Just a short walk from London Fields, NT’s Loft is tucked away high up and out of sight in a towering warehouse building in the depths of Hackney. As a space, it is incredibly versatile, both a cool hang-out for a weekday brunch and catch up with friends, as much as a Saturday night spot for cocktails and dancing. The interiors stay true to the warehouse setting with huge windows, bare brick walls and exposed pipework overhead. These architectural details are complemented with laid back design: think rustic wooden tables, retro brown leather sofas and lots and lots of plants. Throw in some disco balls and vinyl records and it’s a kind of Scandi-meets-east-London mash-up.
Catering is provided by Lola Mora, from 9.30am to 3pm, Monday to Friday. During this time, laptop users are welcome and are invited to enjoy an Allpress coffee and a healthy lunch from the menu which spans fresh fruits and granola, smoked salmon and avocado on toast and loaded banana bread. The salad box sounds pretty good too, with a make-your-own concept that includes salmon, hallumi and BBQ chicken thighs with an assortment of veggies and homemade sauces.
But while NT’s Loft is a relaxing place to spend the day and admire the views of London’s skyline, post 10pm is when it really springs into action. Most of the space is dedicated to the dancefloor which is packed at the weekends thanks to an active events schedule which sees DJs and jazz musicians playing Friday and Saturday evenings. If you love sport, remember this venue next time there’s a big game as it will likely be shown and tends to bring a fun crowd. As well as the indoor lounge, there is a small outdoor terrace which works for casual drinks and can also be booked for small groups.