Charlotte Newton MEMBERS of one of the world s biggest rock bands have told of their love for Crouch End after settling in the village more than two years ago. Indie band Snow Patrol were speaking at their local eatery, St James restaurant in Topsfield Pa

Charlotte Newton

MEMBERS of one of the world's biggest rock bands have told of their love for Crouch End after settling in the village more than two years ago.

Indie band Snow Patrol were speaking at their local eatery, St James restaurant in Topsfield Parade, where they were DJing for customers last Thursday.

The group has achieved global success with songs including Run, Chasing Cars and Signal Fire, the soundtrack to Spider Man 3.

They were also the last act to appear on Top of the Pops before the chart show ended.

In an exclusive interview, drummer Jonny Quinn told the Broadway: "Myself and Nathan Connolly, the guitarist, both live in Crouch End. We live on the same road but different houses.

"James who owns the place [St James] is also an estate agent and he helped Nathan to buy a house so he asked us to DJ.

"We've been DJing for a long time. Tom Simpson was a DJ before he was musician, when I first met him 12 years ago. He used to play records in a little basement to a dozen people in Dundee when we were students."

The 36-year-old percussionist, originally from Bangor in Northern Ireland, added: "I moved to Crouch End two and a half years ago. I love it. It's like a little village within London.

"I was quite intimidated by the thought of living in London but Crouch End is perfect. There are a lot of musicians living here, including Travis, and we sometimes go to gigs at the King's Head."

Restaurant owner and estate agent James Ballard, who invited the band to DJ, said: "It couldn't have been better. It was unbelievable. We've had so many people phone up and say that it was the best party in years.

"The whole place was packed out - we had 150 people. They were blown away that Snow Patrol were playing in such an intimate venue. I'm sure that by popular demand they'll be back."

Mingling among Boyzone singer Stephen Gatley and England rugby star Kyran Bracken were Crouch End traders and residents.

Beth Weatherby, who owns Powder Ladies' Boutique next door, said: "I had a great time, it was brilliant. The music was a bit of everything - old school tracks mixed in with new indie.

"There were loads of Crouch End traders and residents there. It was a bit of a Crouch End love-in."

Joe Franciosa, 40, who owns Elysian Fields hairdressers in the Broadway, said: "It was a really good night. I was only meant to be going for one drink because I had a team meeting on Friday.

"But I got led astray and ended up staying until the end. I had a great time, and a hangover the next morning, but I made it to my meeting.