now our local post office is stuck in the back of a card and gift shop opposite, about a quarter of its previous size.

CHRIS STANGROOM
Bartholomew Road, NW5