HACKNEY | Autumn 2017
HACKNEY’S innovative social enterprise cafes
FREE
LOVE LOCAL Made by your neighbours
WHAT’S HOT on the local property market
MEET THE ULTRA ORTHODOX
Jewish community
HUMANS OF N16
Stories of people who live around you
HAPPY AUTUMN With crisp mornings and vibrant colours, this is one of the best seasons of the year to be out of doors
AUtumn 2017 ISSUE #4
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HACKNEY’S SOCIAL ENTERPRISE CAFES
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WHAT'S ON THIS AUTUMN Your guide to the comings and goings in N16 and surrounding
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HACKNEY PROPERTY MARKET UPDATE
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MEET STAMFORD HILL’S ULTRA-ORTHODOX JEWISH COMMUNITY
WHERE TO GET THAT PERFECT CUP OF COFFEE?
LOVE LOCAL: THE PRODUCTS MADE RIGHT HERE IN HACKNEY
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YOUR COUNCIL NEEDS YOU: JOIN HACKNEY 100 3
from the
editor
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f you put aside the grey and rainy days that seemed to dominate July, we are leaving a fantastic summer behind us. In its place comes another beautiful season, autumn. You have in your hands the fourth edition of N16 Life magazine. In this issue, prepared by a fantastic team, we learn more about the people of Hackney, home to the most multicultural population in the country. We aim to tell you about the culture, food, special days and religious rituals of the many different nationalities speaking dozens of different languages here. In this edition, we spoke to the Hasidic community of Stamford Hill, one of the largest Haredi Jewish communities in Europe. Our “Made in Hackney, Love Local” pages are oozing with some of the treasured delights – from chocolate and honey to gin and beer – that are made for you to taste and enjoy right here in the borough. As with every issue, Humans of N16 has more first-person accounts from Hackney residents. Some have told us about the film they’ve made; others about their personal stories. It feels like the number of businesses based on social enterprise are increasing by the day in Hackney. They make a range of delicious wares, from luscious cakes to inventive drinks, and work hard to support the local community. Read about some of them in this issue. We also have a packed cultural guide to what’s on in our region and across London. Plus there’s travel, property and more. Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram – just search for N16lifemagazine – and enjoy!
EDITORIAL EDITOR Yasemin Bakan
SUB EDITOR Michael Daventry PICTURE EDITOR Mehmet Er PHOTOGRAPHY Gokce Pehlivanoglu DESIGN Umut Senogul CONTRIBUTORS Carrie O’Grady Victoria Gray
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See you in November for our Christmas edition.
N16 Life Magazine www.n16life.com N16 Life is a quarterly magazine distributed to more than 20,000 homes and businesses in N16 and the surrounding areas. It is also available in local cafes, pubs, libraries and supermarkets in Hackney.
Yasemin Bakan Editor
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Published by Metropol Media Ltd Metropol Media Ltd cannot accept responsibility for unsolicited submissions, manuscripts and photographs. While every care is taken, prices and details are subject to change and Metropol Media Ltd take no responsibility for omissions or errors. All rights reserved.
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ISAAC WATTS IS BURIED AT ABNEY PARK CEMETERY
LION TAMER FRANK BOSTOCK’S GRAVE
HALLOWED GROUND b y C A R R I E O ' G R A DY
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ewcomers and visitors to the Stoke Newington area often feel they’ve stumbled upon something special when they wander into Abney Park cemetery. “What a find!” they exclaim. But in fact, most of them will have seen it before: on the BBC’s Autumnwatch, in a fashion shoot, or on the TV series Waking the Dead. It’s through this very graveyard that Amy Winehouse treads a troubled track, her odds are stacked, in Back to Black. The site’s pop-culture credits pale into insignificance, however, next to its historical importance. John Baldock has the facts at his fingertips: “Abney Park was opened on May 20th, 1840, as a non-denominational cemetery and an arboretum of 1,000 trees, which was inspired by George Loddiges, a local Hackney nurseryman. “The cemetery looks vastly different now to how it was, although the combination of biodiversity and heritage is still very prevalent.” He estimates that there are about 200,000 people buried there. “There's no specific class, just nonconformist – i.e., not Church of England,” 6
LAST AUGUST, THE CEMETERY MARKED A NEW MILESTONE WHEN THE MAYOR OF HACKNEY, PHILIP GLANVILLE, CUT THE RIBBON ON THE NEWLY REFURBISHED GOTHIC CHAPEL AT ITS HEART
he says. That’s evident from the giant monuments facing the Church Street entrance, commemorating William Booth, founder of the Salvation Army, and his wife Catherine. “Some larger monuments are a sign of affluence, and most have various meanings,” Baldock points out. “For instance, a broken column means 'a life cut short', a sudden death. Wreaths symbolise eternal life. Clasped hands refer to ‘a life together'.” Another well-loved sculpture is the white lion that sprawls across the grave of Frank C Bostock. “Known as 'The Animal King', he travelled the world with his entourage of animals,” says Baldock. “He had a Giraffe House on Yoakley Road. We also have Britain's first female aeronauts, Margaret Graham. With her husband, she made and flew her own hot-air balloons over the skies of London and beyond.” If you’d like to find out more about that history, the Abney Park Trust offers many opportunities. John Baldock leads a historical walk there on the
first Sunday of every month at 2pm. “We also have walks which focus on Abney's biodiversity, and on themes such as radicals, women and certain individuals. We have some talks and walks on William Hone, who fought ABNEY PARK TRUST against government OFFICE MANAGER AND TOUR GUIDE censorship, on the 1st JOHN BALDOCK and 8th October,” he says. Theatre groups put on open-air shows within the gates during the warmer months, and there’s an outdoor camp for young people aged 8-14 which runs during the school holidays, called In The Sticks. Mind you, it’s not all fun and games at Abney Park. It’s been said that an unexploded WWII bomb lies buried somewhere within the grounds. There are rumours, too, that the tasty-looking mushrooms you might see there are bursting with arsenic, thanks to the Victorians’ unwholesome custom of embalming their corpses. And that’s before we even start on the ghost stories. Can all this be true? Probably not, but it’s enough to add an enjoyable shiver to your stroll among the sarcophagi…
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WHAT'S ON this autumn
N16 Life’s unrivalled guide to the theatre, music, outdoor events and children’s activities in Hackney and across London in the autumn
CHAMPAGNE GOURMET ODYSSEYS
CREDIT CLIVE BARDA
THE GOLDEN DRAGON hackneyempire.co.uk
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usic Theatre Wales makes its first appearance at Hackney Empire with a thrilling new opera, brought to life with the company’s characteristic theatrical flair and musical virtuosity. Based on the play of the same name by Roland Schimmelpfennig, Peter Eötvös’s new opera finds a whole world in a grain of egg fried rice. Set in a Chinese restaurant found in any city anywhere, The Golden Dragon is a compelling fable of modern life. At the heart of this East-meets-West tale is the discovery of a decayed tooth in a bowl of soup. It belongs to a kitchen boy, a long way from home and with no papers. He’s looking for his sister, but she’s been forced into a very different kind of service just next door. £10 – £30, 31 October.
LONDON’S STORYTELLING CLUB
A londonrestaurantfestival.com/champagne_gourmet_ odysseys
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he London Restaurant Festival (LRF) is back this October, showcasing the very best restaurants and chefs in London with a packed calendar across the whole month. Champagne Gourmet Odysseys will also return, allowing guests to explore the breadth of London’s 8
culinary landscape with North, West and East London tours. In North London, guests will enjoy a three-course lunch with courses in Trullo, Sardine and Newington Green’s Perilla. Champagne Gourmet Odyssey Discover North £125, 21 October.
t Spark London you will hear personal stories told not by professional storytellers but by anyone who has a great story to share. But there are three conditions: it must be true, it must be your own story and it must be under five minutes long. With a different theme each time, you soon find yourself talking to friends and strangers about moments from their lives. Spark aims to build bonds through stories and holds regular events at the Hackney Attic and Upstairs at the Ritzy. They also put on a monthly show in Exmouth Market featuring all the best stories plus special guest storytellers. 74-year-old comic Julie Kertesz, who gave up her previous career aged 60, is among the storytellers. You can also subscribe to their awardwinning podcast. Check the web site for the next event in Hackney. www.stories.co.uk/london Entrance £5.
W H AT ’ S ON
THE PAINTER PRINCESS www.tate.org.uk
Turkish-born Fahrelnissa Zeid created extraordinary paintings that mix Islamic, Byzantine, Arab, Persian and European influences
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rained in both Paris and Istanbul, Zeid was an important figure in the Turkish avant-garde in the early 1940s and the École de Paris (School of Paris) in the 1950s. Her vibrant abstract paintings are a synthesis of Islamic, Byzantine, Arab and Persian influences fused with European approaches to abstraction. Many of her abstract works are monumental and demand attention. Zeid’s reputation as an artist was cemented in the 1950s when she was living between London and Paris and exhibiting extensively internationally. She also began experimenting with painting on turkey and chicken bones, which
she later cast in polyester resin panels evocative of stained-glass windows. In the later years of her life she unexpectedly returned to figurative painting, creating stylised portraits of her friends and family. Indulge in Zeid’s obsession with line and dazzling colour in this exhibition. Rediscover one of the greatest female artists of the 20th century in this first major retrospective. Zeid said of her portrait work: “I am a descendent of four civilisations. In my self-portrait ... the hand is Persian, the dress Byzantine, the face is Cretan and the eyes Oriental, but I was not aware of this as I was painting it.” Tate Modern, until 8 October
SURVIVAL TECHNIQUES AT ATOM GALLERY www.atomgallery.co.uk ‘Survival Techniques’, an exhibition of paintings and screenprints of positive and uplifting statements and actions that have helped people feeling sad, depressed or lonely, comes to specialist print gallery ATOM. Designer Naomi Edmondson began her project almost two years ago after a period of feeling low. It began as a legal street art project that aimed to promote hope and optimism and bring a little light to people having a dark day. The exhibition, which runs for three weeks, is Naomi's first solo exhibition and will show both original paintings and limited edition screenprints of her work. The exhibition coincides with World Mental Health Day and 10% of all money raised by the exhibition will go to the Rethink Mental Illness charity. Free, 7 October
JAZZ VERSE JUKEBOX WITH JUMOKE FASHOLA www.hoxtonhall.co.uk
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he eclectic Jazz Verse Jukebox returns to Hoxton Hall for a new season, featuring a stunning line-up of wordsmiths and singers. Described as “the perfect jazz poetry party” (Michael Horovitz), the jukebox continues the ageold tradition of intertwining jazz improvisation and spoken word.
Join them for what promises to be a thrilling night of diverse spoken word and jazz from some of the freshest female exponents on the scene. Plus an Open Mic for poets & singers. Hosted by and with music from broadcaster and vocalist Jumoké Fashola. Friday 22 September | 24 November 7.30pm, £9 9
IMPROV COMEDY NIGHT mothclub.co.uk
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ritish Comedy Award-winning sketch heroes Seb Cardinal and Dustin Demri-Burns host an impulsive night at MOTH Club in Hackney, and anything goes! Cardinal Burns Presents…, produced by Knock2bag, introduces new characters and new material, with a few little treats thrown in. The line-up includes Jamie Demetrio, Natalie Demetriou and Ellie White. 19 October, 7.30 - 11.00pm, Advance tickets £10
SPIRITED AWAY WITH THE MUSIC servantjazzquarters.com Introduced by their mutual friend Nicole Atkins, Thayer and Sukie from Madam bring their Southern Gothic/Folk Noir sound to the Servant Jazz Quarters to celebrate all things beautiful and dreamy. 12 October, 7.30pm
MEDITATION FOR FREE www.stmaryn16.org A chance to discover, or rediscover, the practice of silence and stillness. No advanced technique to be mastered: anyone can do it. The only requirements are a willingness to sit still and silently repeat a word. Simple! A session lasts about an hour, including teaching, 25 mins meditation, and time for questions. Tuesdays 10.30am or Wednesdays 8.15 pm at St Mary's Church opposite Clissold Park. All welcome. No charge. Donations accepted. 10
CREDIT EDWARD MOORE
TROPICAL TUNES EVERY SATURDAY
CANADIAN FOLK MUSIC WITH AN EDGE
www.rubysdalston.com We're keeping the summer vibes well and truly up as we get tropical every Saturday night in our lounge. Our resident DJs will be spinning 90s & 00s hip-hop & R&B alongside some of the finest cuts of disco, funk & soul. Come and get loose. Bookings through hello@rubysdalston.com
theoldchurch.org.uk
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ith flavours of Lucinda Williams, Nanci Griffiths and Iris Dement and a wealth of early country music, the two-time Canadian Folk Music Award nominee and recent Western Canadian Music Award nominee’s songs are faithful to a long-standing folk music tradition. Often spilling over into modern themes that are outspoken and edgy, her songwriting tackles issues from poverty and midwifery to tongue-incheek heartache songs and unabashed Canadiana. A traditionalist at heart, Sarah Jane Scouten shows her signature flair for the roots of folk music. With respect for these roots, she writes from her own perspective, playing with style to create her own distinct voice. This songwriter is known for hitting hard and close to home, then laughing it off. 19 October, 7.30-10.30pm, £10 in advance, £12 on the door
KIDS AN D FA MI LY
THEATRE FOR TODDLERS AND THE (VERY) YOUNG
PINOCCHIO
S www.barbican.org.uk
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n enchanting winter’s tale for the very young. Watch two friends embark on an adventure in a magical forest full of play, puppetry, music and wonder in this enchanting tale for babies and the very young to enjoy with their families. Winter has arrived, with woods covered in sparkly snow. A child runs outside to discover it all but soon feels lonely. Drawn by a sound, the child finds a sleeping mouse buried under the soft white flakes. Together they explore, sliding, tumbling and
laughing, keeping each other safe and warm. Snow Mouse combines an endearing puppet, one performer, lots of giggles and a tactile set perfect for audiences to come and sit close to the action. Bath-based the egg and Bristol’s Travelling Light Theatre Company make outstanding theatre for children, engaging with their emotions and firing their imaginations. 40 mins, no interval. Age 3 months – 3 years, 13 - 23 December. Performances at 10.30 am, 1.30pm, 3.30pm. £8.50
adler’s Wells Associate Artist Jasmin Vardimon is set to charm audiences once again this half term as she returns with her joyous and wildly imaginative take on the classic Collodi fairy-tale. With clever humour, engaging drama and witty observations, this theatrically innovative piece takes us on a magical adventure with Pinocchio as he discovers what it means to be human. In Vardimon’s trademark choreographic style, breathtakingly physical dancers bring to life the enchanting world of the famous marionette in this visual delight. sadlerswells.com, 27-28 October, 7.30pm and 2.30pm Saturday matinee. Ages 7 and up. £18
AFTER-SCHOOL ARTISTS
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uring term-time, these after school clubs for 6 to 11-year-olds will explore and expand their knowledge of different art movements, while using different art mediums to develop their imagination and artists skill sets in a hub of creativity and fun. Term-time courses are designed and structured to create the right platform for Mini Artists to explore the versatility of each art medium while developing and supporting their artists skill sets as an ongoing art development. miniartists.co.uk The Old Fire Station, Stoke Newington, N16 7NX. Ages 6-11, Wednesdays 4-5pm, 1 November – 13 December. £65 for 7 sessions (early bird price £52) 11
N Family Club Transforming family life in Stoke Newington b y V I C TO R I A G R AY
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Family Club want to prove that nurseries can be more than just daycare, building a 7-days-a-week hub that both kids and parents love. As well as offering a nursery with longer opening hours from 7am-7pm, the club will be open on the weekend to allow parents to pursue their own interests and meet other like-minded mums and dads. With a strong sense of community, they’re hoping to create a space for parents to enrich their children’s early education, but still focus on themselves. We spoke to the leadership team, Liv Stones, Phil Sunderland and Hannah 12
McGoohan, about why the area is the perfect location for their first site. They are from a range of backgrounds: Phil is the business mind, having worked in the finance sector and as an entrepreneur, Hannah has the early years educational experience, and Liv is the marketing guru, with previous start-up experience. They’re passionate about “creating a new style of nursery, one which focuses on what’s best for the families” after becoming aware that parents' lives can be restricted by a strict nursery. And they're approaching the sector with a fresh pair of eyes: addressing everything from nursery layout and play spaces, to the customer experience differently – digitising things where possible, to
make parents' lives easier. They're also keen to develop their educators and are supporting their team to degree level. With local roots, the N Family Club’s location just off Stoke Newington Church Street seemed ideal. Phil tells us: “Stokey has such a clear sense of community, making it ideal for starting a new business like ours. While variations of the ‘Family Club’ model exist in Central and South West London, they are prohibitively expensive, curating for a very different audience and simply wouldn’t work for families in Stokey, or North East London more generally.” Liv agrees: “I think it’s a great area to set up a business, so long as your product is geared towards Stokey residents and
ADVERTOR I A L
their ideals. Current business owners have been really helpful and know their audience back to front.” The building where N Family Club will be based on Defoe Road was previously a community hall. Phil tells us that it was “in disrepair when we took it on. It's now had extensive refurbishment plus the creation of a mezzanine level and additional third floor. It'll be finished to a high spec, breathing new life into a muchloved community hub! Everything but the cafe has been dual-designed so that from 7-7 Monday-Friday the rooms will be set up as nursery rooms, but will flip over to become family club spaces in the evenings and during the weekend. We've built in lots of clever storage solutions to enable this to be seamless and really flexible.” The nursery will open on 2 October, and the Family Club will be soft launching with trial classes in November and December, ready to fully launch around Christmas. There’s a real focus on the education side where Hannah has all the experience: “I set up and managed a group of six nurseries in Brighton and Hove, achieving Ofsted ratings of Outstanding. My passion has always been in Early Years Education, creating warm and nurturing environments to give children the best possible start in their early years. “We've also prioritised finding the best team of educators, offering staff opportunities to create a career within early years, supporting everyone through to degree level and beyond. We empower our early years educators to
spend all their time on teaching rather than spreading themselves too thin on cleaning and admin work.” So, safe in the knowledge that their children are being taken good care of, parents will have time to focus on themselves. The ‘club’ side of N Family Club includes an in-house fitness studio, cinema club, a cafe serving an all-day brunch, kids’ activity clubs and adults’ workshops, and a crèche and kids’ fun zone to keep the kids busy while you are too. Phil tells us “the intention is that this should be more informal, focusing on creativity, wellness and fun.” And why are they confident it’s going to be a success in this area? Hannah says, “Stoke Newington is an area heavily populated with young families, many of whom don't have extended family members living close by. Our family club gives children and adults the opportunity to meet up with others in similar situations as themselves to build friendships, creating a network for support around them.”
WE'RE LOOKING TO CHANGE THE WAY EARLY YEARS EDUCATION IS DELIVERED
So what’s next? Liv says, “We hope to expand in the next few years to establish a network of family clubs – all of which will have a different feel, reflecting their local community. Stoke Newington, as our first site, will continue to be our testing ground for trying out new things, which will keep it feeling fresh and in tune with families in the area. Long term, I’d love to see us rolling out the N brand into other ventures that could transform family life in the city.” Hannah’s early years education experience means they also have high aims for transforming children’s education. “We're looking to change the way Early Years Education is delivered,” she says, “by providing highly qualified and trained staff following a child-centred curriculum. We will focus heavily on learning through play and real life experiences. “I'd like to improve standards across Early Years Education, valuing the importance, on children's early experiences having a positive impact on their learning and development for the future.” N Family Club, 5 Defoe Road, Stoke Newington, London N16 0EP, nfamilyclub.com N Family Club are holding two open days for local families on the afternoon of September 28 and the morning of September 30, please contact olivia@nfamilyclub.com to RSVP
(Left to right) HANNAH MCGOOHAN, PHIL SUNDERLAND, LIV STONES
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Humans of N16
Inspired by Humans of New York, N16 Life records the stories of strangers across Hackney. Here are the latest Humans of N16.
STELLA CORRADI Writer and Director “Originally from Italy, I came to London when I was 5 years old and lived and studied in Islington and Stoke Newington. I went to Stoke Newington school and have always remained in the area. I graduated from Queen Mary University of London with a Masters in Film and then worked in participatory film projects with young people and refugees before starting as a director's assistant in feature films working under the mentorship of Sally Potter (Ginger & Rosa, The Party) and Justin Kurzel (Macbeth, Assassin's Creed). I embarked on making my own short film Little Soldier through the London Calling scheme from Film London in 2015. After a year on the international festival circuit, winning best female director at London Short Film Festival and various special mentions around the world, Little Soldier reached a wider audience when it was released as a Vimeo Staff Pick this year. “Little Soldier is loosely based on my own childhood and inspired by people I know but the events and characters are fictional. I was interested in telling a story from a young girl’s perspective. I wanted to show the intelligence, resilience and strength that children can have. Woman and family issues are universal, I think there is something about a mother and daughter relationship that many people can relate to. “I have recently become a mother and the love between us is so powerful.
STELLA CORRADI TELLS ALL ABOUT HER AWARD-WINNING SHORT FILM LITTLE SOLDIER, WHICH SHE WROTE AND DIRECTED
I've also realised that parents are just human. We make mistakes but we do our best in relation to our own limitations. The relationships within a family are interdependent: a parent needs their child's love as much as the child needs the parent's. “In many families, the child has to take on the role of the parent. This is the dynamic that interested me and pushed me to write and make Little Soldier. “The story was always clear in my mind but when it came to filming there are always the realities of creating a scene which works in your mind and does not always work on camera or within the story. There were a few scenes which had to be reworked in the editing room. For example, the powder paint bomb scene: this was originally set in real life but it didn't work very well so we cut it with scenes of Anya playing and imagining the scene in her mind instead.” 15
STO RI E S PHOENIX MARTINS Singer-Producer “I was born in Lagos, Nigeria. I came to the UK when I was a year old. I wanted to be an athlete, actress and musician among other things, and luckily I'm managing to do all the things I love most, simultaneously. I grew up here, near Victoria Park and it wasn't my choice [laughs] but I'm glad we moved there as it was and is such a great place to grow up as I was surrounded by plenty of diasporas as well as English culture. Then I moved to South East London for my studies, which is good but I'm sure I'll be back in the manor soon. I was tiny, could have been a toddler, when I was always banging on something, or humming a tune to myself. One of my earliest memories was being at a friend’s house in London Fields and in their living room they had an old school sound system with a double tape player and interesting faders that I didn't know anything about, but this made me wonder: ‘what does that thing do?’ In the process,
PHOENIX CALLS HER MUSIC A SOUL FOOD SANDWICH, WITH FLICKERS OF ATMOSPHERIC, ETHEREAL, DREAM POP I taught myself how to record as well as how to cut & paste audio manually, and the rest just flowed after that profound experience. What is the measure of success for me? Well, I have been building things musically and art-wise since I was a child, so seeing them grow with a great team behind it and seeing the audience’s expressions and the way in which they respond back in real time and over time makes it all worthwhile. I have a secret show coming up with
JESSICA & TOM JONES-BERNEY Artists “Jess and I are a brother and sister design duo running under the moniker of Tomartacus. From our Stoke Newington studio we create art prints that bring London views loved by locals to life in an explosion of colour. Our company name Tomartacus was Jess’s nickname for me when we were younger. I’ve always enjoyed drawing and when Jess began pestering me to do some local artwork for her Stoke Newington flat it just grew from there really.
BROTHER AND SISTER TEAM TOMARTACUS EXPLAIN WHY THEY SPEND THEIR DAYS SKETCHING LONDON SCENES WITH SPLASHES OF COLOUR Our very first prints were Jess’ local haunts: Spence Bakery and Auld Shillelagh. Maintaining that local feel has been so important to our art; it is always lovely to see people recognise the areas we capture and hear them share their different, individual memories with us. Jess takes photographs of our favourite spots in London, I sketch them using a Wacom tablet, resulting in our unique brand of hand drawn digital prints. Each picture begins with a collection of abstract colourful shapes, layered on top of one another, then I start honing in on the details. We like to think our art is a bit of fun for the eyes, a slightly wobbly and explosively colourful look at the world. “We started creating East London art
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Amnesty International in September, which is in support of the refugee crisis, with more great projects in the pipeline, so keep your eyes peeled for updates via my social media pages.”
because it’s an unendingly interesting place, where inspiration is infinite. The Bethnal Green gasworks have been a huge inspiration: the more you observe them, the more colour and life you notice emanating from them. “We’ve started creating large scale artworks for office spaces, shops, residential buildings and restaurants. We love our neighbourhood so it’s been amazing seeing our local work span metres of wall space either as giant canvases or wallpaper. We’re currently expanding our collection of art prints so that we have at least one from each London borough. Then on to New York, Paris and Berlin… Or that’s the dream anyway!”
SAM LEE “My first earliest memory is of me as a little boy growing up in Kentish Town. I remember being told how to light a fire in my back yard and shown how to cook soup using soup powder on a little pot we put over the fire. I must have been only about five years old, but I remember this being incredible: one could cook over the fire and make one’s own food. It was a very inspirational moment. I wasn’t really ambitious at all. I do remember being at one point just assuming I’m going to make art. That was it. That what was I good at. I didn’t have any ambition to do this. I still don’t have ambition as such. I have loads of drive and excitement to make things happen, but I’ve never been target driven. But I think one of my earliest ambitions was to know how to build a light hut to live in. I was obsessed with this idea of trying to create my self-sufficient home, which is why I went into wilderness survival. I went to school in Kentish Town. I went to university art school: I went to the Chelsea College of Art, Camberwell College of Art. I was always working, I worked all the time to just like to make money from doing lots of odd-jobs, DJing, I used to be a burlesque dancer, anything. The art world was really great for teaching you how to be ingenious and find lots of ways to make things happen. I had been singing all my life. My father is a musician and still plays. I’d sung songs all my life, particularly at school camps. In the summers we would be around the campfire. That was never a professional thing, just the joy of singing together. My mentor was a very important person to me, a Scottish traveller called Stanley Robertson, who lived in Aberdeen on the road in caravans all his early life, travelling across Scotland. He was the last of the great balladeers and storytellers who kept old songs and ways alive. I was very privileged to have four years of very deep mentorship under him being shown the old ways and becoming, as he put it, the keeper of the lore. My musical influences are from all over. I’m always looking for interesting instruments from different cultures and traditions. So that is very much part of my artistic process. It’s about discovering sounds and interesting ways of playing instruments. I live in Hackney. I live in the caretakers’ flat over a church in the centre of Dalston. My flat is unique, very special.
MERCURY PRIZE NOMINATED FOLK SINGER, FOUNDER OF THE NEST COLLECTIVE, THE SONG COLLECTORS COLLECTIVE It’s my little sanctuary and oasis, where all my music and work happens. I live here because it is an absolute hot house of culture. Yesterday I went to see a gig in Hackney and, walking past the glass front of Cafe Oto, I saw it was bursting with jazz musicians. I just thought wow, this area is just full of creativity and opportunity for artistic endeavours. So many musicians live on my street. I’m constantly bumping into other contemporaries. People whose I work I really admire as well. So I feel very much like there is a hubris here and creative energy that is sort of self-perpetuating. The idea of the nest came from the discovery of wider folk community tradition happening very much in the old way that it has done for decades. I love the music, but I couldn’t find anywhere to hear it that wasn’t full of old people, so I wanted to create an environment where that music could be heard by a younger audience. It started off where it still is every month in the Old Queens Head on Essex Road, Islington, and has grown from being a monthly night with one or two acts to 150 shows a year. It’s all over the city and festival stages and also events outside of
London. So it’s really become a platform to host lots of different ways of presenting all aspects of folk music, world music, traditional music and acoustic and stuff doesn’t fit into categories – just great music. From that comes The Song Collectors Collective. The SCC is an organisation dedicated to the conservation and preservation of all traditions within UK and Ireland, and also abroad. It is a place for learning how to collect intangible vanishing culture, particularly songs, but also stories and language and culture and community - cultural caches can be discovered and carefully, sensitively documented and repatriated and made accessible online. So it’s an organisation that teaches how to collect but also presents experts in the field in places where we can learn from them, including lots of conferences and gatherings and places where their stories can be heard about their engagement with indigenous communities all around the place. It worked particularly with Gypsy travellers communities in the UK and Ireland, because that’s my speciality area where the best of the song still exists.” 17
HACKNEY V E N U E S
Hold your event in one of the most creative and thriving areas in London Hackney Venues has emerged as a collection of some of the most sought after event spaces in east London. Currently featuring seven beautifully restored unique venues in the heart of the borough including two stunning art-deco town halls, an eighteenth century mansion house inside of Clissold Park, a former water pumping station, a RIBA award-winning sporting centre as well as a purpose-built conference centre and a converted warehouse a stones-throw away from Shoreditch High Street. From private parties and stunning weddings to conferences, product launches, fashion shows and awards ceremonies; Hackney Venues offers a space for any occasion. Get in touch with our dedicated events team for further information or visit our website for more details.
020 8356 5505
HDS992
www.hackneyvenues.com
venuehire@hackney.gov.uk
COMMUNITIES OF HACKNEY
Jewish Hackney b y YA S E M I N B A K A N
Hackney’s diversity is an aspect of the borough that makes its residents proud. Nearly nine out of ten people here say that it is a place where people from different backgrounds get on well together. In each issue N16 Life speaks to representatives of different communities. In this issue: the Jewish community largely concentrated around Stamford Hill.
T
he roots of Stamford Hill’s Haredi Jews, known for being an intertwined and private community, extends to 18th century eastern Europe. The Haredi are also sometimes called ultraOrthodox Jews and the Hebrew term itself means “one who trembles before God”. Their emergence is credited to a rejection of modernistic reform movements in Judaism beginning in 19th century Germany. Many Haredi Jews saw themselves as the final defence of orthodoxy and resisted the change in religious education and practices. The community was nearly wiped out during the Holocaust, but migration to Israel, Britain and North America has helped rejuvenate them. There are around 1.5 million Haredi Jews in the world today and they have one of the highest birth rates among any Jewish community in the world, meaning the population is rising rapidly. Herschel Gluck is a British Rabbi with a busy portfolio of responsibilities: he is president of the neighbourhood watch
group Shomrim (the Hebrew word means “guardians”) in Stamford Hill; chairman of the Arab-Jewish Forum; and chairman and founder of the Muslim-Jewish Forum. I met Gluck at his home in Stamford Hill. The family business is a bakery and he treated me like he was hosting a relative, bringing his broad smile and a wide array of dried fruit, cinnamon and marmalade cakes to the table. The first Haredi arrived in Britain in the 19th century from Lithuania. When did the community first settle in Stamford Hill? “There are about 40,000 Jews in the wider Stamford Hill area, including Haringey,” he said. “Many of the Jews in Stamford Hill came here as refugees fleeing the Nazis in the '30s and after the horrors of the Holocaust in the 40s and 50s. They came from Germany, Hungary, Czechoslovakia, Austria, Belgium, Holland and many European countries. In the 50s and 60s Jews came from Morocco, India, Burma and Aden [in modern-day Yemen]. Many have family in other countries and they try to participate in joyous occasions like weddings.
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Despite being a fairly small neighbourhood, Stamford Hill is crammed with kosher supermarkets, bakeries, fishmongers, butchers and clothing stores that sell only the traditional Haredi line. There are also five community centres, 90 synagogues and 30 Orthodox schools. The Haredi mainly speak Yiddish. A Haredi man cannot speak to any woman, make eye contact with her or shake her hand unless she is his wife. Unmarried men and women do not make contact with one another and there is a firm gender separation at social events. This is even the case at weddings, which tend to be arranged marriages. “People are generally introduced by family or friends. People are generally married by their early twenties. Jewish families are generally loving and happy with many children,” Gluck says. When I ask whether there are any difficulties living in Britain as a Haredi Jew, he replies: “There is, thank God, a very vibrant and good social and educational infrastructure to facilitate a Chasidic lifestyle here.” The family is at the centre of the Haredi Jewish lifestyle and special celebrations. Spending time together, particularly through eating meals, is an important part of life. “There are many traditional dishes. Jews have lived for thousands of years around the world and this is reflected in a very eclectic choice of culinary styles. “Of course they all comply with the Torah Laws and are Kosher.” The Jewish sabbath – Shabbat – is on a Saturday. It comes with some very strict laws for Haredi Jews that must be prepared for ahead of time. Jews devote themselves to God on this day and pray considerably more. They do not spend money or work. They do not even use machine – which is why they leave the lights switched on from the night before – or cook, write, watch television or use the telephone. Because of these rules, the Saturday lunchtime meal of choice tends to be Cholent, a traditional stew made of meat, beans and potatoes. The rules of Shabbat are enforced more strictly than you might think. I was once walking down a residential Stamford Hill street on Saturday morning when a Haredi gentleman rushed up to me in a panic and asked me if he could ask a favour. 20
HERSCHEL GLUCK
“It’s the fuse box in my house. Could you please come in and flick the switch for me?” It’s strange, to say the least, when someone you don’t know rushes up to you with that kind of request. I admit I did feel a little nervous as I walked with him to his house, but I relaxed a little when I saw three girls – clearly his children – sitting in the living room. Then the gentleman told me the fuse box was in the basement. “Don’t worry, it is safe, safe.” But my nerves had returned with gusto as we took the steps down into the basement together and I lifted the main fuse switch, restoring electricity to the house. The gentleman thanked me and I left: the Haredi are so devoted to Shabbat laws that they won’t even touch a fuse box. Another traditional Jewish event is Purim, which is easily one of the most entertaining holidays. It commemorates the saving of the Jewish people from Haman, a royal vizier to the Persian king, who planned to kill all the Jews in the empire. The festival celebrates the heroism of Biblical character Mordecai and his cousin and adopted daughter Esther, who had risen to become Queen
THE FAMILY IS AT THE CENTRE OF THE HAREDI JEWISH LIFESTYLE AND SPECIAL CELEBRATIONS. SPENDING TIME TOGETHER, PARTICULARLY THROUGH EATING MEALS, IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF LIFE.
of Persia. Today Purim is a day of feasting and rejoicing, and sees children wear colourful costumes and dance to loud music. Lots of wine is drunk, songs are sung and the sound of celebration travels for miles from Stamford Hill. Local residents are given gifts of wine and baked treats, and charitable gifts are given. The Book of Esther is read at synagogue that week. Purim food icludes treats such as hamantaschen, three-cornered pastries bursting with poppy seeds or another sweet filling. Hershel tells me that Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year celebration, will begin on 20 September this year and last for two days. “This is followed about a week later by the Day Of Atonement - Yom Kippur when all healthy people over the ages of 12 for young ladies and 13 for young men fast for about 25 hours.” He adds: “The area is safe, thank God, since there are many good and responsible people living in the neighbourhood. Also Shomrim together with the local police have contributed substantially to the local stability.”
PHOTO: ALAN DENNEY
STAMFORD HILL DUNMSURE ROAD, N16, A JEWISH SHOPPING STREET THAT BOASTS A KOSHER SUPERMARKET, FISHMONGER, BAKERY AND CLOTHING STORE
PURIM CELEBRATION IN STAMFORD HILL
Mulberry School of Dance
Tots are HOT TO TROT b y C A R R I E O ' G R A DY
It’s September, and that back-to-school feeling is in the air. But for parents with very young children, autumn and winter can be difficult. What do you do once your babies are too old to sit quietly in the pushchair, but too young to trot off to Reception? Here are a few local resources for when it’s too cold or wet to brave the playground. (Please note that you need to stay with your child at all these activities.) Crawling babies and toddlers will enjoy burning off some energy at Toddlers’ World, the large-scale soft play zone that is set up several times a week at Clissold Leisure Centre. It gets busy, but it’s worth making the effort to book early; there’s even a bouncy castle. Another good rainy-day resource is the One O’Clock club in Clissold Park: it’s the small brick hut north of the tennis courts. Open from 1pm to 4pm each day, it has a few different activities set out every day 22
(Duplo, crafts, etc), some tricycles, and a sandpit with plenty of buckets and spades. There are similar ones in Highbury Fields and Victoria Park. While you’re there, check the leaflet stand for brochures detailing the fantastic free services offered by Hackney Learning Trust. They have many family centres scattered around Hackney, including ones specifically aimed at Muslim parents (the Ihsan on Cazenove Rd) and Orthodox Jews (the Lubavitch on Northfield Rd). Not only do they offer stay’n’plays for the little ones, but there are useful resources for parents, too, offering support on pregnancy, breastfeeding, weaning and other areas. For more information, go to www.learningtrust.co.uk/fisand click on ‘children’s centres’. Parents who don’t mind parting with a few pounds are well catered for at Clissold House: nearly every day there’s an activity
for tots. Musical shows include Sparky Songs and Tiny Tempo, both of which give the kids a chance to join in. Dance classes include Diddi Dance, which has a bash at every style from flamenco to Bollywood, and the Mulberry School of Ballet, which is more traditional, but just as much fun. Timetables are available at the house. Don’t forget to say hello to the deer on your way out of the park! Slightly further afield, St Augustine’s Church at 108 Highbury New Park Rd runs a playgroup every Thursday morning from 10am to noon; cost £2. Just round the corner, there’s a similar stay’n’play at the St Joan of Arc Community Centre on Kelross Rd, every Tuesday from 10am to noon. Gymboree, at 60 Highbury New Park, is pricey, but members can use its Open Gym whenever they like. If your toddler is docile enough to spend time in a café without tearing it to pieces, there are several excellent kids’ cafes that provide toys, books and babyccinos. Yummy Yummy In My Tummy, at 56 Stoke Newington High St (across from Tesco Express), has a soft play area downstairs and an impressive list of classes, from science to ballet. To the west, the Little Highness Play Café (69 Highbury Park) offers delicious cakes, toys and sippycups. This is only a sample of the many activities on offer. For more ideas, visit www.stokeyparents.com.
Hackney
FOOD &
RESTAURANT REVIEWS, LOCAL PRODUCTS, BEST COFFEE SHOPS
There are almost too many specialist coffee shops in the East London area to conquer all of them, so we’ve pulled together a tour of some of our favourite caffeinated spots in the area, and hopefully there’ll be something new for you to try. P 30-31
made in HACKNEY Love Local Hackney is not just rich in culture. The borough has produced some unique businesses and brands and in each issue N16 Life magazine charts some of the best of them.
ORGANIC CHOCOLATE FROM CADBURY’S DESCENDANT ove Cocoa aims to blend the best of Britain’s chocolate traditions inspired by the founder’s greatgreat-great grandfather, John Cadbury, with a touch of the contemporary by being free from refined sugars, gluten, palm oil and other nasties. Founder James Cadbury, who lives in Haggerston, can often be found cooking up the next Love Cocoa chocolate recipe
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from his kitchen. Customers can buy online and attach a handwritten message in a parcel that is friendly to your letterbox. They have some interesting flavours such as Gin & Tonic and Earl Grey, and are working on a new secret Avocado bar. Bars can be bought at Fortnum & Mason and (soon) Planet Organic, as well as independent shops across London. lovecocoa.com
GRANOLA LIKE YOU HAVE NEVER TASTED T he siblings behind Husk & Honey Granola are wild about their fresh, nutritious, and indisputably delicious granola. Verity was an investment banker and Hedie a psychologist and they now want to combine the convenience of store bought granola with the high quality and fresh taste of home baking. Hedie describes it as “traditional granola with a twist” because puffed organic grains sit beside all the ingredients you’d expect. Everything is lovingly small-batch baked at their London
bakery and distributed to a range of granola addicts: premium eateries, independent delis, boutique hotels, gyms and offices. Many of their stockists are local East & North London haunts such as Eat 17, Pomona Foods and De Beauvoir Deli, weekend markets in Victoria Park and Primrose Hill, and Raw Press and BXR gym. Can also be purchased online. huskandhoney.co.uk
GIN AND TONIC IN SORBET S loshed Sorbets bring you a British favourite – the gin and tonic – in a brand new format. Their award-winning small-batch gin sorbets are handmade using the finest natural and dairy free ingredients, and combine traditional flavours from across the growing season with the best British gins from London and beyond. Alongside their Classic Gin & Tonic sorbet, which recently
received a Great Taste 2017 award, their menu features blackberries, strawberries and seasonal specials like rhubarb, damson and sloe gin. Ingredients are sourced locally wherever possible, and each sorbet contains just shy of a full serving of gin – so you can rest assured they’re suitably boozy, and probably the most refreshing thing you’ll taste. sloshedsorbets.co.uk
DELICIOUS SODAS, ZERO ADDITIVES I n 2012 Robyn and Ed started making fresh Square Root Sodas, selling them at the Harringay farmers’ market. They enlisted the help of a 1920s delivery tricycle, Elsie, and soon began peddling the drinks all around town. Square Root Soda Works was formed in a railway arch in
Hackney and demand exploded for their handmade, zero artificial additives, small batch fruit sodas. With an ever-changing range of fruity seasonal flavours, plus some perennial classics and three top notch tonics, Square Root drinks are truly unique and thoroughly refreshing. squarerootsoda.co.uk 25
THE BIRDCAGE BAR + KITCHEN
58 Stamford Hill, London N16 6XS thebirdcageN16.co.uk • @thebirdcageN16 Tel: 020 8806 9077
R EV I EWS
Cafe Acoustic
Based on Newington Green, the Mediterraneaninspired menu at Cafe Acoustic truly has something for everyone.
If you walk past on a weekend, you’ll see the Cafe’s patio packed out with brunch lovers enjoying their famous eggs Benedict, full English breakfasts and menemen bakes, or relaxing al fresco and lingering over a coffee. But visiting in the evening for dinner, it’s a more casual affair - and a good thing too, because you’ll need a while to indulge. There’s no sign of hipster pretension, with wooden tables, an intimate atmosphere and friendly staff, making it the ideal place to host a catchup with friends or family. The homely feel extends to the amount of choice available on the menu, and the wonderfully generous portions. The starters list is dominated by the sharing dishes-indeed there are so many it would be easy to order the entire menu and share with a friend as your meal. We tried the smooth baba ganoush and the squeaky pan fried halloumi. The mains list will be familiar to anyone who’s had to cater for a range of tastes, and includes a hearty mix of burgers, pasta dishes and an amazing aubergine parmigiana-the
cheese stretches for miles-presented in a golden dish on a wooden board. Hungry customers should opt for the grilled skewers, served with rice and salad. Everything tastes freshly cooked, and could easily have come out of your auntie’s kitchen if you went round for dinner. And this is the true appeal of Cafe Acoustic - it’s a home away from home. Showiness is pushed aside in favour of hearty, wholesome food which you will go back for time and time again.
60 Newington Green, London N16 9PX www.cafeacoustic.co.uk
The Lacy Nook
T
he Lacy Nook has just celebrated its first year anniversary on Cazenove Road, a location that makes the most of the ‘nook’ side of its name, as the proprietors say most people think Stoke Newington High Street ends after the Jolly Butchers. But venturing round to Cazenove, you will be truly treated by the Lacy Nook’s generous all-day offering. Starting with breakfast and coffee, you also can enjoy lunch, dinner and drinks on their two floors, or in the beautiful back garden. Food is inspired by owners Elena and Jana’s Balkan heritage but with Middle Eastern and Asian fusions, with sharing plates ranging from beef cevpai (small
beef sausages) to grilled squid and baked plantain. All are served with a range of dips like the roasted pepper relish Ajvar, meaning you end up with an original mix of flavours in your mouth with every bite. The drinks menu is equally exciting, with Negronis and giant Aperol Spritz glasses making it a great place to just pop in for a drink. If you wanted to hang out with a laptop for a few hours, the coffee and grandma’s-recipe-inspired baklava is something to indulge in. In short, The Lacy Nook caters for all moods, occasions and will give you something new to talk to your foodie friends about while you’re there. On Sundays you can try a little bit of everything for £25 a head, and we
recommend indulging a few hours to visit the Balkans via Cazenove. 8 Cazenove Road, N16 6BD Stoke Newington, London www.thelacynook.com 27
Italian cuisine coupled with a variety of other dishes from Europe We pride ourselves in producing high-quality food as well as creating a memorable experience for our customers. Come down to our restaurant in Wood Green today to see what all the talk is about!
185A High Road, Wood Green, London N22 6BA 020 8352 2486 • info@ezraskitchen.co.uk www.ezraskitchen.co.uk
Is Hackney the best place to start your social enterprise? b y V I C TO R I A G R AY THE CENTRE FOR BETTER HEALTH
These days, starting a new business or a charity is not enough for some people. With consumers more inquisitive about where their charity money is going, and funding for start-up businesses more competitive than ever, a handful of businesses have gone down the social enterprise route: reinvesting some of their profit into charitable endeavours that in turn benefit the business itself. And several of these businesses are based right here in Hackney. The Luminary Bakery is a wholesale bakery and cafe based in Stoke Newington which provides baking training and opportunities for women. They supply bread to local eateries, while selling cakes and sandwiches in their cafe, which has just extended its opening hours to seven days a week. Founder Alice Boyle wanted to create baking classes for women, and with seed funding from Brick Lane’s KAHAILA - a cafe that takes an active role in community and supporting local projects - Luminary started out in Tower Hamlets before finding their Stoke Newington home. Hackney has been a receptive audience. Alice says: “People get it. We’ve created a culture of selling diversity.” Locals are open to both enjoying cinnamon buns at the cafe, and supporting a local enterprise.
THE LUMINARY BAKERY
Baking seems to be a winning formula. The Centre for Better Health, a mental health charity based in Haggerston runs three social enterprises: the Better Health Bakery which has been around for five years, Better Health Bikes, a bike repair shop which has existed for two, as well as wholesale business Better Health Plastics. The enterprises sit naturally in Hackney where there’s a lot of eateries who will buy sourdough bread, feeding what assistant director Simon Hale calls a “trendy zeitgeist” in the area, and people who ride bikes, providing a good market for both businesses. What marries this up so well with the mental health work The Centre For Better Health does is that both the bakery and bike shop provide trainee employment for adults recovering from mental health issues, adding another branch to that side of the charity. Assistant director
THE DUSTY KNUCKLE
Simon Heale says that activities like these are important because, for instance, “baking is something people do together, where you get to see the results rapidly. It’s using employment as a way to recover from mental health problems.” In that respect, it’s a win-win situation. But keeping a business running while adhering to the values of the social side of the enterprise is not without its challenges. The Dusty Knuckle - a wholesale bakery based in Dalston which provides training and employment for young people - strives to practise what they preach, and not subscribe to the overworking London culture which can lead to burnout. Co-founder Max Tobias tells us “it’s a whole set of different challenges” to marry up the two sides. But it’s important to have that business mind - Max says the enterprise “has to have legs” to survive: if you can’t compete, you won’t achieve your goals, adding responsibility to the social side. It’s important to be as business-minded as socially-minded. The Dusty Knuckle are “still trying to find the sweet spot”, but Hackney is the ideal area for that and the audience for the products they’re selling aren’t going anywhere. The popularity of social enterprises is growing, particularly because of the community values supporting local businesses fulfils, which is so important to Hackney residents. Stoke Newington cafe The Lacy Nook (see page 27) source as much of their food produce locally as they can, telling us “community is everything.” Social enterprise businesses thrive in Hackney because of the unique positioning of the need for their work, but also a receptive community who not only want to buy the products these enterprises are selling, but also to take the choice to support a local charity. 29
Caffeine tour of HACKNEY b y V I C TO R I A G R AY p h o t o G O KC E P E H L I VA N O G L U
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or many of us, coffee forms an important part of many of our day. Whether it gets you up in the morning, gives you an excuse to meet a friend, or just provides you some refuge as you sip a cup of joe while doing some work, Hackney coffee shops are a key part of the area. There are almost too many specialist coffee shops in the East London area to conquer all of them, so we’ve pulled together a tour of some of our favourite caffeinated spots in the area, and hopefully there’ll be something new for you to try.
CAFFEINE STOKE NEWINGTON
CAFFEINE STOKE NEWINGTON CHURCH STREET With a beautiful logo representing the scientific formula for caffeine, you know Caffeine is somewhere to pick up a pickme-up. Stoke Newington Church Street is possibly the most competitive place to get a cup of coffee in the area, but the newcomers to the area are enjoying great success with their locally sourced coffee, and always-organic milk for flat white fans. 134 Stoke Newington Church Street, N16 0JU www.caffeinelondon.uk
ESTERS Esters is a neighbourhood institution. During the week it’s full of families catching up, but come a winter weekend the windows are steaming up thanks to the huge amount of people clawing their way inside to get breakfast. And it wouldn’t be Stokey without a range of alternative milks available for the perfect latte. 55 Kynaston Road N16 0EB www.estersn16.com
TINA WE SALUTE YOU Tucked away off the main Kingsland Road strip, Tina We Salute You is a fantastic hidden spot to show off to newcomers to the area, who won’t be disappointed by the coffee which made the place famous. Breakfast and brunch are strong offerings too, meaning it’s always full at the weekend - so much so that they’ve just opened a second branch in Stratford. 47 King Henry’s Walk, N1 4NH www.tinawesaluteyou.com
BRUNSWICK EAST A ustralian heritage means the owners of Brunswick East are obsessive about their coffee, and it pays off. This independent business makes sure everything feels independent, with all-organic food served seven days a week, and only the best (in their eyes) coffee from locals Alchemy, as well as the newest trend, bright green matcha lattes. Unit 3D Stamford Works, Gillett Street, N16 8JH www.brunswickeast.london
LIZZY’S ON THE GREEN Although you can only take full advantage of your treats from Lizzy’s on a nice day, given that it is, as the name suggests, right in the middle of Newington Green, it doesn’t mean you shouldn’t make an effort to get yourself there. Delicious coffee is served with a friendly smile, and don’t miss out on the bacon bap. Newington Green Park, Newington Green Roundabout, N16 9PX www.lizzysonthegreen.com
PALM VAULTS If you’re looking for a cool place to have your coffee, look no further. Miamiinspired Palm Vaults is colourful in every sense of the word - right down to its lattes that range from your usual milk and coffee to those with turmeric, matcha and even beetroot, for a coffee that you’ll never forget. 411 Mare Street, E8 1HY www.palmvaults.com
HATCH Hatch is truly a spot of variety. Attached to a barber shop, the cafe has busy long benches downstairs and a quiet area upstairs with a library feel. With a quirky decor and a trendy clientele, you know it’s going to have good coffee, plus a delicious mezze board if you’re staying for lunch. Unit G2, 8 Mackintosh Lane, E9 2AB www.hatch-homerton.co.uk
MOUSE & DE LOTZ Off-setting office and meeting room costs to coffee shops is big business in Hackney, so Mouse and de Lotz, right next to the Hackney Downs arts complex, is a great tip for a freelancer. Their coffee is strong enough to push you through that deadline or meeting and the sandwiches will keep you going through a tough day in the office. 103 Shacklewell Lane, E8 2EB www.mousedelotz.com 31
Rhodes Island:
the Middle Ages alive in the Med With its long sandy beaches, brilliant turquoise sea, forests, mountains and eight months of sunshine in the year, this largest of the Greek Dodacanese islands truly deserves to be your next holiday destination. b y YA S E M I N B A K A N
I
magine an island that is home to Crusader castles, churches adorned with beautiful frescoes and museums aplenty. Imagine historical relics from the Romans, Byzantines, the Knights Templar, Ottomans and Italians. It is little wonder Rhodes attracts around two million visitors annually and earns Unesco World Heritage status for its old town into the bargain. This is the largest of the Greek Dodacanese islands, situated in the southern Aegean Sea to the southwest of Turkey. 32
ATTRACTIONS GRAND MASTER’S PALACE You reach the Grand Master’s Palace by walking along the Knight’s Road. Some of the most striking views of the old town can be seen here: from the courtyard, you can reach Kókkini and the Ágios Ioánnis tower. But much of the Palace is a closed book: just 24 of the 158 rooms are open to the public. LINDOS ACROPOLIS The Lindos Acropolis (daily 8am– 7.40pm; €6) dates from 408 BC and the
formation of the ancient city of Rhodes. The 50 kilometres of coastal views and the reconstructed Temple of Athena are well worth seeing. MONASTERY OF FILERIMOS This monastery is 10 kilometres from the main city, on a hill above Lalyssos. It is dedicated to the Virgin Mary and its Gothic architectural style is quite different from monasteries in the Greek mainland. It is built on the site of an old Byzantine site by the Knights of St John l when they captured Rhodes in the 15th century. Inside is a holy symbol of Mary
GETAWAY
herself, probably brought here by the knights from Jerusalem. DAILY TOUR There are many day trips to be enjoyed from the Mandraki port to Symi and other destinations using the Dodekanisos Pride/Express catamarans. The vessels leave at around 8.30am and return to Rhodes at about 5.30pm. Symi is a small, colourful island with many photogenic, pretty streets that exhibit the best of Greek architecture. Halki, on the other hand, has a population of just 450 and is a tiny islet that looks like a postcard picture. If relaxing on largely empty beaches and enjoying delicious food is your thing, Halki is the correct destination for you.
NIGHT LIFE The locals prefer tavernas for their fix of meze, uzo and live music. For those who want to truly party, the main destination in Rhodes is the Colarada Club, where tourists whoop and sway to the techno music under laser light shows until daybreak. The Faliraki region was one of the most popular for clubbing at the turn of the century, but a murder and a series of sexual assaults in 2003 abruptly halted its popularity and it never really recovered. TAVERNAS AND SIRTAKI There’s live music every day at the Stou Apostoli Meze Bar. With its traditional tunes, performances of that popular Greek dance sirtaki, heartfelt service, delicious memes and uzo, of course, it is the locals’ choice and a fine destination to sample Greek nightlife. It’s on one of the side streets off Socrates Street in the old town. Address: Miltiadou 12, 85100. Telephone +30 693 483 6893. Open every day, 12 noon to 11pm. TODO BIEN Cocktails, music and a Latin atmosphere in the old town. There
are plenty of rock bars around here frequented by Greek students too. Addres: Pithagora 15, Old Town. Open daily 9pm to 4am. OUTDOOR CLUB The vast Paradise Disco Bar, based completely outdoors, can accommodate 4500 people and alternates between internationally-renowned DJs every night, including David Guetta, Bob Sinclair, David Morales, Aban and Axwell. Address: Nikiforou Litra street, 851 00, +30 694 444 1888 Open Friday and Saturday, 11.30pm to 9.30am BEACHES The west of the island has long, sandy beaches and fairly still waters. The eastern beaches are stonier, windier and have more waves. The central Elli beach has a seemingly perpetual turquoise beach and the water is fantastic!
RESTAURANTS KOUKOS RESTAURANT Some traditional Rhodes cuisine – fresh seafood, local wines and beers, all exquisitely served – can be found here at Koukos, easily one of the best restaurants on the island. You may need to queue for a
table in the evenings, because it’s popular not just among tourists but local folk too. The prices are reasonable too: €25-30 per head. Visit www.koukosrodos.com TAMAM RESTAURANT A family business that reinterprets traditional Greek food in their own way, this team of a father and his four daughters creates such delicious delights that long queues form outside the restaurant. But the food, wine and reasonable prices are definitely worth the wait. They treat you like one of the family and even kiss you like one if you come back to visit again! Address: www.tamamrhodes.gr/en/ WHERE TO STAY Staying in Rhodes’s old town or nearby will ensure you are close to the places you want to see. The restaurants, museums, palace and Socrates Street are all within walking distance, although Lindos – at 45 km – will still be a fair distance away.
HACKNEY property market Foxtons' Neil McGimpsey explains what's trending in the Hackney market
H
ackney has seen change in its streetscape for quite some time now, although it is evident in some areas more than others. Despite the influx of developers searching out new opportunities throughout Hackney, Stoke Newington’s tree-lined Victorian streets, for example, have changed little over the years. Historically popular with families, the N16 postcode appeals thanks to its sought-after primary schools, with the likes of William Patten and Grazebrook rated Outstanding by Ofsted. Add to that a thriving high street, tranquil green spaces and good transport links offering easy access into the city and Canary 34
Wharf, and it becomes easy to see why this pocket of the borough has gained popularity over the recent years. While the demographic make-up of families has been moulded to a certain extent by the available housing stock, there has also been an increase in professional buyers and tenants looking for a home locally. The supply of flats in the area has traditionally come from smaller newbuild apartment blocks and conversions of large Victorian family homes. However, Victorian family homes in particular are becoming much less prevalent in Stoke Newington and Dalston. Run-down houses in need of renovation would typically have been the domain of smallscale investors and developers, who would buy in order to break up a property
into smaller flats for sale or to let. More recently, there has been a new trend emerging, where un-modernised houses are snapped up by owner-occupiers, with a view to renovating them for their own use. This trend has accelerated in recent years with the introduction of the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL). Niche private developers, who have traditionally created smaller homes for the area, are now finding themselves outcompeted by owner-occupiers for these opportunities. Larger housebuilders have also been active in the area, providing entry-level homes for first-time buyers. Fears that swathes of new builds could bring a more transient demographic,
PROP ERT Y harming both the local economy and the charming Church Street, have subsided. While larger scale new developments are unlikely to ever be wholeheartedly embraced, when carefully planned and delivered, they can bring far-reaching benefits to the local community. One such example is Dalston Square by Barratt Homes, built around the largest public space created in Dalston for over a century. It is now also home to CLR James Library, the first new library in Dalston for the past 20 years. The number of much-needed new homes aside, perhaps the biggest positive effect of new developments is the array of new amenities they attract to the area. For that reason, the projects by Telford Homes, Taylor Wimpey and Bellway Homes that were built in and around Dalston were all very well received, even before Berkeley Homes took community-conscious development one step further. Built on the banks of the Woodberry wetlands on the northern edge of Stoke Newington, Woodberry Down has brought Berkeley’s renowned style of luxury high-rise living to northeast London. By completion in 2030, the development will have replaced almost 2,000 neglected homes, replacing them with over 5,500 new homes, 41% of which have been set aside for social renting and shared ownership. The project is
NEIL MCGIMPSEY
FEARS THAT SWATHES OF NEW BUILDS COULD BRING A MORE TRANSIENT DEMOGRAPHIC, HARMING BOTH THE LOCAL ECONOMY AND THE CHARMING CHURCH STREET, HAVE SUBSIDED
a fantastic example of place-making at its best, successfully capitalising on the estate’s neglected waterside location and addressing the shortage of amenities. The provision of three new public parks, a community centre and library along with a new academy and extended primary school underlines the benefits that carefully considered regeneration can have for the wider area. The blend of residents in Woodberry Down was a natural fit to an existing vibrant community, culminating in the annual Hidden River Festival which is now in its fifth year. Looking to the future, it is likely that the aforementioned trend of small-scale property developers being outcompeted by owner-occupiers will continue locally, limiting the supply of converted flats in the area. At the same time, many of the limited number of sites suitable for new homes throughout Dalston and Stoke Newington have already been developed. This is pushing housebuilders to look further north east and east for opportunities, with Tottenham and Walthamstow in particular attracting interest. N16 is sure to retain its sense of vibrant, diverse community, while continuing to benefit from the range of new amenities developments such as Woodberry Down bring. The outlook for the next five to ten years in Stoke Newington and Dalston remains very positive. Demand continues to grow and due to the limited supply of new housing stock mentioned previously, property prices are likely to continue to increase steadily over the medium term. 35
to da y al l C
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Call for businesses to join Hackney 100 Hackney Council has relaunched its innovative Hackney 100 programme this year and is calling for local businesses to sign up to the scheme and support local young people in realising their ambitions. Following a successful pilot programme in 2014/15, the Council is re-introducing its paid work placement scheme for Hackney residents aged 16-19. The programme gives 100 young people who live or study in Hackney their first experience of the working world while enabling employers to attract and retain future talent. Mayor of Hackney, Philip Glanville, said: “The Hackney 100 programme pilot was a huge success with 57 young people in placements across a whole host of industries. We want to make this year an even bigger success with more local businesses on board supporting even more
young people across the borough. “It is a fantastic opportunity for businesses to give back to the local community while also gaining a committed and enthusiastic employee that will complete real work and bring new skills to their company.” The roles that the Council hopes to secure will give young people an insight into future careers and the variety of opportunities available in Hackney as well as providing relevant experience and skills to make them more employable when they leave school, college or university. Berkeley Homes is one of the businesses that took part in the Hackney 100 programme pilot and is an advocate of the scheme. Dan Massie, Head of Development at Berkeley Homes, said: “Hackney 100 has
created that link between businesses and young people living and studying in the borough that we didn’t previously have. It has given us an opportunity to tap into some of the best young talent in Hackney and showcase the wide range of jobs available in our industry.” If your business would like to be involved in the Hackney 100 programme, please email hackney100@hackney.go.uk. For more information visit hackney.gov.uk/ hackney100
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