Tucked away in the western corner of the Barbican Centre, Geranium is perhaps the most elusive organic food shop in London. It’s just far enough away from the main Barbican building to be off the average visitor’s route, and if I hadn’t happened to come across the one sign announcing its existence, I don’t suppose I’d have ever been any the wiser. It’s always, therefore, with a slight feeling of smug satisfaction that I enter the shop.

With its concrete walls and higgledy-piggledy plant displays, Geranium perfectly encapsulates the legendary “urban jungle” spirit of the Barbican Centre. Shelves run all around the edge of the shop, piled high with upmarket store cupboard essentials in addition to handmade soaps and eco-friendly cleaning products. A central table bears further treasures, among them fresh pastries, organic fruit and veg, and an array of stationery items. No gap is left unfilled. Instead, each one is occupied by ceramic dishes, vases of dried flowers or wine bottles turned candlestick holders.

The only drawback of Geranium is the limited opening hours: 11:00-18:00 on Thursdays and 10:00-16:00 on Saturdays. Then again, they say that good things come to those who wait…