...Vinatge spots in east-LONDON

Pacific Social Club, Clarence Road E5

There is something unique about Clarence Road in Hackney. For me it’s the mix of architecture and its uses from north to south, and the one horse town feel of the shopping section. The signs are it might be ripe for a ‘gentrifying’ makeover before too long, and Pacific Social Club heralds the start of just that.

Boasting a cute, colourful interior plastered with record sleeves and 50s paraphernalia, Pacific Social Club is a refreshing change from the industrial chic look invading cafes across the nation. They also have great taste in music, Jonathan Richman was crooning away on a recent visit.

Great coffee, fresh juices, imaginative sandwiches - this is a gem of a spot and we must cherish it accordingly.
Pacific Social Club, 8 Clarence Road, London E5 8HB
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Pacific-Social-Club/208236209221647

tips for London escapes...Russell's of Clapton hotel

This lovely, relaxed B&B is perfect for intrepid travellers who want to savour life in a real east London neighbourhood. Each of its five guestrooms is cosy and stylish, but the best part is the home-style comforts - chilling out on the sofa in the living room with a cup of tea, chatting to proprietor Annette about the best local places to discover. Rooms from £65.

 

 On a recent trip to London, though, we found ourselves at Russell’s of Clapton.
 A bed and breakfast that also plays host to a lot of traveling bands, including Gang Gang Dance, but doesn’t do it on the low. Instead, it opts for the straightforward route, doing the regular B&B thing, but updating it for people that aren’t really into doilies and old dudes posting up in the common area hogging all the board games.
In addition to the clean, bright, and fresh feeling rooms, the main area features books and magazines we’d actually read like The Gentlewoman (seriously dudes that issue with Adele on the cover is killer) and a collection of Love & Rockets graphic novels. There are also travel books if you’re trying to figure out where to go next ....
Mainly though, the biggest plus was that Russell’s of Clapton cured that weird thing that happens when traveling, where you find yourself sitting on a hotel bed with the exact same floral pattern as the last hotel, wondering how you got here and how it’s possible to feel so out of sorts just because you got on a plane and flew some hours away—and that’s worth so much more than we ever realized.

Russell's of Clapton
Chatsworth Road
Clapton
London E5 0LA
Tel: +44 797 666 9906
russellsofclapton.com