New Leytonstone venue Altar opens with bar, record shop and basement gig space

A two-floor music venue combining a bar, a record shop and a basement performance space opens in Leytonstone, east London, on Friday 23^rd October. Altar has been set up by a team of music and hospitality specialists. It occupies the former home of Luna, a neighbourhood venue that had stood dormant for some time, and the team plans to offer free rehearsal space and mentoring for young local musicians alongside its live programme.

The venue is a minute’s walk from Leytonstone Underground station on the Central line and about ten minutes on foot from Leytonstone High Road on the Overground’s Suffragette line. It will open from 3pm until late Wednesday to Friday, and from midday until late on Saturdays and Sundays.

The ground-floor bar, which seats 60 and has additional outdoor seating, takes its name from the historic church it overlooks. Its design draws on 1970s mid-century decor, with a high-gloss tiled bar, rust-orange lighting, curved wood-panelled banquettes, velvet upholstery and chrome fittings.

The drinks list has been devised by the team behind Chop Shop Tavern and includes cocktails, beers and wines. Among the cocktails are a Caprese Gimlet made with gin, tomato, basil and black pepper; a Yuzu Americano of Campari, Italo Disco, yuzu and grapefruit; a Chunks Sgroppino, which combines liqueur and prosecco topped with lemon gelato from Leyton-based Chunks Provisions; and an Olive Martini made with olive oil-infused vodka, manzanilla, Dolin Dry and a house-blended olive brine.

Food centres on hot dogs, ranging from a classic Ballpark to a chilli bacon cheese version, with vegetarian options and monthly and seasonal specials. The opening specials are a Banh Mi Hot Dog with pâté, kachumber, chilli-pickled carrot and crispy onion, and a currywurst topped with mango chutney, raita, kachumber and crushed poppadom.

A narrow nook off the bar houses a small record shop selling new and used vinyl and merchandise. Run with Leyton’s Dreamhouse Records, it will host new-release events and listening sessions. Customers who cannot find a particular record can use a retro landline connected directly to Dreamhouse Records to request additions to the stock.

Downstairs, the 100-capacity basement has an industrial finish of exposed concrete and stainless steel and is built around a dedicated sound system. It will host gigs, club nights, film screenings and art events, with draught beer, wine and cocktails served. Programming is led by music professionals from the area, including Simon Singleton of the annual Shake the High Road festival, Jon Clifford of Dreamhouse Records and Toby L, founder of the independent music companies Transgressive, FORM Presents and Up The Game.

Beyond its live programme, Altar plans to make rehearsal space available free of charge to young local musicians at selected times, and to provide live session recording and podcasting facilities. 

Altar’s founding team said: “Leytonstone has had music in its bones for years. Altar is about giving that a proper home, somewhere you can pick up a record, catch a gig or just settle in with a drink, and always feel part of something.”

Food Desk

Altar opens at 7 Church Lane, Leytonstone, London E11 1HG, on 23^rd October. For further information, follow @altar_east on Instagram.