CITY
GUIDE:
SHOREDITCH
SHORE OF ITSELF
S
ome city enclaves
will forever be
synonymous with
‘cool’: London’s Camden;
New York’s Brooklyn;
Berlin’s Kreuzberg.
Other hip destinations
are eyed with an air
of suspicion. And
Shoreditch is in this
camp.
Traditionally, a city’s
‘outsider’ creative crowd
adopt an unloved area
within its reaches, and
model it in homage of
their emerging artistic
scene. The prevailing
‘edgy’ atmosphere
then inevitably piques
the interest of the
mainstream, prompting
its progenitors to
disown their proverbial
Frankenstein’s
monster, as the dreaded
gentrification sets in.
However, whilst
Shoreditch is now
synonymous with
loftily-priced repurposed
furniture, asymmetric
haircuts and a self-
congratulatory ‘start-
up’ crowd, let’s not be
too quick to knock it.
After all, approaching
the area with too much
disdain arguably makes
one guilty of the same
inverted-snobbery they
seek to avoid.
This is tricky social
territory we’re tight-
46
roping here readers,
and I’m already aware
that my over-use of ‘air
quotes’ in this slightly
overwritten introduction
belies my own hipster
leanings.
Frankly though, there’s
too much to enjoy in
Shoreditch for me to
be inducted among its
‘haters’. And here’s just a
few reasons for the event
crowd to patronise it – in
the sense of ‘frequenting’,
not ‘belittling’.
Shoreditch: Hip facts
• The Silicon
Roundabout –
emerging as ‘the third-
largest technology
start-up cluster after
San Francisco and New
York City’
• Shoreditch property
prices have soared 46%
in the last three years
• The name ‘Shoreditch’
is thought to derive
from the Old English
term ‘Soersditch’
meaning ‘Sewer’s
Ditch’
• William Shakespeare
came to Shoreditch
as an actor and it is
thought he lived down
Holywell Street in
Bishopsgate.
Back to its Roots
Who doesn’t love Levi
Roots? That’s right,
no one. And he’s back
at Urban Food Fest,
which heads to 162-167
Shoreditch High Street
for a Caribbean carnival
themed takeover on
Saturday 25 August.
Since Levi Roots’s
appearance on Dragon’s
Den in 2006 he’s become
something of a national
treasure, and at the event
he will be performing
live music at the market,
handing out free Reggae
Reggae Sauces, signing
his books, serving his
famous Jamaican street
food, and bringing the
Caribbean carnival vibes.
Urban Food Fest
markets also feature
quirky vintage furniture
and seating areas
complete with giant
deckchairs to lounge in.
There are also free to
play games including
ping-pong, giant Jenga
and board games.
The Urban Food Fest
Carnival ‘Rasta’raunt’
will feature 15 street
food trucks, stalls and
bars serving a fabulous
selection including:
“Levi’s Reggae Reggae”
slow cooked, slow
smoked home-made jerk
chicken and the V corner
vegan “No Meat No Cry”
vegan spiced vegetable
balls with roasted
peppers.
@urbanfoodfest/
jessica@urbanfoodfest.
com
Industrial chic:
Whilst a venue
described as ‘raw,
industrial and rustic’
is not unexpected in
Shoreditch, leave your
cynicism at the door of
this underground hot
spot, situated in the
famous Tea Building
(pictured bottom/top
image).
CONCRETE SPACE
is equipped with a PA
system, DJ booth, stage,
bar and cloakroom and
can be used for private
hire, club nights, live gigs,
shows and exhibitions.
The standing capacity
of the venue is 275 and
seated banquet style is
120.
[email protected]
concretespace.co.uk
Magical mystery floor
Located bang in
the middle of the Old
Street Roundabout, and
accessed via a secret
staircase in the tube
station, The Magic
Roundabout (pictured
above) is much lauded in
the Access office.
Expect street food,
artisan coffee, cocktails
and craft beers.
Upcoming attractions
include DJ sets and
carnivals.
info@magicroundabout.
co/ 07494 029 420
magicroundabout.co