MURDOCK Shoreditch Shopping Release

We all know the score…faced with the prospect of the madness of the Christmas shopping in the West End, we vow to get it over and done before the crowds swamp the high streets. Well no matter what we say each year we still leave it to the last minute and find ourselves with the rest of the British population – plus tourists – in the Oxford Street area, in the last weeks before Christmas!

Here’s the solution: Head East! Hoxton has long been known for its nightlife, but most Londoners have yet to realise the shopping gem it has evolved in to over the past couple of years. Virtually chain-free, it offers a wealth of unique stores guaranteed to hold the perfect Christmas presents for family and friends.

The stores of Hoxton have come together to offer late night shopping on Thursdays (7th 14th 21st) until 8pm before Christmas. Each store will be offering tempting treats to its customers including mince pies and festive drinks.

The stores participating include:

Book Works on Rivington Street www.bookworks.org.uk. The store was established in 1984, with the mission to disseminate visual art practice to as wide and diverse an audience as possible. Book Works is primarily a contemporary visual arts publisher and has two retail stores; the Hoxton store is one of the best places to purchase the latest publications on design, architecture & fashion.

Murdock www.murdocklondon.com. Male grooming products for the special man in your life! Murdock stocks a range of luxurious grooming products that include D.R. Harris, Santa Maria Novella and Malin & Goetz. Murdock as created a range of gift hampers, mainly focusing on the shave. Gift certificates are available and in addition to grooming products Murdock stocks candles by Mariage Frère, rare books and Turnbull & Asser accessories. Everyone visiting Murdock on these evenings will receive a complimentary gift bag with each purchase.

SCP www.scp.co.uk. The store on Curtain Road is one of the largest outlets for contemporary design in Britain. The collection of furniture includes some of the leading names in British design, including Matthew Hilton, Jasper Morrison and Terence Woodgate. These products are the core of SCP store, alongside which the store offers a carefully edited range of furniture, lighting, kitchenware, rugs, books and gifts by some of the most famous design names and brands in history.

Start on Rivington Street has two stores www.start-london.com. The original shop is dedicated to menswear incorporating an extensive range of designers such as Miu Miu, Etro Holland & Holland, and Ralph Lauren. The women’s shop across the street is two floors of girlie heaven with hand picked selection of designers such as Rick Ownes, Alberta Ferreti, Miu Miu & David Szeto. The adjoining accessories department at Start has a wide range of accessories & gifts that include shoes, bags and blets, Ren bodycare, Comme de Garcons fragrances & wallets.

Shopping over and done with, you can retreat to one of the many bars and restaurants such as CRU www.cru.uk.com, Rivington Bar & Grill www.rivingtongrill.co.uk or Shish www.shish.com. Admittedly, you will be a few quid lighter, but with none of the Central London shopping stress syndromes!

MURDOCK Shoreditch Shopping Release, 21st November 2006