I had the great pleasure of taking part in the Stoke Newington Literary Festival for the first time, where I shared insights from my research documenting every shop and trade premises on Stoke Newington Church Street since 1847. Accompanied by a photographic slideshow, I explored the street’s transformation—from the era of oil shops, boot-makers, and pawnbrokers to today’s cafés, wine merchants, and boutiques. In conversation with writer Ken Worpole, we discussed the street’s rich social history and debated whether terms like ‘gentrification’ help or hinder our understanding of one of London’s most dynamic urban villages.

Stoke Newington’s Pubs – Demolished. Converted. Rebuilt by Amir Dotan

My talk walked through the history of some of Stoke Newington’s pubs, which over the centuries have been rebuilt, converted into flats, or demolished. From Georgian taverns and inns to Victorian saloons and 1970s punk venues, Stoke Newington’s pubs have been important social and cultural landmarks for centuries.