There’s never been a more important time to support the fantastic small businesses of Harrow. With the return of Small Business Saturday on the 5th of December I want to showcase as many businesses I can, and encourage others to shop small and local.

North Harrow’s finest Red Cup Cafe has been busy this year, supporting key workers during the first lockdown, helping to provide free school meals to children during the Half Term holiday, and setting up their own eco-friendly delivery service. This week they’re back to doing what they do best – serving customers indoors with their much loved menu. Whether it’s the Chicken & mushroom pie 🥧 , Bollywood chips 🍟, or a banana & chocolate Belgian waffle – there’s something for everyone at the Red Cup! ☕️

You can order online now: https://www.redcupcafe.co.uk/ and be sure to check them out across social media

Runner-ups of Harrow Business Den last year, this incredibly useful box (operated by your smartphone 📱) helps people receive contactless deliveries when they aren’t home or are unable to get to the door. 📦

More information can be found on their website: www.iparcelbox.com and across Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. (@iparcelbox) 🖥️

Depth and Field Photography 📷, run by West Harrow based photographer and social media manager, Trish, is helping local businesses reach their ideal customer base, by working with them on their branding and social media platforms. You can find more information about her and the fantastic work she does capturing weddings 👰, concerts 🎤, magazine shoots 👩‍🎤, and much more at www.depthandfieldphotography.com

Ahead of Small Business Saturday, I’m proud to spotlight local stained glass designer, Richard Cann.

Saddened by the sight of British pre-war housing being “mutilated by plastic toy windows”, Richard started his obsession with domestic leaded lights (or “stained glass”) a few years ago. He now rescues and sells stained glass windows on to people around the world that are in search of stained glass for their homes.

Check out his website: http://leadedstainedglass.com

Me-shirt Kits are the product of lockdown time between an arts & crafts obsessed Harrow family – begin customising your own personalised T-shirt with painting kits to suit anyone. “People love that they can choose a colour and character combination with the child they are buying for in mind and include their initial so it’s all very unique to them.”

Find them at www.meshirtkits.com & follow their journey on Instagram @meshirtkits + free delivery to all HA1 residents with code: LOVEHARROW — in Harrow, United Kingdom.

Hope and Hampers is a bespoke gifting service that was established during the pandemic, they’re great for pick-me-ups and gifts to loved ones during what is a difficult time for many.💐

Hope and Hampers also kindly volunteered to support the production of free school meals during the last half term.

You can find them on Facebook and Instagram Hope&Hampers and their website www.hopeandhampers.com

APH stands for ‘A Patel’s Hospitality’, specialising in the organisation of weddings 👰, religious ceremonies 🕍, Birthdays 🎂 and corporate events— from decor and location to food and seating. APH will assist in the development of your budget, through to the selection of vendors and venue, down to the full event timeline. APH guarantee your guests will be talking about your event long after it’s finished.

APH can be found on their website https://www.apheventsltd.co.uk/ and @apheventsltd — in Harrow, United Kingdom.

Trinity Bar reopened shortly, and using the money they have received from the Arts Council Cultural Recovery Fund  they will be bringing musicians, technicians & promoters back to work too. Drop by and enjoy some live music , a quick pint, or maybe a mulled wine , and make sure to wrap up warm if you’re abiding by the rule of 6 outside.  — at Trinity Bar.

This incredible community initiative has really brought Vaughan Road to life in 2020, with a ‘free food shop’  on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, as well as a regular market and art  and music  events. We are very fortunate to have them in the heart of West Harrow. This week, 140 are also excited to be opening their cafe – so pop in for a cuppa or two, or have their excellent coffee to takeaway!

They can be found across all social media platforms – Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. — @OneForty.

Yiannis Christofis has been serving his fish and chips to the community for over 20 years now, recently winning the Best Fish and Chips 🥇 category at the London Food Awards and the Good Food Award 🥇 for the second consecutive year. The restaurant is ideal for family get-togethers, parties, fundraisers, and much more. Eat-in, takeaway or delivery, it’s one of the most popular places to eat in Harrow!

Check out the menu: http://www.barracudarestaurant.co.uk/index.html — at Barracuda Harrow.

Back this week, Touch Hair Studio 💇‍♀️ in the Canons Park area prides itself on offering a full range of quality hairdressing services for ladies. Take a look at the services they offer, and if you have any questions or wish to visit them for a free consultation, give them a ring on 020 8952 7392.

Website: https://www.touchhairstudio.co.uk/ — at Touch Hair Studio.

Not able to get to the bike shop? No problem, MR O Cycle Repair 🚲 will arrive directly to your door at a time of convenience to you. Mr O is an ACT registered, CYTECH trained Harrow-based mechanic and a lifelong lover of bikes, with over 10 years of experience in service and repair. Get in touch and get your bike feeling brand new again.

Website: www.mrocyclerepair.com — in Harrow, United Kingdom.

Reopened this week – The excellent Rumble Tumble Harrow Ltd – Soft Play Centre 🎈 is Harrow’s first indoor soft play centre offering a comfortable, family friendly facility, with interactive play equipment suitable for your little ones. You can relax with a coffee and cake or a hot/cold meal in the Café, or Rumble Tumble offer a ‘drop and shop’ 🛍 facility to drop children off and give you time to shop, all their staff are fully vetted and hold accredited paediatric first aid certification.

Pre-book online: https://rumbletumble.playcentrebookings.co.uk/product/play-session-booking/

Alec Mann Choreography has been designing theatrical t-shirts throughout the lockdown period, his t-shirts are eco-friendly and organic and Vegan cotton (for adults and children). Alec is most recognised as being Kylie Minogue’s dance partner in her video for Can’t Get You Out Of My Head. The success of the song and the album (Fever) saw Alec perform all around the world with her, where he developed a working relationship that lasted almost 2 years.

Find Alec’s t-shirts on his site https://www.alecmann.co.uk/shop — in Harrow, United Kingdom.

West Harrow based Snorestore 😴 is a leading retailer of earplugs, eyeshades and associated goods – they can suggest earplugs for specific needs, e.g. music 🎵, swimming 🏊‍♀️, sleeping 🛌, and they really want to help you make the most of their earplugs.

Take a look & order from their wide variety today: www.snorestore.co.uk — in Harrow, United Kingdom.

Van Arthur, the lovely Florist you spy on your way into North Harrow station has many years of experience in floristry and designing, delivering their own stunning bouquets and arrangements five days a week. Bouquets can be ordered online or by telephone, or you can always visit their shop in person. 🌸🌹🌺

Order online now: https://www.vanarthur.com/flower_delivery/north_harrow.aspx — at Van Arthur Master Florist.

Steamroller Productions 📽 is a Harrow based media production company, providing affordable and professional event filming, event livestreaming, event photography, filming, music videos, interviews and editing.

Check out their website: http://www.steamrollerproductions.co.uk/ #smallbizsatuk — in Harrow, United Kingdom.

“Eyesight is often taken for granted, and often we don’t notice deterioration until it’s too late.” The excellent and award-winning, family owned New Vision Opticians Rayners Lane are trusted by customers across Harrow, Middlesex and the Home Counties to help. With more than 25 years of experience and a wide range of designer glasses and contact lenses, they have the knowledge and expertise to support you with your eyesight. 👓 👓 👓
Website: http://www.newvision-opticians.com/ #smallbizsatuk

Metropolitan Tutors is a small local tuition agency that make personalised recommendations for introducing tutors to families. Customers value the personalised recommendations to their child’s personalities and requirements, as well as the flexibility to move between online and in-person sessions as the regulations change.

Their website is: www.metropolitantutors.com

Nurtured Mums 👶🏼🍼 can provide support from 14 weeks of pregnancy right through to your baby’s first steps. With a range of antenatal classes for mums only and for couples, as well as baby classes from 6 weeks postnatal, you can find the perfect class for each stage of the journey with The Daisy Foundation Harrow, Pinner, Ruislip and Northwood classes.
Website: www.nurturedmums.co.uk/

Asian shops (dookans) have always been at the heart of Asian communities but without the ability to find & order from local dookans online, shopping for daily essentials has put customers at risk in terms of health and safety. Dookan is an excellent new click and collect platform, which has been setup to make local Asian shopping safe and fast. List your store on Dookan now at dookan.co.uk/vendor-register

A taste of Italy 🇮🇹 in Harrow every Saturday, with a fully stocked Italian deli, Tuscan perfumery and 600+ varieties of Franchi seeds, the oldest run seed brand on the planet. Order in advance and be sure to give them a visit tomorrow from 0930-1630 – https://seedsofitaly.com/

Since opening in 2015, Crossfit Harrow has even transforming lives all over Harrow – unlike any gym, word class CrossFit training is combined with a motivating and dynamic environment with like-minded people of all ages and body types. “We love what we do, and it shows on the gym floor. It’ll be the best hour of your day, we promise!”

Visit their website: https://www.crossfitharrow.com/

Are you looking for an easy way to make your room smell like Christmas or pomegranate? Petit Pour sell a variety of highly fragrant, wax melts hand poured straight from Sudbury Hill.
Check out the shop: https://www.etsy.com/shop/petitpour/

ULiveOrganics is a professional certified organic skincare brand.
Developed by Skincare Specialists with extensive experience in skincare formulating. “It is time to reward your skin. We use carefully selected Certified Organic and Natural Ingredients from plants, flowers, herbs, nuts, and seeds. We use only Certified Organic Essential Oils for their perfumery and Therapeutic Skincare properties.”

Website: https://www.uliveorganics.com/

It will be a busy weekend for Salon Sleek Hair & Beauty, as people travel from all over to visit Kenton’s much loved hair and beauty salon. 💇🏻 They offer professional haircuts & styling, hair colour, dermatological facials and body treatments.
Visit their website: http://www.salonsleek.com/

The Case Is Altered is a family friendly traditional country english pub serving hearty pub food and a good selection of beers, spirits, wines and local ales. With their new Christmas menu, why not dine local this festive season.

More information can be found on their website: https://thecaseisaltered.co.uk/