There is a shop on Hoxton Street in London that you really need to experience for yourself.
Hoxton Street Monster Supplies is a wonderfully strange and imaginative retail space dedicated to serving the needs of monsters. Shelves are filled with curious sweets (sometimes vegan), candles, trinkets, books, writing materials, and household items that look as though they belong in the cupboard of a friendly creature who lives under your bed.
Read more below.
The store is playful, mysterious, and full of humour. Everything in the shop is labelled with delightfully ridiculous names designed to spark curiosity and laughter, making it feel like you are stepping into a story.
But there is something even more magical about this shop.
All profits from Hoxton Street Monster Supplies help fund a charity called Ministry of Stories.
Ministry of Stories was co-founded by author Nick Hornby in 2010 and exists to champion the writer in every child. The organisation works with young people across Hackney, Tower Hamlets and Islington, helping them discover confidence, imagination, and creative potential through writing.
The charity runs innovative writing programmes and small group mentoring sessions that support young people in finding their voice. They also partner with local schools to help students build skills and self belief through storytelling. In their community writing labs, young writers are given time, space, and encouragement to explore their creativity and develop resilient self esteem.
And here is the best part.
Inside Hoxton Street Monster Supplies there is a secret door. Behind that door sits the writing room and workshop space where Ministry of Stories runs many of its programmes for local children.
I find the whole thing incredibly inspiring.
I was someone who loved writing from a very young age but had various barriers standing in my way. Opportunities to explore creativity were not always easy to find and encouragement did not always come from the places you might hope. Seeing a charity that actively nurtures young writers and gives them the tools to believe in themselves feels very special to me.
By shopping in this wonderfully odd little store you are helping power that work.
There are even a few vegan treats to be discovered while you browse. On my most recent visit I purchased a delicious dark chocolate bar and a bag of cinder toffee among the monster themed sweets. It is worth picking up a few bits while you explore the shelves.
If you are anywhere near Hoxton Street, make time to step inside Hoxton Street Monster Supplies. It is a lot of fun, the products are charming, and every purchase supports a charity doing truly meaningful work with young people.
If you cannot make it in person, you can still shop online or make a donation to Ministry of Stories to help support their writing programmes for children across east London.
Helping young people write brighter futures for themselves is something worth celebrating!
See the exact location of Hoxton Street Monster Supplies thanks to Google Maps.
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