Moments from Pudding Mill Lane DLR, Workspace Mirror Works sits at the fringe of East London’s Stratford, and the green sprawl of sporting legacy superstar, the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. While nearby shopping centre Westfield might get heaps of attention, there are plenty of independent cafes and bars to linger in, as well as sports clubs rooted in community spirit and excellent dining options, all within easy reach of Workspace’s office space in East London.
The View Tube Cafe
With its lime green exterior, it’s hard to miss this community cafe on the edge of Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. A short walk from Mirror Works, this laid-back spot serves up South American feels with funky Latin beats, tacos washed down with Jarritos lime soda, and doce de leite filled churros. Popular with cyclists riding the East London Greenway (4.3 miles, Hackney Wick to Beckton); for two-wheeled adventures, bicycles can be rented from Nigel at the Bike Container next door.
https://theviewtube.co.uk/; The Greenway, Marshgate Ln, E15 2PJ, 09.00-19.00 daily
The Piecrust Cafe
Don’t let the nondescript frontage fool you, this family-run number, a ten minute walk from Mirror Works is a Stratford High Street favourite. At lunchtime Brit fry-up sandwiches are served, but the real draw is the Thai menu, which includes tom yum soup, pad thai and gluay buord chee (bananas in hot coconut milk).
273 High St, London E15 2TF; 11.00 - 15.00 and 18.00 - 23.00 Tue-Sat
Jim & Tonic at The Print House
What began as a mobile G&T van run by gin enthusiast James ‘Jim’ Mark, Jim & Tonic has grown to include Mercato Metropolitano bar and a range of award-winning gins. Jim’s newest endeavour is a distillery meets restaurant by the canal on Sugar House Island, close to Mirror Works. Bringing a heritage industry back - famed distillery J&W Nicholson & Co operated here till the 1940s - the industrial-style space is the place for mushroom and truffle pizzas and crisp G&Ts. In summertime the patio - with London-bus-bar and Olympic Torch sculpture - comes alive.
https://www.jimandtonic.com/pages/print-house-bar-and-restaurant; 133 High St, London E15 2RB; 08.00 - 23.00 daily
Roof East
Open spring to September, this former disused car park turned rooftop entertainment venue offers up a smorgasbord of fun-filled activities. Expect everything from crazy golf to archery and a film club, plus top-notch street food stalls and bars on the bunting-filled rooftop.
https://www.roofeast.com/; opens seasonally, check website
Barge East
An 120-year-old Dutch barge might be an unexpected East London eye spy. However, walk along the canal from Mirror Works Stratford office space towards Hackney Wick and you’ll find De Hoop, a floating restaurant with a light-festooned garden. Here, four-course dinners include the likes of delicia pumpkin with miso dukkah and sticky toffee pudding, while craft brews come courtesy of East London favourites Dalstons and Truman Brewery.
https://www.bargeeast.com/; restaurant Wed: 17.00 - late, Thu-Sun 12.00 - late, Garden: Fri 17.00 - 22.00, Sat 11.00 - 22.00, Sun 11.00 - 20.00
Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park
Wandering through wetlands and along waterways where cormorants glide, the 560-acre Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park - on the doorstep of our Stratford office space - is a tonic on a busy day. As well as prairie-style garden plantings, admire large-scale artwork, including the 114.5m ArcelorMittal Orbit tower, a looping recycled steel sculpture. For extra fun, book a slot to whizz down the 178m-long Carsten Höller-designed tunnel slide.
https://www.queenelizabetholympicpark.co.uk/; https://arcelormittalorbit.com/whats-on/the-slide/
[ED - Slide is shut in Jan/Feb 2023, open as normal after that]
Nunnery Gallery
This not-for-profit arts space inside a former 19th-century convent building, ten minutes from Mirror Works in Bow is all about bringing rich East London stories to life. Free to visit, ongoing exhibits include moving image focussed Visions in The Nunnery, and next door, the Nunnery Café does tasty cheese and onion toasties, and coffee from female-led ethical roastery HeySisterCoffee.
https://bowarts.org/nunnery-gallery/, https://bowarts.org/the-nunnery-cafe/; 181 Bow Road, London, E3 2SJ; Gallery: 10.00 - 16.00 Tue-Sun, Cafe: 09.00 - 16.00 Mon-Sat, 10.00 - 16.00 Sun
Stratford Padel Club
Stratford’s home to the biggest Padel Tennis Club in the country. This sociable racquet sport - a cross between tennis and squash - is played in doubles on a court with glass walls. With a 2000-strong community and just five courts here, it’s wise to book ahead via the app. Newcomers can come solo (and the club will organise a match to assess skill level) plus there are options to book coaching sessions.
https://stratfordpadelclub.org/; 221 High Street, E15 2AE, 10.00 - 22.30 Mon-Fri, 09.00 - 21.00 Sat-Sun
OverGravity Gymnastics Club
‘A playground for adults,’ the team behind OverGravity in Bow are passionate about making gymnastics accessible to over 16s. Italian founders, Davide Buzzi and Matteo Cara ‘like the idea of forging superhumans - whether in their twenties or seventies’ and classes include tumbling, tricking and cheerleading.
https://overgravitygymnastics.uk/; opening times vary, see website
London Aquatics Centre
Follow in the strokes of London 2012’s Olympians at the Zaha Hadid-designed London Aquatics Centre, as famous for its trio of swimming pools as its undulating wave-shaped roof. Fifteen minutes from Mirror Works' East London workspace, book in a dip or hone diving skills at the Tom Daley Diving Academy.
https://www.londonaquaticscentre.org/timetable/swimming-times; Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, E20 2AQ; check weekly timetable
ABBA Voyage
Mamma Mia! When a concert commands its own purpose-built arena, you know it’ll be good. Set next to Pudding Mill DLR, the 3000-capacity ABBA arena is announced with vibrant rainbow ‘Abba’ signage. Inside, a 95-minute pop extravaganza - led by avatars of the band, created through revolutionary motion capture performance techniques and accompanied by a live ten-piece band - unfolds.
https://abbavoyage.com/; 19.45 Mon,Thu,Fri; 15.00 and 19.45 Sat, 13.00 and 18.00 Sun
Mon-Fri 9am-5.30pm