... In January, 2005, he has invited his two step-mothers to celebrate his move into a tiny flat of a cosy two-storey-building along Mt. Pleasant Lane in Hackney. Lainet and Gertrud had helped to purchase it with the proceeds from publications of their African adventures...

FIRST CLUES ON THE WEB:

https://news.hackney.gov.uk/

Statistics don't tend to do Hackney any favours. One of the UK's most deprived areas, the borough has London's highest unemployment rate, some of the worst schools, half of its residents in council maintained property and no tube stations. Despite these obvious setbacks, today's Hackney is recognised as London's most up and coming borough with property price increases to match. Government and private investors are pouring millions into Hackney. Plans for a Chelsea tube link seem to have been put back into place by Ken Livingstone, and hopes are also very high for a direct tube link to both the Docklands and the City.
Shoreditch and Hoxton to the south of the borough sit uneasily against the wealth of the City of London. North of the Regent's Canal around Victoria Park and De Beauvoir Town, amongst the council blocks, can be found some of the best Victorian and Georgian houses in London. Stoke Newington, to the north has become the new yuppie Mecca whilst Stamford Hill and Clapton remain in favour with the Jewish community.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/2334859.stm

Friday, 18 October, 2002, 10:11 GMT 11:11 UK

Hackney's council leader has won the borough's election for a US-style executive mayor by a landslide. Labour councillor Jules Pipe took 42% of the vote, 10,000 votes more than his nearest challenger, to become the east London borough's first elected mayor... The new mayor will have overall responsibility for running council services. Labour had lost power in Hackney after splits in the party six years ago but regained overall control in a by-election last year.
Speaking after the declaration, Mr Pipe, 37, promised a fall in street crime, two new secondary schools and said he would campaign to bring the Tube to Hackney. But he said it would take years to change the borough's image. He added: "I can understand people might be sceptical about anything to do with local politics in Hackney because of the legacy of the hung council years. "So much damage was done to the borough at that time." Last year an Audit Commission report called on the government to intervene to protect the running of essential services. The council is still being monitored.

https://sustainablehackney.org.uk/issues/olympics



Hackney’s directly elected Mayor, Jules Pipe, … said 'London’s bid to host the 2012 Olympics and Paralympics has the potential to radically change east London. As Mayor of Hackney, I am working with colleagues within the borough and in our neighbouring boroughs of Newham, Tower Hamlets, Waltham Forest and Greenwich to ensure the potential changes deliver real benefits to the residents of Hackney and east London. Nearly one quarter of the land needed to host the Olympic precinct is in Hackney. We must secure a sustainable legacy for local people and businesses from developments on this land. I am also making sure that the bid does not knock planned regeneration off course and that metropolitan open land is protected for the long term. The 2012 bid also gives Hackney extra leverage to get badly needed rail and tube infrastructure which must be delivered whether or not east London hosts the Olympic Games in 2012…

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-london-55260488



Every Thursday Maxwell Hutchinson is visiting a different area of London and uncovers some interesting facts about the place. Then it's over to you. We want you to send in details of your favourite restaurants, pubs, shops, places to go and things to see etc. This week Hackney...

Your Comments:
shiveringgoat
The 'Stingray Globe' cafe on the end of Columbia Road has wonderful pizza, really chilled vibe, open fire and Nastro Azzuro on draft, great food and very reasonable too.
Sophie
Broadway Market, London Fields — every Saturday there's a fantastically vibrant and varied street market, selling everything from fruit and veg to really special designer vintage clothes.
sizzler
The Anchor and Hope on the river. Whenever I am back in London this is my first port of call. Living next door for several years has nothing to do with my thoughts on the place. Best pint of Pride in the world.

https://www.allinlondon.co.uk/clubs-bars/pubs/4811-the-anchor-hope

Super position by the river Lea — although the council estate which surrounds it is not exactly a work of art. The pub can be seen on the Stanstead to Liverpool Street line. The interior of the pub had a Carol Smiley makeover in 1962 and is pretty well unchanged. The old gas fire looked dangerous. The locals looked as old as the Landlord , very friendly and good beer.
Stuart 8.5/10 visit April 2002
Sadly landlord Leslie Heath died in September 2003. So there might be changes to this pub.