Desert Island Stores: Al Bruce, founder of Olive & Barr
In this latest instalment of TRB’s Desert Island Stores series, Glynn Davis chats with Al Bruce, kitchen expert and founder of Olive & Barr.
The store you remember from childhood?
Without question Halfords. Specifically the BMX section. Growing up in the ET era, BMX bikes were everything to me. I could spend hours looking at the bikes, helmets, race suits and all the accessories. My BMX days may be behind me now, but Halfords wasn’t just a shop; it was somewhere that fuelled my imagination and sparked a lifelong love of riding. It still has a nostalgic feel to me today.
Subscribe to TRBMost inspirational store to your career?
The Conran Shop during the 1980s and 1990s. For me, it represented English design at its absolute best. It combined furniture, interiors and lifestyle in a way that felt beautifully curated and effortlessly sophisticated. It showed me that retail could inspire people, not just sell to them, and it undoubtedly influenced the way I think about design and creating environments today. If you asked me the same question of today’s shops I’d probably say Ffern in Soho. The branding and setting are incredibly inspiring, and they know exactly who they are as a brand. The showroom is beautifully executed and creates a complete experience.
Most frequently used store?
Reg the Veg in Clifton Village in Bristol, which I go to almost every day. They have fantastic fresh produce; I’ve been going there for years, and the staff are always happy to point me towards the very best seasonal ingredients. They also supply Primrose Café opposite, which is another favourite of mine. Clifton Village is full of brilliant independent businesses. Heron Books is probably the best bookshop I know, Maze has a great selection of clothes, and Hydes of Bristol is my favourite jewellery shop. It’s the sort of place that reminds you what a great collection of independent shops can create.
The store you wished you’d created?
Twentytwentyone. Every time I visit, I’m struck by how beautifully the space is put together. It’s light, spacious and filled with some of the finest furniture and lighting from around the world. There’s a confidence and restraint to it that I really admire. It celebrates timeless design rather than following trends, and that’s something I always aspire to.
Your overall favourite store?
This changes all the time, but at the moment it’s probably Miminat’s new showroom in St John’s Wood. It looks absolutely incredible. Miminat is creating some of the most interesting and original furniture in Britain today, and the showroom reflects that perfectly. It’s one of those places I return to again and again for inspiration.
The store you’d like to take to the desert island?
Sounds of the Universe in Soho, provided I’m allowed to bring a record player with me as well. I could happily spend years working my way through the records, discovering music I’d never heard before. If you’re going to be stranded somewhere, having an endless soundtrack to life would make the experience a lot more enjoyable. (Oh, and maybe some lovely food from Reg the Veg in Clifton Village!).
