Just opened for about a week now, you’ll find Aflorum on Caledonian Road just across the street from Tesco at Balfe Street. A beautiful shop, and friendly owner will make this a place to stop by and visit. I’ve already spotted several of our neighbours coming out of the shop.
Shirley P. from Ice Wharf had this to say, I dropped in and introduced myself to Wicket who is the Thai owner. He commented that already a number of local folks had dropped in to see the store and to wish him well. The shop has a very lovely feel to it.
For more information as to just what Wicket (Big Brother in Thai) can provide, please check out his website: www.aflorum.co.uk or give him a call at (020) 7837-4000. This is a very welcome addition to our neighbourhood.
Kings Cross Environment 
Hi, just logged on to this wonderful site. It’s a really great way of keeping up to date with what’s going on in this area. My
CONGRATULATIONS! to William, Stephen and all contributors.
The Kings Cross area and the Cally Road in particular have become quite an endeared part of my life. I came into the area in 1983 when we took up a newsagent business(Newstop, which I ran with my husband for 24 years before sadly giving it up this year due to health reasons.
During our time living above and running our little ‘community shop’ we have seen the gradual changes of regeneration of Kings Cross. The Caledonian Road affectionately known as the ‘Cally’ is an integral road and route of Islingtion in relation to Kings Cross and its Camden neighbour.
The early years of regeneration had only concentrated on the lower half of the Cally (from Kings Cross to Copenhagen Street). However, in 1993, with the introduction of Channel Tunnel Rail Link construction proposals, we recognised we were going to be faced with a huge dilema. Many businesses and homes were under threat of destruction. It was then that, I along with a few other traders got together to try and understand what these proposals meant to us, and ‘Cally Traders’ were formed. Soon after, as things became more apparent residents also joined together with us, and a new group ‘Cally Rail Group’ formed to tackle what lay ahead.
Cally Rail Group has played a crucial role in the way the final construction of the CTRL was decided and credit goes to the Chair and its hardworking members; they along with the KXRLG and other groups continue to pave the way for a better design of Kings Cross to improve the environment for the people who live, work or pass through it.
Although with my departure Cally Traders is in name only, I am keen to resurrect the group. From my experience there are many benefits of a recognised active group, and with the pending redevelopment of the railwaylands (Kings Cross Central) it will be important for existing businesses around the area to be aware of how this will affect them. I had been involved in the previous consultation process and recognise the importance of having a business voice.
Cally Traders acheived many things as a group. Highlighted by the efforts to maintain trade and security of many of the businesses affected by the construction works, we have also been fortunate in receiving Heritage grants for shop fronts and york stone paving, which has considerably improved the overall look of the Cally.
There is still much to do, and it would be great to get some new enthusiatic Cally shop keepers together to get something going. If you are keen to start anew or build on Cally Traders efforts, or maybe you have already started something, please let me know.
I look forward to any replies, at vijya.patel@ukonline.co.uk,
All the very best, keep up the good work.
Vijya Patel
The best florist I’ve been to in London, Wicket and his assistant are really helpful and friendly.
Aflorum get a mention in the Guardian….
http://www.guardian.co.uk/money/blog/2009/apr/27/work-office-allotment-plants
I used them a few weeks ago for a very last minute phone order to deliver flowers, really nice flowers, great service.
I used this florist when in the area, excellent quality good luck.