Lucy Wilson arrange Kanpai, the UK’s first sake brewery, with husband Tom in 2016. The couple create revolutionary small batch drinks utilizing conventional Japanese strategies at their Peckham taproom and HQ. Brew pioneer Lucy shares her high south of the river suggestions – together with the place to seek out the capital’s crunchiest katsu, and which heritage spot beats all of them for curing a hangover…
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What made you wish to arrange your online business in south London?
My husband and I’ve lived in Peckham for the final decade, so it was a pure option to preserve our ardour in our personal vibrant neighborhood. We couldn’t think about doing one thing as mad as establishing the primary sake brewery anyplace else! Copeland Park in Peckham is filled with creatives and folks following their passions, which is endlessly inspiring. You study a lot from bouncing concepts round. We love internet hosting numerous tastings and collaborating with different small companies for initiatives, like ceramicists for sake cups or beer breweries for attention-grabbing hybrid brews.
What are your high south London eateries?
Monkatsu in Dulwich for contemporary sushi and crunchy katsu or Coal Rooms in Peckham for the last word Sunday lunch. Persopolis (Peckham) is an emporium you simply wish to dive deep into – they’ve a small choice of tables behind the store with an excellent attention-grabbing Persian menu and you may’t assist however go away with a bagful of baklava.
Favorite south London pub?
Is it too biased to say Kanpai’s taproom?! Whichever facet of the bar I’m on, I all the time discover attention-grabbing individuals to talk to over some origami and contemporary sakes. It’s such a relaxed vibe – precisely what we hoped to recreate from Japanese izakayas (casual Japanese bars).
The place do you store in south London?
With regards to garments, I spend most of my time in very ‘sensible’ gear that may get messy! I don’t purchase new issues typically; once I do, I’d browse the shops on North Cross Highway in Dulwich, or scout the rails of classic pop ups that come to Copeland Park in Peckham. With regards to homeware, Myles from Residence in Dulwich have curated an incredible store full of gorgeous stuff you didn’t realise you want! An important mixture of classic and new. My favorite store, although, needs to be Khan’s on Rye Lane – a one cease store with no frills and discount costs!
Have any fellow south Londoners been an inspiration in chasing your craft sake dream?
We now have to present an enormous shout out to Hop, Burns & Black. They backed us from the beginning, when it was nonetheless just about a homebrew undertaking. They hosted our tastings of their retailer and had been our first native stockist. Their success reveals that good high quality drink brings numerous happiness to lots of people!
How has south London modified because you’ve lived and labored right here?
South London is consistently evolving, however not in an entire gentrification-overload means because it’s nonetheless laced with its heritage. Sure, there are extra flat whites than you possibly can shake a stick at, however you can even go to Manze’s and get your pie and mash on a hangover. (Be aware: sake doesn’t give dangerous hangovers, promise!).
How would you describe south London – and south Londoners – in a nutshell?
At Kanpai our neighbours are a church, a gymnasium, a tattoo artist and a Nigerian kitchen. The buildings are coated in gorgeous graffiti. That cultural combine is South London: that’s our house and that’s what we love.
Lastly: what’s the one factor on our facet of the river that everybody ought to attempt no less than as soon as?
For one thing you wouldn’t count on in deep South London, check out Chislehurst Caves… Who knew there was such a community and historical past below our ft?
READ THIS ARTICLE AND MUCH MORE IN OUR JANUARY ISSUE OF THE SOUTH LONDONER. CLICK HERE
