When your neighbourhood gets described as cool, is that something to be proud of? Or does it speak to a change that has happened around you?
The area I grew up in has been given a perhaps unexpected accolade – The Telegraph described it as ‘cool’. One of the coolest neighbourhoods in London, in fact.
The list is full of classic ‘cool’ staples, from Walthamstow to Ladbroke Grove. There are a few surprises, though, with Bethnal Green making the list, which left me scratching my head. My focus, however, was on my borough’s entry, and Hackney Wick made the list.
I grew up around Hackney Wick, a few minutes away in Homerton, and have seen it change first-hand. From the industrial area full of creatives and working-class families to the Pilates regulars and matcha lovers, looking at Hackney Wick nowadays is like looking at an entirely new world.
Back in the day, Hackney Wick was pretty much industrial. It wasn’t winning any cool prizes.
Then, gentrification happened – as it did in many other corners of London – and the face of it changed completely.
I get why it can be considered cool. Trendy pubs, green spaces, the nearby Olympic Park, and pubs and restaurants along the canal (which I have been to) that always have a nice vibe. There’s even a community sauna.
Number 90 Bar has always been chill when I’ve been there. During the World Cup, I watched a few games down at Hackney Bridge on the big screen; with it being so close to home, I was grateful to be able to walk home after an England win when I felt a bit worse for wear.
I understand the appeal of Hackney Wick. There’s a lot going on; it’s close to Stratford, so you’re well-linked. The question I have to think about, then; is Hackney Wick actually cool?
I think it’s a performative type of cool. Every time you walk around, it feels as if people are putting on a show to convince themselves, and others, that they are cool. It’s your young person in baggy jeans dragging their feet in front of you, acting like people aren’t in a rush; it’s your traditional hipster with the big beard and beanie, or it’s somebody in their athletic wear ready for a group workout and stretch.
I was at a bar once, and two guys paddle-boarded up to the bar. I looked on, completely confused but accepting – this is Hackney Wick now.
You walk around Hackney Wick, and those families I grew up around seem few and far between. Now, it’s your young professionals; another new build going up on the seemingly endless amount of space they can find and your performative youngsters who believe they are too cool. I wouldn’t call these people middle class or working class, but they are a sort of creative class.
You’ve also got Australians moving there in their numbers, migrating from their first port of call in Clapham.
This sounds like I am a grumpy old man and honestly, I get it. I do like Hackney Wick and I understand why people are drawn to it. It’s close and convenient; having a place you can go out to close to home is always a nice treat. Yet it doesn’t feel as if there’s a soul there, unlike many neighbourhoods. Maybe I’m being harsh, but it all feels manufactured.
Even though the area is strewn with graffiti covering walls when you leave the station, signifying a creative and vibrant area, the graffiti lies below one- and two-bedroom properties that are completely unaffordable for locals. Co-working and co-living spaces are popping up where squatters and industrial hubs once lined the canals.
There are great places there that still make Hackney Wick what it is. Mapps Cafe is an institution in the area and a traditional greasy spoon; Badu Cafe is a community cafe that provides an affordable space for people to sit and relax without feeling judged.
The V&A Storehouse could be defined as ‘cool ‘, providing exhibitions and curations that are culturally impactful. Here East is a modern establishment that attracts ‘creative’ incubators and innovators to the area.
Growing up, saying you were from Hackney wasn’t met with a positive response. Now, telling people that you live here is a sign of your ‘coolness ‘. Coupling that with the fact that I actually grew up and live in Hackney seems a rarity, which, in a way, is something to cherish.
I guess that’s the juxtaposition synonymous with post-Olympics Hackney Wick. The modern Hackney and the old-school trying to survive at the same time.
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