Anti-hipster graffiti ‘misdirected,’ says Well Street Pizza

The graffiti appeared just one week after the restaurant opened. Photograph: G. D. Preston

A new pizzeria on Well Street has become the latest target in a spate of anti-gentrification graffiti that has appeared in Hackney.

The words ‘HIPSTERS OUT’ appeared overnight in large black letters on the wall of Well Street Pizza last Saturday 28 November, just one week after the restaurant had opened.

But the graffiti is “misdirected,” said the restaurant’s manager, Jason Haigh.

“I’m not a hipster – I’m 46 years old. We’re aiming for great value for families – most of menu is under £10 – so I struggle to see how we’re hipster. 

“We just don’t tick that box. We don’t have DJs or live music, and very few of my staff have beards.”

“We’ve dealt with the problem and accept that we won’t be everyone’s cup of tea.”

Staff reported the graffiti to Hackney Council, who have now removed it from the restaurant wall.

Spate of attacks

Well Street Pizza is not the only new business in East London to be targeted by anti-gentrification campaigners.

In September the Cereal Killer Café in Shoreditch was attacked by hundreds of protesters, who threw cereal and paint at the premises. An estate agents was also targeted.