The observant amongst you may notice the Truman name adorned on the exterior walls of many London pubs, particularly in the East End. Truman’s was one of the biggest breweries in the world in the mid 19th century, but fell on hard times and ceased trading in 1989. The sprawling site that straddles Brick Lane and Hanbury street today offers plenty of places to explore – and some areas might not be so obvious so do have a good look around.
The cavernous event spaces host various markets, sample sales and pop-up events, often selling interesting one-off artisan items – this is usually my first port if call when looking for cool gifts. Rough Trade East is arguably one of the best record stores for indie and alternative music in the UK, if not the world. They also have regular instore shows and artist signings to promote album releases – these are often free of charge with a purchase so check their website for details. I also like the variety of high-quality shops in the complex – Son of a Stag is great if you’re looking for raw denim or YMC for functional modern fashion to name just two. The complex offers plenty of options for eating, drinking and dancing, and the All Star Lanes offers a deluxe if rather pricey ten pin bowling experience.
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Tita's is like a little alien spacecraft in the middle of the park: from a tiny coffee cart comes well-crafted coffees & tea along with buns and biscuits.
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A beloved East London classic, E Pellici offers hearty Italian–English food, strong coffee, and warm family-run charm to a lively mix of locals and visitors.
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Simmos is a stylish, cozy café with small-roaster coffee, delicious pastries, and a warm community vibe. It's a great spot for a quiet, quality break.
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A haven for book lovers, the London Centre for Book Arts isn't only a shop. It's a studio & maker space, fostering a community devoted to artisanal printmaking.
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Housmans is a thoughtful little oasis where curious minds feel at home and every visit sparks a new path to explore. It's much more than a regular book shop.
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A must try for me at Paradise Soho are the gigantic grilled ceylonese prawns - tender and smokey from the charring & the cashew curry along with a hopper.
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As an independent wine bar their focus is on stocking wines from smaller producers, lesser known regions and grape varieties, and also female winemakers.
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The team at the Penny Drop are real coffee geeks in the best possible sense of the word and go to great lengths sourcing the best coffee beans out there.
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If you arrive in the morning you’ll find their popular morning buns with a variety of fillings, sticky buns, beignets, and more!
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Rondo La Cave is a hip wine bar situated in the basement of the Hoxton hotel and has a charming rustic interior with dim lighting.
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Quiet yet somehow buzzing, classy yet unpretentious, central yet hidden. What impresses me most is the concentration of great spots in such a small area.
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