https://spitalfieldslife.com/2026/01/04/the-kiosks-of-whitechapel-iii/ In the midst of life I woke to find myself living in an old house beside Brick Lane in the East End of London Sun, 01 Feb 2026 15:59:53 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.0 https://spitalfieldslife.com/2026/01/04/the-kiosks-of-whitechapel-iii/#comment-1920155 Sun, 01 Feb 2026 15:59:53 +0000 https://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=205814#comment-1920155 Fabulous! Long may they all continue…

]]> https://spitalfieldslife.com/2026/01/04/the-kiosks-of-whitechapel-iii/#comment-1896758 Mon, 05 Jan 2026 22:07:59 +0000 https://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=205814#comment-1896758 This is so interesting, as the intersection of history, real estate, immigration patterns, technology, economics, changes in habits of consumption . . .What an amazing world we live in!

]]> https://spitalfieldslife.com/2026/01/04/the-kiosks-of-whitechapel-iii/#comment-1896735 Mon, 05 Jan 2026 18:43:21 +0000 https://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=205814#comment-1896735 We have lots of kiosks in Switzerland. I find them fascinating, you can get everything from a bag of sweeties or a magazine to a snack, some beer or even an umbrella and they are usually sited near tram stops. When I visited Vienna a few years ago there were kiosks by tram stops selling hot Chinese and Thai takeaway foods.

]]> https://spitalfieldslife.com/2026/01/04/the-kiosks-of-whitechapel-iii/#comment-1895894 Sun, 04 Jan 2026 14:50:00 +0000 https://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=205814#comment-1895894 This interesting article takes me back to the 70s when you had the Hole in the Wall kiosk situated in New Rd facing old London Hospial. Opened overnight for baccy/cigs or pack of sugar or milk for a cuppa. A lifeline provided by old Jewish man from a very dark well concealed alcove in the wall. I’m sure all the night traders/workers knew of it.

]]> https://spitalfieldslife.com/2026/01/04/the-kiosks-of-whitechapel-iii/#comment-1895695 Sun, 04 Jan 2026 09:26:46 +0000 https://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=205814#comment-1895695 It takes a special talent to really ‘see ” these pocket sized emporia ‘ and showing us.
I particilarly beguiled by the shopping done on the way .

]]> https://spitalfieldslife.com/2026/01/04/the-kiosks-of-whitechapel-iii/#comment-1895603 Sun, 04 Jan 2026 06:53:28 +0000 https://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=205814#comment-1895603 As I write, the temperature is minus four degrees Celsius and I doubt that Whitechapel would be considerably warmer. I take my hat off, ( which is a rather striking beret), to these gentlemen, braving the elements to provide goods in all weathers.
The Soho Road in Birmingham offers similar delights and temptations, but the form is more of a shop than a kiosk. There are countless brightly lit sweet shops, grocers and fabric shops to tempt passers by. One shopkeeper always has an outdoor display of plants and flowers all year round, to accompany more mundane groceries.
So hats off – or rather, in this chilly weather, hats on, to the traders who brave the cold to dispense products and smiles the year round. Cheers also, to all independent traders, who work so hard.

]]> https://spitalfieldslife.com/2026/01/04/the-kiosks-of-whitechapel-iii/#comment-1895586 Sun, 04 Jan 2026 06:34:56 +0000 https://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=205814#comment-1895586 The first one and the last two are my favourites here I think because they are the tiniest and are almost like little fortune teller booths.
Lovely post.

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