The OG bar in Leyton Midland, Gravity Well has undoubtedly upped its game this year. Firstly, there was the addition of the second arch, where we enjoyed a memorable night watching Eurovision, as well as live comedy acts at last month’s Leyton Arts Festival. And then they spruced up that once rather industrial terrace with comfier seating booths, a colourful mural or two and even some planters.
Sure, it’s not quite a bucolic oasis — but then if you wanted that, it wouldn’t be Leyton Midland, right? (Instead head to the North Star or Stone Mini Market’s blissful garden).
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Eagle-eyed beer guzzlers will have by now clocked the food truck — originally owned by Leyton streetfood legends Decatur — parked up by the railings. “It’s been fully stripped back and re-fitted so only the shell remains,” owner Ben told me this week. “And half of that is now spray-painted with the Cosmic Dust motif.”
And yep, it’s looking smart. But while there have been a couple of attempts over the years, food has never quite happened at Gravity. So what’s set to change?
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“To start with, the menu will be focused around Japanese Izakaya-style small plates,” he says, “including favourites such as gyoza, karaage and charcoal-grilled yakitori skewers. Perfect beer accompaniments, in other words.”
The plan is then to introduce some larger dishes as well once the kitchen is up and running, “all of which will be East Asian-inspired,” he says. “As you’ve guessed, everything will be vegan.”
Head chef Abi Franklin — who heads up Cambridge Heath-based catering project the Green Kitchen — has also previously “run her own vegan food businesses primarily in Shanghai, sharing our commitment to achieving the highest possible production standards.”
And he adds that Gravity Well Kitchen — as it is to be called — isn’t just a token food offering to fill the stomachs of drinkers. “Our intention is to provide an exciting menu that will be worthy of visiting in its own right.” Launches Sept 6th and then Thurs & Fri 5-9pm, Saturday 2-9pm. @gravitywellbrewing
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