Shop for bargains at Ayoka in Bethnal Green

Your author popped into the launch party at the new Ayoka Charity Boutique in Bethnal Green last night, and picked a new jumper, a nearly-new John Betjeman book and a nice bag for only £4.50. The age of charity shop bargains, it would seem, is very much alive, and best of all for a vintage clothes shop, it didn't feel like everyone was judging him.


Part of the St. Maragaret's House Settlement, Ayoka is a charity boutique raising funds for the African Women’s Welfare Association, and staffed entirely by volunteers. The project is really just a relaunch of the Ikosi Creations which formerly occupied the site, but it is pretty and the products on offer are good, and reasonably priced, so who is complaining?

The shop, at 23 Old Ford Road, Bethnal Green, stocks quality second hand and vintage clothing, books, records and cds, accessories and some childrens' clothes, and it's open from Monday - Saturday, 10am until 6pm and Sundays from noon until 5pm.

For more, see their facebook page here.