Tag Archives: Town Hall Hotel

Modern Calligraphy Workshop

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I have always been a lover of stationery and handwriting, so when I discovered Lamplighter London (Chiara Lisa) on Instagram I was fascinated by her creative cursive writing. When I learnt of her modern calligraphy classes at the Town Hall Hotel I had to sign up to find out more.

A self-taught artist Chiara noticed a lack of calligraphy lessons in London so started up her class to introduce people to her hobby, and teach others how to master modern calligraphy. On a rainy friday morning in July I joined a group of eager Londoners in the photogenic Corner room restaurant at the Town Hall Hotel in Bethnal Green. After snapping the mandatory hanging lights photo (see above) we sat in our labelled seats for the class.

Chiara guided us through the basics of modern calligraphy, from ink flow and pen pressure, to mark making and shapes, and learning the modern alphabet. By the end of class we were practising free form words and developing our own individual style. Despite being a room of beginners we were all confidently writing words and phrases in beautiful (and complicated) curly handwriting. After the class a delicious set lunch was served, I was ravenous after concentrating so carefully for the class, so was extremely grateful for the pretty plates of food.

Thanks to popular demand Chiara is running classes in September and October, and if you can’t make these dates keep checking the website or her Instagram page for details on workshops in the future.

What you’ll get in the class:

  • A personalised modern calligraphy kit, ideal for beginners, including inks, nib, paper and other stationery treats
  • 2.5 hours of calligraphy instruction, including 1 on 1 help where needed
  • Loads of tips, ideas and insider info from a practising calligrapher
  • A glorious gift from a surprise East London maker
  • Plus loads of inspiration to bring handwritten notes back into your life!
  • Two course set lunch

I can’t recommend this class highly enough. Since attending I have used my new calligraphy skills on numerous occasions, and find that this style of handwriting brings great joy to otherwise monotonous jobs.

More information and sign up to a workshop here.

Typing Room, Bethnal Green

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Bethnal Green is now a rather appealing area of London, thanks to destination restaurants like Typing Room. Part of the awesomely archaic Town Hall Hotel, in a space that was once home to Viajante by Nuno Mendes, this restaurant is chic and contemporary with an ever-evolving innovative menu. Lee Westcott is a young but miraculous chef, keeping the team in tow whilst running a creative, fun kitchen. The food he offers is beautiful and delicious, and left me inspired for days after I visited.

We enjoyed a three course weekday lunch at Typing Room, which is reasonably priced at £29 per person. Before the starters though we ordered a couple of snacks: onion bhaji, yoghurt & mango chutney; and Pig’s head & smoked apple. They are bites of intense flavour, and alerted our tastebuds for the meal ahead. Warm IPA sourdough bread was delivered with a caramel coloured butter. This turned out to be the best bread and butter of my life, thanks to the addictive marmite flavour of butter, topped with crispy pearl barley.

I couldn’t resist trying a cocktail from the next door bar, Peg + Patriot. A stylish cloudy, zesty drink named Twentysecond Century, and made with Ketel One, White Chocolate, Americano Vermouth, Lemon and Bergamot Oil. It was strong but perfectly balanced.

My starter was unlike anything I have tried before. Yeasted cauliflower, raisins, capers and mint doesn’t sound like the most wonderful combination, but it worked brilliantly well. Cauliflower is very popular on restaurant menus at the moment, and Lee brought out a delicate sweet flavour by gently burning the edges of the vegetable. Then there was a little kick and acidity from the raisins and capers. If dishes like this were a regular occurrence I would happily become a vegetarian. The raw beef with turnip, oyster and watercress was a pretty garden on a plate, soft delicate meat with an assortment of green textures and tastes.

The conversation stalled when the main courses arrived. Both dishes were a hit: Duck with fennel, honeymoon melon & sumac, and Suckling pig with flat peach, chard & dandelion. The pig was divine, tender with a salty crunchy edge and paired with sweet caramelised peaches and vibrant fresh leaves, a lovely summer recipe. The duck had a touch of Moroccan exoticism, a unique combination of ingredients which tasted sensational together.

Blood nectarine with yoghurt and mint was a mysteriously minimalist dessert. A wonderfully white construction of meringue, when crushed revealed a delicious mix of sweet nectarine and mint. Some might prefer the selection of cheeses, a generous offering served with homemade chutney and fruit bread.

I adore everything about the Town Hall Hotel, and have fallen deeper in love with this establishment after discovering the trendy and tasty Typing Room restaurant.

More information and book a table here.