Heleana's Qype profile

I’ve long been awaiting a time where London, in the grip of its cafe culture, is hit by a tea renaissance in which everyone, instead of hanging out at the coolest coffee shops, like LCB, Flat White and Tina We Salute You turns to our old English tradition of tea houses with renwed fervour. It hasn’t really happened yet, but if it did the cosy Gossip would be a good place to start.

It’s ironically probably not the best place to gossip in, as it’s super-intimate, so much so that if you’re a sumo wrestler you’d have trouble navigating the closely nestled stables. It is however always filled with the kinds of parents whose kids buggies have cappucino holders, and it is for this reason that I’ve always called it 'The Tardis’.

The tea is absolutely amazing. Oolong? Check. Green? Check. Every other brand you could hope to imagine? Your wish is their commaand. They also have chinese tea pots in which you can make the perfect tea, if you just can’t get enough when you finally leave for home.

The ICA is my public gallery of choice these days, not least because a good friend and trustee lets me hold art meets there… it’s also a place of unprecedented diversity in terms of cultural experiences. They do concerts (The Mars Volta were playing when I went last week) design-driven workshops and have a cinema - the ideal place to go for an eclectic collection of independent movies - as well as the usual art exhibitions.

I can spend hours at their bar sometimes as it’s always well stocked (with friendly, interesting strangers, as well as Belgian beer) and is rarely empty. And if you are looking for the unbelievable rare art magazines that even the Tate doesn’t stock, then their library is the place to go.

They’ve recently got rid of day membership, so the £1 hurdle that might have stopped a few of you coming is no longer there. So what are you waiting for?

As someone who wrote a glowing review of Mile End Climbing wall, you may wonder what on earth I’m doing here? Well, I’m not a spy; after some thought I’ve decided to make the migration. I’m after a more active social scene and some new faces. For me, 2009 is about doing new stuff so in terms of climbing that means a) stopping bouldering as those traverses are wreacking havoc on my fingers and b) trying a new place. I’m far too lazy to bother schlepping it all the way over to the Westway and back after a hard day’s work, so The Castle it is!

I was always so resistant, as a staunch Mile End supporter, of people’s protestations that the Castle was a great and wonderous experience… now I see what all the fuss was about. For a start, the place is HUGE… in a 'oh no, I think i’ve lost my friends’ kind of way. They do some really well thought-out classes, such as climbing with grace and learning strong moves as well as the usual leading, bouldering and taster staples that you’d find at your usual wall. They have DJ nights on Thursdays, a well stocked climbing shop with hire facilities, a cafe with a dissapointing lack of healthy stuff on offer (what are you trying to do, people? Fatten me up?) But they don’t charge for lockers, which is ace. The variety of climbing styles here is exemplary. Caves? Check. Lead climbs? Check. Toproping? Check? They also had the kind of punishing overhangs that I used to be addicted to pre-carpal tunnel… They’re open very late too (till 10 on some nights, so why go out to the club at all?) Oh and best of all they even have 'Women with Altitude’ sessions on Mondays - a women only meet where you can find new climbing partners or if you are so inclined to (ahem) 'meet new people’.

Am I getting my membership here next week? Heck yeah!

Broadway Market, or 'Runway Market’ as some call it due to the strict adherence to fashion shown by many of its svelte, model looking inhabitants is one of my favourite streets to hang out on right now. Detractors call it the new hoxton square, malinging it as a hub for pretentious hipsters. I by contrast am lured by it’s boutique shop laden, village-like charm. You are spoilt for choice whehere good pubs with a top quality atmosphre are concerned, from the Dove with it’s unparralelled selection of belgian beers (oh unless you go to De Hems is Soho of course, but why bother when this place is round the corner?) Off Broadway or Cau n Mutton, the grogeous french deli, La Bouche and a whole host of other delights. The best is its farmers’ market on Saturday. More pricey than Borough in some places (esp. their cuts of meat) but they make up for it with a divine outdoor Vietnamese cafe.

I’v just read a Qype review of someone (justiiedly) slagging off the annoying consumerist rugby scrum that happens on Oxford Street W1 every Saturday; so I felt that it would be only too right to add some of the feelgood factor by talking about a few streets that it’s quite frankly great to lose an afternoon on, and newburgh street is definitely one of them. Tucked behind Carnaby, it consists of a range of ultraubercool boutique shops - the ones that have art installations in the front window made of clothing, and catwalk-ready shopping attendants. You can stock up on skate wear and obscure painting by grafitti artists like Faile, get a make up session at the Mac shop on the corner, and there’s a pleasantly populated pub with a good range of lagers right in its centre (sorry, the name of said pub escapes me at this moment, but it’s a good one). As you walk down you’ll also spot a couple of secluded but high-end restaurants; good places to take someone for that 'deal sealing’ third date.

What I like most about the shops on this road is that some of them put setaing outside, which is great for the summer months, when you’ve nearly shopped yourself to death and need a well deserved rest.

My vietanamese-food loving ex housemates-slash-friends took me here. And I thank you, my Ozzie lovelies. Who would have known that there is life after Viet Hoa, and that pho could taste so delicate and perfectly made? It’s even better the fact that it looks a bit ramshackle; as if the cleaner really can’t be bothered and would rather sit on the loo reading back issues of Heat magazine. It’s still clean enough that I’ve never caught dysentery as a result of going, so I shall return. The service is swift, formal, neither enthusiastic nor cold; I mean after all it’s dirt cheap so no one’s paying any notice. I’ve been to birthday parties here before which is always a crown pleaser. A bit of the old BYOB never hurt anyone.

Balanced precariously on the corner of Kingsland road where at the time of me writing this, they’re building a tube line Eastwards, I’ve always looked at it with a sense of fondness, the small independent store, that I never actually see another person in when I visit, but yet it’s been there for years. I’m beginning to wonder whether it’s being bankrolled by a Russian ogliarch or something. Anyway I hope it doesn;t get bulldozed and replaced by another bleeping Starbucks. It’s quite a tiny shop; well stocked though - mainly with really obscure grains that promise to make you sexier, reverse ageing, make your ex fall in love with you again and many other miraculous things. Probably the worst place to go if you want fish fingers, much better if quinoa, amaranth and wild black rice is your thing. A very handy convenience store for superfood loveliness (cacao? check. Maca root? check) and vegan treats.

First Out is the perfect place to go if you want to be around fellow gayers, but don’t quite fancy being immersed in lights drama and action of 'the real soho’. During the morning of London’s Pride march, they do a pleasant champagne breakfast, which is always worth bearing in mind during the balmy summer months. I should also add this is a vegetarian place , so no swanning in and ordering a steak medium rare. It’s good stuff, won’t quite set the world on fire like, say Mildred’s; where veggie fare is concerened, but you get good value, and I’ll always come back. Most people Come here on Friday nights as a 'first stop’ to get tanked on their superultracheap booze. I am always surprised that they do table service when I do go there, simply because it looks a little simple, minimalist and pared down to have people waiting at your back and call. But they do. And it’s lovely; in fact being served by someone in First Out is like having your mate cook you breakfast after a big night out and bring it to you on the sofa, rather than having formal, stiff looking waitresses in starch ironed uniforms.