The Late, Late Show

Never mind James Corden, Rising East’s Elise Briggs and Mel Zumrutel go Gonzo in late night Shoreditch.

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Messy, but it works

First stop: Zigfrid Von Underbelly, known locally as ‘Ziggy’s’, is a bar and restaurant with everything a person needs: food, beer, a happy hour from 4-7pm, dancefloor, DJ and live bands. Ziggy’s picks up pace from 6pm onwards according to Elena, the manager. People go there after work to experience ‘a casual and comfortable environment.’ During the early part of the week the bar gets busy, Elena says, but ‘nothing too crazy’. Thursday onwards is when you experience what Ziggy’s is really all about.

Zigfrid von Underbelly sounds German but the design has a strong American theme. Owner Paul Delay describes it as ‘messy, but it works’. He brings in new things each week, from oversized teapots to upside down bicycles. Result: ‘you don’t get bored’. Ziggy’s is at 11 Hoxton Square.

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“My art demonstrates repression, liberation and sexual tension”

Next stop: Noé, a 33 year old Brazilian artist from Rio, Brazil, exhibited his work in an open space in Shoreditch this month. Upon entering, we were greeted by riffs from an electric guitar, played by Noé, echoing around the room. His show takes contained pieces made from baby doll heads and other objects you’d expect to see on the set of a horror movie, but when we talked to the artist himself, he sounded more serious than we expected: ‘My work depicts the human social mask and it’s about getting in contact with your wild-side inside. My art demonstrates repression, liberation and sexual tension’.

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Over a few glasses of wine, he told us of his future plans as a musician and artist. We weren’t sure what to make of him.

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I’ve worked with the company for quite a while and I still don’t know what the theme is…

Onto the next: Cirque (presumably circus themed), is the most recent addition to Shoreditch’s endless array of trendy bars, and it will certainly not disappoint. Greeted by puppets hanging from the ceiling, the unmistakable aroma of popcorn and a dancing bear at the bar, the surroundings are certainly quirky – even if no one knows quite how to describe them. Katrina, the manager, told us that the two-for-one happy hour attracts after-work office types, but at night the downstairs area is transformed into a dancefloor with DJs and a disco for those who have no intention of getting up in the morning.
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“You have to ask the manager”

Last stop before the bus: Busy and miserable. It’s a good thing the beigels are so delicious and so cheap. The staff did not look too happy to be there. When we asked to take some photos and talk to someone all we got was a nod in the direction of the manager who was too busy to have two minutes with us. Disappointed with this response, but re-assured to know that it’s always open (24 hours a day, seven days a week), we bought a bagful of salmon and cream cheese beigels to eat while waiting for the night bus. Beigel Bake is at 159 Brick Lane E1 6SB.

And so to bed. ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.

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