Venue Spotlight: The Milk Float, Hackney Wick

Eat, canoe, rave, repeat. 

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I wanted to dive into what was previously considered the gritty underbelly of East London and home to Netflix’s enthralling social realist drama - Top-Boy. Eager to uncover just what Hackney had to offer, and understand how the area has undergone somewhat of a social metamorphosis, I set out to explore why this pocket of E15 was now gaining notoriety as one of the city's most desirable boroughs for young creatives. 

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Hackney has become home to some of the city's best raves and canalside bars upheaving with the regular rhythm of heavy bass reverberating through corrugated iron between the hours of dusk til’ dawn.

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A hub for young creatives, the area has a strong sense of community, built through initiatives such as Hackney Wicked and Discover Young Hackney’s creative Kickstarter campaign. Diversity and multiculturalism are at the heart of the borough which is inhabited by over 281k residents, a third of them originating from outside the UK. Reaching across after-hours hotspots such as Dalston and quintessential village neighbourhoods like Stoke Newington there’s history to be had in every corner. But today, it’s the gritty enclave of Hackney Wick that’s on my radar. 

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It's a mighty hot day in London, and I'm grateful to see some greenery as I make my way down the canal and towards Hackney Wick, E15. The juxtaposition of blocky aluminium-capped factory buildings and weeping willows hanging lazily over the canal make for an enthralling spot to people-watch. So I sit and wait, sipping on a 'dos margarita', extra ice for me today, please. 

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What was once an industrial enclave with no real appeal has exploded into an exhibition of vibrant street art and individualism. Step outside Hackney Wick Station and you’re greeted with an onslaught of street art, breathing a kaleidoscope of colour into the canals and over the water-top community who lounge amongst the coots.

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cktravels

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I'm here to meet Isaac, the Assistant General Manager of The Milk Float. A venue that specialises in two very intriguing things; mezcal and moo-canoes.

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'Boating and beer, it's the recipe for a pretty relaxing afternoon', I laugh, shaking Isaac's hand as I board the ship into a quirky little diner-style eatery. Hackney has recently been recognised as one of the most liveable boroughs, thanks to its intelligent street design and accessibility. Though it hasn't always been this way. 

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The Milk Float was built in 2014 and was founded by Katie and Alfie. The venue is the perfect water-top hideaway to start your day with -  a crispy bacon buttie and flat white in hand - surrounded by the chirps, grunts, clicks and snaps of the aquatic life as the river bobs beneath. Though how serene this sounds may be subject to the severity of your hangover if you've previously spent the evening enjoying the neighbourhood dance scene. 

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The Milk float has truly assimilated into Hackney culture and has grown steadily alongside the local social scene. With it grew Katie and Alfie's business ambitions and what was once a spot you might grab a quick coffee at has now become an all-day offering. 

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The boat's restaurant, which was previously occupied by a guest kitchen, made way for what's now fondly known as Bandito Burgers, a Mexican-inspired menu dripping with juicy burgers, dirty dogs and crispy canal-side fries.

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The venue also boasts what former-chef Isaac describes as a 'Very Hackney' brunch menu, which has intrigued me enough to wonder, what exactly constitutes a Hackney brunch after a night of heavy raving? Surely not a cigarette and an isotonic drink?

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The Milk Float also 'MOOn-lights' as an evening venue, serving local beers and cocktails, which include unique mezcal-infused creations such as the ‘espresscito mezcalita' and the 'sundown soda'. They even offer a seasonal menu to carry guests through those colder Winter nights (traditional Mexican sarape blankets included) - ¡olé! 

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Mouth-watering menu aside, that's not the most exciting offering at this venue. Just beyond the Milk Float lives a fleet of distinctly bovine-looking canoes - hence the name Moo Canoes. Canoers can explore the waters of Regent's Canal, Limehouse Basin, and Hackney Marshes.

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Today I've recruited a couple of friends to make our way down the canal via moo-canoe to explore the nooks and crannies of the Olympic Village. 

3 amateur canoers to each bovine-themed boat and we set sail along Regent’s canal, and I’m grateful for the tight hug of my life jacket vowing to keep me afloat for what I feel is an inevitable capsizing. Electronics in an air-locked bucket and we are off, for once in what feels like a weird millennial nightmare, only in the presence of ourselves and some good old conversation!

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Hackney civilians aren't the only thing curdling under the heat of London's hot summer sun, with vast areas of aquatic blooms appearing atop the canal. Giant swarms of green duckweed flourish above the water as our boats race neighbouring barges around the Olympic park. 

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The chance to explore the nooks and crannies of the canal is such a welcome rest bite to what is usually a chaotic city life in Central London. We ambitiously power up and down the canal, racing our moo-canoe counterparts before packing it in and lazily free floating along the moors taking in the mid-July Summer sun.

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How hospitality has changed 

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Katie and Alfie have created something really special down here and it's evident from chatting with Isaac that the team are passionate about breathing fresh life back into hospitality. ‘Katie and Alfie are serious about bringing more notoriety to tequila and mezcal! Isaac laughs, and it's pretty clear to me that the experience they are creating here goes beyond the 3 am salt-lime-shooter tequila tasting I'm used to. 

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Hospitality veteran' Issac shares tales of his culinary escapades and accolades. 'I love working here because there's a real appreciation for the industry. We really care about giving genuinely good service. Obviously, hospitality has been dismantled over the last couple of years. So given the staffing crisis, it's been a challenge to try and get that back together. 

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The silver lining is that COVID has in some instances, created better working conditions for those who stuck around. Hospitality staff are not just seen as a body anymore. It's a real case of 'power to the people! A revolution,' he laughs. I can't help but think that Hackney Wick is living in a 1960's fever dream of dancing and disco halls in the best way possible.

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'People are starting to feel secure in the industry again. Good hospitality is much more valuable these days; there's a real focus on togetherness. For me, good hospitality is the feeling of being in your friend's mum's front room, having some cold beers and good grub with your mates. Hospitality needs to be approachable and charming. I think we are seeing that again.’ 

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Visit the Milk Float at E15

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Once you’ve completed your maiden voyage, I can’t think of a better spot to perch atop and indulge in top deck views of Hackney Wick Riviera to carry you through into the evening. Watch with front row seats and a salty marg in hand while the crowd transition from day to night as seasoned ravers and artists appear out of the woodwork to party in one of East London’s best-kept secrets.

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As the community in the area continues to grow, so does the nightlife. Hackney now offers a thriving nightlife peppered by boat raves, dance halls, and venues like the Colour factory, Lord Napier, and Howling Hops, amongst other local breweries. In addition, the area has become a hub for punters in their 20-somethings coming together to form a youthful community of eager and energetic party-goers heading to the nearby warehouses for their weekly dose of DJs spinning techno disco and house. 

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At storekit we’re on a mission to uncover some of London’s hidden gems, from wet-led venues to Michelin star-recommended masterpieces. We can easily see how a  visit to E15 could easily compete for a space in the ‘how to spend 24 hours in London’ guide.

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The agenda? Eat, canoe, rave, repeat.  

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