22/05/26

Review of The Brush East London Grand Cafe

Hoxton for me at least has always been synonymous with the hipster, tech-startup scene. It conjures up images of edgy cafes, graffiti covered streets and bridges, wooden bench style coffee shops, beanie hats and laptop bags.

At first, the idea of a European style grand café feels somehow at odds with the vibe of this neighbourhood. Will “cool” lose out to “opulence”, will the Brush be just, …too shiny? We headed down to find out, and sample a few new items from their a-la-carte menu.

The Brush is possibly one of the easiest establishments to locate, occupying the ground floor of the impressive Art’otel, a 16 foot bronze paintbrush sits nicely near the entrance. The impressive sculpture - D’s little helper - is the work of iconic street artist D*Face whose colourful artwork permeates the entire building (and a lot of shoreditch if you look closely). It is the first indication that this establishment is exactly where it should be, my fears of overpolished opulence begin to fade away.

Inside, glass walls sweep around an impressive bar, flooding light on a D*Face mural. The ambience might be grand, but also local. The modern European menu is a familiar mix of small plates & mains such as steak dishes, fish ‘n’ chips and a new pizza menu. Dishes such as the butternut curry and Jerk Chicken stand out from the norm.

We lean towards some of the newer dishes on the menu, starting with the meatballs, which are richly flavoured and we eagerly mop up the sauce with a lightly crisp but equally soft stretched flatbread. An eggless Shakshuka provides a vegan option for the starters, the flavours of the peppers and coconut yogurt shine through.

For mains, an nduja pizza has wonderfully soft dough with slight crisp charring on the crust, it's spicy but not too overwhelming. There is an open pizza kitchen, so you can see the chef at work if you so desire.

A generous jerk chicken is served with beautifully crisp sweet potato fries it’s nicely flavoured although my jerk “punch” tolerance is slightly higher, so would have liked a little more heat.

Dessert is a super interesting Orange Rhum Baba, with Tonka Bean Ice Cream. As you dig through the dough, cream and ice cream, orange lurks underneath providing a tangy surprise. It’s a thumbs up.

All in all, The brush successfully manages to provide a more polished grand cafe environment which still nods to the arts and culture that underpins this area of London. Its art gallery, screening room, Banksy and of course D*Face artwork make it truly feel like it belongs. It feels like a place to come and be inspired over lunch, albeit with a paloma or negroni in-hand.

Book a table now at www.thebrushhoxton.co.uk

Address: 1-3 Rivington St, London, EC2A 3DT

Written by Rick Hartley

Food photography by Nyla Sammons

Interior photography courtesy of The Brush

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Ole & Steen launches its brand-new Summer Social and a new partnership with Rude Health

May 2, 2025
2 min read

Ole & Steen’s beloved Cinnamon Social has had a sunny glow-up, and from 5th May, the brand-new Summer Social is here to steal the spotlight.

Imagine this: soft, braided sweet dough filled with silky vanilla custard and a zingy mixed berry compote, topped off with a light icing drizzle and a scattering of dried berries. It’s fruity, creamy, and made for long, lazy days in the sun.

Grab it by the slice (£4.65), half (£12.45), or whole (£20.95)—perfect for picnics, parties or just treating yourself. And here’s the best part: on launch day (5th May), slices are just £3. Yes, really. It’s officially the Must Eat Treat of the season.

To make things even more delicious, Ole & Steen have teamed up with Rude Health to create the Iced Oat Berry Matcha—a dreamy mix of raspberry purée, organic oat milk, and a bold matcha shot, served over ice. It’s fruity, creamy, and the ultimate match for your Summer Social slice.

But the fun doesn’t stop there! All through May, Ole & Steen and Rude Health are rolling out tasty events and giveaways:

8th May – Buy an Iced Oat Berry Matcha at selected bakeries and get a free Rude Health goodie bag.

12th May – Enter their Instagram comp to win a luxury summer picnic hamper packed with treats.

26th May (Bank Holiday Monday) – Ole & Steen and Rude Health will co-host the Summer Social Run, a community 5K weaving between three iconic London bakeries - Notting Hill, South Kensington, and High Street Kensington. Led by fitness influencer @emmahitsthespot.

Collect stamps, earn a goodie bag, and finish with a dreamy al fresco breakfast picnic in Hyde Park. Which include creamy yoghurt pots topped with Rude Health granola, nutritious Breakfast Buns, a spread of fresh baked goods, including the brand-new Summer Social pastry and iced coffee and the limited-edition Iced Oat Berry Matcha.

For more details on the Ole & Steen app, latest menu offerings, and Summer Social events, visit oleandsteen.co.uk/app

Photography courtesy of Ole & Steen