16/06/2026
*The Short Version:*
I’m at our Watershed Shop today, please come to say hello if you are around!
*The Long Version:*
*On Business and Community*
Beloved was born at Montebello Design Centre. We started out in one shipping container, then grew to two, then three years later moved into our brick and mortar space in prime position. The connections we made there enabled our business to grow and succeed. More to the point, we were a part of a supportive community. As an Anglican priest’s daughter who grew up in a house that was the living centre of a faith community, being in community is a natural and important part of my life. In 2014 we expanded and opened our shop at the V&A Watershed.
The pandemic brought with it some surprises! Our NGO landlord was unable to offer more than a month and a half’s reduction in rent. Meanwhile, our big scary corporate landlord at the Watershed couldn’t have been kinder. From April 2020 onwards we didn’t pay any rent if we were closed, and once we reopened, we were offered incredibly generous reductions to help us get back on our feet. Experts were sought to offer us support and guidance, and they even offered loans to some local companies. I found community support in an unexpected place.
One of the closest friendships I had formed at the Watershed was my friend B. During the pandemic he housesat for me and cared for my dog, as I was stuck in the UK for sixteen months. A few months after my daughter was born, B was diagnosed with an aggressive stage 3 cancer. By the time I got home, we were figuring out what a dignified end of life would look like for him.
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