SPECIAL: Long live independent Hackney

As Starbucks announces a U-turn on the planned Stoke Newington branch, Jane Fulcher celebrates East London culture and says "thank goodness for mad, bad, marvellous Hackney."

WHEN STARBUCKS announced that they were thinking of opening a cafe on Stoke Newington Church Street, the people of Hackney protested en masse.
A pressure group was formed to fight for the right to maintain an independent high street. Not only was the boring, corporate machine threatening to move into a street full of quirky cafes and unique shops. They wanted to take over the building formerly occupied by the brilliant Vortex Jazz Club and currently used as a valued social centre.
Starbucks made a U-turn in its decision to open the branch. Whether this was down to pressure from residents or not, Hackney locals can breathe a sigh of relief. Why choose a super-saccharine caramel macchiato served tepid in a bland branded mug over a dark and delicious Turkish coffee poured from a bronze kettle into tiny ornate cup by someone who cares about what they serve?
With the unique enclaves of Portobello Road, Camden Lock, Spitalfields market and even areas of our neighbouring Islington becoming homogenised chain heavy non-entities; thank goodness for mad, bad, marvellous Hackney.
From the Turkish delights of Stoke Newington to the Vietnamese delicacies of Haggerston, this borough has a wealth of choice. Our fierce independence is shown not only in what we eat and drink but how we dress, what we listen to and what we watch. Cafes pump out bhangra, raga, gabba and hip hop not sappy mid market acoustic guitar pap. Dalston’s Rio cinema is one of the premier independent cinemas in the capital, and the Hackney Empire celebrates and incorporates the local community.
So long live independent Hackney, and long live the celebration of our arts and culture that the East End festival should finally inspire.