George has lived in the area for a decade
(Picture: Adrian Lourie)I live on Montague Road, round the corner from Ridley Road. I’ve been here for three years but lived in this neighbourhood for a decade. This is my patch.
I grew up on the other side of London and coming east was like going into a whole different world.
Now I feel the other way when I go back to west London. It’s funny how you can shift allegiance.
Everything about London is in Dalston. Huge sections of this community have been living here for generations. There’s gentrification happening but it seems to find a balance here. It’s real.
Eating and drinking
We’re really lucky that the food’s incredible round here. Papo’s Bagels on Shacklewell Lane is right at the end of my street — it’s dangerous it being so close. They are literally the best bagels you’ve ever eaten in your life.
The best ramen you’re ever going to eat is at Supa Ya Ramen on Kingsland Road. On Dalston Lane there’s a great Korean called Babsang. It’s always absolutely slammed. If you haven’t checked that out, you definitely should.
Dusty Knuckle on Abbot Street is an amazing bakery. They do a lovely potato sourdough and two wicked pastries: an orange and poppy seed swirl and another one which is feta, fennel, honey and God knows what.
Where I work out
London Fields Lido is the best spot around here. I’m not a natural water baby but my missus got me into it.
I’m not as regular down there as I could be, but I’ve got into good patterns where I go two or three times a week. You feel a million bucks when you come out of there. When I’ve got cold water in my life, I’m a better version of me.
To commune with nature
The best park is the Marshes. Hackney Riviera. Vicky Park’s also good, but I go to the Marshes every day with my dog. He’s a massive Welsh hound who needs a lot of walking — he weighs 40 kilos and was born with one eye. Basically every dog trainer in London has handed him back at some point, but he’s lovely.
In the woods, there’s a path that runs along the side of the River Lea. If you catch it at the right time of year it feels like it could be anywhere. If you go early, you’ll see all sorts of wildlife.
But of course at the weekend you’ll sometimes come across the fag end of a rave going on and all of a sudden you snap out of your idyllic thing. If I were a bit younger I’d be in there with them.
Grocery shopping
I’ve recently started going to a farmers’ market run by Growing Communities at St Paul’s Church at the top of Amhurst Road. There’s amazing produce down there and all sorts of people. There’s a Turkish stall where they do these wholewheat gözleme — they’re absolutely banging.
I get my bread from Jolene on Newington Green. There’s a lovely little Spanish deli called Furanxo on Dalston Lane where they’ve got wicked cheeses, wine and killer olives. They’ve got really naughty crisps, too.
For a culture fix
The Rio cinema on Kingsland High Street is really good. There’s a bookshop that I go to a lot called Donlon Books at the top end of Broadway Market.
Getting around
I’m a huge evangelist for Lime Bikes. I’m an all-year-round Lime biker — it’s quite brutal in the rain. I’m addicted.
Dream street
I live on it already: Montague Road. The road I grew up on was a high street where you didn’t really know your neighbours.
On this street, I know everybody at my end. In the summer, one lady uses her stoop like a speakeasy and everyone congregates there for a drink and a chat. For the first time, I feel like I’m part of a neighbourhood.
Something you only see in Dalston
Seagulls. We’ve got loads here because of Ridley Road Market. It’s mental.
What’s the catch?
There’s no Tube, but maybe that’s also the beauty of living in Dalston. It’s not the easiest place to get to, but perhaps that’s why it’s stayed authentic.
In three words
Authentic. Life. Energy.
George Lamb co-founded Wildfarmed, a regenerative farming business, and is the founder of Grow, a community farm and life skills initiative.
Schools
There are 11 outstanding primaries nearby including Shacklewell Primary, The Olive School Hackney and Queensbridge Primary.
For secondaries, Mossbourne Community Academy, The City Academy, Hackney and Clapton Girls’ are all among the top choices.
What it costs
Buying in Dalston
Average flat price: £556,220
Average house price: £1,325,940
Renting in Dalston
Average flat price, pcm: £2,170
Average house price, pcm: £3,500
