Lo-Fi Indie Faves Oh Wonder Are Opening a Cafe in Peckham

Low-key pop duo Oh Wonder will open a new coffee shop in Peckham later this year. Anthony West and Josephine Vander Gucht chose to mark the release of their latest album, No One Else Can Wear Your Crown with a coffee cupping tour in partnership with machine manufacturer La Marzocco, which is both not what most bands would do and an indication that cafes and coffee mean much more than a passing passion.

West and Vander Gucht describe Nola, which will open at 224 Rye Lane, as “an embodiment of all our favourite experiences of cafes around the world. We have distilled them into one beautiful space in our neighbourhood.” Announcing its opening in the context of the novel coronavirus pandemic’s impact on their touring, which put paid to “152 shows in 33 countries,” West and Vander Gucht write that “A local coffee shop is always comforting; even if you are thousands of miles away from home, you can still feel part of a community.” Early indications are that the space is serene and minimal, and set to open in November 2020.

London’s cafe scene has proven resilient throughout changing coronavirus restrictions, with the best new cafes in the city for 2020 all opening — or in the case of Prufrock, totally remaking its space — since March. West and Vander Gucht will hope that their debut can join the ranks. More soon.