Leytonstoner

1 week ago | leytonstoner.london | Stephen Emms

Step inside Leyton Midland’s newest arch on any given Friday afternoon and the boys – Jack and James, pictured above – will be very busy indeed. Under its curved aluminium ceiling, dozens of uncooked pasties lie on wooden benches in neat rows, while moveable metal shelves of both cooked and uncooked pies await their fate. The former will end up out west at Queen’s Park Farmers’ Market, while the latter are sold straight from the oven right here in Leyton, when the bakery opens weekly on Saturdays.

3 weeks ago | leytonstoner.london | Stephen Emms

You wouldn’t necessarily expect the chef at a petite new cafe in Leytonstone to have such a history. But Daddie – yes, it’s just the one name (“like a papa,” he explained) – spent 18 years heading up the kitchen at the renowned Luc’s Brasserie in Leadenhall Market. Such are the surprises of our ever evolving food and drink scene. No.23 is the kind of tucked-away spot that, if discovered on holiday, you’d return to each morning.

4 weeks ago | leytonstoner.london | Stephen Emms

After writing about Devil’s Botany, the UK’s first absinthe distillery and tasting room the other week (read it here), Burnt Faith was next on the list. Why? Because it’s doing exactly the same thing with brandy – albeit on a much larger scale. Billing itself as the UK’s first dedicated Brandy House, it’s a spirited addition to the many boozy businesses of Blackhorse Road, and yet this repurposed warehouse, tucked away off Blackhorse Lane, is a little harder to find.

1 month ago | leytonstoner.london | Stephen Emms

With the launch of their sister boozer Leyton Engineer still fresh, Remarkable Pubs’ latest coup is the former Spark House on Lea Bridge Road, which opens officially today. When I asked head honcho Jake about the singular name, he explained that The European is a cheeky swipe at the site’s longstanding incarnation as Wetherspoon pub The Drum – and, of course, specifically its notorious pro-Brexit owner. And as I discovered this week, the name also now applies to the distinctly Gallic menu.

1 month ago | leytonstoner.london | Stephen Emms

During the thirteen years under Antic’s stewardship, Leytonstone’s landmark historic pile had fallen into something far scruffier than its intended “shabby chic” concept. So, revitalising the 10-bedroom boutique hotel, spectacular 300-capacity grand ballroom (one of the biggest local spaces for live gatherings), not to mention the capacious pub interiors, and beer garden (as well as creating a new smaller function room) ended up costing new owners Urban Pubs & Bars a whopping £1million.