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I’ve lived in Islington for 26 years and seen many changes on Upper Street, Essex Road and across N1. Shops have opened and closed, independent businesses have adapted, and the high street now feels faster, more digital and sometimes less personal.
As a local business owner and as part of Asiatic Thai Massage at 93 Upper Street since 2009, I still believe it is best to buy from local people who care about what they do.
That is why Lee Banks Carpets on Essex Road has been important to us for many years. Most people do not think about flooring when visiting a massage studio, but it quietly shapes the space’s feel. The floor under your feet, the sound in the hallway, the comfort in treatment rooms and the durability of a busy studio all affect the guest experience.
For 17 years, we have trusted Lee Banks Carpets at 75 Essex Road, London N1 2SF for flooring advice, carpet supply and installation. For anyone searching for a reliable carpet shop in Islington, a flooring shop near Upper Street or local carpet fitting in N1, Lee Banks Carpets remains one of the area’s most established independent names.
Distance: 0.3 Miles | Walk Time: 7 Minutes Featured Neighbours: Lee Banks Carpets, St Mary’s Church, Screen on the Green. Visitors can reach Lee Banks Carpets from Asiatic via St Mary’s Path, Gaskin Street, or Islington Green.
A 7-minute walk through Islington
Lee Banks Carpets sits on Essex Road, approximately 0.3 miles from the Asiatic Angel at 93 Upper Street. It is around a 7-minute walk, depending on the route you take.
That closeness matters. When running a busy local business, proximity creates accountability. You are not dealing with an anonymous online warehouse or distant supplier. You are dealing with someone nearby who understands the area, the buildings and the practical needs of local homes and businesses.
Path 1: The Architectural Detour (via St Mary’s)
From our studio at 93 Upper Street, turn left. You will pass the Gallipoli restaurant, the iconic After Noah Toy Shop and the grand entrance of Islington Square.
Directly opposite this entrance is St Mary’s Path. This is one of the most atmospheric shortcuts between Upper Street and Essex Road.
After 26 years of passing St Mary’s Church, I finally went inside last April and was struck by the contrast between its calm interior and imposing columns. Walking through the church gardens leads toward the everyday trade and energy of Essex Road.
Path 2: The “E. A. Street” Shortcut (via Gaskin Street)
Exit Asiatic and turn left along Upper Street. You will pass a stretch lined with well-known estate agents, including Savills, Knight Frank, and Hamptons, alongside the Mediterranean atmosphere of La Farola restaurant.
Directly opposite La Farola is Gaskin Street. Use the zebra crossing by the vegan tofu restaurant and walk down Gaskin Street. You will pass Pilates Central on your right. At the end of the road, turn left. Lee Banks Carpets is just a short walk away.
This route is simple, practical and often the quickest way to reach Lee Banks Carpets from our Angel studio.
Path 3: The Bob the Cat Trail (via Islington Green)
Continue past the Fox on the Green and the Screen on the Green towards Islington Green. Near Waterstones, you will find the statue of Bob, the famous Islington street cat.
For anyone who enjoys N1’s character, this is the most charming route. It connects Upper Street, local cinema history, Islington Green and Essex Road in one short walk.
From there, Lee Banks Carpets is only a little further along Essex Road.
Bardhyl, the new custodian of Lee Banks Carpets, brings a legacy of London floor-fitting expertise to Essex Road.
Lee Banks Carpets: a local flooring name since 1993
Lee Banks Carpets was founded in 1993 and has been part of the Islington flooring landscape for more than three decades. For local residents and business owners searching for carpets in Islington, flooring in N1, or carpet fitting near Essex Road, the shop has long been a familiar name.
In January 2026, the business entered a new chapter under Bardhyl.
Bardhyl is a veteran of the London flooring industry. Originally from Kosovo, he spent years working as one of the city’s experienced floor fitters before acquiring the Essex Road showroom.
He has since renovated the shop, creating a cleaner, more modern showroom that reflects the practical, detail-oriented nature of his work.
He is direct, professional and highly focused on the technical needs of each project. For us, that matters. A good flooring specialist does not simply sell material, but they understand use, movement, durability, sound and installation.
The newly renovated showroom at N75 Essex Road, managed by Bardhyl.
Why flooring matters in a massage studio
At Asiatic, flooring is not only a design detail. It affects comfort, hygiene, safety, sound and the overall feeling of the treatment space.
In a massage studio, guests often remove their shoes, walk quietly through the corridors, and move between the reception area, treatment rooms, and stairs. Flooring needs to feel calm and comfortable but also be practical, durable and easy to maintain.
When people search for a carpet shop in Islington, they may consider colour, texture, or price. As a business owner, I also consider noise, cleaning, safety, and how the material performs day-to-day in a high-traffic environment. Asiatic, every surface has a purpose.
- Ceramic and porcelain tiles are excellent for hygiene, but can feel acoustically cold. We use them only where most practical.
- Luxury Vinyl Tile and laminate work well in treatment rooms because they are durable, water-resistant and easier to clean between sessions.
- Wood flooring can bring warmth and structure to reception areas and key transition spaces.
- Cormar and Jacaranda carpets are useful for stairs and corridors where softness, grip and sound reduction matter.
262 Upper Street: the slate foundation
At our second branch, Asiatic Thai massage Highbury at 262 Upper Street, we chose a different architectural language.
The floors are made of Brazilian Grey Riven Slate, selected for durability, texture and natural character. The stairs are crafted from solid oak, giving the building a grounded, long-lasting feel.
This contrast between our two studios reflects the way we approach design at Asiatic. We do not use one fixed formula. We choose materials that suit the building, the treatment experience and the feeling we want guests to have when they enter.
Technical selection: High-density Cormar and Jacaranda textures for high-traffic corridors.
Creating quiet treatment rooms
At 93 Upper Street, the transition between levels is designed to feel quiet and controlled. We use high-density carpet for the stairs and corridors because carpet helps soften sound.
In a professional massage environment, quietness is part of the treatment experience. Guests should not be distracted by heavy footsteps, corridor noise or movement between rooms.
Bardhyl’s team installed a specialised underlay beneath the carpet to reduce footfall noise. Rather than claiming the space is completely silent, it is more accurate to say the underlay helps create a noticeably quieter, more comfortable environment.
Every room at 93 Upper Street is designed for professional treatments, including couples’ massage services with two treatment beds. For us, the flooring and underlay are part of the overall guest experience.
Acoustic engineering: Specialised under-layering to ensure zero-noise therapy environments.
The Value of Integrity: Paul at Upper Street Carpet & Flooring
To be a true local guide, it is important to acknowledge the wider community.
While Lee Banks Carpets has been our main partner for major flooring work, I also want to recognise Paul at Upper Street Carpet & Flooring, located at 184 Upper Street.
During a recent refurbishment, we needed a specific one-metre piece of sisal carpet. Most commercial outlets would have required a much larger minimum order, at a much higher cost.
Paul asked me to be patient. When an offcut from a completed job became available, he personally took me to his warehouse between Upper Street and Liverpool Road. He not only provided the material as a kind gesture but also carried the roll back to the shop himself. This is the kind of local integrity that still exists in Islington. It is practical, generous and human.
I recently left a 5-star review for Upper Street Carpet & Flooring because I genuinely appreciated their professionalism and support. For people near the Highbury end of Upper Street, they are another good local flooring option.
However, for our specific 2026 renovation at Asiatic Angel, which involved more complex acoustic and practical requirements, Bardhyl at Lee Banks Carpets was our technical choice.
A smooth installation with minimal disruption
One of the most impressive parts of Bardhyl’s work is his understanding of business timing.
For a working studio at 93 Upper Street, noise and downtime matter because installation delays affect appointments, staff, and clients.
His team began our recent installation before opening hours. They worked efficiently, kept disruption to a minimum, and completed the job before the first clients arrived.
By the time the studio opened, the flooring was ready, the underlay was in place, and the treatment environment felt calm and complete.
Why we value local tradespeople
In a world of anonymous online suppliers and fast digital transactions, local tradespeople still matter.
A knowledgeable independent carpet shop can offer something a chain or online warehouse often cannot: direct advice, accountability, practical experience and a real relationship with the local area.
For residents, landlords and business owners in Angel, Essex Road and wider Islington, Lee Banks Carpets remains a strong local option for carpet, flooring advice and installation.
If you are searching for a carpet shop in Islington, flooring near Upper Street, carpet fitting on Essex Road or a local flooring specialist in N1, Bardhyl at Lee Banks Carpets is worth visiting.
The 93 vs. 262 Comparison
93 Upper Street, we balance the warmth of wood in reception with the acoustic softness of carpeted corridors. The treatment rooms use practical flooring chosen for hygiene, durability and ease of cleaning.
At 262 Upper Street, the feeling is more elemental. Brazilian Grey Riven Slate creates a strong foundation, while solid real oak stairs connect the levels.
Both studios are different, but the principle is the same: the materials must support the treatment experience.
For guests interested in how we shape the full treatment experience, our guide to massage frequency explains how regular Thai massage, deep tissue massage, or back-and-shoulder treatments can fit into a realistic wellbeing routine.
For us, flooring is part of the wider treatment experience at Asiatic. Whether guests visit our Angel studio for Thai massage, deep tissue massage, couples’ massage or a focused back and shoulder treatment, the feeling of the space matters from the moment they remove their shoes.
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