Oklava Co-Founder Launches New Neighbourhood Wine Bar in Highbury This Weekend

The site that was formerly the fishmonger and restaurant / wine bar Prawn on The Lawn, in Highbury, will re-open under new operators as Linden Stores this weekend. It is being run by Laura Christie (who is one half of Oklava in Shoreditch) and her partner Chris Boustead, of pop-uppers Boustead & Bidois (and formerly Opera Tavern, The Ten Bells and James Cochran.)

The “relaxed” neighbourhood bar promises a “well priced and very glugable” wine list selected by Christie, all available to take away or drink in, accompanied by seasonal British dishes that are inspired by Boustead’s Yorkshire roots.

The basement restaurant will feature an open fire as well as a short, changing British menu: British cheese boards; potted rabbit with Clementine Jelly; and a smoked beef stew with thyme dumplings. A blackboard ‘specials’ menu will change frequently according to market availability.

Linden Stores is named after the road Boustead grew up on in Scarborough, Yorkshire. Christie will not leave her position as front-of-house and GM at Oklava, her and Selin Kiazim’s Turkish restaurant.

Prawn on the Lawn, meanwhile, relocated just a few doors down Balls Pond Road and now operates out of what was Le Coq, the much-missed neighbourhood rotisserie chicken restaurant, which closed in December last year. The high calibre locale, around Highbury Corner, also includes the inimitable Black Axe Mangal and Italian neighbourhood benchmark, Trullo.

Linden Stores will offer 50% off food and 25% off wines to take away from 29 November to 2 December, opening formally on Wednesday 6 December. Opening hours: Wednesday — Friday 5-11pm and Saturdays Midday — 11pm.