Hoxton Street Monster Supplies

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by Mike Whyte (subscribe)

www.mykadelica.com

Published August 1st 2012

For all your monster supplies

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You walk, yep, there's all the usual sights you would expect to see - a newsagent, a cafe, a couple of pubs and a bookies (basically a gambling shop, if you're not used to the British equivalent), and a Monster Supply shop?

Yes, should you find yourself walking down Hoxton Street, and get as far as 159, there it is right in front of you, bold as brass - Hoxton Street Monster Supplies shop.

Should you let curiosity get the better of you and wander inside, here's what to expect - shelves lined with all manner of weird curios, jars full of dubious contents, for example boxes of cubed earwax, cans of mortal terror or creeping dread, and fang floss, to name but a few.

You may be fascinated, but also may be wondering why - a brief explanation - the shop is a venture of the creative group the Ministry of Stories, a not-for-profit organisation that helps young people develop their writing skills, especially towards Creative Writing. The shop is a natural extension of this, and will provide writers, both young and old, with plenty of inspiration to enable pen to connect with paper (or fingertip to smartphone/ tablet as is increasingly common these days).

The fun thing about the shop is that it is not run as an in-joke, there is no giggling or snickering involved - should you have a question about any of the products on display, you simply have to ask the very knowledgeable staff, who will tell you calmly and precisely which monster the item you want to buy is for, how it was obtained, and many other fascinating facts that will probably leave you thinking you have discovered your new favourite East London shop, just as it did with me.