Weekly Wrap – Trendy Beards In Hoi Polloi, Optimistic Visit to Rooftop Bar & Access Lieutenants Needed

This week started with a very trendy lunch at Hoi Polloi, an all day brasserie in Shoreditch that’s part of the ACE Hotel (see previous review). It’s run by the folks from Bistrotheque and Shrimpy’s and has a great atmosphere with subdued lighting that somehow still allows you to read the menu. It also had superb background music that didn’t compete with our conversation but was loud enough to recognise as an eclectic mix of music from 70’s disco to 90’s indie (I was Shazamming all through lunch as we played guess that tune).

Fay Maschler said in the Standard that “the atmosphere is calm and purposeful and notably convivial”, I agree and it’s equally matched by the quality of the food. I had the burger covered in very healthy salad of raw onion, endive etc with not so healthy but delicious ‘dripping chips’. This was followed by one of their Modern Cups by La Grotta Ices; my choice was caramel with pine nut brittle, very more’ish. It’s very ‘Shoredie‘ and as Jay Rayner said in his review ,

“The corrugated wood-panelled dining room is beard central. We’re in the land of full-on bush. Half this room hasn’t seen a razor since 2010”.

A bit harsh as our waitress didn’t have a beard (unlike the winner of Eurovision… She’d be right at home in Shoreditch). Access to Hoi Polloi is either via the platform lifts of the hotel or through the small florist which was just wide enough for any wheelchair, although I did take some ‘blooms’ out on my way through. The disabled toilet is in the corner of the spacious dining room and it was well decorated, without any storage and with all you’d expect from a good DT. Hoi Polloi get a well deserved 3 BBS Ticks as they had everything.

Next we revisited the Radio Bar at the ME Hotel, previously reviewed by Lieutenant Sophie Elwes (here). The sun came out and we thought why not try a rooftop bar so we chose from the Accessible Rooftop Guide we’d compiled. The Radio Bar is reminiscent of an Ibiza bar as it’s very bright, there’s loud dance music from a resident DJ and there are white sofas on the outside terrace. However, we were a little optimistic as although it wasn’t raining there was still a chilly feel at that height and all the smokers were gathered round the few available heaters. We sat inside and marvelled at the view of the London Eye. Tapas was good, as you’d expect from the Spanish ME Hotel chain and watching the clientele was funny as there was plenty of designer wear on show but not necessarily on model figures. Not sure if they’ve fixed the disabled loo (our last visit found there was no lock and only one grab bar) but access is stress free as long as there’s no queue to get in. Good for early drinks and late night revelry.

Finally I’m giving a shout out for BBS Lieutenants we want photos of good or bad access & disabled toilets/quasi khasis in your favourite venues. Send them in and we’ll publish on our site and theirs. We want to encourage venues to show their accessibility on-line and if we highlight our favourite places maybe they’ll do that with a PAD (Pictorial Access Description) using your photos. Smartphone pics will do or better and your name will be credited on the PAD on their websites’. So get out there and help us to change the way accessibility information is portrayed. Send to fiona@bluebadgestyle.com…………………..See you next week.