PocketSquare has that wow factor that only a rooftop bar can give – brilliant views. Though high up on the Hyatt building it’s just a quick lift ride up to the 9th floor to get to the ever-so cosy PocketSquare bar and terrace.
The wrap around terrace means you get excellent views over a city famed for its towering skyscrapers. Sipping cocktails on heady evenings looking at panoramic view of London’s iconic skyline is undoubtedly a real treat. Thoughtfully placed standing screens means easy picture taking for those Instagram posts.
Decor is colourful artworks, distinctive lighting and bright hues and a darkish area best for whispering sweet nothings. There is also a gorgeous blue tiled bar behind which the magic is conjured up into their highlight offering – their specially curated cocktails. The menu of eight signature cocktails is mainly gin-based and created at PocketSquare’s cocktail Laboratory. Each has a story relating to East London’s history.
PocketSquare’s colourful decor
There’s a selection of eight unique specially curated cocktails alongside the classics, wines and beers. We naturally gravitated to the signature cocktails.
We started with a Meiso – (£16 Roku Gin, Mikan Essence, Peach & Aloe Vera Sake, Bamboo & Stevia Syrup). The word means ‘meditation,’ so it’s to be sipped slowly so that you can enjoy its changing flavours with the “beauty and calm of the Kyoto Gardens in Holland Park”.
Suitably clam, we were now ready for and curious about the Enigma – (£16 Hepple Gin infused biscuits, Marshmallow Syrup, Chocolate Bitters, Coffee Foam). This is inspired by the Enigma Cipher Machine, known for the vital role it played during WWII. Alan Turing and his attempts to crack the Enigma machine code changed history. It comes topped with a dark chocolate sculpture.
At this point, feeling rather heady, we ordered some food – a Margherita pizza (£12 San Marzano DOP Tomato Sauce, Mozzarella, Basil, Extra Virgin Olive Oil) and Tonno pizza (£15 Tuna, Cherry Tomatoes, Red Onion, Capers, Mozzarella, Olives) and a side of fries. This was a perfect way to balance our cocktail intake.
Then we continued our cocktail jive with a Hive (£16 Hendricks, Strawberry Shrub, Ancho Reyes, Lemon). The Hive is inspired by London’s bee lovers including The London Beekeeper’s Association and their promotion of the city’s bee colonies. The crafty inclusion of Ancho Reyes gives this drink a spicy kick. It is topped with a rose jelly made Hendricks gin.
The Taiyo (£16 Roku Gin, Yuzu, Plum Wine) the name means ‘sun’ in Japanese, or ‘big ocean.’ It was conceived in the spirit of navigator William Adams, the 17th century’s first Western samurai whose London office at the East India Company was a few blocks from PocketSquare’s location. It comes topped with rice paper and lots of citrus zing.
From the classic selection, my sweet tooth was craving the Fermented Banana Colada (£13 Discarded banana, Wray & Nephew, Pineapple juice and Coconut) and I enjoyed every sip of this fruity number.
We tried the delicious Summer negroni (£13 Aperol, 1757 Dry, Italicus), which was a fine way to end a heady, fun evening of flavours in an away-from-it all atmosphere.
Pocketsquare offers intimacy, a wrap round terrace with views over the skyscrapers of East London, great cocktails and snacks. I would.
PocketSquare Skyline Bar and Terrace
9th Floor, Hyatt Place London City East
45 Whitechapel Road, E1 1DU
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To paraphrase Winston Churchill, “There are too many rules of grammar up with which to put.” And the same holds true for photography rules, especially with regard to composition. Instructor Ian Worth admits that a few of these familiar notions can help frame an image, as long as you understand when they’re advisable and when they should be ignored.
Worth is a notable landscape photographer based in Wales who posts weekly “laid-back” behind-the scenes adventures that share practical tips to help others emulate his work and capture stunning in the field. The topic of today’s discussion is the validity of a concept known as “Clean Edges” or “Edge Awareness.”
According to this familiar slice of conventional wisdom you should carefully analyze the perimeter of the frame and always remove any elements that could pull attention away from the primary subject. It’s true that in certain situations this approach will improve an image by eliminating distracting clutter. But there are also times when more introspection is warranted.
Worth demonstrates why consistently adhering to this rule will challenge the originality of your work. The episode begins by illustrating why clean edges can be very effective. Then he flips the script by pulling up a few dynamic images that demonstrate five reasons when this technique may be counterproductive, and why you “may want ignore this rule altogether.”
The point is that a strict adherence to the Edge Awareness rule “can make our images feel predictable and lack a sense of creativity.” That’s why ignoring this rule, depending upon the specific scene at hand, will actually enhance the composition and impact of an image by following Worth’s advice.
Worth’s thoughtful commentary and striking imagery reveal the power of his techniques far more effectively than we can summarize them here, so pay close attention and see if you agree. Then head out in the field over the weekend and shoot several images with and without applying the composition rules discussed above. You just may be surprised by the results you’re able to achieve.
Then take a look at Worth’s instructional YouTube channel where you’ll find a wide variety of helpful tips and techniques, along with an occasional discussion about controversial issues.
And be sure to watch a tutorial we featured recently with another accomplished pro who discusses the concept of Time Blending and demonstrates when, why, and how to use it for creating outdoor photographs with perfect exposure and pleasingly balanced tones.
