High Ground, 286 Upper Street, N1 2TZ

A love affair with coffee and wine created the perfect blend that is High Ground café and bar. We found out what’s brewing with co-owner Simon Peace.

Hi Simon, please tell us a bit about the beginnings of your business journey.

My wife Oksana (main picture) and I first opened a coffee shop in Ealing in 2008, at a time when great coffee was hard to find in London and just before the speciality scene took off. It took a while to get the business formula right. Once we did it was a success and we expanded to another shop. Oksana then moved into the wine business, studying and working as a wine buyer. In 2021 we wanted a change of area so we moved to Islington and opened our new shop on Upper Street.

We've learned that, for us, the best way to work together is to work separately. Anyone who's worked with a partner or family will understand this. We drew out our areas of responsibility where I designed and ran the coffee side and Oksana introduced a great selection of wine. I don't get too involved with that and she leaves the coffee to me.

Tell us about High Ground.

We opened in 2021 and currently have a team of seven. We offer speciality coffee which we now roast ourselves, and a pastry selection from The Snapery. We wanted to open in a different part of London to where we lived and always liked the North/East London areas. We still have shared ownership of the two other shops we started, but all our efforts are focused on High Ground.

Why café and wine bar?

It brings together Oksana's wine experience and my coffee experience. A friend described the shop as 'a love story'. He's very poetic. We'd probably say that it's a shop where we bring together our love of coffee and wine, but in a way where we don't tread on each other’s toes. A bit like the classic scene in Steptoe and Son where they divide the house in two.

What's the criteria for the coffees and wines you offer?

Our approach to sourcing both is similar - we look for smaller producers who offer exceptional wine and coffee, craftsmen who offer the highest quality not available in supermarkets or chains, so customers get high quality and great value too.

Why are coffee and wine your passion? Which is your favourite?

Enjoying delicious coffee is an important daily ritual for many, and when we relax over a glass of wine, we like to savour and enjoy it. Like many parents, with an energetic four-year-old, coffee and wine are sometimes more a necessity not a luxury! Oksana leans more towards wine, whereas for me it's coffee.

Why ‘High Ground’?

We source exceptional Arabica beans, which are grown at higher altitudes. The plants are more delicate and ripen at a slower rate, producing more complex flavours. Being on Upper Street even our shop is on a higher elevation and terroir is all important in wine production!

What three words describe the life of a café/bar owner?

Rarely (a) day off? Community, focused, sociable.

What are your main challenges?

Building and maintaining a great, reliable and friendly team. Retention isn't easy in hospitality and the staffing challenge is even greater now. Maintaining standards and consistency is another challenge, which links directly with having a great team.

Who is your typical customer?

Islington locals, who prefer friendly independents and value quality. They generally avoid the busier Angel or Highbury ends of Upper Street. We're in the sweet spot in the middle, opposite the Almeida Theatre, that has a quieter neighbourhood feel.

What makes your business unique? Why should people visit?

We are one of a few Islington independents surrounded by many chains. Every High Street should have its own unique feel, not all look the same. Our shop is as much a friendly community hub as a coffee shop.

What does the future hold for High Ground?

Soon customers will be able to buy the coffee we roast online to enjoy at home. Otherwise, we're always looking for exciting ways to improve our offering.

Do you have any upcoming events we can help you share?

Our monthly wine tastings are fun and sociable, the next one is ‘Wine myths debunked’ on September 12 from 6pm-8pm, and ‘Discover lesser-known wine regions’ from 6pm-8pm on September 26. They’re both £30pp and can be booked via Instagram. More seasonal tastings are coming soon.

What's it like working in Angel, what do you enjoy about it?

The local BID team here is amazing, as a local business I don't know what we'd do without them. Also, it really is a friendly community here and this area is close to everything London has to offer. Even if you just stay in Islington, you have everything you need.

Please share something people might not know about you.

I once appeared in a Queen video, my Mum was a classmate of John Lennon, and when an ex-detective friend researched my family tree he found that my cousin (15 or so generations back) was Anne Boleyn. So I'm a second cousin (many generations back) of Elizabeth I apparently. Oksana keeps asking me what happened to the money and jewels.

Oksana was featured in Ukrainian Forbes for her business credentials. In her former life she worked in events, partying with Moby and other celebs in Kyiv.

And finally, what is your...

Favourite tipple? A glass of Riesling or Burgundy at a pavement cafe.  Perfect Sunday? Starting of course with a morning brew. Heading to a park on our bike with a picnic, beside a playground to keep our daughter Margot happy, later winding down with nice bottle. Your best ‘high ground’ experience? Hang gliding lessons with a world record-holding hang gliding instructor in Southern California. Ironically I'm actually not that keen on heights. Go-to snack? Tortilla chips and hummus.

Thanks Simon! For updates and more, follow High Ground on Instagram here, and Oksana’s wine events and tastings here.

+++ Are you an independent business in Angel and would like to feature here? Drop Sarah an email Sarah@angelislington.london.

All images: High Ground Instagram