To-Do List 29 Feb – 6 March
Fermented and Wild @ L’atypique Wines (1)
”We’re a small company with a simple idea: wine should be good and enjoyed by everyone.”
On 4th March, L’atypique, who create their own organic wine, and Ukrainian chef, Olia Hercule, will come together to produce an evening of fermented fun. Hercule has designed a three-course menu with a plethora of pickles on the side, and plenty of yeast fermented wines – courtesy of L’atypique – to wash it all down with. All of the food on the menu is sustainably sourced, so an evening of wholesome, guilt-free fun is sure to be had by all. More information here:
http://www.latypiquewines.com/wild
458 Hackney Rd, London, E2 9EG
Tribal Healing Drumming Workshop @ The Vatican Music Studios (2)
This evening will introduce attendees to the art of djembe drumming, a West African drum renowned for its diversity of sound. With cleansing and purification at its core, this workshop is sure to detoxify the body, mind, and mostly, ears, and transport you from the intensity of London life to the calming coasts of West Africa. More information here:
https://yplanapp.com/london/tribal-healing-drumming-workshop-47073/
The Vatican Music Studios, Railway Arch 190, Bancroft Rd, London E1 4ET
It’s a Hard World for Little Things @ V&A Museum of Childhood (3)
Artist C A Halpin has produced six large graphite drawings in a series entitled ‘Children Carrying Heavy Objects’ these images show children from around the world carrying the physical burdens of their world, whilst also displaying the more metaphorical burdens carried by these children in an increasingly adult environment. More information here:
http://www.vam.ac.uk/moc/exhibitions-and-displays/its-a-hard-world-for-little-things/
Cambridge Heath Rd, London E2 9PA
May the Farce Be With You @ Bethnal Green Working Men’s Club (4)
The unlikely worlds of cabaret and sci-fi are coming together on Thursday 3rd March for an evening of dancing, burlesque, holograms and intergalactic fun. Resident swing band The Fabulous Bakewell Boys will be kicking off the evening, alongside other performances from The Fabulous Bakewell Boys, Apple Tart, H P Lovebox, Simon Lukacs, and Niki Stevens. More information here:
http://www.workersplaytime.net/THISWEEK.htm
42-44 Pollard Row London E2 6NB
The Dark Side of Bethnal Green (5)
London’s East End is polluted with stories of dark deeds and corrupt characters. This walk will trace the steps of people such as the Kray twins, Oswald Mosley, and Reverend Benjamin Russen who navigated the streets, pubs and schools of Bethnal Green. Led by David Charnick, a man well versed in walking the streets of London, this walk is sure to be enlightening and terrifying. Sunday 6th March. More information here:
http://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-dark-side-of-the-green-tickets-21956174509
Meet outside the Clerk’s House, next to St Leonard’s Church, Shoreditch High Street.
-By Lydia Anderson
The New Face of Old George
Would you be tempted by a Mussel and Artichoke bisque circled by anchovy butter and sourdough? If your mouth is watering at the mere thought of that dish, it is time for me to tell you where you can find that particular delight in Bethnal Green.
Two and a half years ago, new owners decided to rejuvenate the ground floor of the 18th century Old George pub. Their project was successful and the pub was awarded the Time Out Award in 2015. However, until recently, the upper floor was under the rule of Patches the cat, to which the space had been attributed in the sales contract.
A month ago, the first floor opened as a cosy and retro dining-room able to cater for 45 guests. The venue now opens on Thursday and Friday evenings as well as all day on the week- ends. In the kitchen, four people, including a chef, toil to make a delectable menu come to life.
Love Bethnal Green view? The new restaurant perfectly complements the pub by offering finer cuisine for acceptable prices without altering the charming, and welcoming atmosphere of the old establishment.
More information available: http://oldgeorge.co.uk/
Old George Pub, 379 Bethnal Green Road, E2 0AN
-By Helen Taupin
For the love of food
Are you a fan of Spanish food ? If yes, this post will make your day. In approximately two weeks time, a brand new Spanish deli and restaurant called Padron will open on Bethnal Green Road. Padron will take over the retail space left by The Décor Store.
The owners of Padron also own the Japanese Canteen chain. They are hoping Padron heralds the arrival of a Spanish success story.
Padron , 341-343 Bethnal Green Road, London E2 0AH
-By Helen Taupin
To-do List 22-28 February
// Nerd Nite London @ V&A Museum of Childhood (1)
Learning doesn’t always have to be tedious. If you have a thirst for knowledge and yet despair at the prospect of sharpening your mind against the binding of some stuffy library book then we have just the answer for you. Take a visit to the V&A Museum of Childhood on Wed 24 Feb for Nerd Nite London’s monthly event involving three speakers, three fascinating 20 minute discussions, and some alcoholic beverages to really get your brain into learning mode. This month, find out about:
1) Steven Spielberg & John Williams: The Ultimate Composer/ Director Partnership?
2) Signs and Wonders: Miracle Hunters and the 17th century X-files
3) Sequoyah – Linguistic Genius of the Cherokee
More information here:
https://london.nerdnite.com/2016/02/04/191/
Cambridge Heath Road, E2 9PA, London
// Leisure & District presents Slowcoaches + Radical Boy + The Bodies @ Sebright Arms (2)
Celebrating the release of their new single ‘Ex-Head’, Slowcoaches will be headlining an intimate gig at Sebright Arms on Thurs 25 Feb, presented by their label Leisure & District. A three-piece band with both an electrifying amount of energy and a combination of male/female vocals, Slowcoaches appear as a welcome waft of fresh-yet-grungy air. With support from Radical Boy and The Bodies, this night looks set to be a good one. More information here:
https://www.facebook.com/events/125481551148111/
31-35 Coate Street, E2 9AG, London
// Figs in Wigs: Hi-Browie @ Bethnal Green Working Men’s Club (3)
Figs in Wigs are a five-strong female performance company whose work is an eclectic mix of theatre, dance, comedy… and anything else that you can think of! They describe their work as an ‘abstract, often hilarious, inversion of reality’ and if you feel like letting your hair down a little and having a crazy, fun time then check out their quarterly club night ‘Hi-Brow’ on Fri 26 Feb. Imagine the unusual and then multiply this idea tenfold – now you may understand the intrigue of this talented bunch. (Oh, and this night is David Bowie themed). More information here:
https://www.facebook.com/events/961484147272906/
42-46 Pollard Row, E2 6NB
// Mouths Wide Shut Open Mic @ The Gallery Cafe (4)
Mouths Wide Shut Poetry is a monthly event that offers the chance for poets to unload their minds via all kinds of spoken word ranging from prose to poetry. This month’s event is taking place on Sat 27 Feb and will be held in the The Gallery Café’s chapel, providing a unique and intimate venue for thoughts and ideas to roam. Saturday’s feature act is Janine Booth from whom you can expect – amongst other things – a knowledge of Marxism, a concern for feminism, and a distinctive distaste for the Tory party. More information here:
https://www.facebook.com/events/1552443071732863/
21 Old Ford Road, E2 9PL, London
// Provision w/ Luxar & Ben Macklin @ The Dundee Arms (5)
A Bethnal Green favourite which has confirmed itself as both casual pub hangout and hot-spot for a serious dance or two, The Dundee Arms is definitely worth a boogie on down to. Pop along on Sat 27 Feb to witness both Luxar and Ben Macklin and their effusion of 80s, disco, and funk-filled vibes. Partying has never been more local. More information here:
https://www.facebook.com/events/444931599032099/
Cambridge Heath Road, E2 9LH, London
-By Hayley Downey
Fancy a Drink? It’s All New in E2
//part 1
It’s a Friday night and after having successfully made it to the close of another working week, you feel like going out for a drink or two. “Where will the night take me?” you think to yourself, and may be surprised to hear a far-off voice answering your query with a reply that sounds remarkably like “Bethnal Green”.
. . .
E2 may not have always been the first place you would make a beeline for if you wanted to find a quirky spot to let your hair down and debate whether to drink cocktails or beer, but in recent years there has been a huge influx of pubs and bars that have decided to call this postcode home. Here are ten of the most note-worthy that you should visit (split into two parts because there are just so many):
Redchurch Brewery Tap Room (1)
Redchurch craft brewery moved to Bethnal Green in 2011, but their Tap Room opened its doors to the public only last year. Their bar shares the same premise as the brewery, succeeds in being fashionable yet unpretentious, and creates the perfect, intimate atmosphere for any true beer lover as there are no middle-men to complicate the relationship between drinker and beverage. If you want to try a full range of Redchurch’s delicious and unique craft beers – from their pale ales to their more experimental beers – then this is the place for you. If all this wasn’t enough, the bar also serves food and plays host to quality live music.
275-275 Poyser Street, London E2 9RF
Peg and Patriot (2)
Peg and Patriot opened last year and it really puts E2 on the map as a place to go for quality cocktails. If you are looking to enjoy high-concept and experimental drinks in a minimalist venue that really lets the liqueur do the talking, then this is the place for you regardless of whether you fancy a ‘Perfect Martini’ or have ‘Pho Money Pho Problems’. If you visit here and begin to feel a bit peckish then don’t fear; Peg and Patriot offer some intriguing bar snacks too. As the resident bar of the Town Hall Hotel, it can only be imagined that the latter are punching the air at the chance to be so involved with this place.
The Kings Arms (3)
The Kings Arms calls itself ‘Bethnal Green’s newest local’ and it is clear to see why. This pub was taken over and refurbished in 2013 and whilst from the outside it may look like a traditional pub, if you go inside you will be in for a treat. Although still dimly-lit and inviting, there is a definite sense of being in a modern, down-with-the-times, drinking establishment when you enter. This pub seems to care only about one thing, however: supplying an extensive range of local and craft beers. With a rotating selection of beer on tap that comes from all around the world and a vast array of bottles – many of which have very interesting labels– any craft beer lover should not miss the chance to visit. They serve up some pretty good snacks, too.
11A Buckfast St, London E2 6EY
Satan’s Whiskers (4)
Tucked away just off Cambridge Heath Road, Satan’s Whiskers is the place to go if you’re in the mood for some mild debauchery or just some great tasting cocktails. They change their menu regularly and so there are always new cocktails on the agenda which have great sounding names such as ‘Salty Dog’ and ‘Satan’s Americano’. You drink these in an atmosphere that can be summed up by the bar’s vast array of vintage wall posters, taxidermies, and their red, neon sign hanging up somewhat invitingly outside. If you are hungry, bar-snacks are available and it should be known that whoever is in charge of the music has great taste.
343 Cambridge Heath Road, London E2 9RA
Sebright Arms (5)
Sebright Arms has its own venue space downstairs and has recently been nominated for NME’s Best Small Venue – the only place nominated in London – which shows that this spot takes its role as entertainer very seriously. As a place to go for a drink, it doesn’t disappoint either. Alongside the usual range, it serves over 10 local craft beers that cater to a wide range of taste buds and also hands over some unusual soft drinks for those who don’t drink or are just very busy the next day. The food menu is also rather extensive, making Sebright Arms a fitting choice regardless of what your plans are.
-By Hayley Downey
To-Do List 15 – 21 February
The Tales we Tell: Indian Warli Painting: V&A Museum of Childhood (1)
This exhibition is included as a part of the V&A India Festival which celebrates India’s rich cultural legacies. The Warli painting displayed in the Museum of Childhood is a tribal art form from Western India which focusses on the most basic of graphic shapes, the circle, square and triangle. Artists featured such as Jivya Soma Mashe and Ramesh Hengadi have transposed a once restricted art form into one that is responsive to their 21st century contemporary sphere. More information here:
http://www.vam.ac.uk/moc/exhibitions-and-displays/the-tales-we-tell/
V&A Museum of Childhood is on Cambridge Heath Rd, London E2 9PA
Crick Crack Club: This Thing Called Love (2)
Love is a much sought-after, confusing, wonderful, strange thing. Nell Phoenix, Tim Ralphs and Nick Hennessey will be mulling over love and all of its nuances in a storytelling performance on Tuesday 16th February at 8pm. The show promises silliness, madness, ‘deceit and desire’. More information here:
http://www.richmix.org.uk/whats-on/event/crick-crack-club-this-thing-called-love/
Richmix is on 35-47 Bethnal Green Road, London E1 6LA
Peter and the Harmonics @ Sebright Arms (3)
On Friday 19th February, Peter and the Harmonics will be headlining at Sebright Arms. This evening will not only feature special guests Moon Down and Berlin Harts, but will also see Peter and the Harmonics launch their new album, Eye of Sophia. Originally hailing from Bristol, this four-piece acoustic folk band has a distinctly Simon and Garfunkel-come-Neil Young inspired sound that is not to be missed. More information here:
http://www.sebrightarms.co.uk/whats-on.php
https://www.facebook.com/peterandtheharmonics/
Sebright Arms is on 31-35 Coate Street, London, E2 9AG
Saturday Night: Backyard Comedy Club (4)
On Saturday 20th February the Backyard Comedy Club will be welcoming Gavin Webster, Tom Price and Ryan McDonnall to the stage for your evening’s entertainment. Gavin Webster will bring his Geordie charm, Tom Price’s energy is sure to warm up the crowd and Ryan McDonnall’s hosting skills will bring the whole evening together. These up and coming comedians are not to be missed. More information here:
http://backyardbar.co.uk/event/backyard-comedy-club-saturday-night-106/
Backyard Comedy Club is on 231 Cambridge Heath Road, Bethnal Green E2 0EL
The Typing Room @ Town Hall Hotel (5)
This restaurant was featured on the most recent series of Masterchef and head chef Lee Westcott ensures that all dishes are cooked to perfection. With a two-course lunch menu starting at £24 or a seven-course tasting menu for £75, The Typing Room offers not only impeccable food, but a fantastic dining experience too – it is well on its way to a Michelin star! More information here:
Town Hall Hotel is on Patriot Square, London E2 9NF
By Lydia A.
