Beast magazine issue 4

BEAST LONDON

East London Love Stories Meet the creative people living, loving & shaping the area

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BEAST magazine is brought to you by Editor Emma Winterschladen Creative Director Nicky Acketts Sub Editor Jane Gazzard Digital Writer Charlotte Davey Photography Carmel Jane, Kathrin McCrea Features Lara Mills, Maria Loizou, Charlotte Davey Contributors Thomas Palmer, Elliot Fulton, Cliodhna Quinn, Sophie Castle, Manon Steyaert Music Editor Ed Gibbs Printed in the UK by Antalis To advertise contact ann@beastmag.co.uk ON THE COVER Ryan Lanji and Andrew Whittle. Photography by Carmel Jane. With thanks to Conservatory Archives, 493-495 Hackney Rd, E2 9ED Beast magazine is published five times per year and is available throughout East London. Every effort is made to ensure the information contained in the magazine is correct.

We cannot accept resonsibility for omissions or errors. Opinions expressed in the content are strictly those of the authors.

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LIVE LIKE A LOCAL If you, like us, are engaged in a continuing love affair with East London then this book is guaranteed to keep those passions burning. Published by Hoxton Mini Press, the updated second edition of Sonya Barber's 'opinionated' guide is a treasure trove of insider knowledge. Full of hidden gems and must-go spots to eat, sleep, shop and drink, it's also an unashamed celebration of our glorious corner of the city. And, judging by this photo, it shows her in her best light too. The perfect pocket-sized companion for locals and visitors alike. Get bookmarking!

PHOTOGRAPH BY CHARLOTTE SCHREIBER

EAST LONDON: An Opinionated Guide (Second Edition)

by Sonya Barber is published by Hoxton Mini Press. hoxtonminipress.com

OUT THERE Eyes wide open and ears to the ground

Clickety click If you thought bingo was a pastime reserved for your nan and your great auntie Shirley, think again. Dabbers Social Bingo, just spitting distance of Liverpool Street station, has reimagined the iconic British hobby for a younger generation. The venue swaps cups of tea with cocktails and bingo callers with comedians, offering up some incredible experiences as prizes. Head down on a Tuesday for Vintage Bingo, called by veteran callers who have been coaxed out of retirement, or try Bingo Voyage on Fridays for your chance to win a weekend away. Saturday nights are a more lively affair with Disco Bingo, drenched in UV lights, while Sundays offer Family Brunch bingo. 18-22 Houndsditch, London EC3A 7DB. dabbers.bingo

WHERE ART THOU? The V&A have announced plans for an exciting expansion into East London: V&A East. Set to open in 2023 as part of the Olympic legacy, the world-famous institution is opening two sites at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. Culture vultures, watch this space. vam.ac.uk/info/futureplan

Who should I be with?

Valentine’s Day has us all introspecting on our love lives, so why not accept a bit of help in answering those burning relationship questions? The Who Should I Be With? card game lists opposing character traits and habits on every card, with the pros and cons of each, to help you gain a sharper insight into what to look out for in a potential partner. Pick up your set from Goodhood, a backstreet boutique dedicated to luxury living in the heart of Shoreditch.

151 Curtain Road, EC2A 3QE. goodhoodstore.com 6

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Join plant-based chef Bettina Campolucci Bordi on 27 February for an evening of cheese and wine with a difference. You’ll learn the art of making vegan cheese with Bettina, who’ll be demonstrating her recipes for macadamia nut and cashew cheese from her book Happy Food.

Better still, you’ll get to enjoy the fruits of your labour with a glass or two of natural wine at the end. Plant Hub & Academy, 217 Mare St, E8 3QE. Tickets cost £35, planthub.net beastmag.co.uk

WORDS: CHARLOTTE DAVEY

A cheesy education

Aladdin at the Hackney Empire 'A favourite of mine' at Dabbers Bingo

Deep Purple Ring, (Amethyst & Tourmaline, 18ct rose gold), £8900, 160 Columbia Rd, E2 7RG benday.co.uk

Secret ingredient dish towel, W.A.Green, £12, 10 Charlotte Rd, EC2A 3DH wagreen.co.uk

Love Warrior Bangle, Jacey Withers, £395, 110a Columbia Rd, E2 7RG jaceywithers.com

‘You’re out of this world’ card, Luna & Curious, £3.50, 24-26 Calvert Ave, E2 7JP lunaandcurious.com

Sandalwood and Musk Soy Candle OHROS, £14, ohros.com Luna Studs Wolf & Moon, £35, wolfandmoon.com

Beams print by Meg Abbott, original commissions available From £100, facesidontknow.com 8 BEAST

Harissa Chilli Sauce, Harry Brand, £3.50, 122 Columbia Rd, London E2 7RG harrybrand.co.uk

Hackney Red Bouquet, Grace & Thorn £75, 338 Hackney Rd, E2 7AX graceandthorn.com

Heart in Your Hands Necklace, £445, 110a Columbia Rd, E2 7RG jaceywithers.com

LOVE red leather satchel, £395 paradiserowlondon.com

objects of affection

King of Hearts Blonde, 4.5% or Queen of Diamonds IPA, 5%, 24 x 330ml bottles, £42, wildcardbrewery.co.uk

Money can’t buy you love, but it can buy you a swoon-worthy gift Love Is Power Enamel Pin Badge, soft enamel charity pin, £8, urbanmakers.co.uk

Conservatory Archives Gift Voucher, 493-495 Hackney Rd London E2 9ED conservatoryarchives.co.uk

50 B EE AA SS TT 10 B

beastmag.co.uk

The

Dating diaries

Elliot Fulton swaps swiping for sliding and swirling at a singles salsa in Shoreditch.

But do his new moves pay off?

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pproaching 30, single and with most of my friends settled down, there’s rarely a night when the Tinder and Hinge swiping limit isn’t met. Dating apps have become as addictive as Instagram, something my finger instinctively opens when I get a moment of Wi-Fi. Checking to see if I’ve got a match between tube stops, or even worse when my current date goes to the loo. The same prompts, the same answers, the same go-to bar if we ever do decide to meet. Going through the motions of dating, has become a chore. A girl recently told me she couldn’t remember the last time she’d been approached in person, and she's right. The thought of doing that feels alien to me. What would I say to someone without a prompt from Hinge?

So you could say that's how I ended up at a Smudged Lipstick Singles Salsa night. That and a lot of Negronis with team BEAST, who upon realising I was single and keen to mingle, soon after dropped a ticket in my inbox.

It was the nudge I needed.

Smudged Lipstick is disrupting the London dating scene. Encouraging us to leave our phones behind and do something many of us have long forgotten how to do – talk to each other face-toface. But not in some forced speed-dating setting with nametags and three minutes to bore your partner. With

beastmag.co.uk

Elliot Fulton's hips don't lie

alternative, quirky events, like Dirty Scrabble, or Diary Days where you read your most cringe-worthy extracts.

This is about having a fun experience first; landing a date is just the added bonus.

At Singles Salsa there were 18 guys and 18 girls, with a range of abilities, from great to terrible to me. After stretching off with a few G&Ts, the dancing began. “Guys start by putting your hand on their bra strap” – not the easiest to find on the few who had gone braless. We followed the host’s lead, stepping on toes, laughing and cha-cha-chaing, with none of the awkwardness of a first date. And just like that I had eighteen different interactions with people I may not have immediately swiped right for. “How do I get their names to write down for a match?” I asked the host at the end. “Go over and ask.” The penny dropped.

I left no better at salsa, but having had a great night, convinced that having written all 18 names down that a string of matches would follow. Two days later: “Thanks for embracing the spirit, we’d love to invite you to our next event, unfortunately none of the matches were reciprocated.” Ah, so better not delete Tinder and Hinge just yet then.

Singles Salsa by Smudged Lipstick at The Book Club. smudgedlipstick.co.uk B

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#EastLondonLoveStories

for the love of

ART

Meet Andrew Whittle and Ryan Lanji. One is a creator of art; the other a curator of it.

Both are carving out a life of creativity on their own terms. Editor Emma Winterschladen chatted to our cover star couple about their respective work, East London living and the art of doing what you love and loving who you are

around their talents and passions: Andrew, as a camera-less

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PHOTOGRAPHY BY CARMEL JANE. WITH THANKS TO CONSERVATORY ARCHIVES

W

hen Ryan locked eyes with Andrew, across the crowded room of a mutual friend’s soiree, he just knew he had to speak to him. “I went straight over and asked him what his work was.” Within minutes the two were deep in a conversation about their complimentary careers. “When Andrew pulled out his phone to show me his artwork, I knew straightaway I had to see him again.

Both in a professional and personal way!”

It’s not a new sort of love story: the coming together of two creative minds. But for Andrew and Ryan, it’s a courtship that started in a very modern way. “After we swapped numbers we found out we’d already messaged before! Andrew had been to an underwater-themed party of mine and had left some of his things.

It’s a really weird feeling going to text someone to ask them on a date and seeing you’ve already chatted.” In an ever-stranger quirk of fate, Andrew had actually visited Ryan’s house to pick up his lost belongings, but Ryan was too hungover to make it downstairs.

Fast-forward a year and a half and here they are in Ryan’s fabulous living room, having just shot their first cover together.

There’s an energy that exists between them both – a connection that goes beyond the realms of romance. Perhaps it’s because both have successfully carved out creative careers centred

Standing in front of Andrew's art

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I’m also South Asian. It’s been really important for me to start to make space for all those things to exist together – be it though HUNGAMA or the other work I do.”

But where Ryan’s work is bound up in social connection and community, Andrew’s is an altogether more solitary pursuit. “My work is all about the act of looking inwards”. Using the dying art of alternative process photography, Andrew’s most recent body of work ‘All in All’ centres around the deconstruction of the earth’s matter. “The electromagnetically-charged pink granite I used was the same rock of ancient Neolithic monoliths, which were built as portals to ‘other worlds’. ” The result is an awe-inspiring set of prints that leave you feeling both infinitely confused and utterly transfixed in an almost meditative state. “Through the act of transmutation and transferring of the rock’s energy, I’m trying to capture the wonderment of life. The fact you don’t know if you’re looking at a spec of dust or something cosmic plays with our sense of human scale and asks the question: ‘what am I ?” Proof that art often holds more universal truths than first meets the eye.

What’s clear is that the couple’s individual art and work, although different, are intrinsically woven into their relationship.

This, Andrew says, is a product of them both doing what they love. “There’s a constant creative dialogue between us, and that’s because there’s not much separation between our work beastmag.co.uk

WITH THANKS TO DIDDY'S, 69 MARE STREET, LONDON E8 4RG

photography artist, and Ryan a celebrated art and fashion curator – amongst other things. “Your work is so much cooler than mine. I just play Bollywood music!” Ryan is referring, rather humbly, to HUNGAMA – his acclaimed Bollywood hip hop night that has taken East London’s queer community (and beyond) by storm. “It means ‘chaos̓ in my mother tongue Hindi,” he explains, “and it all started when I asked my local pub if I could host a night there. I didn’t even know how to DJ so was playing Spotify and YouTube songs. But the feedback was overwhelming. So many of those who attended, many South Asian and queer, said how they didn’t think this sort of thing was allowed in our LGBTQ+ community.” It was a modest but encouraging start for a night that has now been hosted at some of the best clubs around London, not to mention the Ministry of Sound, aswell as being asked to DJ for British Vogue.

Indeed, it’s the diverse and ever-evolving spirit of the East End that has been been pivotal in shaping both Ryan’s career and identity. “I literally arrived here with just a suitcase from Vancouver when I was 23, seeking all the things it couldn’t quite provide me with: a rich history and culture; a thriving arts and fashion scene.” All things East London has in abundance as a, in Ryan’s words, “laboratory of diverse ideas and visions”.

Eight years later and Ryan has curated shows globally – from 'Conservation Couture: The Animal Ball Collection' at the V&A Museum to working with East London legends Gilbert & George on a special collaboration. But it’s only now he’s starting to embrace and honour the other strands of himself too. “I’m a fashion and art curator, but I’m also Canadian; I’m also gay; and

Andrew & Ryan's EAST LONDON

̒ There’s a constant creative dialogue between us, and that’s because there’s not much separation between our work and our life̓

DIDDY’S It’s owned by our dear friend (Diddy!), and truly is such a great spot. We are very much about supporting independent businesses, wonderful people and her coffee is great.

69 Mare Street, London E8 4RG

CONSERVATORY ARCHIVES We both love plants and wanted to be shot in one of our favourite places to visit. You can never have too many plants in your life!

and our life.” Ryan agrees: “We both really respect our fields of work. So it’s nice we’ve 493-495 Hackney Road, E2 9ED come together and are able EAST CASTLE CINEMA to trust one another enough This independent, crowd-funded to share our findings, enrich cinema is a great place to watch each other’s work and offer a weekday film, especially on a support.” And what about Monday when it's only £5! collaborating together? “We First Floor, 64-66 Brooksby's Walk, E9 6DA already do – just behindthe-scenes!” says Andrew, MADAME PIGG with Ryan continuing: “Having Adam Hardiman’s new pride and worked in art and fashion for joy is amazing. He creates the almost a decade, Andrew’s set most amazing French fare.

480 Kingsland Road, E8 4AE of eyes are extremely refreshing for me. He has a heightened level of intellect and asks ‘why’ at all the right times – this can be really useful when trying to navigate the social politics of some of my work. It’s been an exciting journey ever since we met.” And what about creative differences? “Oh, we certainly challenge each other,” Ryan says with a glint in his eye, “but that we don’t always agree means we can cover all bases. We’re often debating things and it can leave us, shall we say, fuelled – but in a constructive way.”

Andrew adds: “Ryan has really been supportive of me bringing my work into the world. Creating art is a very solitary process but he gives me an added confidence in unveiling it to the art world.

His opinion is one I trust implicitly”. Ryan interjects, “It's true we are yin and yang, not to sound corny...”

Corny, Andrew and Ryan are not. There’s no doubt a mutual love and lightness dances throughout their interactions, but there’s an earnestness there too. Not in themselves, but in their work. And quite right too; as Oscar Wilde put it, “Art is the only serious thing in the world.” B Find Ryan and Andrew on Instagram @mslanji and @ajnwhittle, ryanlanji.com; andrewjnwhittle.com beastmag.co.uk

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DATES

with a difference Love is in the air in East London, so why not celebrate with these out-of-the-ordinary, lip-smacking date ideas

Sugar coat it If your love has a devilish sweet tooth like us, then head to Spun Candy in Spitalfields for a candymaking masterclass. Instead of a short-lived bouquet, you can make your date their own candy rose, or why not immortalise your beloved in a lollipop instead. You can even craft one another’s faces out of sugar. How sweet. spun-candy.com/

WORDS: CHARLOTTE DAVEY. PHOTOGRAPH: NOAH BUSCHER

masterclasses

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It makes scents Smell can be a powerful, erotic aphrodisiac, and who doesn’t love receiving a luscious bottle of perfume? Especially one that’s unique to you. The Experimental Perfume Club (EPC), near London Fields, runs workshops where you can learn about the language of perfume and try your hand at making your own signature scent.

Your personal formula will also be kept in the EPC library, so that you can recreate your perfect perfume again and again. experimentalperfumeclub.com

(or full weekend!) too. Those forgotten veggies languishing in the bottom of your fridge will thank you. newtonandpott.co.uk

Swayze in love Surely one of the most sensual scenes in cinematic history is Patrick Swayze and Demi Moore throwing a pot together in Ghost. Recreate the claybased romance by taking your date to Jo Davies’ studio in Dalston for a pottery taster session, where you can learn the basics of throwing a vessel on a wheel in a personal class just for the two of you. jo-davies.com

From Redbridge with love

Try a pottery taster session

will take you down the Limehouse Cut canal towpath to Limehouse Basin. Round off your amble with a cosy drink on Narrow Street at The Grapes, one of London’s oldest pubs.

Where better to spend an amorous afternoon with your loved one than

Escape London

the aptly named Valentine’s Mansion

Let’s get pickled It’s surely a well-known fact that couples who learn together stay together. So why not book into a fermentation masterclass at Newton & Pott with Kylee Newton (author of The Modern Preserver). Not only is it a fantastic introduction to the sustainable art of pickling and preserving, but the workshop is a great way to spend an evening What a pickle

& Gardens in Ilford? The popular Made with Love Fair is back on Sunday, 10 February, in the stunning surrounds of this historic country house – just in time to source a quirky token of love, such as some artisan jewellery or chic homeware. valentinesmansion.com

Something to walk about

I want to break free Looking for a date idea with a difference? Then enjoy the thrills and spills of Escape London in Shadwell,

Now the days are stretching out,

as you pit your wits against cunning

why not take a romantic stroll? Head

clues and puzzles in a bid to escape

left out of Bromley-by-Bow station,

from the wacky-themed rooms –

through the underpass and down

such as a serial killer’s lair, pirate

Three Mill Lane. Take in the view of

ship, or a school of witchcraft and

the mills – you can’t miss the

wizardry. It’s like being in a real-life

witch’s hat-shaped peaks of House

video game. What could be more

Mill. This two-mile waterside walk

romantic? escape-london.co.uk BEAST

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#EastLondonLoveStories

A

s I sit in Balcone, a cool coffee shop in Victoria Park on an even cooler Friday morning, Claire Ratinon walks in to greet me – a bundle of warmth and joy. This joy is even more present when she starts talking about her work.

Although she began her career in television and production, it wasn’t until Claire stumbled across Brooklyn Grange, her first urban farm, eight floors up on the roof of the industrial General Motors Building in New York City that she discovered her real passion: plants. And following this primary encounter, she started to think more about the problematic aspects of food production. “I became interested in the more political journey that my food was taking, from how it was being grown to how it landed on my plate,” says Claire, who subsequently began to volunteer at said urban farm. “I worked there every Saturday, helping with the planting, soil care and running the market and I continued that for two years alongside my production job.”

Eventually Claire decided to take a break from her day job to dedicate a few months learning everything she could about horticulture, and urban, organic growing. “During that break, I decided it was time to go home – back to London to be with my family, friends and beloved Hackney flat!” But her imagination

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had been captured by mother nature and her spoils: “I just knew that was where my future lay.” And so started a mammoth year of juggling her American production commitments during the night with volunteering and retraining in the day, to enable a transition to her new-found love of growing.

Having lived in East London for nine years, Claire is no stranger to what she calls “a push towards more urban food growing” particularly Growing Communities in Stoke Newington. This community-led organisation has been running for over 20 years, its mission to “harness the collective buying power and reshape the food and farming systems that feed us”. It’s their hyperlocal approach that, Claire says, “completely changed the trajectory of my entire life. I realised I could turn my passion into a full-time job.” She explains how Growing Communities “encourages people in the community to grow and consume organically”.

But how do they go about doing this with organic produce often priced considerably higher? Claire concedes that although “organic food can often be more expensive”,

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LOVE

GROWS Hackney-based Claire Ratinon is an urban organic grower and educator.

Here she tells Lara Mills about following her passions, keeping it hyperlocal and the healing power of plants

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Are house plants beneficial to our health?

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Growing Communities offer a very reasonable veg box scheme, with discount for pensioners and ‘Healthy Start’ vouchers (healthystart.nhs.uk).

The conversation moves to Claire’s love of urban gardens, with their ability to offer, as she puts it, “a real sense of grounding for many of us who spend a lot of their time with screens”. Bringing nature into our urban lives is, Claire thinks, the key to curing much of our modern malaise. “The East End’s revived interest in growing our own, buying local and creating more green spaces really can and is enhancing the communities’ spiritual connection, as well as our understanding of the natural world.” Claire’s love of plants is infectious and I’m intrigued to know her thoughts on house plants – are they beneficial to our health or just an on-trend decorative statement?

“I have mixed feelings about house plants. If you’re a person who spends their time in mostly urban, sterile places, taking care of something that’s green and alive is really important.” However, as Claire and her family are from Mauritius, she found going back there strange. “To see all my house plants growing outside, thriving in their natural environment, reminded me how we almost keep these plants prisoner, in a pot next to the radiator.” But when it comes to tending to our own house plants, Claire is adamant that we can all be plant parents: “People are hard on themselves, but sometimes plants don’t cooperate – sometimes they thrive and sometimes they die. However, I do think that nurturing house plants is a good step towards organic growing.”

And what about those who are interested, but daunted by the prospect of growing their own. Where do they begin? “There are so many places to get involved in East London,” says Claire. “Growing Communities have two market gardens that take volunteers on Monday and Tuesday, and they also hold a Saturday market in Stoke Newington. Hackney City Farm accepts volunteers but are more animal orientated. There’s also an amazing mental health project called St Mary’s Secret Garden on Pearson Street, so if you or someone in your life needs support in their medical or therapeutic programme, they can spend time in this beautiful space.”

Indeed, it seems the act of growing can benefit us all – in both our physical and mental health. “These green spaces are deeply healing and incredible for calming your nervous system. On a personal level, my physical health has improved because gardening is a great way of maintaining fitness, and there’s nothing like being out in the open in the fresh air for a real sense of wellbeing.” B Follow Claire on Instagram @claireratinon and find out more about her projects on claireratinon.com beastmag.co.uk

FROM SOIL TO OIL. TM

This is Duchess Oil. It's an extra virgin rapeseed oil that's grown, pressed and bottled on Oscar's farm on the border of Hertfordshire and Essex. This means it hasn't come far from the day it's planted to the moment it's used in your cooking.

Oscar works hard throughout the year to make Duchess Oil, and with the help of local East London restaurants and businesses, sells it in and around the area.

To find out more about Duchess Oil and how to buy email info@duchessoil.co.uk.

Vodka Rhubarb Soda 25ml Black Cow Vodka 10ml lemon juice 15ml Yorkshire rhubarb shrub Top with Dalston's rhubarb soda Garnish with poached rhubarb segments Recipe by Dustin MacMillan

Bar manager at Hix restaurants

#EastLondonLoveStories

Just Married East London-based creative duo Tom and Denelle Ellis are acclaimed photographers and owners of Peanut Factory Studio; they also happen to be married. The power couple talk to BEAST about their whirlwind love story, retro aesthetic and why they’re challenging the idea of the ‘perfect couple’ Words by Maria Loizou Photography by Tom & Denelle Ellis BEAST

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C

anadian-born Denelle and

suffered setbacks. “Two

Essex native Tom both

months after we got married,

moved to London in 2013,

I had to have surgery,” says

but didn’t encounter

Denelle, “and that same

one another until 2016.

month we were planning

“We first met on the overground

on opening the studio. But

platform at Hackney Wick and

things weren’t going well – I

were eventually kicked off an

struggled with my recovery

overcrowded train, then we lost

and was diagnosed with

each other in the crowd,” Denelle

endometriosis. That first

says. Fortunately, a few months

year of our marriage was

later, Denelle stumbled across

tough, and when it came to

Tom on Tinder. “I recognised him

me going back to work, we

immediately!” The couple met for their first date at Howling Hops Brewery, then exactly three

struggled to find a balance.

Tom and I really came together though.”

months later they were engaged, after Denelle proposed to Tom

That coming together included creative collaboration on

while on holiday in Barcelona. The pair were married in a teepee

a number of projects – from shooting magazine covers and

on a Colchester field on their six-month anniversary.

editorials (such as Sole DXB for Gucci), to photographing

Just spending time in Tom and Denelle’s company, it’s

global megastars Anitta and Munroe Bergdorf. And, looking

clear to see they’re cut from the same cloth. “We may be from

over their body of work, it’s easy to see how they’ve carved

opposite sides of the world, but from our birthdays being

out a niche. With their experimental use of Polaroid and

close to us both moving to London at the same time, we have

analogue film cameras, as well as thoughtful propping, they

so much in common – which helps!” But more than that,

have perfected a nostalgic seventies kitsch aesthetic. “From

they are creatively aligned. No doubt it’s this synchronicity

the decor of our house to the way we dress, we’ve always

of their hopes and dreams that was a contributing factor in

been inspired by the style of the sixties and seventies.

their whirlwind romance. “One of the first things we bonded over was the fact we were both photographers – that, and our shared aspirations,” says Tom. “Around that time, I’d been working at Curtain Road Studios, and it made me realise I wanted to run my own place.” Denelle adds: “On the first night we met, we had plans to work together. I told Tom about my work with self-portraiture, and that I dreamt to be with someone who loved photography and wanted to build a career of it. Opening a studio out of our home just felt natural.”

Tom had long had his eye on the Old Peanut Factory, where Denelle lived when they met. “We were so lucky as Denelle’s flatmates there actually gifted us the lease to their place as a wedding present because they knew how much we loved it. So we got to start off married life living in our dream home.” But life as newlyweds wasn’t all rosy, and they Peanut Factory Studio

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Polaroid from Sole DXB x Gucci 'Couples Counselling' editorial

It was also a time when stereotyped gender roles began to crumble, and we love to explore that.” Their most recent personal work – an autobiographical photographic series called Just Married, does exactly that. “The series was our response to our experiences as a married couple today – we wanted it to be larger than life, funny, a bit bizarre and to challenge the notion of ‘the good old days’ which people often look back on the seventies as!” explains Denelle. “It was important for us to take control of our narrative as a ‘traditional married couple’ and to have some fun while doing it.”

The series has been published in Hunger magazine, as well as being exhibited at their studio. As a result, they have shot a followon holiday campaign with Polaroid Originals.

“The campaign was a continuation from our Just Married series,” says Tom. “The idea of newlyweds hosting a big holiday party with all their new wedding crockery and full spread on display, despite the inevitable tensions that can come from that ‘happy’ time, was interesting to us.

Lots of people look back on the seventies as a ‘golden era’ of togetherness, possibly because photographs mostly capture ‘special’ occasions, so we wanted to place our own marriage in that space – because obviously nothing is as perfect as it seems!”

Denelle adds: “The idea of shooting ‘the perfect Christmas’ with Polaroid did in many ways reflect our own first Christmas together, when we decided to find the biggest tree we could for the warehouse, even though we didn’t own any proper lights or decorations. We wanted it to be just right though, and it of course wasn’t. But there’s a universal truth in that I think.”

So are the couple ever victims of creative difference?

They laugh, and Denelle replies: “We are constantly creatively compromising, as we learn and grow together.”

Tom adds: “That’s just marriage!”

B

denelleandtom.com

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no place like

hOME

Hackney-based couple Jenna Buck and Patrick Brady, founders of independent estate agency EastHaus, are restoring a friendly face to the world of East London property.

Lara Mills catches up with them to chat Brexit, gentrification and hidden gems in their beloved corner of London

#EastLondonLoveStories

T

he last decade has seen the East End undergo a dramatic transformation. Now a thriving creative, cultural and commercial hub, the result has been a soaring

property market with high demand. Enter EastHaus – a new breed of estate agency championing the people and places that

Columbia Road

make East London so special.

How would you define the character of East London and its properties?

customer service offered by local agents, or

Patrick: Yes, with a recent house viewing in

more specifically the lack of it. We realised

E9, four out of the 10 people looking at the

Patrick: I'd categorise the property very

that if we could combine the quality of

property were from areas like Battersea and

much like the people who live here –

service offered in the West End with our

Queen’s Park.

eclectic and diverse. Whatever type of

decades of knowledge of the East End, then

Jenna: It makes sense to me because a few

property you’re looking for, you can find

we’d be able to offer something new to the

years ago, you used to have to go to the

it here in East London. The East End was

future homeowners of East London.

West End to source places like Michelin-

heavily bombed during World War Two – so

Georgian and Victorian architecture.

There's also a strong industrial influence

Patrick: In terms of the market, the biggest

with a number of converted factory and

and most obvious challenge we've faced

warehouse developments, as well as canal-

has to be Brexit. The housing market,

What sets EastHaus apart from other estate agents in the area?

side and new-build properties. The area

and indeed Britain, has never really

Jenna: I think everyone, for one reason

also boasts Britain’s first purpose-built

experienced anything like this before.

or another, has had or heard some sort

council estate – Arnold Circus, Shoreditch –

Jenna: I would also say that over the last few

of horror story associated with buying

which officially opened in 1900.

years, there has been a trend in the amount

or renting property. Be it that an estate

of people moving from West London to East.

agent hasn’t been honest or there has

there are a lot of post-war blocks, but there are still many pockets of more traditional

PHOTOGRAPHY BY: MIKEAL BUCK

star restaurants, cool fitness clubs and

Since founding EastHaus, how have you seen East London change, in the housing market and more generally?

high-end retailers. But now the East End has it all, and people are deciding to base themselves here.

What led you both to set up EastHaus?

been severe miscommunication. It’s this

Jenna: It was Patrick’s mum actually! When

reputation we’re trying to fix. Being

Patrick and I were working in property in

independent allows us to be more flexible

the West End, Patrick helped his mum to

– not just with our time, but with our

sell her house in Homerton, E9. The process

approach to every client. We know that

of choosing an agent to sell her house,

some people work really early, really

however, was not as we expected and

late or even work shifts, so we're happy

we were genuinely shocked by the level of

to carry out viewings at any time of BEAST

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Patrick: EastHaus have marketed, and are currently marketing a number of new developments, and developers will often look to us for advice on the style of finish required. For this we work closely with our invaluable interior architect, Julie (from Julie Buck Design), who is able to pin down trends, interior aesthetics and practicalities

Home's where the heart is – and that's East

to ensure the home is complete with those perfect finishing touches.

day as long as it suits all parties involved. We

or anyone buying to let, then had to factor

tend to find that when people don’t have to try

in an additional 3% charge. This wasn’t a

Any tips for people looking to buy and rent in East London?

to squeeze in a house viewing, the experience

completely negative thing as in contrast

Patrick: With rentals, act quickly as

is enhanced, both for us and them.

there was stamp duty relief for first-time

everything moves fast, especially in East

buyers, which did give many a better chance

London. The biggest piece of advice I could

How do you think the housing market in East London will change over the next year and long term?

of getting on the ladder. We understand

give is that if you view a property and like it,

why people tend to be more cautious in this

make a decision there and then – if you wait

climate of uncertainty. My guess is that the

a week, it's likely to go. At EastHaus, we

Patrick: For lettings, I anticipate that the

second half of 2019 will bring with it some

normally suggest looking six to eight weeks

market will continue to be busy. There’s

clarity, which will unleash some of the pent-

before your ideal moving date, as most

always demand for rental properties in

up demand for housing and result in more

people are tied to a two-month tenancy

the central areas of London, as long as

people moving.

notice period. When you decide to move,

they are priced correctly. We’ve also seen decided to delay buying a property until

What about housing and interiors trends for 2019?

Brexit has resolved itself.

Jenna: Having recently spoken to developers

Jenna: For house sales, this is where it gets a

and interior designers, there seems to be

bit more complicated. Brexit has meant that

a move towards more country home and

a lot of people are slightly more hesitant

‘Shoreditch house-inspired’ interiors. Across

about their housing situation; some want to

a number of East London developments,

wait for further clarity and see what happens

we’ve seen a shift from high-gloss kitchens

after Brexit before proceeding. However,

to Shaker-style kitchens with large butler

this apprehension and complication was

sinks and ranges. I also hear there will be a

happening even before Brexit. The changes

transition from the 2018 dusty-pink colour

in stamp duty saw the housing market

palette to shades of coral, orange and rust as

experience a decline as rental investors,

well as a sustained interest in house plants.

this demand increase as many people have

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ensure that you have everything in place, so you can commit and make a decision quickly when your preferred property arises.

'Over the last few years, there has been a trend in the amount of people moving from West London to East'

Jenna & Patrick's

Jenna: I cannot emphasise the importance

Obviously, like a lot in life, gentrification

of a good solicitor – get a good one!

can go too far. However, I sometimes feel

EAST LONDON

Patrick: Yes, that's the best piece of advice

the problem is actually the way people

when buying a property. And don’t be

discuss gentrification. When we think

tempted by cheap online solicitors – use one

about gentrification, we often think about

with a proven track record and good reviews.

gentrifying somewhere really cool and

THE COMMON E2 A true East London treasure; their food and breakfasts are so good and they have the best coffee in the area.

Jenna: I know people spend a lot of money

artistic into somewhere commercial. But

on their purchase, so often try to save some

what we often forget is that this cool and

money on the legal side of things. But

artistic area was gentrified from somewhere

this is actually the biggest mistake, as the

poor and rundown, and only became cool

solicitor is the one holding the transaction

and artistic because it was a cheap place

LA MELA This is a fab cafe and bistro in Homerton. We love their breakfasts and pastries especially.

together and looking after all the nitty gritty

for artists to live in London. It’s a natural

25-27 Marsh Hill, E9 5QA

aspects of the paperwork. As we know, the

cycle and I don’t think it’s such a bad

UK has a notoriously complex house-buying

thing, as East London has become a much

system where commitments and deals

safer place to live in over the last 20 years.

can easily become unravelled. Therefore,

Gentrification is a process that will keep

THE LORD TREDEGAR You can't beat a good Sunday roast and this is our current favourite place to go.

pick someone who has the capacity to deal

evolving from poor to arty to commercial

50 Lichfield Road, E3 5AL

efficiently with the process properly. At

to elite.

EastHaus, we’re trying to change the way

Jenna: I think there are a lot of areas that still

people perceive the process of buying

have a really interesting blend, like Bethnal

a house: it requires care, planning and

Green and Leyton. Look at Stratford, I mean

attention to detail, all things we aim to

there have been some absolutely amazing

achieve with everyone looking to buy in

transformations there, and well needed.

this fantastic region of London.

Looking to the future, with the landing of Crossrail, gentrification will continue to

And finally, what are your thoughts on the gentrification of East London?

happen, especially in areas like Maryland

Patrick: I’ve grown up here, living in

transformation. Watch this space!

Hackney and Tower Hamlets for over 30

Follow EastHaus on Instagram

years and I think it’s a good thing. In many

@easthauslondon and find out more about

ways, the East needed ‘gentrification’.

buying and letting at easthaus.co.uk

which will certainly undergo a massive B

53 Old Bethnal Green Road, E2 6QA

PHLOX BOOKS It sells a huge collection of first and second-hand books, offers amazing coffee, has a lovely outdoor seating area and hosts some fab literary events which have included a Q&A with author and columnist Grace Dent.

159 Francis Road, E10 6NT

JESUS HOSPITAL ESTATE CONSERVATION AREA It's close to Columbia Road Flower Market and is always beautiful, not just on Sundays.

colour me

happy As founder of luxury homewares shop and Shoreditch institution W.A.Green, Zoe Anderson knows a thing or two about interiors. Here she shares her top tips on bringing a pop of colour into your home this year

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2 WHAT’S THE POINT? Ask yourself how your room will be used.

Consider how much time you’re going to be spending in a room and what you need it to give you. For example, you want your bedroom to be a relaxing space so typically pinks, greens and other calming shades work well. Kitchens and bathrooms can normally handle brighter colours like yellow or blue and this helps to make them feel clean and energising. Colour can also be specific to the size of a room as certain shades can make a room feel larger, or smaller.

EMBRACE THE LIGHT Natural light can play a huge part in how a colour comes across in a room. Light colours tend to need a large amount of natural light to keep them feeling fresh and airy, while darker shades can generally handle areas with less sunshine. Embrace the light you have and choose colours to maximise the drama. Before taking the leap with your paint colour, paint it on a large roll of drawing paper and hang the rolls around the room in question. You can then easily see how the colour is affected throughout the day and in different areas. If you’re unsure of how a colour looks, or it’s looking a little bit murky, try a lighter shade or choose a contrasting colour to sit alongside it.

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3

CREATE A FEATURE One for the renters particularly. Create your own large painted canvas to hang from the walls; the bigger the better. Gallery walls have become overdone so instead concentrate on creating an abstract piece that covers one of the walls and plays with colour. This is a cheap update that pretty much anyone can do without much time or expense. Or if you have a fireplace, they can also make a wonderful focal point. If you want to use a really strong colour such as a bright pink or orange, adding it to a fireplace can make a statement accent and set the backdrop for your shelfie objects.

̒ I’m really looking forward to experimenting more with pink in 2019 and am currently craving a yellow and pink combination to bring to life both colours…Dusty rose colourings work well in bright white spaces, but you can also pair with super-dark colours.̓ Zoe Anderson

4 5

COLOUR BLOCK Why choose one colour for your walls when you can make a feature out of it? Colour blocking is a great way to create a graphic look while also satisfying the need for a colour palette. Simple shapes on a wall can create a stunning feature and be a great conversation starter. This is where you can mix those brighter shades with a more pared back colour, if you’re not quite sure about going the whole hog. Stripes along the top of a room can also be a simple statement.

GO BOLD If you’re feeling extremely experimental and want to update an existing room scheme, why not pick a contrasting colour to offset another hue. Pink and yellow, lime and lilac, and orange and blue, are going to be making their way into more interiors in 2019 as people choose to go bolder and brighter than ever before. Peter Pilotto’s townhouse at London Design Festival 2017 has seen this update creeping in to become even more consumer-friendly.

wagreen.co.uk, Instagram @wagreenlondon

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Lacquer Backgammon set, W.A.Green, £395, 9-10 Charlotte Rd, EC2A 3DH wagreen.co.uk

Cone lamp (chocolate + sprinkles edition) £50, alexgarnett.com

We love Build Your Own 3D Model Pink Flamingo by Agent Paper. £35 available from SCP, scp.co.uk

Go bright and bold with these must-have homewares

Amped Print (framed) East End Prints, £39.90, eastendprints.co.uk

Dinosauria lampstand, £495, Serpentis 'Mini Oriel lampshade £325, houseofhackney.com

Gasometer Lamp (various colours) MOiX LONDON, £67, email moixlondon@gmail.com

Pedestrians ceramics plates and mugs, £12-£15, nadiasparham.co.uk

Raawii Ceramics, W.A.Green, £45-£80 per piece, 9-10, Charlotte Rd, EC2A 3DH wagreen.co.uk

OBIKA Plantpot Covers £15 - £19, obikatextiles.com

Feather fern silk cushion, Clarissa Hulse, £59, clarissahulse.com

Zebra Stacking Tray, W.A.Green, £24, 9-10, Charlotte Rd, EC2A 3DH wagreen.co.uk

Rune Armchair in Rose Plush Velvet, £499, Swoon, swooneditions.com

Miss Meyer Vase, W.A.Green, £42, 9-10, Charlotte Rd, EC2A 3DH wagreen.co.uk BEAST

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shopping

PURPOSE PHOTOGRAPHY BY KATHRIN M CCREA

with a

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#EastLondonLoveStories

In a world saturated with paraphernalia, buying yet more clobber can often feel amiss. But one East London couple has set out to change that with Edge + Company. Their USP? They only source and sell products that support social enterprises and charities worldwide. Emma Winterschladen catches up with founders Milly and Steve to find out more So what is Edge + Company?

Steve: We're a newly launched lifestyle and wellness store, selling beautiful homewares and gifts that have been handcrafted by artisans living with disabilities, mental health conditions, homelessness and addiction. Every product sold helps to support organisations that are working hard to improve lives and do away with social stigma, through the creation of meaningful, creative employment.

How did the idea come about?

Milly: As a couple, we both shared the hope of one day running our own business. But the spark came when I discovered The Soap Co., a social enterprise that provides employment opportunities for people who are visually impaired, living with disabilities or otherwise disadvantaged. I bought one of their exfoliating soap pebbles and instead of feeling guilty for breaking into our food budget, it felt amazing that I had helped to contribute and support this inspirational company.

Not only that, I loved the soap! It was that combination of buying a great product and knowing too that my money was going to a great cause that really excited me.

What helped your company go from idea to reality?

Steve: Soon after we visited Top Drawer, a leading retail trade event for lifestyle buyers, we came across another social enterprise called NAUSENI who handcraft high-end felt slippers. They were founded in response to the Nepal earthquake of 2015, with the mission of empowering women affected by the earthquake through skill development and the creation of income-generating opportunities. We both

beastmag.co.uk

felt really inspired and started playing with the idea of bringing together social enterprises like The Soap Co. and NAUSENI through a shopping platform. We wanted every purchase to give back in some way.

Milly: We looked into similar charities and social enterprises, and soon after launched a crowdfunding campaign to help us start the business. It was an exciting but terrifying process, so we were really thankful for all the support and positive feedback we received. We successfully raised £5,000 to buy our stock and launch online.

And what were you both doing before that?

Milly: I have over 12 years of retail experience, which started with me running a market stall on Brick Lane with my best friend, before going on to start an online vintage boutique. From there, I worked my way up to head office as a buyer. So I had lots of experience curating beautiful things to sell.

Steve: And I have 15 years of experience in the retail sector, working for both big corporates and smaller independent companies. It was a great training ground, but we were both looking to create something with a bit more humanity and purpose.

Why is the ‘radical giving’ aspect of your business so important?

Steve: We want people to feel good about themselves after buying with us, knowing that they are tangibly supporting causes that are striving to make positive changes in our communities. That’s why we chose the tagline ‘radical giving’, because it captures the spirit and ethos of our business. It represents change and action, and we feel that the way our customers are shopping is a big change from the last few decades of mass consumerism. ➠

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Milly: You’re not just buying a product with us — every purchase goes towards a great cause and you really are giving back. Be it our coffee beans from Redemption Roasters — a social enterprise training young offenders at HM Aylesbury Prison in barista skills and roasting — or our beautiful hand-poured essential oil potted candles, made by Beacons Creative, a social enterprise in Wales that provides employment and training opportunities in a safe environment for people with learning difficulties.

Do you think there’s a trend towards ‘conscious consuming’?

Steve: We definitely feel a big shift is in the air. From our side, it seems that consumers are caring more and more about who they are buying from, not just what they’re buying — although that’s important too.

Milly: People want a story behind what they buy and they also want something long-lasting as opposed to cheap, mass-produced products on the high street. For us, this way of life is bigger than a trend and will hopefully lead to a major change in society for good.

What are your hopes for the future of shopping?

Steve: We hope that we can play a part in creating a more ethical consumer culture, one where people buy with more purpose. But it’s also crucial that social enterprises and charities can continue to thrive and receive funding when they need it the most.

Milly: We’ll continue championing all our suppliers in order to create sustainable change in the retail industry. Our hope is that by growing Edge + Company, and finding more suppliers who share the same ethos, we’ll be able to create a mass market place of social good.

Milliy and Steve with their bespoke tea blend and candle

and Waltham Forest) and I just knew straightaway they’d be a perfect fit for us.

Steve: We also look to collaborate with our suppliers by creating bespoke products exclusive to Edge + Company. We recently worked with Hackney Herbal to create four tea blends — Positivity, Calming, Focus and Restore — to match a range of candles we produced with Beacons Creative. All the teas are organically home-grown, handpicked and lovingly blended in Hackney, while also being packaged in biodegradable, eco-friendly packaging — so they tick a lot of boxes.

Milly & Steve’s

How do you find the charities, social enterprises and artisan makers you work with?

Milly: A lot of our suppliers are local to East London, so it’s brilliant to meet them in person and see them in their workspaces. It’s not unusual to spontaneously come across a potential supplier on Instagram, as I did with Hackney Herbal, a social enterprise promoting wellbeing and healthy minds through herbs and nature-based activities. All their profits go towards their partnership work with Hackneybased mental health charities (the Centre for Better Health and Mind in the City, Hackney 40

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EAST LONDON

CAFE Z BAR For the best fry-up we’ve ever had!

58 Stoke Newington High St

BOTANIQUE WORKSHOP We’re obsessed, it sells the most beautiful artisan gifts and flowers.

31 Exmouth Market, London EC1

CLISSOLD PARK By far our favourite park in London.

WALTHAMSTOW WETLANDS We love taking a long walk in the wetlands, weather permitting.

What exciting things do you have in the pipeline?

Milly: This year is going to be an exciting time for us. We have some collaborations coming up with our current suppliers and some new ones too. We’re also really looking forward to hosting our first pop-up shop (hopefully in the summer), so keep your eyes peeled.

Steve: We have also recently launched a running club called ‘Radical Running’, based in Clissold Park, Stoke Newington, which takes place every Wednesday morning. You can keep up-to-date with that on our Instagram and website. B Follow Edge + Company on Instagram @edgeandcompany and visit them at edgeandcompany.com beastmag.co.uk

STOP

SHOP

SOCIALISE! Buy something unique this Spring, visit an E17 Designers’ Market: events in Walthamstow in the heart of the first London Borough of Culture featuring a changing array of artists, designers, makers, cakes and more!

Dates and venues from March to July listed on the website:

DESIGNER: DOODLEBANK.COM @DOODLEBANK

www.e17designers.co.uk

lost &

found

What’s the story behind your debut album ‘Revealed’ and what inspired you to write it?

This is going to sound so unromantic and unspectacular. It all came about around a year ago when I had a day off on tour in rural Italy; I was sat on a little balcony and put my laptop down on a table covered with water. All the music I’ve recorded over

FOR WEEKLY EAST LONDON MUSIC & GIG LISTINGS GO TO beastmag.co.uk

Singer-songwriter and musician Benjamin Yellowitz has culminated four years of hedonistic touring life with his heartfelt debut album ‘Revealed.

We chat to the budding star about creativity, mental health and his love of East London

the past few years was saved on the computer and after a frantic expedition, I managed to save the hard drive, but it gave me a kick to record and preserve all the music I nearly lost!

What can we expect from the new album?

writing definitely reflects this. Songwriting for me is a form of therapy and often my lyrics will take the form of diary entries. I

Brutal honesty! The album exposes so many aspects of me and the

also look to critique wider topics and the current state of the world

world I live in. Musically, listeners can anticipate a real blend of acoustic

too though. For example, the song ‘Losing My Rights’ is about the

and electronic: for every snippet of acoustic guitar or percussion there

political happenings of the UK, specifically London, such as the

is a bed of synths or electronic kick drums lying beneath it. Take my

rising living costs and the instability that causes; ‘Years’ is a personal

single ‘Black Widow’ - it’s acoustic guitar and vocals married to a

insight into society’s fascination with youth and expendability; and

perfect dose of dance and techno groove to get everyone dancing!

’Louis Vs’ captures life in an endless drug comedown.

It’s a product of pure creative endeavour, not just a pressure and demand to produce an album. As a result, I’ve produced my most honest and prized piece of work and I’m dead chuffed.

Tell us about the creative process for the music video of your single ‘Black Widow’ which sees you dancing, blindfolded, around the streets of London?

Having now based yourself in East London, what would you say you love most about the area?

I recently moved to Homerton which is, in my humble opinion, the best area in Hackney. It’s raw, authentic and a little bit rough and ready - a bit like the place I grew up in Birmingham. I’m also a big fan of cheap street food here. Nothing compares to the Brick

Whilst I was in Berlin a few years ago I struck up a friendship with

Lane Beigel Shop (the orange front one, not the white one!). It’s 24

an incredible stranger. During this trip, we would lead each other

hours, won’t make a dent in your bank account and they also do

blindfolded around the streets and sights of Berlin. I know it

some fantastic work giving food to the homeless.

I’ve ever done! I wanted to capture this experience in my album,

What would be your ideal East London day-date?

and specifically in the visuals of this song. Believe me, dancing

I would have to be that person who dresses up suave and then

around blindfolded through the streets of London is as fun as it

hits up all of the places deemed ‘too cool’ in East London.

looks on screen. I reckon everyone should give it a go.

So: Cereal Killer Cafe, The Shoreditch in Hoxton, Roof East and

What emotions do you tap into when creating your music?

I’ve been told I’m a very immediate person and my raw style of 42

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then maybe I’d head over to Victoria Park for a romantic walk.

B

Find Benjamin on Instagram @Benjaminyellowitz and his new album 'Reveal’ over on Spotify now.

INTERVIEW BY LARA MILLS

sounds nuts but it was one of the craziest, most liberating things

Signer-songwriter and musician, Benjamin Yellowitz

38 B EE AA SS TT 44 B

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EAT S

From quirky cafes to an intimate dinner in the sky, these East London eateries will take you from day-date to date-night

SOM SAA 43A COMMERCIAL ST, E1 6BD

It’s a truth universally acknowledged that Thai food is perhaps some of the most delectable on the planet.

This means when you experience this popular cuisine in all its nuanced, creative glory, it really is something to behold. Enter Som Saa – the pop-upturned-restaurant housed in an old fabric warehouse near Old Spitalfields market. Since opening a few years ago, founders and co-head chefs Andy Oliver and Mark Dobbie have taken to their restaurant status like perfectly cooked ducks to bone broth (which is, incidentally, a highly recommended dish on their menu). High ceilings, cosy booths and an open kitchen result in a chic, informal space that’s ideal beastmag.co.uk

first-date lunch territory. But don’t with Cornish crab and a red ‘nahm jim’. let Som Saa’s laid-back manner belie Better yet is the yam pak – a crunchy, their culinary brilliance. A bountiful zesty salad with herbs, veggies and a menu awaits, combining hypertamarind sesame dressing – the sort of seasonal British produce, high-quality thing you might never order individually, Asian ingredients and authentic Thai but yet it perfectly cuts through the flavours. Their newly launched ‘Tem richer dishes. And the best bit of the Toh’ tasting menus up the game further tasting menus? You don’t have to worry still. Designed to showcase, as Andy about under or over-ordering because, Oliver explained to us, true to their name (‘Tem A PERFECT “a perfect balance of Toh’ translates as ‘full BALANCE OF flavours across the whole table’), you can trust meal”, they definitely do FLAVOURS ACROSS a just-right feast of just that. Think punchy THE WHOLE MEAL colourful, relentlessly spices, deep aromatics delicious Thai food, with and feel-good freshness, wrapped not a green curry in sight! Just make into street food-worthy dishes such as sure you leave room for the salted palm grilled chicken skewers with southern sugar ice cream and toasted banana – coconut curry marinade and ajut relish, guaranteed to make you swoon. and a more refined pink pomelo salad somsaa.com BEAST

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BLANCHETTE 204 BRICK LN, E1 6SA

Allez allez! This delightful Parisian-style bistro, serving North African-inspired French food, has recently launched a new weekend brunch menu. Created by Chef Director Tam Storrar to showcase the best of the restaurant’s fusion French fare, it will be served Saturday to Sunday from 11am to 2pm. Featuring a ‘build-your-own’ menu, our favourites included Two Cacklebean free range eggs (poached, scrambled or fried) on toasted sourdough or brioche bun and, for the sweet-toothed among the team, the light and fluffy buttermilk pancakes with hazelnut and chocolate ganache. Just as you’d expect from any respectable French-themed cafe, they also have a ‘boulangerie’ offering freshly-baked goods. All this to be enjoyed with classic breakfast tipples of course.

Bloody Mary anyone? blanchettebricklane.co.uk

PALM VAULTS 411 MARE ST, E8 1HY

In a world that’s increasingly visual, this indie Hackney cafe has got it so right. With exposed walls, hanging plant baskets, marbletopped tables and retro furnishings, it's the stuff of insta-dreams.

Add to that its wholesome vegetarian food, colourful cakes and oh-so-trendy drinks menu (think: red velvet latte, medicinal mushrooms and dirty chai), then you’ve got yourself a perfectly pink day-date spot to visit with a lover, friend or just yourself (their superbly curated book collection is sure to keep you company). palmvaults.com

CHIRINGUITO Mixing East London industrial chic with the informality of a Spanish beach bar, Chiringuito is suited to both date-night tapas and an impromptu Sunday brunch. We opted for the latter. The menu boasts fail-safe options such as smashed avo on sourdough, or you can try something a little more adventurous – like their Chiringuito Veggie Breakfast of vegan chorizo, halloumi, grilled mushroom and tomato, sourdough, eggs and jazzy beans. With competition high for brunch in this part of town, Chiringuito balances a menu that welcomes all dietary preferences with creative, tasty dishes done really well. And – if a date night is more your thing, the sharing menu of tapas and well-crafted cocktails, wine and fizz will fill the gaps if the conversation is less than sparkling. chiringuito.co.uk 46

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REVIEWS BY EMMA WINTERSCHLADEN & LARA MILLS

MUSEUM GARDENS, E2 9PA

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#Adventuresofagrumpyboyfriend

DISHOOM 7 BOUNDARY STREET, E2 7JE

Our Editor’s boyfriend was unconvinced by the regimented queuing of East London institution Dishoom. But was their Irani-cafe inspired Indian cuisine enough to win him over?

“You’re ok to go ahead and queue aren’t you?” Well, no, actually, I wasn’t ok but found myself anyway making my way to Dishoom Shoreditch at 6.30pm on a Friday night – only to find a queue snaking its way around the corner. My oldest uni friend had made it there just ahead of me: “Not enough restaurants in London for you mate?” he asked as he googled alternative options nearby.

“It’s all in the name of good food – according to Emma!” We both rolled our eyes.

A now well-established feature of the East London scene, Dishoom is still capturing the imagination of punters, upholding a fine reputation and certain air of exclusivity – if only because it's so hard to get a table. Clearly, we had to bite the bullet at some point. And so we did

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– with a little encouragement and free drinks provided at regular intervals by the restaurant staff (the sweet sherry is thoroughly recommended). We stayed committed and, in truth, things seemed to move along reasonably quickly. Forty minutes later and having reached the ‘front’ we entered the bustling restaurant, tummies rumbling and looking forward to some delicious Iranian-influenced Indian food. Sadly, passing the restaurant’s faultlessly polite doorman simply meant moving to the next queue!

We were given a table alert device and headed off to a packed bar to while away another 40 minutes – but this time with a beer in hand (Kingfisher and Cobra respectively – the measure of a good curry house!). Emma arrived soon after the first round, and ordered herself the Kohinoor fizz: a jaunty drink with gooseberry syrup, lime juice and Portobello Road Gin, a dash of Aperol and splash of Prosecco – all finished with egg white. It seemed to go down a treat, and so another was ordered. Truth be told, had the alarm never sounded, I think we would have all been quite happy chatting and drinking in the bar. But eventually – and rather suddenly – our buzzer sounded and we were ushered downstairs to a low-key basement table.

Dinner was an informal affair, in which the street food and café style dishes came when ready and were shared amongst the group. There were plenty of vegetarian options, including the tummy-warming black dahl and trademark gunpowder potatoes– both devilishly moreish and devoured swiftly alongside a Murgh Malai (Chicken), Lamb Boti and Prawn Koliwada. The G&T-induced nonchalance amongst the group was swiftly replaced by an un-stated competitiveness, as the realisation of just how good the food was dawned on everyone. Fragrant, delicate flavours and sumptuous combinations of spices greeted us with each new dish (and mouthful). So this was what the hype was about: lipsmackingly delicious food and a clear focus on getting things right – even when dealing with a huge footfall. It seems Dishoom has become a much-loved institution for a good reason – and it’s well worth the wait. B

beastmag.co.uk

WORDS BY THOMAS PALMER

A DOUBLE DATE AT

SKY GARDEN 20 FENCHURCH STREET, EC3M 4BA

Sitting proudly at the top of the famous 'Walkie Talkie' building, Sky Garden offers the perfect date-night spot. The menu is a celebration of contemporary British fare and you won't go far wrong with the potroasted cauliflower with goat's curd and chanterelles; a juicy main of venison with pink garlic, charred treviso and rainbow chard; followed by a luxurious panna cotta of Osteen mango, lychee, ginger and lime buttermilk. And an absolute must is the East End-inspired Mile End cocktail. This heady mixture of Don Julio Reposado tequila, kumquat liqueur, guava juice, yuzu and smoked Himalayan sea salt is a deliciously strong way to ease yourself in and get the conversation flowing. skygarden.london/fenchurch-restaurant beastmag.co.uk

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ROSE HEART

Valentine's donuts Victoria Graham, founder of Vicky’s Donuts – the insta-famous Hackney bakery – shares with us the ultimate romantic recipe from her book DONUTS MAKES 12 regular donuts or 24 minis l

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1 batch of The Original dough (right) 500g icing sugar ½ tsp rose water 50 ml (3 tbsp) water Pink natural food colouring Edible rose petals

YOU’LL NEED: Large and small heart-shaped cutters Rose icing (frosting) Edible flowers (Vicky recommends maddocksfarmorganics.co.uk) l

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1 Cut out the donuts, using a large heart-shaped cutter. Cut out the centre of the donuts using a mini heart-shaped cutter. Bake or fry the donuts, following the instructions (right). Leave to cool on a wire rack.

2 To make the rose icing, place the icing sugar, rose water and half of the water in a bowl and stir. Gradually add the rest of the water, stirring continuously, until you end up with a smooth mixture. Add the food colouring and mix well.

3 Dunk each donut into the icing, covering the surface evenly. Gently pull the donut back up, keeping the top down and slowly spinning the donut by around 180 degrees or so, to let any excess drip back down into the bowl.

4 Top each donut with a rose petal and give to someone you love!

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THE ORIGINAL DOUGH l

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750g strong white bread flour (extra for dusting) 80g caster (superfine) sugar 80g unsalted butter 15g (3 tsp) salt 21g (6 tsp) instant dried yeast (3 packets) 3 medium eggs 240 ml warm full-fat (whole) milk 140 ml warm water 2 tbsp vegetable oil

YOU’LL NEED: Stand mixer (optional) Rolling pin Dough scraper (optional) Cutters (in shape of your choice) l

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1 Place the flour, sugar and butter in a large bowl. Make two wells in the flour at opposite sides of the bowl and add the salt to one, and the yeast to the other.

2 Break in the eggs and then add the warm milk.

3 If using a stand mixer, attach the dough hook and mix on the slowest speed, whilst carefully pouring in the water, bit by bit. If you don’t have a stand mixer, use one hand to bring the dough together and the other to pour in the water. Mix together until all the ingredients have been incorporated – you should end up with a sticky, wet mixture.

4 Continue kneading the dough on a slow setting for around 8 minutes or, by hand, on a floured surface for 10 minutes. When the dough has been kneaded enough, it’ll be smooth, elastic and have a shiny surface.

5 Put the dough in a clean bowl and

cover with a damp tea towel (dish towel) until doubled in size (anything between 20–90 minutes, depending on the temperature of your kitchen).

6 Grease 2 baking trays (baking pans) with 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil on each.

7 Cover your hands with flour and sprinkle a flat surface with more flour.

Tip out the dough and knead with your hands to form a ball. Use a dough scraper, if you like, to help pick up all the doughy residue from the surface.

8 Sprinkle the rolling pin with flour and roll out the dough to around 2 cm (3/4 in) thick.

9 Use a cutter to cut out your desired shapes and place onto the greased baking trays, spacing them out. Knead any leftover dough and roll out to repeat the process until you have used up all the dough. Leave to rise for around 10–20 minutes until the dough springs back when you touch it.

10 Cook the dough using one of the methods here and smother with your glaze or icing of choice!

slowly to avoid any splashes and, if using a pan, always use a digital thermometer to make sure the oil doesn’t get too hot. l

1 Preheat a deep-fat fryer (deep fryer), or oil in a heavy-based pan, to 180°C (350°F).

2 Use a fish slice (turner) to carefully pick up each portion of dough and then carefully drop the dough into the fryer, cooking each one for around 60 seconds on each side, until golden brown in colour.

3 Remove with tongs and place on a baking tray (baking pan) lined with a paper towel to soak up any excess oil.

Leave to cool.

BAKING These guys are sprayed with oil before and after they go into the oven to simulate the frying process. They have a lovely depth of flavour to them. l

FRYING & BAKING Baked or fried? Frying your donuts will make them crispy and fluffy whilst baking them will make them soft and squidgy.

FRYING The original and most effective way of making donuts – this is how we do them in the bakery every day.

Remember to be super careful when using hot oil. Keep any form of water away from the fryer or pan, move

3 litres vegetable oil

Rapeseed oil spray

1 Preheat the oven to 220°C (430°F/ Gas 7).

2 Fill a roasting dish with boiling water and place it at the bottom of the oven.

3 Spray the donuts with oil (around 3 sprays per donut, as a general rule of thumb) and bake in the oven for 6 minutes.

4 Spray with oil again as soon as they leave the oven and leave to cool.

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Extracted from Donuts by Vicky Graham (Hardie Grant, £10) Photography © Joe Woodhouse

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LOVE NESTS

STAY EAST

Escape the mundane for a romantic retreat at East London’s most mysterious, magical best-kept secret

REVIEW BY THOMAS PALMER

40 WINKS, Stepney Green It’s not often you get to step outside your everyday existence into a different world. But here I was, at 7pm on a quiet Tuesday evening, doing just that. My location? Outside a rather brooding Queen Anne townhouse on Mile End Road.

An address that happens to be one of the most sought-after and photographed in London, with many a famous name having crossed the threshold - including none other than HM Queen Elizabeth II herself (and her corgi!).

I was on a more modest excursion: for a part-romantic ‘staycation’/ part-review of this most illustrious of B&Bs. Indeed, to even call 40 winks a B&B doesn’t feel quite right.

beastmag.co.uk

Home to inimitable, world-renowned interior designer David Carter, this flamboyantly fabulous residence has graced the pages of magazines everywhere since opening its doors to guests ten years ago. “I had so many photographers, models and stylists passing though, asking if they could stay, that eventually I decided to open it up. So I sent out a press release cheekily naming it the world's first 'micro-boutique hotel’, and since then it’s been none stop.”

That it only boasts one double and one single guest room, makes it all the more exclusive - and hard to book into. You can be on the waiting list for months, but - as is the way with human nature - that only adds to its allure. Guests come from far and wide, and for special occasions too. “We’ve had many ➠ BEAST

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impeccable taste; the culminaation of years spent collecting and curating a feast of rare trinkets, treasures and objets d’arts. Just sitting on the plush velvet sofa drinking a cup of tea I felt transported into the cultured mind of a true creative.

Soon after I was taken upstairs to where my beloved sat nestled on the bed working.

The double bedroom itself is a more quiet, pared-back affair than the rest of the house, with white-washed floor-boards, vintage suitcases and an antique dresser. It had the air of a shabby chic French boudoir about it - the sort of place you’d expect a successful-yet-stubbornly-Bohemian Parisian artist to reside. Emma said she felt right at home, before flitting off to run herself a bath in true staycation style.

I settled in for some quiet reading time. Then: “Have you seen the bathroom Tom?!!” I could tell by her tone that it was more of a beckoning than a question. The bathroom, I had to concede though, really was something to behold. Its walls were adorned in gold Japanese garden De Gournay wallpaper, whilst water cascaded out of a gold lion’s mouth into the roll-top bath.

But the thing we both noticed most? The ambience.

This was no doubt helped by the perfect lighting throughout the house (it seems lighting is indeed an art), which lent itself to a warm, cosy, safe feeling amidst the opulence. It was more than that though. David has created an almost unpinpointable feeling throughout 40 Winks that goes beyond its theatrical decor. And in an era of Airbnb and booking.com getaways, it really does stand out. At no point do you feel you’re simply ‘staying’ in someone else’s home. It feels like a beautifullycurated experience - one of both luxury and simplicity. You won’t find a TV here (though there is wifi), but what you will find is a corner of peace in an urban epicentre. This is a retreat in the true sense of the word: it offers a hiatus from the busyness of daily life, and instead brings you back wholly to the present. To deep conversations with a loved one; to the joy of a long, hot bath; to the quiet pleasure of reading. And although you can hear the cars and voices of Mile End Road just outside the window, you somehow feel removed from it all - as if you truly have fallen down the rabbit hole into a madhatter world of extravagant downtime. B 109 Mile End Rd, E1 4UJ, 40winks.org

beastmag.co.uk

REVIEW BY THOMAS PALMER

‘ WE’VE HAD MANY A PROPOSAL AND LEGS OF A HONEYMOON HERE̓

a proposal and legs of a honeymoon here”, David tells us with a mischievous twinkle in his eye. And here I was thinking I was off on a low-key, laid-back midweek jaunt! Well, dear reader, low-key this hotel is not.

In fact, within seconds of being welcomed into David’s not-so-humble abode, I know I’m somewhere special.

Wholly removed from the busy street I’d just left behind, 40 Winks is a sultry bubble of serenity. “I want it to feel like you’ve fallen down the rabbit hole into a whole new world,” David explains - and I couldn’t have put it better myself. I look around in confused delight, greedily drinking in all its eccentric, erotic, exotic, fantastical glory - from the illuminated Christ-like figure in a top hat to the rows of vintage children’s shoes. And that was just the hallway!

Before exploring more though, I take off my shoes - “it’s the Japanese way”. I’m then taken into the dark, decadent main living room - reminiscent of a high-end 19th century opium den. On the floor above is a more eccentric room still, complete with a pompom chandelier under a tromp l’oeil sky ceiling, a glittery sofa with an artfully placed red ukulele on it and a portrait of Lady Gaga. It shouldn’t work but it does. The house itself is over 300 years old and still retains a sense of Baroquesque opulence about it - with tall rooms and generous windows - whilst still managing to ooze an a la mode glamour. This is all down to David’s unique eye and the

LOVE NESTS

THE CULPEPER, Spitalfields The only thing better than discovering a really good pub is discovering you can stay there too.

Especially when you’re after a more relaxed overnight date spot. Lucky then that this topnotch pub, housed in a grand 19th-century Victorian public house, has five beautifully designed, very chic bedrooms at the ready. So whether you opt for laid-back pub grub on the ground floor, their more formal ‘Kitchen’ menu on the first floor, or for a botanical drink in their roof garden, be happy in the knowledge that a good night’s sleep is just a few stairs away.

Prices start at £120 per night 40 Commercial St, E1 6LP theculpeper.com

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LOVE NESTS

TOWN HALL HOTEL AND APARTMENTS, Bethnal Green When old meets new it can be a beautiful thing. As is the way with Bethnal Green’s historic Town Hall, which seems to be enjoying its second life as one of the area’s most stylish hotel offerings. Its restoration is of the best kind; with original marble floors and Art Deco interiors sitting alongside elegant modern fittings - such as floorto-ceiling glass partitions. Its rooms and apartments range from grand Edwardian chic to cool ‘loft-like’ spaces – all decorated in exceedingly good taste. It’s the little touches that make all the difference though: from well-curated vintage furniture and sheepskin rugs, to barista-quality coffee and luxury toiletries. It’s also home to a buzzy brasserie and well-stocked wine bar, so you can be from bar to bedroom in no time.

Prices start at £130 per night. 8 Patriot Square, E2 9NF townhallhotel.com

THE ZETTER TOWNHOUSE, Clerkenwell Located just a few minutes from Farringdon station, this majestic 13-room Georgian house is one of East London’s smartest boutique hotels. It owes its sumptuous yet eccentric interiors to award-winning design studio Russell Sage, who have captured British kookiness at its best.

Expect luxurious, quirky bedrooms (there are also two suites), complete with fluffy dressing gowns. But it’s not all about lounging and sleeping; there’s also a fully-equipped games room, and free bike rental so you can head off on a romantic ride around the village-esque streets of Clerkenwell. Even if you choose not to stay, their cocktail bar is equal parts cosy and fabulous – well worth a trip for their ‘Priory Sour’ cocktail alone (trust us on that one).

Prices start at £258 per night 49-50 St John's Square, EC1V 4JJ thezettertownhouse.com/clerkenwell

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LET'S TALK SEX

A new East London social enterprise is here to change the conversation around sex - one creative workshop at a time

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What do you wish you learnt in sex ed? It’s a question that might inspire awkward giggling, but this is exactly what social enterprise Split Banana wants to change. Because beneath the light-hearted laughter about condoms on bananas there is a problem: the UK sex-ed curriculum hasn’t been updated in two decades and sex crimes in schools are up more than 250 per cent in four years. Co-founders Anna Alexander and Matilda Lawrence-Jubb have decided it’s time for a sex-ed revolution and have devised creative workshops, taught at schools, to help open up honest conversations around sex for young people. The mission? To ensure teenagers come away better equipped to understand their bodies, minds, emotions and each other. And it’s not just for youngsters – look out for their adult Sex Ed events and exhibitions.

Keep up with Split Banana on Twitter @SplitBananaaa and at splitbanana.co.uk

beastmag.co.uk

WORDS: CHARLOTTE TOTTENHAM

LAST BUT NOT LEAST

EAST LONDON PROPERTY

NEW YEAR. NEW H O M E . #EASTISBEST

EASTHAUS.CO.UK

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2019 SEES THE LAUNCH OF HOXTON SPIRITS’ NEW LOOK COLLECTION, ADDING HOXTON BANANA RUM TO THE FAMILY AND LAUNCHING FURTHER LINES THROUGHOUT 2019. beastmag.co.uk