The Time Out London blog team

Good news for lovers of live music, comedy and glittery curtains. A planning application for a building next to Hackney’s Moth Club has been refused by Hackney Council. The proposal for six residential flats and a ground floor commercial building on Morning Lane next to the historic venue would have seriously threatened its future, but Moth Club has just shared an upbeat update on Instagram, which reads:  ‘Thanks to everyone who signed, shared and stood with Moth Club, the planning application for the building directly next to us has been refused! This is a huge win. We couldn’t have done it without your support.’ View this post on Instagram A post shared by MOTH CLUB (@mothclub) Over 30,000 people had signed a petition to support the independent Hackney venue, which first opened in 1972 as a traditional servicemen’s club (the name ‘MOTH’ comes from the ex-military personnel group known as the Memorable Order of Tin Hats, who still meet in the venue to this day). In 2015, the building was given a gold-glittered makeover and swiftly gained a reputation for its excellent gig and comedy programming, and has become an absolute staple of the east London nightlife scene. Public support for the venue came from bands such as Amyl and the Sniffers, and public figures such as Jeremy Corbyn. Photograph: Moth Club However, as Moth Club have stated, ‘the fight is not over,’ as there is another planning application in progress which means the future of the venue...

Visitors to east London who’re fond of bejewelled Darth Vader masks, intensely patterned ceilings and hostel-style social vibes, we come bearing very sad news indeed. Boutique hotel Mama Shelter has shuttered its Shoreditch outpost. After six years in the capital, the sprawling hotel – which was complete with 194 bedrooms, karaoke rooms and meeting spaces – is no more. The hotel officially closed its doors on February 1 2026, with owners Ennismore removing Mama Shelter London Shoreditch’s website. A post on the hotel’s Instagram read: ‘Mama Shelter is now closed. Thank you to all our guests of 6 years.’ The property, which was also home to a 100-cover restaurant, bar and outdoor courtyard with a retractable glass roof, was Mama Shelter’s first on UK soil. As of December 2025, the brand had 3,074 rooms across 20 hotels with sites in France, Singapore, Mexico, Dubai and Serbia.  Francis Amiand In 2023, Mama Shelter got the green light from local authorities to develop a new site in Liverpool. The opening date for the £25m project was set for 2025, but it has suffered significant delays and the hotel is still yet to materialise. As for the future of Mama Shelter London, located on the Bethnal Green end of Hackney Road, it’s being reconfigured as a ‘co-living’ space. Operator ARK, which has taken over the site, is advertising its new concept as a ‘more convenient, more comfortable and a whole lot more fun’ alternative to what it describes as ‘isolated modern living’, aka...

Much-loved chicken shop Morley’s and Malaysian restaurant Roti King are coming together for a very special food event. The two brands are uniting under the name Bossman Mamak for a pop-up in Brixton Village which will run from Thursday April 9 until Sunday April 12. They will be selling four dishes (as well as a limited edition tote bag and cap): Wings & Nasi Lah, which sees Nasi Goreng served with three wings, sambal and a fried egg. Boss, Ayam Dua!, which will include two-piece fried chicken and crispy fries in a spice mix with peanut sauce dip. Sedap Wrap of chicken tenders wrapped roti canai with achar salad. KL Dirty Fries, a vegan dish with crispy fries and shiitake mushroom rendang. Photograph: Morley’s x Roti King Speaking about the collaboration, Roti King’s founder Sugen Gopal has commented: ‘Mamak stalls in Malaysia are where everything comes together - after work, after football, where the night ends or carries on. When I look at Morley’s in London, I see that same energy and sense of community, which makes this feel bigger than just a collaboration. It’s about two food cultures meeting and finding common ground, built on the same community and just told through different flavours.’ Shan Selvendran, Morley's CEO, added: ‘We’re always looking to push the boundaries of what Morley’s can do while celebrating our South London roots. Seeing our signature chicken paired with Roti King’s legendary flavours is something special, it's bold, it's iconic, and it’s...