I'll miss the vibrant lobby of Ace Hotel Shoreditch, where east London came to life

There are few young people who happily spent a good chunk of their social life pre-lockdown in a five-star hotel lobby, but that is exactly how I tended to pass my days before the pandemic, and it's sad to learn that my favourite spot will never reopen its doors because of coronavirus.

When Ace Hotel opened in 2013, it quickly became synonymous with a kind of cool that’s particular to Shoreditch, where I grew up.

The space, with its communal tables, bar and art gallery, was full of character. It was sympathetic to the area’s historical status as a makers’ hub. This is where all the cobblers, ropemakers, ship builders and silk weavers worked. The cork ceiling, timber floor and leather chairs bring that to mind.

I first fell in love with the spot at the start of my third year at University College London. I’d catch up with friends under the muted lights, cocktail in hand, listening to the popular local DJs who played there. It became the heart of my social life and its workspaces, frequented by freelancers and techies sipping flat whites, served as a temporary office for me too.

I swiftly became a regular and earned myself a loyalty card. As time passed, fewer and fewer new staff members recognised what it was, so rare had it become. I completed the rest of my degree, my Masters and the beginnings of my journalism career on the lobby's plump sofas, easily switching off from a day of work with a gin and tonic.

The most heartening thing about Ace was its sense of community. It was akin to Shoreditch House, based just around the corner, but as it's not-members only, it’s more inclusive.

I’ve seen musicians, writers, artists (and even famous whistleblowers such as the former Cambridge Analytica programmer Christopher Wylie) regularly pass through its doors for a coffee. I’ve seen drag queens, local school kids and the staff of neighbouring venues take their breaks there. It suited us all.

I’ve even enjoyed lunch with strangers who happened to be sitting next to me. Once, a lady asked me if I’d like to share her meal as she’d ordered too much food. So I proceeded to share a plate of perfectly cooked potatoes over a coffee and a chat about independent magazines and her tutoring business, which was run exclusively for the children of royalty and the international elite. The stories she told me...

The pandemic has seen many places forced to shut down, and with Ace Hotel's closure goes these chance encounters, but also a piece of my heart.

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