Check out these 3 🔥 new attractions new in Stratford Cross

Opening in time for the festive season is a big deal for any new hospitality venture, which is why they’re landing thick and fast right now, particularly around the fast-expanding local centre of Stratford Cross (formerly IQL).

First up is quality Greek restaurant Hera, which opened a few days ago and already looks set to become an in demand food (and drink) destination, offering modern Mediterranean cooking and a taste of that summer island-hopping warmth, served in a vibrant cosmopolitan setting.

Hot on their heels is Templar, which we previewed here a few weeks back, but has now just entered its soft opening phase. It’s from the people behind popular East Village restaurant Darkhorse, with more of a wine bar feel, so expect top vino, with plenty available by the glass, alongside a tasty sharing plate menu.

Then on Tuesday December 17th, the curtain finally goes up on the eagerly anticipated Stratford International branch (as opposed to their existing ‘upon-Avon’ outpost) of Everyman Cinema. It promises the famous posh sofas, decadent in-seat food and drinks service and three state-of-the-art screens.

🎶 Friday night, 6th Dec the final night celebration of collective loop[Delirium]’s Not Yet But Soon at Hypha Studios Sugar House Island, with immersive audio-visual performances by CSV, Rafa Roeder and Owen Planchart.

✝️ God Willing is a new group show opening at Mainyard’s Shipton Gallery on Fri 6th Dec, exploring the pursuit of the divine in the digital age, with art from Chelsey Zi Wang, Daddy Bears, Ariane Heloise Hughes, Lily Bloom, Ronnie Danaher, Dyke Viagra, M Lissoni, Georgia Somerville, and Marta Burhan.

🔋And head a little further afield this month to see no less that three winners hailing from the Hackney Wick & Fish Island Community Enterprise Zone who made it onto this year’s prestigious London Made Me Retail Development programme. Every year, it brings together 12 creatives, makers and artists from across London’s CEZs to learn the ropes of high-street retail in a physical retail space, with a pop-up shop now open in Battersea Power Station throughout the festive period until 29th Dec.

Enjoy workshops and ideal creative gifts to buy from locals YIBRI, Katy Wheeler (pictured above) and Elvira Sazesh. “It’s great to see the smallest of all London CEZs by area having such strong creative representation again this year,” says the HWFI CEZ manager, Yulia Pak. “Stay tuned for the program’s next edition in 2025, too.”

🔊 A night of D&B rollers, jungle and liquid drum & bass is in order on Sat 7th Dec at The Yard Theatre as Vital Fest sees the likes of DJ dons Brockie, Uncle Dugs, DJ Ital and plenty more bring the basslines.

👘 Howling Hops Tank Bar as hosting an ugly Christmas jumper party on Fri Dec 6th with beer prizes for the best/worst dressed and £5 pints for those in jumpers (or if you mention The Wick!) They are also collecting donations for the Hackney Food Bank, so bring what you can.

😂 Talking of food bank benefits, head over to Stratford East on Thurs 5th Dec for Canned Laughter, a festive night of stellar stand-up from Sophie Duker (Taskmaster), Kemah Bob (Stand Up Sketch Show), Joe da Costa (Uncle), Amy Annette (Off Menu). As well as raising funds for the Trussell Trust, they encourage the audience to bring food donations on the night, too, for local distribution.

🍺 And one more food bank-related event is the Beer Merchants Tap annual Christmas Charity Party that runs from Wed 11th to Sun 15th Dec. Expect a lucky dip, a food pop-up and £2 donations on selected beer pours going to Hackney Foodbank.

🧷 It’s a triple-header of shows from South London’s Fat White Family at Colour Factory from Wed 11th - Fri 13th Dec, as the acclaimed post-punk 7-piece combine garage rock, disco and mediaeval chants for three wild, livid, smutty and loud nights.

🧘 The Community Yoga Project throws a Christmas Mindfulness Day this Sat, 7th Dec at The Bath House with meditation, breathwork, ecstatic dance and a sound bath (with live handpan) alongside their usual Saturday morning yoga flow.

🚼 Trowbridge Gardens monthly parents and carers coffee morning is back on Mon Dec 9th from 10am-midday. It’s a casual and friendly event with lots of toys and ample buggy parking, where you can meet other local parents and get free support from experts. Your hosts are Dina of Vitamin Dina Nutrition and Esther of Hackney Nappy Network.

📸 There’s a headshots photography day in a LGBTQ+ safe space, all day on Thurs Dec 12th. giving you 2 x studio portraits for only £50 (RRP £200). It’s presented by Queer Edge and photographer Hannah Aiyana.

Academy Breakin' Convention, the Hip Hop theatre school based at the brand new Sadler's Wells East, is looking for students to join its 2025 programme. If you are 16-19 you could be part of the UK’s first free Level 3 Extended Diploma in Performance and Production Arts specific to Hip Hop Theatre, learning skills from MCing and music production to popping and breaking. People up to 24-years-old can apply and be assessed on an individual basis too. Watch the video for more info, and apply here. There’s an open day on 18th Jan and you’ll need to apply by Fri 31st Jan.

🎤 Silliness, Solidarity, Songwriting is a free lyric re-writing workshop this Fri 6th Dec at Hypha Studio Sugar House Island to experiment and reshape jingles, shanties, chants and rhymes into messages of collective liberation, through the modification and recreation of the music we already hold inside of us. No musical training, skill, or ear required.

🎋 Try your hand at wreath-making at Ælfred on Sat 7th Dec as the local Nordic vintage furniture shop gets festive with the help of Abby from Little Natures Florist.

🍯 Design and paint your own festive ornaments at the Cone8 Ceramics Jingle All The Clay pottery workshops, taking place this Friday, 6th Dec and every Friday until Xmas.

🥳 Hackney Wick Town Hall is throwing a Christmassy community get together at Trowbridge Seniors Hall on Fri 13th Dec, offering a chance to meet your neighbours and discuss plans for the meetings in 2025.

📈 If you live in Tower Hamlets and have a business idea, but don't know where to start, the Council and Allia Impact are offering support through structured training and a grant of £2500 to start a new venture. You need to be a first-time entrepreneur and full time resident. Open until end of March 2025.

👩‍🎨 Applications are open to take part in Arbor 2: a programme aiming to create meaningful collaborations between artists, researchers, and communities with interest in or experience of dementia. UCL are looking for 20 artists to take part in the initial stage of the knowledge exchange programme, which starts with a mixer event giving artists and researchers a chance to connect, exchange ideas, and spark a future collaboration. Apply by 17th Jan.

✨ The CoSTAR Foresight Lab based at the Loughborough University London campus at Here East are looking for a part time Research Administrator. It’s an ideal opportunity for anyone looking to gain skills and experience in the world of policy, creative industries and creative technologies. Apply by 12th Dec.