Tweedy ist ein Berliner #1

Put Your Best Brogue Forward in Berlin

Berlin is a sprawling city, but has good infrastructure and the brogue-shod walker is well considered. Signposts give walking distances, and nearby road and train options. Basing yourself in the Mitte or central district gives you a fighting chance to cover a lot of ground by foot. Alexanderplatz train station is a great hub to zip around from. Plenty of opportunities to hire a bike in this relatively flat city too.

British Presence in Neue Schoenhauser Strasse

Fred Perry has one of its Laurel Wreath Collection shops in Neue Schoenhauser Strasse. Inside, I saw a couple of Perry collaborations: Duffle coats with Gloverall, and scarves with Tootal Vintage. In the Friends of Fred Perry section there were some John Smedley sweaters - the classic 3-button shirt variety. I was going to take a couple of photos of the stripped-down interior, but it was verboten.

On the same street I saw some interesting things in 14oz, a shop which takes care to stock brands based on quality and authenticity. The Brits are represented with Nigel Cabourn, Baracuta, Barbour, Gloverall, Mackintosh, Tricker's, Drakes and Globe-Trotter. Very well represented actually.

There's definitely a demand for authentic British products in Berlin. Other British heritage brands looking for inroads into Germany may want to get in touch with 14oz.  

Cheque Books not Checkpoints in Friedrichstrasse

In Friedrichstrasse, which used to be dissected by the Berlin Wall and Checkpoint Charlie, Quartier 206 is an art deco-style shopping mall that recalls the divinely decadent Berlin of the 20s. Galleries Lafayette is next door, a sister to the Paris original.

Lindner for Cake

Also on Friedrichstrasse, Lindner has one of their pleasant little delicatessen-cum-cafes. Lindner is a family business and was founded in Berlin in the 1950s. Its cafes are now found in other German cities. Nice place for a slice of strudel.