BIKE SHED LONDON

Alast minute change of plans meant the unveiling of Triumph’s new 400s had to shift for the 70-storey Shard in London to the decidedly low tech (it is built in an old “tube” train terminal) and definitely biker friendly Bike Shed London. Since bikes routinely run through the middle of the dining area, it was the perfect venue. Billed as a place “For the People who love Motorcycles, and the People who love People who love Motorcycles,” Triumph was welcomed with open arms, an open bar and even some old school Punk Rock!

Since 2011, the Bike Shed has been a place of Common Ground, where people from all walks of life come together to share their passion for two-wheels, whether they ride a motorcycle or not. “In the spirit of our founder’s beliefs and backgrounds, our visitors leave their differences at the door to enjoy an inclusive, welcoming space… Our founders, our team, our members, customers and regulars are all part of the same diverse moto-culture, and we want to share what we’ve created with everyone.” Perfect for the crosscultural merging of Triumph motorcycles with Bajaj Auto’s ability to mass produce the all new platform for the largest motorcycle market in the world.

How It All Started

The Bike Shed Motorcycle Club started in November 2011 as a blog about Anthony “Dutch” van Someren’s journey as a modern sportsbike rider into the ‘new wave’ custom motorcycles everyone was reading about online – the cafe racers, brat-style, scramblers, etc. He wrote about the new bikes and builders on the scene, especially in the UK & Europe. Over two years the blog grew to be one of the most popular commentators on the scene with a global following.

As the site grew, Dutch was joined by his wife Vikki, also an avid rider, and their friends joined in when in May 2013 the Bike Shed blog migrated from a virtual community into hosting their first pop-up motorcycle event; “a celebration of the creative scene around motorcycle custom culture”. … It started as a conversation in a pub.

The First Event In 2013

The first Bike Shed show featured 55 curated custom bikes from as far as Thailand, Portugal and the US, displayed across 2 arches in Shoreditch. It attracted 3,000 visitors – not just to see the custom bikes, but to enjoy art, photography, curated retailers and great food & hospitality. There was even a barbershop and tattoo pop-up, adding to the sense of lifestyle and theatre.

Ten shows later, the Bike Shed London Show at Tobacco Dock welcomed 18,000 people through its doors to see over 270 curated custom motorcycles, with 500 exhibitors, adding live music, a cinema and tattoo artists to this now world famous, world-class event.

Just after the second Bike Shed show, back in October 2013, conversations started around whether or not the Bike Shed could be a permanent place, committed to providing a unique destination for bike riders who wanted to combine their love of motorcycles with an honest desire for hanging out with cool, like-minded people in a club-like space with great food, great hospitality and comfortable surroundings.

Not all bikers want spit & sawdust meeting places or to drink lukewarm builder’s tea in a motorway cafe with nothing but a melted KitKat to keep hunger at bay. It’s not about being posh, it’s simply a reflection of the improved world of hospitality we now live in, and much closer to the way bike culture exists in the rest of Europe and the US.

The Shoreditch Venue

In November 2015, the Bike Shed motorcycle Club tentatively opened its doors on a 12,000 square foot venue across four renovated railway arches in the heart of its original home, Shoreditch, in Central London. The BSMC features a 160 seat cafe and restaurant, with bike parking on a private street for 60 bikes, along with a curated retail space, galleries for bikes and art, a barbershop and an event space, plus the BSMC’s offices, where four of the original Bike Shed show volunteers were joined by many more, to run the events, website and club business, full-time.

Eight years on and the Bike Shed now welcomes around 2,500 people through our doors every week, welcoming the who moto-community to our spaces. At our centre lies a genuine motorcycle members club, but anyone can attend, i.e you don’t need to join the club, and you don’t need to ride or even own a motorcycle to enjoy our hospitality and a very warm welcome.

Bike Shed Motorcycle Company

384 Old St, Hackney, London EC1V 9LT

United Kingdom bikeshedmoto.co.uk