This was my favourite newsagent as a whipper snapper, stocking all manner of bizarre sugary concoctions, including bizarre and dangerous sounding caffeinated beverages from exotic places like America or England. Plus a full selection of penny sweets and 10p bars.
The Orchard is run by identical twins, so it was always a lot of fun trying to differentiate between the two. We always thought there was a grumpy one and a friendly one, maybe though, it was the same guy and he just suffered from mood swings, perhaps caused by gorging on the sweets and then crashing, who knows?
The Orchard still supplies all manner of sugary treats, maybe not in pennies anymore, but just as deliciously sickening and, I realised for the first time, a great selection of unusual magazines (not adult, just unusual).
It's my favourite newsagents in Ranelagh, and has been for many's a moon, so four stars. One removed because, once, about 15 years ago they were mean to me for no reason. read more