Splashing out
Hackney Wick
CULTURE & LEISURE • Neighbourhood Guide
Not so long ago, the area around Hackney Wick was a forgotten industrial backwater, rather than the vibrant canalside neighbourhood it is today. In the last 20 years, especially since the 2012 Olympics, it’s enjoyed rapid development, and is now full of lively bars, brilliant restaurants and buzzing nightlife spots.
Chief among them is Barge East, a floating bar and restaurant housed on a 122-year-old Dutch barge that friends and founders Tommo, Ryan and Blandy sailed all the way over from Holland. Since opening in 2018, they’ve developed the surrounding terrace into a perfect spot to drink and socialise by the water. They also own next-door barge The Milk Float, serving cocktails, coffee and ice cream. There’s even a hatch facing out to the water for passing kayakers and fellow water-based revellers.
Barge East is renowned for its sustainable approach, with seasonal British produce often sourced from its own gardens. There’s beautiful fish and meat, creative combinations pulling from European cuisines, and drinks driven by some of the best East London brewers. Within the floating restaurant are several connected spaces, including The Terrace Bistro and Riverside Garden, which offer more simple and casual options.
Keep walking towards The Yard and you’ll reach Crate Brewery, serving stone-baked pizzas and fresh, unfiltered beers brewed on site. Their canalside terrace is seriously hot property on a summer’s day, with DJs spinning tracks on Saturday afternoons and workshops and beer-related events throughout the year. There are few better places to settle in for some pints and watch the water-world go by.
Not far from Crate is Grow (above), a beloved Hackney Wick institution popping off from lunchtime until late. There’s a huge, leafy terrace overlooking the canal, and even a floating jetty if you’d rather be on the water. It’s an independent space that’s evolved organically since 2014 to become a proper local hub for live music and community events.
Right next door is Number 90, another brilliant canalside spot with food, drinks, gigs and a shady terrace for long summer days. For some proper culture, The Yard Theatre has recently reopened after a major redevelopment and has some of the most varied programming off-West End – its return show is a modern Lear, starring up-and-coming thesp Sir Ian McKellen. If you’d rather go out-out, Colour Factory is always worth a look for top DJs and big parties (a can’t-miss there coming soon: the Melodies International party on 12/07).
You’re not short of other great food and drink options either, with Lucia’s offering some of the city’s best Mexican, and Wicked Fish slinging fun, fresh and ethically sourced seafood. Beer Merchants Tap has an incredible selection, All My Friends is one of East London’s coolest cocktail bars, and there are several great coffee shops too. Just across the canal is Hackney Bridge, a major street-food destination with a huge outdoor bar area showing major sports events, as well as the Copper Box arena, home to some of London’s most leftfield sporting entertainment, like esports and handball.
If simply sitting next to the water isn’t enough, Moo Canoes allows you to cruise up and down at your leisure and observe the local scores of land-loving revellers.
Hackney Wick has come a long way in a short time. It might not have the refinement of Little Venice (below) or the sweeping Thames vistas of Richmond, but for eating, drinking and pure entertainment value, it’s London’s liveliest riverside destination. –David Bard