Status anxiety

I was so good at talking up Shepherd’s Bush that I can’t afford to live there now

Toby Young

Wednesday, 12th September 2007

Needless to say, this is the last time you’ll ever hear me speak ill of my new neighbourhood. From the moment I move in, I’ll embark on a relentless drive to re-brand it as a leafy, middle-class oasis — not so much the new Shepherd’s Bush as the new Chiswick. Indeed, I’ve already registered the domain name www.worldinacton.com and intend to use it to spearhead my campaign. If a deli or a gastropub opens in the area, I’ll immediately post a glowing review on my website. I’m convinced that the two or three people in Acton who are capable of connecting to the internet will be extremely grateful.

I fear that it may be some time before I write my first review. When the estate agent showed us round our new house, one of the things that made a favourable impression on me was its proximity to an organic coffee shop. ‘Perhaps Acton really is an up-and-coming area,’ I said to my wife as we headed back to civilisation. I looked forward to including this coffee shop in my morning ritual. Who knows, with a bit of luck it might even be replaced by a Starbucks one day.

Following the exchange of contracts, I returned to our new neighbourhood with a view to exploring it properly. I pulled up outside the coffee shop, hoping to start my tour with a nice organic latte, but there was a notice in the window saying it had closed down. Evidently, there aren’t enough middle-class people in the area to sustain a single decent coffee shop. The estate agent was right — Acton really is the new Shepherd’s Bush.

Toby Young is associate editor of The Spectator. This is the first of a new weekly column.

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jules

October 10th, 2007 4:06pm Report this comment

Toby, never fear! The coffee shop is only temporarily closed, and is, in fact, opening to larger premises down the road. All the better to fit in you and your growing family.

thalie

October 10th, 2007 9:52pm Report this comment

well Toby i live in acton from 1999 to 2001, then in shepherd's bush from 2002 to 2004 and back in acton since 2004 and loving it. Acton has a community of people who think community matters. It is as multiethnic as the bush and as middle class as the bush can get...I think you would be very happy here and you would recognise a few of your old neighbours how had to make the move and don't regret it. See you in Acton Carnival (this is not a joke, it happens in July). thalie

thalie

October 10th, 2007 9:57pm Report this comment

I had not realised there was a second page. the coffee shop you are talking about closed to reopen in a bigger place on the same road (nearer to the centre). It just reopened. go and enjoy your organic latte and meet the middle class of Acton ,you will be surprised, there are a few famous people in the old acton.

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