London's best community cafés
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By Will Crosswell and Anne Faber
Posted: Wed Mar 30 2011 -
If you think community caffs are just for hairshirt hippies, think again. Affordable, quirky and local, these neighbourhood eateries are run on volunteer enthusiasm. Time Out seeks out the best
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Bonnington Café
11 Vauxhall Grove, SW8 1TD (www.s208303316.websitehome.co.uk).
This vegetarian and vegan restaurant was once a squat, and is now cooperatively run. The dish prices are very affordable, at £3 for starters and desserts and £7 for mains. Although unlicensed, there’s no corkage charge, so you can always BYO and eat on a budget.
Noon-2pm, 6.30-10.30pm daily. Meal for two: around £25. Read more
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Hornbeam Café
458 Hoe St, E17 9AH (8558 6880/ www.hornbeam.org.uk)
A volunteer-run, organic café in Walthamstow, which has monthly 'Roast Veggie Sunday' lunches. The menu changes on a weekly basis, but is always dairy-free and made from produce which is mostly organic and fairtrade.
10.30am-5pm Wed-Sat. Unlicensed. Meal for two: around £15. Read more
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Pogo Café
76 Clarence Rd, E5 8HB (8533 1214/ www.pogocafe.co.uk).
In the heart of Hackney, Pogo is a fully vegan eatery, a free space for local environmental and political groups, and even hosts yoga classes. The veggie burgers are particularly wholesome, and there is an interesting selection of reading material on the bookshelves.
12.30-9pm Wed-Sat; 11am-9pm Sun. Unlicensed. Meal for two: around £25. Read more
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People's Kitchen at Passing Clouds
1 Richmond Rd, E8 4AA (07951 989897/ www.passingclouds.org).
More of an event than a restaurant, the kitchen takes over music venue Passing Clouds every Sunday to cook a communal, freegan dinner. Eat for a donation, or for free if you contribute to the pot earlier in the day.
Food drop 2-4pm, food prep 3-6pm, dinner from 6pm Sun. Licensed. Meal for two: price of a donation. Read more
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Station House Community Café
Station House, 73c Stapleton Hall Rd, N4 3QF (www.foodcycle.org.uk).
Eating rubbish has never been so good for you – and the environment. Foodcycle, the group behind this weekly pop-up restaurant, cooks with food that would have otherwise gone to waste. Vegetarian ingredients that have just gone past their sell-by-date are donated by selected Crouch End supermarkets (such as Budgens), to create own-made healthy soups, hearty curries and scrumptious cakes. Three courses will only set you back £4. Foodcycle are also planning a Pimlico community café 'in the near future'.
Noon-2.30pm Fri. Meal for two: around £10. Read more
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