With the pandemic raging last Spring and so much uncertainty in the water, it woulda took some real chutzpah to see it as a chance to start up a business from zilch. Better yet, one that focused on helping and pooling struggling local businesses and serving the community. Max Fishman started The Quarter Store in May 2020 as a ‘dark store’ on Bohemia Place (the sunset strip of arches down by Hackney Central station). What began as a pitch to provide much needed aid to shuttered businesses (including - lately - yours truly) quickly evolved into a bricks & mortar, mom & pop neighbourhood convenience store on the Narrow Way.

Max chatted with Alex last week about the genesis of the store, the perks of becoming an overnight household shop-keep and how Saturday jobs should never be sniffed at.

feat special guest Michael Kill

Episode 2 of our minted, (seminal), bar-talk podcast: If These Walls Could Talk!

In this edition Alex dialled up Paul Hayes of VIVIR tequila for a chat about launching and importing his fantastic range of tequilas. The conversation covers the full arc from inception to trading in the current COVID-quashed climate, Paul’s personal odyssey with agave, and how his and his team’s integrity, patience and passion can proof a business against seemingly insurmountable obstacles. Tune in, turn on and sip on VIVIR ;)

Episode 1 of our brand new podcast, ‘If These Walls Could Talk’! At some point last year, whenever that was, Alex sat down with Byron Knight: he of the bar Off Broadway, co-founder at Beavertown, current brain behind the Deviant & Dandy brewery and fellow poké pioneer.

One of our most beloved residencies at the bar happens every first Thursday of the month when Richard Greenan of Kit Records takes control of the hifi for the evening. To those familiar with the label and longstanding NTS show, you will know the cosmic polymath pulling the strings. We sat down with the man himself for a candid chat about his projects, beginnings and inspirations.

Our most popular serve so far this season has undoubtably been the Suzaku Maru, our storied seasonal CBD sour. A total collaborative effort from the whole management team, last week Alex spoke to the ES Magazine about the process behind creating it and the importance of story-telling! Here’s the full unedited transcript.

It’s kinda rare that we go out of our way to book DJs for our end of month parties. Mostly pitches come to us or we work with repeat partners. John Fitzgerald aka. DJ Fitz is an exception: we have actively hunted this one out for a late, esoteric session. Tonight we are very excited to present his collective <Doodcast> taking over the turntables from 9pm – 3 or 4am.

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If you’ve been in recently it’s hard not to notice Jonathan’s vibrant prints adorning the walls. As per, the exhibit was curated by Des & to to toast the fact that we’ve added the prints to our store today, she pinned down JT for a words about the exhibit.

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Alex was interviewed by the lovely folk at The Extract for their vlog on lifestyle cafes (and bars) doing CBD in London.

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Under the deluge of news you may have missed that this is National Negroni Week.

Count Camilo’s beefed up Americano concoction (add the gin) has become so popular we-in-hospitality now roll out the bunting each year to celebrate it’s subtle, bitter charms. Regular readers of this parish will know we’re no champions of Campari so, our twist has often involved looking back at original recipes to find producers currently doing it closest to the old formulas. But now, in this week of all weeks, comes the un-holy twist. Sub-off on the gin, enter genever.

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Tonight sees us team up with Pensador mezcal and LemLem kitchen for a special night of strong drinks, esoteric music and Eritrean-Mexican street-food!

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From maligned and near-extinct, rye whiskey has undergone a serious renaissance over the past decade. A lot of that is down to one man’s passion: the late, great Dave Pickerell. Dave passed away at the end of last year but his imprint on whiskey is huge. Master distiller at Maker’s Mark up to 2008, Dave went on to start up WhistlePig Rye in Vermont and breathe new life into a sleeping American classic. Here, in our first Grain Focus interview; Alex spoke with Daniel Khan - the senior steward of the brand - to debunk a few myths, chat American history and knit through the fabric of the Whistle Pig story.