Southsayer: Emy Gray, owner of Brixi in Brixton Market


My guilty south London pleasure? The dodgy bowling alley at Elephant & Castle… don’t ask me why. I just end up there sometimes!

brixi_074
Photo: Tiffany Mumford

Art school graduate Emy Gray had intended to open a cheese shop in Brixton Market. Instead “due to financial/logistical restraits” it evolved into Brixi, “a shop selling largely unnecessary but beautiful things”. Emy’s background – aside from art – has included prop sourcing, fashion PR and cheese, hence Plan A. Originally from Essex, she has lived in south London for five years, and in Brixton for the past four. The shop, which opened in 2011, sells handmade oddities old and new, and Emy is enthusiastic about supporting local makers, recent graduates and emerging artists.

When were you happiest?
Playing in corn fields and messing about in rivers in the deepest darkest Essex countryside. I’m a country gal really.

Where would you like to live in south London?
I’m very happy in Brixton ta!

Photo: Sharkbait http://www.flickr.com/photos/sharkbait/
Photo: Sharkbait

What is your favourite south London sound or smell?
It has to be the heady waft of incense, weed and jerk chicken as you head out of Brixton tube.

Who is your favourite south Londoner?
It’s predictable, but it has to be the Thin White Duke himself. He was even my pin-up when I was a kid!

What is the most important lesson life has taught you?
Just put a smile on in… negativity doesn’t help anything!

What is your earliest south London memory? t has to be the giddy excitement of going to my first gig, age 14, at Brixton Academy – a strange line-up of the Levellers, Credit to the Nation and Chumbawumba. Smokey, sticky and beery – it was pretty wonderful.

What simple thing would improve your quality of life?
Quite simply more time please. And learning the art of relaxation. I’m rubbish at relaxing.

What is your most unappealing habit?
Not much on hair brushing…

What is your guilty south London pleasure?
Well, the dodgy bowling alley at Elephant & Castle… don’t ask me why. I just end up there sometimes!

Where do you hang out?
Living and working in Brixton does make it tricky to leave – but I can occasionally be found sniggering at the massive stuffed walrus in The Horniman or poking fun at the deranged dinosaurs in Crystal Palace. Can also be found rummaging at a good car-boot: Wimbledon, Battersea and Pimlico – firm favourites. A trawl of Tooting High Street’s delicious South Indian restaurants and gloriously lurid sweet shops is also great.

Best south London gig or night out?
The magical guitar fingers of Wizz Jones at the Selkirk in Tooting (see video above); an unexpected find – the man is pretty special!

Tell us a secret
Me and my sister stole a Shetland pony when we were kids…

What has your career taught you?
Treat people how you’d like to be treated.

The house I live in is…
Peaceful and always full of flowers.

What is your greatest life achievement?
Not sure I’m there yet. There’s always room for improvement right??

Describe yourself as an animal…
It has to be What A Mess – from the book that is!

Your favourite south London…

effra hall tavern brixton
The Effra, Brixton. Photo courtesy of The Effra

…building or landmark?
I have a few: Gala Bingo in Tooting – you have to go inside – trust me; The Horniman Museum… fab inside and out; Also – The wonderful House of Dreams Museum in East Dulwich – more inwardly spectacular.

…shop?
The Wimbledon Sewing Centre in Tooting Bec is pretty special – the women who work there are amazing! And Leftovers in Brixton Village is a wonderland – I allow myself in there rarely!

…bar/pub?
I do like the Effra Hall Tavern in Brixton.

…place to eat?
More to hang out, slurp coffee, dunk a croissant and absorb the surly Frenchness – Gastro on Venn Street. Best on sleepy weekdays

…secret?
That it’s pretty bloody good South of the river people.

BRIXI, Unit 7 Brixton Village, Coldharbour Lane, SW9. Tel: 07919 162 428. Brixi and the Crafty Fox Market are taking over a disused shop on Camden High Street for CUT & PASTE, a week of creative workshops and a showcase for new design talent, starting on 16 July. Our sister site Kentishtowner will have more about it all later this week. Follow @brixi7 or @craftyfoxmarket on Twitter.


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