This area started out with just the Barge East, a repurposed boat that was turned into a bar and restaurant. It was being repurposed just as I moved into my place and became a firm favourite for me, after about a year though it clearly became a firm favourite with everyone else too! lol and you could not go really unless you booked a good way in advance. So long coffee haunt.
So they then began to build an outside area with a silver mini van hub serving as an overflow bar and takeout area, then the Milk float cafe and cocktails bar came next on another boat behind.
This part of the canal is special because it splits off, giving it a much bigger area of water so they can moor these barges as cafes. It is the only place down the canal they have any in this area.
Over the last year or two the overflow area has gradually been getting better and better! It now has heat lamps, mini greenhouse seating pods, a garden area where they grow much of their own produce which, also has little seats nestled into it amidst the apple trees and little pods for diners.
It now seems to have opened up a mini Christmas market and Christmas tree sales area.
I absolutely love these cute little pods and seats nestled into all the homegrown veggies and fruits. It is slightly sparse at the moment but in the summer this area is absolutely full of veg including courgettes, greens, beans etc etc,. It's the middle of winter right now so limited things will grow but there are still some shoots popping up I can see of some winter veg. I wish a lot more places would sustain themselves though growing their own or some of their own produce or double up the use of the space.
They now have a few little local stalls running down the side:
Right next door is the milk float where you can grab ice cream, cocktails and coffee and also rent canoes! You can sit below deck or on the top on bean bags and little benches. The staff in the little cabin waved at me when I was taking photos and I took the opportunity to chat to them about blockchain social and give them all the sign up details, perhaps they might come find me!
Hackney wick is full of artists, I believe it has the highest percentage of artists than anywhere else in the country. So of course everything is artistic even the graffiti. Here was some of the best from todays walkout: