World-class culture! Soho Theatre Walthamstow, Shake The High Road - and what to eat
Plus: Grove Green Road 2.0 - Sho Foo Doh's return to Filly Brook, The Arch launches and Heathcote & Star's big plans. And the latest on Earl's
It’s no overstatement to say that this is a massive week culturally — not just for Waltham Forest but for London itself.
First up? The juggernaut that is the new £30million Soho Theatre Walthamstow, which officially opens tonight. I was fortunate enough to visit twice this week — firstly, on Tuesday for a preview tour of its cavernous interior, and last night, pictured above, for the star-studded launch party (I even met Sir Ian McKellen — but that’s another story).
Many readers will remember the quirky Mirth, Marvel and Maud pub (run by the now-defunct Antic Group, also behind the Red Lion in Leytonstone), which occupied the site in the mid-teens. If so, as you enter you’ll recognise the elegant high-ceilinged foyer, now neon-lit and restored with shiny tiled floor, entrance cafe, several bars — note the ziggurat ceiling above the claret-hued main one — and three distinct levels to enjoy a beer or pre-theatre dinner.
More of that later. But save your biggest gasp for the 960-seater Grade II-listed auditorium itself — four times as big as the West End original, its restoration one of “arrested decay”, said Leyton-dwelling Head of Comedy Steve Lock, tasked with showing me around. This process allowed layers of history to peep through, from its ornate 1930s Spanish baroque and Moorish stylings through to the browns and oranges of its 1960s music heyday (look up at the yellow paint apparent on the spearmint green ceiling).
Hoe Street’s former Granada cinema has been a performance venue since 1897, although the reason the scrubbed-up facade looks so exotic is that the original site was redeveloped in 1930 with Moorish exteriors inspired by the Alhambra Palace in Granada, Spain.
Sure, it majored in film, but gigs were also a thing by the 1950s, with shows by legendary artists including The Beatles, Dusty Springfield and the Rolling Stones. The last live performance took place in 1973 and the Granada became a cinema, changing owners until closing its doors in 2003.
Fast forward to its rather complicated rebirth in 2025, and the first up is comedian Natalie Palamides’ award-winning Weer, with the inaugural programme including comedy line-up Neon Nights, featuring Thanyia Moore, Sara Pascoe and Phil Wang, and forthcoming shows by Kiki & Herb, Tim Minchin, Suzi Ruffell and The Tiger Lillies. At last night’s launch the atmosphere in the auditorium was electric — and if you’re local, don’t forget there are 15,000 tickets for £15 right up to May 2026.
In today’s issue, I explore the theatre’s food menu in detail, as well as round up other local restaurants offering excellent value pre-theatre menus nearby.
Shake The High Road: the classic Leytonstone festival returns
Not to be outdone, Leytonstone is once again hosting its world-class weekend of culture. Last year’s Shake The High Road festival was an absolute belter, with every venue rammed (and mud-free to boot). Most revelatory — especially if you’ve never stepped inside before — was the stunning St John's Church, which hosted a strobe-lit rave by festival closer Nathan Fake. Afterwards the party carried on in the basement at Luna: incidentally, I wonder if that will be open again this year?
The 12-hour musical odyssey runs all day tomorrow from 1pm: one ticket gets you entry to 20 acts across E11, from St John’s Church to both floors of the Leytonstone Social Club (Ex-Servicemen's Club) and a new 100-capacity space in St John’s Church Hall.
Confirmed artists include headliner Alexis Taylor, from noughties legends Hot Chip, playing a special grand piano set, while the end-of-night rave this year is courtesy of rising electronic star Tom VR. Also performing in the historic pile are singer-songwriter Sophie Jamieson, Estonian pianist Hanakiv (who blends classical, ambient, and electronic), and Scottish act Cloth, signed to Mogwai’s label.
Upstairs at the Leytonstone Social is where you’ll find the BBC Introducing London (1.30-530pm) and Dreamhouse Records (6-11pm) stages — always a rich vein for talent, and my favourite venue last year — as well as Wood Street-based DJ Lewis Mais Um on the decks (6pm). And you can take refuge in the church hall for more laidback and literary fare, including a Rock ‘n’ Roll Book Club and even a gathering for chess afficionados.
As it’s a bank holiday, a Sunday ‘day-after party’ at Filly Brook (kicking off at 6pm) features guest headliner Poly-Ritmo and Faze Action’s Simon Lee to keep those vibes going. Thank goodness for a lazy Monday.
What’s on the menu?
Central Leytonstone is, of course, blessed with food options — three faves being Panda Dim Sum, Homies and the North Star — but there will also be streetfood stalls outside St John's Church, including wraps, dirty fries and salads gurus at Hackney Bridge stalwarts Wrap ‘n’ rolla, and Leytonstone’s finest Mexican Fried Chicken, former mainstays at Mammoth taproom and regulars at Kerb. An outdoor bar from Libertalia Brewing, who will also be serving beers inside the church, will essentially be a preview of their new Leytonstone taproom Calamity Tank, soon to open in the High Road railway arches. So that should be fun.
Organiser Simon tells me there are still limited tickets but these will sell out within the next 24 hours so don’t wait until tomorrow lunchtime if you want to go. Tickets here.
Hello, and welcome to this week’s issue. A million thanks to all the new paid subscribers last week: my little newsletter dedicated to our thriving corner of East London finally smashed into Substack’s Top 100 Global Food & Drink Chart at #99. I’ll take it!
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Behind this week’s paywall:
Grove Green Road special: it’s all change on the vibrant curve that intersects the railway arches. I speak to chef Sho Foo Doh about what’s new on the menu for his return to Filly Brook; owner Michaela talks us all through her revamped bar The Arch — formerly Arch Deli — which unveils its new look today; I try the brunch buns at Unity Cafe (one is a clear winner); and new manager James at Heathcote & Star talks me through the many changes he is implementing
Soho Theatre Walthamstow’s food offer - a detailed look at the menu, the key items to order and a round-up three more local restaurants to eat at before a show, including one BYOB
All about Earl’s: why the Cann Hall Road sandwich stop from Back To Ours will be an instant smash hit
A bank holiday canalside stroll over the Olympic Park to Limehouse ending at Roe in Canary Wharf
This week’s pop-ups, one-offs, new openings, local gossip and more
A Grove Green Road special: Filly Brook, The Arch, Unity and Heathcote
If it’s somehow slipped off your radar — after all, there’s a lot going on in our ever-sprawling neighbourhood — it might be time to take a fresh wander along the winding road leading up to Leytonstone tube station.
Especially with the flurry of exciting changes to its main venues — all in effect from today.