Hackney Magazine Spring 2018

ISSUE 62018 | SPRING 2018 | hackneymagazine.com SPRING | hackneymagazine.com FREE

THE WORLD IN THEIR HANDS Q&A: DIANE ABBOTT ● DISCOVER LOCAL

FITNESS CLASSES ● THE LATEST EXHIBITIONS & CULTURAL HIGHLIGHTS ●

9 MARK DION: THEATRE OF THE NATURAL WORLD

from the

EDITOR WE ARE NOW HACKNEY MAGAZINE

O

ur publication has reached a new and exciting milestone since we founded N16 Life in December 2016. We are proud to announce that we have branched out locally under the new name Hackney Magazine and published our first 2018 edition.

Since March officially signals the start of spring, which is a season that inspires a positive and optimistic outlook, we have compiled a series of stories about local events, newly opening venues, and much more to kick-start what we hope will be an exciting and enjoyable time of year.

This year, we celebrate the 100th anniversary of female suffrage in Britain. When women gained the right to vote and be elected through the 1918 Representation of the People and Qualification of Women Acts, there was a huge impact and changed women’s places in society despite neglecting to give fully equal voting rights to men and women.

In this edition, we interviewed Hackney

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North and Stoke Newington MP Diane Abbott, a prominent female British politician who made history nationally by being the first black woman to be seated in the House of Commons in 1987.

Hackney is most likely one of the UK’s most creative and interesting locations, as shown by unique local businesses such as globe-makers Bellerby. Peter Bellerby’s extraordinary story of his desire to give his father a special 80th birthday present and how it became a company that makes globes for high-end names worldwide is an inspiring story. Given the borough’s history, it shouldn’t surprise you that a company sells hand-crafted globes for prices as high as £79k each from a small studio located and founded in Stoke Newington!

There won’t be a dull moment in Hackney this spring with an exciting array of upcoming musical performances, theatrical displays, exhibitions, cultural events and more, along with weekly launches of new restaurants and cafes.

In this edition, you can find suggestions

about recently opened venues and get the real scoop on where to go for a weekend brunch. This issue’s interior design pages were inspired by 2018’s trends and colours, so why not check them out for some fresh ideas for this season.

In Hackney, it’s possible to stay fit and social all week long. From yoga to pilates, jogging to boot camp, whatever your preference is, our guide for 7 days of fitness with top-notch fitness instructors is on page 30.

Don’t forget to follow us throughout the season at www.hackneymagazine.com and on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter for all the latest.

Spring has sprung, get out there and enjoy it!

Yasemin Bakan Editor

SPRING 2018 | hackneymagazine.com | ISSUE 6 | MARCH | APRIL | MAY Editor

CULTURE

Yasemin Bakan

9 What’s On

Your local guide to music, theatre, exhibition, festival, shows

Sub Editor

HUMANS OF HACKNEY

Umut Senogul

Michael Daventry

Graphic Design Photography Koray Arda Kurt

14 Meet local people

Contributors Victoria Gray, Mersa Auda, Edward Rowe, Amir Dotan, Onur Uz

FOOD & DRINK Foodie Tour

24 New eateries to try in Hackney 22 List of delicious brunch options around Hackney to delight you

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16 Stoke Newington-based studio is one of only two handmade globe-making companies in the world

HackneyMagazine www.hackneymagazine.com Hackney Magazine is distributed free every quarter to more than 25,000 homes and businesses throughout Hackney and the surrounding area.

LOCAL HISTORY 20 The story of Alexander Guttridge who took photos of Church Street in the mid-1930s

INTERVIEW 21 Q&A with MP for Hackney North & Stoke Newington Diane Abbott

EDUCATION 28 Digital families

27 FOOD & DRINK LA VENTANA REVIEW

P 35 HEALTH & WELLBEING 29 Nutritional therapist Joslin Morrison: Benefits of seasonal eating 30 Find some of the best fitness classes locally

INTERIOR DESIGN 35 Interior design trends 2018 37 Beautiful homewares and furniture from local businesses

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ON THE COVER Bellerby Globemakers Studio. Read on p16.

Photographer: Ana Santl

PROPERTY 33 News from the market

11 RUSSEL BRAND

RE:BIRTH NETFLIX SPECIAL

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.

Opinions expressed in articles are strictly those of the authors.

All rights reserved.

THE WORLD IN THEIR HANDS ● ●

●

Q&A: DIANE ABBOTT DISCOVER LOCAL

FITNESS CLASSES THE LATEST EXHIBITIO & CULTURAL HIGHLIGHNS TS

12 STOKE NEWINGTON LITERARY FESTIVAL

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HACKNEY MAGAZINE 5

NEWS

Unused since 1984, the art deco cinema on Stoke Newington Road is set to re-open as a theatre as part of Hackney Arts Centre which will also include Epic Dalston and the Efes Snooker Club.

Hackney Arts Centre set to launch in September

S

toke Newington’s art deco cinema will return to its former glory by re-opening this September as “Hackney Arts Centre” following renovations, after being abandoned for over 30 years.

Founder and director of Village Underground Shoreditch, Auro Foxcroft, is transforming the historical art deco cinema into one of Hackney’s artistic centres with a project budgeted at £3 million. Social investors The Arts Impact Fund, Big Issue Invest and Triodos Bank have put £1.9 million into the project.

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The art deco cinema opened as “The Savoy” in 1936 before becoming the “ABC” in 1961, but was later closed in 1977. The cinema also showed Bollywood films as the “Konak” between 1977-1982, but changed its name to the “Ace” in 1982. The venue, which can hold around 2,500 people at full capacity was completely closed in 1984, showing the Al Pacino crime classic Scarface as its final screening.

When Auro Foxcroft entered the building for the first time, he found it in a derelict condition full of cobwebs, rubbish and pigeon droppings. Before the start of the

renovations, dozens of containers’ worth of junk was cleared from the building.

As part of the plan the new arts centre will host world-class cultural and musical event such as theatre, dance, music, film, talks and debates.

The space will also host a charity called Community Music which will lead educational programmes for 400 socially excluded young people.

NEWS

Hackney Shorts calling budding filmmakers

Jaime Pitarch, Work in Progress, 2017. Courtesy of the Artist and The Ryder

T

he Hackney Shorts film festival is now accepting entries for its annual competition. Short films – maximum ten minutes long – can be submitted in any of three categories: documentary, drama and animation, with a £1,000 cash prize, plus an opportunity for the winners to be mentored by a professional. Though it accepts entries internationally, the festival aims to showcase filmmakers who train their lenses on local stories played out against a background of rapid change that communities like Hackney are experiencing.

Submissions can be shot on any medium, including phones, and must be previously unreleased.

The deadline is April 30; see hackneyshorts.com for details.

Thermal time

T

hermal Time presents a series of works that explore the notion of time from the very presence of the human body. Artists Charbel-joseph H. Boutros, Nicolas Bacal, Marcus Coates, William Mackrell and Jaime Pitarch are brought together in this exhibition to dig into the concept of time through sculpture, video, installation and performance.

Throughout the show, there is a sense of trying to grasp life, repeatedly referring to the movement of the body as a register of the passing of

time. The works unavoidably reflect on the hard intent of grasping time through their physical fragility, ephemeral condition or embodied struggle. Until 28 April 2018 The RYDER 19a Herald St, E2 London theryderprojects.com

Nicolás Bacal, Untitled, 2012.

Clock, thread, balloon and helium. Courtesy Galeria Vermelho, Sao Paulo

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THE WORLD IN THEIR HANDS

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FITNESS CLASSES THE LATEST EXHIBITIONS & CULTURAL HIGHLIGHTS

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Q&A: DIANE ABBOTT DISCOVER LOCAL

FITNESS CLASSES THE LATEST EXHIBITIONS & CULTURAL HIGHLIGHTS

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SPRING 2018

HACKNEY MAGAZINE 7

THE BIRDCAGE BAR + KI TCH EN

58 Stamford Hill, London N16 6XS thebirdcageN16.co.uk • @thebirdcageN16 Tel: 020 8806 9077

CULTURE THEATRE / MUSIC / FILM

MARK DION: THEATRE OF THE NATURAL WORLD Until 13 May

American artist, explorer, collector, activist and conjuror of theatrical environments Mark Dion (b.1961) has travelled through rainforests and rubbish dumps to reveal the wonder and fragility of life on earth.

Dion uses specimens – natural and manmade – to make uncanny representations of these environments. His drawings, sculptures and installations draw on the techniques of scientific enquiry

and museum display, and on the telling of natural histories. The exhihibition embark on a journey through a sequence of installations created between 2000 and the present. It begins with The Library for the Birds of London (2018), a new commission continuing a series of aviaries Dion has created since 1993.

Tickets from £12.50 www.whitechapelgallery.org

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WHAT’S ON MARCH – APRIL – MAY

Russel Brand returns to Hackney Empire on 18-19 April.

Exhibitons

THE DUPPY CONQUEROR & OTHER WORKS

KIDS USE LAPTOPS

UNTIL 14 APRIL

UNTIL 24 MARCH

Neil Haas’ exhibition Kids Use Laptops explores the intimacy of an adolescent bedroom through an installation comprised of drawing, painting, sculpture and appliqué. Haas rekindles the tenderness of the bedroom, renegotiating his own youth, providing the opportunity to rewrite and relive it. union-gallery.com NO, NO, NO, NO UNTIL 24 MARCH

No, No, No, No is a group exhibition of sculpture, video, drawing and performance with Wojciech Bąkowski, Beth Collar, Nancy Halt, Atiéna Lansade and Dana Munro.

The exhibition examines appropriation, consumption, monotony and exhaustion through different modes of labour, representation and production. cellprojects.org

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Japanese Art Show Camelia by Tetsuji Shirakawa.

The Duppy Conqueror & Other Works, a solo exhibition by visual artist Faisal Abdu’Allah (b. 1969, London).

Through his interdisciplinary practice encompassing photography, print-making, video, sculpture, drawings and installation, Abdu’Allah asks probing questions in relation to history, myth, faith, masculinity, memory and violence, as well as race, representation and iconography. autograph-abp.co.uk OUT AND ABOUT

illustrations and patterns that are significant to their lives.

Hackney Museum hackney.gov.uk/museum MAKING HER MARK: 100 YEARS OF WOMEN’S ACTIVISM UNTIL 19 MAY

The story of women’s activism in Hackney neither begins nor ends with the suffragettes.

Discover the inspiring stories of women who made a difference in the borough and beyond.

This exhibition was created by the East End Women’s Museum in collaboration with Hackney Museum hackney.gov.uk/museum

UNTIL 5 MAY

JAPANESE ART SHOW

‘Out and About’ is a collaborative wallpaper design project produced by artist Angela Groundwater and Out and About, an LGBTQI+ group for people aged 50 and over.

The custom made wallpaper combines stories from Out and About group members with

15-20 MAY

SPRING 2018

Ella Hickson returns to the Almeida with the world premiere of The Writer.

Pop - Modern Japanese Art is a colourful and vibrant group show introducing the talent of more than 40 Japanese artists.

This exhibition will include a mixture of pop and modern works and explore the artistic scene in Japan as a cultural

superpower crossing a number of mediums and themes from fine art to illustration and Pop Art to Modernism and beyond.

More than 80 works will be exhibited! Free refreshments will be provided. espaciogallery.com APPEARANCE AND DISAPPEARANCE 13 APRIL – 10 JUNE

Paul Maheke’s first solo exhibition at Chisenhale Gallery explores appearance and disappearance.

Working with sculpture, moving image, sound and performance, the exhibition alters and adapts throughout its duration.

In his work, Mbu (2017) first presented at Tate Modern London, Maheke combines multi-layered video projection with dance and live percussion to explore autobiographical narratives and embodied histories. chisenhale.org.uk

Plays & Shows THREE SISTERS BY RASHDASH AFTER CHEKHOV 22 MAY — 09 JUNE

A period drama with surprises.

A re-imagination of the Anton Chekhov classic Three Sisters

by RashDash performers, musicians and theatre makers Abbi Greenland, Becky Wilkie and Helen Goalen.

As they re-imagine this classic they ask - what if RashDash were the three sisters, Olga, Masha and Irena?

Time: 20:00 Tickets £15.00-£17.00 theyardtheatre.co.uk FEMALE PARTS: SHORTS UNTIL 31 MARCH

Female Parts: The Shorts; three short monologues that explore what it is to be a wife, mother and immigrant.

These three confessional plays will have you laughingout-loud, in tears and soul searching at the same time. It is an intimate unique experience as the play delve into the challenges and preconceptions that women face. £18.00 Conc £15.00 hoxtonhall.co.uk JULIUS CAESAR UNTIL 1ST APRIL

Julius Caesar returns to Rome after one of many conquests, and the crowds adore him.

Although he refuses to be crowned as Emperor, jealous Cassius is thrown into a dark suspicion about Caesar’s real intentions.

Set against the backdrop of a shattered earth where greed, lust and corruption rule, comes William Vercelli’s bold and daring new version of Shakespeare’s play.

Time: 19:30 Price: £12 Standard, £10 Concession thecourtyard.org.uk RUSSEL BRAND: RE:BIRTH NETFLIX SPECIAL 18 - 19 APRIL

Russell Brand is back with his Re:Birth tour stand-up show.

The show is being filmed on two nights for a Netflix special at

Three Sisters the Hackney Empire. As he has had a daughter since he was last on stage, you can expect stories on becoming a parent.

“How do we make sense of the madness of our lives once we become parents? What am I going to tell my daughter about conformity and responsibility?

What happens if she grows up to be like me? Or, worse, to date someone like me?”

Time: 8pm Tickets £28 hackneyempire.co.uk THE WRITER 14 APR - 26 MAY

“I want awe. I feel like I need blood. All the time. And anything less than that makes me feel desperate. It makes me feel like I want to die.”

She wants to change the shape of the world. But a new way of thinking needs a new story.

How can she make herself heard? Ella Hickson returns to the Almeida following the

IRREVERSIBLE ENTANGLEMENTS

success of Oil in 2016 with the world premiere of The Writer, directed by Blanche McIntyre.

Tickets £10 - £39.50 almeida.co.uk

5 APRIL

Music / Festival WORLD RECORDS 30 MARCH

Shacklewell Arms is known for hosting up and coming bands in a small space.

A new monthly night of eclectic selections from beyond the Western world.

Musicians and performers include William Onyeabor, Fela Kuti, Ebo Taylor, The Lijadu Sisters, Joni Haastrup, Dur Dur Band, Imarhan, Charanjit Singh, Songhoy Blues, Ata Kak, Francis Bebey, The Paradise Bangkok Molam International Band, Amadou & Mariam, Omar Souleyman, Mustafa Özkent and more! 11:00 PM Free Entry shacklewellarms.com

HACKNEYMAGAZINE.COM

Irreversible Entanglements are a liberation-oriented free jazz collective formed in early 2015 by saxophonist Keir Neuringer, poet Camae Ayewa (a.k.a. Moor Mother) and bassist Luke Stewart, who came together to perform at a Musicians Against Police Brutality event organised after the slaying of Akai Gurley by the NYPD. Months later the group added trumpeter Aquiles Navarro and drummer Tcheser Holmes for a single day of recording at Seizures Palace in Brooklyn, and the full quintet’s first time playing together was captured for their startling self titled debut.

7.30PM £17 - £15 Advance £13 Members cafeoto.co.uk

SPRING 2018

HACKNEY MAGAZINE 11

Kids

FENNE LILLY 10 APRIL

AFTER SCHOOL MANGA CLASS

Not many young artists can count up a massive 20 million + Spotify streams off the back of the first song they’ve ever written. She isn’t just one to watch for 2018, she’s one you won’t be able to keep your eyes off for a second.

7:00 PM £11 ADV mothclub.co.uk DRAPER & MAN WITHOUT COUNTRY

Froggy Manga is a manga illustration drawing class based in Hackney. Classes are designed to develop general hand drawing skills for all levels of learner. The tutor will provide drawing samples, materials and art advice.

Age: All ages over 12 years old or 3-11 years with a guardian Time: Every Thursdays 15.00 – 17.00 56 Stoke Newington High Street London N16 7PB £10 per session froggymanga.com

Prosecco Springs

13 APRIL

Best known by his remixes for many mainstream artists and his unique melodic electronic style, Draper has worked with Bring Me The Horizon, Ellie Goulding and Tall Ships to name a few. Joining the night is Man Without Country. After a two year hiatus, he has come back strong with double A-Side Lion Mind/Jaws of Life.

19:00 | Standing £13.20 oslohackney.com

LONDON FIELDS JUNIOR PARKRUN

Saturdays It is a 2k run for juniors only (4-14 year olds). It is held every Sunday at 9:00am. The event takes place at London Fields West Side, London, E8 3EU. Participation is free but please register before your first run, you only need to register once.

The aim is to have fun. You can join in whatever your pace! parkrun.org.uk/londonfieldsjuniors/

PROSECCO SPRINGS 2018 26-29 APRIL

Prosecco Springs, London’s foremost festival solely dedicated to Prosecco, is returning to East London’s Oval Space. A premium four day celebration of North East Italy’s finest export, Prosecco Springs will be expanding outside into the newly built outdoor park between Oval Space and The Pickle Factory.

Experience a slice of Veneto in the heart of East London, with tastings, Italian food, live music and more.

Time: 19:00 - 00:00 Early Bird £30.00 ovalspace.co.uk THE SEEN

Kika’s Birthday

KIKA’S BIRTHDAY 25 APRIL – 20 MAY

Irreversible Entanglements

SISTER BROTHER TRIO ELF

13TH APRIL | 18TH MAY

29 APRIL

Mark Wastell has been organising larger formations of musicians, collectively known as The Seen since 2001. Using predominantly improvised material with occasional instructions or themes distributed to individual musicians just prior to performance. No formation has ever been repeated, The Seen never stays static.

8pm | £5 hundredyearsgallery.co.uk

Trio Elf is one of the most internationally acclaimed German jazz groups, having been honoured with the Bremen Jazz Award 2016.

They have truly re-invented the classic jazz piano trio in recent years by using grooves and sounds of contemporary club styles as a kickoff for improvisation.

8PM | £15 ADV Until 1st April £18 Thereafter vortexjazz.co.uk

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A delightful interactive story, with puppetry, by award winning storyteller Danyah Miller. Kika’s Birthday is aimed at ages 3 – 8. £13.50 Full-price Adults £11.50 Children (age 1 – 15) Friday Fives: all tickets £5 at 5pm on Fridays littleangeltheatre.com

SPRING 2018

STOKE NEWINGTON LITERARY FESTIVAL 1-3 JUNE

The Stoke Newington Literary festival is returning this summer from June 3 to 5. Now in its ninth year, the festival was inspired

by Stoke Newington’s literary heritage. The organisation is not-for-profit, and the festival works to support a number of adult and child literacy projects in Hackney.

For this year’s programme, stokenewingtonliterary festival.com

UNTIL 20 MAY

Many studies have been made about parental influences in our lives but what influence do our siblings have on our identity?

We often describe ourselves in relation to our sister or brother and compare similarities and differences.

This set of portraits by Madeleine Waller aims to explore sibling relationships and how they affect our sense of identity. vam.ac.uk

VIVA TAPAS & COCKTAIL Est: 2012

Eating

Drinking

Dancing Latin American Cocktail & Tapas Bar 2 Stoke Newington Road London N16 7XN 020 7241 1104 www.vivadalston.co.uk

HUMANS OF HACKNEY We record the stories of strangers across Hackney. Here are the latest Humans of Hackney.

ELIZABETH NOTT MUSICIAN

I

was born in Caracas, Venezuela.

My dad was English, but went on to live and work as industrial designer in Venezuela in the 60s. My mum was already working as a primary school teacher and living there with her Italian family who emigrated from Naples in 1948.

They met there and got married. I left the country in October 1999, when I was 22.

My father had already died when I was 19 and my sister and my younger brother had already left the country as well. I always wanted to travel and explore new ventures. My mum still works and lives in Venezuela, despite the harsh conditions in the country.

Last time I went to Venezuela was 2012.

I have been scared of going back there again, to be honest. And the authorities don’t make easy for you either. To get a new passport it’s a nightmare-it can take up to 1 or 2 years to get it and sometimes, as I read in an article and social media, they have taken passports off Venezuelans who are coming with their European passport and do not let them out again of the country.

I worked as waitress, nanny, bartender

AKIKO HIRAI CERAMIC ARTIST

I

was born in a town called Shizuoka in Japan. Famous for green tea, tangerine and Yamaha that produces motorcycles and musical instruments.

I started pottery at one of the FE colleges as a hobby when I came to England (I came to see my sister as she was studying photography in London) During my first visit in England, I met a few potters and one of the potters I met suggested I go to university to continue to study pottery more seriously.

That is how I started. After the graduation from university, my friend and l were looking for a place where you can access a gas kiln.

As the colours of my pots can only be created by the fuel operated kilns, I have to be in a place where I can use gas kiln.

There are not many places in London, but luckily, the landlord of the Chocolate

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“My father also played a Syrian doumbek (darbuka) with some friends at home” and cleaner at different points during my first 3 years in the UK. At the same time I was studying English and, later on I took lessons in music composition and percussion at Morley College. I did my BA in Ethnomusicology at SOAS.

Since then, I have been organising live music events, percussion workshops and playing with many bands and artists. I have also worked in primary schools as a music teacher and done some work for theatre and storytelling.

I always loved Middle Eastern music, from the times my father would play his records at home to when we visited our Lebanese friends in Venezuela. Also the Gurdjieff/De Hartman music was very influential as I was growing up, listening and playing that music on the piano. My father also played a Syrian doumbek (darbuka) with some friends at home as they tried to play Gurdjieff music with Middle Eastern instruments.

I play Balkan/Gypsy, Turkish and Middle Eastern percussion with various bands and artists and at various projects. I have done percussion workshops since 2009, first at SOAS, then at various community centres and now I mainly teach from home.

My courses run for 7 weeks normally, one day a week for 1 hour and a half. I teach for beginners and intermediate students. From time to time I also organise workshops on a weekend, like the one I just did, which was mainly to introduce people to Middle Eastern ensemble music. elizabethnott.co.uk

LOCAL PEOPLE

SIMON COLE TOUR GUIDE

F

rom Sunderland, I came to London after university in Manchester. After living and working in places like San Francisco, Australia and Vanuatu I studied postgrad journalism here. I was set to move to East Berlin – and then I found Hackney! As an international tour guide, I’d noticed the significant radical history and exciting contemporary subcultures here. I started sharing it officially in 2012 as Hackney Tours. I cut my carbon footprint right back and found ever more wonder here at home.

I’ll give you a different angle, sometimes with performance. It’s about questioning everything: hidden histories, secret spots and unlikely connections; there’s so much to this incredible borough. Connecting you with it in a new way, so you see your everyday surroundings differently, that’s the buzz. As a personal trainer, with Hackney Council we promote community and mental health with physical health through group walks.

Gentrification is complex and nuanced.

Drill down and it’s capitalism driving ‘constant growth’. Leaders sometimes use the omelette analogy: you can’t make one without breaking a few eggs. But if you’re one of those eggs, that can mean being totally uprooted from your existing life.

Precarity has implications for mental

“The markets are great spots to connect with the wide variety of people who make Hackney what it is today.” health and the community that takes so long to build up. Who is London actually for? Corporations and property investors?

The people who come on a wander are Hackney history-lovers but also explorers discovering new London ‘gold’: the intellectually curious; young Hackney kids learning history; universities studying urban issues. People bring meanings and memories too, so it evolves.

Apart from constant learning – joining the dots from the 1700s ‘radical’ philosophers of Newington Green to today’s Hackney Wick artists - the big thrill is connecting with people. I speak to

“My inspiration come from my daily life in relation to Japanese concept of wabi-sabi” Factory Keith Ashley used to be a potter and had a gas kiln there.

He now has become a painter, but he has a great understanding of ceramics and created a nice environment for ceramic artists.

I have been happily working there since 2003.

There are many ceramists, jewellery designers, painters, typographers and graphic designers in the Chocolate Factory. It is a good mixture of artists: small, but a nice artists’ community.

Hackney was not the safest place in London so when I moved there, things were affordable and many creative people were and are living in the area. So I loved and still love Hackney although it has

changed quite a lot over the past years.

I love the ceramic materials, which can replicate the beauty of Mother Nature. I think this aesthetic is very Japanese.

I try not to control the material but let material change its shapes and colors by the environment.

I also respect the forms created by

all sorts of interesting and inspiring locals every day.

Abney Park cemetery is a favourite of mine: a nature reserve with a rich repository of endless stories. The markets are great spots to connect with the wide variety of people who make Hackney what it is today. Stoke Newington Farmers Market is a pioneering sustainability project challenging supermarket dominance, food waste and fossil fuel profligacy, while just down the road, hairdresser Vidal Sassoon fought the fascists at Ridley Road Market with the 43 Group. hackneytours.com

spontaneity, as it reflect my unconscious mind more.

Therefore the style of my work is very organic and natural. But not in a way you see nature in countryside as I have never lived in countryside in my life.

Some people describe it as honest work.

My inspiration comes from my daily life in relation to Japanese concept of wabi-sabi. In traditional Japanese aesthetics, wabi-sabi is a world view centered on the acceptance of transience and imperfection, with the beauty of impermanence considered a holistic perfection of nature.

I used to teach pottery untill 2015 but my work gets so busy and I cannot find time for regular teaching. So I occasionally teach short courses when I am asked.

I make sculptural pieces as well as domestic ware. Sculptural ones are relatively expensive, but one of the gallery sold one of those to the postman - a very unusual customer! akikohiraiceramics.com

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FEATURE

Peter Bellerby

THE WORLD IN THEIR HANDS Stoke Newington-based studio Bellerby is one of only two handmade globe-making companies in the world.

Peter Bellerby founded the company in 2008 after an unsatisfying search for a globe for his father’s 80th birthday

By Yasemin Bakan

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I

f I had set out to make a business of globe-making from day one it would have most likely never happened. If I had meant to start a business I would have costed it up and made a business plan and then probably torn it all up and moved on to something else! It truly started as a hobby and I thought I would just make two at most, one for my dad and one for myself, it just got out of hand and I think I was stubborn enough to keep pushing myself.

The inspiration came after a lifetime of buying my father standard gifts like books and socks and ties. When I went to buy a globe and all I found was poor quality imitations, plastic school type globes or fragile and insanely expensive antiques.

Everything I saw that was close to modern was so badly made with cheap stands and incorrect cartography, it really inspired

me to work to create globes that could be up to date, personalised to suit any taste and preference, aesthetically beautiful as well as functional. Our globes are made to be touched and spun and each one is essentially one of a kind which i think is really fun.

I had sold my house and car before my father got that globe, a few years after his 80th birthday.

Not enough sales in the first years, I had not made one yet in a year that I would be willing to sell.

We were still a team of 4 up until about 4 years ago, writing orders on a chalk board. Now we are a team of 20 and have to be far more organised!

FEATURE

The 127cm Churchill Globe was inspired by a pair of globes that US Army Chief of Staff George Marshall gave Winston Churchill and Franklin D. Roosevelt as Christmas gifts in 1942. The originals currently reside at Churchill’s home in Chartwell, Kent and in the Roosevelt Presidential Library in New York respectively.

We sell a few hundred now a year, a combination of all sizes with different makers trained to make different sizes on my team now.

The larger ones we can do a lot less of, the 23cm diameter ones of course making up the bulk of the numbers as they have a quicker turnaround time comparatively.

It takes between a few weeks and a few months to make a globe. That’s not every minute of every day of course and there’s drying and resting time between phases.

Each globe passes through at least 5 sets of hands, so we work on multiple globes at once.

Our largest globe the 127cm Churchill takes at least 6 months to make from the time we start cartography work to the time we can deliver.

The team uses my technique which was developed through that first year of trial and error and improvements over the years that followed. It’s the traditional way of globe-making but as there are no books or how-to guides around for the great globe-makers of the past, we can’t really compare.

Firstly, you need to create a perfect sphere, using two half-moulds. My first globes were made using plaster of Paris but for the larger globes we now use modern composites and the smaller ones are made from resin. Next, we edit our map, since each globe is made to order we are updating our cartography regularly and

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FEATURE

personalise depending on our customers’ preferences. Once the map is ready, it is printed and cut up by hand into precise shapes called gores.

The gores are painted by hand using watercolours, which give a unique result for each globe. When the gores are dry, they are ready to be attached to the globe, which is called ‘goring the globe’.

That stage is very precise work and very difficult because you’re wetting the paper and stretching it, wet paper as you can imagine is very fragile. The paper wants to rip, ripple, bubble or tear naturally. If you work with one piece too long it will naturally degrade.

After the gores are applied many more layers of watercolour and details are added and the globe is sealed with either a gloss or matte finish. The globe is then placed into its base. We make a variety of traditional and modern bases of our own design. The base must be made and hand finished and placed together with the engraving. Once we are happy with the final outcome and have thoroughly checked the globe over, it is packaged carefully in either a bespoke “flight case” or a specially-made crate and shipped off to its new home.

“We would never erase any country off the map but it has been requested sadly.”

The smallest globe starts at £1,199 and the largest starts at £79,000.

We get about 100 CVs every time we advertise, however not everyone who applies would follow through with the role if it was offered. I tend to use some scare tactics to see how passionate applicants

It takes 6 months to train to make the smallest sized globe, and even after that

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it’s a slow process with a lot of globes being recycled while ones of the right quality are finally being made. For every size there is then further training. We have a team of at least 20 including cartographers, an illustrator, an engraver, woodworkers, painters, and makers.

really are - make sure they look past the romance of how the role appears from afar.

It is literally trying to make a globe every day for at least 6 months before they are offered a more senior position making globes at the quality we expect. They have to essentially throw their work away at the end of the day for 6 months; it takes a very passionate, stubborn and patient person.

We have people from all over the world working for us but they need to be in London at the time of applying. There is no way to know a person will be good at the job or that they will enjoy the job until they try it - there is no one in the world trained to do this who applies - so they need to have a trial. We wouldn’t want someone dropping everything and moving across

FEATURE oceans to then realise a few days in that their hands and head are not made for the role.

It is a huge commitment on our side and on the side of any apprentice coming in, so we want anyone we train to stay with us long-term, so again you don’t want someone to pick up everything and move for you. They should also love living and being in London so they have a nice work-life balance.

An apprentice should have an artistic eye, an eye for detail, nimble fingers and patience. Our artists come from art school and design school backgrounds but everyone still has to go through a lengthy training process so someone self-taught who has always been a keen maker in their free time is just as likely to excel in the role if they are passionate about it.

We work with such a wide range of people, each one unique in their own way. All ages, from all over the world, from all different walks of life. We’ve been lucky to meet some really fascinating people and being the small company that we are, we know all of our customers by name and get to learn about them in the process of helping them design their unique globes.

And of course, we do not kiss and tell.

We would never erase any country off the map but it has been requested sadly.

All of our globes from our studio are made bespoke to order so 99% of them

are personalised to include features like hand-drawn illustrations, bespoke colours and little bits of someone’s family history on the maps. We work one on one with each customer to discuss options and help them design their globe exactly as they’d like it.

Yes, We were asked to change boundaries. We ship worldwide and the world is a complicated place full of disputes. We won’t change boundaries but we do mark disputed borders.

I lived in Stoke Newington for many years and at the time of starting the studio. The first globes were made in my sitting room in a house just off Church Street. When I was first looking for a studio space the area was not quite as popular as it is now, there were many empty spaces and rents were more than fair. If I was starting the business now I think I would have to be much further out of town!

I worked at ITV for years, a job which led to me travelling around the world a few times but not being able to really spend a good amount of time anywhere, then I helped a friend open a music venue / bowling alley / bar / restaurant in town.

The venue turned out to be very cool which was great because it was totally unplanned.

I think most importantly I have had a lifetime of being hands-on and wanting to both find out how things come apart as well as always having a go at fixing things myself before calling a “professional” in. With enough patience and thought many things are achievable. I never was formally schooled in the arts and many of the greatest makers I know have simply been the type of people who are creative in their free time from a young age.

Having said that my grandmother taught art and my mother paints every week.

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LOCAL HISTORY 1930s STOKE NEWINGTON

BY THE LOCAL SHOPKEEPER Stoke Newington’s changing streetscape in the 1930s as captured

by Alexander Guttridge

Alexander Guttridge

By Amir Dotan Alexander Guttridge (1877-1977) was born on Barn Street in Stoke Newington. Working with his brother Fred and sister Eva, he ran two shops locally on Church Street, a stationary/post office at no.170 and a tobacco shop at no.150. A keen photographer, Alexander captured images of Stoke Newington’s changing streetscape in the 1930s.

He photographed both small houses in a ‘Slum Clearance Area’ that were replaced with modern blocks of flats, and grand old houses that made way for a new Town Hall. ‘The Guttridge Collection’ serves as an important documentation of the changes Stoke Newington and London as a whole experienced in the 1930s.

Barn Street This old street off Stoke Newington Church Street once consisted of very small old houses that were inhabited by the poor in an otherwise well-to-do Victorian suburb.

Alexander spent his childhood there and very likely decided to document the street before the houses were demolished to make way for new modern flats (Denman House) in the mid-1930s. The street today, which was truncated when Denman House was built, consists of new houses and St Mary School.

Church Street and the R101 airship Alexander’s brother, Frederick, standing proudly outside the family shop at no.170. This photo captures the R101 airship (behind the church spire). It was completed in 1929 and at 223m long, it was the world’s largest flying craft at the time. It crashed in France on Oct 5th 1930 killing 48 of the 54 passengers and crew.

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View from St Mary’s An early view of Stoke Newington from the early 1930s which shows Church Row on the left and the original Rose and Crown pub which was located opposite the current spot. The pub was demolished and rebuilt in 1933 when Church Street/Albion Road was widened.

Guttridge Shop One of the family shops was at no. 170, where the Church Street Post Office stands today. At some point the family moved from Barn Street, where Alexander was born in 1877, and lived above the shop.

Church Row Church Row was the name of 9 grand houses that were built on Church St in 1695-1700 on the site of the Tudor Manor House. For centuries, the row was home to Stoke Newington’s most affluent residents but by the mid1930s Church Row was demolished, as the fairly wealthy residents that once lived there moved away, and plans for a new Town Hall in the centre of the borough were put in place in 1934. Church Row couldn’t have been more different than nearby Barn St, yet both were completely transformed for different reasons during that period.

INTERVIEW

I

n 1987 Diane Abbott was the first black woman to be elected to British parliament. She is MP for Hackney North and Stoke Newington & Shadow Home Secretary.

Who is your role model, and why?

My role-model is my maternal grandmother now deceased. Very loving, very dignified, very respected and lived all her life in the Jamaican countryside. Which she was completely at one with.

What has motivated you to represent Hackney in parliament for such a long time?

My motivation for being an MP is to leave the world a better place and to be a voice for the voiceless.

Has being a politician ever affected your private life?

It is very difficult to be an MP and have a functioning private life. For one thing, private time gets squeezed out of your schedule.

What are you most proud of doing as MP for Hackney?

Working with Ken Livingstone, the Labour Mayor, and the Labour government I successfully lobbied for the new Overground line and a series of new schools. They included Mossbourne, the City Academy and millions were spent on rebuilding Clapton Girls School amongst many others.

Could you give me a marketing slogan to promote Hackney abroad?

Q&A: DIANE ABBOTT “I am living near a beach in Jamaica busy reading, painting and learning to play the piano” Interview: Yasemin Bakan

Hackney rallied to me demonstrating their love and loyalty in that big majority.

Politicians could still influence millions by using racist rhetoric in 2018. Why do you think racism still works in politics?

Racism works because fear works. And racism is all about fear.

How did Jo Cox’s death impact the way you think?

Through all the years of racist abuse and threats I had always shrugged it all off and said to myself “it will never happen”. The death of Jo Cox brought me up short and I had to think “maybe it will.”

Hackney, culturally pre-eminent, the world in one London borough.

What have been the worst and the best moments in your private and political life?

In the last election Hackney voted you in with your largest ever majority. How do you feel about the result?

The worst moments in my political life were the months leading up to the 2017 election, when half of all abuse sent to women MPs was actually sent to me. My best moment was Labour winning the 1997 election after eighteen years of Tory rule. The worst moment of my personal life was my mother

I was very humbled by the size of my majority. I was targeted nationally by the Tories and subject to a horrific racist onslaught online. But the people of

dying of cancer in 1990. The best moment of my personal life was my son being born in 1991.

Imagine yourself in another life where you aren’t a politician. Where are you and what are you doing?

I am living near a beach in Jamaica busy reading, painting and learning to play the piano.

When have you been most satisfied in your life?

I was very satisfied when Jeremy Corbyn won his second leadership election.

Could you tell me about something you have learned in the past year?

I have learned the paramount importance of good health.

What things do you not like to do?

I don’t like ironing.

What would be your advice to young female political candidates?

Stay close to your friends.

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FOOD & DRINK

The Vincent

BRUNCHING OUT From a shakshouka at Good Egg to a hangover cure at Arepa, here is a list of delicious brunch options around Hackney to intrigue and delight you

By Mersa Auda SANS PERE

An exciting addition to the Broadway Market scene, Sans Pere is a little gem both in terms of decor and gastronomical offering. Impeccably cool and elegant down to the details, this smaller second branch is as pleasing to the eye and satisfying to the palate as its Shoreditch sister.

A strong focus on freshly-baked pastries means that the sweet options are very popular but the truffle baked eggs, and their signature tartines, are exceptional and a must-try. With great coffee by day and exciting cocktail and dessert pairings at night, Sans Pere is a spot you will keep coming back to.

15 Broadway Market, London E8 4PH sanspere.com

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THE GOOD EGG

A Stokey favourite serving remarkable variations of Middle-Eastern street food.

Mainly inspired by Jewish cuisine but adopting an American diner set-up, the menu skilfully combines tradition and modernity. The Jerusalem breakfast plate is a real treat, but popular choices include the Iraqi sabih sandwich (eggs, pickles and aubergine), Oded’s babka slice, Shakshouka, many special breads and much more. The Good Egg’s fusion of styles is a celebration of London’s diversity harmoniously blending together.

93 Stoke Newington Church St, Stoke Newington, London N16 0AS thegoodegg.co

FOOD & DRINK WELL STREET KITCHEN

This little cafe just off Well Street Market is a friendly and welcoming hub with a broad range of customers. Everyone from families to workers can enjoy a tasty brunch here: the salmon teriyaki on sourdough is a top choice, as is the avocado and goat’s curd combo. There is an early bird deal on weekdays for anyone who likes a bargain breakfast without having to forgo quality. Irresistibly cute with a warm atmosphere, at Wells Street Kitchen you will find high standards without a hint of pretentiousness.

203 Well St, London E9 6QU wellstreetkitchen.com

AREPA

Located right by the canal and affording a lovely view, Arepa is colourful, tasteful, and full of culinary surprises. Inspired by traditional Venezuelan cuisine, their dishes have a personal modern touch that makes them all the more intriguing.

The breakfast criollo (perico eggs, beef, beans and plantains) will not leave you wanting, and the cachapas tower (corn pancakes with grilled ham and cheese) is truly wonderful. The hearty food and warm welcome make this a homely, special brunching experience.

58A De Beauvoir Cres, London N1 5SB arepaandco.com

LARDO

Lardo’s Italian-inspired menu reflects their great passion for one of the most popular cuisines in the world, as well as their desire to strive for innovation. Their Green Eggs with ham, pesto and avocado are just one example of the originality of their concoctions. Their playful approach to combining flavours extends to the starters, sides and desserts too, meaning there is a lot to stimulate the palate here.

197-201 Richmond Rd, London E8 3NJ lardo.co.uk

I WILL KILL AGAIN

Roastery by weekday, cafe from Thursday to Sunday, this little space is tucked away in a Homerton alleyway, but it has a strong presence and attracts quite a crowd.

The name already hints at the dark theme that inspires its decor and merchandise, and one look around the room confirms that this is an undeniably cool spot. The brunch is simply excellent.

Varied and vegan-friendly, any choice on the regularly updated menu, coupled with their own Dark Arts coffee, is guaranteed to be a hit.

27a Ponsford Street, E9 6JU darkartscoffee.co.uk

Arepa

THE VINCENT

An enticingly extensive brunch menu means that you are really spoilt for choice at The Vincent. A spacious, light-filled venue with huge plants all around, this cafe is equally suitable for a celebratory brunch, a meeting, a studying session or as a hangover refuge. The 12hour pork hash is especially appetising, but when you can choose from baked eggs, waffles, sourdoughs and even burgers, and enjoy bottomless filter coffee, prosecco or mimosa, it is no wonder that The Vincent is so very popular.

2 Atkins Square, Dalston Lane, London E8 1FN thevincent-e8.com

Sans Pere

MORTY & BOB’S

Don’t let Morty & Bob’s inconspicuous backstreet entrance mislead you.

Located on the second floor, this busy cafe is not only spacious, but it also affords great views of the urban panorama to match its industrial chic design.

The menu is short but to the point. Whether you order a full English or a grilled cheese toast, Morty & Bob’s is perfect for those who enjoy a classic with a little twist.

Second Floor, Netil House, 1 Westgate Street, Hackney, London E8 3RL mortyandbobs.com

TheGood Egg

Lardo

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FOOD & DRINK

The Last Crumb

Little Duck The Picklery

The Spread Eagle

Be-Bop-A-Luna

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Beer + Burger

SPRING 2018

NEW RESTAURANTS TO TRY THIS SPRING The face of Hackney is constantly changing, and our 2018 eating to-do list is already shaping up. Here’s a few new places we’re enjoying recently

By Victoria Gray

Beer + Burger 464 Kingsland Rd London E8 4AE beerandburgerstore.com This is the second opening for Beer + Burger who have been popular in their original Willesden Green location for some years and their new Dalston residence is bordered by some of the area’s best restaurants. It’s a paired-back relaxed atmosphere that does what it says on the tap: there are 12 beer taps plus over 250 bottles and cans, plus great burgers from beef to vegan.

But if that seems too indulgent, they also have a monthly running club.

The Last Crumb 71-73 Stoke Newington Church St London N16 0AS thelastcrumb.co.uk Like it or not, freelancers make a up a decent population of Stoke Newington. And freelancers, The Last Crumb is here for you, with a cafe

upstairs and a co-working space downstairs. It’s a refuge from the world of working from home, but even if you’re not a freelancer you’re still more than welcome to enjoy the tea, cakes and breakfast. There’s gluten free and vegan options, and space for your pram and your dog to live the Stokey dream.

Be-Bop-A-Lula 68-70 Green Lanes London N16 9EJ thebeboppub.co.uk The Alma, previously named among the best pubs in London, is building an empire of fun-but-not-gimmicky themed pubs beneath our noses. Their latest opening is Be-Bop-A-Lula, a stone’s throw from Newington Green, with a rock ‘n’ roll theme, featuring a healthy amount of jukeboxes, guitars hanging from the ceiling and a feeling that you’ve stepped back in time. As well as drinks and regular live music nights, they also do diner-style food, and a mean Sunday roast.

The Spread Eagle 224 Homerton High St London E9 6AS thespreadeaglelondon.co.uk It was only a matter of time before London’s first 100% vegan pub opened, and of course it’s in Hackney. That being said, this is far from a jumping onto a trendy bandwagon. The kitchen has been taken over by the geniuses at Club Mexicana, whose blend of vegan Mexican food has dazzled at Street Feast markets and in Pamela in Haggerston. Meanwhile, smallbatch beers and wine make your drinking as vegan as your diet, and even the furniture is cruelty-free.

Little Duck The Picklery 68 Dalston Lane London E8 3AH littleduckpicklery.co.uk The team behind Soho wine bar Ducksoup, and Richmond Road eatery Rawduck have opened a picklery in Dalston.

It’s a tucked-away all-day restaurant with a dailychanging menu, but you can expect that a lot of high quality fermented food and drink will be featuring, as it is also a working picklehouse, going about pickling duties in the background. There are also pickling workshops to try if you’re curious about how to make kombucha, or want to start your own pickling empire.

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FOOD & DRINK

DINING IN SHOREDITCH

Oklava Restaurant

T

urkish Cypriot chef Selin Kiazim creates new flavours at her Shoreditchbased restaurant by adding modern touches to Turkish signature dishes. Oklava Restaurant appeals to the senses with its open kitchen and charcoal grill alongside a chic and modern atmosphere in its small dining hall. Both the pide

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with marinated octopus and ricotta minced lamb lahmacun (Turkish pizza) are served with pickled red cabbage. Chilli roast cauliflower served with finely chopped red onion and pistachios is a great option for veggie lovers, while meat lovers will be delighted by the lamb chops served with sour onions and Urfa mayo. oklava.co.uk

SPRING 2018

Dirty Bones

A

dding a trendy vibe to American restaurant and cocktail bar themes, Dirty Bones’ Shoreditch branch is housed in an iconic Grade IIlisted heritage building. It is a perfect spot for post-work hang outs, pre-dinner warm ups and late night drinking.

The menu offers on the bone dishes, experimental

sides, brunch dishes and desserts with a twist in an all day dining style.

Think chicken & waffles, cheeseburger dumplings and burnt onion & ale beef short rib - alongside playful cocktails, DJs every Friday & Saturday night, and a cure-all booze brunch menu on weekends. dirty-bones.com

FOOD & DRINK

4 WINES FOR SPRING

REVIEW

By Victoria Gray Spring is a tricky time in London - people will grumble ‘it doesn’t even get warm until June’, but heatwaves have been known to strike.

This means that tired of rich hearty foods, we start thinking about lighter salads and grilled meats - but don’t quite commit to them. For wine pairings then, we need something fresh, with a hint of the comfort that we might need to retreat to. Here are four of our favourite wine for springtime.

PAUL’S RANGE PINOT NOIR 2013 Region: Australia bottleapostle.com ■ £32 Pinot Noir is a great stepping stone from hearty winter reds to lighter spring and summer drinking. This Aussie pinot is grown organically to give it a light and acidic but still hearty flavour.

Bottle Apostle, 95 Lauriston Road, E9 7HJ

LA VENTANA

Sitting off the busy Kingsland Road hub, Dalston Square somehow hides in plain sight.

T

By Victoria Gray

he square looked a little bare until recently, new buildings sat and people just hurried through.

But several restaurants have slowly popped up around the edges, bringing life to the area.

La Ventana is one of these new restaurants, a tapas joint. It benefits from a huge space to play with, has two bars and a range of tables.

There’s something for everyone, whether you’re looking to have an intimate dinner for two, a birthday party, or a reflective time looking out of the eponymous windows that open onto the square.

The menu is exhaustive, as it always is with tapas, but it’s a good idea to start with a cocktail. While classic cocktail favourites are available, the staff are also happy to whip up something bespoke, for instance if you’re not drinking and would prefer a mocktail.

Diners can start with a mix of meat and cheese platters accompanied by the delicious pan al tomate. Platters come with four of each meats and cheeses and are ideal to share, but you can also order the meats and

cheeses individually. There are also paellas that are great for sharing— La Ventana are always sure to cover the basics well too.

The ‘main’ tapas types however are a lot more interesting and original. There’s a great mix of meat, seafood and vegetables, and the vegetarian section of the menu is perhaps the most interesting. Gone are the days of just ordering tortilla and chorizo (although they are both on the menu and delicious of course), as we can now learn more about Spanish food.

Some favourite dishes include a tuna steak served on a bed of lentils and barley, spicy garlic marinated chicken, tempura fried aubergine and heritage tomato salads. Paired with traditional tapas, you get a mix of rich and light flavours without filling up before you’re ready to try more.

La Ventana is a fantastic window to the world of Spanish cooking.

Perfectly pitched for any occasion, the food will satisfy anybody too.

Dalston Square, E8 3DT laventanalondon.co.uk 020 7249 1077

AMEZTOI TXAKOLI, 2016 Region: Spain noblefineliquor.co.uk ■ £15 Txakoli is a Basque secret - a superlight, very dry, slightly sparkling white with a lower ABV, meaning it’s perfect to enjoy all day during a burst of sun, or while curling up at home on a cloudy day.

Noble Fine Liquor, 27 Broadway Market, E8 4PH GRECO DI TUFO, 2016 Region: Italy boroughwines.co.uk ■ £14 Italian whites pair well with a range of foods from fish to meat, and this wine is full of sweet notes hinting at the warmer season approaching but is strengthened by its robust mineral persistence.

Borough Wines, 163 Stoke Newington Church Street, N16 0UL RENEGADE SAUVIGNON BLANC Region: UK renegadelondonwine.com ■ £16 Sauvignon Blanc is the world’s most popular white wine, but this UK produced version offers an exciting edge in its fruity yet acidic notes, meaning that you won’t be sick of it by the time it comes to summer.

Renegade London Wine, Arch 12, Gales Gardens, E2 0EJ

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EDUCATION KEEPING YOUR YOUNGSTERS SAFE AS THEY EXPLORE A MAGICAL WORLD ONLINE

By Edward Rowe

N

ew technologies are some of the main interest areas for children. The Internet is a necessity in our era most of the time, and its usage is increasing, including in children’s lives. However, while the internet can be a great resource, it is important that children and young people are protected from the risks they may encounter. We have listed a variety of institutions that can advise parents on how they can protect their children from the harmful side of the digital world while helping them to use the internet safely for education and enjoyment.

UK COUNCIL FOR CHILD INTERNET SAFETY (UKCCIS)

The UKCCIS is a group of more than 200 organisations drawn from across government, industry, law, academia and charity sectors that work in partnership to help keep children safe online. The Council was established in 2008 following a review by Professor Tanya Byron discussing, and taking action, on topical issues concerning children’s use of the internet. gov.uk/government/groups/ukcouncil-for-child-internet-safetyukccis

CHILDRENS COMMISSIONER

The Office of the Children’s Commissioner promotes the rights, views and interests of children in policies or decisions affecting their lives. They particularly represent children who are vulnerable or who find it hard to make their views known.

Office of the Children’s Commissioner is an executive non-departmental public body, sponsored by the Department for Education They launched social media giants’ terms and conditions ‘jargon-buster’ to give kids more power in digital world. Their ongoing work into the impact the internet has on children in England began with the report ‘Growing Up Digital’, published in 2017. The report warned that many children were being to left to fend for themselves online and made a number of recommendations on how better

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equip children for the internet and social media. childrenscommissioner.gov.uk

THE NATIONAL SOCIETY FOR THE PREVENTION OF CRUELTY TO CHILDREN (NSPCC)

The NSPCC charity fighting to end child abuse nationally. They offer parents information about internet safety issues such as cyber bullying and preventing online abuse and blackmail. The charity called for immediate action on online child safety last month. nspcc.org.uk

THINKUKNOW

ThinkUKnow is the education programme of the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre aimed at young people. Its three main objectives are to show young people how to have fun, how to stay in control and how to report a problem. Alongside the Thinkuknow website the programme provides educational resources, including films, cartoons and lesson plans, to help professionals raise young people’s awareness. thinkuknow.co.uk

PARENT ZONE

Parent Zone is the official parent representative organisation on the UK Council for Child Internet Safety.

Online parenting organisation works with parents, schools and companies

to make the internet work for families by offering expert advice and content.

They create, curate and check the best available advice and information on all issues that are caused or amplified by the internet. Their mission is to improve outcomes for children in a digital world so they will be safer online, resilient enough to cope with the challenges of the online world and educated for a digital future. parentzone.org.uk

KIDSMART

Kidsmart is an online platform providing information and advice on online safety for parents and people who work with children. The site is part of Childnet International, a non-profit organisation working with others to help make the internet a great and safe place for children. kidsmart.org.uk Digital Families 2018: The Future for Young People Online Digital Families is showcasing insightful research and hosting expert speakers analysing the effects of technology on young lives, providing anyone who works with young people with practical solutions and inspirational ideas.

Date: 10 October Venue: King’s Place, 90 York Way, King’s Cross, London N1 9AG parentzone.org.uk

HEALTH & WELLBEING WHY SHOULD WE TRY TO EAT SEASONALLY ?

Joslin Morrison Nutritional Therapist

W

ith the days finally getting longer and the scent of spring in the air, you may notice the fresh produce in the shops gradually starting to change. An abundance of British fruits and vegetables will start to occupy the shelves of our super markets and farmers’ markets, and you’ll be pleased to find they are often a lot cheaper Many of us don’t think of eating seasonally, as here in the UK we can buy a wide variety of fruit and vegetables (as well as meat and fish), all year round. We can enjoy a berry pudding in January, or a roasted squash salad in July, and why wouldn’t we?

But what is the cost to eating this way?

We all know how much the environment suffers, due to the increased air miles used to ship our green beans from Kenya in February for example, or the excessive pesticides and chemicals used to preserve and protect our fruits and vegetables on their way across the globe. We end up consuming these in our diets, putting us at increased risk of developing hormonal imbalances and cancers. Many fruits and vegetables need to be picked before they are ripe (ripened fruit and vegetables don’t

travel well) which also means they are depleted in both flavour and vital nutrients.

What’s more, there is a financial impact to importing these foods all year round - a study carried out by the Food Foundation in 2016, said: ‘We cannot hide from the fact that the price of veg is likely to start to climb as the effects of Brexit take hold. While these increases will impact on all of our imported food…this may deliver an economic advantage for British-grown veg’.

But is the attitude of the British public changing?

Heather Hancock, Chair of the FSA Board said: ‘ The FSA’s biennial consumer survey, Food & You, gives us insight into changing food consumption patterns… around half of consumers had more trust in food from the UK and considered it to be higher quality than food from abroad.’

Mintel’s latest survey, on attitudes to British food in 2016 found that 56% of shoppers say they try to buy British food whenever they can, and 77% agree that it is important to support British farmers… according to the survey 39% think that British food tastes better. So it appears we are moving in the right direction, supporting local growers and becoming more aware of what we eat.

But what does this all have to do with our health?

The changing seasons put different demands on our bodies and luckily nature has provided us with a helping hand. Our bodies need warming foods in winter and cooling ones in summer. Think of all the delicious re-hydrating fruits and vegetables we eat in summer – melons, cucumbers, lettuces. Berries are abundant at this time of year, and they come loaded with antioxidants – vital for protecting our skin from the sun. And what about the starchy warming root vegetables in the

Autumn? These help prepare us for the coming winter months.

Eating in tune with the seasons also makes for a healthy gut. The importance of gut health is becoming widely recognised and science is showing the impact of an unhealthy gut on all systems of the body, including our mental health.

Western diseases such as diabetes and heart disease are virtually non-existent among the Hazda people Stanford university have been studying the Hazda people (a group of hunter gatherers in Tanzania) and have discovered that their gut microbes change throughout the year. They had more enzymes to break down animal made carbohydrates in the dry season (when they ate more starchy vegetables and wild game) and other enzymes to break down plant based food in the wet season (when their diets favoured berries and honey).

This study has shown how one’s gut flora can change in a positive way at different times of year when eating a variety of seasonal foods. Western diseases such as diabetes and heart disease are virtually non-existent among the Hazda people and other hunter-gatherer populations, showing that a diverse gut flora is imperative for a healthy body and mind.

Eating a varied diet throughout the year is hugely beneficial. And one thing you can guarantee with eating seasonally, is you won’t get bored of what you’re eating.

So as you can see, choosing to eat seasonally provides us with many more benefits than just cheaper groceries and a cleaner planet. It gives our bodies a much-needed boost in vitamins, minerals and antioxidants that many of us in the Western world are lacking.

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HACKNEY MAGAZINE 29

7 DAYS OF FITNESS

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SPRING 2018

HEALTH & WELLBEING

W

ith its amazing parks, canals, jogging tracks and top fitness instructors, Hackney is an amazing borough for keeping fit and healthy. From yoga to pilates, running to aerobics here are some of the best fitness classes available locally.

MONDAY

Outdoor fitness Location: Shoreditch Park Victoria Park British Military Fitness (BMF) has classes designed for keeping fit, losing weight and having fun in the fresh air. With three different ability groups including blue, red and green, you can burn around 640 calories in a session.

Victoria Park Manager Rob Marshall served in the military for 22 years, spending most of his time in 29 Commando Regiment. He is qualified in various fields as a Personal Trainer, Running Coach, Advanced Boxercise Instructor, Kettle Bell Instructor, Football Coach and Ski Instructor.

Shoreditch Park Head Trainer Jeremy Bearder joined BMF in March 2008 after serving with the 3rd Regiment Royal Horse Artillery.

He also represented his regiment in Football, Rugby and Athletics becoming Junior Army Discus champion. Jeremy says he likes watching peoples’ attitudes to life change when they join BMF. At Shoreditch park, the meeting point is at the park entrance, at the junction with Rushton Street and Bridport Place.

For Victoria Park, the meeting point is just by the Royal Gate East just off Grove Road by the Royal Inn public house.

TIME: Shoreditch Park, Monday 07:30 TIME: Victoria Park, Monday 19:00 Unlimited classes £54.00 monthly First class is free! britmilfit.com

TUESDAY

Pilates Location: Shoreditch | Clapton Blok London offers a variety of workouts with 400 classes every week and healthy eating cafes at its boutique and trendy fitness gyms. The Blok London Clapton gym has been renovated from an old warehouse to include 3 different studios inside. Blok Clapton fitness coach Welly toured the world with pop artists such as Kylie Minogue, Take That and Robbie Williams for over ten years as a professional dancer before moving into coaching and teaching. Welly says that pilates empowers people and helps them look younger.

At Blok London Shoreditch branch, pilates sessions are run by Dionne.

After years of back problems, Dionne started pilates to heal herself and trained to become an instructor after reaping the benefits. Dionne says: “Each class consists of a series of exercises that improve posture, develop mind-body control and release tension. You will become stronger, fitter and more flexible by taking part in these classes.”

TIME: Shoreditch 17:45 | Single Class £17 Pack of any 5 classes £80 Blok London Shoreditch 2 Hearn Street, London EC2A 3BR TIME: Clapton 09.50 | Single Class £14 Pack of any 5 classes £65 Blok London Clapton, The Tram Depot 38-40 Upper Clapton Rd, London E5 8BQ bloklondon.com

WEDNESDAY

Strength & Power Location: Hackney Downs Barber’s Gym is located in an industrial railway arch at Hackney Downs Studios.

Personal Trainer Darren Barber set up the gym after many years in the fitness industry working in commercial and corporate gyms and training clients independently from local parks in the East London area.

Darren says: “This class utilises body weight exercise and resistance training to improve your athletic ability, tone and define your physique, build muscle size and strength. We all want to look better naked and be able to throw our weight around.”

New starters are advised to complete a fundamentals course of two private one to one sessions for an introduction to exercise practices and to establish training standards.

TIME: 07:00 & 19:00 £12.50 Single session £100.00 Unlimited sessions 17 Amhurst Terrace, London E8 2BT barbersgym.com

THURSDAY

Dance Cardio Location: Shoreditch This class is a great way to get pumped by dancing!

Dance cardio is 45 minutes of non-stop dance accompanied by some big tunes to transport you to your happy place. All inhibitions are left at the door, and the choreography is easy to follow.

Dance Cardio instructors, Camille Sharpe and Alice Ferreira turn their professional dance expertise and experience into cardio and make people sweat while they have fun.

TIME: 13:00 & 18:45 Drop in £13, FRAME CARD £11 Members Free 29 New Inn Yard, London EC2A 3EY moveyourframe.com

FRIDAY

Parents’ Conditioning Location: Haggerston Momentum Parents’ Conditioning classes are well-suited to family life. At this babyfriendly gym, there is plenty of space and privacy for feeding and changing, and you can park your baby up next to you in the buggy or pop them on a mat while you work out. The gym can meet pre and post-natal needs and classes are suitable for all fitness levels. Classes include instructions for body composition and full body toning, plenty of booty work outs and core work can be found alongside exercises to sustain a healthy bodyweight, key movements and skills.

TIME: 10:30 Single session £20 Trial pack (3 sessions) £30 Arch 328 Stean St, London, E8 4ED momentum-training.com

SATURDAY

Running Location: Hackney Marshes The Hackney Marshes park run is a free event organised by volunteers. The course has spectacular views of the Olympic site and a lovely stretch following the River Lea navigation channel. It is a flat course, the vast majority of which is run on tarmac, with the start/finish section located on mown grass. You can join in whatever your pace! The course is 5000m (5K) long. It follows a ‘there and back’ route around Hackney Marshes from 9:00am.

Participants meet at Hackney Marshes Centre for a post-run coffee every week.

Free-but register before your first run!

TIME: 9:00 parkrun.org.uk/hackney-marshes

SUNDAY

Yin Yang Yoga Location: London Fields An hour of Yin Yang Yoga will help you get prepared for the coming week.

Burn off weekend energy then move calmly into the week ahead with Hannah, who has been a yoga instructor for over 10 years.

Enjoy the benefits of strength building Yang Yoga and allow your body to melt into the more passively held stretches that typify Yin Yoga. Each class starts with a warm up and breathing practice before moving with increased focus and attention to strength building poses and closing with deep stretches. You will gain strength, flexibility and develop keen self- awareness as you learn to use your breath to flow.

TIME: 5pm Drop into any of these classes for £5 or attend as many as you want with a £35 monthly pass.

379 Mentmore Terrace, London E8 londonfieldsfitness.com

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HACKNEY MAGAZINE 31

Call Stork Removals on 020 8366 6644 for free estimate, free boxes & free advice

info@storkremovals.co.uk www.storkremovals.co.uk

ADVERTORIAL

HIGH STREET OR ONLINE ESTATE AGENTS? The manager of Oakwood Estate Agents Andy Loizou tells whether online agents can be a more viable option compared to high street estate agents

W

hat would you say is the main difference between online agents and high street agents?

The main difference is that online agents are listing agents. This means they get paid to list properties and not to actually sell them. They will charge their fee whether the property sells or not.

High street agents are selling agents, Therefore they only get paid according to the results they achieve, they will only get paid if the property sells, therefore most high street agents will have no upfront costs and will simply charge their fee once the property has sold. High street agents will therefore work harder and always be more motivated to sell their clients property at the best price.

How do online agents conduct valuations?

They will conduct valuations in the same way as a high street Agent, however the local high street agent like ourselves have over 25 years’ experience where as an online agent will not have had anywhere near this level of experience.

How are viewings carried out with online agents?

How viewings are carried out can vary with online agents depending on what package the seller chooses. Some will put the onus on the seller to carry out their own viewings whilst others will carry out the viewings themselves. A high street agent will always conduct the viewings.

How can online agents’ lack of knowledge about the area affect the process?

Experience is paramount throughout every step of the process of selling a property.

From having an accurate valuation, to having an experienced agent with years of local expertise carrying out the viewings. Experience on the legal process

Andy Loizou and working with the local solicitors and surveyors is something that a local agent like ourselves will also have an added advantage of and this can often mean the difference between a sale completing or falling through.

Will online agents really care about a sale if up-front payment is made rather than on commission when a sale is achieved?

In short the answer is NO they will not. As I mentioned earlier, online agents are simply listing agents whose main objective it to get as many listings as possible, the more properties they list, the more they make as their fee will be paid whether the property sells or not. As a local high street agent our number one objective is to achieve the best price for our sellers, we will not earn a penny unless the property is sold.

48 Stoke Newington Church St, Stoke Newington, London N16 0NB 020 7249 1000 oakwoodestateagents.com

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INTERIOR TRENDS 2018 Tips from the experts

INTERIOR DESIGN

Y

ellow Cloud Studio is a young, upcoming architecture practice based in Hackney that is currently working on residential and commercial projects throughout Europe. Eleni Soussoni and Romanos Tsomos told us about the interior design trends of 2018.

It looks like bold colours are here to stay, and all the exotic plants and tropical birds come with them. The spring patterns are daring, making an instant impact on any space, and the most dominant colour is green in various shades. Brass is again everywhere, and looks stunning with most current trends.

Sculptural furniture in volcanic black is an emerging trend and a great statement piece for any home, but it needs to be combined with pastel hues to soften its presence.

When looking for an item that will make your home feel up to speed with the design world, a beautifully crafted brass lamp is always a winner in our books and is sure to outlast most seasonal trends. Try Bert Frank’s new collection, which combines retro design with modern materials.

“Try Bert Frank’s new collection, which combines retro design with modern materials.”

Bert & May

I think exposed light bulbs have been with us for way too long! They have been adopted by most cafes as an affordable, industrial-looking solution but after a good 8 years, it’s time for a change.

Small spaces require very smart design, with the most important element being light or the illusion of light.

Reflective surfaces and artificial lighting can make a huge difference. In terms of decoration, furniture needs to be less bulky, so that the floor is mostly visible and storage solutions are vital to avoid clutter.

When choosing to decorate with patterns, keep the walls bottom heavy and finish the upper part with a lighter, complementary pastel.

“One of the most important ongoing trends is the botanical craze.”

For the daring, it has to be experimenting with patterns. Try a bold wallpaper but balance it out with neutral colours and natural materials like linen, marble or rattan. Mix vintage pieces and designs with modern graphics to add character and depth to your scheme and make sure elements of your palette are repeated throughout the house for a coherent result. Ebonised oak furniture can also be a great addition for this year.

One of the most important ongoing trends is the botanical craze. This spring it feels less aggressive, almost complementary compared with the dominant position it had last year. I feel it is the one trend that should remain for years to come since it has reconnected us with plants and makes every space feel

more natural and calm. Invest in beautiful monsteras and ferns to complete the look of each room.

Our cities are so busy and saturated with information and graphics that our homes should be able to disconnect us from that reality. Natural materials are surely the way forward when it comes to calm living. Lime-washed walls, stone, gypsum plaster, concrete tiles, wood, are all textured materials that we can touch and smell, keeping the idea of nature inside the home.

One of our favourites for tiles and fabrics has to be Bert & May, with their spring collection showcasing some beautiful colours, while Chase & Sorensen is one of the best shops for mid-century furniture, lighting and home accessories, having great variety and taste.

We are obviously a bit biased, since we love our neighbourhood, but we honestly think Hackney is one of the most stylish and trend-setting boroughs. New shops are always design aware, which makes our job as architects more enjoyable, as we get to deal with like-minded people. yellowcloudstudio.com

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HACKNEY MAGAZINE 35

SELLING AND LETTING THE BEST PROPERTY IN EAST LONDON FOR SALE

FOR SALE

FOR SALE

2 Bedroom House Poplar, E14 OIEO: £475,000

2 Bedroom Apartment Stepney, E1 Guide Price: £525,000

2 Bedroom Apartment Hoxton, N1 Guide Price: £865,000

FOR SALE

FOR SALE

TO LET

1 Bedroom Apartment Bethnal Green, E2 Guice Price: £695,000

2 Bedroom Apartment Stoke Newington, N16 Guide Price: £750,000

2/3 Bedroom House Victoria Park, E9 Guide Price: £6,933 pcm

SOLD

3 Bedroom House Stoke Newington, N16 Guide Price: £1,200,000 LET

2 Bedroom Apartment Dalston, E8 Guide Price: £1,820 pcm

T 020 3176 1270

SOLD

4 Bedroom House Bow, E3 Guide Price: £1,375,000

SOLD

2 Bedroom House Bethnal Green, E2 Guide Price: £1,135,000

LET

1 Bedroom Maisonette Stepney, E1 Guide Price: £1,625 pcm

LET

2 Bedroom Apartment Shoreditch, E2 Guide Price: £1,800 pcm

E contact@easthaus.co.uk

W easthaus.co.uk

GET THE LOOK STRING SYSTEM SHELVING

String Shelving is a highly flexible storage system which lends itself to large or small compositions.

The range of units and accessories available within the String system allows you to build simple or complex shelving work and storage solutions entirely tailored to your own needs. Its multi-functional nature makes it adaptable to any room in the house.

81 Chatsworth Rd London E5 0LH trianglestore.co.uk

VINTAGE METAL LETTERS

Pure White Lines is a Hackney based antique and interiors business with stock spanning through the centuries. These large vintage metal illuminated letters

with old worn paint and graffiti date from 1950. Originally from a cinema in the USA. £450.00 each 45 Hackney Road London E2 7NX purewhitelines.com

ETHNICRAFT OAK MONOLIT SIDE TABLES

The Monolit side table comes in many discreet variants. You can choose to have a simple solid top, a clever removable lid or have the bedside table with a drawer. £185.00 decorum-shop.co.uk

PROPERTY & DESIGN DIARY

The Property Investor & Homebuyer Show 20-21 April

VITA EOS GREY SHADE

The Eos shade is made from natural goose feather. The light is warm and diffusing.

Perfect for the bedroom or ambient lighting. A structural piece even without the lighting on.

30cm x 45cm dia £90.00 Unit 22-23 Boxpark 2-10 Bethnal Green Road London E1 6GY decorum-shop.co.uk

The most comprehensive exhibition of UK & international residential property returns to ExCel London for its ‘Spring Edition’ in April 2018. Over 2 days, a large audience of investors, home buyers, landlords and other residential property professionals gather to create under one roof at the UK’s largest residential property investment, business & networking event. propertyinvestor.co.uk

Clerkenwell Design Week 22-24 May Clerkenwell Design Week has created a showcase of leading UK and international brands and companies to be presented in a series of showroom events, exhibitions and special installations that take place across the area. clerkenwelldesignweek.com

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SPRING 2018

HACKNEY MAGAZINE 37

INTERVIEW

MY HACKNEY Jackie Lee

By Mersa Auda

S

amazing offer of modern/ Scandinavian furniture, and most of their collections are eco-friendly. The Market Cartel sells lots of vintage clothes from around the world. The owner’s mother has a store in the US. I love that they have both quality and great pieces. They also sell fine jewellery, bags, vintage furniture – a lot of 90s vintage too!

eoul-born Jackie Lee began her clothesmaking journey very early in life, but it was in London that she established her identity as a fashion designer and found the inspiration to set up her own label, J. JS LEE. We asked Jackie, what she enjoys most about Hackney, and where she likes to hang out.

Favourite pub in Hackney?

The Pembury Tavern. It is a huge pub just in front of my house. Their speciality is pizza!!! The pub is kid and dog friendly and usually quiet because they do not have a TV for sports. I recommend it if you want to enjoy a peaceful time with friends or family.

What’s your earliest memory of Hackney?

My earliest memory was seven years ago. It seemed like a dark, quiet and kind of naughty place.

Last book you read?

Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind.

In which area do you live?

Dalston Lane.

The Market Cartel sells lots of vintage clothes from around the world.

Is there any particular spot that inspires you in the area?

Lots of vintage second-hand furniture shops.

What do you think of East London’s transformation over the years?

It’s cleaned up and feels edgier, and even more artistic.

What can Hackney offer an aspiring artist?

There is no limit to the creativity that Hackney offers.

The area has amazing raw sources, which encourages artists to develop them.

What would you change/ add to the area?

Maybe more security?

Where do you get your favourite meal in Hackney?

The Vincent E8, which has recently opened on Dalston

38 HACKNEY MAGAZINE

and sour. Most importantly, they know how to make the perfect latte with oat milk!

Lane. The cafe is beautifully decorated with plants and flowers. The chicken burger with avocado is my favourite meal from there during weekdays, but I also love to spend time there on a Sunday morning for brunch. I can highly recommend the waffle with ice cream!

Best coffee in Hackney?

Allpresso, of course. Their coffee is dark, deep, aromatic,

SPRING 2018

Favourite shop in Hackney?

Chase and Sorensen (for furniture) and The Market Cartel (for vintage clothing).

Chase and Sorenson has an

What’s your guilty pleasure?

Reading mangas.

If you had to offer one piece of advice to a young artist in Hackney, based on personal experience?

Go into all of the shops as much as possible, even the shops that do not have any signs.

You will always find something interesting!

How would you describe your home in terms of design?

Modern and minimal, with lots of plants.

Tell us of your upcoming projects?

The J. JS LEE Woman AW18 collection will launch soon.

Also, hot off the press – I have a collaboration in the pipeline with one of best department stores.

Est. 1991

Ivory Boutique Women Clothing Spring | Summer 2018

188a Stoke Newington High St, London N16 7JD | Phone: 020 7275 0121

East London Property.

t 020 3176 1270

w easthaus.co.uk

@easthauslondon