The eternal Bossman
Britain’s corner shops will never die
For a few weeks every December, Denmark Hill Food & Wine is transformed from a corner shop in south London into Santa’s grotto. About 250 parcels are scattered about the poky shop, beneath Pulp Riot hair dye, bottles of Ribena, tea bags and condoms. Big packages are stuffed into overflowing sacks; small ones are arranged neatly in requisitioned shopping baskets. It is mid-morning. Another 250 packages are due at 1pm.
Explore more
This article appeared in the Britain section of the print edition under the headline “The eternal Bossman ”
From the December 21st 2024 edition
Discover stories from this section and more in the list of contents
Explore the editionMore from Britain
The four worst words in British politics
Saying “not a good look” is not a good look
Inflation in Britain looks irritatingly persistent
Worse, the risk has appeared just as growth is sputtering
Labour lacks good ideas for improving Britain’s schools
Making private ones a bit more expensive is not an inspiring start
Britons brace themselves for more floods
A warming planet is making a soggy island soggier
Why meal-replacement drinks are shaking up the British lunch
They are being rebranded as aspirational as well as efficient
How to get money from Ebenezer Scrooge
Get him to leave a gift in his will