Shoreditch's Calvert Avenue steps up its game

Shoreditch’s Calvert Avenue might seem like your usual, quiet East London cross-street. But with a handful of well-selected stores, is this set to be our new retail destination?

We might all be hardened fans of nearby Redchurch Street – but it seems that even with its Hostem, A.P.C, Albion, Caravan and Maison Trois Garcons, the destination strip is beginning to garner some stiff local competition.

Running from Shoreditch High Street to the recently spruced-up Arnold Circus, Calvert Ave has for many years held a warm spot in discerning local hearts – mainly for the Ally Capellino store (a firm UJ favourite for her leather luggage) and Leila’s (possibly one of the area’s quaintest cafés).

Then, at the start of the summer, the quirky design shop Luna & Curious moved from nearby Brick Lane to opposite Leila’s, and hosted the Rock Lobsta pop-up shortly after. And now the same space will play home to svelte new menswear brand, Cabinet, stockists of some of the finest shirts in town (from hard-to-find Italian brand Mastai Feretti) as well as some lovely Makr totes and their own line of trousers.

In case that wasn’t reason enough to pay the street a visit, Simon Spiteri (he who launched the lauded Liberty's menswear collection) is also arriving with a new project: Anthem, a personally curated destination for intriguing one-offs, rare books, and hand-selected menswear brands like Raleigh Denim, Folk, Oliver Spencer and Comme de Garcons Homme Plus.

So that’s elegant homeware, handcrafted luggage, fabulous food and drink, and now men’s fashion, all in one easy-to-reach, distinctly relaxed Shoreditch destination that already has a ton of local love. Sound familiar? Redchurch: thine nemesis is born.

Info

Cabinet, is open from today for three weeks, 24-26 Calvert Avenue, E2 7JP.
Anthem, launches August 15, 10-12 Calvert Avenue, E2 7JN.

Double Feature Competition

When the National Theatre cherry-picks four of the UK's hottest young playwrights and unleashes them on a warehouse space that’s usually reserved for painting props, you can expect all the edginess of the Edinburgh Fringe – with a little added quality control.

Now, three UJ subscribers can immerse themselves in the resulting showcase of new writing by winning a pair of tickets each to Double Feature 2. Double Feature 2 will include a monologue from a female Sri Lankan cricketer and a surreal Catch-22-esque war story. Email us to win tickets.

Double Feature runs until 10 Sept at the National Theatre, South Bank, SE1 9PX, 020 7452 3000, £20.

Winner’s tickets are valid for a single performance of Double Feature 2 for a selection of dates in August only. Subject to availability.

Bombay Sapphire & Book Slam at Village Underground

As part of the Bombay Sapphire Imagination Series, last Thursday saw the young, creative literati of Book Slam take over Shoreditch’s Village Underground for an exclusive night of poetic and musical entertainment, thoroughly Infused with Imagination by Bombay Sapphire. Drinks for the night included the Twisted Gin and Juice (with Bombay Sapphire gin, elderflower cordial, fresh mint and cloudy apple juice) and a rather delicious French Martini. While, amidst the exposed brick, louche lounges, micro-libraries and Bombay Sapphire Imagination Bar that made up the underground Gin Palace, performers included Joe Dunthorne, Ross Sutherland, Francesca Beard, Jeremy Dyson, Eska and Daniel Pemberton.

To everyone that made it: thank you for such a great night! And if you missed out, have no fear: check facebook.com/bombaysapphire for more upcoming Infused with Imagination events.

Click here to check out the photos…

BOOK NOW – for The French Launderette a cheeky take on Thomas Keller’s famous Californian restaurant. The Chancery, 9 Cursitor St, EC4A 1LL.

ESCAPE – to Babington House’s summer 1950’s themed party with The Overtones. Babington, Somerset, BA11 3RW.

RIDE AWAY – on the W Hotel’s customized bicycles and a route from fave designers, illustrators and artists. Leicester Square, 10 Wardour St, W1D 6QF.

SHOP – for Farah Vintage and Original Penguin at wallet-friendly prices. The Music Rooms, 26 South Molton Lane, W1K 8AB.