The Only Place For Pictures

I came in to get some postcards framed and not only were they not set up to do framing, the woman basically refused to frame my postcards and instead was pushing the DIY route. I’m not good at that at all, which is why I get help with framing art projects.

This is where I come to get my posters of the plays shown at the Almeida framed. I am not going to pretend that framing these posters is difficult — I could probably do the job myself if I thought about it. However, the results are great and (if you are not invited to chez moi) can also be viewed at the Almeida (who also utilise the same service). I am not sure what they would be like if given a more complicated task.
Other than framing, the shop sells a variety of posters, pictures, calenders, small gifts and cards. I am a particular fan of the cards which are more unusual than standard Clintons fare.

Whilst I appreciate the selection and quality of poster, prints and other gift items this place has to offer, I have to say that the service is absolutely terrible!
I have friends who are moving away, and I wanted to purchase a specific print to give to them as a parting gift. I remembered from walking by this store a few months back that they carry a Bold and Noble type map (I hadn’t come across any other stores that carry the print without a frame), so I made the (rather long) commute to this store to buy it. I was debating on which one of two prints to purchase when I realise that the store was closing — they had turned the music off, and other patrons had already left. I kindly asked if they would bear with me for a couple more minutes as I make the purchase decision, but the guy who works there looked at the clocked, turned back around to look at me and flatly said «no.» He proceeded to say that it had been a long day and they (there was another girl who was working there at the time) wanted to go home, and signaled for me to leave. Needless to say, I was completely taken aback because I had every intention of buying the print! I have never shopped at a store where, after asking kindly for a few more minutes to finish my purchase, I was essentially refused service!
I have worked in the service and retail industries for many years and have dealt with many rude patrons, especially those who would continue to shop, without consideration for the store staff, when the store was closing. However, I would never kick someone out, let alone someone who was polite enough to ask for a few more moments to finish their purchase!
I’m disappointed to say that I definitely won’t be shopping at this store again!

As a fully paid up birthday card snob (if it’s Clinton’s I ain’t interested, if it’s Card Factory you’d better not show your face round these parts again) this shop pleases my eyes very much. My wallet is less pleased, but I believe this is what happens when you have this ‘expensive taste’ I seem to be afflicted with.
Anyway, the cards are good. No more crappy jokes, no more poems, no more glitter — just a lot of good quality unusual cards you can’t find in many other places. There are lots of them too, and lots of ranges. Perhaps not quite enough boyish ones, but I’m told that boys ‘would rather have a pint anyway’.
There’s a lot of other ‘stuff’ in here too. Mainly pictures, as the shop name would suggest, but also keyrings, plants-​in-​a-​box and mugs — you know, card shop stuff. I do rather covet the tube station photo montage of a train at H&I station, but clearly it’d be better if it featured Arsenal. For those of us who like to be seen as more Highbury than Islington (I know I do) there’s also a range of stuff plastered with an ‘I heart Highbury’ logo. Cos, you know, everyone needs to know your postcode colours.

Very good print shop, currently with a fantastic christmas sale with lots of good quality christmas cards half price. I particularly like the Custard ones, with the cat dressed up as santa claus. There’s great prints taken from movies at the back, and frank sinatra’s arrest mugshot.

The Only Place for Pictures sells so much more than posters. I have yet to find another store that sold such a wide variety of picture frames. I was almost overwhelmed at the selection and quality. The store also sells beautiful cards, books, mugs and oh yeah pictures.
What I like the most about the shop is that they will frame pictures you bring in and when I asked about pricing they seemed to be pretty reasonable. In addition the store does carry some incredible pictures, including one of Audrey Hepburn that I had not seen before and I’m a huge fan! This is a great shop to find a gift for someone who likes interesting and clever gifts.

If you have a yuppie in the family (or are a yuppie with a new flat), then this is a great place to go for a cool picture. Whether your idea of a cool picture is Georgia O’Keith flowers, Rupert Bear prints, Japanese or modern art. They do have a fabulous range of styles.
Besides prints they do just about anything with pictures on: calendars, mugs, postcards, books and more.
On the downside they are not cheap. I was tempted to get someone I know an address book that claimed to be full of ‘yahoo henries, show ponies, toffs’ (or something along those lines posh folk basically), but at nearly a tenner for an address book I think I’d need to be one myself!
I also wasn’t too impressed by the photographer who’d mostly taken photos of Banksy’s stuff. In some cases she’d shown some skill in how she’d framed them. Others were just straight photos. And no credit to him Seems somewhat cheeky somehow!
If you have deep pockets and absolutely have to have an art deco calendar or a print of an old advertising poster then this is the place you may find what you want otherwise, great place to browse!
Interestingly I’ve just done a search for the Qype listing in order to post this, and found there’s another shop in Palmers Green with the same name. Don’t know if they are a chain or not, but sort of ironic either way!