Miranda Blacky / 20 July 2025 / Categories: City, What to do, Shops, Specialty

Prestige Pawn luxury shopping and trading Brompton Cross

My god daughter likes the neighbourhood

I live in Hampstead village which is a lovely shopping street, one of the few left in London you can meander up and down, window shop and have a complete experience without having to step foot in a shopping mall, the ghastly American concept from the 1970s now imported to the UK, the premier brand Westfield with high price rents and all the same shops. My god daughter often suggests going to the one in Hammersmith which I dread getting in and out of. The only positive for me a large Marks and Spencer’s food department.

Why I am always happy when she suggests a visit to Brompton Cross. I love Scalinis the old fashioned Italian restaurant at the top end of Walton St with the signature yellow and white furniture and dark blue awnings I’ve been going to for decades and if it’s a special occasion and a nice day Daphne’s for lunch is wonderful people watching if you get a seat outside on the pavement. You’ve also got Bibendum around the corner, now housing Claude Bosi at Bibendum, the renowned restaurant located in the historic Michelin House, a stunning architectural delight, if you are in the mood for Champagne and oysters, their signature.

Next door to Daphnes on Draycott Avenue is Prestige Pawn, another favourite of ours for a bit of shopping secondhand or trading in (for her not me) the designer handbag she had to have and then finding herself a bit hard up, she needs cash in a hurry. It’s actually a pawn brokers so you can borrow against your luxury item short term (interest rates are high), or fancying a change, she takes her “cash in the handbag” in for a swap, loan or sale. It really is a great service for anyone who makes a mistake, gets bored and wants a change or needs cash fast without jumping through too many hoops.

My only advice, make sure you are realistic if you want to sell your treasure outright and remember this is a business, they have to make money so what you think your item is worth based on what you paid divide that number by two and you are more likely to be closer to what you can expect to get. When visiting Prestige pawn it’s important to keep your expectations realistic.

The process is quick, it takes about 2-3 hours for the appraisal of your luxury item, and it doesn’t have to be a handbag, they are interested in watches, gold, diamonds, any high value item.

So you sign in your item, you have to sign them away if they determine your item is counterfeit or stolen, so don’t try to pull a fast one as you’ll be charged and you won’t get your item returned.

The service has always been exceptional whenever we have visited and the time needed for the appraisal means time to enjoy the lovely shopping neighbourhood and independent shops you don’t see on every high street or in every shopping mall.

If you like shopping for designer clothes on a budget there is a massive Loop Generation store (like the Real Real in New York City) where again you can trade, swap, get cash for unwanted designer pieces. The things they like the best are high end designer brands with tags on if possible and if not in pristine mint condition. The staff are very particular about what they will accept (all on consignment) the terms you get paid 30 days after your item sells. The whole process makes for a fantastic never know what you’ll find shopping experience on three levels. It’s a big store.

Prestige Pawn are different in that they don’t consign your luxury items, they loan against them or buy outright but the shop is also lovely to browse and it’s the kind of place if you love luxury goods you may just see something you love for quite a bit less than retail.

For savvy cost conscious ladies who like to lunch and shop there really isn’t anywhere better to start than Prestige Pawn brokers. You may have seen them featured on TV in the channel 4 show Posh Pawn. And if Brompton Cross is not accessible they have locations in Hatton Garden, Chelsea and also branches in Guildford and Weybridge in Surrey too.

The Brompton cross location is open Monday to Friday 9.30am to 5pm and on Saturday 10.00am to 6pm. Closed on Sundays.