TALES OF THE EAST END

April 26, 2012

Proscenium’s new walks in the eclectic East End

Twenty five years ago, the East End called to mind dilapidated warehouses, derelict dockyards, highrise housing estates and row upon row of Victorian terraced houses. More known for the Krays and Jack the Ripper than trendy cafes and upmarket bars, venturing to the East End for some had the feeling of walking to the end of the earth and looking over the edge.

However, more recently, with the grandiose redevelopment plans of Docklands in the 80’s and 90’s and the Olympic Park in Stratford, it’s been all change for the East End. Proscenium guides Pepe Martinez and Themis Halvanti-Stringer take a look all there is to celebrate in the “new” East End on two new walks.

The Street Art and Graffiti of Shoreditch and Spitalfields

Visit places like Hoxton Square in Shoreditch and contemporary art leaps into life at places like the White Cube. It’s clean minimalistic space makes it more “establishment” than “alternative”. But the East End is also the site of a street art revolution.

Pepe’s walk will take you into the world of Banksy, quite possibly the most famous

living street artist in the world. His elusive identity is vibrantly expressed in the dynamic east London art scene. On this walk you will see work by Banksy as well as Ben Eine whose piece “Twenty First Century City” was recently presented by Prime Minister David Cameron to Barrack Obama. Finally, see work by Shepherd Fairey the most celebrated street artist working in the US today.

East End Foodie Walk

For Themis Halvanti Stringer, the East End expresses it eclectic atmosphere and diversity in its foods. Their tastes and smells assault your senses with their heartiness, ethnicity and history. Themis invites you to come and experience the sights, sounds and smalls of coffee, curry, and courgettes as she leads you on a walk of boutiques bars, and breweries from the 1700’s to the present day. If you thought London was all about Buckingham Palace and the West End, this walk will open your eyes and ears to the bohemian East End.

From Spitalfields market, experience street art and street food in a converted brewery, window shop in the biggest and best Bengali supermarket, experience award winning coffee or enjoy a salt beef bagel.

Explore Spitalfields and Shoreditch and see the magnificent transformation of the once seedy and deprived areas into one of the most vibrant, fashionable and happening districts in London.

Both walks make it clear, that Whitechapel, Spitalfields and Shoreditch have experienced and incredible transformation, from a once seedy and deprived area into one of the most vibrant, fashionable and happening districts in London.