Counter Cafe Hackney Wick
The river Lea is home to many fantastic sights and sounds, from the humble local pub to the rolling fields in the east. It is like a countryside oasis a stones throw from the city. If you wander down towards the Olympic park you might just find the urge to pit stop in Hackney Wick, and this feeling would do well to turn you towards Stour Space.
Stour Space is an eclectic collective offering exhibition, performance and studio space (coolest offices ever!). Nestled in the creative hub the ‘counter cafe’ is the top notch feeding all these hungry creative minds.
Opened in 2009 by brother and sister duo Tom and Jess Seaton, the counter cafe quickly became Hackney Wicks desired chomping spot. In 2011 the guys had to relocate two doors down into the local gallery in order to expand!
With a fabulous all day (well till 3pm!) brunch-ing menu designed by Jess and Toms mum who visits from NZ every month; the cafe has a homely feel. Distressed wooden tables are surround by either cinema seats or chairs reminiscent of your schooldays, tables are lined with cute pots of homemade sauces and the chef is singing along to Tracey Chapman in the kitchen. This ties in totally with Counter Cafes mantra “If the counter could lay eggs, it would…”.
The food was A-MAY-ZING. I opted upon recommendation for the big all day brekkie and boy whatta choice. 2 fried eggs (sunny side up, how did they know!?), bacon, homemade butter beans, a potato cake, 2 sausages and 2 slices of crusty toast. Oh goodness, just well yum. Meaty sausages, holey sourdough spread with warm melted butter, crispy bacon and softly seasoned eggs literally made my day. Well that teamed with some awesome songs from Greece and a rendition of ‘Ghetto Gospel’.
I have to admit the choice wasn’t an easy one. With the likes of: French toast with fried banana, berries and toasted almonds; Turkish eggs on toast and homemade pies with salad on the menu it wasn’t quite the difficult decision…..plus everything from the pies and sausages to the cakes and juices are made in the kitchen!
So I sat and chomped while doing some work and sipping my in store roasted coffee (HIPSTER!?) which was smooth and topped with a cracking fern! Yes that’s right they toast FIVE of their own types of coffee too! (They are busy bees)
The gallery space itself is beautiful, light and airy however the cafe is really quite cosy yet still arty. It just fits perfectly! The icing on the cake was watching canal boats sail past, then being able to cycle up the river in the sun.
Make sure you pop in to this little gem for some well earned brunch, or even their Valentine’s Day event ‘Flamingo Pier’ a NZ night filled with street food, booze and a cracking disco.
Website: counterproductive.co.uk
Stour Space and Counter Cafe
7 Roach Road
London E3 2PA
Reporter: Aspen Glencross @GollumCrackCorn
