Why I live in Bethnal Green: Richard Malone on his buzzy, queer corner of east London

Richard by the pavilion café in Victoria Park

(Picture: Matt Writtle)

I live in a recently renovated Victorian apartment in a place called Museum House that was built in 1886.

I wasn’t even looking for a flat in Bethnal Green because I used to live on the other side of Victoria Park. Then I found my place and realised it was a gem.

I think it was once used to house museum staff, because it’s right behind the Young V&A. It’s quite protected and has lots of lovely old features with a nice communal courtyard.

There are some people who have been living in the block for more than 40 years so they help us with everything local. We regularly do drinks together and we have made a little fire pit in the courtyard for winter.

Street art in Bethnal Green (Adrian Lourie)

Best eating and drinking

You can do really boujie or really local. There’s a huge Bangladeshi and Indian community so there is amazing food from those regions.

There’s delicious Thai in a restaurant called Mum Likes Thai Food on Roman Road. On the same road, Quarantacinque serves proper Italian coffee and focaccia while Green Truffle does really fun aperitivo evenings.

You can get a good pint of Guinness at The Approach Tavern on Approach Road. It also does very good pub grub, especially in the winter.

Then there is an incredible two Michelin-star restaurant in the Town Hall Hotel called Da Terra. Head to the Pavilion Cafe in Victoria Park for the best coffee.

Quarantacinque, Richard’s spot of choice for proper Italian coffee and focaccia (Adrian Lourie)

Nightlife-wise we have loads of queer venues. The Star of Bethnal Green on Bethnal Green Road does Drag Race parties. Bethnal Green Working Men’s Club on Pollard Row throws Sink the Pink parties. The Queen Adelaide on Hackney Road is a fun night and Metropolis on Cambridge Heath Road is crazy.

Where I work out

You will find me running around Victoria Park three or four times a week. You can go along the canal as well, all the way into Dalston or up to De Beauvoir.

I live close to London Buddhist Centre, which offers free yoga classes or meditation. For boujie gyms, there is Blok Shoreditch or Shoreditch House, which is good for specific classes and workouts.

Bethnal Green Working Men’s Club on Pollard Row (Adrian Lourie)

For a culture fix

I would recommend checking out Chisenhale Gallery on Chisenhale Road. They have an amazing programme of truly diverse artists and representation across the curation, whether it’s dance projects, fine art or contemporary art.

Then you have Maureen Paley on Three Colts Lame, Mother’s Tankstation on Roman Road and Soft Opening on Minerva Street. They show recent graduate work so you feel like there is a buzz with young or mid-career artists. Over the road is the Whitechapel Gallery.

To commune with nature

Victoria Park is so huge that I think you can really notice the seasonal changes. I like to take in the flower gardens or the Chinese Pagoda areas. It reminds me of home — I am from a very rural part of Ireland.

You can follow the canal to Dalston or De Beauvoir (Adrian Lourie)

Grocery shopping

There are lots of great corner shops. There’s a nice one called SimplyFresh on Roman Road. It is a bit like a Whole Foods but family run. Every Sunday we have the Farmers’ Market at Stepney City Farm. On Lauriston Road there is Boulangerie Jade, which is the place for anything baked.

Getting around

I like to walk because there’s a lot to see. If I need to go into town I always jump on the Tube. Living in Bethnal Green, it is the first time I feel like I live in the city but it is quiet and doesn’t feel super-gentrified.

Dream street

Cyprus Street is made up of houses that were built for workers but now feel rather big. They are just really beautiful period properties.

Victoria Park Road has incredible detached mansions. Victoria Park Square has gorgeous New York-style brownstone properties.

Victoria Park Road (Adrian Lourie)

Something you only see in Bethnal Green

It is so accessible for being in the city but when you’re in Victoria Park you feel like you’re not near anything. There is a really strong community, too. I know the guys who run all the corner shops.

What’s the catch?

The traffic. I don’t think there are many catches though. I really do love it.

In three words

Buzzy. Communal. Queer.

Schools

Bethnal Green has several primary schools nearby rated outstanding or good, including Globe Primary School, Bonner Primary School and St John’s CofE Primary School. Gatehouse School is an independent option.

For secondary education, Morpeth School is rated outstanding by Ofsted while Oaklands School is deemed good.