Pop Up: All You Read Is Love, E17 4RT

Credit: @allyoureadislove

A new pop up bookshop-cafe is occupying Central Parade on Hoe Street, and it’s well worth diverting out of your way to visit. 

I’ve visited a few different pop ups in this council-owned space and no others have managed so effectively to occupy the whole space, and make it look less like a bright white box. All You Read Is Love is actually cosy, which should have been impossible opposite the huge Cleveland Place building site and on a busy road.

If the council’s goal is to find a permanent tenant for this space, All You Read Is Love would be a perfect accompaniment to the new-build cinema and restaurants. I sat in the window one evening this week, with a delicious cup of Camomile and Lavender tea (£1), with the rain coming down but the traffic noise shut out, listening to an 80s folk singer. My tea-drinking companion knew the singer from her childhood, though I now can’t remember his name. We had found a little nostalgic oasis.

The Danish brother and sister team have purposefully combined books and cafe, with the aim of building a more sustainable business model, than books or coffee alone. This plan seems to resonate strongly with the Walthamstow community. Since opening on Wednesday, they have had steady trade and ongoing chatter on social media, which must surely have led to inclusion in this week’s Evening Standard article on the delights of Awesomestow. E17 is now most certainly London’s Next Big Thing (which we’ve all known for sometime, haven’t we?). 

Tea in beautiful blue china (credit: @billtix), flat white and cake (credit: @allyoureadislove).

Well, how does the coffee offering stand up? The coffee had good body and depth – though I couldn’t discern distinct flavours. This may be because I was so distracted by the taste of milk - as a lover of soya, it’s been a long time since I had a coffee with cow’s milk. I had forgotten how creamy it can be and I’m used to the nuttiness of soya now. At the moment, they only have full fat milk (which you can forgive when they have limited space and temporary premises). It’s well priced, £2 for a flat white. They also offer beer, cider, juice, sandwiches, and of course, cake! We were given the treat of tasty crispy biscuits on our first visit, vanilla rings and chocolate chip cookies. All homemade – when do this pair sleep?

Most beguiling however, is the absolute wonder of an independent bookshop in the centre of Walthamstow. I have been introduced to writers I would never have otherwise found (Per Peterson, Junot Diaz) and could buy locally written and printed poetry (from Paekakariki Press). I hope this test of their business has given them enough evidence for the bank manager, and enough confidence that the community will be loyal patrons, to open in local permanent premises.

All You Read is Love will be popping up until 9 February, opening 10am – 10pm Tuesday –Saturday, 10am - 8pm on Sunday, closed Mondays. They have several events before then – music, poetry reading, creative writing - check their Facebook page for listings.

Accessibility... large step at the entrance, so buggies can manage but wheelchair users will struggle. A unisex toilet is available at the back of the shop.

Popular with... the whole, diverse population of e17, it seems, but particularly book-loving people in pairs, wifi hunters with laptops and the local creative writing crowd.

Support the Hornbeam Bakers' Collective

Two of my current intrigues are colliding: local food and drink, arts and crafts.

The Hornbeam Bakers' Collective are moving a new bakery premises in the also new Blackhorse Workshop.

Their bread is delicious, I love sourdough and it's great to buy it freshly baked locally. Their very affordable sourdough baking course is clearly fantastically popular - running at least once a month. I aim to do it next year once my kitchen has been refurbished and I have a much better space for baking.

The Collective are also refurbishing... in the New Year they're moving into their new premises and they've launched a crowdfunding campaign. They're a self-funded organisation and the funds will particularly go towards a professional oven. They're already over two thirds of the way there - BUT! they can only access all these fantastic donations if they reach their goal of £3,000. You can donate money or skills, they're looking for all sorts of help (building skills, website development, marketing, fundraising and business skills).

One of the reasons that I'm interested is that they aim to open an in-house cafe. This will be a great addition to the Blackhorse area and hopefully help bring people into the new arts-and-craft workshop space. I'm excited about the ongoing arts development in e17 and I'm so pleased to see the Blackhorse area developing too.

Lot 107, E17 3LL

Lot 107 (found at 107 Wood Street, opposite the indoor market) is part of the newly-popular Wood Street cluster of cafes. Wood Street has a similar mix of eateries to the High Street but far less footfall. That obviously has pros and cons, and I hope these businesses continue to survive but retain some of their peace. I head to Wood Street when I want a walk, a little browsing in the shops and a peaceful coffee. I head to the High Street for people watching and have a coffee for a rest after battling down the market.

When I started the blog, I decided to visit places at least twice before writing about them. This rule has served 107’s coffee well, because unfortunately on my first visit it was a huge disappointment. I ordered a large soya latte, it was sweet, weak and lacked body. On my second visit, I was asked if I wanted a second shot. Of course – here was the problem! I’d assumed that large drink = two shots. A reminder to me, to check! And yes, the coffee is good, mellow and drinkable. 

Lot 107 stands out because of the quality of their food offering, especially their all day breakfast. Everything is fresh and well made. One of my favourite dishes in the world is Eggs Benedict. Whilst I do believe it’s boring to continually order the same thing, this dish makes me happy. I could easily show you a series of Eggs Benedict photos.

Eggs Benedict £4.95

The egg is always perfectly poached and I think they use a high proportion of lemon juice in the hollandaise sauce because it’s a strong flavour which quickly cuts through the richness. Friends have tried other dishes on the menu, and can attest that they are just as good!

The staff are friendly and the service is quick. They are clearly popular – on one visit at 4pm on a Saturday (an hour before closing) they were still busy. It’s full height shop window at the front means it’s light and airy even in the worst weather. They have plenty of tables so you shouldn’t have to wait for a seat. In summer their space doubles, as the garden gets full use with large picnic tables and small bistro tables. They also grow some veggies in the back, which presumably contribute to the menu in summer.

Open Monday to Friday, 7am-5pm and Saturday 9am-5pm, with free wifi. It’s disappointing they’re not open on a Sunday as Wood Street’s Sunday offering is growing and I think they’d turn a good trade. On Tuesday’s they have a coffee morning from 9 -11, half price cakes with any hot drink – I imagine it’s a popular slot! You can find the soup choice and other specials on their Twitter feed @LOT107.

Leek and potato soup

Popular with... older teenagers, families with little ones and shoppers from Wood St Market. 

Accessibility... There is a small step at the entrance that would be difficult for powered wheelchair users (more than just a bump), but probably fine for people using manual chairs. Tons of space inside to move around. Toilets are available, with baby changing facilities, accessed by going out the back door down the side of the garden. I'm afraid I forgot to check whether there was a step here, but I will on my next visit.

The Hornbeam Cafe, E17 9AH

Soya hot chocolate

I love the Hornbeam Cafe for being different. I have lived in Walthamstow for nearly five years but only set foot inside the Hornbeam (458 Hoe Street) six months ago. It was always slightly out of the way, but my partner knew I had a hit list of coffee shops and took me for a surprise lunch on my birthday. We were very late and there was no food left, but the lovely ladies in the kitchen said they’d cobble together a lunch and it was delicious – a bit of everything. Though the most evocative memory of that meal is the world’s best soya hot chocolate. I have yet to try Cafe Bonito’s hot choc but it has competition!

Since then, I’ve purposefully made time to go for a coffee or a meal. Even when it’s full of customers, it’s a respectfully quiet place with no blaring radio. Last weekend I sat and read a good 100 pages of my book (Room by Emma Donoghue) without being disturbed. It has 6-8 mixed sized tables and I love the window table with wicker chairs for watching the relatively busy street – it’s near the Hoe Street/Bakers Avenue junction.

The Hornbeam is a vegetarian, mostly organic, cafe which offers home-cooked hearty meals, making use of whatever seasonal food they can acquire. Though a mainstay on the menu is the vegan brunch (£5.80) which is an incredibly satisfying and spicy breakfast.

Brunch: vegan sausages, tofu scramble, beans, potato cake,
mushrooms, salad and toast (homemade bread).

They also have an extensive drinks menu (including alcoholic) and when you order they automatically ask ‘dairy or soya milk’ – brilliant! Their coffee has a rich flavour, not too strong or too bitter (a latte was £1.90). Their hot chocolate is deliciously creamy. Water is freely available, on a side table. It feels very homely.

Soya latte £1.90

As a Community Cafe and Environment Centre, they have all sorts of information about local projects and green schemes, so there is reading material available if you didn’t bring your own. They sell locally created wood crafts and have regular events such as open mic nights and supper club. Open 11am – 4pm Monday to Friday, 10.30am – 5pm Saturday. Sadly not open Sundays - I wish they would, but volunteers make the Hornbeam special, so it's probably difficult to open all weekend. 

I have yet to try any other cafes in this part of Walthamstow/Leyton, so if anyone has any suggestions, let me know in the comments below. 

Accessibility... Ramp at the door and good space once you’re inside. Accessible toilet. Two high chairs available for little ones. If you’re parking in the area, you can get a visitors parking voucher from the shop next door.

Popular with... vegetarians (quelle surprise) and eco-lifestyle-advocates, tends to attract a slightly older crowd rather than hipsters or parents.