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Do you love slightly scuzzy bars? Does the smell of a beer-splashed carpet turn you on? Then you need to head to Hackney, because next month the borough will be hosting London’s first ever dive bar festival.
Hackney Altfest will be held across Mare Street, Morning Lane and Lower Clapton Road from Monday May 4 to Sunday May 10, and showcase a host of alternative bars and venues in the area, including a bunch of Time Out favourites, from Blondies and Helgi’s to You Call The Shots and Rasputin’s.
The event will also feature The Absinthe Parlour at The Last Tuesday Society, Easy8, Saint Monday, and The Moon Temple, and attendees can be in with a chance of winning prizes (as well as a hangover) if they collect stamps from each of the eight venues across the week.
Each venue will be hosting daytime and evening events, including bands, DJs, talks, tours, tastings and food offerings across the week.
Backed by Hackney Council, Hackney Altfest is the first of its kind, celebrating the diversity of high streets across Hackney.
Speaking about the event, Allison Crawbuck, director of The Absinthe Parlour at The Last Tuesday Society, said: ‘Hackney Altfest celebrates the creativity and grit of our local independent scene.
‘Across eight venues over one week, the festival is an invitation to explore everything from absinthe parlours and curiosity cabinets to dive bars, metal breweries, witchcraft emporiums, and packed-out gigs. By bringing this raw energy together, the festival builds on our sense of community and connects new audiences to the authentic, independent bars and alternative venues.’
🍸 These are the best bars in Hackney, according to Time Out.
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