N16Life Winter 2017

HACKNEY | WINTER 2017 

FREE 

THE FUTURE 

IS AFLOAT 

Living in a boat 

THE BEST 

SUNDAY 

ROASTS 

of Hackney 

LOVE LOCAL 

Made by your 

neighbours 

WHAT’S ON 

THIS WINTER 

MEET 

the Turkish 

community 

HUMANS 

OF N16 

HAPPY 

NEW YEAR

HACKNEY VENUES 

Hold your event in one of the 

most creative and thriving 

areas in London 

Hackney Venues has emerged as a collection of some of the 

most sought after event spaces in east London. Currently 

featuring seven beautifully restored unique venues in the 

heart of the borough including two stunning art-deco town 

halls, an eighteenth century mansion house inside of Clissold 

Park, a former water pumping station, a RIBA award-winning 

sporting centre as well as a purpose-built conference centre 

and a converted warehouse a stones-throw away from 

Shoreditch High Street. From private parties and stunning 

weddings to conferences, product launches, fashion shows 

and awards ceremonies; Hackney Venues offers a space for 

any occasion. Get in touch with our dedicated events team 

for further information or visit our website for more details. 

020 8356 5505 www.hackneyvenues.com venuehire@hackney.gov.uk 

HDS992

WINTER 2017 

ISSUE #5 

14 

HUMANS OF N16 

27 

COULD YOU HANDLE LIFE IN THE WATER? 

35 

SLAP-UP SUNDAY 

ROASTS 

19 

MEET THE TURKISH 

COMMUNITY 

22 8 

6 

ALAN DENNEY 

Photographing Hackney 

since the Seventies 

WHAT’S ON THIS WINTER 

All the best events and 

nights out in the area 

LOVE LOCAL 

The products made right 

here in Hackney 

3

from the 

editor 

N16 Life’s first anniversary 

It was this time last year that N16 Life started its life as a magazine. We built a loyal 

readership very quickly, which was a source of great motivation for our small but 

able and passionate team. 

Thank you to everyone who has contributed to N16 Life with their stories and 

their advertisements. Without you, there would be no magazine. I hope you will 

continue to support us as we start a new year. 

As 2017 draws to a close, we leave behind a year that, politically, was happy for some 

and miserable for others. But Hackney, where dozens of nationalities live among one 

another, and London, where 300 languages are spoken every day, have shown how 

different cultures bring a beautiful richness to the world. I hope the forthcoming year 

will be one where different races and cultures regard each other as a part of a rich and 

diverse picture. 

In this issue we spoke to Alan Denney, who has been photographing different parts 

of Hackney since the 1970s. Alan’s pictures document the streets of those days, the 

events, and the political and social developments. We were only able to print a small 

selection of his photographs, but do check out our website to see a lot more of them. 

In the Humans of N16 section we hear from an impressively international band 

based in Hackney, She’koyokh. 

This issue also makes room for Hackney’s Turkish-speaking community, which is 

known for its cuisine but less so for its culture and faiths. They have two different 

places of worship – the mosque and the Cemevi – and you will learn in this issue how 

language and religion divide Turkish speakers. 

In these cold winter months, a lot of us tend to opt for food that warms us up. If 

this means something to you, you're going to love Mersa Auda's piece, for which she 

sampled the best Sunday roasts in Hackney. Be sure to read it before you head out 

next weekend. 

And it might feel to a lot of us as if the incessant rise in property prices seems to 

define life in London, with Hackney as popular as ever, but have you ever considered 

living in comfort, style and affordability on a boat? We ask boat-dwellers about their 

experiences. 

Wishing that everything you aim for becomes true in 2018. 

Happy New Year! 

EDITORIAL 

EDITOR 

Yasemin Bakan 

SUB EDITOR 

Michael Daventry 

PICTURE EDITOR 

Mehmet Er 

PHOTOGRAPHY 

Fatma Gökçe 

DESIGN 

Umut Senogul 

CONTRIBUTORS 

Carrie O’Grady 

Victoria Gray 

Mersa Auda 

ADVERTISING 

ENQUIRIES 

E-MAIL 

info@n16life.com 

CALL 

020 3652 0541 

07459 501 545 

Join the conversation: 

N16 Life Magazine 

www.n16life.com 

N16 Life is a quarterly magazine 

distributed to more than 20,000 

homes and businesses in N16 and 

the surrounding areas. 

It is also available in local cafes, pubs, 

libraries and supermarkets 

in Hackney. 

Yasemin Bakan 

Editor 

Published by Metropol Media Ltd 

Metropol Media Ltd cannot accept 

responsibility for unsolicited 

submissions, manuscripts and 

photographs. While every care is 

taken, prices and details are 

subject to change and Metropol 

Media Ltd take no responsibility 

for omissions or errors. 

All rights reserved. 

4

made in 

HACKNEY 

Love Local 

Hackney is not just rich in culture. 

The borough has produced some 

unique businesses and brands and in 

each issue N16 Life magazine charts 

some of the best of them. 

Season of the stitch 

Wool and The Gang 

D 

alston-based 

WOOL AND 

THE GANG is a 

global fashion brand 

powered by the maker 

movement, with a 

unique Fashion In a Kit 

offering that has gained 

them thousands of loyal 

fans worldwide. The 

founders, designers 

Aurelie Popper and Jade 

Harwood, met while 

studying textile design 

at Central Saint Martins 

in London. After school 

they gained experience 

together at Alexander 

McQueen and Balmain in 

Paris. That's when they 

were discovered by former model, world traveller 

and yarn lover Elisabeth Sabrier. Together they 

founded Wool and the Gang. 

Wool and the Gang has collaborated with Giles 

Deacon for his LFW show, the British Fashion 

Council, Mini, Veuve Clicquot, Christopher 

Raeburn, Whistles, Soludos and & Other Stories 

to date. woolandthegang.com 

Ceramics from Dalston 

Scented candles from Walthamstow 

Sugar, spice, everything nice 

Know & Love 

N 

16 based online store, Know 

& Love, is enjoying growing 

recognition as a reliable 

source of locally hand-crafted gifts 

and homewares. 

Owner Karen Sims, a St Martin’s 

graduate who has worked in London, 

New York and Toronto in graphics, 

interiors and photoshoots, had 

the idea for the business while 

discussing how many talented 

makers they both knew with 

husband Tim Leahy, a branding 

consultant. 

The result is a celebration of 

the places Sims loves, with artisan 

chocolate from Bethnal Green, 

scented candles from Walthamstow, 

crochet baskets from Clapton, hand 

carved wooden pieces from Dalston 

and ceramics from Hackney. There 

is also a smattering of items from 

abroad: ceramics from Lisbon and 

Digoin, baskets from Kenya and 

lighting from Holland made by 

groups helping locals get into skilled 

work. Every piece has an anecdote 

and a personal connection for Sims 

who has been a Hackney resident 

since 1987. 

The first anniversary will be 

marked with a pop up shop and craft 

workshops in Stoke Newington. 

During the autumn Know & Love 

will also be appearing at West Elm 

on Tottenham Court Road and 55 

Bishopsgate. 

knowandlove.co.uk 

Green inside and out 

Cushn Company 

S 

toke Newington-based Cushn Company 

combines style, functionality and ethical 

sustainability to create beautiful objects 

for your home. Their ethos is to live, work and 

create with an ethically sustainable approach. 

From the inside out, products are made using 

recycled and responsibly sourced fabrics, 

meaning that every item is truly original and 

makes a low impact on the environment. 

Studio 146 Columbia Road Flower Market, 

London E2 7RG. cushn.co 

6

TOTTENHAM. 

IT’S THE BUSINESS! 

Haringey Council has 

Opportunity Investment (OIF) 

loan funding available at great 

rates for businesses looking to 

expand or move to Tottenham. 

Businesses that want to grow and 

create high quality employment 

are encouraged to apply. 

To find out more visit www.tottenham.london/OIF 

or email tottenhamregeneration@haringey.gov.uk

WHAT'S ON 

this winter 

N16 Life’s unrivalled guide to the 

theatre, music, outdoor events and 

children’s activities in Hackney 

and across London in the winter 

PAST, PRESENT AND 

FUTURE AT THE 

SINFONIETTA 

londonsinfonietta.org.uk 

The London Sinfonietta marks half a century 

since its first concert with the very music 

that has marked the 50 years in between. 

The music of Stravinsky, Ligeti and Birtwistle is 

combined with courses and the London premiere 

of Hans Abrahamsen’s piano concerto Left 

and a new commission by RPS award-winning 

composer Samantha Fernando. Join co-founder 

David Atherton, George Benjamin, Vladimir 

Jurowski and the London Sinfonietta alumni for a 

celebration and look to the future. 

Wednesday 24 Jan 2018 

Tickets £35, 25, 15 Limited £5 16–25 

Royal Festival Hall Southbank Centre 

Belvedere Road London SE1 8XX 

CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR AT 

THE GEFFRYE MUSEUM 

geffrye-museum.org.uk 

Festive After Hours: 

Celebrate the season at this 

Christmas extravaganza 

which has something for all: the 

Crafty Fox Christmas market, 

activities for children and adults, 

seasonal talks and greenery 

demonstrations, music, street 

food and a bar. Thursday 14 

December, 4 - 9pm 

Farewell and closing party: 

Help the folks at the Geffrye see 

Photo: Jayne Lloyd 

out the Christmas and New Year 

season as the museum closes on 

Sunday 7 January for a two-year 

transformational development 

project. You’ll find street food, 

winter cocktails, some live music 

and a load of bargains, plus a 

lovely bonfire to warm yourself on. 

Join them also for the Epiphany 

celebration on Saturday 6 

January, 3.30 - 5pm, and Sunday 7 

January 2018. Free. 

WRAP IT 

UP IN A 

BOW 

theoldchurch.org.uk 

The Old Church launched their Winter 

Season with a programme of incredible 

music, theatre and spoken word, plus 

workshops, community and family events 

everyone can enjoy. To celebrate they’re wrapping 

the entire building in bows! And you can join in 

too. Add your own ribbon with a message of hope 

for the coming year. Pick one up from The Old 

Church bar for a donation, and add to the display 

outside at any time. Or come along to Open:art 

and make one with the team. See theoldchurch. 

org.uk for full programme. Stoke Newington 

Church Street London N16 9ES 

8

WHAT’S ON 

NAPOLEON DISROBED 

arcolatheatre.com 

One of the UK’s most 

exclusive theatre 

companies creates 

this poignantly moving and 

wryly humorous reimagining 

of the final years of Napoleon 

Bonaparte. 

Using their trademark 

comic physicality, Told by an 

Idiot explore the absurdity 

of trying to retrieve time 

and glory. An irreverent and 

hugely playful show about 

what it is to lose immense 

power but gain personal 

freedom; to transition from 

one identity to another, and 

to lose public face. Following 

their collaboration on the 

smash-hit My Perfect Mind, 

Paul Hunter takes on the 

role of Napoleon under the 

direction of award-winning 

actor and director Kathryn 

Hunter. Ticket prices 

£22-£12, 24 Ashwin Street, 

Dalston, London, 

E8 3DL, 020 7503 1646 

BAROQUE AT THE EDGE: 

A NEW MUSIC FESTIVAL 

FOR LONDON 

baroqueattheedge.co.uk 

I 

magine if Bach was 

a jazzman, Vivaldi a 

folk-fiddler, or Handel a 

minimalist… 

The Baroque at the Edge 

festival invites leading 

musicians ranging from 

classical to world, jazz and 

folk to take the music of the 

Baroque and see where it 

leads them. 

No rules, no programme 

notes, no lectures: all you 

need to know is how to listen. 

Baroque at the Edge is 

a brand-new event from 

the creators of the highly 

successful London Festival 

of Baroque Music – Artistic 

Director Lindsay Kemp and 

Manager Lucy Bending – 

working in partnership with 

LSO St Luke’s. 

Baroque at the Edge runs 

from January 5-7, 2018, at 

LSO St Luke’s in London. 

STOKE NEWINGTON 

GHOST SIGNS TOUR 

ghostsigns.co.uk/tours 

Whispers of 

advertising past 

are the focus of 

these walking tours through 

Stoke Newington, taking in 

some of London’s best ghost 

signs (painted signs, fading 

on walls). 

These are used to explore 

local, craft and advertising 

history through their unique 

stories and survival against 

the odds. 

The tours are led by 

Sam Roberts, a.k.a. Mr 

Ghostsigns, curator of the 

History of Advertising Trust 

Ghostsigns Archive and 

author of numerous articles 

and book contributions on 

the topic. 18 February and 

15 April 2018. For those 

who can't wait, the tours 

are also accessible through 

the ghostsigns walking 

tours app. 

In the Heart of the Neighbourhood 

DALSTON 

ART STORE 

020 3772 0132 - 1 Farleigh Place, N16 7SX 

9

MAT HUMPHREY 

IT COMES IN 

WAVES 

newartprojects.com 

SKATE AT LONDON’S MOST 

DRAMATIC ICE RINK 

toweroflondonicerink.co.uk 

Artist and curator Mat Humphrey 

is based in London. For his first 

exhibition at New Art Projects 

he has created an extraordinary series 

of new paintings. 

“It Comes in Waves” looks at 

how water reacts to both light and 

sound. Humphrey has reworked his 

monochrome palette and his flawless 

application of oil paint to create 

a sense of movement. These new 

paintings document the refraction of 

light through water and the patterns 

created by sound how energy is 

transferred through waves. The 

surface of these works, however, is 

flawless and strangely devoid of human 

mark, as if the ripples and contours of 

the paint had been made by water or 

the movement of light. 

These are Mat Humphrey’s darkest 

paintings to date; they suggest the 

deep dark parts of the ocean where 

light and sound barely penetrate. We 

feel like we are looking up at the light 

from a great depth, and rather than 

considering the sea bed from above, 

we are contemplating the way the 

light hits the surface of the water from 

below. 

His work is represented in 

international collections including 

those of Bryan Adams, Damon Albarn, 

Simon Fuller, Roland Mouret, Suzette 

Field and Viktor Wynd. 

New Art Projects, 6D Sheep Lane, 

London, E8 4QS , Until Sat 23 Dec, 

Free entry 

Ice skating returns to London’s most 

iconic historic landmark this season, 

the Tower of London. 

Advanced ticket booking for morning, 

daytime and evening sessions, including 

a special price for families, means skaters 

can secure their favourite dates and 

times. Two early morning sessions have 

been added this year which are especially 

suited for little skaters and beginners. 

There’s a cafe and bar on site too, so 

visitors can book a skate session then 

spend the rest of the day or evening in 

The Winter Open Studio is a 

wonderful opportunity to meet the 

craftspeople, artists and designers 

at the Chocolate Factory, to see their 

creativity first hand, and often before 

anyone else, as it emerges inside the 

studio. A well-established community of 

workshops that is home to many worldrenowned 

creative practitioners, it is well 

worth a visit! 

Alibi Pantry will be running their 

wonderful pop-up cafe within the studios 

again this winter. They will be serving 

refreshments and snacks as well as a 

choice of meals. Great coffee is also 

available. From 24 November (opening 

night 6-9pm), then 25&26 November 

(11am-6pm). 

Free Entry The Chocolate Factory 

N16, Farleigh Place, Stoke Newington, 

London, N16 7SX 

one of London’s most impressive historic 

locations. The rink is open all day, every 

day apart from Christmas Day. 

November 17th 2017 – January 2nd 

2018, Ice rink tickets are priced adults 

£14.50 / teenagers 13-15 years, OAPs, 

students and conc £12.50 / children 

3-12 years £10.50 and family tickets 

(3+1 or 2+2) £42. Sessions are 9am & 

10am; (this is weekends only until 18th 

December and then daily) 11am-7pm 

and 8pm & 9pm. Tower of London, 

EC3N 4AB 

THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY OPEN DAYS 

10

KIDS AND FAMILY 

CINDERELLA 

hackneyempire.co.uk 

The classic rags-toriches 

tale of Cinderella 

will be told in true 

Hackney style by an award 

winning pantomime team 

as they prove a new pair of 

shoes really can change your 

life. 

Cheer on the spirited 

heroine as she searches for 

love in spite of the exploits 

of her hideous Ugly Sisters 

and evil Stepmother. Throw 

in a pair of singing mice, a 

magical Fairy Godmother, 

the sparkle of glass slippers 

with glittering sets, big 

Credit Perou 

song and dance numbers, 

slapstick comedy and a 

flying horse and you have 

the perfect Christmas family 

treat for the festive season. 

18 Nov - 31 Dec. 

Tickets £36.50 - £10 

MEET FATHER CHRISTMAS 

nationaltrust.org.uk/sutton-house-and-breakersyard 

GO NOAH GO! 

littleangeltheatre.com 

A 

Great Flood is coming, 

and Mr and Mrs Noah 

have been set the most 

impossible task: to take two 

of each animal and build 

them a home. A magical ark 

built on stage, over 50 carved 

animals and a host of songs 

to sing along to make this 

production one of Little Angel 

Theatre’s most successful 

and impressive shows. John 

Agard’s stunning Caribbean 

adaptation of this timeless 

story, combining puppetry, 

masks, stories and songs, 

returns for another thrilling 

season that will enthral the 

entire family. 

Aimed at ages 5 – 10. 

Until 4 February 2018 

£15 Full-price adults 

£13 children (age 1 – 15) and 

concessions 

£52 Family ticket offer (2 

adults + 2 children or 1 adult 

+ 3 children) 

Running time: 1 hour and 15 

minutes approx. including 

15 minute interval 

Family Gala Saturday 9 

Dec, 4.30pm Sunday 21 Jan, 

4.30pm £25 

©National Trust Images/Rob Stothard 

Father Christmas 

welcomes you to 

hear stories of his 

adventures and receive 

a lovely gift from Sutton 

House. You can also count 

down the playful Twelve 

Days of Christmas with 

whimsical, comic decorations 

and creative activities for 

everyone. 

Meet Father Christmas 

in his picturesque grotto 

by a cosy fire. Expect funny, 

imaginative and surreal 

decorations by Rebecca 

Phillips, created with help 

from local supporters. Take 

part in creative activities, 

music, dancing, dressing-up 

and toys. 

25, 26 November 2017, 

2,3,9,16, 17 December 2017 

Adult £6.00 Child £5.00 

Family 2A 2C £19.00. 

Sutton House 2 & 4 

Homerton High Street, 

Hackney, London, E9 6JQ 

11

Call to Stokey’s 

budding women 

footballers 

Good news for young 

female strikers and 

defenders: this year 

sees the launch of 

two new girls' football teams in 

the neighbourhood. 

Aspiring players under 12 can 

join one of the junior teams run 

by AFC Stoke Newington. They 

will benefit from the coaching 

provided by members of the 

women’s section, who took 

home the winning trophy in 

the Greater London Women's 

League last season. 

AFC Stoke Newington was 

set up in 2015 by Ian Bruce, who 

had previously run successful 

girls' football teams at Stoke 

Newington School. He realised 

that girls tended to stop 

playing football once they had 

left school, and so he set up the 

club. 

The focus was on ex-Stoke 

Newington pupils but also 

with hopes to appeal to women 

from all over North London 

who wanted an accessible club 

to play for. An under-14s team 

followed and now even younger 

players are catered for. 

"This year was a really 

exciting one for us," says Bruce, 

"as we won the league and 

expanded over the summer 

to offer our youngest players 

the opportunity of playing 

competitive football in the 

Capital Girls League with new 

under-11 and under-12 teams. 

"Both teams are coached 

by players from our women's 

team, Ciara and Alice. I 

think it's important that our 

younger players are coached 

by inspirational female role 

models and the club is very 

lucky to have such wonderful 

coaching." 

Earlier this year, Bruce was 

named Coach of the Year at the 

Hackney Sports Awards, and 

he has equally high hopes for 

his young players. 

"Our under-14s narrowly 

missed out on the title last year 

on the last game of the season, 

but they've made an excellent 

start this year and hope to 

end the season with some 

silverware." 

London’s only diamond structure school with 

single-sex teaching in a co-educational environment 

for girls and boys aged 4-18. 

We are a city school with 50 acres of grounds where 

north east London meets Epping Forest. 

Find out more about entry into Year 7 

at our 11+ Information Morning on 

Saturday, 25 November 2017 at 9am. 

www.forest.org.uk 

admissions@forest.org.uk 

020 8520 1744 

E17 3PY 

12

jll.co.uk/residential 

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Sales | Lettings | Property Management | New Homes

Humans 

of N16 

Award-winning, multinational She’koyokh present 

themselves as a klezmer band. But they source their 

music much more widely, singing folk and gipsy songs 

from the Balkans and Turkey. They have performed in 

such eminent European concert halls as Amsterdam’s 

Concertgebouw, the Gasteig in Munich and London’s 

Southbank Centre. 

Listen to She’Koyokh: 

www.shekoyokh.co.uk/music/ 

Watch She’Koyokh: 

www.shekoyokh.co.uk/videos/ 

SUSI EVANS, CLARINET 

(FOUNDER MEMBER OF 

SHE’KOYOKH) 

She'koyokh is a Yiddish word meaning 

“nice one!”. The name was suggested by 

Jim’s dad who grew up in East London 

which, when he was a boy, had a large 

Yiddish-speaking Jewish community. 

The band formed in 2001 after meeting 

at Klezfest, an annual klezmer summerschool 

at SOAS University of London run 

by the Jewish Music Institute. 

Festival of Jim is a small family-run 

festival in the woods in East Sussex. Jim 

Marcovitch was She’Koyokh’s founding 

accordionist; he tragically died of cancer 

in 2008 aged 34. We had been playing 

together almost every day for the 

previous seven years and were like family. 

He was a total maverick and we did some 

crazy gigs on trains and buses, playing in 

the sea, dancing on tables and busking at 

a firework festival in Spain. 

I live in Stoke Newington. I was born 

in Hemel Hempstead but my dad is 

from Yorkshire and my mum’s from 

Sunderland. 

I started on violin when I was six but 

gave up when I was seven. A few years 

later I took up music again because my 

brother and friends were all doing it. 

Otherwise I would have been a golfer! 

My parents love music and have always 

been very supportive. They paid for 

my brother to go to a specialist music 

school when he was 13, and I followed him 

there when I was 16 and now we are both 

“SOMEONE THREW AN 

APPLE AND IT EXPLODED 

ON MY CLARINET” 

professional musicians. My mum plays 

the Northumbrian pipes and runs her own 

folk band, writing all the arrangements 

herself. 

Once, someone threw an apple and it 

landed on my clarinet just as I was playing 

the last note of a gig. It exploded, and my 

clarinet was sticky for weeks. I’ve also 

been bitten by a dog when playing a very 

high note and had eggs thrown at me 

when busking during siesta time in Spain. 

We obviously need a cage in front of the 

stage like the Blues Brothers! 

In She’koyokh we have 3 kids in total 

and another on the way! Babies come to 

rehearsals and go on tour. I take Matt 

& Chris’ baby to nursery once a week. 

Last week Meg went to Zika’s so he could 

look after her toddler and his children 

while Meg did some band admin. We pay 

a babysitter with money from the band 

fund so that Meg and Chris can spend 

three hours sending emails to promoters. 

ÇIĞDEM ASLAN VOCALS 

I’m from Istanbul; my family is from 

Sivas in eastern Turkey originally. 

I sing in Turkish, Kurdish, Greek and 

the Balkan languages. People like listening 

to the music of different cultures and tell 

me even though they don't understand 

the lyrics they can still feel it. 

I have always sung but performing semiprofessionally 

started when I was at uni in 

Istanbul, then professionally after I moved 

to London. 

I had seen the band perform outside in 

Euston and I remember thinking what a 

lovely band, I wish I sang with them. The 

following year, I met personally with the 

members and jammed. They invited me 

to sing with them for couple of concerts. 

This was almost 10 years ago, and I am still 

with them. 

Our songs tell stories about various 

things from love to migration; dialogues 

between mothers-in-law comparing gifts to 

the bride; women indecisive about who to 

marry; wild goats and unmarried women, 

angry women telling their lovers off... 

My favourite song is Sila Kale Bal in 

Romani by Saban Bayramovic, the king 

of Roman music. The lyrics say, “Mother I 

am in love with this girl, she has dark hair 

and green eyes and if she doesn’t marry 

me I'll die.” 

My dad for years insisted that I go back 

to Turkey and do my job as an English 

teacher but this stopped when he saw me 

on a mainstream newspaper’s front page. 

My Mum was surprised to see my gig 

was sold out and apparently asked my 

sister if all those people were there to 

listen to me! 

Our gigs in Spain performing at 

WOMAD or in Hungary performing 

14

at Sziget or when we performed at 

Concertgebouw in Amsterdam or the 

most recent album launch in London are 

amongst the remarkable ones. Somebody 

from the audience once proposed to me 

while I was explaining the next song! 

PAUL MOYLAN DOUBLE BASS 

I was born in Basildon. I joined 

She’Koyokh gradually as a stand in for 

many years then to ok over two years ago. 

My favourite song is an Albanian song Për 

Ty Vuaj Për Ty Këndoj. 

ŽIVORAD NIKOLIĆ 

ACCORDION & VOCALS 

I was born in Kragujevac, a town in 

Central Serbia. 

I play accordion and started playing 

when I was seven years old. My parents 

noticed my passion for music and took me 

to audition at the music school. 

Susi and I studied together at the Royal 

Academy of Music. 

This music has a deep connection to 

tradition. It has been developed through 

centuries, and something that survives 

for so long has a high value that we 

need to preserve. The music can tell us 

something about the characters of the 

people from that place. This is significant 

when communities have to flee and live in 

a diaspora. 

MEG HAMILTON VIOLINIST 

I was born in Japan, but my parents 

are English. I started learning the violin 

“SOMEBODY FROM 

THE AUDIENCE ONCE 

PROPOSED TO ME WHILE 

I WAS EXPLAINING THE 

FOLLOWING SONG!” 

when I was four, in a teaching method 

called Suzuki, which is a very good way 

of training the ear. I was in the audience 

for She'Koyokh's first ever gig, and so 

happy to be invited to join soon after. My 

current favourite is an Albanian song with 

a long violin solo where I mimic sounds of 

mountains, birds and wild animals. 

My siblings all played music at some 

stage. My brother wanted to sell his violin 

to buy a rifle but I couldn't bear it to be 

sold, so I bought it from him. 

One time, we were about to perform 

the world premiere of a klezmer concerto 

in the Queen Elizabeth Hall. The minute 

I walked on stage there was a loud 

sound: my string had broken. The band 

had to play a couple of klezmer tunes 

to entertain the audience while the 

orchestra sat there waiting for me to 

come back. 

We attract a very eclectic audience in 

London. Sometimes a group of Turkish 

people come and sing along with Cigdem. 

They often get up dancing as well and 

request tunes again and again that we've 

just played! 

My husband, Bogdan, is also a 

professional violinist. We somehow 

manage to juggle our careers with 

childcare, with a bit of help from our 

wonderful family and friends. 

CHRISTINA BORGENSTIERNA 

PERCUSSIONIST 

I was born in Madrid. My family is from 

Sweden. I have always been into music! 

There was a piano in the house... 

Having done a six-month 

ethnomusicology course at Stockholm 

University, I found myself immersed in 

Romanian, Bulgarian, Greek, Serbian, 

and Syrian folklore at the music library 

of Goldsmiths University while doing 

a music degree there. I also met Jim 

Marcovitch, co-founder of She'Koyokh, 

and sang along while he played his 

klezmer melodies. Slowly I met the rest of 

the band, around the year 2001. 

One of my favourite songs is about a 

boy who tells his mum about the girl he 

loves; he tries to draw a picture of her 

for approval. It's called Rosni mi rosni 

rositse. It’s much more interesting to my 

ears than popular English music. Also 

emotionally, the melodies have normally 

passed the test of time which means they 

have a powerful message inbuilt in them, 

that we have the honour to interpret! 

We always have a babysitter either at 

home or at the gig (if it's in the daytime). If 

the gig is far away or abroad, we arrange a 

local sitter. 

MATT BACON GUITAR & KAVAL 

I was born in Zambia and lived in 

Nigeria and Malawi until coming to this 

country at 12 years old. 

Maybe this has given me a taste for 

the exotic or different cultures because 

world music has always fascinated me. 

This is what attracted me to the band in 

the first place all those years ago in 2001. 

Of course, it wasn't much of a band back 

then - just a loose collection of klezmer 

musicians all willing to go busking at 

Columbia road flower market on a Sunday 

morning come rain or shine! 

Guitar is not really a traditional 

klezmer or Balkan instrument. I loved the 

challenge of trying to make my voice work 

within the ensemble. 

At first this involved trying to imitate 

the sound and style of the traditional 

instruments of the region, for example 

the bouzouki, oud, lauto, tambora or 

even the cymbalom. Having integrated 

this approach into my sound somewhat 

I then introduced other elements such 

as gypsy jazz or manouche music which, 

although not strictly east European, have 

flavours from the region due to the gypsy 

connection.For me music has always 

been about keeping an open mind and 

exploring different aspects of creativity. 

My favourite concert so far has to be 

WOMAD in Fuerteventura. The stage was 

on the beach, a balmy night with a soft 

breeze, a full moon hovering above the 

horizon, and an enthusiastic audience 

who were dancing by the end of the first 

number! 

Christina and I had our first child last 

year, so we are just getting into the swing 

of juggling playing music with having a 

family. We use babysitters when we play 

together who have all been fantastic. If we 

play outside of London we use an internet 

app to book them in the city where we are. 

They chill out(!) in the green room with 

Lucia while we are on stage. 

15

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Camia Deli.indd 1 05/12/2016 23:03

STORIES 

New Broom 

TIMEA KARLIK 

CLEANER-MUSIC PRODUCER 

I’m from Hungary. I came 

to London in 2011. I learnt 

English in Australia. When 

I was 15 years old my father 

went to Australia to work. He 

was on the other side of the 

world. One of his colleagues 

said, “Why don't you bring 

your family here?” So, we 

moved to Australia and I went 

to high school there. It wasn't 

easy starting school in another 

WORKING AS A 

CLEANER IS NOT 

EASY SOMETIMES. 

PEOPLE REFLECT 

THEIR ANGER 

TO US, BUT IT IS 

ACTUALLY NOT 

RELATED TO US. 

country as a teenager. Other 

students bullied me. After 

they changed the immigration 

laws, we left Australia in 

2008. I was happy about the 

experience: life is about what 

you are learning and studying, 

isn't it? 

When I was 18 years old I 

was nervous that my family 

would have to look after me 

if I didn't work and become 

independent. I didn't want 

my parents worrying about 

me, so I wanted to move to 

London and study something. 

When I came here, I didn't 

know how expensive London 

was. I wanted to study graphic 

design, but it was very 

expensive. It was not possible 

to study while I worked to pay 

my bills. I could afford to do an 

electronic music production 

course for one year in West 

London. I learnt how to 

compose music and devices 

they make music with. When 

I save some money, I’d like to 

study sound engineering. I 

make music at home and do 

recordings for radio stations. 

I do music outside of work. It 

makes me happy. 

I have worked as a cleaner 

in Clissold Leisure Centre 

since 2013. I like working 

for them. They allow you 

to develop skills and move 

to other departments. I 

know some people used to 

be cleaners, now they are 

lifeguards or working in the 

gym, sales, on reception or 

as a manager. I am still going 

to do cleaning job; I will start 

to do a reception job as well. 

This might allow me to play 

my music somewhere at 

weekends. 

Working as a cleaner is 

not easy sometimes. People 

reflect their anger to us, but 

it is actually not related to us. 

In wintertime people are more 

rude to me. 

I am on a zero-hour 

contract. We are not paid for 

our holidays. Holiday pay is in 

the wage. If they have financial 

problems, they cut my hours 

because I am a casual worker. 

They might say we don't have 

enough jobs, we don't need 

you, we don't have shoes for 

you. If this happens to me I'll 

go back home. I can speak 

English, I love my music, 

maybe I can do something else. 

After Brexit people around 

me are not happy because they 

don't know what the future 

is going to bring. A lot of 

people I know have gone back 

to their countries since the 

Brexit vote and a lot of people 

are planning to go back. I 

don't know what to expect. 

It is uncertain. They are still 

making plans and don't know 

what to do with EU people. 

I miss my family. I have a 

boyfriend here. I met him on 

a dance floor: we had a drink 

and exchanged numbers. 

Now we have been together 

for three years, we love each 

other. I don't want to leave him 

because of Brexit. 

I do radio podcasts for 

online radios. I do different 

podcasts for different shows. 

I am hoping one day to play 

at clubs. I also would like to 

start my own record label. 

That’s why I have done the 

production course. I want 

to play at parties and make 

people dance and be happy 

with my music. I don't want to 

be a superstar or famous. I just 

want to do it for love of music. 

I believe that with music we 

can change the world. A lot of 

musicians believe that music 

brings peace to the world. 

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COMMUNITIES OF HACKNEY 

Beyond kebabs: 

Hackney’s 

Turkish speakers 

by YASEMIN BAKAN 

Our part of London is home to a Turkish-speaking 

community more diverse than you might think. Two 

centuries-old faiths with links to Islam are practised 

here in vast numbers. 

The term “Turkish community” 

is widely used to describe the 

thousands of Turkish speakers 

who live in London today. But it 

is in fact an umbrella term that covers 

mainland Turks, Turkish Cypriots and 

Kurds – the latter of whom also speak 

the Kurmanji dialect of Kurdish – and 

nowhere in London better represents the 

capital’s Turkish-speaking diversity than 

Hackney. 

The first to settle in this part of the city 

were the Turkish Cypriots, who migrated 

here for work between the 1930s and 

1950s. In the decades that followed, their 

presence expanded from Hackney to 

other regions, including Haringey and 

Enfield. 

Migration to the UK from mainland 

Turkey – in particular, the Anatolian 

peninsula – was barely noticeable until the 

1970s, when increasingly larger number 

began to leave because of military 

interventions in Turkey. A further military 

coup in 1980, the deteriorating economic 

situation and, particularly from the 1990s, 

a rising conflict in southeast Turkey 

meant that many Kurdish-speaking 

Turkish citizens looked to Britain as their 

new home. 

Intellectuals, journalists, opposition 

figures, artists and poets were among the 

cream of Turkey’s Kurdish society who 

made the move to Hackney and other 

major European areas. 

Around 25,000 people in Hackney 

described themselves in the 2011 

Census as speakers of Turkish as a main 

language, but the real number of speakers 

is sure to be higher. 

Over the past half century this 

community has overcome the largest 

barrier in its path – that of language – to 

set up its own businesses, community 

centres and associations. 

The Turkish-speaking community 

is particularly visible on Hackney’s 

Kingsland Road. From Stoke Newington 

to Dalston there are mosques, 

hairdressers and barbers, florists, estate 

agents, supermarkets, restaurants, law 

firms and other businesses that make 

the area feel like a little Turkey. But most 

of the owners of these businesses live 

outside Hackney, in places like Southgate, 

Enfield and Chingford. 

In the 1980s and 1990s, when Hackney 

was an important area for textiles, 

Turkish speakers had a major presence 

in the factories both as owners and as 

workers. It was after these factories 

closed down that the community began to 

concentrate on the food and drink sector 

instead. 

The community is also diverse on the 

question of faith. It is widely assumed that 

the vast majority – 98 per cent, by some 

counts – of Turkish speakers are Muslims, 

but this isn’t quite the entire picture. 

After Sunni Islam, one of the main 

religious groups is Alevism, which 

accounts for around 15-20 per cent 

of Turkey’s population. In Hackney, 

a majority of Turkish speakers are 

members of the Alevi faith. They are 

followers of Ali, the Prophet Muhammed’s 

brother-in-law, and practice a mystical 

faith that blends Islamic, Shaman and Sufi 

traditions. 

Unlike many other religions, they do 

not have many strict laws; instead, they 

observe love among humans, tolerance 

and the passing of knowledge from one 

generation to another by means of poetry. 

19

1983 

FEATURE 

Photo: Alan Denney 

The building used until 1983 as a theatre and cinema was purchased for £80,000 and transformed into Aziziye mosque 

UP UNTIL 1993, ALEVI 

FUNERALS WERE 

HELD AT A MOSQUE IN 

WHITECHAPEL 

Some, but by no means all, of the Alevi 

believe their faith to be a branch of Islam. 

Another major difference between 

Alevism and Sunni Islam is their place of 

worship. While Sunnis pray in mosques, 

Alevis meet at the cemevi. Unlike 

mosques, there is no gender segregation 

in a cemevi and the manner of prayer 

is different too: whereas a hodja or 

imam leads a service in a mosque, a cem 

service will see music, song and a form 

of spiritual dance known as the semah. 

The songs that are performed, often 

to the accompaniment of a guitar-like 

instrument known as the bağlama, are 

centuries-old and well-known amongst 

Alevi. 

One such song goes: 

“Learn from your mistakes and be 

knowledgeable, 

“Don’t look for faults in others, 

“Look at 73 different people in the 

same way, 

“God loves and created them all, so 

don’t say anything against them.” 

Turkey’s Alevi population has routinely 

been subject to discrimination and the 

target of massacres. 

“Up until 1993, Alevi funerals were held 

at a mosque in Whitechapel largely used 

by the Pakistani community,” says Tugay 

Hurman, recalling how the cemevi he 

leads today, at 89 Ridley Road, came to be 

founded. 

“Alevi funerals were generally regarded 

as second class and when one particular 

event experienced disrespectful 

behaviour, the Alevis realised they were 

not temporary visitors to this country 

and needed to establish a cemevi of their 

own.” 

Dalston’s cemevi has four thousand 

members and the building acts both as a 

cultural centre and a place of worship. 

Like Sunni Muslims, Alevis observe a 

fasting but they do this during the month 

of Muharram, the first month of the 

Islamic calendar, rather than the month of 

Ramadan. 

It is observed to mark the Battle of 

Karbala, in which Ali’s son Huseyin and 

his family members were abandoned 

in the desert and tortured for failing to 

give allegiance to the caliphate of Yazid I. 

Alevis mark the anniversary of this 680 

CE battle with theatre and discussions 

on human values and Alevi teachings. 

It culminates in the festival of Ashura, 

where a special dish prepared from a 

variety of fruits, nuts, and grains is made. 

It is also known as Noah’s pudding and 

is shared not just within the cemevi but 

among family, friends and neighbours. 

There are three mosques in the 

Hackney region used by Turkish-speaking 

people not just for worship, but for advice 

and cultural events. 

One such site is at 117 Stoke Newignton 

Road, where the building used until 1983 

as a theatre and cinema was purchased 

for £80,000 and transformed into Aziziye 

mosque. 

The local hodja Fahri Baltan tells the 

story: “When I first came here from 

Turkey I thought I would be leading 

services to hundreds of people, like in 

Sultanahmet [the site of Istanbul’s famous 

Blue Mosque]. But before Aziziye’s 

building was purchased, we used a flat on 

the upper floor of a building just nearby. 

There would be five or six people praying 

with us and I was deeply disappointed. 

The Turkish Alevi community dancing semah, a form of 

spiritual dance at Alevi Culture Festival at Oxford University 

“But then this building was purchased 

in 1983 and it took its present form in 

1997. We have a lovely mosque now.” 

There are two important dates on the 

calendars of observant Muslims in the 

Turkish-speaking communities. One 

is Eid al-Fitr, known as the Ramadan 

Bayram in Turkish, which takes place over 

three days after the 30-day Ramadan fast. 

The other is Eid al-Adha, Kurban Bayram. 

Both are festivals where new clothes are 

purchased and families come together. In 

a ritual ceremony, the younger generation 

visit their elderly relatives to kiss their 

hand and touch it with their foreheads. 

Children get money, sweets and 

presents in return. Homemade baklava, 

nutty desserts, make the festival sweet, 

while stuffed vine leaves, soups, salads, 

meaty meals and rice dishes ensure the 

whole family have a hearty meal together. 

It’s not just families, either: friends will 

pay visits to one another. 

Alevis mark the festival in the same 

way, and just about every member of the 

Turkish-speaking communities echo the 

same refrain: it’s just not like it was back 

in Turkey. 

20

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70S STOKE N 

When Alan Denney moved to Hackney in the mid-1970s, he started 

Stoke Newington Church Street 

Clissold 

Sandringham Road 

Stoke Newington 

22

Park 1981 Stoke Newington Church Street 1981 

Church Street 1981 

Stoke Newington High Street 1980 Town Guide and Public Toilets 

EWINGTON 

taking photographs of Stoke Newington, Dalston and Stamford Hill 

23

Photographing 

Hackney 

since the Seventies 

Interview by YASEMIN BAKAN 

Alan Denney unintentionally became an internet sensation 

when he put his photographs online, attracting millions of 

views. His pictures document the changes in Stoke Newington 

Church Street and the Dalston Kingsland Road. 

Tell us about yourself. 

I was born in 1952 and was brought up by 

my Italian mother in Gillingham, Kent. In 

the 1950s and 60s Gillingham was a town 

of soldiers, sailors, dockyard mateys and 

working-class Tories. Like a lot of young 

people at that time I became radicalised: 

another world seemed possible! I gave 

up trying to become a lawyer and sold 

Red Mole, a weekly left-wing newspaper 

published by the International Marxist 

Group in the early 1970s. The editor was 

Tariq Ali. 

After university I worked as a teacher in 

a small town in Northern Italy and in 1974 

I came to visit friends in Stoke Newington 

for a weekend. I stayed, got a job and 

made my life here. Back then I lived in 

some dreadful slum flats in Hawksley 

Road and on Stoke Newington Common. 

Jay Estates, the Hawksley Road 

landlord, invented a devious plan to deny 

tenants the protection of the Rent Acts 

by renaming their properties “bed and 

breakfast”. So every week a man would 

bring my breakfast: usually just a variety 

pack of Kellogg's cereals but sometimes a 

packet of toast. 

I've lived in Dynevor Road since 1983. I 

spent most of my working life as a mental 

health social worker for Islington Council 

and retired 5 years ago. 

Why were you interested in 

photography? Why did you want 

to document political protest, 

police, and strikes? 

I grew up carefully studying a boxful of 

my mother's old family photos. I was 

fascinated to see what I could learn 

about my relatives just by looking at 

photographs of them...and stories 

emerged. I wanted to take my own photos 

to add to the collection so mum gave me 

a camera when I was 10, a British-made 

Coronet Viscount. 

I started taking photos of friends, 

family, outings and holidays – but when I 

came to Stoke Newington I heard rumours 

about socially-engaged documentary 

photography. I began to get an idea of 

what this looked like from Camerawork 

magazine, produced by the Halfmoon 

Photography Workshop in Bethnal Green. 

I decided to make a photographic 

record of life around me here in Hackney. 

I wanted to tell the story of a workingclass 

neighbourhood blighted by poverty, 

unemployment, racism and awful housing 

and how local people responded to this 

onslaught with resilience. I took my 

camera everywhere and photographed 

anything that caught my eye: derelict 

houses, urban decay, uncollected 

rubbish mountains on the Common in 

Alan Denney 

CHURCH STREET IS NOW 

MOSTLY POSH SHOPS, 

CAFES, RESTAURANTS 

AND VERY FEW 

ORDINARY HACKNEY 

PEOPLE TO BE SEEN 

24

FEATURE 

the winter of discontent, people busy 

being themselves, community festivities, 

protests, the Astra turning into a Turkish 

mosque, the first signs of gentrification on 

Church Street. 

I more or less stopped taking 

documentary photos after the mid-80s. 

Thatcher and the defeat of the miners' 

strike numbed me. I photographed my 

children as they grew up instead. In 2008 

I uploaded some old photos to the Flickr 

website and I was surprised by the response. 

It encouraged me to start photographing 

Hackney again and I'm still at it. 

I've used several 35mm film cameras: 

an unreliable East German Praktika 

SLR, Yaschica and Contax SLRs, and my 

favourite Olympus XA, a tiny rangefinder 

camera. I use a small Panasonic digital 

camera now. A few years ago I started 

doing kite aerial photography, taking 

photos from a kite flown in local parks, I 

love looking down at familiar places. 

You've captured the funeral 

of Michael Ferreira. What's 

the reason for so many people 

attending this funeral? 

Michael Ferreira was a young black man 

who bled to death in Stoke Newington 

police station after he'd been stabbed 

nearby in a fight with two white teenagers. 

Hundreds of people from Hackney's 

different communities came together on 

a wet Saturday morning in January 1979 

to show their grief and anger in front of 

the police station – as they did again just a 

few weeks ago when Rashan Charles died 

after a violent encounter with local police. 

You have a lot of pictures taken 

in Sandringham Road. What was 

Michael Ferreira’s 

Funeral 1979 

HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE 

FROM HACKNEY'S 

DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES 

CAME TOGETHER ON A 

WET SATURDAY MORNING 

IN JANUARY 1979 

happening on this road? The 

photo with four men must have a 

story. 

The local Afro-Caribbean community 

called Sandringham Road “the Front 

Line”. At one end was the West Indian 

café and barber and at the other end was 

the Lord Stanley pub and derelict shops. 

It was where black youths rubbed up 

against the local police and it could get 

very rowdy. The 1981 Dalston riot started 

there. 

My partner lived round the corner in 

Colvestone Crescent so I often walked 

along Sandringham Road and it felt 

pretty ordinary most of the time: groups 

of young black men being young men, 

outworkers making their sewing machines 

screech, loud voices and thumping reggae 

from open windows and, if you wanted 

to, you could buy Jamaican weed. It 

was rumoured that officers from Stoke 

Newington police station controlled the 

marijuana trade on Sandringham Road. I 

can't tell you what I think is going on in the 

photo with the four men, some of them 

may still be around! 

How does Stoke Newington/ 

Hackney look compared to when 

you started to take pictures? What 

was the community like? 

In the 1970s Hackney was a solidly 

working-class area made up of lots of 

different communities: Jews, Afro- 

Caribbeans, Irish, Cypriots, Asians 

amongst others. Manufacturing 

industries had virtually disappeared; 

there were local jobs in clothing 

sweatshops, retail or the Council/NHS but 

unemployment was high and deprivation 

indicators put Hackney at the bottom 

of the pile. Hackney looked terrible too: 

derelict Victorian houses on every street, 

boarded-up shops, piles of rubbish, 

burnt-out cars, deserted factories and 

empty workshops. 

The physical environment looks 

better now: there's less visible urban 

decay and there are fewer tower blocks. 

Stoke Newington is still a hodgepodge of 

working-class communities. What's new 

is the recent arrival of white middle-class 

newcomers and the social cleansing of 

the Woodberry Down Estate. What hasn't 

changed is Hackney's high level of poverty 

and social deprivation. 

How would you describe Church 

Street when you compare it to the 

present? 

Church Street in the 1970s was just 

another run-down street in Hackney: junk 

shops, sewing machine and haberdashery 

suppliers, sweatshops, workmen's caffs, 

a few struggling shops and pubs. Now it's 

mostly posh shops, cafes, restaurants and 

very few ordinary Hackney people to be 

seen. 

Stoke Newington 1978 

Is Stoke Newington living its best 

time? What is your prediction for 

the future? 

Stoke Newington's golden age is yet to 

come. I don't know what the future holds 

but I hope that we don't have to wait too 

long before the wealth of this country is 

shared out more fairly. 

25

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With London's house prices and rents constantly 

on the rise, more people are looking for alternative 

ways to live in the capital. Mersa Auda visited the 

close-knit community of floating homes on local 

canals to find out what boat life is really like. 

Interview by MERSA AUDA 

LINUS SAMS 

Canal boats have existed for 

centuries, but the idea of 

canal homes has never been 

quite as popular. To get a 

clearer idea of the lifestyle, 

we spoke to freelancer Linus; young 

couple Lowri and David; and Damian, 

who lives with his wife and nine-year-old 

son Morgan. In spite of daily challenges, 

it seems that the benefits of living on the 

water far outweigh the difficulties - you 

just need to be up for the adventure. 

LINUS SAMS 

“I was born in London and I also grew up 

here. I was living abroad for ten years and 

when I came back I found it had changed 

dramatically: new buildings everywhere, 

house prices gone up, higher living costs, 

more people. I had to live in London 

because all my family and friends are 

here, so my sister had this idea. It was 

very straightforward, we bought the boat 

on the weekend and I moved in on the 

Monday. This is probably the only way 

that I could fit back into London life. 

“I’ve only been doing this for a few 

months but there’s been quite a few 

challenges, like breaking down in the 

middle of the canal! Then there’s the fact 

that you’ve always got to keep the water 

tank full. I don’t think there are enough 

free water points where you can fill up. 

Luckily I’ve got a car, but if you don’t have 

that you’ve got to go miles up the road to 

get it. And unfortunately, just when you 

get used to an area you have to move and 

start all over again every fortnight. 

“You find your way around the 

challenges though. It was quite stressful 

at the beginning but I’m starting to enjoy 

it now. You meet some really nice people 

and you actually interact with others, 

which is rare in London. People in the 

city are usually doing their own thing, 

not really wanting to talk. There doesn’t 

seem to be so much human interaction 

any more so for me, after being away so 

long, it’s good to have this community, 

otherwise I think it would be very lonely. 

“I would recommend boat life but 

27

it depends on the person and their 

lifestyle. I’m a freelance stage technician 

and an artist so for me it works well, but 

if you didn’t have enough time to be on 

the boat, it’d be tricky. I’ve always led a 

slightly alternative life and this fits with 

my personality. 

“I’m seeing things differently from this 

perspective. I love to create, and this is 

actually bringing out a lot of stuff for 

me as an artist, stuff that I didn’t use so 

much when I was living in a room. In a 

house I felt stifled, claustrophobic, but 

here I feel the inspiration coming back. 

Obviously it doesn’t happen overnight, 

but I feel it’s starting to happen again.” 

LOWRI AND DAVID 

Lowri: “I’ve lived quite alternatively in 

the past and when I came to London 

[from Swansea], David was living in a flat, 

but we were really interested in a simpler 

lifestyle. We met a guy who was living on 

a boat and David helped him to renovate, 

so he learnt a lot about boat life. We just 

thought, let’s give it a go! Obviously the 

DAVID & LOWRI 

money factor comes into it as well, but it 

wasn’t the main thing. For me, coming to 

London and seeing concrete everywhere 

was quite overwhelming, but this made 

the move a lot easier. 

“You learn a lot here. You’ve only got 

a small space so you realise that you 

don’t need most of the stuff you have. We 

spend a lot more quality time together 

because we’re not just sitting down 

watching TV, and I’ve become a lot more 

creative now. In the next couple of years 

we’d like to have children and I don’t 

know how comfortable I’d feel having a 

newborn on the boat, so our life here will 

probably be temporary for that reason. 

Otherwise I’d happily do it permanently! 

“Lots of people just follow the crowd 

and buy a house. This lifestyle is not for 

everyone, but I think you’ve got to try it 

to love it. When I go to my mother’s for a 

night or two I think it’s nice to have the 

space, and we definitely miss the sofa! 

But I’m ready to come back every time.” 

David: “We don’t really miss anything. 

What we think we miss was just stuff that 

we were in the habit of doing. The nicest 

thing here is that the people are great. 

I lived in a flat for two years and I didn’t 

know my neighbour; here everyone 

waves, everyone says hello. It would be 

nice to have a community hub [to discuss 

common issues], a place where boaters 

could go and have a chat, and everyone 

would give their opinion, find new ways, 

especially now that it’s getting more 

popular.” 

Lowri: “With the mooring rules 

[requiring a boat to move every 14 days], 

I think it takes a boater to understand 

the practical problems. It’s not really 

realistic for us to move around while 

fixing the boat, for instance. They are 

lenient with engine problems, but maybe 

they could be more considerate of 

people who are renovating. 

“As house prices are going up, most 

people can’t afford to buy one. I think we 

can learn from other countries that are 

more ahead when it comes to alternative 

lifestyles. A lot of people are actually 

interested in something different.” 

DAMIAN & MORGAN WALSH 

Damian: “Living on a boat is about the 

only way you can have a bit of freedom in 

London without having to pay somebody 

else’s mortgage or owe hundreds of 

thousands of pounds and be a slave to 

the bank. We’ve been doing it for six 

years. It was originally meant to be a 

temporary thing for us, but it’s hard to 

beat this. 

“It’s a totally different experience from 

when you have a house because you have 

got to build everything yourself. You’ve 

got to be ingenious, creative, flexible 

and determined, or else you won’t last 

very long living on the water. It does 

get easier with time. You get a better 

28

network and you know what the hurdles 

are. You get to meet lots of people and we 

all share knowledge. Every day is a school 

day. People living in houses don’t have any 

shared resources, whereas if you’re living 

on the river you have to be part of the 

community to survive. 

“There are a hell of a lot of challenges, 

especially surrounding the strict 

enforcement of the 14-day rule. The 

mooring rules are run by a body called 

Canal River Trust who are the most 

uncharitable charity in the history of 

charities. They spend a lot of time and 

resources threatening and intimidating 

boaters.” 

Morgan: “Then there’s the canoeists 

who always make the boaters move so 

they can have more room, when they’ve 

already got a big area. They buy longer 

paddles which take up all the space, and 

then they say they can’t row!” 

Damian: “There are conflicts over 

resources as we’ve only got a finite 

amount of waterways. There could 

be more dialogue. There’s plenty of 

space for everybody but it seems to be 

congregating around certain stretches 

because there’s a lot of commercial 

interest. 

“When I travel for work and I’ve got 

instant hot water and all the amenities of 

a modern lifestyle in a hotel, I’m reminded 

that having an uninterrupted power 

supply is a luxury we take for granted. 

On a boat you learn to live without some 

things, and you also learn to appreciate 

what a luxurious life we have in this part of 

DAMIAN & MORGAN WALSH 

the world. 

“Boat life is pretty family friendly, too. 

Morgan has grown up on the water and 

we’ve got quite a community of ‘river 

rats’- the junior pirates! This is a different 

side of London where there’s a strong 

sense of community.” 

Morgan: “And if we don’t like our 

neighbours, we can always move! ” 

Damian: “They tend to move first, 

though!” 

29

Rated one of the 

top agencies in 

the country 

Oakwood Estate Agents are an independent estate agency 

based in Stoke Newington Church Street since 1994. 

The manager, Andy Loizou, has led the company, which 

specialises in residential sales & lettings, since the turn of the 

century. He told us how Oakwood’s hard work and diligence 

placed it in the top 20% of agents for sales and lettings in the 

UK as ranked by the Best Estate Agency Guide 2017. 

How has Stoke 

Newington changed 

over the years? 

Stoke Newington and 

Hackney in general 

have changed so much 

since 1994 but the one thing that has 

always remained in N16 is the sense of 

community and it has always attracted a 

diverse group of people. There was always 

a good mix of both families and young 

professionals even back then and this mix 

remains very much the same today. 

Is being independent a key factor 

in your achievements? 

We feel the key to our success is due in 

large part to our experience. So many 

businesses have come and gone over 

the years, but we remain a permanent 

fixture. I'm the manager and have 

personally worked here for 17 years and 

began my career here. Our assistant 

manager Jay has worked with us for 10 

years; Clare, our lettings manager, has 

worked with us for 15 years and our senior 

negotiator Andrew has worked with us 

for three years. Our local experience and 

dedication to ensuring we always work to 

the highest standards are what sets us 

apart. 

As an estate agent based in 

Church Street, which areas do 

you cover exactly? 

We cover a range of postcodes. 

Our aim has always been to service 

Stoke Newington and the immediate 

surrounding areas: N16, N15, N5, N4, N1, 

N15 and E5 & E8. 

Your top 20% rating is impressive 

– how does the Best Estate 

Agency Guide produce its 

ratings? 

This is information from the Best 

Estate Agency Guide’s rating system. 

They took the knowledge and insights 

that they gained from our estate agent 

reviews, their annual surveys of buyers, 

sellers, landlords and tenants, and their 

experience of estate agency, and used 

it to team up with Rightmove to map 

out the perfect customer experience. 

ANDY LOIZOU

ADVERTORIAL 

Together, they identified the criteria that 

define exceptional service and conducted 

an in-depth analysis of performance 

data to create a long list of the top 40% 

of branches in the country. They then 

conducted the biggest mystery shopping 

review process ever undertaken of the 

property industry. Based on the points 

scored during the data analysis and 

mystery shopping exercise, they placed 

us in the top 20% of estate agents 

nationwide. 

Letting or selling a property is 

stressful. How do you approach 

people when they are in such an 

emotionally testing situation? 

Selling a property can be very stressful, in 

particular when trying to buy somewhere 

else at the same time. They are many 

reasons why people decide to sell their 

home, from upgrading to a change in 

circumstances, and sometimes due to 

a death or separation. Some situations 

can be more delicate than others. The 

key is that we always take on board a 

homeowner’s situation and ensure that 

we are understanding of their situation 

and their needs, often going beyond 

the call of duty. I very much see our 

job as taking the stress of selling away 

from sellers by ensuring we offer the 

best and most efficient service from 

the commencement of marketing, right 

the way through to completion of the 

transaction. 

What is your advice for 

homeowners who are planning to 

sell their property in 2018? 

Our advice to homeowners is to use 

the autumn and winter to get their 

properties looking the best they can for 

when they sell or let in 2018. Any small 

jobs they've been putting off – now is the 

time to do this, as well as any decorative 

work that needs doing and any clearing/ 

de-cluttering to ensure it is ready. We 

encourage sellers and landlords to 

contact us this year so we can arrange to 

meet and discuss their requirements for 

2018 and advise them accordingly to help 

with their preparations. 

Stoke Newington has a range 

of neighbourhoods, but which 

postcode or street is the most 

expensive? 

There are many popular roads in Stoke 

Newington but the most expensive has 

to be Queen Elizabeth Walk with its 

uninterrupted views of the wonderful 

Clissold Park. 

How is the Stoke Newington 

property market performing? 

The market has slowed down throughout 

London, but some parts have remained 

relatively buoyant this year in areas which 

are more affordable, like some parts of 

East London. However London as a whole 

has slowed down. Continuous concerns 

over Brexit, we feel, have made an impact. 

Nevertheless Stoke Newington remains 

one of the most popular and sought - 

after areas in North London and demand 

for properties remains high. Pricing 

properties correctly to attract the right 

buyers is crucial. 

Have you ever worked with 

anyone famous? 

Yes, in 2011 we sold Radio 1 DJ Reggie 

Yates’s house and in 2012 we sold singer 

Leona Lewis’s property. 

Oakwood Estate Agents 

48 Stoke Newington Church Street, 

N16 0NB 

020 7249 1000 

www.oakwoodestateagents.com

Call today 

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for free estimate, free boxes & free advice 

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PROPERTY 

Currell CEO Anne Currell 

‘An edgy, 

go-getting vibe’ 

Anne Currell, CEO of family-run estate agent 

Currell’s, talks about Hackney’s vibrancy 

and the options that exist for households to move into 

the area – even for first time buyers. 

Why is Hackney so popular? 

It offers the perfect mix of inner 

city living – vibrant, eclectic, 

highly creative and very green and young, 

with so many parks and open spaces and 

plenty of young people. 

It has a diverse and vibrant population, 

too. Housing is good value relative to 

its west London counterparts, public 

transport is excellent following the 

extension of the Overground network, 

and it has an edgy go-getting vibe and 

excellent schools. 

Can you sum up Hackney in three 

words? 

Connected, creative, exciting 

What’s the supply and demand 

like? 

Substantial family houses are always 

popular with demand outstripping supply. 

People who move to Hackney want to stay 

and so they move from flat to small house, 

small house to large house. 

Historically demand has been 

increasing over the last couple of decades, 

and Hackney has risen from being 28th 

(out of 33) in terms of average property 

price per London borough to 9th. 

One of the reasons for this price 

outperformance – Hackney has 

outperformed all other London boroughs 

over the last 20 years – is the relatively 

limited supply. Although many new build 

developments have been delivered, a 

relatively high proportion of the housing 

stock is social housing and therefore not 

available for private sale. Nearly 45% of all 

households in Hackney rent from a social 

landlord. Demand is expected to increase, 

with the population forecast to grow from 

circa 270,000 today to over 300,000 by 

2027. 

What sort of property is available? 

To buy and rent privately, there is a 

wide selection of property, mostly 

Victorian stock with some Georgian 

– Cassland Road E9 has the longest 

unbroken terrace of Georgian houses in 

London – to warehouse conversions and 

contemporary new build apartments. 

The new build properties include 

shared ownership homes, of which 3,500 

are currently being delivered across the 

borough. 

There is also some ex-local authority 

housing available to purchase privately, 

and existing local authority property 

can be bought by eligible social housing 

tenants via Right to Buy. 

Any local celebrities? 

London Fields is home to Michael 

Fassbender and Kirsten Dunst, while 

Gavin Turk and Jake & Dinos Chapman 

live in the Victoria Park area. 

What is the smartest address 

here? 

Albion Square. Will Young used to live 

there. 

How are these new developments 

affecting Hackney? 

In an entirely positive way, usually 

transforming unused ex-industrial 

sites into new homes, which encourages 

the development and growth of new 

“HACKNEY HISTORICALLY WAS 

KNOWN FOR THE TEXTILE AND 

SHOE INDUSTRY – JIMMY CHOO 

HAD HIS FIRST STUDIO ON 

KINGSLAND ROAD.” 

communities. This is particularly true of 

London Fields and Hackney Wick. 

The infrastructure around the 

developments and subsequent increase 

in population is also hugely beneficial: 

there are some great shops, mostly 

independents. 

London Fields is a haven for beer 

drinkers; Beavertown Brewery started 

in Downham Road. Broadway Market 

is the must-do destination event at 

weekends, there is such a positive culture 

of creativity. Hackney historically was 

known for the textile and shoe industry: 

Jimmy Choo had his first studio on 

Kingsland Road. 

What are your predictions for the 

2018 rental and sales market in 

Hackney? 

Demand for property, both for purchase 

and rental, should remain strong, 

although price levels will depend on 

whether the government is able to offer 

sufficient measures to boost confidence 

in the property market and to offset 

Brexit uncertainty. Help to Buy has been 

a huge boost for first time buyers and 

with a price cap of up to £600,000 it is 

applicable to a large number of properties 

in Hackney. 

33

Review by VICTORIA GRAY 

SUTTON AND SONS 

90 STOKE NEWINGTON HIGH STREET, 

LONDON N16 7NY 

SUTTONANDSONS.CO.UK 

I 

f you look at Sutton 

and Sons, a veritable 

establishment on 

Stoke Newington High Street 

after nearly eight years in the 

area, and only see a fish and 

chip shop, you need to look 

again. They definitely serve 

fish and chips and it’s 

definitely some of the best 

we’ve tried in London, but 

that’s just scratching the 

surface. Although there are 

two other branches in 

Islington and Hackney 

Central, trying Sutton and 

Sons is an essential Stoke 

Newington experience – this 

was the original. As well as the 

fish and chips – after a few 

sampling sessions, we’ve 

found an order of two regular 

cod plus a large chips to share 

is the ideal portion for two 

people – they serve a range of 

fish and seafood delights, from 

a lobster soup to a full seafood 

platter, served on a bed of ice, 

ranging from mussels to crab. 

If you think you wouldn’t trust 

a chippy to give you a decent 

fish supper, think again. Using 

fish from their own 

fishmonger, there’s a huge 

range of fish dishes available 

ranging all the way from 

burgers to grilled fish, all 

cooked to perfection. 

Following up with Mrs Sutton’s 

hearty sticky toffee pudding 

will cap off the “have I gone 

home and got mum to cook for 

me?” feeling. 

There’s a really homely 

vibe sitting inside on their 

relaxed wooden benches – 

it’s certainly a restaurant, 

but relaxed enough that you 

don’t need to feel like you 

can’t ask for extra tartar 

sauce. Watching the open 

kitchen and seeing the hungry 

customers drop in to pick up 

their steaming fish and chips 

as you enjoy your food adds 

extra charm and solidifies the 

local feel that so many people 

love about Stokey. If you’re 

looking for a cosy, local vibe, 

look no further. 

THE MINT 

GUN CLUB 

MEZCAL 

CANTINA BAR 

4A BROOKE RD, 

LONDON N16 7JN 

ONESOUR.COM 

S 

toke Newington is 

blessed with some 

of London’s best 

cocktail bars, all within a 

few meters of one another. 

The latest to join the ranks 

is the Mint Gun Club, a 

former beer bar, which has 

been transformed into a 

tranquil spot just off the 

high street, inspired by 

the proprietor Rich Hunt’s 

exotic travels around the 

world. Bright blue walls, 

white wooden shutters 

and pineapple motifs 

cement the relaxed feel of 

being away from home. 

Rich Hunt has won 

bartender of the year 

three times, and his 

cocktails will tell you why. 

Using ingredients plucked 

from his explorations, 

there are influences from 

Portugal to Asia, and it’s 

not one for the fainthearted. 

Throw your 

expectations of 

Cosmopolitans and 

pitchers out of the 

window; the drinks menu 

is divided into elegant 

gimlets, aperitifs and 

tonics, all delicately put 

together to create tastes 

you won’t expect but 

definitely will enjoy. 

There’s also a bar snacks 

menu from their locallysourced, 

internationallyinspired 

pantry, and a list 

of teas to enjoy in the 

afternoons. A new jewel 

for the Stokey cocktail 

crown. 

16 STOKE NEWINGTON 

CHURCH ST, 

N16 0LU, LONDON, 

020 7923 2810 

M 

ezcal Cantina Bar 

restaurant specialises in 

highly authentic Mexican 

food as well as Tex-Mex. The 

restaurant’s walls are adorned with 

pictures of Mexican figures like 

painter Frida Kahlo. The venue has 

been run by Mexican native Caesar 

and his family who have lived in 

London for 16 years. Caesar 

explains that fajitas and burritos 

are an American style of cuisine 

known as Tex-Mex, and that the 

dishes in his restaurant are 

authentically Mexican. Chilli, he 

says, is commonly misinterpreted: 

it’s not about making the food hot, 

but adding taste. We began our 

meal with a sharing platter of five 

different tacos. The different types 

– pork, chicken, beef – were served 

with a classic margarita and, later, 

a mango margarita. A taco of 

shredded beef with chipotle sauce, 

coriander and guacamole was 

delicious and further tacos with 

Mexican chicken and pork better 

still. Then there’s mole, a black 

sauce made with 22 different 

ingredients including chocolate, 

and enchiladas, the vegetarian 

option. We went for the chicken 

and the mole sauce was delicious. 

Mixed fajitas were our other main, 

served with black beans, salsa and 

three corn tortillas. This simple, 

colourful, affordable and vibrant 

food was served with warmth and 

charm. 

This neighbourhood joint is a 

must-visit for its rich, authentic 

menu and cocktails. 

34

Best 

Sunday Roasts 

by MERSA AUDA 

As winter approaches and temperatures drop, 

there is nothing more comforting than a gathering 

with family and friends over a hearty meal. Not 

sure where to go? We’ve selected some of the best 

Sunday roast venues where you can enjoy excellent 

roasts and friendly vibes. 

35

FOOD 

LADY MILDMAY 

JONES AND SONS 

LADY MILDMAY 

Elegantly decorated with 

a relaxed atmosphere, the 

charming Lady Mildmay offers 

a satisfying roast that really 

hits the spot. The lamb and 

beef are both enticing options, 

and the cauliflower cheese side 

is a perfect accompaniment, 

but their entire menu 

promises great variety and 

interesting combinations. 

It's a place for chilled gettogethers 

of large groups, with 

nothing but cheerful vibes. 

The staff are welcoming and 

attentive, even if the kitchen 

gets very busy. A warming 

experience all round. 

92 Mildmay Park, Newington 

Green, London N1 4PR 

020 7241 6238 

ladymildmay.com 

JONES AND SONS 

Nothing is left to chance at 

Jones and Sons, where quality 

stands firmly at the forefront. 

In a league of their own when 

it comes to attention to detail, 

their knowledgeable staff 

will guide you through an 

outstanding Sunday menu 

that revisits traditional dishes 

by adding a unique twist, with 

delicious cocktails to match. 

The Hampshire pork belly is 

superlative, as is the rib eye 

roast. From their skilfully 

concocted starters down to 

the moreish sides, you’re in 

for a treat no matter what you 

order. Their meats are locally 

sourced and all ingredients 

are fresh as can be. Spacious 

and trendy with a buzzing 

atmosphere, this is a must try 

for Sunday roast lovers. 

Stamford Works, 3 Gillett st, 

London, N16 8JH 

020 7241 1211 

jonesandsonsdalston.com 

RYAN’S N16 

A cool, modern bar boasting 

a rich programme of gigs 

and events in the basement, 

Ryan’s N16 has a lot to offer 

beside a tasty roast. Luckily, 

they’ve taken their Sunday 

food offering seriously and 

you can expect very high 

standards for a reasonable 

price. Their meats are 

cooked to perfection and the 

side veggies are incredibly 

flavoursome, not to mention 

the top-notch Yorkshire 

pudding. Friendly staff, 

expertly made cocktails and a 

huge, lovely garden complete 

the experience. 

181 Stoke Newington Church 

Street, N16 0UL 

0207 275 7807 

ryansn16.co.uk 

THE JOLLY BUTCHERS 

THE ADAM AND EVE 

The Adam and Eve caters for 

every taste. Pork is the top 

roast choice, and when the 

food is prepared by a former 

head-chef at The Hawksmoor, 

you know you are in 

good hands. The managers 

are committed to cutting 

down food miles and offering 

fresh produce, and the staff 

lavish equal care and attention 

on the guests. Aside from 

enjoying a top Sunday roast 

you can catch the football 

action, play pool in the 

screen-free area or chill in the 

spacious garden. It’s hard to 

be disappointed. 

155 Homerton High Street, 

London, E9 6AS 

020 8985 1494 

adamandevepub.com 

THE JOLLY BUTCHERS 

Loved by the locals, The Jolly 

Butchers’ homely atmosphere 

makes it a great refuge on 

a cold day. Family and dog 

friendly, the pub features a 

wide selection of international 

craft beers. 

All the classic roasts are 

available here, but the lamb 

shank is the recommended 

choice. 

The vegan nut roast is also 

very popular. In a nod to 

tradition, their gravy-rich 

roasts have a touch of the 

home made, which matches 

the cosy mood. 

204 Stoke Newington 

High Street, London, 

N16 7HU 

020 7249 9471 

jollybutchers.co.uk 

36

HEALTH & BEAUTY 

How to 

avoid sugar 

this year 

We are all individuals 

and the way 

we eat reflects 

this. Your body responds 

differently to foods depending 

on your genetics, health 

history, lifestyle and your 

environment. There is no 

one-size-fits-all 'perfect diet' 

despite what magazines and 

the diet industry might tell 

you. 

As a nutritional therapist, I 

work with women to help them 

eat in a way that suits them 

whether that's to support a 

particular health concern or 

work towards a specific goal. 

Our nutritional needs 

change throughout our lives. 

But increasing fruit, veg 

and a range of nourishing 

whole foods while reducing 

stimulants, toxins and 

processed foods are general 

principles to live by. Once 

these healthier habits are in 

place, they can be adapted 

for the different stages of a 

woman's life such as preconception, 

pregnancy, 

the post-natal period and 

menopause. 

I like to focus on including 

nutritious ingredients in the 

diet to crowd out the less 

beneficial ones. This puts 

the emphasis on enjoying 

a multitude of vibrant, 

nourishing foods rather than 

fixating on foods to restrict. 

Having said that, the biggest 

challenge faced by many of the 

women I work with is reducing 

by JODIE ABRAHAMS 

sugar and caffeine. To address 

these cravings, I recommend 

including satiating foods. 

These help to stabilise blood 

sugar and support more 

constant energy levels. 

Satiating foods include: 

• Protein from nuts, 

seeds, legumes, eggs, 

meat, poultry, fish and 

pseudo-cereals like 

quinoa and buckwheat 

• Fibre from fruit, 

vegetables and whole 

grains 

• Healthy fats from oily 

fish, avocados, nuts, 

seeds and cold pressed 

oils 

Because most of us lead busy 

lives with various demands on 

our time and energy, we want 

easy, practical ways to include 

foods that nourish us in our 

daily diets. 

jodieabrahams.com 

Roasted rainbow veg 

salad with smoky 

tahini dressing 

Salad 

1/2 cup quinoa (ideally soaked 

overnight) 

1/2 cup frozen peas 

Handful of mixed salad leaves 

(eg. rocket, watercress & 

spinach) 

2 carrots 

1 large beetroot 

1 red pepper 

1 red onion 

2 tbsp avocado/coconut oil 

Dressing 

1 tbsp tahini 

1 tbsp olive oil 

Juice of half a large lemon 

1/4 tsp sumac 

1/4 tsp smoked paprika 

1 Preheat the oven to 180°. 

2 Rinse the quinoa well and 

place in a saucepan. Add 3/4 

cup of boiling water (or 1 cup 

if the quinoa is un-soaked). 

Bring to the boil, cover and 

simmer for 15 minutes until 

the water has been absorbed. 

3 Chop the carrots, beetroot, 

pepper and onion. Place in 

a roasting tin and coat with 

the oil. Roast for 40 minutes, 

turning halfway through. 

4 Put the peas in a bowl of 

boiling water for a minute, 

then drain. 

5 Mix the salad ingredients 

together, adding the chopped 

mixed leaves last. 

6 Combine the dressing 

ingredients, mix well, then 

drizzle over the salad and 

serve. 

37

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Everyone needs to 

throw away their stress 

and spend some time 

relaxing, especially seeing 

as we live in a busy, noisy 

town like London. Writing 

about this Russian banya 

was the most relaxing thing 

I did for this issue, especially 

considering I wasn’t exactly 

cheerful as I entered. 

My banya experience began 

with a sauna with a difference. 

Most saunas have a high 

level of humidity and after 

about ten minutes it becomes 

impossible to breathe; in this 

sauna, you sweat slowly and in 

a healthy way. 

Ten minutes later I stepped 

outside and underneath a 

wooden bucket of cold water, 

and pulled the rope that 

tipped its contents over my 

head. I thought I would freeze, 

but actually I felt wonderful. 

Russians say regular banya 

visits stop you catching 

colds. It is believed that a 

cold-hot therapy strengthens 

the immune system and the 

adrenaline helps boost the 

levels of serotonin in the body. 

Eventually, Svetlana came 

over with a smile to tell me 

my tea was ready in the 

café. Everyone who books in 

advance can enjoy a pot of 

herbal tea. 

Then it was time for parenie, 

a traditional herbal treatment 

using oak leaves. The oak 

bunches were first softened 

in warm water before they 

were gently and rhythmically 

by YASEMIN BAKAN 

applied. My head was covered 

in oak leaves and the bath 

attendant, or banschik, began 

to lightly strike me with them. 

This Russian massage is not 

for the faint-hearted. 

Ten minutes later, I went 

back to the high wooden 

buckets and tipped more 

water over my head, then I 

stepped into the big, wooden 

tub. Again, it was freezing. 

Wrapping myself in a towel, I 

returned to my tea in the café, 

followed by kvass, a fermented 

beetroot juice. It was a proper 

detox day. 

Before long, a young lady 

told me it was time for my 

scrub. I was scrubbed from 

top to toe with honey and 

salt (it smelt magnificent), 

steamed for 10 minutes, and 

then showered. At my table in 

the café it was time for lunch: 

borscht, a beetroot soup, and 

herrings served with onions. 

Delicious. 

Sessions at Banya No 1 

start at £30 off-peak for 

three hours, including use 

of steam room and showers. 

Treatments are extra. A 

three-hour session, including 

honey and salt scrub, parenie, 

mud decollete with foot bath 

and pot of herbal tea, is £95. 

Separate male and female 

sessions are available. 

17 Micawber Street, London, N1 

020 7253 6723 

gobanya.co.uk

THE BIRDCAGE 

BAR + KITCHEN 

58 Stamford Hill, London N16 6XS 

thebirdcageN16.co.uk • @thebirdcageN16 

Tel: 020 8806 9077

N16Life Winter 2017

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