A tour of East London's alternative nightlife
Like Williamsburg in Brooklyn or Echo Park in Los Angeles, there's a stretch of east London that's home to thousands of Shoreditch twats, Nathan Barleys and Dalston Superstars (Google these terms!). Yes, this obsession with being cutting-edge can quickly get tiresome, but beyond the pretence and the hackneyed Hackney hipster haircuts there are some genuinely amazing nights to be had in Dalston, Shoreditch, Hoxton and Bethnal Green.
I'm not a hipster myself, honest, but I'm an underground music geek who loves dive bars, street food, cheap drinks, eccentric cabaret and watching weird-sounding local bands. This tour will be different every time, depending on what's on and what you're into, but venues we might go to include:
- A cafe and recording studio where east London bands rehearse and perform
- A working men's club where events such as sock wrestling, hot-dog eating competitions, contortionists and alt-burlesque take place without irony
- A Shoreditch bar with ping-pong themed nightclubs
- A secret venue with a highly unusual take on speed dating
- A cafe specialising in improvised music from around the world
- Various old pubs turned into hipster drinking dens
You don't have to be cool to come on this tour. If anything, it's probably better if you're not cool. I might feel intimidated.
For: Anybody interested in London's alternative culture.
Entrance fee to gigs/events. Food and drink extra.
Taking a winter break from October 20. Tours resume mid-January.
Reviews
I LOVED my tour with Matthew. He took me to a street food event I would have never found on my own. And it was dripping with interesting culture and food to take in. First of all, we were in a neighborhood that Matthew calls a hipster epicenter. The people-watching was seriously amusing. And I would describe the food as being inspired. Pork belly buns, Jamaican fare, pizza out of a wood-burning oven, whole fish grilled Caribbean-style, gourmet cupcakes, bbq sandwiches with intense hot sauce that gets everywhere - it was a delicious, trendy and globe-trotting experience right in London. I am pretty sure I was the only non-Londoner there, and the place was packed. On top of that, Matthew’s encyclopedic knowledge of the city makes his tours quite rounded, giving an exciting local experience along with lots of context. Overall, Matthew gives a really great tour – it feels like you are just hanging with a friend who wants to show you a great time. I am not sure what could be better when traveling!! I highly recommend his tours!
