Explore East London with Laura Jackson – a thoroughly modern hostess with a covetable contacts list.
16 March, 2020
By
all accounts, Laura
Jackson is the proverbial hostess with the mostest. Those who
have sat down to one of her fêted group dinners and shared a
conversation with the sprightly Jackson can attest to that
fact.
Friendly, warm and engaging, Jackson is never one to shy away
from a good chat. Channelling her innate chin-wagging capabilities
into a savvy business op, she is currently busy talking all things
Hoste – her
new lifestyle brand and podcast which explores food, travel and
interiors.
In the spirit of Hoste-ing, we thought we’d flip the
(scrumptiously scaped) tables on her and headed east to get the
scoop on Jackson’s event-planning secrets. Over the course of our
two-course meal (mains and pud), we eyed Jackson’s little black
book of lip-smacking
restaurants and favourite florists
in east London, jotted down (six pages of) travel tips for Mexico
(and Sri
Lanka) and taste tested some recipes perfect for feasts great
and small.
That it’s still cool.
Everything and anything.
I love Violet on Wilton Way for a cup of coffee and a catch
up with friends.
Tromsø in Forest Gate near me does the best cinnamon
buns.
Frame. I love going to the Shoreditch branch for fun,
easy workouts – and I never feel awkward.
I love the Prince George on Parkholme Road for a nice bowl of
chips and a G&T.
There are lots of good coffee spots, but I do love a latte from
the Tin
Café in Haggerston. I’ve been going there for 13 years.
Arch
Rivals on the weekend for brunch or lunch.
I love a dinner party! I always use Worm for flowers,
though I also adore Kitten Grayson Flower and Palais. For wine, I go to
Passione
Vino– what owner Luca Dusi doesn’t know about wine isn’t worth
knowing. I tend to use Jones Hire for tableware for big events, but
when hosting at home I use a mix of charity-shop finds, high-street
purchases (I love Zara Home, H&M Home and Habitat) and things I
buy online from Etsy and eBay. Linen, I buy from either Cloth House in
Soho or Dalston Mills Fabrics– my friend Victoria
Bain makes them into beautiful napkins for me.
Campania and Jones on Columbia Road – I’ve had many a birthday
party in the back room there. It’s such a special, romantic
place.
I love Secret Smokehouse – founder Max cures the most
delicious smoked salmon. I bought the fish mix recently for a fish
pie and it was delicious.
Milagros on Columbia Road which sells the best
colourful Mexican goodies, including bags, plates and glassware. I
also love Straw London on Wilton Way – founder Emily collects
the most amazing, interesting pieces from around the world. I like
Goodhood for clothes and homeware. Atika Vintage
Department Store (formerly Blitz) is my favourite
charity shop. Conservatory Archives is excellent for
plants.
J&R
Marble in Leyton.
I like to take the riverboat from Canary Wharf along the Thames
to the Garden Museum in summer. I love this place! The little café
there is a real gem; food is seasonal, fresh and always
delicious.
I am working on an interiors TV show as well as lots of exciting
events for Hoste, including a residency in
Tuscany and a beach table on the Isles of Scilly with my friend
Simon Stallard.