Reviews Archive

Dick Whittington and His Cat: A pantomime take on Windrush at Hackney Empire

It’s 1948 in London, and if you swap the West Country for the West Indies, you have the two heroes of Dick Whittington …

by Clara Hill/ December 5, 2019/ Arts, Arts Features, Reviews/

Brockley’s Rock is a different kettle of fish

Popular Lewisham fish and chip shop, Brockley’s Rock, has been awarded the prestigious Good Food Award for Fish and Chips …

by James Bayley/ November 13, 2019/ Lewisham, Meet The Traders, Reviews/

Inside London’s latest zero-waste shop

Nestled in Hackney Downs Studios – the little community of artists and independent businesses between Dalston and Clapton – Re: …

by Sarah Antoun/ May 31, 2019/ Environment, Features, Hackney, People, Reviews/

Hackney’s best zero-waste shops and markets

Shops and markets that minimise the environmental impact of our consumer habits are popping out across London and especially in Hackney. This new plastic-free revolution is part of a growing eco-initiative trend in the …

by Sarah Antoun/ May 16, 2019/ Environment, Hackney, Reviews, Uncategorized/

Fanny’s Kebabs marks birthday despite backlash

One of London’s first ‘posh’ kebab outlets,  initially frowned upon by local kebab shop owners in Stoke Newington, celebrated its …

by Georgia Ridout/ March 10, 2019/ Features, Hackney, Meet The Traders, Reviews/

A solution in your pocket: Our top five apps tackling food waste

All week we’ve been investigating  different ways to combat food waste, and now we’re looking to the future to see …

by Holly Pyne/ April 6, 2018/ Features, Reviews, Society/

Exhibition remembers the forgotten Indian and Nepali soldiers who fought for the British Empire

During the commemorations marking the centenary of World War One very little has been said about the Indian and Nepali …

by Giulia Fassone/ July 2, 2017/ Arts Features, Reviews, Tower Hamlets/

Influential Croydon women feature in exhibition

It offers a unique glimpse into the lives of some of Croydon’s most empowering women. Ladies First – which features …

by Sophie Thompson/ March 9, 2017/ Arts Features, Croydon, Features, Reviews/

Award winning storyteller performs in Hackney

Normally, on an icy Monday night, Londoners have no business sitting on a Shoreditch bar’s rooftop listening to tales of …

by Rianna Newman/ March 1, 2017/ Arts Features, Features, Hackney, Reviews/

Beyond the cuppa

The great Coffee Countdown to find the best baristas in the world has started. Applications for the annual Coffee Masters …

by Evgeniya Dolina/ February 3, 2017/ Features, Reviews, Society, Uncategorized/

From Pepe the Frog to cyber landscapes and digital skulls: Vaporwave hits Hackney

V a p o r w a v e.exe. Pics: Nicholas Thompson. Featured Prints: John Karbon, Jackson Payne, Marvin Watkins. …

by ELL Admin/ December 1, 2016/ Arts, Arts Features, Reviews/

Best eats in Shoreditch

A meeting point for fashion followers, and trendsetters, Shoreditch has become one of the coolest districts in London with a …

by Cecilia Strada/ October 18, 2016/ Features, Reviews/

Best apps for East Londoners

New to East London, or just ready to try some new things in your neighborhood? Julie Refsdal has tested the …

by Julie Refsdahl/ October 18, 2016/ Features, Reviews/

Brick Lane fashion show with local twist

It was a charity fundraising event with a local twist. Thursday’s (October 13) fashion show at the Old Truman Brewery on …

by Grant Muir/ October 15, 2016/ Features, Hackney, Reviews, Tower Hamlets/

Homegrown Bestival worth its weight in gold

Finally, June 17: the end of summer term, London’s cloudy sky, and most importantly, Bestival 2016 arrived at Goldsmiths. Even …

by Sophianne Morrissey/ June 18, 2016/ Lewisham, Reviews/

New play is a celebration of life and deaf culture

People of the Eye, the new performance from The Deaf and Hearing Ensemble, should come with a warning. Caution: this …

by Joanna Turner/ June 9, 2016/ Arts, Features, Reviews/

Emotive migrant exhibition pulls no punches

Call Me By My Name: Stories from Calais and Beyond, aims to lend a voice to the thousands of refugees …

by Eir Nolsoe/ June 6, 2016/ Features, Hackney, Reviews/

An unfamiliar Sikh Festival debuts in Tower Hamlets

The Holla Mahalla Sikh festival in Bethnal Green on Saturday (May 14) showcased some of the many rituals traditionally performed …

by Shima Begum/ May 15, 2016/ Arts, Arts Features, Local News, Music, Reviews, Society, Tower Hamlets/

Bengali community remembers Altab Ali’s murder through new play

“The Altab Ali Story” by playwright Julie Begum, is nothing if not an eye opener. It is shockingly revealing to …

by Jordan-Louise Langshaw/ May 5, 2016/ Arts, Reviews, Tower Hamlets/

Show explores iconic self-build project

The UK’s first self-built council housing project, in Lewisham, is explored in an on-going exhibition at the AA School of …

by Emma Pradella/ March 18, 2016/ Features, Lewisham, Reviews/

Five East London markets you need to check out

Whether you’re looking for a monster novelty burger you can barely fit into your mouth, or you’re after some fancy …

by Emma Chadwick/ March 13, 2016/ Features, General Features, Listings, Reviews/

Moving play addresses migrant heartache

Map of Me is moving and educational – it is the migrant story that everybody should be aware of. Set …

by Rebecca Henrys/ March 11, 2016/ Arts Features, Reviews/

Whitechapel performance night a sound success

Both deaf and hearing audience members enjoyed an evening of accessible short performances of all kinds last night (Tuesday 1) …

by Joanna Turner/ March 5, 2016/ Features, Reviews/

Remembering WW1: “History should be lived”

Members of The Royal Artillery Living History Group dressed as sergeants and nurses on Saturday in Tower Hamlets to educate …

by Shima Begum/ February 28, 2016/ Features, Reviews, Tower Hamlets/

Breathtaking spoken word and hip-hop from Palestine

Palestinian spoken word and hip-hop nights are not your average Friday activity in Bethnal Green, but last night’s gig at …

by Joanna Turner/ February 27, 2016/ Arts Features, Features, Reviews/

Sharp’s Brewery brings Cornish hospitality to Hackney

London Beer Festival is in full swing, with Cornwall-based Sharp’s Brewery travelling up to London’s Truman Brewery to share their …

by Amanda Ternblad/ February 24, 2016/ Hackney, Reviews/

Propaganda and patriotism: WWI exhibition in Hackney

One poster reads: “SINGLE MEN. Hundreds of thousands of married men have left their homes to fight for KING & …

by Sian Filcher/ February 23, 2016/ Arts Features, Features, Reviews/

Festival is a gin paradise

  Stepping into London’s Gin Festival, you would be fooled into thinking you had been transported back to a 1920s …

by Rebecca Henrys/ February 22, 2016/ Features, Reviews, Society, Tower Hamlets/

D-I-Y pink is the new blonde

As we step into 2016, it seems the rainbow spectrum is replacing those classic chocolate browns, bleach blonde and brutal …

by Lucy Henry/ February 22, 2016/ People, Reviews/

Birdy impresses Hackney crowd

It was Pancake Day, but 19-year old singer Birdy was East London’s real sweet treat. Following her appearance at the …

by Lucy Henry/ February 17, 2016/ Arts Features, Features, Reviews/

Molly Soda: From My Bedroom To Yours @ Annka Kulty’s Gallery

The artist stands by a wall of fake gem-embellished USBs. People buzz around her, some are friend and some are …

by Emilie Shane/ December 9, 2015/ Arts, Data, Events, Features, Local News, News, Reviews, Tower Hamlets, What's On This Week/

Under the shadow of the Orbit: paddling your way through East London

Secret Adventures is a non-profit organisation offering Londoners the chance to escape city life. Kyra Hanson joined founder Madoc Threipland …

by Kyra Hanson/ November 24, 2015/ Features, General Features, Reviews/

The baby shower you never predicted

Just off Mare Street and onto Valette Street, a five-minute walk from Hackney Central railway station, there resides a small …

by Camille Munn-Francis/ November 3, 2015/ Features, Reviews/

Romeo and Juliet: a lighter take on Shakespeare’s classic

It is a bizarre moment as loud laughter echoes in the audience when the cast break out in a musical-style …

by Luize Lazdane/ October 26, 2015/ Arts, Arts Features, Features, Reviews/

“My Mind Is Free” ends tour at Fairfield Halls

Bringing to an end a two weeks stretch around the city, “My Mind is Free” made a satisfying final appearance …

by Roberto Stifano/ October 20, 2015/ Features, Reviews/

Bite Sized Comedy for Your Midweek Fun Fix

  “Do you have a stamp?” I am asked whilst heading towards the door marked “comedy”. “Nope,” I reply sheepishly. …

by Emilie Shane/ October 20, 2015/ Features, Reviews/

Hidden Yet Humble: South Norwood and Thornton Heath Free Film Festival 2015

As the story goes, in 1896 the Lumière brothers first screened “L’Arrivée d’un train en gare de La Ciotat” (“The …

by Emma Townsend/ October 19, 2015/ Features, Reviews/

India // Sri Lanka at Stage 3 Hackney

Imagine walking down an old, dusty road in the sunshine. Warmth surrounding you, locals wishing you good morning and sheer …

by Layla Hamdi Pacha/ October 14, 2015/ Reviews/

Croydon then ’til now: Moving to London exhibition

Judging by the astounded expressions on the faces of children visiting Museum of Croydon this week, the museum’s latest exhibition …

by Joanna Kosmala/ October 13, 2015/ Features, Reviews/

Curio Cabal: Haggerston’s coolest coffee spot

  Tucked away on a quiet part of Kingsland Road is Haggerston’s own self-appointed ‘real sexy coffee shop’. Looking around the …

by Layla Hamdi Pacha/ October 12, 2015/ Reviews/