System | Pop-Up Bar in a Butcher’s
Meats & beats.
Veal & vinyl.
Rock & sausage roll.
There are a lot of pithy ways to label it, but the long and short of System is this: it’s music in a butcher’s shop. And although that may not sound particularly groundbreaking, it’s worth considering that A) this isn’t just any old music, and B) it’s not any old butcher’s shop.
It all takes place in Stella’s, the Newington Green protein-purveyor that’s widely agreed to be one of the best in Northeast London. Which might be something to do with the fact that it’s run by the people behind Hill & Szrok, which is already one of east London’s best butcher’s shops. The man behind the counter there, Luca Mathiszig-Lee, happens to have a brother who founded a record label. And thus this rich tapestry of life has woven a pretty great way to spend a Thursday or Friday night.
Head down, and you’ll find the back of the neon-soaked shop dominated by a pair of gigantic, wood-boxed, vintage-looking speakers (apparently it’s a 1976 Tannoy sound system, which we assume means it’s really really good), both of which will be pumping out deep-cut tunes from a rotating selection of DJs. The butcher’s counter meanwhile gets converted into a bar, across which they’re sliding natural wines, local beers, highball cocktails, snacks, charcuterie, rillettes, and more.
Hip hop & chops, anyone?
NOTE: System takes place at Stella’s on Thursday & Friday nights, from 7pm-10:30pm. There are no reservations, and no cover charge. You can find out more, and see the lineup of DJs at their website here.
System at Stella’s | 101 Newington Green Road, N1 4QY
In the mood for live music instead? Check out our list of the best bars with live music…
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Carpe Diem!