On Saturday 6 December 2008, a year since we first applied for planning permission, the Bar at Off Broadway opened. Modelled on a bar in the East Village, long since closed, at which we spent many happy evenings in the first few years of this millennium, the bar aims to bring some of that warm welcome and high service-ethic so typical of our American friends.

We first moved into this building, upon its completion in 1987, from 77 Broadway Market, following a demolition order; we had lived and worked there since 1972. In the intervening years the bar area here has been a print store, picture framing factory, office, fine-art gallery and most recently a photographic gallery which has now happily relocated downstairs.

Having persevered through a myriad of setbacks, from the Council to the current financial recession, this has become a family business in the old East End style: landlord Father, backer Mother and owner Son with the Grand-Daughter lending a hand occasionally. We all live in Hackney and have done so for the past 35 years or so and we hope that this bar will become in time a valued asset to the Market and surrounding area.