Shop the Market like a Mother Pukka

With her hugely successful blog for ‘people who just happen to be parents’, Anna Whitehouse – aka Mother Pukka – spends her life scouting out the cool and unusual for families in London. Here she tells us where in Camden Market won approval from her mini-me superhero…

‘I do love a meander – preferably with cobbles underfoot and a fruitful market of nik naks to peruse. That free-spirited approach was fast scuppered when project procreation launched – until last weekend when I got stuck into the goods at Camden Market with the urchin in tow. Between the Half Hitch gin distillery and the transformation of Mae, my toddler into Spider Girl (do not quibble; she does exist) at Josiah Amari’s kid’s shop, we were well and truly back on that happy, cobbled path.’

Josiah Amari 

‘There are few kids who do not like superheroes. Even fewer who wouldn’t want to dress up as one in Josiah Amari’s shop rammed with achingly cool kids clothes and hero-esque garb. Founded by Maria Castillo, the collections here are all sleek Korean cuts and clean Nordic lines with the odd Captain America cape thrown in for good measure. Named after her son, Josiah, this shop is one to keep the kid schtum. (And leave with a £15 Spider Girl cape).’

Half Hitch Gin 

‘Gin is an undeniable maternal staple. I won’t hear about this “mother’s ruin”; the gin at Half Hitch Gin is a parental triumph. Small on production but big on taste, this excellent slurp is infused with intriguing botanicals such as Malawian black tea and Calabrian bergamot. With it’s copper pot distillery given the endearing name “Smithy”, this is a spot where gin gets personal.’

Hatch 

‘One of the biggest parental issues is how to get fruit and veg into your kid. So anyone able to help with that relentless battle gets a gargantuan gold star. Cue the guys and girls at The Good Yard – Camden Market’s blitzing, pulping and juicing epicenter. From fresh apple juice to the aptly-named Choca Khan – packed with almond milk, banana, dates, raw cacao and peanut butter – this is your five-a-day in one slurp.’

Blaze On 

‘This stop was nothing to do with me (along with a majority of other life choices that get swept up in the parental storm) – but the kid has good taste. This is a veritable kitsch haven of eco friendly bright lights and playful trinkets that have that where-did-you-get-that-from-appeal. We ended up with the hand-painted Hooty Owl fairy lights that are made from mulberry paper – so loved, Mae even snuggled up with them for her afternoon nap.’

London Waterbus

‘Even just clapping eyes on a boat is enough entertainment for Mae at the moment. It’s all about capsules of time and a cruise along the historic Regent’s Canal, through beautiful Regent’s Park and the Maida Hill Tunnel is just what the toddler ordered. With some handy commentary on what’s what along these snaking channels, this is the epitome of mama-daughter time. Failing any toddler focus on the history bits, there’s lots of stuff to simply point at. And you get to sit down in a contained kid-friendly receptacle – a parental win right there.’