'Huge loss' for Finsbury Park as café to shut after seven years

A much-loved café in Finsbury Park is closing after nearly eight years. Salt the Radish has taken to social media to announce they will shut their doors for the final time on Sunday, December 15.

The sad news comes after the landlord refused to renew the lease of the Blackstock Road eatery following "prolonged negotiations". An Instagram post from owner Kat Halliday read: "The last seven and a half years have brought many challenges but have been incredibly rewarding and fun, and we’ve made lifelong friends in the process.

"We know this café means so much to so many people and we hope that you’ll be able to visit again, maybe a few more times, before we close our doors." The post also thanked everyone who stuck by her, including the customers and staff who "made the café what it is".

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A neighbourhood favourite, Salt the Radish is infamous amongst locals for its mouth-watering egg dishes and excellent coffee. The news of the closure has left Islington residents heartbroken, with many saying it has become a go-to over the years.

One diner said: "The Radish is such an oasis in a creeping desert of corporate blandness and we’ll miss you more than I can say. You are such a lovely team of talented people doing just what the neighbourhood needs."

Another added: "So sad to read this. It’s an absolutely huge loss for the Blackstock Road and the community in Finsbury Park," whilst a third wrote: "Oh no! So sad to hear this. I used to live almost opposite you guys and Salt the Radish was my absolute favourite. You’ll be missed."

Salt the Radish also runs a series of popular supper clubs, which Kat says will continue in some form, as well as her catering business and a 'few new ideas'. The cafe's closure is the second blow to Finsbury Park's hospitality sector recently, after Pizza Pilgrims on Seven Sisters Road shut suddenly last week.

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