A DAY IN THE LIFE OF RUNWAY EAST

Hear from Josh Cleary, Executive Assistant to the CEO at Runway East, on his top local picks and how he spends an average day at The Hickman.

My day at The Hickman always starts with a short walk from Aldgate East station, often with a quick stop-off at Exmouth Coffee Company for an almond croissant and a hot chocolate. The morning will usually be a mixture of getting on with my own tasks, internal meetings and zoom calls. We've got a great suite of meeting rooms and phone booths, perfect for getting a bit more privacy and not disturbing the rest of the office. For lunch, I'll usually pop across the road and get something simple, unless we've got a team lunch or I'm hanging out with a friend, in which case I'll go to Emilia's for pasta or stroll along Brick Lane. Later in the week after work, I might go to a nearby pub to hang out with my colleagues, or if I'm seeing friends in the West End I'll walk to Whitechapel station - the Elizabeth Line has made it so easy to get across London fast, and I don't need to worry about leaving early to meet them on time.

Emilia’s Pasta is only a few minutes’ walk around the corner from The Hickman, the pasta is all made onsite that morning, and the sauces are flavoured to perfection. We always have time for a main and a dessert when popping out for our lunch hour as it’s so close.

Exmouth Coffee Company is my go-to when I need something a bit sweet to get me through the morning. The pastries are enormous, and as a non-coffee drinker, having a high-quality hot chocolate is essential for me! They also do some great lunch options, either to eat in or to go - the lasagne is particularly impressive. The fact that it's en route between the tube and The Hickman is fantastic and makes it easy to indulge.