Tucked down an unimposing side street off Hackney’s main thoroughfare, on 76 Clarence Road, Pogo Café is an independent oasis in a world of corporate, globalised café culture.
Run as a co-operative, and staffed by volunteers, the café serves fresh, homemade vegan food in a friendly, relaxed atmosphere. Whether you are after a raw salad, a big stodgy plate of nachos or just want a piece of dairy-free cake and a coffee, you will find it all here, and at very reasonable prices too.
The menu specials and the music change daily depending on who is working, but there is always free internet, tasty ethical food and interesting conversation. Photographic exhibitions on the wall change regularly and are often projects created by, or involving, East London artists and residents. A small bookshelf stocks various fanzines and there are books to buy on veganism, anarchism, animal rights and DIY culture.
The café is a great community resource, and it is important that enterprises like this continue to be well used and remain supported. You’ll often see adverts for free classes in the café, such as Spanish lessons, and there are regular film nights, showing movies with a political theme. The café is also a pick-up point for the local organic fruit and veg box scheme, Growing Communities, which includes salad grown on Soil Association-certified growing sites in Hackney.
Whatever is going on there, you always leave the Pogo Café well fed, well read, and wholly inspired.
Pogo really is a gem! Fearing for you life on the walk there simply doesn’t matter once you have warmed your tummy with a good brew and yummy veggy burger. A real delight x