Back in early February, when I wrote about the closure of Wanstead Tap and the struggle along Winchelsea Road’s railway arches, I had no idea it would emerge as the most-read issue of the year to date.
It seems there’s a genuine passion to keep this thoroughfare alive; it has every reason to be as popular as the Tilbury Road arches at Leyton Midland. (Interesting geeky fact: did you know Winchelsea Road, despite its E7 postcode, is actually part of Waltham Forest, not Newham, like the rest of Forest Gate?)
Today’s news should help power the street back up to full tilt this summer. Below I chat with the three pals — Amil Ourabah, Jake Salter and Andrew Neilson, pictured above — behind Roost, the poultry joint taking over the former family-friendly cafe Can Club.
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“In a nutshell, we’re a bar and kitchen with a menu that centres around our 24-hour brined rotisserie chickens,” says co-founder Andrew. “Alongside that, we’ll be serving cocktails, wine and East London craft beers.”
It’s a truly local affair, with Andrew and Amil “Leytonstone born-and-bred,” he says, “while Jake is engaged to one of our friends we grew up with.”
With this in mind, the trio is convinced they can create something that fits with the demographic of the area that they know so well. “We want to ensure this strip stays vibrant and use this opportunity to make our mark, while keeping the energy of the neighbourhood alive.”
The plan is for Roost to be fully operational by summer. Read the full interview on Substack, including a comprehensive debrief on the food offering, drinks pairings, stylish interior and plans for the exterior terrace. Follow @roost_e7
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