June 2016

LOVEEAST 

M A G A Z I N E 

June 2016 ISSUE 28 

Free 

Pom Pom Perfect 

Paper petals by Karen Hsu 

John Claridge's East End 

East Village life 

your 

F R E E 

award-winning 

magazine 

Your East London – What's on – Food – People

w 

Spitalfields 

Music 

Summer 

Festival 

Free tickets for 

Tower Hamlets 

residents* 

June 

2 26 

2016 

spitalfieldsmusic.org.uk 

020 7377 1362 

*subject to availability and terms and conditions apply

Welcome to your local magazine 

Dear neighbours 

It's June and it's busting out all over. Everywhere 

looks green and beautiful and the sun is doing its 

best to break out, too. 

June is also the month for festivals and outdoor 

events and it was difficult trying to squeeze so 

much into the What's On and calendar pages, 

but hopefully there's enough there to keep you 

topped up with culture. It's exciting to be living in 

a place where so much is happening and whether 

it's street art, music or canal boats I think there's 

something to cater to every taste this month. 

The Spitalfields Music Festival (2-26 June) will be 

particularly popular, so grab yourself some tickets 

soon. If you're into street art, there's the amazing 

photographic exhibition on our neighbourhood 

walls. Check out Art Crusader on page 25. 

There's more photography on page 4 with John 

Claridge. He's been photographing the East End 

and its inhabitants for a very long time now and 

you can see more of his work at the Vout-O- 

Reenees exhibition from 1 June until 21 July For 

more details, go to vout-o-reenees.com. 

Julie 

Julie Daniels 

T: 07752 288405 

E: julie@nutshellpublications.co.uk 

nutshellpublications.co.uk 

C O N T E N T S 

4 

John Claridge on 

photographing the 

East End 

8 

A snapshot of East 

Village in Stratford 

14 

Perfect pom poms 

made in East London, 

of course 

16 

Spitalfields Music 

Festival programme 

of events 

24 

Local art for free with 

the Arts Crusader 

Facebook: facebook.com/LoveEastMag 

Instagram: loveeastmag 

Twitter: @LoveEastMag 

Cover photo by Beinta á Torkilsheyggi 

To advertise in LoveEast please call 07752 288405 or email julie@nutshellpublications.co.uk for further information. 

Deadline for July edition is 5 June (please allow an extra two days if design is required). Nutshell Publications cannot 

be held responsible for any errors or omissions, or endorse companies, products or services that appear in this 

magazine. ©LoveEast all rights reserved. Magazine design, ilkadickens.com. No reproduction can be made without 

permission. Please recycle. 

LOVEEAST JUNE 2016 3

East life 

Photography: John Claridge 

Child at Window 

Photographer John Claridge talks to Isabelle Gerretsen about 

his memories of the East End 

John Claridge discovered his love of photography 

while growing up in the East End. “I bought a 

camera when I was eight with the money off me 

paper round,” he tells me. “I had this need to 

document my life and to take pictures of where 

I lived.” 

He was determined to achieve his dream from a 

young age. “I remember a guy came into school 

and asked us what we wanted to do. I told him: 

‘I’m going to be a photographer.’ When he said 

that it wasn’t easy to do, I said: ‘Yes it is. You just 

get a camera and start taking pictures.’” 

Claridge became East London’s most prolific 

photographer and captured the bustling 

atmosphere at the docks in his pictures. An 

amateur boxer himself, he shot characterful 

portraits of members of the London Ex-Boxers 

Association. These photos bring to life his East 

End and will be exhibited at Sophie Parkin’s 

private members club Vout-o-Renees in June. 

The photographs depict a very different area to 

today’s East End. “The area has changed, without 

a doubt,” Claridge says. “Corporate greed has 

walked into this area and the beautiful character 

has been chipped away. It’s sad.” 

4 LOVEEAST

I bought a camera when 

I was eight with the 

money off me paper 

round 

Even though he left the East End a long time ago 

– he moved away when he was 19 to set up his 

own studio by St Paul’s and now lives in France – 

he owes a lot to the area where he grew up. “My 

perception of the world, my principles and how I 

relate to emotions all come from the East End.” 

His portfolio also includes a great number 

of portraits of famous characters, including 

acclaimed film director John Huston and British 

East life 

comedian Tommy Cooper. “He was a charming 

man and great fun,” Claridge recalls. “I spent an 

intense couple of hours with him and had belly 

ache from laughing so much.” He describes 

comedian Spike Milligan, who asked him to take 

pictures for a book cover, as “another beautiful 

man. He suffered from depression and would go 

from being down to incredibly funny.” 

When asked to choose his favourite photo, he 

mentions the photos shot by the London Docks 

“showing the ships coming in through the fog”, but 

says he finds it difficult to pick one. “One picture 

doesn’t encompass everything.” 

It would be wrong to close your eyes to anything,” 

he adds. “I’m still looking.” 

How did East London influence your work? 

Being born and brought up in an area that had 

value across the whole spectrum, it gave me an 

attitude towards how I saw, and how I still see, the 

world. 

Continued overleaf... 

Beautiful Plantation Shutters & Blinds 

Introducing the “simply better” shutter range equally at home in contemporary or traditional interiors. 

Solid hardwood shutters… 

at MDF prices! 

25% off selected ranges 

Tel: 020 3418 8877 Email: sales@completeshutters.co.uk www.completeshutters.co.uk 

New Showroom at 90 George Lane, South Woodford, London E18 1JJ 


East life 

What makes you most proud? 

My East End upbringing. 

Where did you hang out in East London? 

Eddie Johnson’s The Two Puddings, Stratford; Iron 

Bridge Tavern, East India Dock Road; Waterman's 

Arms, Isle of Dogs; The Blind Beggar, Whitechapel; 

Kenny Johnson’s Lotus Club, Forest Gate; The 

Tottenham Royal, Tottenham; Stratford Snooker 

Hall, Stratford; West Ham Speedway, West Ham; 

York Hall (Boxing), Bethnal Green. 

Best coffee in these parts? 

The quiet basement kitchen of the magnificent 

18th-century Townhouse, 5 Fournier St, E1. 

Best restaurant? 

St John Bread & Wine, Commercial Street, E1. 

How has the area changed? 

It seems there’s a huge amount of corporate 

greed moving in. On the other hand, there are 

a lot of people who are fighting for and holding 

onto things that have value. 

The area’s best-kept secret? 

Sophie Parkin’s private members' club Vout-O- 

Reenee’s, 30 Prescot Street, E1 8AZ. 

If East London were human? 

In its human form it would be Charles Dickens.. 

John Claridge 

East London in a word? 

Special. 

To see more of John Claridge’s work visit Vout O 

Reenee’s at 30 Prescot Street, E1 8BB. Vout-oreenees.com. 

Exhibition open until 21 July. 

At Daybreak 

6 LOVEEAST

Revive your home with new windows & doors 

Add value to your property 

Improve energy efficiency 

Increase your security 

Contact Billy Evripidou on 07974 433023 

HENRY & SONS UK WINDOWS in partnership with Blitz Project Management 

Membership no 34206 


East Village 

The mirror maze at Victory Park 

Olive Loves Alfie – the very chic children's store 

Stratford's East Village is a vibrant community of great 

cafés, pretty green spaces and independent shops 

Just a short bike ride from Victoria Park, a whole 

new world is springing up in what was the 

athletes' village next to the Olympic Park, writes 

Julie Daniels.. If you want to avoid the sunny-day 

crowds of London Fields and Victoria Park, there's 

no better place to escape to. 

Alongside the high-rise flats there's a very pretty 

children's shop, new branches of Fish House and 

Bottle Apostle, and Dark Horse – a restaurant 

serving great modern European/Italian food (see 

their recipe on p33). 

Ellie Kwong, manager 

at Neighbourhood 

Most clients know me by my 

first name. There's this amazing 

community spirit 

I chatted to several of the shop-keepers and 

restaurant-owners who are proud to be part 

of this young and vibrant village. It's quickly 

growing into its own skin and the most frequently 

used word I heard was "community". It's often 

associated with older, more established areas, 

but in this case the opposite is true. This is a 

community that's young and brand spanking new. 

8 LOVEEAST

East Village 

Alberto Rosmini, 

owner of Signorelli's 

You know everybody here – it 

really is a village 

Signorelli's artisan bakery and coffee shop 

I met Alberto from artisan bakery Signorelli's, as 

well as East Village's very own "pioneer minister", 

Rev Annie McTighe. She's a minister without a 

church so instead meets her congregation on a 

Tuesday evening at Signorelli's, where Alberto 

whips up something delicious to eat before the 

service. That officially makes her the hippest 

reverend in East London. 

There's a bike shop (Pavé Velo), a Beijing street 

food restaurant Mama Lan and then there's La 

Gelatiera, serving delicious ice cream in a shop 

that's almost as pretty as it's display of gelato. 

It's a place that peope are getting excited about. 

It couldn't be better placed for transport links, 

which is probably one of the reasons why we'll 

soon see branches of the Victoria & Albert 

Museum, the Smithsonian and Sadler's Wells in 

the "Olympicopolis" (really) – the new museum 

and education development to be built on the 

south side of the Olympic Park. 

At the moment East Village feels a little quiet – a 

good thing for people wanting to enjoy some 

elbow room. That will change. Over the coming 

months, this burgeoning area will grow as new 

businesses move in and ventures are realised. 

If I were you, I'd make the most of it before the 

crowds come. 

eastvillagelondon.co.uk 

The Dark Horse restaurant 

Rev Annie McTighe, 

minister for the 

Olympic Park 

It’s a thrill to live in East 

Village. I love the energy and the 

freshness – the people are lovely 


Style & Substance 

Michelle Mason is Is co-owner of 

Mason and Painter at 67 Columbia Road. 

They sell a selection of vintage furniture and 

homewares. 

What's important to you? 

A good life / work balance. Creating an 

exciting space within the store for our 

customers, as well as finding great pieces 

with a story. 

What do you love about the East End? 

Living well, being able to eat locally in a 

wealth of great restaurants and running in 

the superb parks around East London. 

Rob Star is "a made-up name". 

A landlord of several East End pubs, founder 

of Eastern Electrics music festival & Leicester 

City football fan. 


Enjoying life. If you don’t enjoy what you are 

doing, then why are you doing it? 

What do you love about the East End? 

I used to love the non-stop raves when I 

first moved here, but now I’m getting older 

and I’m trying to get fit, I love the Lido, the 

Olympic Pool and Victoria Park. 

Interviews & portraits by Lady Ray 

10 LOVEEAST

WORKSHOP 

Fast, effective and 

permanent results 

Visitors are welcome at 

Caroline's little shop, 

which is crowded with 

stoneware pots – all made 

on the premises 

Personal training with Michelle Crawford 

Children welcome if you can't get childcare 

Fighting Fit Studio, 15 Bow Wharf, E3 5SN 

michellept.wordpress.com 

07805 612127 

77A Lauriston Road, E9 7HA 

020 8986 9585 

carolinebousfield.co.uk 

Your safety is 

our concern 

The most comprehensive lock-based service available 

www.empiresecuritylondon.com 020 8986 7921 

8-20 Well Street, London, E9 7PX 


Business focus 

LoveEast talks to 

Billy Evripidou 

about draughty 

windows – and 

how he can help 

reduce your bills 

Billy Evripidou of Blitz Project 

Management has been in 

parnership with Henry & Sons 

for the past 16 years, making 

bespoke hardwood, UPVC and 

aluminium windows and doors. 

LoveEast asked Billy to describe 

the company's ethos and what 

makes them stand out from their 

competitors. 


Creating something special for 

our customers is what's most 

important to us. We therefore 

deliver a great product, a high 

quality service, considerate 

installation and great aftercare 

if needed – all within a sensible 

budget for our clients. All our 

windows are Fensa-certified and 

come with a 10-year insurancebacked 

guarantee. 

What service do you provide? 

I'll always listen to what people 

want but will always give an 

honest opinion on what I think 

suits the house. The properties 

we work with range from fairly 

new to Victorian and Edwardian 

homes. These obviously 

require a lot more care and 

attention so that the original 

beautiful features are retained. 

Many people tolerate sticking 

windows and high fuel bills 

Billy Evripidou 

because they're in a Victorian 

house, not realising that you 

can replicate a beautiful doubleglazed 

hardwood sash window. 

We also make bi-fold doors, so 

with the summer almost upon 

us why not link your home 

to your garden and bring the 

outside in? 

What else sets you apart? 

I will go myself and meet the 

client. It's a personal service 

and we're proud of that. But 

don't take my word for it. 

Here's what one of my clients 

said: “From the time of meeting 

Billy he has treated me with the 

utmost respect. He really listened 

to my ideas and understood my 

design and vision. He made me 

feel completely at ease.” (Source: 

checkatrade.com) 

Why not give Billy a call to find 

out more? 07974 433023 

Billy's top tips 

• Think about your bills 

Make the most of the 

summer to replace the 

sticking and draughty 

windows and reduce bills 

(and make your house 

energy-efficient) 

• Reduce outside noise 

Replacing windows will 

give you peace & quiet. 

• Thinking of selling? 

You may be asked to 

reduce your price by 

more than it would cost 

to replace your windows. 

Double glazing would 

also drastically improve 

your Energy Performance 

Certificate (required by 

law when selling). 

12 LOVEEAST

Faraday School 

Independent Prep School 

7 Trinity Buoy Wharf London E14 0FH 

Tel: 020 7719 9342 

Pupils' attainment “is judged to be well above 

national age-related expectations” ISI Inspection Report 

Ÿ Creative, independent preparatory school 

Ÿ Strong academic foundation, teaching Core Knowledge 

Ÿ Rigorous approach to learning 

Ÿ Outstanding pastoral care 

Ÿ Confident and articulate pupils 

Ÿ Unique riverside location in a creative hub 

Ÿ Small Class sizes 

Fee for the Academic Year 2015/16 £2,930 per term 

To find out more, or to register, please contact 

admissions@faradayschool.co.uk- T: 020 8965 7374 

Late Care Until 5.30pm 

Daily School Bus Run (including south of the river) 

Boat charter available (from North Greenwich Pier) 

www.faradayschool.co.uk 

nms 


East London makers 

Photography: Pom Pom Factory 

Creating the pom pom dresses hanging display for Merci Paris 

Christine Preisig talks to pom pom-maker Karen Hsu at 

her East London studio 

With their delicate fluffy, almost 

evanescent petals, Karen Hsu’s 

flower pom poms are like 

objects from a fairyland. 

They come in all sizes and many 

wonderful colours and are 

handmade by Karen and her 

team at the Pom Pom Factory. 

The ornaments are used 

for window displays, party 

decorations, editorials and 

sometimes are even worn as 

accessories. They can be bought 

individually or assembled 

together as an elaborate 

installation. 

14 LOVEEAST 

Karen moved here from Hong 

Kong in 2001 to do a foundation 

course followed by a degree in 

graphic design at Central Saint 

Martins. Many years and career 

moves later she started working 

at the Mercantile clothing shop 

in Spitalfields. 

In 2010, the owner of the 

shop was in urgent need of a 

Christmas window display. With 

no budget but a lot of white 

wrapping paper at her disposal, 

Karen came to the rescue 

and transformed the window 

into a whimsical white flower 

scene. Before long, she started 

Karen, surrounded by her pom poms

eceiving enquiries – for single 

pom poms as well as for whole 

flower installations. 

Her following grew rapidly and 

she was commissioned to make 

party decorations and window 

displays for other shops. That’s 

when the Pom Pom Factory in 

its current form was born. 

The breakthrough for Karen 

came when a merchandiser 

from a French clothing brand 

noticed her work and placed 

an order for 600 pom poms for 

their Paris flagship store. That 

was her first big commission. 

Soon after, she gave up her job 

at the store and ever since has 

made pom poms for a living. 

Because it’s a simple creation 

and the only product of the 

Pom Pom Factory, every 

When making 

the flowers my 

head is always 

free – and that 

feels very 

creative 

element of it needs to be 

perfect. “You can’t really cheat. 

It’s paper.” Karen says. 

To make the pom poms, 

she takes a bunch of tissue 

East London makers 

paper, layers them and folds 

them into an accordion fan. 

She then ties the middle of 

the fan with wire and cuts 

the edges round. By carefully 

unfolding the accordion and 

separating the sheets of the 

flimsy paper, Karen brings 

the flower to blossom. She 

works quickly and is very 

precise. If there's enough time 

at hand, though, she prefers to 

work more slowly. 

“Pom pom-making is very 

therapeutic," she explains. "I like 

the repetitiveness of it. When 

making the flowers, my head 

is always free and that feels 

very creative”. Maybe it's in her 

Asian genes, she suggests. Her 

Asian friends feel the same. 

Often they come over to her 

place for pom pom-making 

after a stressful day at work. 

“We sometimes laugh and 

call ourselves Chinese factory 

workers.” 

Karen’s friends in Hong Kong 

can’t believe that she is still able 

to make a living out of her paper 

flowers. She is not scared of 

running out of work doing her 

ornaments. “If this happens, I’ll 

just look for something else to 

do. I just let it happen,” she says 

light-heartedly. 

It seems like Karen is the living 

proof that pom pom-making has 

a calming and positive effects 

on one’s state of mind. 

thepompomfactory.co.uk 

A tunnel of red paper flowers: Selfridges Forest Restaurant & Bar 


Spitalfields Music Festival 

Photography: John Angerson 

Advertorial 

Depart (the circus event in the cemetery) 

Spitalfields Music Summer 

Festival: 2–26 June 

Welcome to Spitalfields Music Summer Festival, a 

celebration of our unique home in East London and 

the spirit of the people who live and work within it. 

2016 marks our 40th birthday and we are proud 

to offer a diverse programme featuring opera, 

folk, jazz, early and contemporary music. From 

2–26 June, we’re bringing extraordinary music to 

unexpected venues, from museums, cafés and 

churches to markets, gardens and cemeteries. 

Here are a few festival highlights: 

Playspace Singing Workshop Saturday 4 June 

Experiment with new sounds in a singing 

workshop catered to all abilities. Whether you 

can read music or not, come and sing in rounds, 

read from a cartoon score and use your body as 

percussion in this innovative workshop exploring 

music written around the theme of play. 

Playspace (free family event) Saturday 4 June 

Come to Shoreditch Church gardens for a free 

afternoon of crafts, poetry and music in the 

sunshine. Have fun with a feast of activities 

to keep all ages entertained, from storytelling 

workshops, scrap percussion, musicians, arts and 

crafts, plus local food and refreshment stalls. 

Anno Monday 6 to Tuesday 7 June 

Join sisters Anna and Eleanor Meredith and 

experience Vivaldi’s Four Seasons as you’ve never 

seen or heard before in this immersive adventure 

at Oval Space. 

Schubert Ensemble Monday 13 June 

Under the elegant high-domed ceiling of The 

Octagon, The Schubert Ensemble celebrates 

female composers with a premiere of Cheryl 

Frances-Hoad’s piano quintet The Whole Earth 

Dances, alongside a quintet by Louise Farrenc. 

Depart Thursday 16 –Sunday 26 June 

Tower Hamlets Cemetery provides a haunting 

setting for this ethereal cross art form 

collaboration between circus artists Circa, aerialists, 

choral singers and installation artists for a summer 

night full of surprises. 

Ticket prices are from £5*. Book online at 

spitalfieldsmusic.org.uk. 

*Tower Hamlets residents who haven’t been to one of our 

events before can claim two free tickets. See spitalfieldsmusic. 

org.uk/get-involved/no-strings-attached or call the box office 

on 020 7377 1362. 

16 LOVEEAST

JAMES’ STORY: PART 4 

I never thought I would enjoy it 

quite this much. 

But I’m here after 10 months, up to 4 times per week. 

If you want to exercise on a small budget, with 

professional tuition, on your own terms, amongst 

all the very normal people of Hackney, then look no 

further. London Fields Fitness is where it’s at. 

the end 

£30=130 

classes p/month 

fitness classes - spin - personal training 

FIND OUT MORE AT 

londonfieldsfitness.com / @londonfieldsfit 


What's on in June 

MON TUES WEDS THURS 

Weekly 

Pilates, 6.15pm and 

7.30pm, Hackney Forge. 

fiona.maris@yahoo.co.uk 

Open Mic night, 8pm. 

For June only, a Summer 

Songwriter Showdown. 

at Off Broadway, 

Broadway Market, E8. 

Life Drawing classes 

7-9.30pm, 88 Lower 

Clapton Road. 

Contact Malgorzata at 

lifedrawing_clapton@ 

gmail.com 

Yoga, 8.10-9.10pm, 

Vicky Park Community 

Centre, 5 Gore Road. 

Toddler ballet, 11am- 

12pm or 12-1pm. 

Stratford Circus in 

Theatre Square. 2-4yrs 

£7 drop-in or £50 for a 

10-week term. 

eastlondondance.org 

6 

Town Hall Tea Dance 

with Mr Wonderful 

12-1pm. Beginners' 

Dance Class at 

Shoreditch Town Hall. 

6, 13 

Taiko Beginners' Classes 

7.30pm, 72 Dunbridge 

Street, E2. Learn the art 

of Japanese drumming. 

£60. eastcitytaiko.com 

6, 20 

Flesh And Bones Life 

Drawing, 7-9pm, 

Hackney Picturehouse. 

From £15 per ticket. 

Beginners welcome. 

noelbasualdo.com 

Weekly 

7-9pm. Hackney 

Harmony community 

choir practise at 

Hackney City Farm. 

magik_tree@hotmail. 

com for info. 

Oyster Happy Hour 

6-7pm. Runs for an 

hour a day at The 

Richmond’s oyster 

bar on Queensbridge 

Road, E8. 

Pool tournament, 7pm. 

at the Adam & Eve, 

Homerton High Street. 

Winners get a burger & 

fries and a gallon of ale 

Learn to dance, 7pm. 

with Swing Dance 

Patrol Victoria Park, 

£10. swingpatrol.co.uk 

Mums and babies yoga. 

10.30-11.30, Hackney 

Forge with Clare. 

7 

Vivaldi’s Four Seasons 

by Anna Meredith. 

8.30-9.30pm. Part of 

the Spitalfields Summer 

Music Festival.£15. 


Marusa Sagadin’s Doris 

Iconic Iconic exhibition. 

6pm, SPACE on Mare 

Street, FREE. 

28 

Photography, 10am- 

5pm. Last day to visit 

the final-year exhibition 

of Uni of Portsmouth 

Photography students 

at Hoxton Arches on 

Cremer Street. FREE. 

1 

Fishing Taster Day. 

12-3pm, Vicky Park. 

Call 020 7364 7968 

or email victoriapark@ 

towerhamlets.gov.uk 

Leaf Printing. 10.30am- 

12pm, Tower Hamlets 

Cemetery Park. £3. 

tess.pettinger@fothcp. 

org, All ages over 4. 

Lift Festival 2016. 

8pm, Taylor Mac kicks 

off the month-long 

festival. £10-25. 

hackneyempire.co.uk 

Love Bombs & Apples. 

8-9.30pm, Arcola 

theatre. Tickets £12- 

17. Until 25 June. 

arcolatheatre.com 

Plonk Crazy Golf. 

4-11pm (12-11pm 

on weekends), The 

People’s Park Tavern. 

Running Tue-Sun. 

£7.50 per player. 

plonkgolf.co.uk 

15 

8.30-9.30pm. As part 

of the Spitalfields 

Music Festival Multi- 

Story Orchestra 

performs at the 

Museum of Childhood. 

£15 vam.ac.uk 

15 

Summer Tea Dance 

12.30-3.30pm. Victoria 

Park. Over-50s. 

020 7364 7968 or 

email victoriapark@ 

towerhamlets.gov.uk 

Weekly 

Artbash art club 

4-5.45pm. Round 

Chapel Old School 

Rooms, 2 Powerscroft 

Rd, E5. artbash.co.uk 

Young Hackney Fine Art 

4-5.45pm or 4.15- 

6pm, Hackney City 

Farm. Classes from £5. 

noelbasualdo.com 

2-26 

Spitalfields Music 

Summer Festival 

Month-long line-up in 

unexpected places, 

(from museums to 

cemeteries). Info: 


2 

Flower show 2-5pm. 

Dalston Curve Garden 

activities for children. 

2 

Marginal Consort. 8pm, 

St John of Hackney 

Church. £17.60 

9 

After Hours Botanical 

Dyes, 6.30pm-8.30pm, 

TH Cemetery Park. 

16 

Circus in a Cemetery 

9pm. Australian circus 

company stage their 

latest performance 

in Tower Hamlets 

Cemetery Park. 

Art and Craft courses 

1.30-3.30pm, St 

Margaret’s House, Old 

Ford Road. £30 for 

4-week. ginnyhawke5@ 

hotmail.co.uk 

18 LOVEEAST

What's on extra 

Museum of Childhood 

On Sunday, 5 June Montessori educators will lead drop-in activities focused on Montessori creative 

play activities for children and their parents and carers. These activities can be then used in the 

home. The event is free and no need to book. 

This month there are two events for adults connected to the exhibition On Their Own: Britain’s Child 

Migrants. On Monday, 6 June there’s an evening talk, Education for the Empire which costs £5, and 

to mark the end of the exhibition the Museum is 

holding a one-day conference on Saturday, 11 

June, Britain’s Child Migrants: Interpreting the Past 

and Remembering Today. £45 for the conference 

and both events need to be booked online. The 

exhibition is free and closes 12 June. 

© Multi-Story Orchestra 

Why not get involved in our musical events on 

Wednesday, 15 June? Join young performers and 

Multi-Story Orchestra for a free afternoon dropin. 

This is followed by an evening performance. 

Both events are organised in association with 

Spitalfields Music Summer Festival. Evening tickets 

£15. Book spitalfieldsmusic.org.uk 

Looking for something creative for the kids to do this summer? We’re running two artist-led summer 

camps where children can create films, make giant toy cars and have lots of messy fun. Split into two age 

groups 5-10 years and 8-11 years, the camps will run weekdays from 25 July to 5 August and cost from 

£80 for two days. 

For full details and to book a place at the events and the summer camp, visit vam.ac.uk/moc/whatson 

V&A Museum of Childhood, Cambridge Heath Road, E2 

The Great East End Walk is back 

Sunday, 17 July. Would you Adam and Eve it? There's flat 

caps, braces and lots of fun to be had at this year’s Great 

East End Walk. This year entrants can choose from three 

routes. A five-mile family-friendly route, 10 miles or 15 

miles for those who want a challenge. You'll walk with 

hundreds of others in what is always a fun, sociable 

and friendly event. 

Take in treasures old and new from vibrant East End 

parks to scenic canal paths. Finish in style with a good 

old fashioned Summer Knees Up at London Fields. All 

the money raised will help St Joseph’s Hospice continue 

to support people affected by life-limiting conditions. 

Help us raise much-needed funds and have great fun while 

you're doing it. Sign up at stjh.org.uk/GEEW or call 020 8525 6033 


School report 

exhibition, and the London 

Parkour Academy. 

Class sizes are kept small, with 

the mornings focused on the 

core subjects of literacy and 

mathematics. 

Advertorial 

Small breakout groups for 

phonics and English, set on 

ability rather than age, take 

place each morning. This 

ensures that every pupil works 

at the right pace for them, 

and that their learning is 

consolidated before they move 

on to the next stage. 

It also contributes to pupils 

progressing rapidly and staying 

engaged, which explains why 

there is a buzz about the place. 

Surrounded by creativity at Faraday School 

Based in one of the most creative 

areas in London, Faraday School is 

unique, says Emily Sutton 

In a far-flung corner of the East 

End, where the River Lea meets 

the Thames at Bow Creek, a 

maths lesson is taking place. 

The pupils barely glance up 

as a former lighthouse boat 

(now a recording studio) bobs 

into view on the racing tide. 

After all, this is just another day 

at Faraday School. 

This small independent prep 

school for pupils aged 4 to 

11 has to be one of the most 

unique in London. Founded in 

2009, and growing a year group 

at a time, Faraday teaches 

a traditional curriculum in a 

creative environment. And, 

being housed at Trinity Buoy 

Wharf, it doesn’t get much more 

creative. 

The school started life in a 

converted warehouse building – 

once the workshop of scientist 

Michael Faraday and, as it 

expanded, converted shipping 

containers were used to provide 

more space. 

Neighbours at the Wharf include 

the Royal Drawing School, 

whose staff and students 

judge Faraday’s annual art 

Drawing on the site’s scientific 

history, the school operates 

a house system – all named 

after scientists. House teams 

compete in a range of activities 

in mixed year groups, which 

encourages engagement in the 

whole school community. 

But the best way to truly 

understand Faraday School 

is to visit yourself, so why not 

come along to one of our open 

mornings? 

They take place on 9 June 

from 9.30am and 21 June from 

9.45am. 

Booking is essential, so please 

do call us on 020 8965 7374 to 

make an appointment, or visit 

the website to book online. 

Faraday School, Old Gate House, 

7 Trinity Buoy Wharf, E14 0FH. 

faradayschool.co.uk 

20 LOVEEAST

FRI SAT SAT SUN 

What's on in June 

Weekly 

Pottery hand-throwing 

classes, 6-9pm, Adults 

& children, 12+ 

Wonderland Ceramics, 

237 Victoria Park Rd, E9 

Dance Play for Parents 

and Toddlers. 9.30- 

10.30am, Christchurch 

Primary School, Brick 

Lane. info@lodc.org 

3 

Water Fun Festival. 

12-3pm, Vicky Park. 

Love N Stuff. 7-9.30pm, 

Until 25 June Theatre 

Royal. Email tickets@ 

stratfordeast.com 

10 

UEFA Euro 2016. 8pm, 

London Fields’ Pub 

on the Park. France v 

Romania kick off UEFA 

Euro 2016. 

Ela Orleans. 8pm. 

Tickets £10-12, Café 

Oto in Dalston. 

cafeoto.co.uk 

24 

Slide down the Orbit 

£10-15. Tickets go on 

sale from today for 

the new slide at the 

ArcelorMittal Orbit, QE 

Olympic Park 

Art at the Wetlands 

10am-4pm. From 

£60. Award-winning 

photographer Penny 

Dixie is running 

introduction to 

Wildlife Photography 

woodberrywetlands. 

org.uk 

Weekly 

Roman Road Yard 

Market, 10-5pm, with 

some exciting new 

traders including Geo 

Fleur, Vintage Velvet, 

All the Fun of the Fair 

and NLR Vinyl stall. 

Geffrye Explorer12.30– 

4.30pm. Ages 3-11yrs. 

geffrye-museum.org.uk 

4 

AC/DC, 5pm. The first 

band to perform 

at the transformed 

Olympic stadium. 

Tickets available at 

ticketmaster.co.uk 

Summer Fair, 12-5pm. 

Friends of Tower 

Hamlets Park Summer 

Fair. Stalls still available 

so email contact@ 

fothcp.org 

Annual Summer 

Fair, 12-5pm, Tower 

Hamlets Cemetery 

Park. fothcp.org 

Gardening volunteer 

day at Bow Church. 

10am-noon. 230 Bow 

Road, E3. 

An American in Paris 

(in London) 12-3pm. 

Tickets £20. Learn to 

sing and dance like 

they do in Broadway, 

combining ballet, jazz 

and vocal work. Ace 

Hotel in Shoreditch 

Spitalfields Music Fest 

1-5pm. FREE. Open 

to all ages, Spitalfields 

Music Summer Festival 

presents Playspace, 

an afternoon of music 

performances at 

St Leonard's Church 

Garden, Shoreditch 

High Street. 

4-5 

Learn to make stuff 

Upholstery 

techniques. £185. 

The School of Stuff 

Shacklewell Lane. 

theschoolofstuff.co.uk 

Born & Bread Fest 

Tickets run from £40. 

Dance music festival 

at Haggerston Park. 

bornandbredfestival. 

com 

11 

Goodroots Festival 

9am-5pm. 28 Millers 

Avenue, Dalston. 

Health and wellness 

scene, plus great 

street food. Under 12s 

FREE. goodroots.co.uk 

11, 12 

Field Day at Vicky Park. 

fielddayfestivals.com 

18 

Gardening volunteer 

day at Bow Church. 

10-1pm. 230 Bow Rd 

18, 19 

Cholate Factory Open 

Studios, 11-6pm. 

Events being held 

by artists – practical 

demonstrations, talks, 

alongside the art, craft 

and design. Farleigh 

Place, Dalston, N16 

chocolatefactoryn16. 

com 

Weekly 

Village Green market. 

11am, Hackney Downs 

Studios. FREE. 

5 

Big Lunch day. The 

Parklands, Olympic 

Park. Food, vintage 

games and dancing. 

Learn about Ken Loach 

7.30-11.30pm. Exclusive 

documentary screening. 

mothclub.co.uk 

The Fitzwilliam String 

Quartet. 7-9pm, 

Old Church, Stoke 

Newington. £12. shms. 

org.uk 

Well Street Common Fest. 

12-5pm. Dog show, 

stalls, tea tent, live 

music, BBQ and more 

wellstreetcommon.co.uk 

18,19 

Open Garden Squares 

10am-5pm. Check 

out Derbyshire Street 

Pocket Park in Bethnal 

Green. FREE. 

26 

Canal Festival 11am- 

5pm. East End Canal 

Festival by Art Pavilion, 

Mile End Park. Boat 

trips, tea, cakes, walks. 

Wild Food Forage.10am- 

1.30pm. Learn all about 

foraging £37.75. 14yrs+. 

woodberrywetlands. 

org.uk 

Guided Bee Walk. 2-4pm. 

Book at fothcp.org. 

FREE. 


MON TUES WEDS THURS 

1 

2 

Art events 

General events 

Outdoor events 

Fishing taster day p18 

Leaf printing p18 

Lift festival H/Empire p18 

Love Bombs & Apples p18 

Artbash p18 

Fine Art p18 

Dalston 

Curve Flower 

Show p18 

6 

Tea dance p18 

Toddler ballet p18 

Pilates p18 

Hatha yoga p18 

Open mic p18 

Life drawing p18 

7 

Vivaldi 4 Seasons p18 

Mums/baby yoga p18 

Hackney Harmony 

Choir p18 

Oyster happy hour p18 

Swing Dance p18 

8 

Lift festival at Hackney 

Empire p18 

10.30-12 Coffee morning, 

Vicky Park Community 

Centre, 5 Gore Road. 

9 

Botanical 

Dyes p18 

13 


Pilates p18 


Open mic p18 


14 



Choir p18 

Oyster happy hour p18 


15 

Multi-Story Orchestra at 

Museum Childhood p18 

Tea Dance p18 

16 

Circus in a 

Cemetery 

p18 

Arts/crafts 

courses p18 

20 


Pilates p18 


Open mic p18 


21 



Choir p18 


22 

10am, baby music 

classes at Hackney Farm 

23 

1-3pm Get 

knitting and 

nattering, at 

Vicky Park Com 

Club, 5 Gore Rd 

27 


Pilates p18 


Open mic p18 

28 


Hackney choir p18 


29 

10am, baby music 

classes at Hackney Farm 

30 

22 LOVEEAST

FRI SAT SUN 

3 

Pottery/throwing p21 

Water Fun Festival p21 

Love N Stuff p21 

10 


UEFA Euro 2016 

Ela Orleans, Café Oto p21 

4 

Roman Rd Yard Market p21 

AC/DC, Olympic Stadium p21 

Summer Fair p21 

Gardening volunteer day p21 

An American in Paris p21 

Born & Bread Fest p21 

11 


Geoffrye Explorers p21 

Goodroots Festival p21 

Field Day p21 

5 

Ken Loach docu p21 

And on 4th. Learn to 

upholster p21 

Village Green Market p21 

Well St Common Fest p21 

String Quartet p21 

12 

Field Day p21 


17 


24 


Slide down the Orbit p21 

Art at the Wetlands p21 

18 

Open Garden Squares p21 



Chocolate Factory Open 

Studios p21 

Gardening volunteer day p21 

25 



19 

Father's Day 

Chocolate Factory Open 

Studios p21 

Open Garden Squares 

p21 

26 

Guided Bee Walk p21 


Canal Festival, p21 

Wild Food Forage p21 

June 


Arts 

Photos: Angie Gough 

Printed on vinyl and dotted 

on walls from Mare Street, via 

London Fields, to Regents Canal, 

each image is accompanied by 

an audio story, unlocked when 

you download the free Space 

Explorer app. The images are 

intriguing as is, but the audio 

brings a whole other dimension. 

Cathie on Gayhurst Road is 

a recovering alcoholic. She 

attributes her recovery to the 

power of the desert and its wild 

dogs who rescued her when 

she was at her lowest ebb. 

Cathie: Morland Estate, Gayhurst Road, E8 

Angie Gough has been well and 

truly arts-kicked by some big, bold 

and beautiful photographs on our 

neighbourhood walls 

Round the corner on Richmond 

Road are a set of dinosaur claws 

deposited by a UFO, according 

to a man who knows Jesus 

personally. 

Angela, on Regent’s Canal, found 

peace and mental clarity in the 

desert after years in the City, 

while Sandi, on Wilton Way, 

found freedom in shunning 

consumption. 

Robin reckons his subjects 

would get a kick out of where 

they’ve ended up. From the 

American desert to the streets 

of Hackney, who’da thunk it, eh? 

Space Explorer is a pioneering 

public art initiative and the 

brainchild of photographer 

Robin Mellor and co-founder 

Yassa Khan. 

Having lived in Hackney for 

12 years, Robin realised that 

for such a creative borough, 

there wasn't much public art 

on display, so he made the 

walls of Hackney his gallery – 

harnessing the power of the 

smartphone while he was at it. 

Boom! A whole new immersive 

art experience was born. 

24 LOVEEAST 

“It was set up to inspire those 

who wouldn’t ordinarily think 

about walking into a gallery," he 

says. "It’s important to try and 

reach out to an audience who 

aren’t regular art lovers, as well 

as those who are.” 

The exhibition comprises 15 

large-scale photographs, and 

takes viewers on a thoughtprovoking 

search for answers to 

the meaning of life, expressed 

through the stories of people 

who live in the American desert. 

Pausing to look and listen 

as we amble through our 

neighbourhood, crossing paths 

in this way with people living 

at such a physical remove 

from ourselves, is a positively 

energising experience. It’s 

certainly got me thinking and 

renewed my belief in the 

creative power of boredom. 

For kids and adults alike, less 

is more. We don’t need to be 

constantly doing things and 

consuming stuff. Sometimes, 

just let’s all get bored as hell 

and watch what happens next.

Arts 

This is an exhibition for all ages 

– it’s got fresh air, dinosaurs, 

UFOs, funny hairdos, cowboy, 

hats, the eternal search for the 

meaning of life and parentapproved 

screen time. It’s 

absolutely, positively right up 

my street. 

The exhibition runs till 30 June. 

Keep an eye on the website for 

details of artist-led workshops on 

the Wilton Estate and at Hackney 

Picturehouse. space-explorer.co.uk 

Download the Space Explorer 

app for free, or pick up a copy 

of the magazine in cafés along 

the route. Swoosh! 

Read more on theartscrusader. 

blogspot.co.uk 

Robin Mellor with Chuck: Wilton Estate, Forest Road, E8 

View of the bandstand in Victoria Park ©Heather James 2013 

Heather James: art 

Original artwork • giclée prints 

greetings cards • available for sale 

www.plantin.co.uk 

art@plantin.plus.com 


Local heroes 

Photos: Rhowena MacCuish 

Anthony Pitt, left, and Dominic Gates, right 

Chocolate-beetroot brownies 

Rhowena MacCuish discovers a Brick Lane bakery that is 

helping to create a brighter future for the homeless 

Rise Bakery doesn't just satisfy our sugary urges 

with delicious brownies, cookies and cakes, 

but offers East London’s most vulnerable an 

opportunity to seek a brighter future. How? All of 

their produce is made and sold by people who 

used to be homeless. 

The bakery is a part of the charity Providence 

Row’s multi award-winning Catering Trainee 

Scheme, introduced by Dominic Gates in 2010. 

The charity provides training for homeless people 

to help them gain qualifications, find work and get 

their confidence back. 

"Our trainees learn new skills, build confidence 

and make friends," says Dominic "The bakery also 

gives Providence Row an opportunity to work 

like a business more sustainably and to generate 

much-needed funds." 

Anthony Pitt, who also helps run the training 

scheme, set up Rise Bakery's letterbox-friendly 

online delivery system, as well as overseeing the 

redesign and relaunch of their good-looking and 

easy-to-navigate website. "To me, Rise is about 

new beginnings. It's a chance for our trainees 

to go into the next, positive phase of their lives 

equipped with the confidence and skills to 

succeed by making and selling amazing brownies 

as gifts and treats," he says. 

"Rise Bakery not only gives people the opportunity 

to buy delicious cakes online, but also to directly 

support talented trainees in getting back into 

work – just with a simple purchase," says Dominic. 

Why not show your support by buying some of 

their produce? Father's Day is coming up, so what 

better present than delivery of some delicious 

brownies? Place your order at risebakery.london 

If you can spare some time to get involved yourself 

do get in touch with Providence Row, and if you 

would like to donate, please visit providencerow.org. 

uk/donate 

If you see a rough sleeper, please call 0330 500 0914 

or head to streetlink.org.uk to refer a person in need 

of help. 

26 LOVEEAST

Sophie's world 

Photo: Claire Lawrie 

feel. But living having killed 

off your own sense of selfpreservation 

is worse and no 

way to live at all. When you can't 

hear your own voice anymore; 

can't feel the sun shining or if 

it's pouring with rain, you just 

disengage – and that's surely 

not the point of life. 

It certainly isn't the point when 

you run a club and have to be 

engaged the whole bloody time, 

whether you like it or not, with 

the song and dance of life and 

what makes people laugh or cry. 

Sophie Parkin 

It's all about being happy, writes 

Sophie Parkin 

At last, domestic abuse is on 

everybody's lips, and it's all 

down to Radio 4 and The Archers 

Let us not forget 750,000 

children in the UK witness 

domestic violence every year, 

and two women die every week. 

Only a middle class soap could 

make it possible to talk about 

the impossible that effects so 

many, and who thought we 

would still be listening to The 

Archers in 2016? 

Little Paper Slippers is a charity 

that helps children and mothers 

through the trauma via play 

workshops and creative painting 

and making – going into refuges 

and working with them on a 

one-to-one basis. It is building 

a library of little individually 

decorated paper slippers that 

will grow to fill the Turbine Hall 

(as I imagine it) ; a testament to 

the survivors and the ones that 

got away. 

Here at Vout-O-Reenes, we're 

doing an auction of artists' 

paper slippers to raise funds. 

Please come and join us on 

Thursday, 9 June. It's a cause 

close to my heart. 

Leaving behind the old, being 

brave and living by your 

instincts, no matter what others 

tell you is the right or the wrong 

way to behave (oh and your 

ruining everyone's lives from 

your selfish behaviour), is very 

hard. Only you know how you 

Making sure people have a 

good time is an art: never 

underestimate what it takes to 

make fun. The best fun seems 

to occur naturally, but in actual 

fact the universe has been 

working it out for millions of 

years by supplying the basic 

elements. 

Midsummer is soon upon 

us, yet it hardly feels like 

summer has begun. It's a time 

for mayhem so come and 

celebrate. Go and do what 

makes you feel good: howl 

at the moon on the Hackney 

Marshes or run down to 

Wapping naked – or come to 

Vout-O-Reenees for a joyous 

night of Mexican music, female 

comedy, dancing and fun. 

Here's to glorious, summer 

days and light nights, and to 

doing what makes you happy – 

and not what others think you 

should do. 

Sophie Parkin is the proprietor of 

vout-o-reenees.com 


What to do 

Pottery 

On Sundays: Weekly drop-in children's pottery at 

Hackney City Farm, 11am-1pm and 2-4pm. £5. 

Goldsmith's Row, E2. 

Hand-throwing classes at Wonderland Ceramics 

every Friday evening, wonderlandceramics.com 

Stories 

Storytime for the under 5s at Victoria Park 

Community Centre every Tuesday from 10am to 

11.30am. 5 Gore Road, E9. FREE. 

Third Tuesday of the month: 4-5pm. . 

Chatterbooks reading group (ages 8-12) at 

Clapton library. Call 020 8356 7480 for more info 

Building 

Free Mini Builders at Shoreditch Library for under 

5s and parents. 

Museums 

Free drop-in activities every day at The Museum 

of Childhood, including arts and crafts, tours, trails 

and storytelling. For ages 3-12 years. Cambridge 

Heath Road, E2. Plus: check out p19 for this 

month's extra activities. 

Want to be a Geffrye Explorer? There is lots of fun 

to be had between 12.30pm and 4.30pm every 

Saturday at geffrye-museum.org.uk 

Swimming 

London Fields Lido offer swimming lessons and 

they’ve started giving stages 3-8 swimming classes 

again. Go to betterlessons.org.uk for details and 

booking. Plus of course, there's Mile End Leisure 

Centre, York Hall in Bethnal Green and the 

gorgeous Aquatics Centre, QE Olympic Park. 

Drama and story-telling 

classes for under 5s 

Has your little one 

got the acting bug? 

Join Sam Seager 

(Bobby from Cbeebies 

Me Too!) and her team 

First class is FREE 

Every Wednesday morning at 

Hackney Forge, 243a Victoria 

Park Road, E9 7HD 

Email Sam at info@actingbugs.co.uk and 

get your child's imagination buzzing 

www.actingbugs.co.uk 

Children's Centres 

Wentworth on Cassland Road (wentworth. 

hackney.sch.uk), Gainsborough on Berkshire Road 

(gainsborough.hackney.sch.uk/childrens-centre), 

and Morningside on Chatham Place (morningside. 

hackney.sch.uk/childrens-centre). Meath Gardens 

Children's Centre, 1 Smart Street, E2; Mile End 

Leisure Centre, The One O'Clock Club (Vicky Park 

near boating lake); Overland Children's Centre, 60 

Parnell Road, E3. 

Yoga for babies... 

Baby-focused classes using massage, classical 

yoga postures, stretches and balances adapted 

to their stage of growth. Fridays, Royal Inn on the 

Park, E9.10.45am-11.45am. £6.50. Karen: firsttouchmassage@hotmail.co.uk, 

07902 227 669. 

Yoga for babies... and their mums 

Yoga for Mums and Babies, every Tuesday 

28 LOVEEAST

with the kids 

at 10.15am with tea and biscuits afterwards. 

Hackney Forge, E9. 07958 645 978 or email 

clare@clareday-yoga.co.uk 

Baby Music Class in the Straw Bale building at 

Hackney City Farm. 10-10.45am and 11-11.45am. 

babymusicclass.co.uk 

Acting 

Diddy Bugs. Try Hackney Forge on a Wednesday 

morning. Cbeebies actress Samantha Seager runs 

acting classes for little tots. actingbugs.co.uk 

Music 

Piccolo music for babies and toddlers, Mondays, 

Wednesdays and Fridays in the V&A building 

in Victoria Park. Toddler class 10am, baby class 

11am. Just drop in. Stefanie, 07708 451 314. 

Dancing 

Wiggly Jigglers at Rich Mix. Creative movement for 

0-2yrs. Call 020 7613 7498 to book. 

There’s ballet for children at the Hackney Forge 

on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Call Mafalda 

on 07550 722 693 for details and check out 

mafaldaballetblog.blogspot.com 

Activity times may change, so please do check on 

times/availability via the websites or phone numbers 

provided after each entry. 

Piccolo 

Singing, Music & Dancing 

A truly fun-packed 

45 minute drop-in 

session for babies 

and toddlers, 

featuring action 

songs, puppets & 

musical instruments. 

“It’s simply 

effervescent!” Now in 

its tenth year! 

Come along and join the fun! 

Every Monday, Wednesday & Friday 

V&A Building, children’s playground Victoria Park, opposite The Royal Inn Pub, 

Grove Road, Hackney E9 7HJ 

Drop - in £5.00 per child, siblings £2.50, Term time only 

For more information contact Stefanie on 

07708 451314 or s_guselli@sky.com 

Join the Victoria Park 

Summer Art Camp with 

Wonderland Ceramics 

from Monday, 25 July to 

Friday, 19 August (for 8 

to 12-year-olds). 

Price is £39 per day. Discount for 5 

to 9 days (£37 a day), or £35 a day if 

booking 10 days. 

The children will enjoy a new craft 

activity each day, from ceramic painting 

& throwing on the potter’s wheel, to 

felting, casting and screen-printing – 

and a play in Victoria Park playgrounds. 

wonderlandceramics.com/wp/art-campvictoria-park/ 

info@wonderlandceramics.com 

020 8985 1214 


Gardening 

Stuff of dreams: the Mediterranean garden at Inner Temple. 

As we near summer, will our garden dreams come true, 

asks Izi Glover 

Whether your plants are in 

pots or borders, windowsills or 

flower beds, hopefully they are 

providing summer delight and 

distraction. But it’s always good 

to see what other gardeners 

have imagined, so to help take 

our gardening to the next level 

visiting a top garden is hard to 

beat. 

Luckily, one of the best garden 

sourcebooks is a short ride 

away at Inner Temple Gardens, 

where head gardener Andrea 

Brunsendorf has introduced 

some pretty exceptional 

planting. 

Let’s take a wander round. The 

main gates on Crown Office 

Row open between the High 

Borders, which are a double 

masterclass in summer colour 

and early autumn va-va voom. 

These borders are south facing 

and bake in the sun, so dahlias, 

salvias, rudbeckias, persicarias 

30 LOVEEAST 

and miscanthus combine in eyepopping 

fashion. Amongst their 

number you will find rarities 

including tree dahlias, aralia 

and amicei. Opposite, steps 

lead down between the 

Mediterranean borders with 

high grasses, teasels, and 

verbascum towering above 

cistus and bupleurum below. 

Walking down towards the 

embankment, yew buttresses 

flank more traditional bedding 

plant schemes of verbenas 

and zinnias, interspersed with 

eucalyptus and grasses. 

Linger around the corner in the 

shadier peony garden. Here you 

will find inspiration for shadier 

patches. Majestic peonies reign 

over euphorbias, brunneras 

and hesperis, with foxgloves 

and thalictrum massing ranks 

behind. A superb wisteria 

wends its way through the 

railings above. 

Finally the epilogue – a 

wonderful and ever-changing 

pot display at the bottom of 

King Henry’s Walk. Take a picnic 

and enjoy a fellow gardener’s 

midsummer dream! 

Inner Temple Gardens, EC4Y 7HL 

(Open 12.30-3pm, Monday to 

Friday. innertemple.org.uk 

Tasks for June 

Look after your plants by regularly 

removing snails and slugs, and 

hosing off green and black fly. 

Keep your plants well watered 

regularly, and maintain a feeding 

regime with something good and 

organic like Maxicrop’s Organic 

Seaweed Plant Food. 

Izi Glover is a Hackney gardener 

at London Fields and Gardens. 

For more information email 

info@londonfieldsandgardens. 

com

Big days or 

little days, 

we can help 

make them 

perfect 

www.agpriceflowers.co.uk 

217-219 Well Street, E9 6QU 

020 8986 0250 

Life coaching for 

modern lives 

Fast, 

strong, 

fearless 

www.millerandlove.com 

Hackney E8 

ROGER LOVE 

Personal training 

1:1 studio or park 

www.hackneypt.com 


The wine guide 

time. Only a handful of wines with very specific 

characteristics such as provenance, tannin and 

refined oak maturation will actually improve with 

bottle ageing. If in doubt, ask. 

Screw cap or cork? What's the difference? 

Cork allows some air to enter the bottle, slowly 

maturing the wine inside. Screw caps don’t. Corks 

very occasionally spoil a wine with a substance 

called TCA. While completely safe, it can make 

your favourite vino smell like wet cardboard – 

hence the term “corked wine”. 

What is a natural wine? 

Though the latest buzzword, there is no clear 

definition of a “natural wine”. Commonly, it’s a wine 

produced from biodynamic or organic grapes 

using very limited intervention during vinification. 

No filtration, no fining and no added sulphites. 

Philippe, Eugenio and Jack: wine advisers at Vinarius 

The wine experts at Vinarius, 

the enoteca 

* 

on the Roman, 

help to demystify Britain's 

favourite tipple 

Polyphenols, cold maceration, Botrytis cinerea, 

Ehrenbreitsteiner (wait, there’s really a grape 

variety called that?)... wine babble can sour even 

the most diehard aficionado’s relationship with 

fermented grape juice. 

That’s why the role of a wine adviser shouldn't 

just be to suggest the best wine for a particular 

occasion, but also to put the customer at ease, 

explaining and demystifying what can at times 

seem a rather intimidating subject. 

Here are some of the most common questions 

we get asked at our wine shop and bar on the 

Roman, with answers in plain English: 

Is it true that wines improve with age? 

The vast majority of red wines and nearly all white 

wines are not made to be kept for a very long 

What is tannin? 

Tannin or tannins are substances found mainly 

in grape skins and seeds. In a wine, they are what 

cause that drying or astringent sensation in the 

mouth. If you’re feeling ambitious, try a strong 

black tea to see what very high levels of tannin 

taste like. 

Why do wine prices vary so much? 

Quality wines are generally more expensive 

to produce. Like any other product, it also 

depends on the economy of scale (big or small 

producer) as well as supply and demand. All in all, 

appellation or typology (what wine it is), producer 

(who makes it) and vintage (year of production) 

are the three single most important factors. 

Do I need to decant the wine before serving? 

Wine and oxygen are best friends, yet 

worst enemies. The two have a complicated 

relationship, but generally the only wines that 

need to breathe prior to serving are those with 

very high levels of tannin from older vintages. 

In these cases, decanting a bottle of wine one 

hour before serving can help accelerate the 

oxygenation process and separate any sediment. 

* Enoteca: not only a versatile, rustic wine shop and 

wine bar, but also an important centre of wine and 

food culture. 

Vinarius, 536 Roman Rd, London E3. 

vinarius.london 

32 LOVEEAST

Eating in 

Chocolate tart 

Lee Glen at The Dark Horse, East Village, shares a delicious chocolate treat 

Method 

The pastry 

Add the butter and sugar in a 

bowl and mix until combined. 

Add eggs one at a time until 

incorporated. Fold in the flour 

until just combined (don't over 

work it), then rest the mixture in 

the fridge for an hour. 

Once chilled, roll out the pastry 

to a thickness of 3-4mm and 

line a greased 25cm fluted tart 

case with it. Prick the bottom 

with a fork and rest in the fridge 

for 20 minutes. 

Bake it in a 190°C oven for 12 

minutes and allow to cool. 

The filling 

Heat the sugar to a dark 

caramel. Add the cream, milk, 

vanilla and orange zest. Pour 

over the chopped chocolate. Stir 

the mixture until the chocolate 

has melted, then whisk in the 

egg yolks. 

Pour into the pre-cooked tart 

case and cook for 45 minutes 

at 100°C till nearly cooked. The 

tart should be just set with a 

little wobble. 

thedarkhorserestaurant.com 

16, 19 Victory Parade, E20 1FS. 

Ingredients (for 8) 

440g Dark chocolate (chopped) 

500ml double cream 

170ml milk 

5 egg yolks 

zest of 1 orange 

½ vanilla pod 

340g butter 

300g sugar 

3 eggs 

625g flour 


Eating out 

Brawn 

remember from a few years back. Well situated 

on a corner and divided into two rooms. The first 

surrounded by windows and the other out back 

where the kitchen is. I prefer it out back. 

On the evening we went, oysters from Dungarvan 

were on the menu. So that was me sorted. Totally 

delicious. Toby started with snails in beautiful 

bright green unctuous garlic butter. A great deal 

better looking and tasting than the "elephant 

snot" tinned version we use to eat while kayaking 

down the Dordogne. 

Then we both ordered the Navarin of Lamb. 

This was served with wild garlic, broad beans 

and Jersey Royals, all delightful. Wild garlic has 

the same pull for me as oysters. Lately, I’ve been 

bringing armfuls of the stuff back from Wiltshire. 

Some of the local market stalls have it, very good 

to eat with omelette, pesto or lamb. 

Navarin of Lamb 

I don’t know what’s going on with this year. It’s 

June already and I seem to be stuck in a time warp 

– trapped somewhere around the beginning of 

the year. It’s been that crazy busy. 

So I decided to make like the Obamas and the 

Jay Z-Beyoncés of this world, by rather cleverly 

combining this review with a date night. 

According to a glossy I read recently, date 

nights are the only way to have a continuously 

happy relationship. Even though this may be 

a little questionable in the Jay Z-Beyoncé case. 

Regardless of their marital woes I was looking 

forward to a meal at Brawn, followed by a movie. 

On our way we passed the newly opened second 

Pavilion bakery in Columbia Road – what a beauty! 

It’s a humdinger of an addition to the Broadway 

Market shop. No bias, Toby designed both. 

Brawn is still the good looking restaurant I 

Chef Ed Wilson is now the sole owner. His menu 

at Brawn is short (always a good sign) but with 

plenty to get you excited. There ain’t no gimmicks, 

just good quality seasonal food, thoughtfully 

cooked. The wine list is similar: sherry and 

vermouth are on it – two of my favourite tipples. 

But as this wasn’t "the regime" treat night, I had 

a couple of glasses of red, the VdP de Herault 

Catherine Bernard from Languedoc. No suffering 

or restraint. 

Toby had the dark chocolate, olive oil and sea salt 

mousse, which he described as intense. From the 

number I saw being prepared in the kitchen, it 

was also popular. Two espressos meant we both 

managed to stay awake through the film. 

Price: £5 to £22. Sundays: set lunch, £28 per head. 

Open: 12-3pm, Tue-Sat. 6pm-11pm Mon-Sat. 

Address: Brawn, 49 Columbia Road, E2 7RG. 

Susan Birtwistle 

34 LOVEEAST

Rowing boats and 

pedalos for hire, Victoria 

Park West Lake 

Come explore one 

of Hackney’s last 

independent high streets 

Market every Sunday 11-4 

Shops, bars and restaurants 

7 days 

chatsworthroade5.co.uk 

Homerton overground | E5 0LS 

Regal Boat Hire Ltd 

07852 127895 

info@regalboathire.co.uk 

“Our gas bill was £350+ a month and we 

didn’t know why. Jason fixed our boiler and 

our bills are now £125 a month” 

Jenny Carmichael ~ customer 

ARE YOUR BILLS TOO HIGH? 

Contact Jason on 07775 338 984 

or email jkf.gas@gmail.com 

JKF Plumbing and Heating 

Quote LoveEast for 10% off (T&Cs apply) 


History hangout 

invasion, King Alfred was most concerned about 

the abundant crops and food supply to London 

– as to whether the Vikings might steal them for 

themselves, or burn them. 

A great feat of tidal engineering The map below 

shows where King Alfred’s military engineers 

subsequently divided the River Lea into many 

narrow rivulets. Once cut, they installed dams to 

halt the incoming tides, thereby preventing tidal 

waters from reaching Ware. 

These dams were so effective they prevented 

the Danes from escaping south. This great 

feat of strategic military engineering has rarely 

been matched in history. The Danish fleet was 

grounded, so forcing the Vikings to re-plan their 

entire strategy. 

King Alfred the Great 

Stephen Selby investigates 

King Alfred the Great and 

the Hackney connection 

From the heights of what is now Springfield Park, 

the River Lea was in clear sight all the way down 

to the River Thames. Eleven hundred years ago, 

Anglo Saxon defenders could follow the sails of 

the west-bound Danish fleet rounding into the 

estuary of the Lea at flood-water. With wind and 

tide, rapid progress might allow the entire fleet to 

reach and set up their pre-planned camp at Ware 

in three to four hours. 

There is a legend about Saxon graves of the 

king’s paymaster and other noblemen buried 

on the high mound in the north-east corner 

of Springfield park. It is possibly true because 

there was a serious skirmish recorded in Sir John 

Spelman’s The Life of Alfred the Great. His 1709 

chronicle also recalls Alfred’s presence while 

surveying the strategic implications of the Lea 

Valley. Having been forewarned of this deadly 

The invaders were now forced to travel on foot all 

the way from Ware to Bridgnorth in Shropshire 

along Watling Street. The Vikings must equally 

have implemented a strategic back-up to garrison 

and fortified this entire route, which was how, for 

over 100 years, Britain became divided into two 

separate "administrations" – the Saxons ruling the 

south and west, the Vikings the north and east 

under Danelaw. 

King Edgar’s Danelaw prevailed despite the defeat of 

Edmund Ironside in AD1016. King Knut then became 

king of the whole of England, (plus Denmark, Norway 

and parts of Sweden) until AD1035. Danelaw was 

respected throughout the land. 

Knut’s son was Edward the Confessor whose vying 

successors were King Harold and William, Duke of 

Normandy. And, as they say, the rest is history. 

Cary's 1786 map of London 

36 LOVEEAST

Money matters 

Advertorial 

If you run a small business and 

wonder whether you should be VAT 

registered, Alan Patient can help 

In my last article I covered 

some of the basics of starting 

up in business. This time I will 

try to clarify VAT issues. 

In particular, the question 

I'm often asked is “is VAT 

registration necessary?” Well, if 

your annual turnover is below 

£83,000, VAT registration is not 

necessary, although voluntary 

registration is possible below 

that figure. This would enable 

you to recover the VAT you pay 

on many of your overheads, 

such as equipment and 

stationery costs, for example. 

However, you must weigh 

up the benefits of voluntary 

registration – if most of your 

clients are likely to be members 

of the public, you will effectively 

be adding 20% to the cost 

Some of the team: Chris James, Svitlana 

Matviychuk and Alan Patient (right) 

of your services – and your 

competitors will then be able to 

undercut you without too many 

problems. 

If you do become VAT registered 

it is usually worthwhile applying 

to use the VAT flat-rate scheme. 

This means that you charge 

and collect VAT at the standard 

rate of 20% and pay it to the 

Government at a lower rate – 

typically 13% – so in this case 

you make a “profit” on VAT – 

and all thanks to the Chancellor. 

Another tip: I would strongly 

advise opening up a separate 

bank account for the business. 

You will then see clearly 

the business income and 

expenditure without it being 

mixed up with supermarket 

bills and the like. Also you 

really need to be able to 

reconcile your bank account, 

at first probably to your 

business spreadsheets and 

possibly later to a cloud-based 

software package. 

There is a lot to get to grips with 

when you start up in business, 

but always remember – Alan 

Sugar and Richard Branson 

would have scratched their 

heads in confusion at first – 

and they certainly did all right. 

If you want to talk in more 

detail about this or any other 

accountancy matter, please 

do come to see us. Our first 

consultation is free. 

Next month 

How to use social media to drive 

your business forward. 

Alan Patient & Co 

9 The Shrubberies 

George Lane 

South Woodford 

E18 1BD 

020 8532 9843 

alanpatient.com 


Wellbeing 

What does your 

work mean to 

you, asks local 

life coach Karen 

Liebenguth 

Advertorial 

Karen with a client in one of London's green spaces 

"How’s work?" It’s a question 

we get asked time and again. 

Indeed it can sometimes feel 

that our identity or sense of 

purpose is defined through 

what we do for a living. 

Job, career or calling? 

Asking yourself what your work 

means to you and what matters 

most to you in your work can 

help you to clarify a sense of 

purpose and direction. 

When work is ‘a job’, we 

generally work for the money, 

and that’s not a bad thing. There 

can be great satisfaction in 

being self-reliant. When work 

is "a job", we work to live and 

often find fulfilment outside 

work in hobbies and social 

activities. 

When work is ‘a career’ we find 

pleasure and satisfaction in the 

work itself. We feel committed 

to our work and make a 

steady effort to further our 

professional development. 

38 LOVEEAST 

When we see work as ‘a calling’, 

we live to work. It’s not about 

the money or furthering our 

reputation – we do the work 

we do because we’re staunchly 

passionate about what we do. 

What matters most? 

I often remind clients that 

work doesn’t have to tick all 

the boxes; that we can find 

fulfilment outside work through 

pursuing a hobby, through 

voluntary work or through 

taking up a course to grow, 

develop or learn new skills. 

Or we can take the time really 

to consider the job we do 

and think about how we can 

redefine and re-energise our 

work life – a concept Professor 

Wrzesnieswki (Yale School 

of Management) calls "job 

crafting". 

I turned to becoming a life 

coach many years ago to clarify 

what I wanted in my work and 

to explore possibilities. Now I 

consider my work a calling. 

Green Space Coaching and 

Mindfulness Training offers 1:1 

coaching, team building (MBTI 

certified) and mindfulness courses 

for individuals, and organisations. 

Karen specialises in working with 

clients outdoors, offering coaching 

while walking, and team-building 

workshops and away days in 

London’s green space – tapping 

into the energy of the outdoors 

to enhance creativity, insights, 

motivation and connection. 

Karen Liebenguth offers 1:1 

coaching while walking in 

Victoria Park, 1:1 mindfulness 

training, mindfulness 

courses for the workplace & 

mindfulness for stress and 

chronic pain. 

Get in touch for more 

information or visit 

greenspacecoaching.com 

To book a free taster coaching 

session email karen@ 

greenspacecoaching.com or call 

07815 591279.

Fitness 

Roger Love continues our A-Z of fitness with… O 

Oh my god! It’s summer already Ok, you spent all 

winter thinking that you must get fit and toned 

ready for summer. Now, the sun has come out 

and you haven’t even started. Don’t panic – it's 

time to get down to work. 

Here are five ways to get started. 

➊ Start doing press-ups (or push-ups). These will 

tone your arms, shoulders and chest and work 

your core muscles hard. There are some great 

apps to get you started – for example PushUps 

Pro by Runtastic, which leads you through five 

sets every other day to take you to 20, 50 and 

100 reps. 

➋ Get running. Start with a time goal, say 20 

minutes. Then walk to get yourself warm, jog or 

run until you need to walk, and then walk until 

you are ready to run again. Don’t stress out 

about distance. Try to take up the total time. 

➌ If running is not your thing, try skipping, 

jumping, swimming, or cycling. 

➍ Get your food right. Use big principles to start 

with: Eat less sugar, drink less alcohol, don’t fill 

up with carbs. Eat more vegetables, drink more 

water, eat nice, tasty protein. 

➎ Join a boot camp. This will give you a broad 

mixture of exercise to hit all your goals. In 

Hackney, we have lots of quality options: 

Dean Lenton’s boot camp at London Fields 

Fitness, and British Military Fitness and Army 

Boot Camp Fitness in Victoria Park. 

As always, you are advised to consult your doctor 

or a fitness professional before starting a new 

programme, especially if you are new to exercise. 

Obliques These are muscles running along the 

side of your core. They help bend and rotate your 

torso – and stop it rotating to stabilise your spine. 

A simple bodyweight exercise to strengthen them 

is a side plank. 

Lie on one side with your legs straight and prop 

up your upper body on your forearm (elbow 

under shoulder). Raise your hips so your body 

forms a straight line from your head to your heels. 

Hold for 20 seconds on each side to start with. 

Perfect to do while watching TV. 

If that's too hard, hold the same position but with 

your knees on the ground and your lower legs 

bent back 90 degrees. If it's too easy, try holding 

your upper leg in the air. 

Roger Love is a personal trainer based at 

Netil House, Westgate Street, E8. hackneypt.com 


Legal eagle 

Loan – A properly drawn-up legal agreement 

would safeguard the funds from divorce or 

separation and could include an agreement that 

the parent registers a charge over the property 

similar to a mortgage. That way, it could not be 

sold without their permission. However, the full 

sum would be taken into account for inheritance 

tax purposes. 

Advertorial 

Joint Ownership – The property would be owned 

by parent and child and they could decide 

whether they had equal or unequal shares. It is 

likely the parent would have to be liable for the 

mortgage if a legal owner and this is usually the 

least advantageous arrangement for tax – albeit it 

gives the parent the most control overall. 

Emma Baillie 

If you want to help your 

children get onto the 

housing ladder, there are 

three ways you can do it, 

says Emma Baillie 

So there are no easy answers, but the key is to 

communicate well with all family members and 

the mortgage company, and take specialist advice 

about your specific circumstances well before any 

money is paid over. 

We all know it’s very hard to get on the housing 

ladder. Increasingly, high street banks aren’t 

enough, and the bank of mum and dad needs 

to step in to help their 20- and 30- something 

children into home ownership. 

But how do we make sure that such a good deed 

doesn’t end badly? There are three ways parents 

can help their children buy property – each has 

advantages and pitfalls. 

Gift – This avoids inheritance tax on the amount 

gifted providing the parent lives seven years. The 

disadvantage is that the parent has no control – 

their child could sell up and go travelling on the 

money. More particularly, if the child divorces or 

separates from a partner they live with they could 

lose some or all of the gift. 

40 LOVEEAST 

Emma Baillie is a solicitor and head of 

family finance at TV Edwards. 

Contact her at 020 3440 8347 or email 

emma.baillie@tvedwards.com for more 

information. 

tvedwards.com 

35-37 Mile End Road, E1 4TP

Always wanted straighter teeth? Visit us at VDental Smile Studio 

General dentistry, specialist dental referral centre, botox, fillers and chemical peels 

www.vdentalsmile.co.uk info@vdentalsmile.co.uk 

95a Eastway Hackney E9 5JA 020 8533 5661 

"Appearing in LoveEast is a great 

opportunity for me. The response 

has been great – 3 garden enquiries 

already" – Izi Glover, londonfieldsandgardens.com 

To find out more about advertising, call 07752 288405 or email julie@nutshellpublications.co.uk 


Useful numbers 

Police 

Emergency 999 

Non-emergency 101 

Safer Neighbourhood 020 8721 2937 

Utilities 

Gas - emergency 0800 111 999 

Electrical - power loss 0800 404090 

Thames Water 0872 435 5973 

Health 

NHS Direct 111 

Homerton Hospital 020 8510 5555 

Royal London Hospital 020 7377 7000 

Clockwork Pharmacy 020 8985 1717 

Borno Pharmacy 020 8981 0600 

Hackney Council numbers 

General number 020 8356 3000 

Council tax enquiries 020 8356 3154 

Parking enquiries 020 8356 8877 

Waste removal 020 8356 6688 

Tower Hamlets Council numbers 

General number 020 7364 5020 

Council tax enquiries 020 7364 5002 

Parking enquiries 020 7364 5003 

Waste removal 020 7364 5004 

Local councillors/MP 

Local councillors (Victoria) 020 8356 3373 

MP (Meg Hillier) 020 7219 5325 

Library 

Hackney Central Library 020 8356 4358 

Bethnal Green Library 020 7364 3492 

Victoria Park 

Park Services (24/7) 020 8985 5699 

Victoria Park rangers 020 7364 4172 

Travel 

National Rail Enquiries 08457 484950 

Congestion Charge 0343 222 2222 

Transport for London 0343 222 1234 

Vet 

Goddard's, Well Street 020 8986 3918 

PDSA, Bow 020 8980 5011 

Wanstead Veterinary 020 8989 7744 

Hospital 

LoveEast is proud 

to support local 

businesses. If 

you do contact 

someone after 

seeing their 

advertisement 

on these pages, 

please mention it 

to them when you call. 

Thinking of advertising? 

Every month the magazine is delivered to 

10,500 households in E9, E8, E5 and E3, as 

well as to local shops, restaurants and cafés in 

Victoria Park, Hackney Wick, Broadway Market, 

Roman Road and East Village, Stratford. 

Readership runs into many thousands more. 

The magazine is full of great articles and 

essential information and is a handy guide 

to local businesses and services, as well as 

giving details about what’s on in the area. It’s 

something to keep through the month and 

is unlikely to go in the recyle bin along with 

doordrop leaflets. It's therefore a very effective 

way to promote your business to a targeted, 

local audience. 

If you would like to advertise, please contact 

us at: 

07752 288405 

sales@nutshellpublications.co.uk 

Twitter: @LoveEastMag 

Facebook: facebookcom/LoveEastMag 

Next issue – July 

Copy deadline – 5 June 

42 LOVEEAST

Looking for an 

Accountant? 

Tax Tips 

on the Go: 

Download 

our TAX App 

FREE from the 

App Store & 

GooglePlay 

We can guide you in the right 

direction, call 020 8532 9843 

At Alan Patient & Co, we pride 

ourselves on being friendly 

and helpful, but also extremely 

professional. 

Our first consultation is free, 

giving us an opportunity to 

explain exactly what we can do 

for you. 

We offer a full range of services, 

but you can in effect “pick and 

mix” the services which suit you 

best. 

Whether you find accounting 

daunting, expensive in terms of 

your time, or just plain boring, 

we can find a solution tailored 

to your business needs. 

Our clients vary from: artists 

to antique dealers, bookmakers 

to builders, hypnotherapists to 

haulage contractors, plumbers to 

publishers and trainers to types 

of dancers. They all have their 

own unique requirements and 

we aim to make their lives a 

little easier. 

Alan Patient & Co 

Chartered Accountants • Registered Auditors 

9 The Shrubberies, George Lane, South Woodford, London E18 1BD • Tel: 020 8532 9843 

www.alanpatient.com • Alan Patient & Co @alanpatientco Alan Patient & Co

June 2016

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?