Ask anyone 30 years ago what shipping containers could be used for and chances are they’d say something about storing or moving heavy goods... how times have changed. Little did they know that these babies can be home to pretty much anything.
Shopping centres, food halls and community spaces; there are plenty of trailblazing businesses in our city that are making use of these blank surfaces and recycling them into industrial chic havens for drinking, dining and dancing. In homage to these quirky spaces, we've found five genius places that are putting shipping containers to good use in London.
BOXPARK Shoreditch
The OG’s of shipping container concepts, BOXPARK is a staple in Shoreditch. Launching in 2011, it was tagged as 'the world’s first container mall' and was only meant to stay open for five years. 14 years later, it’s home to some seriously cool bars and terraces, plus has expanded to Croydon and Wembley. That's not all though, as some of the city’s most iconic foodies including Black Bear Burger and Pasta Evangelists have set up shop here. It was sadly earmarked for closure last year, but has (thankfully) been saved for now.
BOXPARK is an East London institution with humble beginnings.
Pop Brixton
Created in association with Lambeth council on the site of a derelict former ice rink in 2015, Pop Brixton is a community space that was originally meant to be a temporary arrangement. We're glad to say it's still here. Created to give local enterprises a space to develop, it's now home to incredible events like block parties, Six Nations rugby screenings and even festive films around Christmas. Top it off with foodies like Baba G's, HotBox, House of Dough and Jollof House Kitchen and it’s clear to see that this place remains a firm favourite.
Pop Brixton is a hub for drinking, dining and dancing all year round.
Stow-Away Hotel London
Stow-Away Hotel was created from stacked-up disused shipping containers with a geometric facade of wielded fins that act as sunshades (pretty smart, huh?). Guests at this unique hotel in London will get to stay in miniature apartments with king sized beds, kitchenettes and plenty of mod-cons throughout. Head downstairs and you'll find Unwined, a pop-up wine bar that's found a new permanent home in this tech-lovers paradise.
Who knew these contained spaces could look so chic?
Containerville
Consisting of 200 upcycled containers across two venues, Containerville is a hub of independent businesses in East London. Perched on the banks of Regent’s Canal and an old dairy factory, brands working out of both spaces include tattoo artists, beauty services, architectural design and even dog groomers. Woof indeed.
Looking for the city's most promising start-ups? Head to Containerville.
Wahaca Southbank
London’s Southbank is iconic, with views of Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament, and the London Eye... it's also home to the bloomin’ brilliant Wahaca. Created with not one, but eight different coloured shipping containers all piled up on one another, the bar and restaurant is an instantly-recognisable hotspot on the river banks. Pairing its bold exterior with vibrant Mexican cuisine indoors, this is a great place to grab a bite to eat while sightseeing.
These shipping containers are a perfect respite after checking out the Southbank.
Speaking of quirky venues... why not check out our guide to weird and wonderful bars?
