E1 Life June 2018 issue

ISSUE 14 JUNE/JULY 2018

Take me, I’m yours

#PrideMatters

This Summer Love for all in the capital

EVENTS

SOCIAL

BUSINESS

ART & CULTURE

FOOD & DRINK

NIGHTLIFE

HEALTH & BEAUTY

INTERIORS

TRAVEL

You can now hail from kerb or app Most Black Cabs now have…  Hail from the Kerb or App  Free WiFi

 Free USB charging  Many black cabs will be electric soon!  Free power socket

ALL taxis now accept contactless and Credit cards!

Download one of the FREE Apps and start travelling in style

15379-LTDA_ E1ife_Ad_4.indd 1

19/12/2017 14:22

Contents p04 Hot, happening and on our radar

p07 White heat: Marco Pierre White under the grill

p10 The eagle has landed – in Homerton

p16 London pride: partying for equality in the city

p24 Holy smokes! Eateries for the epicurious

p31 Hitting the roof for stellar views of east London

p32 Partying with festival king, Alex Lowes

p36 Fit and free: keep in trim on a shoestring

p44 East is east: fab hotels on our doorstep

EDITOR: Rosie Coxshaw SUB-EDITOR: Nancy Larman EDITORIAL & PR ASSISTANT: Toby Harris ADVERTISING DIRECTOR: Nicola Euesden DESIGN: Total Design Works Ltd FOOD & DRINK WRITER: Liam Barker Published by RC Publishing Ltd: 020 3011 1194 Contact Essex Love: info@essexlove.co.uk Contact E1 Life: info@e1ife.co.uk While every care is taken, RC Publishing Ltd cannot accept responsibility for unsolicited submissions, omissions or errors. Prices correct at time of going to press. All rights reserved.

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Unwind London

Unwind London is the UK’s first surround-sound meditation experience giving the capital’s wired residents the opportunity to de-stress. Providing a sanctuary in the middle of the city, it’s for anyone in need of some me-time away from the hustle of everyday life. Unwind is a guided meditation experience offering a space to rest, reflect and free your mind. Popping up all over the city in special tucked away locations, from Shoreditch through to Clapham and beyond to Fulham, Unwind is the perfect place to properly relax, including for those new to meditation. Happening on the first Sunday of every month, check the website to see where you can get some secret ‘me’ time… unwindlondon.com

On our radar Only the hottest and most happening make the cut

Longflint

Longflint brings its artisanal drinks to the East End with a summer residency at Red Gallery on Rivington Street. Founded in east London, these connoisseurs of the booze combine handmade tonics, sodas and seltzers with some of London’s finest craft spirits. This pop-up bar promises a cocktail of treats, hosting DJs, maker collaborations and its signature ‘long drinks’. Cheers to that.

1-3 Rivington Street, EC2A 3DT longflint.com; redgalleryldn.com

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EVENTS: ON OUR RADAR

Terraza summer sessions

Brindisa Shoreditch is set to host a series of sizzling summer sessions on its outdoor terraza.

Expect paella marinera cooking masterclasses, live Spanish guitar, plus gin and spritz tastings with Fentimans tonic. Every Saturday (12:30 – 3:30pm) throughout June and July, experts from Fentimans will be on-hand to lead you through informal tastings, and to mix a selection of cocktails. The team will pair its tonics with a different gin every weekend, including Spanishmade Gin Mare which will be served up in a triple orange spritz with Fentiman’s herbal tonic, mango and peppercorn; and London-based Sipsmiths, which serves its Summer Cup with Fentimans rose lemonade. Al fresco gin palaces are, it turns out, the best kind of gin palaces.

Tickets cost £45, and can be booked via hola@brindisakitchens.com; brindisakitchens.com

Schmaltz

Served from a fully equipped glossy mobile kitchen in a sleek truck, Schmaltz is a French free-range chicken concept. Its new Schmaltz Makeovers Menu features an array of delicious hearty hot plates, all with personal twists on old classic nostalgic dishes. Expect to chow down on a mouth-watering yellow chicken curry with spiced squash, a chilli chicken with green beans and coconut rice and an old-school schnitzel breast and slaw and confit chicken with fancy mash. As well as refreshing some well-loved classics, the new menu also includes a variety of superfood protein salads with avocado, tenderstem broccoli, petit pois and quinoa. It’s also that rare thing in the city: affordable, given that every dish is a fiver. Find the Schmaltz truck situated on the cusp of the city and Shoreditch in Broadgate Circle.

Schmaltz Truck, Pitch 4, Broadgate Circle, EC2M 2QS; schmaltzlondon.com

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BUSINESS: MADE IT

White Heat

Marco Pierre White was the youngest-ever chef to scoop three Michelin stars – that was before he gave them up and went back to basics. As he prepares to open a brand new chop house in Whitechapel, he tells Nancy Larman about why he believes in simplicity over stars these days JUNE/JULY 2018

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“I was being judged by people who knew less than me, and I am not so insecure that I felt I had to dance to Michelin’s drum. I didn’t want to live a lie, where I was pretending to cook in my kitchens.” And nor did he.

That’s the thing about White; going to extremes evidently comes naturally, but what is often read as egotism, could (and probably should) be understood rather as a disdain for half-measures. Nonetheless,

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here’s more to life than three Michelin stars,” declares Marco Pierre White. “To kiss your children when you leave the house in the morning and to kiss them at night, for one.”

He should know. When, at 33, White claimed his third star for The Restaurant at The Hyde Park Hotel, he was the youngest chef ever to have seized the supreme triumvirate,

I loved Michelin, but I just don’t understand what it’s about now.

Stars used to be awarded to chefs, not to the establishment.

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and the first Brit. But perhaps even more astonishing to the outside world than his trailblazing early career was his subsequent decision in 1999, aged 38, to relinquish the coveted stars that had once held such allure, with which renunciation, his career in the kitchen was over. And on which subject, he is staunchly impenitent.

drop his name casually, and preconceptions abound. Ambition is one; ruthlessness another. Then there’s volatility, even violence. All this comes, one supposes, with the gastronomic territory, especially when our subject was the industry’s wonder kid for so long. It also comes part and parcel with White’s dramatic narrative

of struggle and zeniths conquered.

All things considered then, I’m relieved to find something of a reflective soul, whose major stimulus is passion – in all aspects of his life.

“I’ve always done everything I have done for the right reasons. I know that I won’t always be there to protect my children and I know what it’s like to be poor and to see the struggle.

But so long as you do things for the right reasons, you’ll be happy.”

Such as quitting the kitchen? “That was definitely the right decision.

I exiled myself to the country and went shooting, fishing, stalking. It was a journey of self-discovery. And that, my friend, is true success: the opportunity to realise your true potential as a person.”

If personal fulfilment had, until then, eluded him, White had capitalised hugely on his talent to become, in his own words, “king of my world”, albeit one who would ultimately abdicate at the apex of his reign. He had grafted his way up, from cutting his teeth at The Box Tree in Ilkley, which he maintains is “the most magical restaurant I’ve ever stepped inside”, and training under Albert Roux, to his eventual turn as chef-patron at Harvey’s (presently Chez Bruce) in Wandsworth, where he garnered two stars. During his ascent, he worked long hours and exceptionally hard; he took the flack, kept his head down and became, he tells me (among other things), the most phenomenally efficient sheller of peas. All of which goes some way to explaining his disillusionment with the industry today. “I was a star for being behind the stove. Now I look at these young boys in kitchens and I just hope that their motives are right. When I was growing up, chefs were trained. It wasn’t about being on television, or being famous.

These days it seems that a lot of the romance has gone, and it’s been replaced by politics.” And for the same reason Michelin ceased to hold any credibility for White.

“I loved Michelin, but I just don’t understand what it’s about now. Stars used to be awarded to chefs, not

BUSINESS: MADE IT to the establishment.” There is, he maintains, one man who continues to uphold the old values the others have neglected: Raymond Blanc. “He is flying the flag for the old world. He is magical, rare, a great man.” As if to underline Michelin’s unintelligible criteria, White continues: “He is definitely the finest chef in Britain and that he has not been honoured as he should have been by Michelin is a crime. I am really fortunate to have become who I became in that golden age of gastronomy.”

Despite his sporadic vitriol, there is nevertheless something humble about White, an intrinsic humility, which is manifest as he peppers talk of his stellar career with assertions that “I’m not that clever”; he believes unreservedly in the “privilege” (a word he uses a lot) that has been

afforded him throughout his life, and thus feels a moral obligation to pass on some of his wisdom to fledgling chefs, a commitment which formed the rationale behind his decision to do the show Hell’s Kitchen, through which he sought primarily to inspire.

Though he feels at odd with it, he recognises his debt of gratitude to the industry that made him what he is.

It isn’t surprising then that his guiding dictum is that “success is

born of arrogance and greatness come from humility.” Yet his zeal is often misconstrued as explosiveness (not that talk of his many public spats are unfounded; the muchhyped wrangle with his one-time protegée Gordon Ramsay is a case in point). But White habitually puts to flight most of the fixed notions about him, which has led him to be branded a mass of contradictions – not least when it comes to the question of his provenance.

“People say to me, what are you?

Are you French? Italian? What?

And I always say the same thing: ‘I am an Englishman with an Italian mother.’” The notion of Englishness is especially pertinent at present, for White is currently busy putting the final touches on his latest landing in London: Mr White’s English Chophouse at the brand new New Road Hotel in Whitechapel. A contemporary take on the classic 1960s-style eaterie, it will feature dishes such as lobster macaroni and rump of lamb, fusing stellar British ingredients whose provenance is impeccable with great hearty portions and just a soupcon of the French influences that have defined his career. Says White: “I am very excited to bring our contemporary Chophouse

concept to London and the New Road Hotel. Together we have created a relaxed, sociable space where we’ll be serving up prime cuts of mouthwateringly good meat.” If anyone can make this renaissance of the very English chophouse a roaring success, it is surely this half Italian, Frenchsounding Yorkshireman.

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the Listen to at t Podcas dcast o.uk/po e1ife.c

Landed The Eagle has

Meet Luke McGloughlin, co-founder of The Spread Eagle in Homerton, London’s first fully vegan pub Words & Podcast: Toby Harris

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BUSINESS: MAKING IT

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en minutes’ walk from Homerton station stands London’s first fully vegan pub, The Spread Eagle. To anyone casually considering its façade from the curb, it might seem like your regular boozer; cross its threshold and the interior tells a different story.

Keen drinkers and avowed eschewers of animal products will find a place replete with charm, heritage and even an impressive shrine to Prince (yep, there’s an actual temple to the late purple lord). The architect of such brilliant eclecticism? Co-founder Luke McGloughlin, who has pulled off an unlikely fusion: the traditional English pub with veganism, a food and environmental movement that

Eschewers of animal products will find a place replete with charm, heritage – and even a shrine to Prince

seems to be gaining mainstream traction by the day.

Opened in January, The Spread Eagle’s raison d’etre is as much about paying homage to history as it is about serving its community and creating something trailblazing and

new. Like all the best boozers, it has existed in various incarnations; dating back to 1752, its walls would, if they could, spill riveting tales, not least of which would pertain to its known links with east London gangsters of yore. Known variously as The

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www.johnladbury.co.uk

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Beautiful Traditional and Contemporary Kitchens Design • Build • Installation 40 years of excellence Showroom: Unit 11 Alpha Business Park Travellers Close, Welham Green AL9 7NT

BUSINESS: MAKING IT Jack Door and Star, and later The Jack Door and Stump, McGloughlin decided to return to its original name: The Spread Eagle. On a mission to find out more about the pub’s history, he’s busy gathering old photographs and collecting anecdotal accounts of its chequered past through local word-of-mouth.

The Spread Eagle is the fruit of shared labours, those of a group of good friends who so happened to bring complementary skills to the table. McGloughlin is hands-on behind the bar despite also working a full-time job in medical technology, while his best friend brings the management expertise. The vegan element took root at Secret Garden Party only last year where, as McGloughlin describes, “I was having a catchup with one of my best friends who had always run bars and restaurants in London, and she floated the idea of opening a pub together. Then this came on the market and it seemed like a project that was too good to miss.”

Soon afterwards, they partnered with caterer, Club Mexicana, which has been trading for five years at residencies, festivals and pop-ups.

As McGloughlin explains, everything from the food and drinks to the fixtures and fittings are vegan and sustainably sourced. “We reclaimed the old leather from the furniture and sent it off to companies that make accessories and wallets, so it would be reused and wouldn’t go to waste. The leather sofas we sold and acquired new ones.”

Furnishings are one thing; having a vegan-friendly drinks offering is somewhat trickier. “The most challenging thing was making sure that the drinks were fully vegan.

Listen to the Podc e1ife.c ast at o.uk/po dcast

Wine is easier to accommodate than beer because a lot of the good quality, natural wines are vegan.” As such, they’re mostly air cask ales, specifically made without the finings used to make beer clear and which are often made from fish eggs.

The pub has quickly found its feet and it won’t be long before national expansion. McGloughlin says: “This is only our fourth month and it’s been like a runaway train.”

Watch out: this eagle is poised to spread her considerable wings.

The Spread Eagle, Homerton High Street E9 6AS; thespreadeaglelondon.co.uk

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CULTURE: FREE EAST

Free east

Ever find yourself moaning that the capital is just too expensive? Happily, there are still ways to make the most of east London, even if your purse is feeling the pinch Go gangster

Check out some favourite haunts of the east London gangsters. That sh*t is Kray-Kray.

The Blind Beggar, Whitechapel You can start off with a half pint at White Chapel’s The Blind Beggar – one of the bestknown Kray locations thanks to its dubious credentials as the place where Ronnie shot and killed George Cornell. It’s still a bustling boozer, serving up posh hot dogs and boasting a smart beer garden with a fancy water feature. But you’re on a budget, so put the sausage down and stick to your half pint.

Repton Boys Club, Bethnal Green Once you’re nicely hydrated, move on to Repton Boys Club on Cheshire Street. It’s been open since 1884 and the Krays used to box here, along with other East Enders, like Audley Harrison and Darren Barker.

97 Evering Rd, Stoke Newington Pumped and ready for a bit of a journey, head over to 97 Evering Road, a Victorian endof-terrace house in Stoke Newington. This is where Reggie Kray, urged on by Ronnie, stabbed Jack McVitie to death in the basement flat, on October 28th 1967 after McVitie crossed the twins once too many times.

St Matthews Church, Bethnal Green If visiting these blood-stained sites leaves you in need of redemption, head to St Matthew’s, an 18th-century church on Hereford Street where the funerals of both twins took place.

Clement Attlee, Limehouse Library

The Krays in Repton Boys Club, Bethna l Green

Strike a pose:

Luminaries associated with the east abound.

Pay homage by visiting their statues WE Gladstone, Bow Churchyard Pop over to see WE Gladstone (1808-1898) at Bow churchyard. He served four terms as a Liberal PM in a career spanning over 60 years.

Fair play, he probably deserves his statue.

Clement Attlee, Limehouse Library It’s 100 years since women got the vote and Clement Attlee (1883-1967), as Stepney’s first Labour mayor and later PM, was a huge supporter of suffrage. Attlee is remembered in bronze outside Limehouse Library.

Queen Alexandra, Whitechapel Queen Alexandra was hugely popular in the East End largely due to her presidency of the London Hospital in 1904 and her work in combatting lupus. She also just happned to be King Edward VII’s wife.

Queen Alexandra, Whitechapel

The Blind Beggar, Whitechapel

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London Pride

London's Pride Festival celebrates and showcases LGBT+ events, entertainment, educational workshops and more at a variety of venues across the country’s capital

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COVER STORY: PRIDE IN LONDON

P

ride in London is run entirely by a group of volunteers. Passionate about equality and diversity, together they're on a mission to provide a platform for every part of London’s LGBT+ community (that's lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans*, queer, questioning, intersex, non-binary, asexual, polysexual, genderqueer and gender variant folk) and to campaign for the freedoms that would allow them to live their lives

on a genuinely equal footing.

This year's Pride celebrations kicked off earlier in June and will run for a month. There are over a hundred fun events set to take place across the capital, spanning arts, culture, sports, comedy and, of course, serious nightlife.

As a not-for-profit organisation, all funds raised will be used to support the LGBT+ community. E1 Life presents our edit of some of the highlights set to take place across the capital in the name of equality.

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Talent sessions

After the super successful Pride’s Got Talent, Pride in London has teamed up with The Hospital Club to present The Pride in London Talent Sessions. The evening will be hosted by cabaret legend Michael Twaits and features some highlights from Pride’s Got Talent 2018 together with the stupendous Mzz Kimberley. Preview some of the hottest, brightest LGBT+ talent in town. Directed by the infamous Ian Massa Harris.

29 June; 7:30pm – 10:30pm The Hospital Club 24 Endell Street, WC2H 9HQ

LGBT+ ping pong

Let the games begin! Who wouldn't want to while away a Sunday afternoon with ping pong, wonderball and a games guru experience, plus friendly banter, a few drinks and a bite to eat with other great people in the LGBT+ community? To battle it out with some back-and-forth, head straight for Bounce in Farringdon.

17 June; 3:30pm – 7:30pm Bounce Farringdon 121 Holborn, EC1N 2TD

Rising stars

The talented LGBT+ community of London will keep you entertained all night long with music, dance, comedy, acrobatics, bands – and even a choir. The event is directed and produced by none other than Ian MassaHarris-McFeely and hosted by Michael Twaits.

2 July; 7:45pm – 10:30pm Underbelly Festival Belvedere Road, SE1 8XX

LGBT summer picnic

You can't beat a chilled out afternoon on Hampstead Heath. Enjoy a drink and a bite to eat with friends, old and new, in the summer sun. Rustle up a gourmet feast of your own, or just grab a take away and chill.

24 June; 2pm – 6pm Hampstead Heath

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COVER STORY: PRIDE IN LONDON

Morning Gloryville’s 5th Birthday

Morning Gloryville is the original morning dance party. Having blazed the sober morning rave trail, it is responsible for bringing conscious clubbing to the world stage, and on 7 July it celebrates its fifth birthday party on the beautiful outdoor garden terrace of Studio 338. Warm up for Pride celebrations the right way: at a biodegradable glittery, fancy dress rave and shake your stuff while the DJ delivers a banging dance floor. To help fuel the party, there will be yummy vegan food, yoga, massages and healing on offer.

7 July; 10am – 4pm Studio 338, 338 Boord Street, SE10 0PF

International lesbian speed dating

Can you think of a better way to spend the magical evening of the summer solstice than in the company of a lot of lovely lesbians? Nope, us neither. This speed dating extravaganza will be fun, full of promise – and who knows, you might even meet someone special.

Whether it's your first time or you've speed dated before, one thing is guarranteed: it'll be an unforgettable night.

21 June; 7:30pm – 10pm Retro Bar, 2 George Court, WC2N 6HH

Whitney (2018), exclusive London preview

Fresh from the Festival de Cannes, OUT at Clapham has announced an exclusive screening of Whitney (2018).

The documentary, directed by Kevin MacDonald, follows the life and music of the voice and the legend that defined a generation. Fans of the ultimate diva should expect insights into the success, life and troubles of arguably the greatest voice of the 20th-century from those who knew her best.

3 July; 8:30pm – 9:30pm Clapham Picturehouse, Venn Street, SW4 0AT

Visit www.prideinlondon.org/events to book your chosen events and support the community!

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NB I K E YOUR

London Fields will be awash with cycling shorts this summer. At long last! All hail a practical trend everyone can get behind, says Becky Burgum

C

yclists are more common than hipster beards in Dalston. You can catch creatives on their fixedgear bicycles gliding down any east London road at any given time, but never more so than on the sunniest days when they’re inevitably headed towards Broadway Market for a spot of brunch, before setting up camp at London Fields to sunbathe and crack open a Red Stripe.

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Practicality, however, is not the reason east London’s most popular park is set to see an influx of cycle short wearers this summer. After appearing on Paris runways in September, and with Kim K as the most high profile sporter of the 80s trend, these stretchy numbers have made their way into every UK ‘must-have’ list after being given the seal of approval last week by East End-based stylist, Leah Abbott, responsible for all of R&B singer

Jorja Smith’s recent killer tour looks.

Abbott styled Smith in the London label LAPP’s track one-piece at Coachella two months ago (the most literal interpretation of this cycling theme so far). She herself opts to glam up plain Nike bike shorts and a baggy T-shirt with a furry Louis V mini-bag when back in the UK. “London is definitely influenced by the need to keep up with the fast pace,” Abbott says of the capital’s love of sporty fashion, describing it

FASHION: CYCLING SHORTS

JUNE/JULY 2018

as casual, “but with a lot of sauce, of course!”

Homerton-based designer, Paolina Russo, featured repurposed athletic equipment and cycling shorts in the Central Saint Martins BA collection that won her the L’Oreal Professionnel Young Talent Award last week, and says, “I love cycling shorts because they make everyone’s butt look good!”

Soon enough, bike shorts will be another east London classic, whether you cycle or not. They may also just be the most practical, feminist summer trend we’ve seen in years. They’re pain-free – unlike the wedgie-inducing cut-off Levi’s or toecrushing mules – and can be worn by all body shapes comfortably. You no longer have to compromise between style or cycling practicality when you roll up to Pub on the Park, and you can run wild and free on the grass, cartwheeling your days away, without any park pervs getting a sneak peak of your underwear. Potential camel toe is the only real worry but the total lack of thigh chafing (too real a struggle in this tropical heatwave) more than makes up for it.

In the year marking the centenary of many women gaining the right to vote, it feels apt that these empowering and practical numbers are back. Time to pedal ahead of the pack and lead the revolution.

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DATING: SUZY GILL

On the market?

Suzy Gill is on Brick Lane, on a hangover, on a date and on a mission – mostly for bagels

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the sun shining people are actually smiling at strangers. It smells like summer – an inner city summer, granted, so the sweet stench of pollution has settled underneath and there’s fish, somewhere, but there’s also oranges and freshly baked bread and flowers. So many flowers. The colours are vibrant, the people are loud and I remember why I love London so much: because at it’s heart it’s for everyone.

He – I’ll call him J – is chatting away and seems happy to meander along in the warm, picking up knick knacks and browsing old records. I’m secretly focused on the bagels so I’m subtly guiding us in their direction under the pretence of ‘oh yeah let’s take our time, have a little browse...’

And because of that, I almost miss what he says. About his girlfriend.

Yeah. His girlfriend.

A Freudian slip that may be, but he knows he’s said it and I watch the colour drain out of his face. I mean, I know I met you on an app, but that’s bold. I’m curious. Does she know you’re here?

“No” he says, “but at least I’ve been honest, you know, told you I’m with someone”. Right. But, I say, if she doesn’t know you’re here then you’ve withheld that information because it won’t go down well. He

“

I

’m on this date. The first one actually, for this column, and we’re going to Brick Lane Market because it’s a Sunday and it’s easy and I’d also really like a bagel because I’m a little hungover. It’s a treat to be hungover the same day as everyone else for once – I’m an actor, playwright and spoken word poet so I’m either crazy-busy every waking hour or not busy at all and out-out on a Tuesday night.

I get there before him so I do that awkward I’m-not-hovering-I-have-apurpose thing, which involves staring at my phone and pretending I’m busy and important while subtly checking out every male between 20-30 who walks past. I’m so great at this whole hovering purpose thing that when he does tap me on the shoulder, I drop my phone and smash the screen.

Which, you know, at least provides an opportunity to bond.

He’s good looking. Dark hair.

Green eyes. Six foot-ish. Seems normal. I make a mental note to let my mum know he’s not giving off ‘might murder you’ vibes, which should calm her frantic knife emojii’s down (I know). I decide I’ll probably be safe in an overcrowded market with him, so we head in.

It’s gorgeous and bustling, and with

A Freudian slip that may be, but he knows he’s said it. I watch the colour drain from his face

avoids eye contact. So – I push on – why are you here? He stares at the ground. Shifts a piece of banana skin with his toe. “Dunno”. Very calmly I ask him why he thinks it’s acceptable to treat her this way, when he could save them both a lot of pain by splitting up. Why he’s so frightened of being alone that he’s willing to hurt someone he presumably loves.

He attacks the banana skin and shrugs. No answer.

And then, reader, I turn on my hungover heel (a challenge, I’m feeling pretty sick) and walk out of the shadow into the sunshine, leaving him to ponder that question amongst sequins, starfruit and the cheery shouts of the stallholders.

Besides, I really want that bagel.

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Quirky

BDQ

B R E A K FA S T L D I N N E R L Q U I R K Y

Our hot-right-now dining guide to satisfy every food whim Smoking Goat If you didn’t know of its existence, you’d walk right past Smoking Goat; the writing on the plaque outside is so tiny one wonders whether it wants you to know about it at all.

The warmth of the welcome and the hospitality quickly dispels any such idea. The décor is in-keeping with the Shoreditch vibe; think lots of glass, open brickwork and a casual dining atmosphere, while the cuisine is northern Thai barbeque food. A tight menu serves up breakfasts, which include rati (bread) and sauce alongside lots of pork and meat.

We went at lunch time and opted for fish with a hearty side dish of veggies and rice. The veg was packed with lots of spicy flavours

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without being torturously hot, and the fish was beautifully fresh, though I wished I’d asked for it off-the-bone. A great Shoreditch eaterie with a casual and friendly ambience, a lively clientele and a welcoming attitude to families with young children.

64 Shoreditch High Street, E1 6JJ smokinggoatbar.com

FOOD & DRINK: BDQ

Dinner

Breakfast

Tra Tra Everything at TraTra is yum yum – and it’s got the atmosphere to match.

Take two flights down from the Boundary Group to enter this swanky bar and restaurant. With a DJ booth and trendy décor, this modern eaterie makes for the perfect date spot because the food is tasty, the portions are generous and, with a cool cocktail bar, there’s a real buzz about the place, but it’s not too loud to chat. We went on a relatively quiet Tuesday evening and sampled the slow-braised octopus for two, which comes with saffron aioli, mussels, monkfish and baked potatoes. To accompany the sharing plate, we went for tasty sides of taboulé and tempura summer veg. With a bottle of wine, it might set you back forty quid per head but this place certainly warrants it.

2-4 Boundary Street, E2 7DD boundary.london/tratra

Little Farm By day, Little Farm is a café dishing out healthy breakfasts and salad boxes to take away. When 4pm rolls around, it transforms into RED Restaurant, which serves up succulent cuts of meat and specialised wines.

Owner Boj’s peripatetic life saw him live in France and Italy before settling in London, where he noticed a dearth of healthy quick lunch options. Cue the arrival of Little Farm, his take away lunch operation that aims to serve you in within 45 seconds, proving the point that fast food doesn’t have to be unhealthy food. For the time-pressed yet anti-ready meal brigade, try the home grocery boxes, which have recipes prepared and ready to cook at home.

115 Worship Street, EC2A 2BA littlefarm.london

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MARINA MEZE GRILL The marina is an authentic, independently-run mediterranean ‘oasis’ in the heart of woodford green, serving a versatile menu of traditional home-cooking and contemporary seasonal dishes using locally sourced ingredients.

352 High Road Woodford Green London IG8 0XQ 020 8505 8999 marinamezegrill.com Marina Meze Grill Turkish Restaurant

Enjoy the bets dishes of mediterranean at a family restaurant

Relaxed cozy atmosphere l Best chefs and dishes Weddings, Birthdays, Christmas parties and all other occasions

132 Lauriston Road, Victoria Park, London E9 7LH, 020 8985 1838 www.thechambersrestaurant.co.uk

FOOD & DRINK: EAT STREETS

Koya City

EatStreets WORDS: LIAM BARKER

We do love a shiny new opening. Presenting the lowdown on the shiniest of them all

Forget the ubiquitous smashed avocado on toast. Koya has a brand new reason to breakfast like a king. Its signature is an ‘English breakfast’ udon; think an earthy broth containing a crispy fried egg, bacon and shiitake mushrooms along with wonderful hand-stretched udon noodles. Looks so wrong, tastes so right. There is also, of course, plenty of choice on the

Leroy The team behind Leroy has pedigree.

While Hackney’s Michelin-starred Ellory closed its doors a few months back, its spirit lives on here in Leroy’s simple seasonal menu. When we say simple, we mean bare bones descriptions; diners can expect to order the fuss-free likes of ‘a plate of smoked trout’, or ‘mussels and tomatoes on toast’. Order the whole mackerel cut in half straight down the middle: genius. Sharing plates are the order of the day here and since Leroy is also a wine bar, it’s a great place to catch up with friends.

classic udon menu. Be sure to check out the kinoko, which comes with mushrooms and a walnut miso.

Even better, all produce for the restaurant is sourced from farmers across the UK, meaning both that Koya supports independents and its produce is sustainably sourced. Winwin. Who knew we were so good at growing Japanese vegetables here?

18 Phipp Street, EC2A 4NU leroyshoreditch.com

10-12 Bloomberg Arcade, EC4N 8AR koya.co.uk

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FOOD & DRINK: EAT STREETS

Nuala Now I don’t want to build up your hopes, but Nuala is kind of like the latest Avengers movie. There are a lot of big names and ideas here. In the kitchen there are chefs from Chiltern Firehouse and The Fat Duck. The front of house is run by ex-Noma staff. And a vast open kitchen is organised around a giant fire pit that is not only responsible for roasting whole cuts of meat, but also some pretty mean veg dishes too. One such is the fireplace pumpkin with Isle of Mull cheddar.

(Side note: whoever would have thought of roasting cockles on an open flame?) There’s some great innovation happening at Nuala, and best of all it’s all around fantastic British produce. The question remains though: can too many cooks spoil the broth? I’ll leave that one for you to decide.

70-74 City Road, EC1Y 2BJ nualalondon.com

The Coach What used to be the old Coach and Horses pub in Clerkenwell is now just ‘The Coach’ and, instantly, it’s just cooler. The old pub has been given a complete makeover with giant floor-to-ceiling windows, plus there’s the chef behind it all. Henry Harris has been responsible for some of London’s best French food over the last decade and The Coach is a continuation of that legacy. The menu is Anglo/French classic (think beef tartare and confit duck leg). Don’t miss the grilled rabbit leg with mustard sauce and smoked bacon – guarranteed to conjure up food envy on your Insta feed – and finish with creme and caramel. This is just good cooking with no gimmicks.

26-28 Ray Street, EC1R 3DJ; thecoachclerkenwell.co.uk

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Hunters comes to Columbia Road, E2

After many successful years trading under the Prospect Residential brand, we’re delighted to have joined Hunters, one of the UK’s leading estate agents.

With over 200 nationwide office, Hunter’s success is built around excellent customer service and unrivalled proactivity, these are values and beliefs that have been at the core of our business since is conception. With Hunters, customers get the very best of a high street agent – knowledgeable, local staff available throughout the sale or let of your property – as well as excellent online facilities such as the ‘My Hunters’ Vendor Portal where you can follow the progress of your sale whenever, wherever.

Columbia Road has been the heart of east London’s success, steeped in history and part of the transformation into one the of the capital’s most desirable areas. Increased investment, excellent transport links and an appealing urban lifestyle have helped raised the average house price Polat Ali in this area by 25% in the last three years. All our properties are Franchise Owner showcased on both Rightmove and Zoopla as well as Hunters.com Hunters Bethnal Green For a free valuation call us today on 020 7100 2010 to find out the value of your property. Or come and see us in our new look branch at 86 Columbia Road, London, E2 7QB

HE RE TO GE T

you

THERE

NIGHTLIFE: OUT OUT

Culpeper Roof Garden

Out out WORDS: LIAM BARKER

This month, we hit the roof

The Culpeper always has a stellar summer schedule planned for its rooftop. This year the focus is on food growing and preserving.

Fancy learning how to cultivate cucumbers or courgettes – and then turn them into fresh pickled veg? In honour of its namesake, the controversial botanist, astrologist and herbalist Nicholas Culpeper, it is set to host guided astrology nights too. Get to grips with professional telescopic equipment on an evening tour of the night sky fuelled with delicious hot drinks.

40 Commercial Street, E1 6LP theculpeper.com

Roof East Thanks to a recent makeover, Roof East is now basically an adventure playground for grown-ups. The new look includes Birdies mini-golf, De La Bowls and Rooftop Film Club.

Be sure to book in advance; spots will sell out fast. Sunsets over the Olympic Park while you hit a home run and gorge on street food – what could actually be better?

Level 8 Car Park, Great Eastern Way, E15 1XE; sfgclub.com

Netil 360

If the mercury touches 20 and you’re in Dalston, you can bet the queues you see are for Dalston Roof Park. And because it’s Britain and you can never predict when the rain will catch you out, there’s a stateof-the-art retractable roofing system here too. The faux turf has been graced by the likes of Rudimental and Jessie Ware so keep your eyes peeled for their legendary rooftop parties this summer. Or just head over to chill on a huge beanbag.

As its name suggests, Netil 360 boasts some pretty impressive panoramic views across the city.

And at just a stone’s throw from Broadway Market and London Fields, it is perennially packed and popular throughout the day. Make like its legion of freelance regulars and set up office up in its tranquil workspace; after all, it’s free to use.

Meanwhile, Hackney Pizza rustles up pizzas in the kitchen to keep you going, and post the working day, there’s draught beer from Truman’s Brewery and spirits from East London Liquor Company. Doesn’t get more East End than that.

18 Ashwin Street, E8 3DL bootstrapcompany.co.uk

1 Westgate Street, E8 3RL netil360.com

Dalston Roof Park

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Something for the

WEEKEND The Southport Weekender started out in 1987 before closing its doors in 2015.

This year saw it return to Finsbury Park for the second year. E1 Life grabbed a chat with its founder, Alex Lowes, who is also the mastermind behind Croatia’s brilliant Suncebeat and The Liverpool Disco Festival Words & Podcast: Toby Harris 32

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MUSIC: ALEX LOWES

Tell us about the origins of the Southport Weekender…

I’m a Newcastle boy. My parents moved to Bolton when I was 14 and I left school at 15. I got into the northern soul scene in Wigan and became obsessed with the beautiful music I heard. Then I started running gigs when I moved back to Durham, and later I started doing club nights. By day, I was working for the council but I always had that love of music. Then someone gave me the opportunity to run a weekender up north in Berwickupon-Tweed in 1987. Later we moved it to Blackpool – we did three there before it outgrew itself. In Southport we were getting about 5,000 people; in Butlins we got about 7,000 and it just ran its course. Only last year we started the weekender festival here in Finsbury Park thanks to my good friends, Slamming Events.

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MUSIC: ALEX LOWES Did your job with the council prepare you in any way for running festivals?

I used to be an emergency planning officer, planning for death and disaster, so I guess being prepared for that helped me with festivals – there are always plenty of disasters!

There was an angel on one shoulder and a devil on the other; one saying do the emergency planning, the other saying do the discos. And the discos won.

Was coming to London always part of the plan?

No. If anyone had told me 20 years ago that I, a Geordie boy, was going to put on events for 12,000 people in London and in war-torn Yugoslavia, I’d have said you had rocks in your head.

The dos and don’ts of setting up a new festival 1. It’s about tweaking things slowly, not doing entirely new things because the press say so 2. You’ve got to get your health and safety right 3. Stick to what you believe in and that’s hopefully what will work for you, you know 4. Listen to people, especially if you’re young, but also be forceful with your own ideas and go for it 5. Get people in who are good operators 6. Look around, take your time and plan it well in advance 7. Don’t be too ambitious 8. Don’t go too cheap or too expensive 9. Have lots of meetings, lots of talk 10. Always respect your customers; they pay everyone’s wages at the end of the day – that’s my number one motto

Photography by Josh Hiatt and Wisdom Makubile for Here & Now www.wearehereandnow.net

the Listen to at t s Podca dcast o.uk/po e1ife.c

Why Finsbury Park?

I came to a couple of events here – one of them was Hospitality and I was just totally blown away by it. What I like to feel is that it’s a very intimate festival even though it’s 12,000 people. Everything is indoors, in tents, so I like to call it a clubbing festival.

We

Are On e!

PRESENTS

2 ROOMS of Party Classics & Nu Grooves

The Love & Happiness Room Deep, Soulful & Classic House

OPOLOPO Ronnie Herel // Paris Cesvette Martin Lodge // Lil Stevie // DJ Coxy

The Boogie Room Soul, Funk & Disco

Gordon Mac // Bob Masters // Colin Williams SATURDAY 6th october 2018 – 9PM - 4AM

Cafe 1001, 83 Brick Lane, London E1 6QL

IN ASSOCIATION WITH SOUTHPORT WEEKENDER

FESTIVAL

Tickets available @Eventbrite @FunkyDoryLove

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@FunkyDoryLove

Fit&Free Julie Creffield was a couch-potato until the London Olympics awakened her to the transformative power of sport. Even better, much of it’s free in the capital, so long as you know where to look

G

rowing up in east London, I can’t really remember ever seeing adults playing sport.

Watching West Ham, sure, but playing sport?

Not so much. I was active as a kid, I was involved in a dancing school for many years. I enjoyed PE and lots of after-school clubs, but I wasn’t very good at anything, and because nobody in my family was interested in sport, it wasn’t encouraged. By the time I went to secondary school it didn’t take long to realise that only the talented girls got picked for school teams, and I didn’t understand the rules of most of the sports we tried. So I lost interest.

I spent my late teens and early twenties almost completely sedentary, unless dancing round my handbag with a Smirnoff Ice counts for exercise. By this point I was quite overweight, hidden reasonably well by my tallness, but overweight nevertheless. I tried to find exercise to do, but the options were quite limited: a nearby gym that was expensive or the local swimming pool which was a bit grotty. I didn’t know

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FITNESS: JULIE CREFFIELD

there was other stuff going on. I just simply didn’t know.

Then EVERYTHING changed.

The Olympics came to town.

At the time, I was a project manager for a local authority – a local authority bang-in-the-middle of the circus and desperate to get some legacy for its residents. Over the course of the next two years, I became obsessed with the games.

Bit by bit, I found myself enjoying sport again, the highlight being taking part in the London Triathlon.

By the time the games arrived in 2012, I was a sports junkie; a member of a local running club, I’d run a marathon that year, cycled back and forth to work and I’d literally give any sport going a go.

After the games had finished, there was a lot of talk about legacy after all that money spent. But, boy oh boy, what an investment it proved.

For a girl who still loves sport, despite still being rubbish at it, I am spoilt for choice. My local pool is a stunning 50m beauty; I cycle in a world-class facility with London skylines to die for; I do CrossFit in an amazing once-derelict warehouse; and I run in and around one of Europe’s biggest (and, in my view, most vibrant) urban parks.

Sport has helped me to really connect with my local environment.

It has enabled me to make friends and feel connected to all of the change that is going on. It has made me able to share that excitement with friends and family – and, what’s more, it doesn’t cost me an arm and a leg to use these incredible facilities on my doorstep.

We are so lucky in London that there is always so much going on, and that there are so many

affordable options. In the Olympic Park for example there are free running groups, free fitness classes, free yoga, and you can pay and play in most of the venues for just £5 (less if you are on a low income).

Where you live should be one big adventure playground. Sport doesn’t have to take place within the constraints of a gym with people

you never speak to. Get out and explore. Be creative. Don’t be shy.

Who knows, you might even find a new fitness tribe or a sport you hadn’t even considered before. The other great legacy from the games is that we now have some pretty decent places to refuel and rehydrate after our regimes – even if the price of a pint has more than doubled.

JULIE’S TOP 5 WAYS TO KEEP FIT ON A BUDGET Parkrun Hackney Marshes, Mile End, Beckton, Wanstead Park, Barking Park, Roding Valley YourParks YourParks does FREE bootcamp, yoga, pilates and boxing across London RunEast – Stratford ViewTube Runners – Stratford GoodGym – London wide

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Lucy’s London Sky with Diamonds Potential career opportunities lured Lucy Phipps from rural Lincolnshire to the sparkling promise of London, where she now helps to create new homes for the many young people who follow in her footsteps.

Words: Eric Woollard-White Podcast: Rosie Coxshaw

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PROPERTY: ORDNANCE THE LOFT

I

t was a move that certainly paid off – starting her career first as a receptionist at Shoreditch-based property company Bridge, rising to become the company’s Sales Director for New Homes in 12 years.

But it is also the place she now loves to call home.

“I am a huge East London fan and if I get invited out to restaurant and it’s further away than Liverpool Street I struggle,” she confides with a smile.

As well as a strong work-life bond with the Capital, Lucy’s other loves include music and she has inherited an eclectic mix of song choices from her parents (for the E1 Life Podcast), including the rather aptly titled ‘Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds’ by The Beatles.

“It’s a slightly self-indulgent song choice perhaps, but I grew up listening to The Beatles through my father and he passed on to me all the albums they ever made and they are all amazing,” she explains.

Listening to Lucy talk about her work with new property developments you cannot help but get a strong sense that home life is important to her as much as it is a vital consideration in the new property developments she is involved with.

One of her major projects she is preparing to sell with Bridge New Homes and Fraser & Co is The Lofts at Ordnance in London E1.

Described as “ultra-cool” with a unique and highly stylish specification, The Lofts are an exclusive collection of apartments, duplexes and penthouses soon to be released in this high-end City Fringe development.

Says Lucy: “One of the things I feel about the area is that lots of developers have been building purely for the investor market and

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Rising elegantly into The City’s skyline, The Ordnance Building’s striking design sets the tone for the luxury that awaits within L O F T S AT O R D N A N C E . C O . U K

THE VIEW FROM THE LOFTS

EXTERNAL CGI

INTERNAL CGI

INTERNAL CGI

Lovingly curated loft-style apartments in a prime E1 location, exceptionally close to Tower Hill

3 London underground stations, DLR and rail station all within an easy 9 minute walk†

Amazing amenities including a 12 hour concierge and gym

High specification design and stunning architecturally designed loft interiors

COMING SOON | LOFTS ATORDNANCE.CO.UK | REGISTER NOW TH E LO F TS AR E PR E SE NTE D BY

S TAY U P T O D AT E & F O L L O W U S O N I N S TA G R A M

@TH E LOF TS _O R D N A N C E 0 2 0 7 74 9 1 4 00

020 7708 6869

L O F T S AT O R D N A N C E . C O . U K

Details correct at time of going to print. † Walking times sourced by walkit.com. Computer generated images are indicative only.

Planning Number: PA/05/01127/R

PROPERTY: ORDNANCE THE LOFT

there doesn’t seem to be Prices from £525,000 a huge focus on young follow The Lofts people in the area, @thelofts_ordnance on Listen to people who actually Instagram for latest th Podcas e need to get on the area information t at e1ife.c o.uk/po ladder and get a and marketing suite dcast space they can truly launch dates. call home.”

Lucy admits that “Both agents have London can be a been involved right from difficult market for the the start and we have had first-time buyer but believes a chance to get involved in the The Lofts at Ordnance will be ideal specificatiaons and layouts of the for young couples and City workers apartments which means people will who may be looking for a special feel that the development is really sanctuary within walking distance meant for them” of their workplace – and for people As well as luxury touches such as who work further afield, there are herringbone flooring throughout the three London Underground stations apartments, consideration has also and a Crossrail link very close to the been given to important practical development. elements such as storage and even “There is a lot more help to buy a secure cycle room parking for around these days than when I first bikes. moved to the area,” she explains.

Lucy adds: “Both agents have “The Government’s schemes spent a lot of time looking at the certainly need to get better and help fundamentals of what somebody more people but what is currently would want from the apartments available is having a positive impact and then design them accordingly. and is putting properties likes these It’s going to offer something within reach.” different and exciting.”

Lucy’s passion for her work shines

through – which is what gave her the opportunity to progress with Bridge after she started as a receptionist, despite taking a year off to go travelling.

She recalls: “I fell into property, it wasn’t really planned. I started working in reception and then one of the land agents needed a PA, and that was a good introduction into property.

“I did that for just under a year, and then went off to finally explore the world. When I got back, I think one of the first phone calls I had was from my old boss asking if I could come back, so I did.”

“You have got to make sure you give a good customer experience so that people enjoy the process; you have got to be excited when you get your keys,” she adds.

Further details about The Lofts at Ordnance, London E1 8JN can be found at: www.loftsatordnance.co.uk

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Montenegro Welcome

to

Bordered by crystal clear sea, scattered with white rocks and lit by the Mediterranean sun: Montenegro is a European oasis where the soft sounds of gentle waves soothe the soul

A

rriving at Montenegro by plane or boat, the first thing any visitor will notice is the vast expanse of beach. There are 117 of them spread along the Montenegrin coast – a fact that is all the more pertinent given that summer here lasts from May until October. That’s 180 days of swimming and 240 days of sunshine every year.

Natural wonders abound here, perhaps most dazzlingly at the incredible canyon of River Tara; at 1300m, it’s the deepest in Europe, and the second deepest in the world, with the Grand Canyon of the Colorado River alone trumping it for scale.

Every coastal town of Montenegro has its own fascinating story. Herceg

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Novi is known as the botanic garden of the Med, and its many carnivals are, perhaps, directly proportionate to the large number of artists the town attracts. Kotor is one of the best preserved medieval old towns in the Adriatic and is a UNESCO world heritage site, while Budva boasts a plethora of summer theatres and festivals, as well as the country’s most beautiful beaches and nightlife. For aspirant writers, Boka Kotorska is the place to head; one of the most beautiful bays on the Mediterranean, it fascinated many poets and writers, spanning Lord Byron, George Bernard Shaw, Marguerite Yourcenar and Ivo Andric.

To unearth the oldest olive tree in Europe, which has been bearing fruit for some two thousand years, keep

ADVERTISING PROMOTION: ABBOTTS TRAVEL In the early mornings, you can see the whole panorama of Montenegro from the beautiful vantage point of Mount Lovcen, one of its four national parks.

The long summers are an ideal time to take a trekking tour from Mount Rumija, over the massif of Lovcen to Orjen mountain, and follow a marked route connecting old Austro-Hungarian fortresses. In the wintertime meanwhile, there are good trails for skiing and snowboarding on Durmitor Mountains, which can be reached by ski lifts, while mountain and forest trails are accessible on sleighs drawn by horses or dogs.

The country is home to two wonderful resorts, opening shortly, both of which come highly recommended with the Abbotts Travel seal of approval.

rooms, sauna and an exquisite à la carte restaurant in the hotel surrounded by beautiful gardens, clients can enjoy this authentic, ancient setting.

Chill out on the beach or take advantage of the hotel’s private boat transfer to a nearby beach club.

An exclusive ‘Spa Taster Experience’ is available for Abbotts Travel clients who make a booking at Iberostar Perast.

To book a stay at one of these incredible resorts and enjoy all that Montenegro has to offer, get in touch.

The Chedi Lustica Bay

Iberostar Perast your eyes peeled for the grove in which is stands just as you enter Bar, the biggest Montenegrin port. Today, passengers and merchant ships from many countries dock here, and it is the terminus for trains going to Belgrade and further on into Europe. But for those setting their sights more locally, the popular tourist resort of Sutomore offers long sandy beaches and numerous hotels and restaurants.

For neophyte and keen divers alike, there is a whole underwater world to discover along the Montenegrin coast. The Adriatic waters yield great treasures to explore, from sunken ships to secluded caves; here there is always the promise of hidden pirate booty to discover – along with stunning coral cliffs and an abundance of sealife.

Perast has always been a place of exquisite beauty, boasting one of the most beautiful examples of Baroque architecture on the Adriatic coast, complete with its Venetian flourishes. And opening its doors on 15 June, Iberostar Perast, the newest addition to the Heritage Collection, is set to raise the beauty bar still higher.

Palace Smejka is the largest historical Palace to adorn the shores of Montenegro.

Built in 1764 by Count Smejka, one of the richest noble families of Kotor, it occupies undoubtedly the best seafront central location in Perast Town, a UNESCO World Heritage site of natural beauty and wonder.

The Palace has been carefully converted into a luxury hotel, offering clients a chance to step back in time and experience this undiscovered spot.

Offering 65 rooms and suites, including one of 330sqm, a relaxing spa with hammam, indoor pool, treatment

Situated on the waterfront, with superb views over the Lustica Bay marina and the Adriatic lies boutique five-star luxury in the form of The Chedi. Right in the heart of Lustica Bay, a new destination of Orascom Development AG,The Chedi is set to open its doors in July 2018.

Sustainably designed and totally state-of-the-art, the town will be home to two marinas, an 18-hole golf course, a commercial area, a town centre and seven hotels – the first of which is The Chedi. In close proximity to no fewer than three international airports, the hotel is within easy reach of most European cities.

With a private beach, direct access to the promenade and marina as well as the spa, guests will be able to sit back, relax, and enjoy a beautiful break in what is certain to become a sought-after European resort.

Abbotts Travel 134 George Lane South Woodford E18 1BA 020 8989 9445 info@abbottstravel.com www.abbottstravel.com

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Eastis East

Sometimes it’s good to escape.

And sometimes it’s even better to stay at home. We round up three favourite hotels on our doorstep

The Courthouse Hotel Right in the centre of Shoreditch, The Courthouse Hotel is where the grandeur of an old Grade II-listed magistrates’ court meets the edgy sophistication that Shoreditch has become synonymous with. Retaining many of its original historical features – all with de rigueur modern twists – guests feel so easily transported into another era that it’s not hard to forget that the clamour and bustle of Shoreditch still awaits you in the street outside.

From check-in onward, the staff is attentive, making you feel at ease for the duration of your stay.

Rooms are fresh and minimal with

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contemporary touches and huge beds, and come with all the high tech accoutrements (flat screen TVs, high speed data ports, entertainment systems), as well as a well-stocked minibar. Breakfast is served up in an elegant dining room (don’t eschew the full English breakfast), but the real pièce de résistance is found at Silk, the Asian fusion gastro offering where diners get to scoff and quaff in a classic old wood-panelled courtroom. For those who really need to unwind, the Courthouse is one of only two hotels in the surrounding area that has an indoor pool and spa; undoubtedly there are a few

TRAVEL: HOTELS IN EAST

New Road Hotel Arriving at Whitechapel’s newest design hotel represents everything that’s brilliant about London. This heaving city, so full of contradictions, is always incongruous and packed with surprises. And so it is that, post a walk from Whitechapel tube along the bustling main road, with its cheek-by-jowl traditional Bangladeshi clothing stalls, and past – in stark contrast – the astonishing Will Alsop-designed Blizard Building at Queen Mary’s University, we find ourselves crossing the threshold of the brand new New Road Hotel, which fuses an innovative cross between a Manhattan warehouse chic and an East End art installation. The word ‘Service’ hangs above the cocktail bar, tantalisingly visible from reception, the letters themselves rescued from the textiles warehouse

defendants – as well as a smattering of lawyers – who would given their right arm to have sweated it out in a spa back in this historic building’s original heyday.

335 - 337 Old Street, EC1V 9LL 020 3310 5555 shoreditch.courthouse-hotel.com

that once occupied these walls but closed in the 1970s. Were it not for the couple who bought it, this slice of covetable industrial space might have been carved up as slick but unaffordable apartments. It is thanks to them – and the delivery of an excellent architect alongside fantastic hotel manager, Joost – that the space is open to the community of Whitechapel who come to its Cereal Grind bar to work, and those from further afield.

This art installation impression lasts as one travels through the hotel and into the minimalist bedrooms, which have largely dispensed with the trappings that one would expect from a luxury hotel. No minibar; instead, water and chocolate can be obtained from a ‘snack station’ on the first floor, next to the games room. No phone, either; one sends the concierge a WhatsApp message

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instead. The bed doubles up as a comfortable sofa, and the design is an eclectic mixture of fifties Americana (a glossy Smeg fridge dominates the meeting room) and none-more-contemporary chic, not least in the views of the City skyline that can be found in the top floor rooms, some of which boast in-room hot tubs and jacuzzis.

This is not the sort of place for people who want to be pampered with room service and walk-in wardrobes, but the relatively affordable – for this part of town – prices reflect the stripped-back luxe approach that is as likely to appeal to artists and creative types

as it is to businessmen and bankers.

Probably more so, as the ethos here, while not exactly hipster, is one of relaxed, sandals-in-the-cocktail-bar cool (do note the textile strips in the corridors, a stylish nod to the building’s heritage). Speaking of which, cocktails are excellent, and a winning warm up for dinner at the adjoining Marco Pierre White chophouse, which opens out onto a tiled terrace in the summer.

The food represents White doing what he does best: simple classic dishes, hearty portions and excellent ingredients. Crab on wafer-thin toast is light, delicious and just the thing on a summer’s evening, while the

lobster macaroni represents the most luxury end of comfort food. And that, in microcosm, encapsulates New Road Hotel: an ultra chic homefrom-home. If your home happens to be an absurdly chic former warehouse, that is.

103-107 New Road, Whitechapel, E1 1HJ newroadhotel.co.uk

Premier Inn Hub The Hub at Premier Inn is brilliantly situated right in the middle of east London’s energetic Brick Lane. The reception area is open-plan with a self-service check-in, while the restaurant is set at the back with

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friendly staff on-hand to help.

The rooms clearly take the hotel’s name – the ‘hubs’ – quite literally.

There are no fussy interiors here; instead you’ll find a streamlined digital experience at your fingertips, with one-touch room controls, highspec en-suite bathrooms, pull-out desks and plenty of under-bed storage. These are seriously compact and cleverly designed rooms.

If you are popping to Shoreditch for a quick stay and need somewhere comfortable to rest your head, this hotel hits the nail on the head. It’s the ideal location if you want to be in the heart of east London and a stone’s throw from the thriving gastro

and cultural scene that the area has to offer. Although it may not ooze luxury, the location really is one of the best in town – and it’s affordably priced too, with rooms starting from £69 per night.

86 Brick Lane, E1 6RL 0871 527 9588 premierinn.com

WELCOME MONTENEGRO Wild Beauty

Two stunning brand new hotels opening June & July 2018

IBEROSTAR PERAST

THE CHEDI LUÅ TICA BAY

Contact Abbotts Travel for exclusive opening offers and further details

0208 989 9445 abbottstravel.com | info@abbottstravel.com

122 NEWGATE STREET LONDON EC1A 7AA T: 020 7600 0026 W: scottcity.co.uk E: property@scottcity.london

FLORIN COURT, CHARTERHOUSE SQUARE EC1 For Sale £375,000

ANDREWES HOUSE, BARBICAN EC2 For Sale £865,000

The historic and extremely charming area of Charterhouse Square is this Art Deco building is this studio apartment which offers entrance hall, small bathroom, re-fitted kitchen and studio room. Large communal roof garden, a leisure to include a swimming pool, sauna and a small gym.

There is also a laundry room and a day porter.

Second floor of Andrewes House, Barbican is this one bedroom (type 20) flat offering original Barbican kitchen, bathroom and separate wc, L shape reception room retaining the original sliding door, access to south facing balcony, bedroom with balcony and views over the gardens and lakes to the rear.

JOHN TRUNDLE COURT, BARBICAN EC2 For Rent £480 per week

MILTON HOUSE, LITTLE BRITAIN EC1 For Rent £595 per week

A fantastic ONE BEDROOM Barbican Duplex Apartment situated on the 6th and 7th floors of John Trundle Court. This flat has been totally refurbished throughout to include a re fitted kitchen, new shower room, wood flooring throughout, new lighting and furnished.

Very close to St Paul’s is this well presented furnished TWO BEDROOM apartment on the raised ground floor of a highly sought-after building. Fully fitted kitchen, refitted-bathroom and re-fitted shower room. Spacious reception room it would make the perfect City home. Day concierge a superb communal roof terrace. Secure Underground Parking.

FESTIVAL: ESSENTIALS

Be prepared

Braced for the festival season? Toby Harris shares his top five essentials for ensuring that nothing gets in the way of the music To pee or not to pee

Thirsty work

We’re all familiar with the dilemma: queue for the toilet, or hold it in (accompanied by some ungainly dancing about) and stay with your friends? The answer? Neither. The smart festival-goer should be able to answer the call of nature without losing everyone they came with – potentially for the whole rest of the weekend while wandering, wailing friends’ names in absurd desperation. So here’s our first festival hack: take a giant inflatable with you (what else?). That way, you can stray from the pack and always be sure to spot your mates in the crowd.

Positive charge A portable phone charger is a must, especially when it comes to meeting up for the journey home. And do book your return cab in advance. No one has a sense of humour after three days of Portaloos, no showers and a diet of unindentified meat and potato products. You’ll want to get home.

Air freshener Among the crowds, the air can get dense and dirty, so take a bandana to cover your mouth – otherwise you never know what you might swallow. Grim, we know.

All that dancing – whether to the music, or your special need-theloo jive – can be thirsty work.

But you may as well forget the water fountains, the queues for which are often mind-bogglingly mad. The clever festival-goer never neglects to pack a Camelbak filled with water – emphatically not booze – to avoid dehydration. Trust us, waking up at 5am to weird drumming from the tent next door, shouting and the hangover from hell and you’ll thank us that it’s not neat vodka in there.

Cream of the crop If you’re not a fan of the water-filled backpack, grab a disguised water flask in the form of sun cream. Fewer people will pester you for a cheeky swig. Yup, you can thank us later (with a swig – we promise we won’t let on).

JUNE/JULY 2018

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LAST WORD: ROBINS PIE AND MASH

Eastender

Claudia and Joseph Holmes are fifth generation owners of Robins, who’ve made serving up east London grub look easy as pie since 1929 Words & Podcast: Toby Harris Easy as pie: Claudia and Joseph serve up the famous pie and mash and jellied eels synonymous with east London

G

rub doesn’t get more east London than jellied eels and pie and mash.

We caught up with Claudia and Joseph Holmes from Robins, a local institution and family business open since 1929. Now with five shops across east London and Essex, and as suppliers to the Hammers, few people know more about tatties and liquor than this venerable pair.

How did jellied eels and pie and mash become so closely associated with east London?

Pie and mash was originally the poor man’s food e th Listen to at – it was one of the first t Podcas dcast takeaways, along with fish o.uk/po .c e and chips. The liquor came if 1 e from the Dutch – originally pies were filled with eels, and liquor is a parsley sauce, so it accompanies it really nicely. When meat became cheaper than fish, the liquor sauce stayed.

Is Robins only London-based or do you supply eels nationwide?

Before we delved into pie and mash, my great grandfather – who was nicknamed Binkles – had eel yards in east London and he supplied Osborne brothers and places all over the UK, from Brighton to Clacton to South End. Then, at 27, our grandma got her first shop in Upton Park and it

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went from there. She’s been going for 50 or 60 years – we hope it carries on because we’re the only grandchildren out of eight who have pursued this as a career and we want to keep it going.

because we’re so passionate. Our personal life and work are combined, but we don’t know anything different – it’s normal. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t enjoy it.

Are jellied eels still popular today?

Yeah, definitely. As well as jellied eels, you can also have hot eels with mash and liquor, but jellied eels are hard to get hold of now, so people who know we sell them come here solely for the eels.

East London has changed a lot over the last 20 years. What impact has that had on your business?

East London has changed but I think a lot of it’s for the better. It’s been revamped. In terms of business, we still have our Londoners, our regulars.

We have moved out a lot through Essex but only because we’re following our clientele and now they bring their children and grandchildren, and that’s the next London generation.

Everything changes; everything is affected. We’re just moving with the times.

Where do your eels come from?

We use Dutch, Irish and also New Zealand eels – the latter because when it gets too cold their skin gets really thick, so you don’t get as much meat.

Did you grow up in east London?

We’ve lived in Wanstead all of our lives. My nan lived a road away; my uncle lives a few roads away – we’re very family-orientated, we’re just always together. We supplied West Ham for a lot of years at Upton Park. Since they moved to the Olympic stadium, we now supply their corporate boxes.

We’re proud of being east Londoners.

What’s it like working with family?

I’d be lying if I said there weren’t ups and downs but you could say the same of any job, family business or not. We have a laugh though. It’s a 24/7 job, but you have that when you own any business. Sometimes when we go out for dinner my Dad will say, “No pie talk”, because we need to learn to switch off, but that’s only

How would you define success?

There are two sides to success: there’s a personal side and a business side. On the business side, you don’t work for fun. You work to get on and to have a comfortable life.

But success is not all about money; it’s seeing customers come in every week; it’s the familiar faces that tell you you’re doing something right for them to keep returning. It’s the nice comments and people saying, “Well done, I’m proud of you.” And it’s appealing to people’s nostalgia – that’s big success to me. Personal success is happiness. I know it’s cringey, but for people I love to feel comfortable and happy is the best success of all. robinspieandmash.com

We work hard to provide an excellent service to all our customers delivering quality products at an affordable value TILES • HARDWOOD FLOORING • GLASS SPLASHBACK BATHROOMS • QUARTZ WORKTOP • ACCESSORIES

51-53 CHIGWELL ROAD l WOODFORD l E18 1NG 020 8989 7374 l primetiles@gmx.com l www.primetiles.co.uk

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