Delicious vegan cafe with really good access
5
5
Date of visit: December 2021
I have experience of challenges around: moving around
Overall Rating
Excellent
WAVE is a vegan cafe in Hackney, East London. WAVE stands for We Are Vegan Everything. It has lovely food and very good access. Well worth checking out if you're in the area.
Disabled Access In and Around
Excellent
There is plenty of outdoor seating, with free standing tables and chairs. There is a very small threshold on the door and they don't have a ramp. However, they informed me that they are able to accommodate wheelchair users. The counter is at standing height. Inside there are freestanding tables with a choice of seating, dining chairs, bench seating and sofas. Food is ordered at the counter. I ordered their Birthday Cake Cupcake and a hot chocolate and they brought my drink to my table. The cafe is situated on the ground floor.
Parking & Transport
Excellent
The nearest station is Hackney Central, which is part of the Overground. According to National Rail Step free access to ticket office and Platform 2 (eastbound) only. Access to Platform 1 (westbound) is via footbridge. There are several buses that stop within a level, five minute walk of the cafe. The cafe is a little bit tucked away. It's in Dispensary Lane, a pedestrianised alleyway, off Mare Street. I have attached a photo of the entrance to Dispensary Lane. There is a very short walk where there are walls on both side but from the entrance you can see ahead there is the cafe, nail bar and beauty salon as well as some flats and public bench seating, so it feels safe to walk down. The Lane is off Mare Street by the junction of Kenmure Street. At time of writing it is opposite a Vodaphone shop. The Lane is level, paved.
Accessible Toilets
Excellent
At the rear of the cafe is a toilet. There is a single grab rail and no emergency cord. Also in the toilet is a changing baby area. See photos for details.
Staff
Excellent
Staff were very nice and brought my drink to me.
Additional Information
The cafe serves vegan food, with brunch, bakery and light meals. The food I had was delicious. There is also a small shop area selling cards and small household items. I felt covid confident. There were bottles of hand sanitiser on each table. The cafe was not especially busy when I visited, so there was plenty of space. The outdoor seating area would be a very nice area to sit out in during the warmer weather. It was a lovely discovery, nice and relaxing and well worth checking out if you are in the area.
