Catch - London United Kingdom

Upstairs, there’s another bar with a stage that often hosts a DJ or live band. Catch frequently attracts some decent acts, which can make a visit worthwhile. However, overall, this place isn’t really to my taste, as I find the atmosphere a bit uneasy.

It was an unusually sunny day when I arrived to find some of our group basking in the sun outside like reptiles. We had pre-paid £20 for tickets to the 3pm seating, which added to the anticipation. So what's the dilemma? Simply put, the food was outstanding. Chef Dante's fried chicken was incredibly moist, thanks to the brining technique that isn't commonly used in the UK. The batter was thick and crispy, offering a satisfying crunch with every bite. The flavor was superb, and the recipe was conveniently printed on the paper that the chicken was served in. The meal consisted of three courses. The starter was a toasted okra breakfast taco, which was fine but nothing remarkable. The fried chicken was the highlight, served alongside delicious sides like honey coconut biscuits, cranberry almond coconut slaw, smoked cheese crispy leek polenta, and apricot crack sauce. The dessert, a white chocolate black sesame sweet potato pie, was rich and the portion size was just right. However, my star rating must take a hit due to the disorganized service. Despite having pre-booked and paid for our table for seven, we arrived to find no reserved table waiting for us. Instead, we had to squeeze into a row at the bar, which made it hard to converse. Additionally, it took a frustrating two hours to be served, with a wait of 50 minutes before any food made it to our table. To add insult to injury, we were promised a round of drinks as compensation for the wait, only to find out that our "free" round was limited to specific items on the menu. This meant we ended up paying for drinks we thought were complimentary. On top of this, we were asked five times in just five minutes if we had received our food. It's such a shame because the chicken itself was better than KFC, and that’s definitely high praise!

This was my first experience capturing London’s nightlife with a camera, and in fact, it's my first time shooting nightlife at all. The images evoke memories of earlier times in other major cities like Los Angeles, Chicago, or New York. My hosts in Hackney informed me that this venue isn’t classified as a nightclub since there’s no entrance fee, and as you can see, the lively scene inside is easy to spot from the street. What do I really know? I’m probably old enough to be the grandmother of the folks enjoying the night out.

Awful bar experience. I visited on a Tuesday with eight friends, and the place was completely empty. Despite that, they insisted on a £50 deposit upfront to secure our reservation, claiming it would be fully redeemable in drinks. When my friends went to order drinks at the bar, they were charged separately. In the end, we had £30 left from the deposit, but they refused to refund it or let us use it for drinks. They blamed us for the bartender’s mistake. The manager was extremely rude and disrespectful to my friends. I felt really embarrassed for choosing this place.

If you ever find yourself in Shoreditch after a pub night that wraps up at 11 but aren’t quite ready to head home, check out Catch. This spot stays open later than most places, offers free entry, and yet still manages to keep its cool atmosphere. It’s an enjoyable venue for late-night drinks. I personally prefer the downstairs area for its music and seating, but the upstairs has its charm too, featuring a space for live bands and DJs. Catch is a fantastic place to soak in the Shoreditch vibe.