Fugitive Motel, a brand-new craft bar and kitchen, has opened in the heart of east London’s Bethnal Green. Located opposite Bethnal Green Gardens just 3mins’ walk from the tube, Fugitive Motel is open early until late seven days a week. Serving specialty coffee from local roaster partners Climpson & Sons each morning alongside a selection of freshly baked pastries, the all-day café with co-working space rolls into the evening with drinks at the bar, including a selection of low and no alcohol craft beers and kombucha on tap, and speciality sourdough pizza on the menu from noon until late.
Created by co-founders and best friends David Burgess and Liam Tolan (both former musicians in indie bands The Brights and The Light Assembly, respectively), Fugitive Motel resides in a new corner unit just off Three Colts Lane, overlooking Bethnal Green Gardens, and is set to become a playful oasis filled with fresh greenery in which Londoners can take refuge from the busy city. The unit runs alongside a row of currently unoccupied rail arches which are set to be redeveloped this summer, akin to neighbouring Paradise Row a few years back; bringing new life to Bethnal Green Gardens and providing a new food, drink and cultural hub for the East London community, and visitors alike.
After years of travelling to beer meccas the world over, David and Liam are localising their knowledge and passion for high quality drinks at Fugitive Motel, with a menu that showcases 14 craft beer lines on draft from a range of local East London breweries and those specially selected from their travels, as well as low and no alcohol (ABV) beer options. Setting itself aside from other London craft bars, this is the first time that low, no and full ABV beers are permanently highlighted on draft alongside one another, and beers are positioned along the line from no ABV upwards being easy to choose. A concise collection of refined and natural wines and a Spritz and Kickz menu, including Aperol Spritz, Martini Prosecco and others to round off the drinks list.
Taking its design influence from West Coast American motels common place through the 50s-60s, the 140-cover inside space at Fugitive Motel is decked out in mid-century pastel colours, with a terrazzo bar counter and an abundance of plants and greenery. The greenery seeps outdoors into the summer terrace that runs along Cambridge Heath Road, with seating for over 25. The 50’s-style pizza lounge boasts stripped back concrete flooring and high industrial ceilings, cushioned by pastel hues and soft furnishings. Sharing booths accommodating up to six people run along the floor to ceiling windows, each with their own motel-style ‘vacancy’ light which can be turned on or off depending on whether you’d like others to join you in your booth; perfect for those wishing to ’co-booth’ throughout the day, or for sociable groups in the evening. A shuffleboard tucked around the corner of the bar adds to the playful nature of Fugitive Motel, with talk of a community league board.
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Fugitive Motel
199 Cambridge Heath Road
Bethnal Green Gardens
London E2 0EL
@fugitive.motel
Opening Times:
Mon to Thurs: 8am - 11pm
Fri to Sat: 8am - 12am
Sun: 10am - 11pm
For more information or imagery please contact rafaella@toniccomms.co.uk