At the weekend, we walked over to Dalston’s Shacklewell Lane to check out just-opened wine bar Brewer’s Bar. A Georgian butcher’s shop in a previous life, it’s been recently renovated uncovering original marble counters, old tiles, the old shop sign and ornate period metalwork. A dream to photograph, I let loose to capture all the detail…
The project of former TV producer Cal Smith (aka carpenter and furniture restorer The Furniture Butcher) there are so many quirky features – butcher’s rails repurposed for lighting, machinist chairs, industrial cogs serving as table bases, church pews and a bar made from an old piano – I was in heaven. And of course, the beverages and food did not disappoint. The house red was delicious – all wine is from the nearby Aleksic & Mortimer Wine House – we got through the best part of a bottle, the charmingly labelled Partizan beers (brewed in Bermondsey) and cider by Crate House equally enticing. I’m kicking myself now for not trying any of the snacks, an inviting selection of bread and cheese from E5 Bakehouse and La Fromargerie and bar snacks by Brindisa. By day, the unique, character-exploding space is the Secret Handshake Café and interiors shop Roots Retold – the perfect multi-use venue. Films and monthly events are in the pipeline. If you’re looking for somewhere new to hang in east London, this is it. Don’t miss.
77 Shacklewell Lane, Dalston, E8 2EB / Sun-Thurs 18:00-23:00, Fri-Sat 18:00-24:00
All shot on the Olympus Pen E-PL7 with 17mm & 45mm lenses
