Any city as old as London will have many buildings that have changed use over the centuries. Banks have become ‘trendy wine bars’, churches have become luxury homes and graveyards have become playgrounds.
Recently, I came across two of the most quirky examples of building up-cycling.
The first is a men’s public toilet which has been transformed (and thoroughly cleaned) into an artisan coffee shop with great coffee and delicious looking cakes. I spent a lovely half hour in The Attendant, enjoying a coffee & croissant. Perhaps I enjoyed it because it’s so quirky or perhaps because I was alone, child free and managed to finish a coffee without having to pick toys off the floor between each mouthful.
This week, I’ve also visited a posh burger restaurant above a Spar on Hackney’s achingly trendy Chatsworth Road. As the man and I entered the convenience shop we were greeted by bright lights and benches of hipsters drinking coffee, not the night I’d imagined. We turned round and realised this was not the right location. Heading up the stairs we entered Eat 17, it’s based in a former snooker hall and has a stunning curved celling, low level lighting and lavish decor. The interior was far from the usual Hackney Shabby chic and reminded me of plush places in New York, the delicious cocktails and burgers only added to the Upper East Side feel.
As ever the night ended too soon, 11pm came round and we realised Granny was babysitting and would want to go to bed. We jumped in a cab and zipped home through the bright lights of Clapton.