Bridgerton star Victor Alli takes us to his Hackney manor

East London has always been home; I’ve lived between Homerton and Hackney Downs my whole life, and now live near London Fields with my wife, Deborah. Despite being born in Lambeth, I’m from Hackney at heart, with Nigerian heritage. My parents got married in east London in 1992, and have remained here ever since. I love it so much because it’s very familiar.

Broadway Market is where I feel most at home. My mates and I call it The Carpet because incredibly dressed people strut down it like a runway every day. I swear by Climpson & Sons, which started as a market stall in the early 2000s and now makes all sorts of speciality coffee. I keep it simple and opt for a double shot espresso, of which I have two or three most days. Another go-to is Allpress. They have a location near Brick Lane – ideal for weekend thrifting in its vintage shops.

I’m quite impatient when it comes to second-hand shopping, but it’s worth it when you find something. Debs recently found an oversized brown tweed jacket in Non Stop Vintage in Shoreditch; we’re sharing it as it fits me perfectly. Joining the cast of Bridgerton has definitely influenced my style. I sported a parting in my hair for eight months because my character, John Stirling, has one. I planned to keep it for a friend’s wedding but didn’t have the confidence; John’s got swagger and isn’t scared to break the mould. That’s what I admire about him.

Columbia Road Flower Market has become an east London staple for plants, flowers and ceramics. From there, a 15-minute walk through Hoxton and Haggerston takes you to Regent’s Canal, which flows all the way down to the Docklands. There are several parks that I run or cycle through at sunrise almost every day, including London Fields, Hackney Downs and Victoria Park, which feels like a festival in the summer. A perfect day in east London always ends with dinner at Angelina, an amazing Japanese-Italian fusion restaurant on Dalston Lane. It’s got a seasonal kaiseki-style menu that changes frequently. One of the best things I’ve had is the hamachi saltimbocca – Japanese yellowtail kingfish wrapped in culatello ham and served in Marsala sauce. I also love Pavilion, a market-style bakery that stocks fresh sourdough and pastries on Broadway Market. You can’t go wrong with the cardamom or turmeric buns. 

Theatre is an actor’s bread and butter, so I try to see at least two shows a month. I appreciate the raw, unadulterated freedom it brings. Recently I saw King Lear and The Comeuppance at the Almeida in nearby Islington. I thought I’d be a full-time musician before seeing The Pitchfork Disney at Arcola Theatre, my Dalston local, in my teens. I’d never seen a play before, and it was so good I signed up for the Arcola Youth Theatre that day. It’s where I met Debs, who’s also an actor. We probably would never have crossed paths if my parents hadn’t allowed me to explore my creativity. 

I frequent the Victoria Miro gallery near Old Street, which had an exhibition of Yayoi Kusama’s work that I was drawn to. And I’m keen to visit Whitechapel Gallery next. Music has also played a big role in my life; my dad has the craziest record collection from all around the world. On the rare occasion that he doesn’t have something, I head to Vinyl Pimp in Hackney Wick, a really cool appointment-only shop with more than 30,000 records.

I stumbled across Troy Bar, a jazz venue just behind Hoxton Square, on a night-time bike ride. By day it’s a Caribbean eatery with amazing food – my regular order is jerk chicken with rice and peas, sweet plantain, green salad and coleslaw. At night it has open mic, jam and reggae performances. It’s my go-to for a chilled evening of live music.

Artwords Bookshop on a corner of Broadway Market has a wide selection of art books and magazines, many of which are displayed in the windows. I’m waxing lyrical about Broadway Market because everything’s there! It’s one of the most gentrified spots, but it’s the longstanding residents and communities who make me feel most at home. I walk down here every day, and each time I think “this is home”.